Wim Foekma Clinic At Mid-South Dressage Academy Delta Dressage Association brought clinician Wim Foekma to the Mid-South Dressage Academy (MSDA) in Hernando, MS July 17-18. Organized by DDA Officer Marsha Klimetz, folks at Delta Dressage described him as a “wonderful instructor and very accomplished rider.” MSDA-rider/ instructor Ila Handy has ridden in clinics with Wim previously and likes his “kind, steady approach with horses and riders. He can easily make the transition from schooling upper level professional riders to lower level amateur riders. He has such a kind, nice presence,” she said. Ila has learned several exercises and approaches from Wim that were new to her, and finds them very helpful to her horses. “He does a lot of leg yielding from the rail against the bend, followed by straightening the horse with the inside aids. This is a good exercise to get the horse aligned,” she said. Ila described another exercise she learned from Wim: “For a horse who is difficult to balance after lengthening, try this. From F to E, trot lengthening across the short diagonal, then immediately circle 10 M at E. From the 10 M circle, trot lengthening again across the short diagonal, E to M, then move immediately into another 10 M circle. Wim teaches the rider to let the circle balance the horse, rather than the rider try to balance the horse (with the reins and other aids). Use the figure to balance the horse; it’s like putting the horse in a chute.” Wim Foekema is originally from the Netherlands and started riding at age 9. He followed an all around education curriculum at the ORUN in Ermelo, Netherlands, where he received the Commandanten Diploma, Assistant-Instructors Diploma, and Instructors Course with one of the highest scores for his teaching abilities. He was an “r” judge in Holland and judged many local shows. After moving to the USA in 1987, Wim has competed numerous horses in dressage and eventing. He has competed at the FEI level successfully for the last five years with Oelizan at Prix St. George and Ovatio at Intermediare I & II. Isabelle, his home-bred mare, has competed at Second level and debuted at Third level in Florida with scores up to 67% at Third Level Test 3. His current training facilities are Pas de Duex Farm in Burnsville, MN, and Pas de Deux South in Ocala, FL. Wim conducts clinics in Dallas and Ft. Worth, Texas, Ocala, FL, and Mankato, MN; he teaches lessons at several barns in Minnesota; and judges schooling shows in the area as well. Wim’s teaching philosophy is keep it simple, common sense, and hard work.