i have to agree with the braiding job; while I appreciate the effort; it’s kinda tacky and not well done. when you move to the fei levels you said you were headed, get a braider my dear; worth every penny!
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Not sure which test these were from that day but his score for 4-1 was 43% and for 3-1 it was 46%. I doubt we’ll ever know what the comments were. Score for 3-1 at a show 1 month later under a different S judge was a 46.
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Agreed, and the quality or lack of it should not affect his scores surely…that kind of crosses the fine line for me, there is enough to discuss in the riding ability without bringing in the braiding.
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I’ve been wanting to ask about the Airs Above Ground thing he’s so proud of. His “proof” of experience in teaching these skills is, so far as I’ve seen, limited to one fuzzy picture of Chevy rearing (which I think Nick mistakes for levade. Levade requires the horse to really sit on his haunches and needs tremendous muscling, training and development to accomplish).
I ask out of ignorance, but does anyone in the dressage community really put any stock in Airs Above Ground? I mean, outside of the Spanish Riding School and Medieval Nights? I can see true beginners being impressed, especially if they don’t really know what they’re looking at, but these are movements not ever called for in any level of modern dressage competition.
Teaching a horse to rear is asking for problems down the road.
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In fact, he did.
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He is now stealing photos from the photographer the took his pictures at the show and posting public. IT’S STEALING if you post those watermarked PROOFS. They were not purchased. IF you like them so much you feel the need to post it, pay the photographer for their hard work.
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If nothing else this thread has at least proven that some people just seem to exist in an alternate reality where black is white and down is up. One simply cannot have an intelligent conversation with someone like that.
Where we see a group of people asking reasonable questions, he sees “haters” and a bullying campaign.
Where we see photos of a horse with a weak top line and a dip in front of her withers struggling with Training Level self-carriage, he sees a horse that is nearly ready for FEI levels.
Where we see a rider hunched forward with hands in his lap and a loop in the reins, he sees an excellent example of classical lightness and correct riding.
Where we see video of a test that fails to meet even the most basic requirements of the level, or scores from two respected judges which reflect those deficiencies, he sees a conspiracy in which these judges not only know and care who he is, but are somehow “out to get him.”
Where we see a guy who could prove the naysayers and detractors wrong by answering direct questions publicly, taking regular lessons from a credible coach and actually improving, he sees somebody who is so advanced that few people have anything of value to teach him.
The conversation is pointless as he cannot or will not see that which is obvious to everyone else. He cannot or will not answer the many questions that have been asked here. He keeps harping on his blog about the fact that none of us will take a lesson from him, yet refuses to back up any of the claims about his credentials which might make someone consider a lesson with him.
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I am not surprised Nick stole those photos. It says a lot about the state of his character and honesty. 
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Excellent post, BigMama1!
Nick has shown absolutely no interest in actually engaging in conversation, even as reasonable questions were presented to him. I don’t blame people for getting snarky on the last page after 40+ posts of him deflecting and ignoring others.
Hey, I’d even offer up a riding video of my own for a public critique by him, if he wants to demonstrate his knowledge and understanding of dressage. Demonstrating that you can accurately assess a horse’s weaknesses and provide feedback would be better promotional material than anything else you have shown. (Since I’m sure you’re still reading this Nick, the offer is open. I have a pretty thick skin.) Of course, I’d probably be accused of not wanting to pay for a lesson/clinic and trying to steal his secret knowledge.
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Nick’s response:
“DId the photographer ask my permission before they posted my picture on their website? No they didn’t. Their watermark is also on each picture. I don’t see a problem.”
Actually Nick, when the pics came out several people made comments that there were some very nice shots…for a Training Level ride. It was fairly consistent that people indicated a good 60-70% training level ride. What is not in those pics is a 3rd or 4th level ride. The angle of the pics makes it very difficult to see the full horse…the complete “picture” so to speak.
Pic 1 and 5 show a horse possibly on the bit…yes, looks nice for a head shot but doesn’t prove 3rd and/or 4th level…a horse in an Intro test might look the exact same way.
Pics 2 and 3 are straight on, again, show a lowered head but no true proof of an upper level ride.
Dressage isn’t just about the position of the head…there is an entire horse body behind the shoulders.
Pic 4 is a little better angle but again, this is a Training Level frame. Carpathia is on her forehand and not elevated like what would be expected at 3rd and 4th level. She is not “uphill.” However, she is relaxed, open and seems to be moving well…a good TL frame that would score well.
Pic 6 is straight on, can’t see the rest of the body.
Pic 7…not sure if that is a trot or the middle of a lead change. Given the tail behind I am going to guess, due to energy level, it was a lead change effort. By still pic it looks decent but I’d want to see the live action.
What you have to remember, Nick, is that a score of 5 in a TL test is not going to be the same as a 5 in an upper level test. You complained about the halt and getting a 2 I think it was. Correct, as a rider progresses through the levels the expectation is much higher. An unsquare halt with head slightly high in a TL test might gain a 5; but these issues should be fixed and much improved by the time a horse reaches 3rd and 4th level. The vid clip showed a halt with haunches right, and not even square in front. Even at TL that might have only gotten a 4.
In 3-1, the requirement is for a collected trot to halt…no walk steps. Walk steps are gong to lower the mark; a sloppy, not square and head high added is going to drop the score. Specifically:
-
A X Enter collected trot Halt, salute Proceed collected trot. Directive: Engagement, self carriage and quality of trot; well defined transitions; straight, attentive halt; immobile (min. 3 seconds)
-
V-L L-H Half circle left 10m Half pass left. Directive: Shape and size of half circle; alignment, bend, fluency and crossing of legs; engagement and self carriage.
In the vid clip you posted you were doing roughly 15m circles. Definitely larger than 10m but maybe a little smaller than a full 15m. For the sake of argument I’ll give you it may have just been a memory lapse but it is going to drop the score.
The couple of changes we saw were late;
- V-R Change rein, flying change between centerline and R. Directive: Clear, balanced, fluent, straight flying change; engagement and self carriage.
A late change indicates lack of balance, is not fluent, and most likely is not engaged; this drops the score.
Doing what looks like the movement isn’t enough…any horse can be trained to do the movements. I can bend my horse slightly to the inside and complete what may halfway simulate a half pass, but it is hardly a correct half pass. Can he do one correctly, yes, but not with me as yet…I am still working on that level of feel. Is my extended, or even simple lengthened, trot and canter a true extension/lengthen…or just the horse moving faster.
At First level a good effort without full lengthening for the length of the requirement might gain a 5; at 3rd/4th level, I’d be lucky to get a 3 as the expectation is higher in the upper levels…the horse should be in true extension…not just moving faster. “Ground covering” means length (as in covering the ground in fewer strides), not speed.
You have to fully understand what is expected at each level and you’ll find the requirements and expectations increase as the levels go higher.
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A question Nick, and no, I am not going to e-mail it.
A horse I know has a long neck and can use it like a snake when he wants to avoid doing something. In a simple leg yield, he can use that neck to get plenty of what looks like bend when in actuality he is trailing with his haunches and is locked up in the shoulder. There is some small crossing in front, none behind and little forward movement to meet the effort of sideways movement. How would you correct the problem?
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[edit] its her website and her photos. She can post whatever she wants. And why would he imagine anyone would let him host a clinic without being insured? [edit] Or he just doesn’t care. [edit]. If he doesn’t care about other people’s farms and businesses, doesn’t he care about his own reputation? Its seems he doesn’t even care about how he looks to other people, that’s the thing. He doesn’t care about his reputation or appearance. [edit]
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Ambitious Kate has already posted the screenshot of NP’s response to someone asking if he had permission to use the photographer’s photos. His response was just so outlandishly funny, I have to quote it (below). I know it’s redundant, but I just have to post it as well.
- NICKPERONACEBLOG Did the photographer ask my permission before they posted my picture on their website? No they didn't. Their watermark is also on each picture. I don't see a problem. [LIST]
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 AT 8:58 PM
- REPLY
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Apparently the photographer has been informed.
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The last time that Nick Peronace was going to offer a clinic, he made so many rules that it was cancelled. He would not allow photos and would not allow videos of himself (his “teaching” and his riding).
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If I recall correctly, there was to be security in place and the confiscation of phones and video recorders. It’s a dressage clinic, not Guantanamo Bay.
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Apparently Nick has got his panties in a wad and is refusing to come back to COTH. :winkgrin:
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Not the first time. I posted the same above question to his blog when he indicated he refused to come back…here is his non-response.
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Am I the only one who noticed that he doesn’t even know how to adjust his helmet straps correctly?
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