Anyone had a lesson with Lionel Dunning?

Baydale and kerilli rave about him, as do a few people I know who are a wide spectrum of abilities. Worth a punt IMO!
 
My daughter has had a couple with him, first one was on someone elses horse and couple of weeks ago she one on her crazy little mare, who has just started jumping again after coming back from injury. She really enjoyed both lessons, reckoned they were best shes ever had with anyone, and has certainly sorted the pair of them out, just altering a coupel of simple things. She cant wait for the next one, Ihave to say was best £30 U have spent on a lesson.
My sister also has them with him and her horse is very young and inexperienced, she had lost her comfidence with him and wasnt even going to go over a pole when we go to lesson, by the end she was jumping a small course.
Definately worsth givng him a try!!
 
I bought my horse off him 17years ago and the lesson he gave me when I tried my horse was fantastic. He is so encouraging and definately knows what the horse can jump to and gets your confidence to do it. I previously had not jumped anything higher than 2ft9 on a good day with my pony, yet within minutes he had me jumping 4ft plus. Admittidly I was squeeling at the time and didn't believe I could jump it. Lionel was right
 
My friend has lessons with him and adores him. She absolutely raves about him. I'm no show jumper so don't have first hand experience but she'd love me to tell you all how great she thinks he is I'm sure! When she's out at big shows he comes and gives advice to everyone he teaches which I think is really lovely. He tries to watch all their rounds and give a tip here or there. Can't get much better service than that can you?!
 
I thought he was OK, had 2 clinics with him and he certainly got us working round very tight lines and huge jumps. I thought it was a bit much for a rising 5yo tb type eventer at the time (talking 4' oxer, huge spread down a line), my boy did jump amazingly though and guess it was good confidence work for us.
 
gem2buc said:
I thought he was OK, had 2 clinics with him and he certainly got us working round very tight lines and huge jumps. I thought it was a bit much for a rising 5yo tb type eventer at the time (talking 4' oxer, huge spread down a line), my boy did jump amazingly though and guess it was good confidence work for us.
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i had the same experience with him, i have a 5yr old TB who needs to learn how to jump properly and what we did was a bit much mentally for my boy (we was in pairs thought and the other horse was a "been there and done it" and I think lionel forgot that my boy was only 5 and knew nothing!) his teaching methods are fab, and really knows his stuff.....he brought sheets that were put on the poles of the jumps...as in his words horses should jump anything, and I thought my boy wouldnt go near them but he jumped all of them! great instructor but I feel it was too much for my boy at this time in his training.
 
goneshowjumping said:
i had the same experience with him, i have a 5yr old TB who needs to learn how to jump properly and what we did was a bit much mentally for my boy (we was in pairs thought and the other horse was a "been there and done it" and I think lionel forgot that my boy was only 5 and knew nothing!) his teaching methods are fab, and really knows his stuff.....he brought sheets that were put on the poles of the jumps...as in his words horses should jump anything, and I thought my boy wouldnt go near them but he jumped all of them! great instructor but I feel it was too much for my boy at this time in his training.
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gem2buc and goneshowjumping....

I went to the clinic!

I can sort of agree with you, as it looked like that was the way it was going to go......but I actually spoke with him at the start to explain that my boy is very green, as he first of all asked us to do rein back, so I had to tell him that Uno didn't know how to do them!

So I told him that we had done next to nothing. I also asked for one fence to be lowered as I wasn't happy, and he was completely fine with it. I think communication should be two way, so that the trainer doesn't overface you or your horse - but you need to set expectations in terms of the horse's stage in his development, and your confidence levels (I broke my back over a year ago, so there are still some gremlins I need to stomp on!!) Otherwise the trainer doesn't know where to pitch their approach. He was great, and worked with us accordingly after that, building things up slowly.

I also left the lesson a bit early as Uno was tired and I wanted to leave on a happy note. It was v hot, he had jumped great and I wasn't interested in doing another set of exercises. Lionel was understanding and told me to look after him, as he has so much scope and talent. I came away happy. :-)
 
Husband went on a two day course a few years back, it was fast and furious teaching and quite fun to be honest.
LD set up a grid ending very close to the end of the indoor school, and when the riders all protested told them not to worry, they would only hit the wall once then their horses would stop fast..
Boy did those horses learn to come back to the rider when asked...!!!!!!
He was good but husband's regular trainer John Newcombe was flipping marvellous...
 
I used to have lesson off him 25 years ago !!

He's still a bit obsessed with reining back your horse every 5 mins and always likes to stick the fences up so not for the faint hearted but otherwise he obviously knows his stuff after all these years and has a lot to pass on so go for it.
 
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