If your end goal isn’t the Olympics - or even 3’9" jumpers, but maybe starts and stops at 3’6" hunters and medals… who are some really good (big name and not so much) clinicians for todays winning rides?
Jeff Cook comes to mind. I have no personal experience but have heard great reviews by people I respect about him. And Geoff Teall, if he still does clinics. I audited Frank Madden, he was excellent, especially considering he was working with a decent size group of riders. And I love Bernie Traurig.
I love Greg Best. Out of all that I have clinic’ed with, my money is best spent with him.
@BAC - I’m doing a Traurig clinic in January, super excited to give him a try!
I’d second Frank Madden. I’ve had the chance to ride in two of his clinics in the last few years. Both excellent. Karen Healey was great as well. Stacia Madden and Patricia Griffith were well worth the price of admission but not quite as many takeaways as Frank Madden and Karen Healey.
Here’s my quick list which mostly reiterates-
Jeff Cook is fantastic. Really interesting and keeps the riders constantly engaged.
Melanie Smith Taylor does a really good job, especially with eq turns and being efficient.
Bernie Traurig is fantastic but honestly he does a lot of plugging his website; however I still took away a lot even just from auditing. He’s great for auditors and does a really good job explaining even when you’re not on a horse, so much so that I’ve utilized a lot of his points in my lessons to get done tasks that would otherwise be really difficult. I wouldn’t say he’s super eq oriented, but he does a lot of in the air turning and short (3 stride) approaches. Does a really good job with flatwork.
Michael Tokaruk does an excellent job.
[QUOTE=mroades;7187779]
Michael Tokaruk does an excellent job.[/QUOTE]
Never cliniced with him, but he is a local trainer, and he does a really great job with his riders at shows.
Frank Madden again! I audited one of his clinics and was determined to find one to ride in afterward: somehow convinced my Dad to drive me & horsey about 4hrs away to do it but it was worth it. (To me, maybe not Dad) 
Melanie Smith Taylor again: she’s not so much going to focus on your “equitation position”, per say, but she’ll get you riding and thinking so much better it’ll come along.
I’ve ridden with both of these folks and would LOVE to get to take my current horse back to see them again. I seem to be having trouble getting them here and the horse in one piece at the same time… lol
Yes, Bernie does plug his website alot but I was able to overlook it because he still had so much to offer. I know the website provides some of his income, but he also seemed to really believe in it, I liked his passion for preserving those lessons and his respect for the people who participated in his videos.
And in the category of not so much BNT, I have heard that mroades right here on this thread is an outstanding clinician as well. There is so much to be learned from many who are not big names, and usually the cost is more reasonable too.
I am really bummed, I keep hearing Greg Best and he has been in area twice this year and I missed him, but he came to eventing barn, so I did’t really consider it, assuming concentration would be on jumpers/eventing 
Bernie is coming to NorCal, but pretty long haul and they don’t really have stalls from what I heard…
Will have to do a search for rest - thanks guys!!
Thanks BAC
Another vote for Micheal. I have ridden with him twice and audited.
Teddi Ismond is a great instructor. Very tuned into the mental aspect of riding and has a great horse sense.
I have heard amazing things about Greg Best and hope to ride with him one day.
My EAP clinician was Karen Healey. She was wonderful and very structured.
@Ammy-ville - I wouldn’t let location sway you. I’ve ridden with Greg twice now, always had 3 horses in the group. 1st group: small Jumper mare, big DraftX Eq horse, and my tall Hunter. 2nd group: (a different) small Jumper mare, mid-size TB eventer, and my tall Hunter.
He works enough on basics that I think it translates to every discipline. I’d say he did a little more work on “position” with the 3’ group than any other group.
As Buck Davidson told me (as the only Hunter at his clinic): Good riding is good riding!
[QUOTE=ammy-ville;7188243]
I am really bummed, I keep hearing Greg Best and he has been in area twice this year and I missed him, but he came to eventing barn, so I did’t really consider it, assuming concentration would be on jumpers/eventing Bernie is coming to NorCal, but pretty long haul and they don’t really have stalls from what I heard…
Will have to do a search for rest - thanks guys!![/QUOTE]
I wouldn’t let the fact that Greg Best’s clinic was at an eventing barn stop me, next time go! And if you don’t have a lot of clinics in your area, then I would make the attempt to ride with Bernie in NorCal.
Having ridden with and audited bnts, mnts, snts around the country my go to guy for lessons every year, year after year is Greg best. He has been great for me and more importantly my clients. Clear, concise, honest, and non emotional. His idea of good equitation on all horses doesn’t immediately equal top prize equitation because not all horses are ready for that. He will get you riding your horse the best it can go in an effective position and then refine things. As a pro the more I ride with him the more I love and the more my clients ride with him the more I love. Can’t beat that.
