USDF Symposium 2009

The Symposium featured an excellent selection of riders and horses
to illustrate Jan Brink's Communication: A Two-way System of
Understanding. Jan discussed and demonstrated the importance of
expressing a signal system that eases the communication between horse
and rider. I thought he did a great job of communication but when it
went awry he smoothly turned to finding a solution for horse and
rider that made the experience better for both. With the clinics
that I have attended and the Symposiums on the National stage, I
think many attendees don't realize that the rider has quite a role to
fill -- to be able to ride to the standard expected and execute the
instructions given. It can be quite a challenge.