My lesson with CF

[niko]

Today i went for a lesson with Clayton Fredericks as he was over which is a rare thing in N.Ireland. I had chose my grey mare to go, young, not done much flatwork and just settling after hunting.
Got they in time and running late so watched abit, thought he sounded like he was annoyed and started to dread it. Got Fleur ready and warmed up and it was our turn, myself and two others in an intro eventing lesson.
Well........he asked me what my horse had done and what i would like to work on, my response, better canter and more consistant outline. He took that and put it in the dirt and stood on it. He started by making our horses softer (flexion) my mare has done tiddly squat and he got agitated and said for me to turn her nose to my toe!!!

even i know you cant do that in 2mins (trainer standing horrified) Well we got that and then started lateral work oving off the leg to the outside track (again mare just done basics) he made me take her to him he held the rein and punched in the stomach to make her sidestep and she was getting unhappy (so was i) and confused in what he wanted.
She got better but he kept making her do this round and round (if i teach i get them understanding, stop do something else then go back......but i dont make an issue out of it)
Then he made us walk to canter instantly & if not we got SHOUTED at, the over poles but he only gave us two strides to meet the first pole properly when we went into canter. After it we had to walk immediately again, if not fast enough we had to rein back!!
The lights then went out & he said that was enough (30mins!!) i paid for an hour and no jumping! Needless to say im hopping mad, very unpleased,want some of my money back and in my experience would not go back to him if you paid me.
He should teach to the level we were at and what was in front of him (some people did'nt know leg yield, shoulder in or the commands, never mind expecting the horse too)
Not happy

 

[sea_view]

I take it you complained at the time at the venue? What was said?

 

[niko]

Yes i did, but the lady that dealt with the money was not there as she arranged it, so will be making a few calls tomorrow. I've never felt so displeased, or disheartened luckily my trainer was there to say it was'nt me or my fault

 

[somethingorother]

That's not on at all. Did you complain at the time?

I don't care who he is, if anyone punched a horse i was riding in the stomach (and probably anyone else was riding too) they'd get a gob full off me. I bet you paid a fortune for that, and it doesn't sound right at all. I would make a formal complaint to the venue, written.

 

[KatB]

You get on with some people, and not others. He must do some things right.... sorry it got cut short though, you were obviosly enjoying every minute of it

 

[Araminta]

Oh no, how frustrating for you.

Mark it down to experience and move onward and upward.

Large glass of wine and larger bar of choccy always makes me feel better - sick, but better

 

[mik]

i must admit he isnt one of my favourites. Do complain, hope no serious damage was done to your training.

 

[ponyclubnicole]

OMG is this for real i really look up to this man and lucinda. that is appalling did i read this right he punched your horse or am i reading this wrong?

 

[MissJael]

Fleur where abouts in N. Ireland are you/where was your lesson? (I'm over here too!)
I think you're well within your rights to expect at least part of your money back, and I don't think he sounded like he was making good use of anyone's time today!

 

[JoJo_]

Oh dear. Sounds like he should train more experienced partnerships if he gets that irritated by the inexperienced ones. Did you pay the venue? I would complain and ask for some money back.

 

[carthorse]

Report in Comp from another person who had a lesson and enjoyed it . sorry you had a bad experience

 

[3Beasties]

I got all excited then when I saw you had posted about your lesson, Was looking forward to a glowing report.

Sounds like it was dreadful, you have every right to be angry!

 

[niko]

I looked up to him, thought he could teach me a good few things, improve on what me and my horse already had, but he would not be somebody i would go back to, i guess some people are good at riding and can teach and others can do one or the other (thats what i'm telling myself)
I just hope she wont have sore grapes from the leg yielding experience (im eating choco and still feeling deflated!)
I was going to ask for a pic with him and my horse but i just walked away, my trainer knows my horse is my princess

 

[nicolaread]

sounds awful. i have 2 say i would have been tempted 2 tell him exactly what i thought of him there + then, but then ive neva been particularly good at tact!! lol

 

[only_me]

hey you were in the ride after me! i was on the big bay with a green jumper

i thought he was good... and i heard about the lights going out, as my pc was there to do games and polox afterwards

i didnt mind the being shouted at, im used to it

my usual instructor told me that he's not being rude, he is just making sure he is heard

the lights going out was NOT the fault of the smiths, the electricity went out in gilford.

I do think you should have another lesson re-arranged/money back though.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

If anyone punched my horse in the stomach, they'd get a slap back in return. Sounds unacceptable all in all and I would definately put forward my comments in the strongest possible terms.

 

[niko]

Yes i was there for a good bit after and the Smyths are lovely were talking to me after as knew the lesson was displeased!

 

[SilverSkye]

Sorry you didnt enjoy it, everybody has different teaching styles and what suits one wont suit someone else, i love an instructor that is tough and means buisness so shouting all the way for me i also hate an instructor that gives praise willy nilly.
His teaching style obviously didnt suit and there is not much that can be done to change that however i would be speaking to the centre about cutting your lesson short ( enjoying it or not you had paid for it)

 

[marlyclay]

Oh dear ,what a dissapointment,Do you mind me asking ,how much did you pay for your 30 mins of torture?

 

[kerilli]

i had a similar sort of experience years ago with a "top" trainer and my lovely but very green young horse. he got on the horse and forced it to do simple changes. it ground its teeth for months after a 10 minute session with him on, wrenching and kicking it to get instant results.
it taught me that i MUST have the courage to defend my horse's inexperience against anybody, however famous they are, because it is MY horse and my job to protect it from someone else's ambition, ego, whatever.
now i don't take green horses to top trainers, tbh... i only take them to trainers i already know well and really trust. a more experienced horse can cope with the pressure.

 

[lucretia]

well i have been riding in the school on many occasions with clayton and been ther on many others when he has been teaching and also when he has bothered to ring a foreign country to help someone cos i asked him (pep talks before and after every phase thereafter) that i am quite amazed by the above. it doesnt sound like clayton at all.
as for 'punching' your horse in the stomach to make it step over well i am afraid i dont believe that at all. i know plenty of people who gve a young horse a smack on the side with their hand when teaching from the ground especially if the horse is 'leaning' into the leg. sometimes it is a pretty hard smack but that is not the same as balling your fist and taking a swing which is what 'punching' is.
everyone has bad days but i have NEVER seen CF have one as bad as that you all must have had some sort of miscommunication.

 

[niko]

Thats a really good point Kerilli and taught me alot tonight, i will be doing the same as you, at the end of the day i only do it as it's my hobby never intend to compete top level so i cant see why he couldnt adapt to the level. It was £50 and didnt jump a pole

 

[carthorse]

I think as the lights failed and you only had half the time ,you should write and ask for a refund of half the money. Did you speak to the other riders about how you felt?

 

[Laafet]

I cannot comment on CF but do agree with Kerilli. I would be agrieved at forking out £50 for a jumping lesson to not do any jumping.

 

[clairel]

Just thought I would add my little bit as I also had a lesson with him today!

I got there a little late, but was onboard and ready to go just as he was about to start. nHe didn't ask what age or experiance my horse was or anything about us at all! Then proceded to immediately get us into trot doing shoulder in down 1/2 the long side and switching mid way to travers! Followed by the same in canter.
My horse is still fairly experienced eventing but those of you on here who know him, also know there is an awful lot of work to do with him, and this was a step too far without any warm up or time to settle him off the box (we drove 2 1/2hrs for this lesson)

Although we did do some jumping, I came away very dissappointed and feeling like I couldn't ride and that my horse is rubbish!

Just looking forward to my Eric Smiley lesson on Weds now to get a bit of confidence back!

 

[only_me]

aww

seems like i was the only one to enjoy it

will see you on weds claireL - last week did your horse get loose?!

oh and keep an eye out for Ron - hes such a dude

he is the american *guy*

 

[clairel]

No not me! Was the other chestnut that managed to lose its jockey!

Does Ron ride a coloured horse?

 

[only_me]

no, that would be gareth

lol Ron is the... ahem... very loud (great fun

) american who was riding a very nice dun/very light bay horse.

i was sure that it was you...

lol was rather interesting to say the least!

 

[clairel]

You are in the lesson before me then?!
Davy has come on leaps and bounds in his lessons... although last week was a bit much for a couple of the ones in my ride!

 

[Dubsie]

Sorry you didn't receive the lesson you'd expected. I would definitely write in to complain.Express your diappointment at the lesson not being as advertised, lay your points out factually eg paid for and hour got half an hour, expected jumping etc.
Hope you get some recompense.