Middleburg, Va. – June 24, 2019 – Rutledge Farm is looking forward to welcoming renowned equitation-guru
Karen Healey to host a two-day clinic in July as a part of the 2019 Rutledge Farm Sessions clinic series. Each day Healey will host three individual two-hour sessions beginning Saturday, July 13 and running through Sunday, July 14. Each session will focus on the foundations of equitation. Healey joins Rutledge Farm’s roster of elite clinicians including Boyd Martin, Will Simpson, Debbie McDonald, Phillip Dutton, Ali Brock, and Stacia Madden.
Healey began her professional career in 1971 working under George Morris at Hunterdon Farm. In 1981, Healey moved to California where she began her own business, Karen Healey Stables. Since then, students under Healey’s tutelage have won over 100+ equitation medal finals including the ASPCA Maclay National Finals and multiple USET Talent Search Finals. Healey has accumulated a list of extraordinary credentials throughout her time as a professional. In past years, Healey has served as the Chairperson for the USHJA Equitation Task Force, a clinician for the USHJA Emerging Athlete Program and 2007 Chronicle of the Horse Person of the Year.
Participants of Healey’s upcoming clinic can anticipate exercises that further their understanding and skill at mastering the basics. The two days of learning will feature three different groups composed of six riders each, with skill levels ranging from 1.20m and up, 1.10m, and 1.0m and below. Rider and auditor spots are limited, so
act now to secure your spot!
Healey said, “I talk a lot about rhythm, balance and track. Those are the key elements to producing accurate rounds, so there will be a lot of discussion about hand position. There will be exercises that include opening and closing the stride, focusing on going from long to short and short to long, really encouraging the horses to be as supple and elastic as we can get them.”
Auditors alike can still expect to learn from watching the sections. Healey explained, “I think I am very clear in my instructions and I always ask if anyone has questions. I want to make sure the auditors also understand what I do with each rider and how we achieved what I am trying to get done. I’ll include the audience a little bit and hopefully, they will understand the different exercises and how I approach them with each horse because it will be a little different for each one.”
Healey added, “Rutledge Farm is beautiful and I know that Aleco [Bravo-Greenberg] really wants to do the right thing by inviting great clinicians to teach these sessions in Middleburg. This clinic series sounded right up my alley!”
The Rutledge Farm Sessions brings exclusive educational opportunities to riders and professionals in Middleburg, Virginia. Drawing from a pool of Olympic and International Champion clinicians, Rutledge Farm offers monthly sessions for riders at all levels and disciplines. For more information on how to attend or audit Karen Healey’s upcoming Rutledge Farm Session, visit rutledgefarm.com/clinics. Registration is made easy thanks to Event Clinics!
