PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson Equestrian Association will sponsor two clinics this weekend.
The all-day equestrian clinics are with world-renowned riding instructor Mitzi Summers.
The first is a bitless bridle workshop Saturday at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The second is on centered riding Sunday at Kim McGuire’s arena near Discovery Bay Golf Course.
Each one costs $50. Auditors pay $25 for each.
Class space is limited for horses and riders, so preregistration is required.
“We’re pleased to offer a workshop that will explore the possibilities of bitless riding with the opportunity to try out a bitless bridle while under the guidance of a professional riding instructor,” said JEA President Kim Hunt.
“The second day’s workshop will focus on centered riding, developed by Sally Swift, who was inducted into the U.S. Dressage Federation Hall of Fame.”
Swift’s two books on centered riding are among the top-selling horse books of all time and have been translated into many languages, Hunt said.
Swift was a mentor to Summers, who is now one of 20 Level IV centered riding clinicians in the world.
She has introduced centered riding to many countries, including South Africa, New Zealand and Europe.
Through body work and horse/rider anatomy and biomechanics, centered riding enables the rider to better communicate with the horse.
To preregister, contact Summer Martell at summermartell@hotmail.com or 360-531-1726.
Summers also will be available for private lessons through Tuesday while she’s in Port Townsend.
JEA was created to facilitate the development of the Jefferson Equestrian Events Center, located on 80 acres of county property off Cape George Road, bordering the county recycling facility.
For more information, visit www.jeffersonequestrian.org or email info@jeffersonequestrian.org.