He is going to be in my area next month and I was considering auditing (the clinic fee is a little rich for my blood at $185 a ride), so thought I would post here to get some input and opinions. (I bought one of his books many years ago, but it’s in our spare storage room so will only be unearthed when we move…)
TIA! 
I have audited his clinics often, and know people who have ridden with him. Definitely attend -whether you audit or ride.
He teaches why things are done in a certain way, and how it affects the body and mind of the horse. The changes in the horses are remarkable… they look more comfortable, happier in their work, and more pleasing to watch. The riders become less tense, and seem to actually enjoy the ride (!). He doesn’t subscribe to “show dressage” riding and has plenty to say, if you ask, about the top level rides that are being highly rewarded despite incorrect movements. For auditors, he’ll improve your eye as you watch the horses, and you’ll leave with much to think about. Ask questions…he’s happy to answer them.
I hope you enjoy the clinic !
Great, thank you!
I never had the opportunity to audit or ride in one of his clinics, but would have loved to. Reading his Riding Towards the Light was a big moment in my dressage education, and got me back on track in terms of working with the horse instead of against them.
I took several lessons from him and he is very engaged, interested in the student understanding and getting better. He is very classical in his approach and focuses a lot on the seat!
These are all good reports, thanks guys!
Since the clinic is nearby (and I can fit it into my schedule), I will definitely sign up to audit
I actually had PLANNED to go audit (the organizer was expecting me) the last time he was here about 5 months ago, and on my way there my tire warning light went on 
- I had a nail in my tire - so I wound up spending half the day at the local mechanic getting it changed out. sigh So much for the clinic!
(Strangely, I was on my way to audit another clinic with a BNR eventer last month, and I got ANOTHER tire warning light: this time I had a slice in my tread, AND a screw! Again had to replace the tire, same place - they are local, at least, and we buy tires from them so if they have to repair or replace a tire, it costs less.)
The joys of living in construction central NoVA.
Or maybe I should just stop planning to audit clinics, LOL!
He’s definitely worth auditing! I agree very much with his methods and classical riding. He tends to ride very much up on contact even on the younger horses.
He has a bit of an ego, but as far as a trainer he was very good.
Are there any male trainers without a bit of an ego? :lol:
All of this is good to know - I’ll be looking forward to the clinic! (Keeping fingers crossed that I WON’T be having to make any impromptu stops at Virginia Tire and Auto on my way…)
I don’t know, but it was a huge turn off for me when I had a personal conversation with him, it was sort of like he talks AT people. Hard to describe.
However, I will audit again and I am so glad we have classically trained teachers. JMHO.
Ahhhh. Helpful to know – and makes sense.
I am on the other side of the continent and have never seen him. However I did a clinic once with someone who I believe worked with him and was married to him for a while, and she was excellent. She didn’t tell us this, it was background info from my coach.
As a side note from someone whose tires have had a fatal attraction to nails, I keep a small compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter of the car and it has helped me more than once to fill up enough pressure so I could make it to where I was going or to a better part of town for auto shops. They are only $20-$30 and very useful to have in your trunk. Good luck attending your clinic:)
Hey, Senden,
I agree.
He writes beautifully, so I sent a number of clients to audit a clinic with him. They contacted me afterwards and said that perhaps he’d been communicating some concept or concepts which were beyond them, because they hadn’t understood anything he said, or how it should apply to the horse/rider. I was mystified, so the next time I was in an area where he was teaching a clinic I went to audit, and I have to say that it was both overwhelming and underwhelming. He talked non-stop, repeated himself endlessly, did nothing worthwhile with any of the combinations I watched, and at the end of each lesson informed the riders that the horses didn’t really go forward without having offered a single word of advice during the lesson about (a) that being the problem or (b) what to do about it. The lessons I saw were $350 CDN per lesson, and were uniformly useless. I was quite stunned, because it was not at all what I’d expected. It was a total waste of time.
However, I learned from it, if only that I’d never pay for a lesson with him, but I’ll still buy his books, and suggest them as useful reading. Some people just don’t teach very effectively.
am I allowed to say-not a fan
If you are looking for classical dressage help, you might try Stephanie Millham in Rixyville. http://avilionclassicaldressage.com
There is a youtube video of him which is interesting to watch
I saw him several years ago, and have to say his books are far better then he is live. I was glad I hadn’t signed up to ride with him, I didn’t find the lessons very useful. Agree with Manni, look up some lessons on youtube, and see if you find his teaching methods useful. Maybe go audit, and make your decision for next time he comes to the area?
I also think he is a teacher that might be more helpful to the more advanced horse and rider, who already have the basics down. That is just an observation based on a single weekend I watched many years ago, so take it with a grain of salt…
No, that was not my experience. His clinic was very typical of classical instruction. I understood everything just fine, but I am not a new person to dressage and have seen many BNTs.
It was my personal interactions with him during lunch that showed his ego. He talked at me, not with me.
I would probably ride with him as far as the lesson, but there are many others I’d chose for the horse I have now- I prefer with this horse to do more stretching, he doesn’t believe as much in stretching.
I saw him with beginners, at this clinic, so it would be interesting to see those farther along such as things I am also currently working on,
I did not perceive an Ego at all and he was explaining everything very well. He gave a lot of help with the seat and helped me improve. I was there maybe 6 or 7 years ago and still remember many things he imparted on me. One of his interns also wrote a fantastic book about her learning experience at his barn.
Isn’t he one of those trainers who have commented on a rider’s weight/fitness? I seem to remember this from prior threads about him.
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