2012 Hamar, Norway
July 3, 2012
Keylee Sayler, AQHA’s international intern, and the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College horsemanship clinic team finish their first clinic in Hamar, Norway, with beautiful weather and great hospitality.
The Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College clinic team, myself and most of the camp participants gather around for a picture at the end of the day.
Hallo!
We have just finished up with our first camp in Hamar, Norway, at the Lykseth Ranch, and it was fantastic! The team from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College did a great job teaching the horsemanship camp, which was held for four days and consisted of 12 people. Not only did the college students have a wonderful time when teaching the clinics, but we also enjoyed learning about the Norwegian culture and the landscape. For instance, did you know that during the Norwegian summer, the sun never sets? The lowest it will get is to the horizon.
During the camp, the NEO horsemanship clinic team – Chelsie Huseman, Shannon Cunningham, Jackie Reed, Brittney Fund and Becca Gagan – broke each day up into riding sessions, classroom sessions and then at the end of the day, there would be a game. For fun during lunch, we all practiced our roping skills. The first day, we had beautiful weather and camp attendees learned more about:
- How to find the correct bit for their horse
- Equine nutrition
- Verbal and non-verbal cues
- Flexing and lateral movement
On the second day, the clinic attendees gained knowledge about showmanship, and then later on in the day, the camp attendees got a workout staying in two-point position with no stirrups. This exercise enables them to gain their balance horseback, which improves their horsemanship skills. Once everyone learned the correct body position, the next task was how to be correct and add finesse to a horsemanship pattern.
The third and fourth day, everyone learned how to maneuver their horse through trail obstacles and also how to stay correct and penalty-free in reining. Then to wrap it up, the NEO team had them run through all the patterns to try out and show off what they had learned.
When the NEO team was not teaching, we were able to try some delicious Norwegian food, which consisted of jam, goat cheese and, of course, their amazing chocolate. When the camp was done, the wonderful hosts also took the team to go see Icelandic ponies and even a driving competition.
Stayed tuned for the next adventure: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College is now starting to travel to the Czech Republic, and I am off to meet with the University of Wyoming team in Denmark .
Ha Det!
Keylee Sayler
AQHA International Intern
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5 Comments on “2012 Hamar, Norway”
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July 4th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Happy 4th of July!!! Your article is great and quite informative – makes me want to come and visit and partake in all of the clinics! You would think that horses would be different there and the attire, too! Horses look like ours, jeans and western shirts are worn with buckeled belts and all. You fit right in:) Hope everyday is a great adventure and look forward to your next blog…
July 5th, 2012 at 9:47 am
We are therapeutic riding center located in McKinney. We serve children and adults with disabilites by offering sports riding.
I would like to send you an invitation to our next volunteer training for you to post in your barn.
Please send me your email so I can forward to you or I will be happy to drop one.
Just let me know.
Thanks,
Kathy Martin
ManeGait volunteer coordinator
July 6th, 2012 at 11:30 am
Sounds like you’re having a blast, we miss you Keylee! I can’t wait to hear about everything when you come back to Canyon America. Love you!:)
July 16th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Hey Keylee, how amazing Norway! It looks like you are having a great time. You are doing a wonderful thing helping others to learn more about horsemanship and the AQHA. I can not wait for your next stop. It is odd to here that you will be meeting up with the UW team there in Europe. It sounds like you are having fun, we all miss you here in Cheyenne!
July 19th, 2012 at 8:53 am
Wow, so jealous you were in Norway! I was suprised when I traveled to Norway and Sweden how similar the architecture is to our own back in the states. I’m so glad your clinic went great and that is really neat your getting to learn as much about the places your going as you are teaching! Is it still really expensive in Norway? Love you.
Love,
Carl
PS- I got to see the sun never set when I traveled to the most northern college town in the world, Tromso, Norway. Tromso, also has the most Northern wooden church in the world. Just FYI.