CLINIC REVIEWS

Multi-tasking for Robert Pickles

 

This may sound a little unbelievable but I really can simultaneously cook four omelettes (with chips and peas), iron a couple of shirts, prepare the cat and dogs‟ breakfasts, set the table, do some preliminary washing-up and watch Egg-heads .... however many of you will realise that this is not at all unusual because women have a special gene which allows us to effortlessly multi-task.

 

But ... put me on my horse and ask me to soften the inside rein, half-halt on the outside rein, tickle up the inside hind, look where I‟m going, and breathe, and my brain scrambles the instructions, my faculties freeze and I can be heard to exclaim “I can’t multi-task!”

 

When, last Saturday, I went along to observe some of the Robert Pickles Clinic at Hilders, I didn‟t go to see if others suffer my shortcomings but to see - if they did - how he would deal with the problem. And deal with it he did ... this man is a genius.  After first meeting the horse and the rider, and asking a few pertinent questions to establish breeding, past achievements, current aims, etc., Robert watches carefully as the rider puts the horse through his paces. Interestingly, Robert had previously asked the rider which pace they considered best and often disputed this having seen a short demonstration. Having determined what is required of the horse and the rider, he quietly proceeds to build confidence in them both by working with what is good [“don‟t dwell on what is going wrong ... build confidence by doing what is good and keep the feeling ...”].

 

I don‟t think I am telling tales out of school when I say that I could see that initially there was some lack of multi-tasking his instructions but in his quiet, supportive way of issuing requests [“go with the horse” – the instruction given not a second too soon or too late], this ceased to be evident after a very short time and quite suddenly, and without realising when it happened, I was no longer watching “a horse and a rider‟ but “a horse and rider‟ – they were working as a team.

 

Sadly, I was on my own as I watched from the gallery at Hilders. What a shame - and I can only liken it to watching a good film and needing company to fully enjoy it and be able to remark upon and discuss it then or at a later time. Mind you, if there had been anyone else there they may have thought I was having a minor fit when, on occasions, I found myself mentally multi-tasking along with the rider and, occasionally, tickling up my chair with an imaginery whip!

 

Anyway, I‟ll certainly be there to observe the next Clinic ... do join me - it will prove a worthwhile and very valuable experience.

 

MBW

2010

 

 

 

Limpsfield Riding Club