Phillip Dutton Clinic - Looking for Experiences

[LadyB]

A PD Clinic is being offered not far from me- curious about experiences.

I’ve just googled and read he is a man of few words, and will just tell you to do it again. Would love to hear any other experiences. I would hate to waste money on a clinician who won’t dissect and help improve. Sending you through a line over and over with little to no words doesn’t seem beneficial.

I have a horse who is easily going Training level, gone Prelim, backing off as he ages. Just love learning and always happy to learn new things with new people.

Any input is greatly appreciate.

[Highflyer1]

I had a lesson with him. He was very nice and rode my horse and made him look great-- but I didn’t really take away anything to help reproduce it.

[alyssaequestrian]

Very much a man of few words. For the cost, I don’t think its worth it. He does not provide much feedback.

He is brilliant, but not what I would describe as the best instructor.

[HeartsDesireEventing]

Man of few words is a good description. I did a clinic with him - we used it as a gauge to be sure we were ready to move up to Intermediate. On the theory that if we could ride the exercises without intensive coaching, we should be prepared (yes, we were, and ran clean with time penalties).

[grzywinskia]

I rode in one clinic with him and I would not expect a lot of feedback. He did have a lot of neat exercises. I did find the repetition he had you do excessive especially because I verbalized that my horse was coming back from an injury so I ended up excusing myself early. I wouldn’t ride in one again but would definitely audit to see the exercises and set them up at home

[FLeventer]

Haven’t done a clinic, but I have watched a lot of his lessons. My old trainer has worked with him for over a decade and I used to tag along to her lessons.

She mainly did her XC/SJ lessons with him so I have not seen dressage lessons, but I will say he has good courses and exercises that he does. Yes man of few words, but his advice is good. You jump and you get, “Good, insert-name-here” then you did it good. He might throw a comment in about something to change the next time.

Listening to his comments are insightful though, I’ve learned quite a bit for when he does talk about things. If you want a chatty coach, he isn’t it. But he’s honest and direct, so I like that. Depends on what you like from a clinic.

[DoubleDown]

This was my experience too.

But it was amazing watching him hop on a horse in my group.

[Martina]

I did one clinic with him. My Training horse had started running out. In the clinic he was perfect though (of course). What I liked was that PD said genuinely that it’s too bad because he would have liked to help me with that. He also told me to ‘never let him do that’. I actually took that to heart, stating the obvious, but with weight.

[petesperson]

My friend who rode prelim lessoned with him regularly for a couple of years and learned a ton.

I audited a clinic of his, years ago, and the folks in it seemed to get a lot out of it, especially those who were more advanced.

In the latest issue of the Chronicle, Danny Warrington wrote that he would ride with him right before a competition in order to gain confidence.

[Live_Wire]

I’ve ridden with him regularly but inconsistently over the course of a few years. He is a man of few words, but what his says is gold. He’s very direct and has a KISS approach. If you aren’t afraid to ask questions I find him very helpful.

For example:

You chipped in to the last vertical on the line for the second time.

PD: “Do it again.”
Rider: “Where do you suggest I make changes?”
PD: 60 years of experience calling you out politely “You’re unprepared. You’re dropping your inside hip and collapsing your ribcage in the turn so you don’t have any control.”
Rider: rides every single turn to this day with his voice in my head 15 years later…

I think you do need to be a little more engaged with him but he will give you as much as you give him. He won’t hold your hand though.

Shameless ask… where’s he at? I would sign up for this yesterday!