IN-HAND CLINIC
Join seasoned riding instructor and trainer, Kaitlyn McGarvey, owner of Concordia Stables located in Narvon, PA, for an in-hand clinic designed for students of all levels and disciplines.
Whether this is your first time trying in-hand or looking to advance in your skills, Kaitlyn will meet you where you are at and help you grow.
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You will gain a greater understanding of a horse's self-carriage and balance.
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As a rider, you will develop a better feel and connection with the bit.
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You will also discover how micro changes in your body can make a huge difference in how your horse responds to you even from the ground!
It will be a full afternoon of learning and developing as a well-rounded equestrian. You will walk aways with insight and practical skills to improve your riding and horsemanship.
Clinic Details
Date:
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Time:
1 pm - 4 pm
Fee:
$75 Participant
$30 Auditor
Participants may partner with a lesson horse. If a participant desires to bring their own horse, they must email the Coggins to concordiatstables@gmail.com upon registration.
What is In-Hand?
In-hand work is a valuable training method in dressage that refines communication between horse and rider while developing the horse’s balance, suppleness, and understanding of aids from the ground. It allows the rider to observe and feel the horse’s movement without the added complexity of riding, making it an excellent tool for educating both horse and human.
Position 1: Leading Position
Position 1 places the handler at the horse’s shoulder, maintaining light contact through the lead reins while guiding the horse forward.
Benefits include:
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Encouraging relaxation and focus as the horse gains confidence by following the handler’s direction.
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Introducing lateral flexion as the handler can encourage softening at the poll and lateral bending through the neck through gentle rein or whip cues.
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Refining transitions by improving communication through the body as the handler uses voice and body aids to help the horse understand half-halts and transitions within the gait
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.The handler develops a feel for the horse's sensitivity to the aids, discovering the level of lightness and clearness needed when communicating from the saddle.
Position 2: Working from the Side
Position 2 moves the handler slightly behind the shoulder, aligning with the horse’s ribcage. This position is more active in influencing balance and engagement, as it places the handler in a better position to observe and guide the horse’s hindquarters.
Benefits include:
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Encouraging engagement as the handler can activate the hind legs to step further under by using a dressage whip as an extension of the arm.
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Developing lateral work, such as shoulder-in, haunches-in, and leg-yield, which can be introduced with precision.
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Enhancing collection and self-carriage as the horse learns to carry more weight on the hindquarters while maintaining a soft and steady connection.
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The rider has the benefit of seeing what is happening with the horse from the ground, thereby being able to better visual and feel the response from the saddle.
Overall Benefits for the Rider’s Feel
Working in-hand refines the rider’s sense of timing, balance, and subtlety of aids. By observing and feeling how the horse responds, riders develop a heightened awareness of the horse’s biomechanics, which translates into clearer, more effective riding. It also builds confidence in handling corrections and reinforcing dressage principles without the complexity of being in the saddle.
When used correctly, both Position 1 and Position 2 create a foundation of trust and understanding, allowing the horse to develop correct movement patterns while the rider refines their feel and communication.
Meet Kaitlyn McGarvey
Owner & Header Instructor of Concordia Stables
Kaitlyn grew up in Lancaster County, PA, involved in the local 4H and competing in small local hunter shows. Immediately after high school, she made working with horses her passion and career, working in and studying the disciplines of eventing and dressage. She competed at the lower level of both but realized that the competitive route differed from the path she wanted to pursue.
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Inpreparing horses for competition, Kaitlyn grew to recognize the importance of the relationship between horse and rider, a relationship built on understanding, patience, compassion, and trust. These experiences ignited a desire in Kailtyn to better understand the horse/human relationship and the training principles that reinforce this relationship, such as positive reinforcement and pressure and release, while always being attuned to the energy between her, the horse, and the rider.
As life continued, Kaitlyn found her true gift of teaching, and this is where everything took off. She built a successful training and school program at Honey Brook Stables, the previous home of Horse Class. While there, Kaitlyn honed her teaching skills and had the privilege of seeing her students progress not only in riding but also in horsemanship.
Kaitlyn loves to learn as much as she loves to teach! Over the years, she has worked closely with Frank Burns, Angelo Telatin, Wendy Murdoch, and Patrick King. She has also spent considerable time studying the work of Warwick Schiller and Natural Lifemanship.
In her free time, Kaitlyn can be found on her dirt bike, riding through the woods, or taking lessons to improve her skills. Having started riding dirt bikes at the age of 30, one of the greatest gifts of this new adventure is the one she did not anticipate, which is the understanding of exactly what her clients go through as adult beginners or riders who rode as kids, wanting to get back into a saddle. Kaitlyn also has the experience of having a coach who had her back 100% and knows the difference this makes. It makes her heart happy to be that person for others as they start or continue on their journey with horses.
“One of my favorite things about teaching is the creativity I use to connect to my riders. Each student helps me to grow in my skills and for that, I am extremely grateful for each one of the humans and horses.”