14 Thursday, February 27, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
9
by Patti Babcock
A synergy of horse and rider. Moving as one. Bend-
ing, flexing moving in the natural direction of the
horse. Cantering - turning left, now
right, up, down, appearing to barely
touch the ground. Gliding effortlessly
in a dance of natural, graceful move-
ment. Horse and rider, one with each
other. Musically, artistically and spiri-
tually creating an equestrian ballet. This
is the goal set by Ronnie Zielenski and
her riding students.
Zielenski knows the thrill, the beauty,
the fulfillment of being so in touch with
your horse you move and feel as one.
She was seven years old when she be-
gan riding. At nine she received the
horse she would grow with.
Sir Corporal Billings, an open jumper,
was a palomino gelding standing 16.3
hands. A big horse for a little girl. Show-
ing in equitation, hunter and open jump-
ing classes, the grand horse with the
great heart carried Zielenski from child-
hood to a place on the United States
Equestrian Team.
From 1964 to 1967, she trained on the 3-day team.
A different event is featured each day to test the
endurance, stamina and athletic ability of horse and
rider. The first day's riding is roads, track and steeple
chasing. The second day is cross country jumping.
The third day is stadium jumping with heights set
at three feet, six inches; four feet and five feet.
Health problems forced Zielenski to leave the team
one month before the world championship compe-
tition in England. By 1969, the equestrian was able
to return to training and teaching in a New Jersey
facility operated by a U.S. Olympic riding coach.
In addition to teaching --
riding, she also con-
An equestrian ballet
drug, alcohol, food and other addictive illnesses.
Zielenski limits both her counseling practice and her
riding instruction to motivated people who seriously
want to improve. Commitment and dedication are pre-
requisites.
The instructor will accept students of all ages and
levels of experience, but she does limit the number.
The teacher stresses that she does not train horses and
says the student must have a reliable horse who knows
something. Lessons are
given at the student's fa-
cility. Instruction is lim-
ited to what is popularly
thought of as English
cs
and judged horse p Veterinary Hospital
shows. One of the ze-
niths in Zielenski s Tonopah Clinic
equestrian career was Dr. Lind will be " Tonopah 1
when she and her stu- March l;
dents competed in the
I] Front downstairs office- 42 Belmont St. ]l
II Appoinlments/Info, Call 482-6453 after 5 p.m. I|
II Dr. Linda will be in everv other Wednesdav II
II 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.: Dogs, cats and other small animals, II
|] including spays, neutering, dentistry, minor surgery, etc. ]|
I[ 1:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.: Horses, cows, etc. 1[
00G,,T,:L,Mc '00q00lll
I/ • 'nop5:30p.mtoT:30p.. tl
|/ Round Mountain: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. I1
l/ _ Same dates as Tonopah Clinic II
point shows at Madison
Square Gardens.
Building her career as
a clinical psychologist
consumed the bulk of
Zielenski's time and
energies after she com-
pleted college. She be-
came the Assistant Di-
rector of Youth and
Family Services for the
State of New Jersey.
She moved on to Ulster
County, New York
where she was Director
of Social Services.
Plagued by continuing
health problems,
Zielenski decided to
move to a warmer, drier
environment. In No-
vember 1991, she
moved to Las Vegas
where she became di-
rector of outpatient
counseling at Westcare.
Seeking the amenities
of a more rural atmo-
sphere, the counselor
moved to Pahrump in
April 1992 and estab-
lished a private practice
to counsel people with
| ii
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i i
riding. Zielenski says she teaches the European Lat-
eral Method.
"Everything comes from a good, se-
cure, deep seat," she says. The rider
should depend on muscles and limbs
not on riding aids such as stirrups.
During training, Zielenski longes the
horse while her student rides without
stirrups or reins. The rider is posi-
tioned on his/her "sit bones" with el-
bows over the hips, much as one sits
in a chair. Balance is from the top of
the head down into the spine and into
the hands positioned at a 45 degree
angle creating a straight line to the
horse's mouth.
The horse is trained from behind for-
ward riding the horse into the hands.
The horse will collect, move the neck
up, round and come back moving in a
rounded, rhythmic movement. Using
the hands, legs and body the rider
learns to go to the natural movement
of the horse.
Becoming one with the horse in-
volves more than riding ability. Zielenski encourages
riders to communicate verbally with the horse. Talk-
ing and whispering are part of developing the bond-
ing and trust essential for horse and rider t function
as one unit in perfect balance. Only then can they cre-
ate their unique equestrian ballet.
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Chuck Wagon Breakfast 10 am - I pm
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