CLD Education Day

Body Awareness Clinic

Learn how to apply basic Body Awareness Techniques to improve your riding and overall well-being:
- long, lean muscles,
- fluid, controlled movement,
- independent leg and arm mobility,
- relaxed mental state and
- proper alignment.

Discover how to:
- keep yourself still without blocking your horse,
- connect your half-halts to your core,
- hold without pulling and
- keep your lower legs from wobbling.

Biography of Instructor:

Jennifer Malott Kotylo is a life long FEI dressage rider, a USDF Bronze and Silver medallist, certified Core Dynamics Pilates teacher and certified Equilates instructor as well as one of the first certified Echart Meyners Balimo instructors in the United States. She teaches and coaches dressage riders and eventers, regularly writes for various equine publications and is currently enrolled in the USAE “r” judging program.


Jennifer trains with Patti Becker at Fireside Farm and regularly clinics with Mette Rosencrantz and Christine Traurig. Her current show horse is a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding, who she shows at Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I.


Jennifer is the past president of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association and the current editor of their newsletter, The Scribe. On behalf of the IDCTA, she organized the group’s first Learner judges training program, put together their marketing and sponsorship packet, began a Ride-a-Test clinic series, and helped to organize their horse shows. She also created the IDCTA’s CHEEP program (Charities for Equines & Equestrians Program), where Scribe advertising space is to horse-related charitable organizations. In 2000, The Sentinel, a Midwest-based newspaper for the horse industry, named Jennifer “Horseperson of the Year.” In 2001, the Pantano Society awarded her their first scholarship for adult continuing education. And in 2003, the IDCTA awarded her their coveted “President’s Award.”


Jennifer came to Pilates for some rehabilitation work. “A lifetime of bad postural habits, sitting behind a desk and ignored injuries had turned my body into a crooked, stiff mess. I tried massage and acupuncture, and they certainly helped, but it’s been Pilates that has given me my body back. In fact, Pilates made such a significant impact on my riding that I committed myself to becoming certified as both a Core Dynamics Pilates instructor and as one of Betsy Steiner’s Equilates instructors. Echart Meyners’ work has been a natural adjunct to my Pilates training, as it combined the Pilates philosophies with those of Feldenkreis and Alexander.”


Clinic hosted by Pratense Farms and sponsored by CLD.