Have you ever been taught by someone famous??

I have loved reading this thread, note generation of rider may have something to do with choice?;)

Here goes

Tony Newbery - one lesson years ago, had me reining back by hauling it in the mouth.

Steve Hadley, assisted by an up and coming course builder (at that time) called Bob Ellis. Two clinics at his place - excellent.

Nigel Taylor when at MK. A couple of one off XC schooling sessions in the days when there was no where else available to school and I had a good horse. Very useful.

Lucinda Green - one clinic. I knew how to sit up and jam my feet forward, so didn't really get anything from it, but her format has changed considerably since that time.

Nick Gauntlett XC clinic - fine for me on young horse but I have heard varied reports.

Matt Ryan XC clinic - good, patient, enthusiastic and encouraging.

Mark Todd 2 day clinic. Good jumping exercises. Told me I was being useless at shoulder in and got on my horse to show how it should be done. He couldn't get it to go either and handed it back saying he wouldn't waste his time on a horse like that. (It was actually a half brother to Welton Greylag and won at intermediate level) :rolleyes:

Adam Kemp many lessons over the years. Tended to be rather physical style of riding (same horse as above!) but gets results. Pammy gets the results with less of a wrestling match.

Glad that Cindy Rawson gets a thumbs up elsewhere. It took me a while to go back after a first lesson, but now love her attention to detail and encouragement at any level. She teaches our RC and does lots of stuff on your position, presentation to a fence and XC questions. Also very good on the flat and lungeing/tack and horse care.
 
Karen Dixon - dont think she's on the circuit anymore but my Pony Club had her once many moons ago. I remember it well as it peed rain the whole day, even the photos I have of me on my pony and her have a smeared autograph across them!
 
Lesson with Robert Whitaker on my baby horse.
Have got a lesson with Charlotte Dujardin coming up.
Jumping lesson with Lionel Dunning - he's before my era, but apparently he's a bit of a celebrity.
 
Sorry bl00dy iPhone! WB x ID from stopping to soaring! Literally went from being eliminated at PC 2'6 to jumping DC round BN/disc and 1.05m members cup. My sister and I spent a week down with them in Hampshire and its thanks to them that we ended up jumping on PC teams and eventing BE.
I had a lesson on the same horse as part of HORSE magazine with Jennie L-C, she was brilliant, however I must have been pooh as she booted me off and I still have amazing pictures of her riding him.

I worked for Guy Landau for a year and I think it's thanks to him I can turn a horse out and clip like I can, I also have his high standards to thank for the way I now run our own yard.

I had a lesson with Mette Assouline... I never went back.

I have had lessons with Emile who is brilliant, he never judges the fact that Mrs Worried rocks in on her little bog totter and teaches me and inspires me to get Finn Binn to dance (well as much as a 16-y-I IDxTB can ;))
After a lesson I go home feeling on top of the world and since having lessons we have regularly scored 70% (albeit at prelim) and not been beaten in the last year.
 
I have had lessons with Emile who is brilliant, he never judges the fact that Mrs Worried rocks in on her little bog totter and teaches me and inspires me to get Finn Binn to dance (well as much as a 16-y-I IDxTB can ;))
After a lesson I go home feeling on top of the world and since having lessons we have regularly scored 70% (albeit at prelim) and not been beaten in the last year.[/QUOTE]

How wonderful, this is exactly what we want our trainers to be like :D
 
Dark_Knight said:
Went to work for Ken Clawson for 4 months, stayed 5 years, JP Sheffield was stable jockey at the time.
Won lessons with William and Pippa Funnell, written up over two months in Horse and Rider.
Xc clinic with Mark Todd, and Leslie Law.
Sj Steven Hadley.

Learnt alot from all of them, but have also learnt from watching and listening
while others teach.

Have also watched certain people teach and wouldnt go to them for lessons...
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We potentially crossed paths then!! I basically learnt to ride at SLRE from age 4/5, JP teaching me on his old pony Henry initially, I bought the chestnut in my sig from Paul when I was 15. I was still riding there until I went to uni, so had lessons with oliver Townend when he was Ken's stable jockey - I didnt particularly like him at all, arrogant twerp - however he was a very good instructor, especially show jumping!
 
I've had regular lessons with Sharon Hunt on both SJ and XC. Fab lessons, really positive, full of praise when it goes right, doesn't put you down when it goes wrong, just works with you to sort the problem, no matter how long it takes! If the lesson runs over, so be it!

Had dressage lessons with Malcolm Brown (dressage judge)

Had SJ lessons with Ken Clawson (one of the best ever!) and John Adams.

Hoping to book lessons in with Joss Gray and Malcolm Holthausen soon too.
 
Well, um, dunno if this counts, but in the early seventies (OK so I'm officially long-in-the-tooth), there was a riding school at Ebford here in Devon, proprietor a Captain Hewitt (father of James Hewitt)............ James was then a young boy, away at school, used to come back in the holidays.

So don't know if this counts really.

And then, most of us who were Pony Club kids can remember being around and either being in a neighbouring Pony Club branch OR THE branch that she was in......... but we all rubbed shoulders with a certain famous Devon Event rider in her youth; some of us actually managed to beat her as well!!! LOL.

But, nope! - no lessons with anybody famous, so this post probably a daft digression, apologies if so :)
 
Google brought it up when I typed in Robin Leyland's name and brought me here! Would be nice if I could get an answer. Thanks for your reply.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Well, um, dunno if this counts, but in the early seventies (OK so I'm officially long-in-the-tooth), there was a riding school at Ebford here in Devon, proprietor a Captain Hewitt (father of James Hewitt)............ James was then a young boy, away at school, used to come back in the holidays.

So don't know if this counts really.

And then, most of us who were Pony Club kids can remember being around and either being in a neighbouring Pony Club branch OR THE branch that she was in......... but we all rubbed shoulders with a certain famous Devon Event rider in her youth; some of us actually managed to beat her as well!!! LOL.

But, nope! - no lessons with anybody famous, so this post probably a daft digression, apologies if so :)
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It's an entertaining digression, but you're repeating yourself as you posted it on this thread first time round :D (yep, I have just read the whole thing, it's an interesting thread).

Nobody for me though :p
 
In Pony Club I had a 2 day clinic with Karen Dixon. Had a SJ lesson with Geoff Billington 2 years ago, he was alright but to be honest he didnt say a huge amount - he had different exercises to try so handy for schooling ideas at home but I probably wouldnt pay for him again, very expensive! Would love to have lessons with lots of people but living in the NE of Scotland, we very very rarely get anyone "famous" up here!
 
Yes I am talking a lot of years ago as well! If it is the same Robin I worked for him at his stables in Barleythorpe nr Oakham in the early 60's. Many happy memories.
 
Won a SJ lesson with James Fisher many years ago when I had my old boy, never again, I certainly wouldn't pay for one!

Geoff Billington, lovely, funny, and effectual, you need to have an issue to work on and he will sort it out, very good!

Lee Pearson, again, have an issue you want to concentrate on and he is honest as well as funny. The second lesson I had on my TB boy I got launched while warming up, nice and embarassing :)

Gosh!! Forgot Paul Crago....mr Long Legs....effectual and informative.

Ollie Townend - not me but friend highly recommends.
 
Stephen Clark teaches two good friends of mine and my instructor - which means second hand I get his tips and hints, and if she is anything to go by he should be pretty awesome!
Andrew Heffernan, not for everyone I think, I've watched him teach. Man of few words but my friend highly rates him, he doesn't ask if you're ok doing something esp. SJ you just get told to do it. Which for my friend (who is ever so slightly bonkers at times) is great as she just gets on and gets a really good feel when she realises she's actually just jumped 130 when she's aiming at Novice! I think because of his SJ background originally he offers some good tips to eventers with SJ trouble.
I've never been lucky enough, would love a Mary King/Mark Todd/Carl Hester/Ferdi Eilberg lesson!
 
Funny this has been resurrected!
Many over the years - some eons ago when there used to be lots of 3 day clinics around - don't seem to be so popular nowadays. You'd probably have to google some of these names!

Richard Walker (eventer) (hated it - bullied and belittled me and destroyed my confidence in 1 day - didn't go back for days 2 & 3)
Graham Fletcher (pretty good)
David Green (Lucinda's ex) (pretty good)
John Whitaker (worth it to see him ride your horse even though he didn't say much, lol)
David Broome (more interested in chatting to Princess Haya of Jordan on his phone - and telling us about it, even worse!)
Geoff Luckett (very good, even though I fell off on the first one)
Stephen Hadley (I wasn't that impressed tbh, spent a lot of time chatting with people he already taught)
Tim Stockdale (a few times to give him a proper chance, but wouldn't go again - more interested in showing off to spectators and very rude to some people)
James Fisher (very good once he'd got over his shyness!)
Also had lessons for donkeys years from John Smart, not a famous name perhaps, but great for giving you confidence.

More recently:-
Keith Doyle - very good
Andrew Gould - very good

For jumping nowadays mostly go to Judi Piper-Dadswell, UKCC level 3 & BS accredited coach who I find really helpful.

Over the years experience has taught me that the best riders don't necessarily make the best trainers, especially those with a "natural" gift for riding who find it hard to explain exactly what they do! Also those who haven't always had the easiest/most talented horses seem to know better how to make the best of what you've got.
 
I was lucky to taught 5 times a week by Stephen Clarke for six months when I was in my teens, it was a magic time .
I have had lessons from lots of famous people over the years Andrew Fielder helped me lots as did Elaine straker and Karen Dixon .
Gill Watson the best of the best in my book and still the person I get most from , the person who got me organised .
Ollie Townsend not what I expected and I would highly recommend .
Nicola Wilson lovely and a real horse lover .
Lorna Clarke, great fun when I was young and starting out .
Iain Stark , happy times with my friends before we all got decrepit.
And others I don't recall ATM .
Most recently I had a lesson with Pammy Hutton It seemed like a good idea to book it months before , less good the night before I had a great time and it helped a great deal.
 
I've had two lessons with Phoebe Buckley this year. She's great, down to earth and makes you feel really confident. I learnt a lot about my horse too.
 
Had a lesson with Pammy Hutton the other week, our riding club has regular bookings with her. Took my green yob of a TB and Pammy was great, 4 others on the lesson and she had eyes in the back if her head, working all of us on different things in the lovely indoor school. Will definitely be booking more lessons with her when scheduling permits.
 
I've been training with Chris Burton this year (Australian Olympic eventer for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of coming across him) He is a lovely guy, really helpful and has made an absolutely massive difference to our jumping. He has even offered to help us warm up at Badminton!

Also had one off lessons with Spencer Wilton, Harry Meade and probably several others who haven't done anything to stick in my head!
 
Zerotolerance said:
John Whitaker (worth it to see him ride your horse even though he didn't say much, lol)
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I've always wanted to see WFP ride Fergus.

Nothing to do with his riding, just because I think it would be an amusing picture - Mr super-tall and Mr Midget-pony!
 
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