Half Halt. It is unfortunate that one uninformed negative person can elicit equally uninformed responses. The seminar in question was billed at “Dressage through the levels” and not as a clinic to improve test percentages. 14 riders/horses and I tried to demonstrate over two days to a great audience of about 300 how our and FEI dressage tests consist of small building blogs/exercises to gradually bring horses and riders from Training level to Grand Prix. Based on the overwhelming response we were successful. It was especially nice that we could end the seminar with Alyssa Pitts demonstrating the result of the many years of training it takes to GP by riding her new very nice horse through her first ever full GP test. Let me also address the snarky and medium trot comment. During the frequent question and answer periods one rider asked how to improve her medium trot. With a little preparation I did ask her to “just do it”. After a first hesitant attempt I asked her to her to ask more of self and horse — she did, with horse responding nicely, her getting a big smile on her face, and the audience reacting with well deserved applause. Nothing “snarky” just fun! And this is the real story about a well planned and organized seminar by Gwen Blake and her many fine volunteers. The amazing attendance of around 300 auditors shows the interest for dressage in the north west. It was my pleasure to help make our wonderful sport a little more understandable and maybe a little less serious.
Thank you for chiming in. I think once we knew the calibre of the clinician and the advertised purpose of the symposium, it was clear to us on this thread that there must have been a misunderstanding.
However, the original poster didn’t name you right away, and there are a very wide variety of clinicians out there, to put it mildly.
And this is what I have seen from an Axel clinic! The reason I asked about the level of training the OP was is before I helped train a horse up the levels I would not have gotten much out of this level a symposium. I attended some when I first started riding dressage and it was over my head.
Just gotta say, i have never been disappointed by a clinic or symposium given by Axel Steiner. What I appreciate most, is his abilty to see the “good” in less than spectacular horses.
Which is of course why those trainer conferences require someone ride at FEI to go.
I try to attend any clinics / symposia where Axel is the instructor. Always insightful information. And to the point.
