This. Exactly. I have a lot of respect for most clinicians. I think most do their best to train a completely unknown horse and rider combination. Some are better with warmbloods. Some are good with all horses. However, the ones that have helped me sit better, warm up my horse better, and focused on basics I could retain and practice have been the most valuable. Best for me Paul Kathen, Bill Solyntjes, Jeremy Beal, Volker Brommann, and Shannon Dueck.
I’ve had bad experiences with some well known and respected clinicians that tried really hard to help me and my horse but she had medical problems we didn’t know about and they focused on her and not me. The more they tried, the more tense I got, the worse my seat became, unyielding reins, same with the horse, I’m tense/she’s tense, and if they wanted me to push her into a strong contact, it would fall apart or she would blow up. I had one lose interest and start chatting with a lovely barn buddy and I told him I was paying him for his time and not her and come back and teach me something. My first clinic was with a young European who also sold Hanoverians and declared my horse unsuitable, get rid of her. I’m surprised I tried again but all my barn buddies and my neighbor talked me into trying with Jeremy. He was lovely and enjoyed my horse and really helped us. He laughed a lot but in a very kind way.
My first ride with Bill was almost a disaster. The horse I was going to ride was lame, I pulled out my old mostly retired horse and started warming her up. It was freezing so I wore jeans and longjohns so I looked like a mess. Everyone was so cold they moved lunch up and didn’t tell me so I’m riding my old horse in the cold and finally get off and am hand leading her and have tired her out. Here they all come back and I am cold and mad and upset and think the weekend is ruined. I say something to him, the organizer, barn buddies, then he starts off irritated. Thank that old mare for bringing us both around because she is trying so hard, he snaps into being incredibly professional and helpful and it was a good ride. The next day was warmer so I show up in proper riding attire, my younger horse seems sound so I catch Bill on a break, hop on her bareback with the halter and ask him to check her. He said she looks great, see y’all later at the ride time. He worked with us every time he came for years as she slowly succumbed over the years to an unknown slow growth tumor. I wouldn’t know what was wrong and gave up in one clinic. I didn’t know if it was me or him and had no idea it was her. Two medical journal articles, a dental presentation, and a Western Horseman article, lovely lovely kind mare. Everything he taught me I can use on my current horse. When I put her down, I reached out to him as he doesn’t travel here anymore, and he was lovely and said just the right things.
Watching Paul give lessons got me started on Dressage for which I have the least natural talent ever. Paul is patient, kind, helps me and my horses, and I don’t backslide. Slow and steady progress. He sticks through horse rehab, rider rehab, loss of confidence, fear, he works with the horse and rider as presented. He is professional and dedicated to the good of the horse and helps the rider with calm and confidence. Volker and Shannon are dedicated, kind, patient, and work with the horse and rider.
Paul, Bill, Jeremy, Volker, and Shannon were and are so patient and knowledgeable and worked with the rider and horse in front of them, and I appreciate them so much.
