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Lynn
Palm:
Rider Education
is Her Priority
By Jean Crossman Gilman
What
could be better than winning a world championship? Just ask
Lynn Palm, renowned competitor, trainer, and instructor who
has 34 World and Reserve World Championships under her belt.
She will tell you that winning th 2003 Equine Affaire Exceptional
Equestrian Educator Award, “is better than winning a World
Championship.” |
“I’ve
always taught and coached, even
when I had my own heavy competition
schedule, but today my energy is more
focused on education, “Lynn explains.
“
I’ve had great success, and I want to
give back to the industry that’s been
so good to me. I find it a great
reward to work with and influence
riders of all ages, but especially
young riders.”
Lynn’s penchant for working
with young riders may come from
the memory of her own horse
crazy childhood. Born into a
non-horsy family, Lynn was
fortunate as a young girl to meet
and be mentored by Ms. Bobbi
Steele. A talented horsewoman,
Ms. Steele made a name for herself
as a rider with Ringling Bros.
Circus and later, on her own, as a
dressage and jumping rider at major
horse shows across the Country.
In 1976, Lynn won her first
Quarter Horse World Championship.
Since then, she has become one of the top competitors in American
Quarter Horse
Association (AQHA) history. On top of
all her World and Reserve World
Championships, she has ridden three
horses to a record four AQHA Superhorse
Titles. Lynn also was the first to ride the
same horse, the stallion Rugged Lark, to
two Superhorse Titles. She then went on
to ride Rugged Lark’s son, The Lark
Ascending, to the same title. Lynn also has
won 14 European Championships.
Lynn put all her knowledge about
riding and training into the training
schools that she started in 1972. In 1998,
Palm Partnership Training™ was
established. Lynn’s husband, French rider
and instructor Cyril Pittion-Rossillon,
added his expertise to the program in
1990. The pair holds the training schools
at their two facilities--Fox Grove Farm in
Ocala, FL, and Royal Palm Ranch in
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
The “Palm Partnership Experience”
is a series of internationally recognized
equestrian schools that provide a unique
learning experience. All levels of riders,
from beginners to professionals, and all
breeds of horses are welcome. The schools
use dressage fundamentals as the basis for
instruction in a variety of English and
Western disciplines. Enrollment in each
school is limited so specific individual
needs can be addressed. Fun evening
activities make the schools a vacation as
well as a learning experience.
Lynn emphasizes that people should
not be intimidated by the term “dressage.”
“
The word simply means training,” she
explains, “and it is an easy to understand,
common sense approach to training
horses and people. We focus on
improving rider skills and horse
knowledge; and, in turn, that will allow
the riders to train their own horses, or
improve the quality of the horse’s training,
and to become more independent
competitors themselves.”
The “Versatility Schools” are about
becoming a well-rounded rider for either
pleasure or competition, with the
emphasis on competitive riding. These
schools are geared toward the rider who
wants to either take it to the next level in
competition, or learn new events, or re-enter competition after
a layoff. They also
are perfect for the rider who is considering
competition for the first time and wants
to find out what it is all about. Palm
Partnership Training™ “Versatility
Schools” are the first in the United States.
Lynn and Cyril bring decades of
competitive experience in English,
Western and Jumping disciplines to their
instruction. Classes include training, both
on the ground and in the saddle, and are
complemented by video sessions and
interactive classroom discussions that are
intended to improve the student’s
precision and communication with
his/her horse.
The “Dressage Principles Schools –
Levels 1-4” teach riding and training techniques that will
enable the rider to
gain control and achieve resistance-free
acceptance from their horse, without
using force. The schools also teach the
student how to become “thinking riders”
and how to develop harmony with their
horse.
Fox Grove Farm’s facilities include
lodging on the property, meals at the
Main House, pool and hot tub, an
English-style pub, and 34 scenic acres of
lush pastures and live oaks. Trail rides in
nearby Ocala National Forest and boat
trips on nearby rivers are easily organized.
Of course, mild winter temperatures are
enticing to those in the cold North.
Royal Palm Ranch is situated on
100-wooded acres. It has both indoor and outdoor riding arenas,
a classroom viewing
area, and miles of riding trails. Lodging is
two miles away in ski chalets at Big
Powderhorn Mountain Ski Resort, or
camping facilities are available. Other
activities available include: swimming and
boating on Lake Gogebic cruises on Lake
Superior, and cookouts in the North
Woods.
The emphasis in all the Palm
Partnership Training™ courses, as the
name itself suggests, is building a
partnership between rider and horse. After
safety for the rider, consideration for the
horse is of the utmost importance to Lynn.
Students often hear her say, “Be the rider
that your horse deserves!”
Acceptance from the horse without
using force is the goal Lynn strives for, and
the ultimate demonstration of such
acceptance is the bridle-less routine. Lynn
has perfected this routine over the years
with several horses. Ms. Steele helped Lynn
train Mocha Dell, the first horse Lynn rode
bridle-less. It was her demonstrations with
Rugged Lark, however, that have had the
biggest impact on audiences and garnered
the pair thousands of fans.
“
Rugged Lark and I started
performing together after he won his
second AQHA Superhorse Title. We began
doing bridle-less routines set to music and
ended up performing at many major
shows, including the National Horse Show
and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta,” says
Lynn.
Lynn looks back on all her
accomplishments with great pride for both
herself and her equine partners. With her
focus firmly set on education, however,
Lynn’s primary aim is to teach other riders
the skills with which they may achieve
their own goals, including being a good
partner with their horse.
Contact Information:
For additional information about
Lynn Palm and Palm Partnership Training™
call toll free 1-800-503-2824 or
(352) 629-3310 (October thru May) or
(906) 932-0770 (June thru September).
Log on to www.lynnpalm.com and sign up on
the home page for our freetraining newsletter
that includes information about future events. |
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