Dressage clinic, what to focus on?

[RemarkableOwl21]

Today I was given the opportunity to participate in a dressage clinic this weekend for free. I’m very excited to ride with this clinician, but I’m not sure what to work on with him during my time slot. I’ve been doing dressage for two years with my greenish horse. We are schooling training level and a little first level, and I take weekly lessons with a dressage trainer. I didn’t sign up for this clinic originally because of a) cost and b) I feel like my trainer has a good plan in place for us. This is a new trainer to me, but I do like her approach and am seeing results. I just didn’t want to say no to a free lesson with this clinician.

I’d love to hear of any ideas you have. I’ve thought about asking to focus on equitation, or perhaps something specific to improve our canter maybe?? Or rein back because my horse gets tense when asked to do it.

I want to make the most of the opportunity, but not quite sure where to go with it, especially as i have not participated in many clinics. Thank you in advance!

[atr]

Explain to the clinician where you are in your dressage journey, I expect he will watch you warm up and take it from there. Let him lead.

A good clinician will be able to watch you warm up and zoom in on what he wants to work on.

[netg]

You can tell the clinician what you struggle with, but a worthwhile clinician will look at you and see the most urgent holes and work on them.
That applies all the way up the levels… I’ve seen great clinicians fix lead changes and canter pirouettes mostly with walk work.

[RemarkableOwl21]

It’s good to know I don’t have to feel pressure to come up with something to work on.

[atr]

A clinician I’ve worked with regularly for 10 years has asked me what I want to work on. My answer has always been “just make me ride better.”

[MapleBreeze]

If hes good he will see an immediate hole and have a plan.
Lessons dont usually go to a plan like that. As an example, you might want to work on the flying changes but an astute clinician might see the need to fix your canter first. Youre still working on the changes, but its pretty vanilla because your fixing the balance in your canter to get that chamge.

[mvp]

Yes, do your warm-up and then let the clinician take the lead. If they ask, you can mention the things you are concerned about. But don’t be surprised if they have you work on something else, something more basic. But pay attention! Often, movements we can’t do well or without tension belie a training hole somewhere.

A good clinician will step back in your training progress to fill in that hole. Ideally, you will be able to put the pieces back together and, with that training hole corrected, the movement you were concerned about will be better.

But it’s most important that you learn to see those basic or prior training issues that pop up as we are doing more advanced things. That knowledge is something you can take home and use every day.

[SillyHorse]

I agree with the majority in that the clinician will most likely watch you warm up and decide where to go from there. You do want to be prepared, though, in case the clinician should ask you what you want to work on. This is something you can ask your trainer about. If that’s not an option, I would say, “Transitions.” They are the foundation for everything else.

[hoopoe]

Agree you can make a statement about what you struggle with, but most likely the clinician will see something that needs work during your warm up.

The clinician may be able to say, if we work on this, then that issue you have will be improved/ easier / resolved / have a tool to use. etc.

The issue you have does not live in isolation

In Dressage, a basic building block will be worked on to break down future barriers.

I hope your trainer can watch your session and gain insight from the clinician. This is the best of all worlds when it happens