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Article on Jane Crowley- Schedule & Clinics

Article in Mid South Horse Review

Bring your horse but not your spurs to Jane Crowley’s clinics.
“There is no need to use spurs if you are doing things right,” says the trainer from Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Both riders and horses experienced the dramatic effects of Centered Riding and Natural Horsemanship principles at a two-day clinic hosted by Caryn Finefrock’s Oval H Stable in Oakland on June 20 and 21.
Crowley explains that, “Centered Riding teaches how to use your body in such a way to get the best performance out of your horse.”

There are four basics which she covers in her lessons: soft eyes, breathing, finding your center and building blocks. These are simple procedures a rider can do that make a huge difference in a horse’s performance.

One rider brought her “hot” Thoroughbred to the clinic. 
The horse was “very fast, very unsettled, very angry”, says Finefrock. Jane took the rider’s spurs off and made a few basic changes in her body position. Within one hour the horse was “working rhythmically, obediently and happily, just by changing the rider‘s old habits.”
Crowley’s procedure is to change the way a rider rides rather than change the horse alone.

“So many trainers only work with the horse or only work with the rider. Centered Riding improves the horse and rider together,” says Crowley. “It is important to teach and train with consistency. That is a major part of my process.”

Jane Crowley has a rich background in many styles of riding. Her riding career began in western saddles at her family’s farm. She began showing hunters and jumpers before advancing to the grueling three-day event competitions. At the age of 18, Crowley met Sally Swift, the founder of Centered Riding. She says, “it changed my life. Everything I was doing before was working, but I learned that it could be so much better. It was all uphill from there.” Today she is a Level 2 Centered Riding instructor.

Crowley also attends clinics and workshops with other trainers, notably Pat Parelli and Clinton Anderson. She has ridden with several masters of the dressage world, including Lendon Grey, Max Gahwyler, and a Frenchman known simply as Francois.

Centered Riding is a twenty-year-old idea that is only now finding popularity in the Mid-South. Riders first ‘discovered’ Jane Crowley during Equifair 2002, where she held Centered Riding demonstrations that quickly filled.

Dana Shah of Blues City Warmbloods was one of the converts. The dressage rider experienced soreness when posting at even the shortest periods of trotting. “She taught me to relax my lower body, and now there is no stress when I’m posting.”  Shah’s six-year-old Shire gelding HALE enjoyed the principles of Centered Riding as well. The horse had only 2 months of under saddle training by Missy Cool of Duck River, Tennessee before coming to the clinic, and no experience in a covered arena setting. With Shah’s newly-centered and relaxed seat, HALE was reassured and found no reason to be uneasy.  “Finding your center also makes you look nicer and more confident in the saddle,” Shah adds.

All styles of riding can benefit from the principles of Centered Riding. Crowley tells of a barrel racer whose horse had trouble cornering.
“The rider was stiffening up on the turns. We worked to find her center, and then the horse’s progress just followed naturally.”

Crowley’s expertise is not confined to experienced horses and riders.
“Centered Riding does for the rider in the saddle what Natural Horsemanship does for the handler on the ground,” Crowley continues.
DAMASCUS, a 2-year-old Friesian gelding, came to the clinic an excitable bundle of energy. After about 30 minutes of Crowley’s Natural Horsemanship techniques, he was leading like a pro and no longer bothered by the unfamiliar surroundings.  “He is a new horse,” says his owner, Dana Shah. “Respect is very important for a horse this size and going to get bigger,” says Crowley. DAMASCUS stands calmly, his head and neck level, ears tuned to her every word. “You get an A for the day,” she praises.

“People are so glad Centered Riding has come to this area,” says Caryn Finefrock - Oval H Stable at www.ovalhstable.com. Previous clinics have gotten glowing feedback from attendees. So many have expressed interest in Jane Crowley and Centered Riding that Finefrock plans to host more lessons this summer, as well as another clinic in the fall. For more information or to schedule a lesson, you may contact Jane Crowley at (615) 498-2795.

Schedule - 2007

• Centered Riding Lessons

Memphis, TN

Ongoing - Call for dates

For more info email:  jandlcrowley@charter.net