tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post7169576617851020889..comments2024-03-01T06:49:59.106-05:00Comments on Behind the Bit: Big name dressage clinicians: Is it as we fear?Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-28172293009505826572013-08-22T10:22:53.401-04:002013-08-22T10:22:53.401-04:00I must admit. I have scoliosis... I find that her...I must admit. I have scoliosis... I find that her post has discouraged me immensely. I am not straight... try extremely hard to learn how to compensate for this irregularity... some days, to the point of pain and tears... My horse bulges on one side... hollows on the other. I can feel it. But am finding it extremely difficult to fix on my own. I have had little luck getting someone to helpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-50289053768447425122013-08-20T17:05:36.477-04:002013-08-20T17:05:36.477-04:00I audited Catherine at her clinic in North Carolin...I audited Catherine at her clinic in North Carolina this summer as well as last summer. She has spent a very long time in Germany and the brutish upfront way she has about her (especially regarding riding) is not something that Americans swallow easily. She told a clinic rider struggling with lead changes that the fault was not her own but the result of a poorly suited horse. She wasn't beingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-28278107166763558162013-08-20T10:04:56.099-04:002013-08-20T10:04:56.099-04:00From a teaching standpoint, I understand a prefer...From a teaching standpoint, I understand a preference in level, but I don't understand the need for a belittling tone in the article. The author seems to be criticizing most (all) US trainers for not teaching the basics, for example the seat. While I do not completely disagree with her, by turning these underprivileged students away she is perpetuating the problem and dooming them to Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-35630593815849140652013-08-19T21:45:36.723-04:002013-08-19T21:45:36.723-04:00I didn't like the tone of CH's article. I ...I didn't like the tone of CH's article. I have brought my horse along without the help of regular instruction; I rely on clinics. I have been fortunate to work with one accomplished grand prix trainer one weekend a month. When I first arrived in his clinics as a barely first level horse and rider team, he put us to work and gave me great exercises and tools. I also ride with a former Linnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-47229261755269202512013-08-19T19:47:38.783-04:002013-08-19T19:47:38.783-04:00Great post! As a lower level rider I, too have ru...Great post! As a lower level rider I, too have run into both kinds of trainer: those willing to work with beginners, and those who won't. I've ridden in clinics with Peggy Klump (former CDS president and wonderfully professional) and Christian Schacht (German trainer and also wonderfully professional). It's always a bit scary to sign up for a clinic as it's not always clear who Bakersfield Dressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05571487914424695283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-39935965191229415902013-08-19T19:11:41.525-04:002013-08-19T19:11:41.525-04:00We all started out somewhere and sometimes when pe...We all started out somewhere and sometimes when people advance they seem to forget that. <br /><br />I can see both sides of the argument though as several people have pointed out. Honesty up front is the key factor though. And if you can't fill the slots for the clinic- making the money you wanted to bring in- then ride a horse of your own or horses of the students and demonstrate for the Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10355349642284506192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-22445432296527400702013-08-19T16:28:40.530-04:002013-08-19T16:28:40.530-04:00It seems she really offended a lot of people with ...It seems she really offended a lot of people with that article. Respect goes both ways. If you don't have respect for the grass roots of your sport, how do you ever expect anyone to reach greatness? I lost any respect I had for her through that article.Domhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00139769676714813261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-10526483413474846892013-08-19T15:42:59.965-04:002013-08-19T15:42:59.965-04:00Yep, it goes along with the idea of "train wi...Yep, it goes along with the idea of "train with me and only me" or some notion of loyalty beyond what you would give a physician, banker, or lawyer. Second opinions are encouraged! I'm sure it stems from relying on the whims of clients for their income, but it just isn't "real world" imho. I want to be courteous to my trainers, to work with them, but it goes both ways.Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-24468140863579006162013-08-19T15:18:09.175-04:002013-08-19T15:18:09.175-04:00I've seen clinicians re-frame to accommodate r...I've seen clinicians re-frame to accommodate riders who weren't quite ready for what the trainer had to offer - graciously and not so graciously. If they only want upper level riders they need to make that clear up front. If they accept the money, imo, they need to provide the service they were paid to provide. I will never get that students are supposed to revere the trainer/clinician nobillie hintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13122029489079192488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-70538658860579311212013-08-19T13:25:53.433-04:002013-08-19T13:25:53.433-04:00Two left socks, I totally agree! I would not be of...Two left socks, I totally agree! I would not be offended if someone told me that they only teach second level and up, etc. I would be grateful, and I would not be offended. I have seen Michael Poulin teach a rank beginner on an upper level horse, and after a few minutes of watching total miscommunication between horse and rider, flying changes everywhere as the rider shifted inadverdently and theStacey Kimmel-Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-69803728624458428062013-08-19T12:49:22.603-04:002013-08-19T12:49:22.603-04:00I don't agree that it's disrespectful. But...I don't agree that it's disrespectful. But I do get that not everyone wants to train beginners. My high level gymnast daughter is off to college now and was looking at gymnastics facilities by her new school for employment. She wasn't interested in teaching regular classes that involved handstands and cartwheels. She wanted to train 'team' kids - and not boring compulsory 2LeftSockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11414707358481052987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-84301331477108029472013-08-19T12:19:40.634-04:002013-08-19T12:19:40.634-04:00I saw that article and was really surprised. While...I saw that article and was really surprised. While I see her point in some ways, I also believe that if a lower level rider is willing to shell out that kind of money to get a clinic from her, she should appreciate the compliment. I agree with Amy, post the clinic for a certain level to avoid having to teach levels you do not want. <br />I have unfortunately paid a high price for a clinic with a Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13675631291488697042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-68765694767755186472013-08-19T10:23:38.368-04:002013-08-19T10:23:38.368-04:00This is the response I posted when Denny Emerson t...This is the response I posted when Denny Emerson touched on this article on his facebook page. I will add that I think it would be far more emarassing and uncomfortable for the person riding in the clinic unknowing to the fact that she thinks they are imbeciles than it is for her to "deal" with them.<br /><br />I would venture to guess that if the clinic was marketed as an advanced Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13472219069662152722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-36624412339744484942013-08-19T09:43:27.295-04:002013-08-19T09:43:27.295-04:00I have been supriced a couple of times now that th...I have been supriced a couple of times now that the big fameous trainers (Arthur Kottas Heldenberg for one) holding the clinic where it has been advertised that they only want higher-class-riders actually askes me in the audience (it's often very few in the audience) why I didn't ride instead. When I ansered that I'm a lower level rider mostly stumbling around they have said that thatAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00508694104056421118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-55570247734000058302013-08-19T08:29:16.416-04:002013-08-19T08:29:16.416-04:00Well written. It is very telling when someone of M...Well written. It is very telling when someone of Ms. Haddad's self-conceived "stature" in dressage decides s/he doesn't wish to work with those who are where THEY were years ago. I didn't care much for Ms. Haddad's blog entry, though she did make good points about learning to progress. Bottom line: The fact that she thinks a beginner is showing "disrespect" by TBDancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889066602819359591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-68512148567973556432013-08-19T07:35:13.734-04:002013-08-19T07:35:13.734-04:00I guess honesty is good in that situation! Might ...I guess honesty is good in that situation! Might as well know before spending your time and money.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10313417800020012776noreply@blogger.com