Over 20 Chestnut Hill riders participated in a fun, challenging and rewarding clinic with veteran trainer and judge, Otis Brown on July 12 and 13. Divided into four divisions – equitation, ponies, children’s hunters, and adult hunters – each session lasted 90 minutes. A firm believer that riding is “60% mental, 40% physical” Brown set up courses and exercises designed to keep riders focused on riding the track, the horse’s responsiveness, stride and pace. Reinforcing his belief that riding is a mental game, Brown left behind a long quote that is now posted in the barn. The first lines read, “A winner is part of the answer, a loser is part of the problem. A winner has a program, a loser has an excuse.” Author, unknown.
