AA Focused Clinic Series - Anyone organized one?

the problem I’ve seen in my area is that while the GMO brings in BNT clinicians, they end up being filled by local GP trainers and their clients. It’s not a first come first served thing, you have to apply and then the organizers decide who gets to go. At least anyone can audit though. Last time a BNT came through the organizers made a big deal about how they wanted horses at all levels and of all breeds, but it ended up being filled by several local very well known trainers and their students. Even though the area is quite large with a ton of members, the actual people participating came from within a very short distance of the very nice venue.

There is no way to know who actually applied without talking to a ton of people, but it didn’t appear to be as varied as the organizers said it was targeted for.

I applied for one of these once and was told can’t take any more applications we are full. I knew for a fact that they weren’t so I emailed someone else who said yeah there is space and I ended up getting in. Who knows how many other people wanted to go to that one and were turned away when maybe they could have got in if they were more assertive or did more digging around.

I have no idea what my GMO is doing these days. I haven’t even looked. My trainer has started inviting her own clinicians in, even a BNT, so I don’t bother with the gmo. I’ve seen quite a few other trainers start doing this as well.

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I was one of the AA riders who benefited from riding in more than one of these USDF clinics held in our region - Betsy Steiner, Charlotte Bredahl, and Hilda Gurney. I was able to walk away with applications that continue to help me today. However, I do want to give kudos to our local GMO, who has also been putting on similar clinics though not restricted to AAs, still appropriately focused to appeal to the AAs which I have been very lucky over the years to get to ride in as well - Christine Traurig, Lilo Fore…there’s been more. Each individual I’ve ridden with in these clinics had their own focus, but all were welcoming to all levels of riding and all types of horses. Heck, Christine and Betsy each climbed on and rode my horse in their respective clinics. My hat was off to Betsy because I let her know when she asked to get on that my horse had never been ridden by anyone but me at that time (he was 6) and she still mounted and gave me an opportunity (very positive) I will never forget. I’ve been involved in the distant past of organizing such clinics for a group of us who got together and hosted judges and clinicians (Maryall Barnett, Tracey Lert, Paula Kierkegaard, and others) for similar purposes at private barns in the area. Some of these individuals we were successful in bringing in repeatedly. The one key factor when you’re doing it without GMO backing is not only having the facility (appropriate for all kinds of weather) but having a few riders who have some depth of mounts - not so much by level but just sheer number of sound horses. I can’t tell you how many times I had to fill a slot with another one of my horses (sometimes a broodmare with ‘that’ season off) because someone backed out at the last minute. Even if they paid and the money isn’t refundable unless they get a replacement, you still have auditors expecting to watch and get something out of it.

I have worked with Jan Ebeling for the last three years and he absolutely willingly teaches amateurs and is wonderful at getting you to try things you think you/your horse “can’t do.”

I have personally seen him teach people who are maybe only touching training level. Would absolutely recommend him.

Having been involved in one of these “clinics” years ago (we called it a symposium), I can tell you that our GMO was selling raffle tickets and lunches to cover the cost of bringing in the high-profile person for exactly the reasons digihorse outlined above. It was very expensive and USDF was almost no help at all. I don’t think we broke even. We never did it again.

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Sadly Francois passed away last fall. I am heartbroken, he is one of the best instructors I have ever ridden with.

I took a lesson from him 2 weeks before his passing. To say his death was a shock is an understatement.

I know, I was just floored.

I rode with Francois several times in clinics. He was the best. I’m so sad he is gone.

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Rodrigo Matos https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008372890009

One of the kindest, most talented riders and clinicians I’ve seen. My trainer, Patrica Norcia, uses him to train her horses in the passage and upper level movements when they come to it, and in his clinics, he is kind and careful and patient and creative with training level or third and fourth level riders and horses. Amazing what we accomplish at his clinics. He clinics all over the country, and is from Portugal. Fun and different!

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I will second that Rodrigo Matos is a wonderful teacher! Very kind and compassionate with the horses. The only downside is he is very quiet so be sure to have a microphone if you have auditors.

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