EHOA Clinic Report- not what I was expecting! Advice/comments/anything please!

[millitiger]

Wasn’t sure whether to post this but guess the positives are there if you look hard enough!

Millie and I went to Leicestershire Monday afternoon for dressage/sj/xc clinic to run Tuesday and Wednesday...

Dressage- I have been working on steadying Millie and really getting her rhythm regular and strong before adding power- otherwise she gets tight over the back and just runs into the hand.
I had a fab flatwork session at home on Monday where she was beautifully light and uphill and really working off the aids- genuinely the best she has ever gone so I was really optimistic about the clinic.

My clinic dressage lesson went by in a blur with very fast trot and then extreme wall of death canter I really felt I needed to do some transitions and work at getting her to soften over the back but all the time I was told just to PUSH, PUSH, PUSH with my leg and hold the bend to the inside for the whole time.
She was just getting more and more tense and fast as the session went on.
I was quite upset but at least she hadn’t bucked or done anything naughty so there is my positive point

Onto jumping… I have been working really hard with Millie’s jumping to try and steady her at home. Lots of walking/ trotting into fences, halting after fences etc to try and get her to listen and not whizz off looking for the next fence but it hasn't been having a very dramatic effect.

Started well with Millie more relaxed and working over her back than in the dressage.
Onto 3 poles laid out in a curving line so you could vary the trot and canter from collected to medium etc depended on where you aimed at the poles.
Worked really well and got me to really relax and trust my eye to the first pole and Millie was really receptive to the exercise- positive point

All went wrong when the jumps went up though we just did the same line of fences over and over again which doesn’t really suit Millie- she then knew where the next fence and was anticipating every turn and I just couldn’t get her to canter in a straight line; she was totally locked up and running blind and each time I did the exercise it got worse.

I was so frustrated I am ashamed to say I was crying pretty hard sat in the middle of the arena with 20 odd people watching and I just couldn’t really pull myself together

All the trainer said was that horses learn by repetition… however I am a bit stuck as all we ever do with Millie is work on steadying exercises at home so clearly the repetition of calm and quiet is not working!!
I was hoping this top trainer would have some exercises to help or some advice on how to cope with it- particularly when the horse has very clearly got worse as the session has gone on and the rider is very clearly upset.

After putting Millie away I went and had a really good cry in the trailer out of sight of everyone. I felt like I should be back on the lead rein and was really frustrated and upset with how things had gone.

IMO it was telling that later the sj trainer said he hoped everyone had had a great day- apart from me who he had clearly scared.
It just really highlighted to me that he didn’t understand the issue at all if he thought I had cried because I was scared.
I was crying because our issues had been brushed over and we hadn’t had anything useful out of the session and i was so frustrated.

We were meant to go XC yesterday, meant to be in a group of 3. I was a bit dubious as the XC course was basically a huge farm with a fence every 200 yards around the perimeter.
One lady from my group pulled out as they were running an hour late and we were the last group anyway- she had a long drive so was totally understandable.
I actually felt much better then because it meant our group would be myself and another lady on a 5yro aiming at Intro like us and then the trainer on a horse.

Drove back to the yard to collect Millie where we were phoned by another lady on the clinic to say they were now amalgamating the last 2 groups- which meant we would be in a group of 6/7 horses with horses competing at BE Novice!
Decided to go straight home at this point as we have been working so hard at home to get Millie NOT to be so excited about XC and having that many horses schooling together and jumping the bigger fences I knew it was not going to work.
Positive point from this day- Millie was an angel to have her stud holes cleaned and loaded like an angel

Overall, I was extremely disappointed with the whole experience- we weren’t made to feel at all welcome at the yard and none of the things we needed to work on were addressed really.
So a total waste of over £300 and we aren’t any further forward with Millie’s work- not exactly the kick-start to the season I was expecting.

I have entered Rodbaston Intro and am still planning to go but I am now totally at a loss about what to do about our training. I was hoping to keep going to EHOA clinics through the year but don’t think I will bother now. I don’t have much to spend on training/competing so basically putting £300 down the toilet hasn’t really helped my funds.

Not sure what I really expect people to say about this post- I expect it will sink without trace I am taking Millie xc schooling tonight if the course at the yard is quiet and then will see about entering Eland unaffiliated next weekend if it goes well as I need to put this sh*t week behind us and try and crack on with our season.

 

[Booboos]

Oh, dear, sorry about that, sounds like you had a horrible time!

I think the main thing is to put it behind you and think ahead. Some trainers just don't work well with some horses and the clinic sounds like a bad match. At the end of the day it did not work out, it's all finished, huge shame about the money, but what is done is done!

Do you have a local trainer you go to usually? Maybe get a couple of lessons in with him before Rodbaston just to have a bit of fun again!

BTW out of interest, what is EHOA?

 

[martlin]

Oh dear, I don't really know what to say, the whole things sounds really rubbish.
I think I would have complained, in fact I would probably blow my top off! and demanded refund
As I don't know what to suggest, have a (((hug))) instead

 

[TheMule]

I would be writibng a letter of complaint- especially about the xc thing- you didnt get what you had paid for

 

[jules89]

sounds like a nightmare I'm sorry. Sometimes intensive clinics don't go as well as planned as it's the whole thing about conflicting views from trainers other than your own that you don't know and who think they know your horse after 2 mins of trotting around. (whoops that sounds a lot harsher than I intended!)

Go back to your normal trainers, forget about this weekend, maybe email EHOA and explain if you want to attempt to get some money back (?) and congratulate yourself on being very actively positive on the little things!

 

[jrp204]

I think you were unlucky, we have been to a XC & Dr session and it was very useful. I suppose they are trying to please a group as opposed to an individual where they are purely working on your problems. We have been in mixed groups at XC and have found that there are usually jumps of varying sizes and the younger less experienced horses would jump the smaller fences.
I would write to the ehoa and let them know of your disappointment.

 

[251libby]

After reading that, I'm left not really knowing what to think!
I'm am sorry that you had a bad experience, some trainers just dont get on with some horse and rider combinations, and I think this is simply the case here.
TBH i am sorry you wasted £300 but at least you learnt from it...you learnt not to use that trainer again, and you learnt you're strong enough to protect your horse and your hard work by pulling out of the XC!
I think carry on doing what your doing, it seems to be working for you, get out to the events you planned and have fun.
Also crying in the middle of a clinic just shows that you care too much (I mean that in a nice way) don't dwell on it, put it down to experience and dont go again.

I had to ask a profesinal to get off my horse a couple of years ago, and now when I think about it, I feel proud not upset she didn't go well for her.

 

[Alibear]

Sounds like the trainers didn't suit you which is fine it happens to us all.
Stick with what you knew was working and perhaps try the SJ excersise occasionally at home as it helped at the start.
Then search around for trainers who do suit you and your horse, it can be a long expensive tiring search but when you find the right one it works so well.

SO good luck put the "clinic" behind you and go back to your original plans. Keep your eye out at events to as a lot of trainers ride so you can see what they and their horses are like and if you think they'd suit you.

 

[Joss]

You poor thing what an absolute shame. Most of us have **** lessons from time to time that dont really work out. Usually you just go home are in a bad mood for a bit & put it behind you but its rather compounded when you are stuck at a camp.

I am really sorry it didnt work out. I travelled down from Scotland last year for EHOA Camp at Kenneth's in November & we all had a lovely time & I had the best lessons BUT that doesnt mean it works for everybody. I actually had a lesson with a top rider which was won in an auction, my horse was fresh & the dictorial style of riding that the rider required meant that he spent most of the time on his hinds legs which he hadnt done for years. Everytime I see that rider's connections they ask me if I 'loved' my lesson. I tend to just smile & avoid the question

I know its sooo hard when you get a bit upset & in a tizz but you must take a really deep breath & question your trainers during the lesson as to 'Why' they are asking you to do things if it doesnt feel right. One off lessons are always a lottery as the trainer doesnt know your horse & maybe thinks they always go like that. You need to speak up on your horse's behalf.

I absolutely dont blame you regarding the XC, I wouldnt like to take a youngster off XC in a big group. Hopefully by amalgamating the EHOA saved an hour's trainers fees so perhaps a little polite email to the organiser (Annabel??) might give you a little refund.

Dont dwell on it & best of luck for the remainder of the season.

 

[kit279]

That is such a crying shame - I really feel for you and know exactly how frustrating it is when you're having a lesson and the trainer hasn't really engaged with you and your horse's needs. I must admit I did really think hard about going on one of these weekend-away clinics but I came to the conclusion that for the same amount of money, I could have 20 lessons with my regular trainer who sees us all the time and knows us well. Not everyone gets on with the same trainer - even if they are very well known, they just may not be for you and at the end of the day, it is about *you* and *your* horse and *your* hobby. Millie sounds like a 'kid glove' type of horse, not one size fits all, and I'm sure she wouldn't go for just any old rider, but look how far you've come and how much more there is to come.

Whereabouts are you? I know of a really excellent lady who gave me my very first lesson and she basically put me on the straight and narrow and sent me to my current trainer who was closer.

 

[millitiger]

Thank you everyone, i think it was probably just a case of trainers not suiting the horse and perhaps Millie is a bit sensitive and complex to expect her to work well in a clinic with a trainer who has never seen her before.

unfortunately i don't have any regular trainers my jumping trainer moved out of the area about 2 years ago and my dressage trainer is now too far to go to as we have moved yards.

i think i am going to try Nigel at A-L-W as it is only about an hour down the motorway- i just feel a bit disillusioned and stuck in a rut at the moment but i am determined to be positive and crack on with the season

 

[H_J]

Hi - I might PM you about this clinic! But anyway I went on this last year with my big gangly baby and felt much the same as you

My dressage session was a waste of time Doog finds it dead easy to flex to the right and has no inside bend and for some reason the trainer felt the need for me to spend the WHOLE lesson in each pace with his head bent to the right I was really upset about it. And felt I was actually in the wrong as the trainer is SO SO experienced.

He was then after the dressage lesson very tired being a baby and being worked into the ground and in the SJing he was quite careless and I jumped 2 rounds and left it there not really being told much I was made to feel completely like the under dog without my super fit careful uber pingy event horse!!

I must say though the XC day was excellent and made up for it I think JP is excellent and luckily where you went was too wet! So we went half hour up the road (it was half hour in the wrong direction for me so made for a very long journey home!) but it was excellent so at least I had one good lesson!! I know only do the EHOA's with certain trainers.

Nigels one was amazing and any with JP ill do again Sorry you didnt have a great time much like me but I guess we learnt those trainers dont work for us!!!

 

[Pidgeon]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience at what should have been a good one. Are you doing the BE90 at Rodbaston as its a nice XC course there? Whereabouts are you based as I know a good dressage and BE accreditated XC trainer

 

[wench]

I went to one of the CDT workshops in Feb, expecting it to be really good. It was the biggest waste of £75 plus fuel money plus a day off work, to spend a day with a group of silly little children who wouldnt let me join in any of their groups for the discussions, and to have a trainer tell me I need to read my horse better, when he gets right up to a jump then stops dead.

 

[posie_honey]

oh poor you i've had the odd lesson like that - the 'pro' just did not want to listen to me and about my horse - he decided he knew without being told! and also he had a blanket method of all in the group - even though we had v diffierent horses... and i found none of the advice offered really suited the issues i felt i had with my horse etc

tbh - i'm not going to do clincs anymore - sticking with my RI who knows my horse - who rides her regulariliy in my lessons as she knows she rides differently to how she looks like she should ride (she was surprised when she first rode her!) and who recognises the issues with me, my confidence and my crappy body that wont do what i tell it too lol!

fingers crossed you find a nice new trainer nearer you

 

[bigboyrocky]

Oh how frustrating i can completely sympathise.. i had pretty much the same experience at a 2 day PC camp.. dressage trainer did NOT understand my horse, and we just spent 20mins on each rein collecting them. No transitions, no change of direction... just going round in circles for 20 mins. went into the SJing feeling a bit more optomistic, as he needs a kick up the arse SJing, and he behaved really well inthe end, although due to a few dodgey tips, he got the better or me after a grid, put in a rather large buck and had me on the floor, which i can usually sit pretty well to! We had rider fitness that day too, so next morinig i was bl00dy stiff from the fall and all the exercise so i didnt take ponio the next day. I am pleased i didnt as think our DR would have got even worse as he got so bored, so i just went off and did my own thing! :S lol But went in to see the demo which was a leg being disected! it was soooo helpful and learnt so much, so that was the positive of my experience!
Sorry for my ramble.. your not alone. To me it just higlighted how well i knew him, and how great my crruent trainer is, so if you can take that away, then thats good.. although very frustrating that its £300 down then drain
Good luck with your intro - look forward to a report x

 

[Heidi1]

Oh dear, sounds like you had a really bad experience....

I have to say when I went in February I had the most amazing time, but then there was only 12 of us, we were in groups of 2 and it worked really well.

Chin up and put it behind you..........

 

[SpruceRI]

In the main, I don't like clinics with random ad-hoc trainers, whether they be pros or not, as my experiences have been similar to yours or worse.

Some of the trainers ask you what level you and horsey are upto and what you hope to gain from the training, and then many ignore it! Some don't even ask!

I know you can't please all the people all the time and all that, but a decent trainer should be able to recognise where a horse/rider is struggling, and do something about it, even in a group.

Also, the price is a total rip off.

If you'd had one dressage lesson, one SJing and one XC lesson with your normal trainer, how much would that have cost you? And you'd likely have had a really good session at each as that is why you stay with the trainer you've got, in the first place!

 

[vik100]

Hi Millitiger,

I was in your group and was the one who went home and was very interested and sympathetic about how you felt.

My lesson with Tracie was really good and helpful but I thought the grouping for the jumping seemed odd, as my horse is PN and working towards Novice standard and we were with two baby horses. Obviously better that way round for me than with people too advanced which is what you felt.

Guess I am a bit of a veteran at these clinic things, have been doing them for years and sort of know the pitfalls ... I enjoy joining in lessons with my horse and getting to know a group of people with similar interests to me as I work at home alone most of the time. I have also witnessed an awful lot of people have bad experiences in group situations where the trainer is teaching lots of people he/she doesn't know and will probably never see again. With a baby horse I think you are better off working with someone you know locally who will help you consistantly on a long term basis.

I would be interested to know what EHOA say if you do contact them. Best of luck for the future.

 

[HotToTrot]

I went to one of the CDT workshops in Feb, expecting it to be really good. It was the biggest waste of £75 plus fuel money plus a day off work, to spend a day with a group of silly little children who wouldnt let me join in any of their groups for the discussions, and to have a trainer tell me I need to read my horse better, when he gets right up to a jump then stops dead.

Hhhmm. I went to CDT at Golden Cross and it wasn't great - though it inspired me to build corners and skinnies in my school and I got one good tip about XC riding from the theory. I had already booked in for one at Tweseldown, so went to that feeling dubious, but it was far better.

Sorry to hear about the EHOA, it's so disappointing to pay that much and spend the time going, only to have a bad experience. At least you tried it though, and now you know that that trainer won't work for you.

I frequently annoy trainers in clinics because I always ask "why" when told to do something. If they say something that contradicts something else I have been taught ("Place it to a fence!" "Don't place it to a fence, let it sort its own feet out!") I will ask about that too. My usual trainers totally expect this of me. Trainers on clinics often get defensive and say things like "well you don't need me then, if you're going to [place it to a fence/not place it to a fence] when I have told you to [place it.... etc]". It can be quite hard to learn from people who get defensive!

Despite your bad experience, I do think it is still worth going out to clinics. You can learn different things from different people and I think it's worth getting various points of view, even if what is being taught does not end up working for you. I think we've all had bad lessons and come away thinking we can't ride, but if you're going to be jumping the sorts of fences that are in your signature, I think you'll need Sally Gunnel (sp?) holding the end of your lead rein!

 

[millitiger]

Hi Millitiger,

I was in your group and was the one who went home and was very interested and sympathetic about how you felt.

My lesson with Tracie was really good and helpful but I thought the grouping for the jumping seemed odd, as my horse is PN and working towards Novice standard and we were with two baby horses. Obviously better that way round for me than with people too advanced which is what you felt.

Guess I am a bit of a veteran at these clinic things, have been doing them for years and sort of know the pitfalls ... I enjoy joining in lessons with my horse and getting to know a group of people with similar interests to me as I work at home alone most of the time. I have also witnessed an awful lot of people have bad experiences in group situations where the trainer is teaching lots of people he/she doesn't know and will probably never see again. With a baby horse I think you are better off working with someone you know locally who will help you consistantly on a long term basis.

I would be interested to know what EHOA say if you do contact them. Best of luck for the future.

I thought it was you- thank you for being sympathetic when i was pouring tears and snot!

i normally enjoy clinics but i guess i have always taken Pilfer who is a totally reliable star and they were useful as it was just little tweaks needed.

i think perhaps Millie is just not the horse for clinics (yet) but i was still expecting a bit more from the trainers.

i am umming and aahing about contacting EHOA about it- my mum who was with me at the clinic wants me to but i am not sure what good it will do. although i also think moaning to friends and on here but not letting them know is a bit silly as they will prbably want to know if anyone has had a bad experience.

 

[Joss]

i am umming and aahing about contacting EHOA about it- my mum who was with me at the clinic wants me to but i am not sure what good it will do. although i also think moaning to friends and on here but not letting them know is a bit silly as they will prbably want to know if anyone has had a bad experience.

I really think you should, you almost owe it to them having 'gone public' on here. You should give them a chance to reimburse you or similar. A very polite email because its not their fault your lessons didnt quite work out for you. There is a chance they paid the Trainers up front but if there was 1 less XC lesson they maybe able to offer you something. Like you say, I am sure they would like to know if it didnt quite work out. Making up the groups is VERY hard when you dont personally know all horse/rider combinations. The very experienced regular EHOA(&HHO) members slightly cheat & kind of make up their own groups before they go...............

 

[Gamebird]

I too am sorry that you didn't enjoy it. I'm an EHOA regular and think that the trainers that were on your course are some of the best I've had and have sought them out for training outside of the EHOA scheme. As with everyone though it's what floats your boat and as eveyone else has said these one-off things are possibly of limited value depending on your horse, riding philosophy and how that fits in with the trainer and others in your group. I usually prefer to be with a slightly higher group than the level I'm at as it pushes me to raise my game but this would be a mistake for some people and horses as there can be a fine line between 'pushing' and 'annihilating' ...

Like Joss I also go to enjoy the social side and have made a good few friends over the years. I have stabled on the yard you are on several times and have always been made to feel extremely welcome both in the yard and the house (I stayed in the house one year) to the point where this February when my horse went lame I was lent a horse completely gratis for the duration of the course.

I would also question the cost. £300 seems like an awful lot of money. Usually these things are £205 (using the £10 off voucher, or £215 without) including stabling, supper etc. so if you paid £300 I think you should definitely speak to Annabel about it. As Joss said - they won't know you had a problem unless you mention it so I should go ahead

 

[carthorse]

Some horses are not suited to group clinics and I feel so sorry for you, it sounds a complete mess. We have been to Nigel for a two day course and really loved it but he is very straight forward and experienced, I would always recommend him

 

[Baydale]

I really think you should, you almost owe it to them having 'gone public' on here. You should give them a chance to reimburse you or similar. A very polite email because its not their fault your lessons didnt quite work out for you. There is a chance they paid the Trainers up front but if there was 1 less XC lesson they maybe able to offer you something. Like you say, I am sure they would like to know if it didnt quite work out. Making up the groups is VERY hard when you dont personally know all horse/rider combinations. The very experienced regular EHOA(&HHO) members slightly cheat & kind of make up their own groups before they go...............

I don't know what you mean, Joss.

millitiger - I'm sorry to hear you've not had a great experience with EHOA and I was quite shocked to be honest, as I've always had great fun with them, and with many different trainers and at different venues. It would be worth a letter to the organiser, if only to get it out in the open and see what response you get. They are always looking for feedback so will, I'm sure, be better for knowing.

 

[millitiger]

I would also question the cost. £300 seems like an awful lot of money. Usually these things are £205 (using the £10 off voucher, or £215 without) including stabling, supper etc. so if you paid £300 I think you should definitely speak to Annabel about it. As Joss said - they won't know you had a problem unless you mention it so I should go ahead

the £300 estimate is made up of £216 for the course, £20 for the stable Monday, £12 for my mum to have dinner on the Tuesday, diesel each way, accomodation (i emailed/left numerous emails in the run up about staying in the house/ local B&B and never had a response ) etc.

thinking about it, it was probably more like £350 with the diesel but never mind.

i think i will try Nigel but also now have the issue of getting time off work having used up 3 days this week.

i think i will email the EHOA- i am just not really sure what to put!

 

[TableDancer]

I don't know what you mean, Joss.

Ditto, Joss, I think that's a very serious accusation you've made there

More seriously, Millitiger, I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience and can't help feeling a slight sense of responsibility as you've probably heard some of us raving about it on here which might have encouraged you to give it a go

I'm another one who has been on two of these courses at the same yard as you, admittedly only 2 dayers with no XC. My first experience of Tracie was last autumn and I went in slightly cautious but had a stonking lesson in which she immediately picked up some things my horse had been pulling the wool over my eyes about (you know, little things, like not acually being on the bit ) and helped me work through them. The SJ trainer you know I love, to the extent that I now run clinics for him in this neck of the woods, so I'm not really an impartial voice on that one. However, it is undoubtedly the case that different trainers suit different people and horses at different stages, and that some horses are not suited to that sort of environment at all. Another HHOer came to one of "my" clinics with this trainer and had a complete nightmare - she may well PM you about it. So clearly he doesn't suit everyone. I will, however, second the view that I've always been made to feel extremely welcome on the yard concerned, last time they had to wheel in mechanics for me and all sorts, and they were brilliant - although that may have been because they realised that if they didn't help they would have been stuck with me!!

I also feel quite strongly that you should get in touch with the EHOA. Annabel would, I believe, HATE to think that you had a horrible time and will want to help in any way she can, as well as needing the feedback in a more general sense. She is incredibly open to suggestions and input and will use them to try and improve the programme so in a way you owe it to the next lot to put in your two pennorth, as you may stop someone else going through what you did by sharing your experience.

Anyway, hope you can put it behind you quickly - as you say, have another lesson or two from someone you like and get out there as soon as you can Thanks for sharing, anyway, much better that we "keep it real" on here rather than only posting the good bits

 

[MegaBeast]

I did write a long reply but my laptop ate it so just the bare bones

Another HHOer came to one of "my" clinics with this trainer and had a complete nightmare - she may well PM you about it. So clearly he doesn't suit everyone.

That'd be me... have PMed you. In my experience these clinics only suit established combinations and aren't particularly helpful for green horses or those with issues, especially when the trainer takes no notice of what you tell them about your horse!

All the trainer said was that horses learn by repetition…

I don't like to contradict top trainers but quite frankly I disagree. When the horse has done something right you're effectively punishing them if you ask them to do the same thing again as they'll think what they did last was wrong and try to do it differently, at least alter the exercise a bit or leave it for another day.

And if things aren't working then you sure as hell don't repeat it again and again as all you're doing is reinforcing the problem!!!

I was hoping this top trainer would have some exercises to help or some advice on how to cope with it- particularly when the horse has very clearly got worse as the session has gone on and the rider is very clearly upset.

Ha, exactly my experience.

ETA don't worry about it, put it out of your head and move on. At the very least it's confirmed that what you're doing is right. Put it down to experience and move on

When I got back from the clinic, I tacked my mare up and jumped round a course straight away and after an initial hiccup (not surprising after having her confidence so well and truly destroyed) she was happy as larry. And has been going very well since!!!

 

[kerilli]

big sympathy here. sorry you had such a horrible time and were both rather misunderstood, by the sounds of it.
not all trainers suit all horses and riders, basically.
i didn't get on at all with a very very high-profile trainer. i'm sure he's brilliant at teaching top-level people, but he didn't do my horse any good at all, and another person in the clinic was a gibbering wreck who didn't improve (yet raved about him and was frequently taught by him?!)
i went on an EHOA course a good while ago (was lent Baydale's gorgeous Hector, v v kindly) and enjoyed it, BUT it was my first time being taught by them and i felt a bit of a 'new girl', others who were used to their exercises and systems got into it all far quicker. i also nearly had a minor meltdown about seeing a flyer and instead of being allowed to calm down for a minute (which i know from experience is what i need, and which my regular sj trainer is happy to do) was just ordered to come again immediately - which made it worse!
you have to follow your instincts with your horse. a regular trainer you can really trust, who is concerned with your long-term goals etc, is worth their weight in gold...
i think i'd ask for a partial refund for the xc part if nothing else, that sounds rather unfair. good judgement call to avoid winding your girl up any more, i think.

 

[seabiscuit]

Really sorry to hear that you had a dreadfull time, if its any consolation I would have reacted in exactly the same way had this happened to me, so can totally see where you are coming from.

Millie sounds so much like my young horse they could be identical in character. I'm very lucky to have a local trainer who totally understands her brain and the one thing she says is never repeat an exercise more than twice- this kind of brain gets bored very quickly and must be constantly kept challenged with new exercises and new things to think about. We jump a certain thing one way twice and then thats it we go on to jump something else. We also throw in loads of little exercises in between to keep her thinking and concentrating. I'be often said that most other trainers would have ruined my horse by now as they just would not have a clue how to deal with a horse like this- reading your report makes me realise this is certainly true. I would now be too scared to try out anyone new!
Charging around the arena flat out on a young tense horse in your flatwork session seems total madness.
Do have a look around for other trainers , whereabouts are you based?

I would certainly write a letter to the EHOA organiser.

Chin up- in a short while Millie will be going well again, she will have forgotten all about this and hopefully there'll be a fab new trainer somewhere who will really get you going and crack things in one session!!