She’s a fantastic teacher. I have ridden with her off and on for several years and she has a great eye and is a good confidence builder.
$375 is a lot of money but I have always felt she gave me my money’s worth in my lessons.
I also recommend searching for YouTube videos of her teaching at clinics. If you can find some good ones (i.e. with sound so you hear her teaching - why does everyone cover that up with music in their clinic videos?!), that can tell you a lot before entering if you really want to ride vs. audit. I totally agree that you should watch/hear a person teach in some way before riding with them, though.
As for her cost - I don’t think that is the organizer setting the cost that high but rather that is probably getting them fairly close to breaking even, depending on the number of riders. I spoke with someone recently who is organizing a clinic with Lainey and was surprised at how high her fees are (much more than any clinician I’ve ever worked with as an organizer). I’d consider riding with her if I had the ‘extra’ money… but to me that $375 is better spent on regular lessons with my dressage coach, or split between two clinics with a clinician I already ride with and love. 
That is a lot…there is another clinic with her in a different state coming up that is $190 for 2 days.
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8460153]
The clinic isn’t exactly near by. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive I can’t justify driving that far to just watch. It’s in Louisville[/QUOTE]
Ah, nevermind, I was referring to a clinic in NJ. I was so excited that someone might be near me!
That’s the clinic I was referring to. $190 for two days of gridwork and courses, and I think $150 if you wanted a private dressage lesson.
Difference in cost may be travel costs too. Honestly…375 for an outside clinician (travelling a distance), who has competed at the 4* level is pretty typical to slightly high. If they do not have to travel far…then they come down in price.
Most LOCAL riders at that level (around here) charge $100-150 for group lessons set up as clinics. Many times…its cheaper to just call for a lesson.
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8460303]
I’m not sure why you bothered posting if you are just going to de-rail my thread.
Good training is good training. Despite how I feel about a person. If they are good at what they do, that’s all that matters.[/QUOTE
Not derailing your thread, if you hate someone you arent going to be open to listening to their training and for the cost it is not worth it. If you dont like her riding, or her treatment of horses, etc, then that will color you view of her advice. Find someone you have always admired and spend your money there.
I just know her in passing. My experience with her was when she judged a schooling show for the riding club I belong to. She was very good about taking time to explain her comments and answer any questions the riders might have. One of the ladies at the barn where I board rides dressage and takes lessons from her. She loves her and feels like she gets really good results with her horse.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8461225]
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8460303]I’m not sure why you bothered posting if you are just going to de-rail my thread.
Good training is good training. Despite how I feel about a person. If they are good at what they do, that’s all that matters.[/QUOTE
So you missed the part where I said she seems to have grown? Hence why I considering riding with her
Not derailing your thread, if you hate someone you arent going to be open to listening to their training and for the cost it is not worth it. If you dont like her riding, or her treatment of horses, etc, then that will color you view of her advice. Find someone you have always admired and spend your money there.[/QUOTE]
I’ve known multiple people that have ridden with her and loved it. They said it was worth the money. They got great feedback, and I saw improvement from the first day to the third in all horses and riders. She was HUGE gridwork person, FYI. I believe the fees for that clinic were around the same. In fact, the fees for Joe Meyer to be in a group were $300 at the same place and up to $400 for private sessions…
I guess being from HJ land, these prices don’t seem outlandish.
Thanks Belmont!! I’m counting down the hours before I go medicate my horse so I’ll just sit here and watch videos while I dream of hopefully riding again soon!
I don’t have a lot of money so I am always looking at prices. Locally, I believe a similar clinic from Bruce Davidson Sr. is about $400. That is just what I remember, so I could be a bit off on the price.
That being said, Phillip Dutton has an Eventing Camp that comes with great reviews. Two days is $450 and three days is $600. Add $50/day for a stall, if you arrive the night before and leave the last day you are there, you are paying $550 for two days and $750 for three days.
You get instruction, three meals, seminars from Vets, opportunity to cross country school at his farm, etc.
So, not knowing Laine Ashker, but comparing CVs, I would save my money and spend it on the bigger names. That’s just me, though. The clinic someone mentioned at $190, I think would be worth it. The $375 is not, in my opinion.
I forget how much I spent for a one day clinic with Buck Davidson some 10 or more years ago, but it couldn’t have been more than $100. I also was part of a group lesson/clinic at Phillip Dutton’s place for $100. It was a bit of flatwork where he assessed your dressage in a jump saddle and then jumping exercises. There were 6 of us in the lesson.
I rode with her in Lexington, KY and I am friends with the owner of the farm so I have a little insight on the cost. Laine has a flat fee per day + the flight and housing are paid for by the host. So all of those costs are trickled down to the participants. In this case, she stayed at the farm in the guest room so that saved some money - I don’t think my friend “makes” money on it, she just looks at it as a way to get a coach she loves to come in a cost effective way. She was also really booked, long days, and was as wonderful in the 9th hour on her feet as she was in the 1st. I would and will ride with her again, she is really encouraging and her love of the sport, the horse, and the students are evident. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she’s great to learn from.
I think I paid around $300 and I rode all 3 days - private dressage day 1 and group jump days 2 and 3. It was in summer 2013
I stopped doing clinics two years ago because of the costs. The last one was a two day clinic for $400 from a very renowned rider. There was nothing wrong with the exercises, feedback, etc. but at my next lesson I told my trainer I would have gotten more bang from the buck doing 5 lessons with her instead.
So even though I am tempted by some clinics, I just don’t think the value is there when you are starting to go over $300.
I will add that living here in Virginia I am within an hour of Laine, Kim Severson, Will Coleman, etc. So if I want to take lessons with them it would be pretty easy to do.
[QUOTE=FitToBeTied;8462379]
I stopped doing clinics two years ago because of the costs. The last one was a two day clinic for $400 from a very renowned rider. There was nothing wrong with the exercises, feedback, etc. but at my next lesson I told my trainer I would have gotten more bang from the buck doing 5 lessons with her instead.
So even though I am tempted by some clinics, I just don’t think the value is there when you are starting to go over $300.
I will add that living here in Virginia I am within an hour of Laine, Kim Severson, Will Coleman, etc. So if I want to take lessons with them it would be pretty easy to do.[/QUOTE]
I agree. I rarely do clinics and prefer private lessons that preach to me and not to an audience. During the winter, I do not have a choice since our best trainers go south. So I will do clinics in January or February.
I would not pay that much for Laine. I am sure she is good but that is just way too much $$ to spend for group lessons regardless of who it is. The most I have ever paid for a group lesson/clinic is $125 and I cringe at that when I can get a private for less than that from a better instructor. I realize that you have to pay more in other areas of the country but surely there are other opportunities that are more reasonable.
Why not audit? If you video then you can take that back and learn as much or more than you would if you attend. Take notes etc on the different jumping exercises and then use them at home.
And I have a different approach to clinics. To me, they fall into the same category as a show. So I choose them based on venue, experience as well as cost and the instructor. I often go to give my a horse an outing that I may get something out of as well. They can be a great first overnight for a young horse.
I like riding the exercises but also watching and listening to what is said to others. Plus it puts my horse into a group setting. I find many of their reactions tend to be more similar to the ride I have at a show.
So for me…I see a real benefit to some clinics as part of my overall training strategy. That said…because I have access to very good regular training, I’m not looking for a clinic to fill a hole in my knowledge. But do go hoping to hear things perhaps said differently (even if not said to me but to another rider) and perhaps learn a new exercise. That said, I don’t often go in many clinics.
I think it is entirely too much, but I freely admit that I grew tired of the constant stream of selfies so probably a jaded opinion.
If not familiar with her style I would definitely audit before paying the clinic fee. Even though you said it was too far to drive, you’ll learn a ton watching other combinations and it’ll cost less than hauling a trailer!
Thanks for all the great feedback! I was looking to clinic because everyone is heading south by January 14th and won’t be back until April. With my horses injury, I highly doubt I’m going to get a lesson in before then. With the clinic, I have the option to call the day before and say I’m good to go. Little bit harder to be last minute with a trainer here trying to get ready to head south.
I did happen to find a girl who trains out of a farm about an hour from me who has ridden at the two star level. I’m going on Saturday to watch her teach. She’s got several kids riding at training level, so I figure if she can get them to training, she can work with me and my mares for a couple months since we are starting over from the beginning. Plus the lessons are only $40 and she has an indoor. She also hosts several clinics (Alex green, Jim graham, Dorothy Crowell).
I’ve never heard of her until I did some digging on the Internet (good ole fake Facebook account! Thanks for whoever recommended that to me!). Her name is Cathryn Alexa green anyone know her?
Honestly, if you’re looking to work on quality basics over the winter, you don’t necessarily have to go to an eventer to start with. A good hunter or jumper trainer can be really helpful, if you have one that is closer. (Obviously you need an eventer once you can actually go outside and school xc.)
[QUOTE=Highflyer;8462747]
Honestly, if you’re looking to work on quality basics over the winter, you don’t necessarily have to go to an eventer to start with. A good hunter or jumper trainer can be really helpful, if you have one that is closer. (Obviously you need an eventer once you can actually go outside and school xc.)[/QUOTE]
The only good ones we have are also heading south. Or are already there!
I have ridden in clinics with her on multiple occasions. I really enjoyed them and thought they were tough and she pushed you the right amount. No matter the level you are at you’re still working on difficult exercises that help both you and your horse. Extremely nice lady who is concerned about personal results.
