Don’t worry, I ride with an eggbutt snaffle. I learned forward seat under Jane Marshall Dillon.
So, serious question: do you think the first pic in the link to the photos shows good riding?
Anybody, feel free to answer. And I won’t be shy. I think it looks terrible, and I would not be proud enough of that pic to post it anywhere, let alone in a prominent place to attract a training clientele.
[QUOTE=VSTELL;8269730]
Don’t worry, I ride with an eggbutt snaffle. I learned forward seat under Jane Marshall Dillon.[/QUOTE]
Then you should know, right? That first photo (on the Pinto), sure looks like backwards riding to me. I get yelled at when I lift my hands even half that high, and rightly so.
You state in another post that “She WAS one of the best riders in the world”. (Emphasis mine)
Was? She hasn’t passed away, has she?
[QUOTE=VSTELL;8270010]
Forward seat and the classical dressage seat are based on different principles. If you want a hunter/jumper barn go somewhere else. Dede started with hunters as an early teen and rode in the medal finals. When she trained in Germany with Thiedeman she was taught dressage was the basis of all riding. She rode Grand Prix jumper riders and was very competitive. She has also ridden a triple crown contender in the racing industry. She no longer jumps due to a serious injury. She is riding deep in the picture you don’t like. It’s not from her hands, its from her seat and legs and many hours of developing collection through the horse’s training. This goes back to the old argument between forward seat riders and dressage riders that collection is not good for a horse. A lot of hunter riders throw their horses on the forehand and make it over the fence because the fences are low. Grand Prix jumper riders are usually more collected or they won’t make it over the fences. I do not enjoy these internet forums with cruel and mindless posts. If you are a forward seat rider and are comfortable with that, fine. Don’t go to a dressage barn.[/QUOTE]
I don’t understand trying to make this about forward vs. dressage seat. I’m not and never have been a hunter rider. This does not look like good dressage to me.
I find the pictures so intriguing simply because they were apparently chosen to highlight the training on the trainer’s website. So, unlike the arguments that ensue when pics are posted of horses in the warm up ridden tight like that, I’m thinking this wouldn’t be defended as just a moment in time. Hence, my question. I’ve been taught this type of riding is not good for the horse (and no, I’m not talking about collection), so I’m wondering if anybody can explain what they think IS good about it.
That looks so uncomfortable for both horse and rider. So much for the horse being over its back.
This goes back to the old argument between forward seat riders and dressage riders that collection is not good for a horse. A lot of hunter riders throw their horses on the forehand and make it over the fence because the fences are low. Grand Prix jumper riders are usually more collected or they won’t make it over the fences.
Say what?!?
Hahahahaha… Clearly you’ve never done high level jumping nor dressage!
Forward seat and the classical dressage seat are based on different principles. If you want a hunter/jumper barn go somewhere else
If you are a forward seat rider and are comfortable with that, fine. Don’t go to a dressage barn.
VSTELL- this is a dressage forum.
Well. That was special.
[QUOTE=ThreeFigs;8270298]
Well. That was special.[/QUOTE]
Most confusing. Houseguest. Ever.
I think she was trying to explain that all you hunter people who hang out here on the dressage board with your love of the forward seat and hate for collection will sadly never understand klassikal dressage.
I don’t understand why people feel the need to criticize, bully, and make fun of others. Obviously someone or more than one someone has a negative opinion of DeDe Bierbrauer. You are making that very clear in your comments and arguing. Maybe just don’t hang out at her barn. This is all just mean-spirited.
Of all the photos that have been taken of ME riding at shows, clinics, or whatnot, there’s plenty of fodder for criticism, snark and entertainment.
However, if choosing photos for a website advertising your training skills, wouldn’t you pick ones that show you at your VERY best? Not ones that show a horse that looks crammed together with the rider breaking that elbow/hand/bit line upwards?
The balance of the photos show a lovely facility and it looks like the proprietors and boarders are having a good time (the picnic, photos, the smiling students in lessons, that sort of thing…).
Just saying the selection of photos could have been better.
I agree that this farm and their owners are being blasted by people who have nothing better to do than say negative things that are hurtful, damaging and ignorant. I have a long relationship as well with WindCrest and it is very obvious that all who truly love horses, understand them, train and ride them are conveniently living under the same roof there. It is time for those that feel they must spread their ill meant feelings around in public oblivously have a very low opinion of themselves to pick on others. If you don’t have something constructive or nice to say…then don’t say it.
[QUOTE=Mbdressage;8271185]
If you don’t have something constructive or nice to say…then don’t say it.[/QUOTE]
Well, then this wouldn’t be a DISCUSSION forum, would it? :winkgrin:
Look, it’s not that bad. A couple of people wrote slightly negative (although not all that overt) reviews on this board YEARS AND YEARS ago. It clearly didn’t do her business all THAT much harm so why not just let it go? People are allowed to like some trainers and not others.
And if any one of you actually is DeDe or knows her, please pass along the message that it might be the time to review the pics on her training website. Some of them really aren’t great and if they don’t accurately portray the quality of her riding, she should rectify that.
We all have pictures where we look great and pictures where we look like a drunk monkey tied to a saddle, and the reality is usually somewhere in between. Try to pick the good ones. 
[QUOTE=rebecca yount;8270616]
I don’t understand why people feel the need to criticize, bully, and make fun of others. Obviously someone or more than one someone has a negative opinion of DeDe Bierbrauer. You are making that very clear in your comments and arguing. Maybe just don’t hang out at her barn. This is all just mean-spirited.[/QUOTE]
The original discussion, which took pace in 2012, consisted of four posts, the most negative of which were two suggestions that the OP go visit the facility herself - which doesn’t strike me as being especially negative.
It wasn’t until some supporters of this trainer/farm stomped in here to complain about the big meanies at COTH that anything overtly negative was posted. Do you grasp that it makes no sense at all for you to complain about people criticizing DeDe when DeDe/DeDe’s supporters are the ones who got things stirred up in the first place?
Clearly, the bashers on this thread have no concept of the internet. When people “post” comments on a forum, they are not constricted to the forum. Posts show up in search engines. The comments that were posted (wisely taken down just recently) were very damaging, and have been out on this forum, yes, for several years. To find out that my trainer and friend’s reputation has been, unknowingly, under attack for heaven only knows how long, deserves to be addressed. I would hope my clients and friends would do the same. I am astounded at the barrage of immature and vicious responses elicited by a simple an honest rebuttal to an unfair and mean-spirited, damaging, post. I thought cyber-bullying was only for mean kids - but you have proven that they just grow up to mean adults. I am exiting this conversation, and hope that you find something better to do with your time. I know I do.
[QUOTE=JPT;8271787]
I would hope my clients and friends would do the same. [/QUOTE]
Not me. I would hope my clients and friends have sense enough not to go around the internet in some misguided attempt to defend my honor from posts made by some anonymous critic on an internet bulletin board (or on Facebook, or where ever) - a course of action that almost always backfires.
Instead, I would hope that my clients and friends are out there in the real world demonstrating good horsemanship and acting like mature, responsible, sensible individuals. Because that’s how your farm gets a good reputation and that’s how you demonstrate that the stuff someone read on the internet isn’t true.
Bravo, NSP.
Are you really trying to say that someone recently, before you posted, edited how some horrible comments that you felt the need to address?
[QUOTE=JPT;8271787]
Clearly, the bashers on this thread have no concept of the internet. When people “post” comments on a forum, they are not constricted to the forum. Posts show up in search engines. The comments that were posted (wisely taken down just recently) were very damaging, and have been out on this forum, yes, for several years.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=csbast;6167745]
![](t would be wise to go see the facility[/QUOTE]
"[h=2][IMG]http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.png) Windcrest Farm[/h][INDENT]It would be wise to go see the facility[/INDENT]
[INDENT]Last edited by csbast; Jul. 20, 2015 at 05:25 PM."[/INDENT]
They were most recently edited on July 20 2015 so yes that part of the equation is correct. Whomever the original poster was came back years later and edited their post on a long dead thread.
