anyone clinic with him before? He’s coming for a clinic about 4 hours from me (xc and show jumping). Curious what others thoughts are on riding with him. I’m likely going to be taking my mare (training) unless I hear something really bad. Thinking about also taking one of my green babies In the BN groupS. Thoughts / opinions welcome 
Following - he is also coming to the PNW. I would only audit but interested in hearing some reviews.
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@Groom&Taxi - how fun! I wonder if it’s going to be around the same time frame. The clinic in California is in November in Fresno, so kinda like central CA. Fresno is an interesting city to say the least, but the cross country course there is great. It can be inviting but they also have challenging obstacles and questions. Also, even if it rains (as if California even really gets rain anymore), the footing doesn’t suffer. I believe it’s the 23rd/24th but that’s going by memory. My friend found the ad on Facebook and told me about it.
I was in a full training program, but took a break for a bit and now do more clinics than I did in the past. I like the concentrated dose of information, as well as tools and exercises I can use when I go back home. I have enjoyed and learned something from every clinic I have attended, BUT I will say that the levels have been carrying. For example, I did a clinic with Phillip Dutton and while the training group was challenging, it wasn’t nearly as challenging as the novice/training group I was in with Boyd Martin. For my mare that I’ve had a while it’s fine, but since I’m toying with the idea of brining one of my green horses with me I just want to know what to expect - as in, is it true to the level or is it going to be more challenging (i.e: do the clinicians create exercises assuming the horse is already competing, or competing a lot and ready to move up etc).
There are videos available on Youtube.
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t
Thanks, I’ll check that out! Was hoping for more personal experiences too, but YouTube is a great alternative
I help out at a lot of events at a centre where Oli has done a couple of clinics. The riders were mostly low level, not particularly competitive teens and amateurs who really just wanted the experience of a lesson with him and a photo. He was amiable, positive and taught appropriate basic exercises.
One of my friends was a working student for Oli and said that with his regular lesson people he had very high expectations of both horse and rider. Not really surprising. He is very good at figuring out quirky horses and trying to simplify things for overthinking riders.
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I haven’t personally ridden with him, but this is consistent with what I witnessed when I was based in the UK and have heard from others as well. Everyone seemed to come away from his clinics and lessons quite happy with the experience. He surprised me (in a good way) at how well he handled it when horse or rider got a bit rattled and worked through things very patiently and positively.
Wonderful! The bolded part right there has me sold LOL
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