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Virtual Consultation Guidelines

There are typically two types of Virtual Consultations:
Sporthorse Evaluation
Riding & Training

How to Videotape Your Consultation for Sporthorse Evaluation
For your first consultation, have someone videotape your horse standing from the side, front, back and opposite side. Footage of each side should be long enough for a conformation evaluation, with the horse in full frame so that I can get a full impression of your horse. Side shots should be taken from the center of the horse so that neither his forehand or quarters are at an angle. It also helps give a more realistic perception of the horse if the video camera is not angled downward. Ideally, these angles would be maintained for a minute or so, however, as we all know, young horses don't always want to stand still! If your horse is not feeling cooperative about standing for the conformation evaluation portion of the video, it is helpful to include still photos of these angles for evaluation.

Sporthorse inspections are generally shown on a triangle, and ideally, you would show your horse at the walk and trot on the triangle on your video as well. If you don't feel comfortable trying to show your horse on a triangle, that is fine too. There is an art to showing a horse in a triangle and help on that will be the subject of articles available to CSI members in the near future!

If you aren't comfortable showing your horse on the triangle, please get footage of your horse walking and trotting (energetically) from the side angle and also coming toward and moving away from the video camera. For best footage, put the camera on a tripod. The higher the quality of the video, the more accurate the evaluation will be.

Showing the horse at liberty in order to show his or her canter is recommended as well. The ideal space is a small paddock or round pen so that the video can be taken from the center and the horse can be seen moving around the camera.

If your horse is not used to being shown in hand, a full video may be made with the horse at liberty, just make sure that you get sufficient footage of all gaits for a complete evaluation. Free jumping and riding may be included, at your own discretion, let your own goals and objectives guide what other footage is included on the video.

How to Videotape Your Consultation for Riding & Training
A Riding & Training Virtual Clinic is a custom lesson based on your current need and focus. The best video is one showing the horse and rider from the beginning of a session, including first mounting & warm up and followed by your normal riding session. If you have any specific areas of concern, please be sure to include those on the video. Please wear something reasonably formfitting -- it's hard analyze a rider's seat and help you make changes if a baggy clothes hide your body position.

Subsequent video consultations should include the exercises you have been working on so that I can see what is working and what isn't, where you may need clarification or more work on a weak point. I will also be able to see what new problems may have come up in the time between video consultations. And most importantly, what new exercises you and your horse can use to continue to make progress once you have mastered the previous ones.

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