A First of Its Kind: Recapping the Polish Your Dressage Youth Clinic

There's something different about a clinic day when every rider is under eighteen.

On June 13, the Ottawa Area Dressage Group hosted its first-ever Polish Your Dressage: Youth Clinic at Huntleigh Equestrian Centre in west Ottawa. From the first ride at 8:00 a.m. to the final halt at 4:30 p.m., Canadian High Performance 1 Coach Armand Valkenborg worked with eleven junior riders across four competitive levels, from Introductory through to FEI Junior. The horses were as varied as the riders: each pair at their own stage of partnership and with their own story to tell.

Our Riders

The morning opened with five Training Level rides. Frankie Craig and Humpty Dumpty started the day, followed by Morgan Baldwin with Bring It On, Arianna Bowles with Rafa, Sierra Vereyken with Keeshe, and Nadia Bowles with Laced with Sass. Mika Baldwin and Layla brought the morning to a close with a lovely Introductory Level session just before lunch.

The afternoon showcased the depth of talent in our junior community. Olivera Donskov opened on Contessa the Red at the FEI Junior level, demonstrating the kind of riding that reminds us just how far dedicated young athletes can go. Introductory Level returned with two pairs in the ring together: Zoey Lepage with Phin and River Lafont with Sweet Like Taffy. Beatrice Wright and Windigo Montcalm Arramys followed with a strong showing, and Olivera closed out the entire day with a second ride, this time at First Level on Milani DR. It was a generous and impressive contribution to what was already a full day.

Fundamentals First

Armand anchored the day in the core foundations of dressage: consistent contact, responsiveness, straightness, engagement and balance. For the youngest riders, that meant being encouraged to truly communicate with their horses and ponies: to make requests clearly and with confidence, and to expect a willing response. The emphasis throughout was not on perfection, but partnership.

One of the most instructive threads running through the day was the relationship between the rider's position and the horse's way of going. Armand had multiple riders sit more lightly in the saddle, and the effect was immediate and visible: horses softened and moved more freely forward. As one auditor reflected, watching that connection between how a rider carries themselves and how a horse responds was one of the most valuable things to observe across the entire day.

Armand also introduced several riders to the idea of initiating the halt through the seat rather than the hands. With patient repetition and Armand's quiet encouragement, every horse found understanding of the aid. Those moments, where a subtle shift in the rider produced a clear and willing response from the horse, were some of the most rewarding to witness.

Meeting Riders Where They Are

What stood out consistently was how well Armand calibrated his coaching to each horse-and-rider pair. He encouraged riders to try things more than once, to be comfortable with a few attempts before a movement clicked, and to give their horses the time and space to understand what was being asked. For one rider working with a younger horse, that meant allowing the horse to find its own balance through a more forward gait, trusting the process rather than holding back.

That spirit of patience and curiosity ran through the entire day. Armand asked his riders questions as much as he gave them answers, and he made space for them to ask him questions in return.

"It was really great to see Armand as a high level coach walking the kids through the basics. It went so smoothly. It was really informative to watch the day. I took a lot away from it," an auditor reflected.

In the final ride of the day, Armand challenged Olivera to ride Milani DR boldly forward in the canter, working to develop the lengthened stride. It was a high-energy, ambitious note to close on, and a fitting reflection of the standard Armand held for every rider throughout the day regardless of level.

"It was great to see Armand asking the kids questions and giving them time to ask him questions. It was great to see the transformation in such a friendly atmosphere,." an Auditor said.

The Mental Performance Workshop

Tucked between the morning and afternoon riding blocks was a highlight that many participants are still talking about: a Mental Performance Workshop with Mental Performance Consultant Emma Watson, offered exclusively to riders and junior auditors.

Emma used a hands-on, activity-based approach, guiding participants through group discussion and interactive exercises designed to bring sport psychology concepts to life for young competitors. She encouraged the young athletes to reflect inward and to use positive self-talk as a genuine tool for improving their performance in the ring. The engagement in the room was immediate and real.

The idea that the mental side of riding is a trainable skill, not a fixed trait, is one OADG will be championing through its Mental Performance Series. Seeing that message land with junior athletes in a group setting, led by a skilled professional, was one of many quiet successes of the day.

A Day Worth Celebrating

The June 13 clinic was something the OADG has not offered before: a full day of programming designed from the ground up for the next generation of Ottawa-area dressage riders. Eleven young athletes brought their horses, their focus and their willingness to learn, and they left having grown. Families who came to watch left with something to think about too.

This is exactly the kind of investment OADG exists to make. Junior riders deserve programming that meets them seriously, that challenges them thoughtfully, and that connects them to a community of people who love this sport as much as they do. We are proud of every rider who participated and grateful to everyone who came out to support them.

We are already thinking about what our next youth clinic willlook like, and we hope to see even more of our junior community involved. If you are the parent or coach of a junior rider who would like to participate in future OADG youth programming, we would love to hear from you. Keep an eye on our website for upcoming announcements.

A sincere thank you to Armand Valkenborg for bringing such thoughtful, energetic and genuinely joyful instruction to our young riders, to Emma Watson for a workshop that gave these athletes real tools to carry forward, and to Carole Jenkins and her team at Huntleigh Equestrian Centre for being such warm and generous hosts. We would not be able to host events like these without access to such a beautiful facility.

Watch our video highlight reel here

Photos courtesy of Chrissy Craig and @aureastudio.ca