We had a clinic this past weekend with a very good clinician we've ridden with before. This week hasn't been all that great, Maggie dumping my trainer and all that, but, I expected a good ride. Now, we've been working on the trot with the girl, less on the canter. But, we were doing great, walk (quit moving so much), trot (softer and wait in the transition), and then the left lead canter, quite nice, developmental, but nice. Unfortunately, the right lead canter is not so good, so more right bend, lost the hind, more forward, more bend, lost the hind... not so good.

So, next day, I tell the clinician, I feel like I couldn't ride in a box car with the doors closed, we discuss, on we go. So, LEAN to the right, walk good, trot good, nice leg yield, then everything goes to hell again. Now *I* know that I can't do 8 things at once and the more you tell me, the worse it gets.

So, today I had a lesson with my regular trainer and told her what happened (she usually watches the clinic, but wasn't able to this weekend and I'm USUALLY not a problem). I mean I was in tears which is very unusual for me. Had a good lesson, the world is back in alignment. Jen knows that she has to break things down then put them all together with me. Apparently it's irrelevant that I can keep 80 balls in the air at work, it's just NOT the same at the barn!

For the next clinic I'll just let the clinician know. I talked to the organizer tonight, she said, why didn't you ask her to slow down? Oh I come from the old school where you just DO WHAT THE INSTRUCTOR SAYS and that's all there is to it! She knows the clinician well, it's not a problem (and the clinician knew there was a problem, just not what).

On the good side, little Maggie tried her darnedest at the clinic. She's coming around very well. Back to the regular work!