Needing suggestions for a Hunter/Jumper clinician. Looking for someone that can do beginners through advanced riders. Willing to treat horses and riders equally, challenge them but yet keep things safe and interesting.
By beginners, do you mean jumping 2’? Or cross rails?
Tom Brennan.
Kind of tough to find one from “ beginner” through “advanced” depending on how OP is defining these terms. H/J Clinics typically split into three 2 hour sessions of 6-10 riders each grouped by ability with a 30 min break between each and, possibly, an hour for lunch. Sometimes theres a fourth group. Sometimes they are just one day, most are 2 days. Nothing is etched in stone but there’s only so many hours in a day and even the most passionate clinicians are human.
Can OP share a general idea of how much you are willing to spend, whether they are willing to pay for plane tickets/ hotel or looking for one within driving distance? What general dates? The better ones book well in adavance.
Theres lots of great clinicians, matter of when they are available and how much riders are going to be willing and able to spend to attend.
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Would also need to know your general geographic area. I know a lot of terrific clinicians who would be happy to do a two day clinic but not if extensive travel was involved.
Would also help to know what your price range is, and how many spots you could fill in the clinic.
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Jeff Cook 100000%. Very kind but constructive. Does all levels very easily too
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Well, it all depends on what, exactly, you are looking for/need, and your location. If you are situated in “hunter/jumper central”, there will be many coaches available, but most have their own barn to work out of. Some will travel, and your barn would be an extension of their business. This may work for both of you.
In my situation, I am “semi remote”, in “cowboy country”. There are a few english riders around, h/j and 3DE, and youngsters and oldsters who are “green”. Also recreational riders. There is not a lot of high level competition locally. There are no coaches locally who interest me. I am old, but still competitive, h/j. I need someone to coach me so that I remain sharp, set jumps for me, and see what I can’t see when riding. So, I need someone who can coach me, a few times a year, AND can teach others in my area, who are at a variety of levels of experience, riding, training, and may or may not be competitive. There is not a lot of money around here to pay for clinics. I have the facility to host clinics. I teach a bit, sometimes, but it’s not my passion to teach. So I ask around my old circle of friends, looking for a younger coach, not famous, but adequate. Someone who can coach a variety of riders and horses, and help everyone. This keeps it low cost for everyone, and encourages participation. We don’t need George Morris, or Ian Millar. We need someone from not TOO far away, who rides well, is experienced in the equine world, knows how to train riders and horses, and is looking to expand their coaching network. I’ve found several, over the years, and it has worked well. Keeps costs down for local riders, encourages participation, and supplies a “critical yet encouraging” eye for riders to find success at the level they are currently riding at, while showing them the way forward from where they are now. If you are in a similar situation, you need to ask around for a similar person, within 5 (?) hours drive, who might be interested. This BB is too wide spread to be of much help I think. Ask known and experienced (and expensive) coaches within this distance limit if they have someone like this… not famous YET, but with good people skills and an ambition to become a competitive coach.
Our riders pay $160 for the two day clinics here. $20 per rider, per day, goes to us, to cover insurance costs for our facility. So $60 per lesson for the coach… about regular lesson cost at her home barn, where she is a pro rider. We can take up to 18 riders, including me (with one or two horses). I do the organizing, and make up the groups, max 3 to a group, one hour lessons. We don’t often get that many riders, but I let the coach decide if there are enough riders for her to make the journey. She has only had to cancel once this summer due to lack of entries… she’s keen to help the riders we have, and feels “invested” in their progress. I hope this helps you figure out how to get started with this!
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Candice King
Also, is your main intended audience mostly on hunters, or jumpers? That’s going to make a huge difference.
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Susie Hutchison did an amazing job at a clinic at my barn with riders ranging from short stirrup to 3’ plus.
I do them as well, both hunters and jumpers
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Sue Lightner. Excellent clinician and one of the most amazing horsewomen I’ve ever worked with. Her knowledge of equine training/horsemanship is truly incredible! Also a USEF “R” judge, so always interesting to get her “judges perspective”. She frequently travels around the country giving clinics/judging.
Louise Serio and Frank Madden have done tremendous jobs for our local H/J organization clinic in the last few years. 2 days, 3 2 he sessions, 2’6”, 3’, 3’6”.
Buddy Brown! Hands down!
Has OP ever come back to refine her clinician needs?
Theres been some great ones mentioned but without more details, hard to make actual recommendations or suggest OP contact them to discuss availability and cost. Most named here will be in Florida most of the next 4/5 months.
