[QUOTE=busylady;7668089]
Just curious, what part of the country will you be returning to? The part of the country barebacklarker is from? If so, how do you know where that is? [/QUOTE]
That would have been the clinic where the kid was feeling faint.
In this day and age, if a well-known clinician was randomly beating horses and the spectators were weeping helplessly in the stands, there would be cell phone video.
The poster has to be a troll. Really rotten to take a respected clinician’s name and throw out unfounded accusations.
I doubt Alfredo will be back on to respond to posters - he is not much of an internet browser, and has a VERY busy schedule. I organize about 3 clinics/year with him, and have seen his calendar - it is insane. He travels all over the US, and is even headed to Germany later this year to clinic. COTH is not a high priority.
Agree w/ Coanteen…
I have worked with Alfredo several times with two of my horses. I think he is a true horseman. Can’t wait till his next clinic. I am going to bring my young horse next time!
I have watched a clinic he taught in Texas. I thought he was entertaining and effective, and that he improved each horse and rider. He was especially good at improving piaffe and passage.
I am glad I found this thread I know it is old its been posted on in 2011 & 2014 :). Wanted to say good info here and I am riding with Alfredo Hernandez next week Im very much looking forward to it!
Please give an update after your clinic!
I wish he would come to North Central Florida. I would ride with him ‘in a minute’!
I had the pleasure of auditing two of his clinics. I find his big personality a welcome change to the stuffiness that is all too frequent in some dressage barns. He loves to laugh and engage with people. If that’s not your cup of tea well - find a different clinician.
His timing and treatment of each horse was excellent. He gave plenty of walk breaks when needed, and even scolded a rider when she whipped her horse as a ‘punishment’ when the horse had done nothing wrong but be confused by the rider’s lack of clear aids. He made her apologize to her horse! In the other clinic, he had a different rider ride without her whip or spurs because she was overly reliant on them.
If you want to laugh, work your BUTT off, and be called out for the crap that is holding you back as a rider but get results -Clinic with Alfredo. I’ve seen him with with Intermediare level DQs to training-level hunter converts and he gives each rider and horse his full attention. One thing he does not do is coddle his students unnecessarily. He also took the time to ask if the auditors any questions which I found to be very encouraging. I had a few notebook pages full of great question and answers from him!
Does anyone know where to find out about his schedule?
You’re going to love it. His clinics are so fun and educational. I’m debating whether to audit again this weekend but I have so much to do and am rehabbing two horses.
I would be taking my young horse if he were not sidelined with a torn suspensory. I took him for the first time in April and he learned his first steps of piaffe – just shy of his fifth birthday and just prior to the injury.
Here’s a brief, bumpy clip of Alfredo and Joe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un6LhlHuQCQ
I sure hope this boy comes sound… :sigh:
[QUOTE=LarkspurCO;8280345]
You’re going to love it. His clinics are so fun and educational. I’m debating whether to audit again this weekend but I have so much to do and am rehabbing two horses.
I would be taking my young horse if he were not sidelined with a torn suspensory. I took him for the first time in April and he learned his first steps of piaffe – just shy of his fifth birthday and just prior to the injury.
Here’s a brief, bumpy clip of Alfredo and Joe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un6LhlHuQCQ
I sure hope this boy comes sound… :sigh:[/QUOTE]
Wonderful, correct, soft and patient in-hand work!!! Love this
I just spent a couple of days riding with Alfredo - every time I ride with him, something gets BETTER! He is outspoken and direct with the riders, and an advocate for the horse. For those who do not like his very direct approach and wants a clinician to stroke their ego, he is probably not the guy.
As for where to find out about his clinics - it is usually just word of mouth. He travels all over the US and has a very full schedule. I advertise openings in my clinics on my Facebook page, and send out info to an email list.
[QUOTE=belgianWBLuver;8280690]
Wonderful, correct, soft and patient in-hand work!!! Love this[/QUOTE]
Yes, though it isn’t always pretty. Joe wants to dominate and he gave it his best shot … and lost. Alfredo is very fair and judicious with the corrections. 
[QUOTE=LarkspurCO;8280953]
Yes, though it isn’t always pretty. Joe wants to dominate and he gave it his best shot … and lost. Alfredo is very fair and judicious with the corrections.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHNu8cBWi1E[/QUOTE]
And sometimes tough love is necessary… But I love your guy - he is well made!!
My guy got these same kinds of corrections earlier this year when I moved him to a new barn with a very talented young trainer. A few “leg lessons” and some disciplinary actions in hand and he’s fwd, cooperative and surprise, surprise his attitude is calmer and sweeter because he understands perfectly his place in the hierarchy! He is behaving himself on the trails also, and because I like to train whilst riding out (amazing how good the lateral is in an arroyo!!) and now that I can finally start doing this with no fear, our work is really progressing.
Hope your guy heals quickly!!!
Update: It was a really good clinic I wish I had gotten more than one ride but it was a last minute opportunity. He was very patient with my young horse and I was really impressed. He instructed us with lots of walk breaks between short productive work sessions, more breaks than I normally do so a good guide/reminder to be more quick to take a break. He is very direct and wont tell you something is improved or good unless it is I like that. We worked on the connection which is still inconsistent (but improving) he needs to acccept it and is still hoping he wont have to:). Gave me a few “reminders” on my position always appreciated and he also gave me some really good explanations of why he wanted some things a certain way. If we had had a second ride he would have done a little in hand work the second day. He applied pressure in a fair and never in an over the top way and I really liked his overall personality it made the experience fun while he was challenging.
Watched some of the other rides and I was quite impressed at the improvemet that was made in the collected work especially. Not super fany horses still did some very respectable piaffe and passage so fun and exciting for their riders Big Smiles! Ill be going again.
I’m not surprised that you enjoyed the clinic! I really enjoyed watching him work.
I’ll 'fess up. I am responsible for the wobbly videos and I try to excuse them by blaming the fact that
I had never taken a cell phone video before
and
the medication (still healing up)
Sorry Larkspur. :):)
I was impressed by Alfredo’s handling of horses and riders. No blowing smoke but not unkind either. He has a lot to offer. It’s not surprising that he is a very busy clinician.
My trainer took my 6 year old, new-to-me mare to a clinic a year ago. AH does several clinics a year near us. My mare was fairly green, more like a young five year old in her training. So we were really just working on installing the basics and foundation for her career, such as learning about half halts. We were not looking to achieve Pi/Pa, but to introduce her to maintaining activity behind, and bringing her hind legs under herself. She was still building strength and balance in her daily training.
On the lunge to warm up, he was very happy with her gaits and way of going. He liked her very much, and her breeding. When he first began to work with her, he noted that she was bargy, and needed to have better ground manners, respect for personal space and obedience. All true. Did several ground exercises for that. (She will still try to be a ‘space invader’ if allowed to do so; I believe she was permitted to be a pocket pony in her younger years before I had her.)
Then, he worked her in hand to ask her to move her hind legs in response to a tap of a whip, looking for her to step up and under herself. He allowed her to have an opinion and was quietly insistent and consistent, with liberal praise and a walk break when she tried.
He did a small amount of work under saddle. She’s a smaller horse, 16.2. He has a different build (and weight) than my trainer (or myself!); he noted that she was tired so he did not ask her for more new work. But she got to feel a different person/weight/build and find her balance with his assistance. He did say that my horse would be able to do the higher level work without difficulty, and advised not to rush her. He again praised her gaits. (Proud mom moment.)
I would have brought her back for the next two days (a 3 day clinic), but had a sizable vet bill with my other horse, so my wallet did not allow.
Much of his skill, IMO, is his preparation and timing of cues and rewards. Also in giving the horse time to process what was being asked, while he walked her around the arena for breaks between exercises. I enjoyed his work, and felt he was fair and sensitive with my youngster. Even as green as she was, he gave us a peek at what was possible for her future, and gave us several effective exercises to work on at home.
AH was just here at the same facility, and my trainer brought two other horses, much more advanced (GP and I-1). I had to work but would have audited if I could have!
Keysfins, are you in Colorado? If so I got to see your trainer – those were some very fancy horses. Super nice with a lot of exciting moments. I wonder if we met last year. I was there for most of the clinics, though I don’t recall ever seeing Alfredo walk a horse himself.
I couldn’t resist going to watch at least one day (and to party, I have to admit).
Skydy, your video work was excellent for the price I paid. You keep it up and you’ll be a rich woman!
[QUOTE=LarkspurCO;8293582]
Keysfins, are you in Colorado? If so I got to see your trainer – those were some very fancy horses. Super nice with a lot of exciting moments. I wonder if we met last year. I was there for most of the clinics, though I don’t recall ever seeing Alfredo walk a horse himself.
I couldn’t resist going to watch at least one day (and to party, I have to admit).
Skydy, your video work was excellent for the price I paid. You keep it up and you’ll be a rich woman![/QUOTE]
You betcha, I definitely earned what my skill was worth that day!
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