Upcoming "Re-balance Your Seat" clinic harmonizes horse and rider.

Imagine the innate “horse sense” running through your veins if your ancestry includes Hungarian Nobility that bred some of the era’s finest horses and a family heritage that embraces riders that studied with Masters at a sister school in Hungary to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna?

That is the gift Zsuzsu Illes of Los Angeles, found when she contacted her Uncle; the Charles De Knuffy www.charlesdekunffy.com (accomplished professor, rider, competitor, FEI judge and clinician). She had invested a hefty sum in a custom made saddle, only to be disappointed by the ride and performance it offered. She was a bit bewildered when he suggested the problem was not so much the expensive saddle, but rather in the way she was taught to ride.

Growing up, her family moved often and Zsuzsu had the benefit of absorbing life in different countries including India, the Middle East and the UK. Zsuzsu was under the assumption she had been taught good basic riding skills.

She attended a 3 day clinic her uncle was having in Northern California. After the first day’s riding, she found herself very sore from “chin to pelvis”. She found the where with all to continue riding the following 2 days and re-programmed herself to really begin dancing with the horse as an active, engaged and listening partner.

These events were the catalyst that fueled Zsuzsu’s passion for correct saddle fit and rider balance.

She studied the art of saddle fit with Andy Sankey (Certified Master Saddler in the Trade) of Scotland. Knowing correct saddle fit was only part of the equation, she evolved her riding skills participating in Charles De Knuffy Classical Riding Instructor’s Clinics and became a recommended trainer, instructor and clinician.

She notes many trainers are taught to ride incorrectly and therefore instill imbalances to their students. And while some riders have the proper principles and theory internally embedded in their minds, bodily imbalances manifest discord externally. When mind and body are not coherent, the inconsistency transfers to the horse as a less than enjoyable experience for both.

She prefers to teach a 2 -3 day clinic rather than individual lessons as immersing participants in a 2 or 3 day intensive quiets the mental chatter most riders have. In stillness, the rider will appreciate what goes on deep inside themselves and the horse. The horse is free to engage the hind and the ring of connective tissue that allows the horses’ body to move as nature designed it to travel and comfortably carry the riders’ weight. This can only happen when the rider stops thinking and starts feeling. She will then point out the small shifts in ease of gait and performance many people miss. Yes, riding can and should be this subtle and pleasurable for both horse and rider.

“In the end the horse will teach you, look for the feeling in your body”. The common thread great horse men and women have known for centuries. Zsuzsu has the gift of bringing out the best in horse and rider regardless of riding discipline. Honorable basics transcend riding style.

Here is what a few clinic participants have to say:

"I want to thank you both for putting on a warm, accessible, educational and healing day in the midst of some time and weather challenges.

As I mentioned to Zsuzsu, I was in a pretty frustrated and dark place all week - first time in a very long time. This plus being so overwhelmed and tired and not into my horse lately, I really questioned even coming.

Well the Law of Attraction was really at work - I got exactly what I needed on such an emotional healing and self-awareness level - and oh I learned some things to help me and my horse.....

Thank you from the bottom of my being!!" C.M.

"We don't have much contact with clinicians in Egypt, so when we get someone out here, we really need to get value for our time and money. Recently, Zsuzsu Illes www.rebalancesaddlefitting.com came to spend two weeks at my farm, to help us with saddle fitting, and to give clinics on balanced riding. The riders here are not really endurance riders, not necessarily into dressage or jumping...we are your basic average riders with access to some pretty fantastic riding right out our backdoors.

Zsuzsu has training in classical dressage through her uncle www.charlesdekunffy.com as well as years of experience teaching riding. A personal experience with a handmade saddle that after two years and over $4500 later still wasn't a good match for a horse took her into the mysteries of saddle fitting and how it affects the rider. Now she looks at saddle fit issues and gives clinics for riders who want to want to improve their riding no matter what discipline.

Zsuzsu doesn't advertise on Ridecamp, but she is a remarkable resource...a rider who can teach riding that will assist you in any pursuit and a saddle fitter who is not tied to any particular saddle maker. She can also help you to maximise the resources that you have on hand, as she did me. I have roughly 23 horses who work as a trail string for a variety of riders in terms of experience, skill, and physical characteristics. Not having 23 separate saddles, I needed to know what saddles fit which horses and which pads that I have on hand might help which saddles on which horses. We now have an "options booklet" that help us to saddle my horses in a way that helps them to stay healthy and happy in their work.”

If any of you contact her and arrange clinics, I promise that you won't be sorry.

Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
msgabbani@gmail.com Egypt Face to Face www.alsorat.com

A talented, traveled, educated lady that speaks the universal language of love and respect for the horse, she is a treasured local resource. For more information please visit her website www.rebalancesaddlefitting.com

A 2 day clinic is scheduled September 11- 12, 2010 for more information please visit:
their website. or call 818-427-9733.

Don’t miss it!