Revisit the Scot Evans equestrian clinic
Back in May, the SCAD Equestrian department hosted clinician and USEF “R” Judge Scot Evans to show students and equestrian team members the benefits of a strong, supple and secure base.
Beyond his 25 years of experience as a show hunter, show jumper and hunt seat equitation judge, Evans has extensive experience in the commercial aspects of the equine industry. Evans has produced a series titled “The American System of Forward Riding and the Three Masters” featuring George Morris, Rodney Jenkins and Buck Brannaman and now, when he is not coaching, judging or leading clinics, Evans produces for showhunterclinic.com. In addition, he has worked as liaison and host for the Hampton Classic and is Chairman of the Board of the Equestrian Aid Federation. Evans’ impressive and well-rounded background, combined with his ability to communicate his knowledge to every student present, made for an amazing learning experience.
Scot Evans began each session by asking riders to come to the center and relax their legs. He stressed the importance of a centered, balanced, secure leg and seat. Using the same technique on each rider, he slowly and methodically adjusted their legs until they had achieved that correct position based on three points of contact. With a slight inward rotation of the thigh and specific placement of the stirrup on the “knuckles of the foot” he secured every rider in the saddle. While Evans made these changes, he asked riders not to look. Instead he wanted them to feel. He explained, “riding is feeling; the less we look the more we feel.” Once the connection from the hip to the knee and the knee to the ankle had been established, Evans sent the riders out to the rail so they could begin testing this improved seat and leg position.
Scot Evans with Devon Walther on Von Trapp
As the riders went through a series of transitions, circles, cavallettis and even courses, Scot Evans spoke on the importance of forward momentum; sinking in and down into the leg, rather than pressing or bracing into it; and the role of the rider as the communicator. He provided students with achievable and usable exercises and tools for future rides and took the time to answer questions from riders and audience members. He even had riders speak about their experiences and breakthroughs as they occurred. Evans’ positivity and obvious joy from teaching flooded the arena and made for an enlightening weekend.
The student response to the clinic was overwhelmingly positive, even though everyone’s “game changing moment” was slightly different. Some riders, including senior Jackie Gentile and sophomore Alexandra Doucet, found answers for injuries aggravated by riding. When asked how Evans helped them, Gentile pointed to the change in leg position while Doucet remarked on Evans’ reminder to relax tension and soften in areas of pain. Evans stated that pain should not be ridden through; riders should take the time to slow down and start over. He also commented on how problems associated with exaggerated or forced heel depth reduce the rider’s ability to communicate with the horse.
In addition to breakthroughs in position, riders also reached turning points with their horses. Evans was able to pinpoint many riders’ struggles and aid them in finding a solution. Gentile felt she benefited from Evans’ focus on softness and suppleness and, as a result, she let go of micromanagement. Tatum Tatreau, a Junior, found success with her ANRC partner Ditto, when Evans’ leg placement allowed her to support the rhythm of her horse’s canter. The results were immediate, Tatreau said Ditto, “could jump comfortably out of stride…stopped rubbing the jumps, and…did not have any rails during our courses.”
Kelsey Maloney, a sophomore, took the lessons on, “keeping our flatwork interesting for our horses,” straight out of the clinic and applied them the same day with her own mare, La Coco. Maloney was pleased with how the lessons of the clinic translated to working with her own horse.
Evans addresses a group of riders
By the end of the clinic many riders were already looking towards greater ambitions. They were excited to apply and spread their new riding techniques. Co-Captain of the Equestrian Team and senior Ryan Genn valued the way Evans pushed him to verbalize what he felt during the clinic. “It’s definitely something I feel is important, especially for the future when we begin to work with other trainers and students in the professional world,” Genn said. Similarly Co-Captain of the Equestrian Team and junior Mariel Cooper said she wanted to, “share [the techniques] with other riders coming up in the future.” Both riders were taking Evans’ advice to the greatest extent and owning their new skills as Evans asked every rider to do.
With an instructor as positive and effective as Scot Evans, two days seems far too short. Spectators and riders were left ready for more “game changing” moments and excited for the future. Esteban Zuluaga summed it up quite well when he said, “I really liked the clinic because I was never intimidated, it was just a regular lesson with major focus in correctness.” Similarly Tatreau remarked, “Scot Evans is one of those clinicians that made me want to soak up every word he said as if I were a sponge. He…made the two hour session fun while still making it educational and productive.” Students could not ask for more, and would certainly welcome Scot Evans back any time.
