Dressage clinics

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Jo C

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Do you feel these are worthwhile? Do you feel like you have achieved something at the end or do you think it is more worthwhile to book some individual lessons with that trainer? I have friends who have been on sj clinics but felt they didn't achieve anything as their horses were well behaved and the trainers focused on the badly behaved ones. Does this happen in dressage clinics also?
Just interested in people's thoughts really.
 
i'd go for individual lessons, personally. i'd rather pay more for 1-on-1 attention. i've been on dr clinics that didn't seem to accomplish much. depends on the trainer though, obviously... some have the knack of giving everyone enough attention.
 
I've been to a few Robert Pickles clincs and was amazed how hard he actually made me work in an hour, considering I was with 2 other people. One of the ladies was less experienced, but he really was good at ensuring he focused on everyone. Personally, I found him fab for clinics.
 
Exactly, depends on the trainer. Then again there are some trainers, than even struggle with one to one communication
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Hmmmm well you two are no help!!
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But I do get your points - thing is how do you know who is good until you go along unless you get friends recommendations etc?
 
I like individual clinics or 2 max, are youlooking at doing some if so with who ? All my dressage lessons have been individual but my Jumping ones have only been 2 or 4 but levels have always matched
 
Clinics are basically a group lesson with an instructor who has never seen you or your horse before. When you put it like that, it hardly makes sense paying twice as much (or more) than a 1-to-1 lesson with your own instructor.
 
It depends what you want to get out of it.

I go to a dressage clinic every few months. It is only a couple of miles away from me and there are several reasons I go:

1) support local riding school getting international instructors
2) my horses always work alone at home, so good practise for them to work in company.
3) it's in an indoor school!!
4) good opportunity to showcase either myself - try and get new rides or horses that I have for sale.
5) sometimes I also actually learn something!! even if it is something that won't work for my horse rather than something that does.

I have 2 main instructors who cost £60 and £80 for a 1-1. The clinic costs £35each and there are 4 of you in the group.

I think you need to think about what you expect back from going on a clinic. If you want/need a lot of attention then it might not be the thing for you and your horse.
 
I was thinking of maybe doing some of the BD clinics in my area but apart from a couple of the trainers I have no idea about their teaching/clinic style so was wondering if a few individual lessons would be more beneficial for me. I think from reading these post the lessons are the way to go.
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Afaik the BD clinics are 1 to 1. Certainly mine are.

So they can be very helpful for getting a 'second opinion' on your training or as a taster to see if you like a different trainers style of teaching before booking regular lessons.
 
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