Preparing for the Master

The BMEC- Blue Mounds Equine Center- located near Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, greatly appreciates the fact that Karl Mikolka visits several times a year. Getting properly prepared is very important to the success of these clinics.

We have a definite advantage over most when it comes to getting ready and that is our well-tuned team headed by the Director of Equestrian Programs, Anita Adams and the Director of Farm Operations, Greg Mell. Anita has worked with and for Karl for many years. She always conveys the professionalism and attention to detail that makes these events truly worthwhile and that will provide continuity for the teaching of this, by now rare Classical School of riding and training.

Karl always asks a lot from his riders; the BMEC wants to offer the best possible environment for the harmonious exchange of teaching and learning. Each rider is special and we do all we can to make it a memorable learning experience.

Creating a professional feel for the clinic starts with the indoor arena. The arena is the center of the action and needs to be a neat, clean and safe area to work and learn. It ought to be well laid out with letters or markers, lights, fans or heat, free of distractions with ample room to move about and with the proper height of kick boards. The Old Masters referred to the arena as being the Gymnasium of the horse.

Auditors are invited to sit just outside the arena so that the workspace is un-compromised. We have a set of bleachers that have been modified for all weather conditions. We strongly feel the arena is for the rider and his horse and not for the auditor.

The BMEC maintains that all great rides start with good footing. The footing is fundamental to the success of the ride as well as for the well being of the horse and we take the grooming of the surface that we ride on very seriously.

We are currently using a combination of angulated sand and rubber we had ground to match our needs. Frequent leveling and watering of the arena is done with great care so as to optimize the work surface. We even roll a centerline so riders don't have to look for the center as Karl directs their path.

A workable Sound System is very important! The riders are asked many questions about what they are doing, what they feel and what the horse is doing. If they cannot hear, it slows the learning process. The sound system is not for the auditor but sometimes it makes it a little easier for Karl to poke a little fun at them!

With my limited experience of Dressage, I can only offer what I have learned from watching the "Karl Clinics." What impressed me the most from what I have seen is the level of commitment to the Classical School of riding as practiced over centuries at the Spanish Riding School.

The most satisfaction I have received is in watching riders come in and see how nervous they are and how Karl sizes up the situation and can fix any problem of the horse or rider. This is truly a talent that not everyone has and it is a trademark that Karl can hang his hat on. So, with that said, we at the BMEC go to whatever lengths it takes to maximize the time that each rider has with Karl. They should not have to worry about footing, distractions or auditors. We want them to be focused on what they are doing and how Karl is helping them to redefine their skills.

The staff at the BMEC goes the extra mile for these events because they know how important it is to the success of each ride. Stalls are picked by 7:00 AM, the horses are fed and turned out if the ride is later and the owner requests such service. If the owner desires, our night check person can provide one last feeding. Each morning and during the noon break the arena is groomed and the centerline is freshly marked.

Karl's clinics are not a competition but an opportunity to be exposed to new and more effective approaches to training. We want everyone to win by having the best experience possible the only limitations should be what the riders put on themselves. All of Karl's better students have many years of practice and work at higher levels, others, who are newcomers, can walk away with a treasure of valuable information. All students will get the most out of any ride as long as they remain open to Karl's corrections and the classical teachings of the Spanish Riding School. Only the riders make the decision as to how much they allow themselves and their horses to learn.

The BMEC greatly appreciates Karl's visits and we want everyone to take advantage of the positive impact these clinics have on the connection between horse and rider. It doesn't matter what your goal is, Karl encourages the best effort from each pair and takes them to new levels. He reaches stages of accomplishments in both the horse’s and the rider's mind that exceed their expectations. We want to provide the best possible environment for this to happen. It is most rewarding for us to watch the improvement each horse and rider made as they leave the arena. Every time we stage a successful learning experience it acts as a springboard to future clinics.

Our main goal is to set up an atmosphere in which learning is not judgmental but rather something special that can be shared by all. Our motto is: 'We at BMEC provide quality time with your equine'.

The BMEC is proud to contribute to Karl's newsletter and to play an important part in preserving and advancing these teachings.