Don Adams Clinic

June 5, 2008 - Moncton, NB - Don Adams has been riding, training and showing
horses, and coaching riders, for more years than he'd care to say. But even
veterans can learn new things. In May Adams attended a clinic given by World
Equestrian Games gold medalist, Dell Hendricks. At the clinic, held in
Sussex at the Princess Louise Park Show Centre and sponsored by the NB
Codiac Reining Association, Hendricks helped to fine tune some training
exercises and Adams was quick to share the knowledge by holding a clinic of
his own on the week-end of June 1st.

Twelve aspiring reining riders from NB and NS attended the intensive two-day
training session under Adams' tutelage at D&J Stables on the outskirts of
Moncton near Magnetic Hill. The riders were divided into two groups of six
who each participated in two, two-hour sessions each day. All had the
opportunity to learn new skills, practice them under Adams' watchful eye,
and share the experience with others in their group as well as spectators.

The emphasis was on teaching the riders the skills needed to help their
horses perform to the best of their abilities. This meant learning to be
very observant in detecting the moment when the horse was really trying to
respond. Sometimes it meant allowing the horse to make a mistake and then
gently correcting it, guiding it to perform the required movement correctly.
Repetition was the key to learning for both horse and rider. All
participants appreciated the opportunity to learn from Adams and also to
benefit from his experience at the Hendricks' clinic.

According to the National Reining Horse Association's website, "Reining is a
judged event designed to show the athletic ability of a ranch type horse
within the confines of a show arena. In NRHA competition, contestants are
required to run one of ten approved patterns, included in the NRHA Handbook.

Each pattern includes small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead
changes, roll backs over the hocks, 360 degree spins done in place, and
exciting sliding stops that are the hallmark of the reining horse.

The NRHA Judging System is recognized as the leading format for judging an
equine event that combines technical and stylistic elements coupled with
consideration of "degree of difficulty". Many segments of the equine judging
discipline have openly embraced the NRHA Judging System."

Images and Photos Courtesy of Ceci Flanagan-Snow of Eclipse Communications