TheHorseStudio.com Holiday Special Showjumping Clinic with Willowview Hill Farm International trainer Tina Hammond.

The early evening clinic session held November 30th, 2009 in Millbrook, New York drew a large crowd despite the blustery weather and snow squalls. Trainer Tina Hammond hosted the clinic and demonstrated work training the young and advanced horse in aspects of flat work and jumping technique. Working with three different horses of various breeds and expertise, Tina brought the auditors up to date on her summer work in Switzerland at the elite yard of FEI trainer Greta Kemmer, from which one of her horses used in the clinic had just returned.

" It was wonderful to have TheHorseStudio.com sponsor this clinic and to provide an event to encourage riders here to jump into competition. The attendees, especially the young riders, had so many questions it was sometimes hard to keep on track! I learned from Pippa and William Funnell that giving demo clinics on horseback is a lot of fun for everyone. Evenings are a time everyone is off work and can attend. In England we work this schedule quite often to facilitate a broader audience. Hot toddies kept everyone warm and happy, and the raffle of super prizes donated by TheHorseStudio.com had everyone buzzing. I hope we can schedule a dressage version next time," said Tina Hammond.

The clinic began with a clear warm up procedure, working on building the horse in confidence with his rider and to working freely through the back. The occasional spooks were handled with tact and the auditors were treated to a special display of passage from Tina's advanced mount Jordan, who also spent some time airborne without the necessity of a jump beneath him. Jordan works at the top levels in both jumping and dressage and as Tina commented, " He's not unlike his namesake Michael in many ways!" The flat work detailed how lateral dressage work will benefit the horse in suppleness and attention. By adjusting the stride in length multiple times down the long side, Tina also demonstrated how easy splitting a stride to make a distance can be done. As she performed each task Tina explained exactly the aids she was using and showcased how to tackle odd distances and how to correct rider error before jump off. Tina also provided a thorough discussion of bits and tack and their proper use and was also test riding a pair of FITS breeches which she told the audience were the most comfortable and practical breech she had ever tried. TheHorseStudio.com provided hot drinks and snacks for everyone, and each attendee received a free gift set of beautiful Xmas cards courtesy of TheHorseStudio.com and a DVD that chronicled Tina's summer adventures including competing in Europe and life on the road between events and some lessons she had enjoyed learning through that international experience.

President of TheHorseStudio.com, Paul Alvin-Smith, held a quiz for the young riders during intermission, and the winner Ashley Warren, took home a brand new pony bridle complete with Mikmar cupreon wing snaffle bit. " At TheHorseStudio.com we sell a lot of pony tack including fancy pony polos, saddle pads, bits and imported German and British bridlewear and New Zealand halters and of course we sell the full FITS breeches line. Right now we have a running a stunning discount at the lowest price anywhere online on all our FITS lines including the popular Windpro breech. Tina is very professional and works brilliantly addressing everything from basics to advanced course work. With her dry sense of humor you find yourself instantly engaged and TheHorseStudio.com is very proud to sponsor this event, " stated Paul Alvin-Smith.

ABOUT WILLOWVIEW HILL FARM INTERNATIONAL:

Willowview Hill Farm International was established in the Hudson Valley of New York in 1993 and is an experienced producer of international calibre horses for the dressage arena. Through importation of elite performance horses from Germany, Spain, Portugal and Britain and from their own breeding operation of Hanoverian and Baroque mares, Willowview Hill Farm has produced many notable horses over the years. Horses such as the FEI Prix St Georg horse Willowview Hill Balou ( Borneo x Wendekreiss), first class foundation mares such as Willowview Hill GemmaMaria ( Graf Gotz x Gimli) dam of several premium status progeny as well as providing European competition opportunities for students through their operations in Jerez, Spain and in collaboration with Greta Kemmer, FEI coach based in Lausanne, Switzerland. In addition Willowview Hill Farm is a producer of high quality organically grown horse hay.


ABOUT THEHORSESTUDIO.COM:

TheHorseStudio.com is an online equestrian retail store that offers a wide selection of horse related products. Known as " The International Equestrian Shop," the store offers domestic & imported items including tack, artwork and collectibles, horse stationery and greeting cards, home decor and giftware as well as American and European Equestrian Couture Collections from the finest houses. In addition TheHorseStudio.com offers one of the widest selections of horse books and DVDs available online. Disciplines covered include dressage, driving, showjumping, eventing, polo, barrel racing, western pleasure, trail and endurance, vaulting, barrel racing, reining, cutting and horse racing. Since inception in April 2006, TheHorseStudio.com has offered frank reviews and extensive product testing of all items they market. The Horse Studio Team embraces experienced riders from many riding/driving disciplines who are well versed in the top levels of equestrian sport. In addition The Horse Studio Team encompasses personnel who are also published writers/authors plus executive management well versed in international trade.

Manufacturers, authors, publishers and production houses are welcome to submit their products for review and should forward free samples and/or catalogs to the address detailed below and/or email purchasing@TheHorseStudio.com.

For more information on this event and high resolution photographs of prizes, please contact:

Nikki Brazier/PR Marketing Consultant
www.TheHorseStudio.com
email: PRMarketing@TheHorseStudio..com
Tel: 607 652 9467
Fax: 607 652 9468
Mail Address:
The Horse Studio
PO Box 404
Stamford NY 12167

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