Boyd Martin Clinic

[mdp9]

Considering doing the Boyd Martin Clinic at Wheatland Farm (Purcellville, VA) next month. Obviously Boyd Martin is awesome, but I was hoping to hear some first hand experiences on if people felt that his clinics were worth the money and a valuable experience. As a note, we are going Training (maybe Prelim next year?) and have no big “issues” in stadium, so it’s not like I’m looking for a magic solution or anything. Just want to learn more!

If I don’t end up riding I will go audit, but I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[tbchick84]

I had signed up for one a few years ago but withdrew when I was told that he tends to push people well out of their comfort zone and he’s all about forward. I needed a confidence building experience and it did not seem to fit the bill.

[mfleming13]

I took my gelding XC schooling for the second time ever with him and I found it very helpful. I was bumping around between trainers and wanted eyes on the ground and the clinic was nearby so I thought I would give him a try. It’s hard for me to vouch on what I learned from it as my gelding was very green but he gave me some very helpful advice on bringing along a horse and all the questions were appropriate to the level I signed up for. I didn’t think he pushed anyone and was patient with people who were having problems. I would definitely clinic with him again if he was nearby and the price was right!

[Winding_Down]

I love riding with Boyd and he is great for horses and/or riders with confidence issues. He encourages you to go forward and designs exercises that help you do this. That being said, I only do eventing clinics that are xc. But that’s just me.

He is also a lot of fun!

[ottb]

Did a XC lesson with Boyd many years ago @ FH (before Windurra). I don’t do many lessons/clinics. I described my horse as timid to Boyd in the introductions - I felt horse was “stuck” at N/T. During the post lesson debrief he said your horse isn’t timid - he’s just careful. At the time it sounded like semantics to me and that Boyd was just trying to be nice and find a positive to end on. However, I tweaked my ride slightly (on that horse as well as some other horses) and that horse quickly went up the levels. I think Boyd is quite insightful. And those few words stick with me do this day.

[JFCeventer]

I did a Boyd Martin clinic a few years ago with my horse that was going Novice and looking at a Training moveup later that season and we rode in the Training group. Boyd was really great at pushing riders slightly out of their comfort zone without overfacing them. What I mean by that is the exercises were all set up to make it successful for both horse and rider even if the jumps looked a little daunting and I think everybody left the clinic feeling really confident and good about themselves, riders and horses both. He also had some great exercises set up that I have used multiple times since then. If someone was having trouble he had no problem making the exercise simpler whether that was lowering a jump or adding guide rails to something skinny. I had a great time and would not hesitate to ride with him again.

[ebott2015]

I did a XC clinic last spring going BN. Haven’t school xc for months and after 3rd refusal of a table I fell off. Kinda embarrassing but he’s very positive and even after that he was really encouraging and we eventually conquered everything else. I’d say he’s all about getting things done and riding forward and positively. However I’d say he’s not for the sensitive hearts because he will really push you and there’s definitely pressure from him and the people you ride with. I did learn a great deal from that one day clinic though. I say it’s well worth the money!