any experience in clinics or private lessons? Would love to hear! Please share what you worked
on with him.
I see him advertised all over, and he’s coming to my area. I’m game to learn a new approach, but I have been a little suspicious that his niche is with folks without a lot of training or at least not serious dressage riders.
Would love to hear accounts that contradict any of my admittedly unsubstantiated assumptions.
I’ve been to a lot of his seminars & clinics over the last 6 years, mostly as an auditor, but once under saddle (and once I brought a horse but we got rained out… so a no-go there).
I love his style and teachings. I love how he thinks about dressage very technically and from the perspective of the old “masters” … like, really classical dressage. I think he’s a very, very competent (i.e., excellent) classical trainer, and an above average teacher/instructor. If I could, I would not hesitate go to his place with my horse for a week and just ride with him every day (alas, that’s not feasible at the moment).
The ONE time I managed to scramble together a hauler and the money to actually ride with him for a weekend, there were a TON of beginners, so frankly, it was a waste of my money. He couldn’t tailor the day so that I got something out of it, too. To that end, if I didn’t know exactly who was riding in the class with me, I would be hard pressed to spend the money to take a horse again. Further, it really speaks to the benefit of a more typical, 45-min per person format, which I would TOTALLY do with him if it were feasible.
That being said, I always go audit his clinics when he’s in the area. He has a fantastic way with a horse, and I ALWAYS learn something. After being horseless for several years, I have a horse again, and access to a trailer, but no money. He’s coming back to our area and I’d really like to take a private lesson with him (if I can scrounge up some $$$). If he’s coming to your area, I would HIGHLY recommend auditing at the least, and a private lesson if you can. Some of his clinics are great, and a lot of people that I see at our clinics get a lot out of them.
EDIT: In response to your second post, I should add that I am, what I would consider, a serious adult amateur (but have been told I ride more like a pro). I have schooled GP, shown up to PSG, and am very serious about dressage & training. I find Manuel to be very compatible with my goals of training my own horse to GP (and competing at that level). I think he is good for beginners (and admittedly I’ve seen a lot of them at his clinics), but I think he is an even better fit for a serious and/or advanced rider. Also, even though he is, through-and-through, a “classical” trainer (i.e., he also trains levades, caprioles, etc.), I find him to be very compatible with competitive goals.
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Thank you so much Feathered! This was exactly the type of input I hoped to get! I am also and FEI rider/trainer, and your perspective is just what I needed. I’m so grateful you took the time to respond.
i will shoot for privates and avoid the clinics. Another question if you don’t mind…
1)I know he is v effective with the PRE and like breeds. Have you seen him work effectively with typical German warmbloods as well?
That is a great question! I haven’t seen him work with a lot of warmbloods, but I have seen him work with other breeds - quarter horses, thoroughbreds, etc., and I think he’s very good at understanding the limits and strengths of each individual horse. You’re absolutely right that he, personally, favors the baroque breeds, but I think he would be equally effective with any horse. I’ve never seen him do much work with medium/extended gaits, however, but I’m not sure if that’s because HE’S all about collection, or his clients (or it was just too advanced for most people). The one time I rode with him was on a warmblood, and he was a big fan (i.e., I didn’t feel like he was breedist). I have a warmblood, and I’m pretty sure I would get a lot out of a lesson regardless.
Please update us with your experience! I’d be curious to hear how it goes. He has a pretty reasonably-sized committed following in our area now, but now that I think about it, I am the only one with a warmblood or a competitive dressage rider!
I should add that I’ve never actually seen how he teaches in a private lesson format - it’s always only been the all-day, group clinic format. I’m curious how he is as a one-on-one teacher. If nothing else, I think it would be prudent to go into a lesson with him with goals of working on either collection, lightness, etc. I wouldn’t go into a lesson thinking I want to work on the nuances of an FEI test, as that is probably not his strength! But if you want to work on the basic exercises (SI, half-pass), or half-steps, passage, or even levade, he’s SUPER.
Several years ago I rode with Manuel in a few private lessons…with a package deal I think they were $90 each. My impression was that he is very, very influenced by the teachings of Nuno Oliviera. If you were to lesson or clinic with him it would be helpful to read as much as you can about Nuno to understand his philosophy. A training manual he encourages students to purchase and I think is given in conjunction with a lightness clinic was essentially a summary of this book.
http://www.dressageextensions.com/le…ype=&network=g
Manuel doesn’t not hide his disdain for “modern dressage”. To some degree it made me feel really uncomfortable since my goals were to improve my scores at shows. He admitted his theory and teachings conflict with what will earn points at a dressage show. My horse and I were only schooling second level movements and he was insistent we start to ride in a double bridle to achieve lightness. As someone who competes in “modern dressage” and wanted to adhere to the training scale I just wasn’t ready for this. I rode my Arabian and I didn’t feel he had a breed bias, and he was quite complimentary of my riding given I came from a modern dressage background. He thinks and to some degree it might be true that too many riders in competitive dressage ride with too much hand. His experience is with Andulasian and Lusitano stallions who have natural talent for collection and piaffe/passage. What he can achieve long lining these horses is really quite beautiful. He is someone here in AZ that some people will send their horses to for piaffe/passage training. He is not a magician and I know of at least one Warmblood that came back that didn’t have the talent to do it. I dont think any of his students show at open shows, but rather his “Lightness Tournaments”. These tournaments determine whether or not someone is ready to graduate to the next level. I think his students are all quite serious, but would not score well at an open show. It appears some mistake lightness for no connection, and hollowness through the topline. The main issue I have with these tournaments is that Manuel is the judge. I do appreciate his old masters approach, but feel my goals are better addressed with someone actively showing in modern dressage.
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Going to a double bridle to achieve “lightness”? Silly me, I thought lightness came from the horse being physically and gymnastically capable of carrying themselves. and a rider. I know competitive dressage riders who have ridden the GP test in a snaffle, however not in competition which demands a double.
I guess I prefer the path of the SRS, they seem to be able to produce piaffe and passage with a snaffle.
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I watched a few of his videos.
Not particularly impressed.
His comments were ok, some horses looked quite athletic and ready for the job, some really not. They were all mostly doing piaffe and spanish walk.
I wouldn’t judge him to quick on the “ligthness achieved by double bridle” as it migth have been a 1 time deal for a reason specific to JLR1’s horse but yeah, most horses in his videos had double bridle on.
Overall, I bet the participants are having loads fun trying more advanced tricks they couldn’t think were possible. That is important.
And I say “tricks” because a lot of these horses and riders were not ready physically and technically to perform the movements but managed to stay on and kinda do it, which at some point is totally fine.
Competitive riders could find some tricks usefull I’m sure and apply some of his techniques in their training tool box.
this is exactly what my concern is. One of the horses I would bring is a legit FEI competition level PSG horse and would be ready for working his “tricks”. the other is less trained but a friesian cross - so lightness in any form please. I don’t think he attracts many trained riders and more the type you are mentioning that get to play with tricks on hollow horses. that said, I do think my horse are both heavier than they could be, so I think i would give it a go.
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to respond.
Bless you. Super helpful. See my note above for my current Sitch. I do find the whole lightness tournaments and garb and ego a little off-putting - and I also have competitive goals. I think a couple of privates could be interesting. I will go that route and report back.
thanks again to all for responses!
Sadly, not enough interest in our area and cxld. Will not get to try and report back. thanks again for all of the feedback. hopefully I’ll get another opportunity to try.
He gave a clinic in our area years ago, and I would not recommend him. He taught absolute elevation, and had our group warm up cantering on the buckle at the fairgrounds while the train went by and trailers rattled in and out. It was not the safest of practices. It felt like he was setting us up to fail so he could impress the auditors with how much we improved once we picked up the reins and were instructed by him. I’ve moved around and enjoyed many clinics over the years in different states and countries. Mr Trigo is the only one that infuriated me. It was early in his teaching history in the USA, perhaps he has evolved into a better instructor over the years, but my experience was not positive.
