Hire this woman!

[oldrookie]

Just completed a three-day Fundamentals clinic in Columbus with Kristin Hamacher, and I am very impressed with her expertise. If you are looking for a world-class clinic experience, I heartily recommend you hire her by signing up for one of her clinics or hiring her for a private lesson. If you attended the Columbus tour, you saw a sample of her talent.

This was my first clinic as a participant, but I audited a Dale clinic and attended the three-day Fundamentals in Siephenville as a helper, both last October. The horse I took to the clinic is a 10yo mustang that has been through all the exercises this year, but he and I were still fighting over the gas pedal and steering wheel, so I knew things could be ugly during the riding exercises.

There were just five participants, more like a private lesson than a clinic, which was just fine with me. Mine was not the only problem horse, much to my relief. Kristin stepped in and rode one of the horses that was giving the owner some resistance, and worked through it nicely.

She got us through all the Fundamentals exercises, except round penning, without rushing or going late in the afternoon. Problems were addressed, questions answered, and she made herself available early before starting, and late after finishing for the day. She has great customer focus.

For example, my horse was about a good B in all the GW except YFQ, which was miserable because he just bent his head away from me to avoid the pressure. Kristin showed me how to hold the stick vertically and tap him behind his ear at the halter. By the end of the first day he was YFQ off just my finger pressure. Amazing.

During riding, my horse, Taco, got tired of loping after a few minutes, and started acting up, kicking out and crow hopping. If you saw Kristin ride the gray mare at Columbus, you know exactly how he acted. She coached me through it, and told me to stop doing ORS and go right to Cruising, because the worst thing to do to a horse that is resisting moving is to stop him. And he got better. By the last day he was loping with no attitude. Amazing again.

Did he get fixed completely? Nope. That’s my job, as his trainer, but I have better knowledge and less frustration. Thanks, Kristin.

I hereby apologize to the other four participants for being a moving obstacle during riding at the trot and lope. Taco and I got in your way a lot because of the lack of a steering wheel. Once again, he got better, and I know what I must do to get him better still.

Clinton, I don’t know if you have time to read any posts on this forum, but thanks for turning out a fine horseman and trainer as Kristin. She is a jewel.

Guys, want to get better in your horsemanship? Hire this woman!

John,
The Old Rookie
Zanesfield, Ohio

Dreams are like horses, they run wild on the earth. Catch one and ride it for all that it's worth.

---Dave Stamey, Song for Jake