2023 Van Cise Recipient: Kelsie Goodare
Earlier this year, Kelsie Goodare (MI), received a $1,000 grant from the Carolyn Van Cise Memorial Fund for Michigan Youth and Young Adults. Kelsie is a member of the All Dressage Association in Michigan and maintains a 4.0 GPA at school. Kelsie used her grant funding to attend several clinics.
April 15-16, 2023: Erika Jansson Cavaletti Clinic, Lone Tree Stables, Rockford, MI
In the Erika Jansson Cavaletti Clinic, I learned so much about the importance of balance and rhythm while riding. There were multiple cavalettis set up that we had to ride through while focusing on staying at the same tempo in order not to knock the poles down. I also learned how important it is to have your own body under control and in the correct position, and how to use certain muscle groups to allow your horse to be as balanced as possible. This allows the horse to use their bodies as much as they can.
May 2-4, 2023: Dan Clasing Clinic, Loch Moy Farm, Adamstown, MD
In the flat clinic with Dan Clasing, I learned more about how to get my horse to correctly be on the bit. My horse tends to go behind the vertical and not be connected. I learned how to get him to loosen his poll and neck so that the rest of our riding would be loose and supple. In the cross-country clinic, I learned more about how to allow my horse to do what he needed to do and not get in his way.
May 17-18, 2023: Boyd Martin Clinic, Lone Tree Stables, Rockford, MI
In the Boyd Martin clinic, I learned about the correct way to ride certain types of jumps. I learned how to set me and my horse up for success coming into tricky combinations, and even certain movements that we struggled with. We talked about the correct body position for different jumps and how to sit properly on a horse without restricting their movements in any way.
