The most amazing aspect of the clinic, in my opinion, was how much Gerhard helped us in the short span of two 45-minute lessons over two days, without having ever met us or seen us. He is a master at seeing exactly what the horse and rider need the most, and he focuses on helping the rider make the necessary adjustments in the warm- up and throughout the main work, step by step, logically building upon skills. I was really pushed to my maximum limit physically and mentally. Gerhard would not give up on me or settle for anything less than 100% of the result he wanted to see in my horse and myself. Although he pushed us to the max, he readily gave encouragement and praise when we showed the desired improvement. For us, we made a giant leap on the second day. My ride was so much better than on the first day, and the proof was right there in my horse. Happily, I have the two videos from both days so I can keep the skills I learned from the clinic very clear. With the help of Cindy for the past several months, along with Gerhard’s suggestions for how to improve a specific area with my horse, I feel I have the proper tools to make excellent progress.

I know without a doubt that I also made Gerhard work very hard, too, and I personally appreciate the great effort he put forth to help me. I am amazed at our improvement in just one day in an area where we had been struggling for many years. I look forward to the opportunity to ride with Gerhard again in the future. Cindy’s generosity in bringing high-caliber guest clinicians such as Gerhard Politz to her farm certainly is inspiring and gives us all a fantastic opportunity to learn and improve ourselves and our horses. We are indeed fortunate to have someone of Cindy’s expertise and high level in our area.

Tracey Smith Oliver
Right from the start, Gerhard insisted that I ask my horse, Jack to be more active with his hind legs.  To achieve this, he had us warm up in a very forward trot and canter.  The tempo was much more forward that I’m used to riding and it felt too quick.  However, when I asked Gerhard about this quick tempo, he pointed out that sometimes riders may need to ride a tempo that does feel too quick in order to activate the hind legs.  Once the horse becomes more active with his hind legs, then we can slow the tempo.  In contrast to the more forward tempo at the trot and canter, Gerhard had us ride suppling exercises at a slower tempo in the walk.   These walk exercises consisted of riding head to wall leg yielding at no more than a 45 degree angle for half of the long side, keeping the horse’s neck well bent to the inside.  Following the head to wall leg yield, we were to straighten and perform a volte in the center of the long side, followed by haunches-in for the remainder of the long side.  Once we mastered this exercise, we turned down the center line and either performed a half- pass or leg yield back to the long side.  Gerhard cautioned us not to let the walk quicken during these exercises.  He wanted to see long sweeping walk strides to maximize the crossing over of the hind legs and thereby promoting suppleness of the horse’s hips. 

Gerhard then asked us to perform prompt walk/ trot transitions.  These transitions were difficult for us to perform in and out of a more forward trot.  However, Gerhard made some adjustments to my position.   I need to keep my upper body back more in the down transitions, and my lower legs more forward in the up transitions.  When I concentrated on these position changes, the results were improved but more homework is needed!

Gerhard also insisted on that other element of the training scale…..straightness.  He wanted me to ride Jack in shoulder-fore, bringing his shoulders slightly to the inside with my outside rein.  My inside rein maintains a soft contact, but never pulls back.  From shoulder-fore, we rode shoulder-in, in that forward trot tempo to really get his inside hind active.  From these exercises in the trot, we went to more canter work.  I need to ride the flying changes from a more forward canter.  In addition, I need to use more outside rein in moving the shoulders over in the canter half-pass.

The real test of how active Jack’s hind legs had become came when Gerhard ask for a collected canter.  Collected canter is typically a struggle for us…Jack gets behind the leg and loses activity.  This time, it was totally different.  Jack lowered his haunches and stayed active behind.  It felt wonderful!

Gerhard’s clinic was such a big educational event for us and I look forward to his next visit.

Wonderful to hear your guys felt great today!  It is really amazing how that more forward tempo gets the hind end working.

Michelle Paris for Amanda and Molly Paris
Gerhard is very quick to recognize the issues of horse and rider and knows how to improve them. He communicates in a manner easy to understand.  As a parent I am very impressed on how he works with my girls and focuses on the correct riding techniques that they need to use.

Mary Rice, Auditor
I wish I had been able to spend more time but I am so happy to have seen even what I did.  Mr. Politz is really an outstanding teacher...I wish he were able to come into the area again.

Beth Daniels, Auditor
Just a quick note to thank you for bringing Gerhard Politz to NC. What a fabulous clinician! I was only able to catch two and half lessons Sat. afternoon, but I left so energized from his teaching. I was so wishing I could have returned on Sunday but, unfortunately, I had another commitment. 

Please keep me on the mailing list for his return. I would love to ride with him another time...I'll round up a horse somewhere!

Joan Sussman, rider
I told my husband that I felt that "I rode better than I can" on Sunday. And that was due to Gerhard's relentless eye for the correct way and his ability to teach us how to get it done the correct way. I learned an amazing amount and would like to be on the list for future clinics. Watching everyone was invaluable and I'm sure we all savor his "well done" as much as his "get on, just do it."  

Meredith Fosque, Auditor
Georgia (Dell), my daughter, had a wonderful time at the Clinic this weekend, thank you so much to having it and for letting her come. She learned a lot and on Sunday night, in the dark, she was on Max putting it all to use. She said: "It works!"

Harriet Peterson, Auditor
I rode SO much better yesterday and today from watching the clinic.  Also really enjoyed teaching and got more positive results from the riders and horses.  What fun! 

Sharon Grefrath, Auditor
Thank you for the Politz clinic. I picked up some new tips that I am trying out. Your horses both looked good.