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A couple of weeks ago I attended my first ever Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour. It was one of the most inspiring things I've ever attended in my horsey life of four years, and if he ever comes back to Washington I'd go and do it all over again. After talking to a couple of trainers, horsemen and women and riders like myself about different clinicians, it got me thinking, who is your favorite professional horse clinician? What do you like about the way they work with horses, their teaching style, etc? And, what is the most important thing you've ever learned from them? I will say it outright that Clinton's definitely my favorite horse clinician, though I never ever have a closed mind to other clinicians and trainers techniques. For me, the way Clinton works with a horse is so simple I feel confident enough to show someone else how to do it after watching him do it. His teaching style is incredibly easy to follow (great for someone who hasn't been around horses for all that long) and it gets results. Probably the most important thing I've learned from watching him was his 'Two Eyes' theory. If your horse has his attention on you, he really doesn't have time to spook at scary trees and imaginary mountain lions. I find this very true, for when a horse is tuned into you, he's thinking about you, and isn't thinking about that bale of hay that's in the barn waiting for him. So, I'd very much enjoy hearing from ya'll about who your favorite horse clinician is, so we can share different important things we've learned. Hope ya'll are having a great day and are enjoying your horses!

My favorite clinician is definitely Jane Savoie.  I have not been able to see her in person, but I LOVE her videos.  She focuses a lot on confidence issues, which are huge for a lot of dressage riders.  She breaks down concepts that people can spend years trying to figure out pretty quickly and simply.  I realize she isn't for everyone, but her videos have been tremendously helpful for me!

I will have to say my favorite clinician is also Jane Savoie.  She can break things down to the most simple step and explain things in a way that anyone can understand.

My favorite cowboy is Chris Cox.  He's a no gimmicks, no frills, no BS guy...all he uses is a rope halter and a 13' lead.  I once watched Clinton make a horse back up for an entire show...not something I want to watch again.  

My favorite is also Clinton Anderson. He makes things easy to understand. What he says & does makes total sense. Hubby and I have used his methods on our horses and they do work. Hubby does not have extensive horse experience and he's had good success with his mare using CA's methods. However, I could do without the "does that make sense?" phrase that CA uses just a bit too much!

My second favorite is Monty Roberts, third Craig Cameron...

My favorite is Henrik Johansen, a dressage instructor from Sweden. He goes to a few places in the US 3 times a year, and also goes to Denmark, Norway, England, and of course Sweden. His US partner lives about 50 miles from me and I take lessons with her when I can. I wrote an article about him for DRESSAGE TODAY last summer which was in the Instructor Spotlight section.

 I'd have to agree w/ Jane Savoie. I saw her do a couple sessions at Equine Affair and am always recommending That Winning Feeling to people.

I have also enjoyed watching eventing clinics w/ Jim Graham and Leslie Law. Danny Warrington was a bit harsh, but had some good ideas.

I enjoyed the CA Tour I attended. It was fun, but I'm not sure I would call it inspiring. I guess I find it more inspiring when I can see other students doing things. The others I mentioned all had something that I knew I could try myself - I didn't feel that w/ CA nearly as much, maybe because I don't ride Western.

 I think right now my favorite clinician to ride with is Julie Goodnight.  I have ridden with her twice now.  She makes everything so easy to understand and my horse and I have become so better since riding with her.  She does English or Western and belives in having a firm foundation of ground work.  Here are the main things I have learned/remember from her

1.  Look where you want to go - so simple, but how many of us do this EVERY second of our ride?  It keeps you and your horse focused. 

2. YOU chose the speed, direction and intensity of your gait at all times.  No letting your horse wander or choose which way to turn.  Now, I thought I had this down - nope, I let my mare chose our speed and direction more than I would have thought.  Working on this put the two of us on the same page - my mare doesn't have to worry that she is left in charge anymore.

 3. Ride with your seat and legs.  I learned the beginnings of bridleless with this - amazing to work on the subtle shifts with your horse.

4. Groundwork, groundwork, groundwork.  Julie stresses this and again, I thought Vashti and I were pros at groundwork.  The number of holes we had in our groundwork were outstanding.  I was floored and more than a little discouraged that first clinic in 2010.  Now, we start our ride from the moment I bring her in from the field and her responsiveness is amazing.  In fact, I can always tell when I haven't been paying attention (read letting her make decisions/walk over me - Mom, Grass!) during grooming/tacking the second I step into the saddle - we have a worse ride and it takes us that much longer to get on the same page and work together.

 My other favorite clinician is Mark Rashid.  I own every one of his books and had the opportunity to ride with him in 2009 for three days.  He focuses on softness.  I attribute my ability to ride my mare to him.  We were a wreck waiting to happen and in just a few minutes, Mark was able to soften my horse and then teach me that I was the problem (of course).  My mare feeds off my energy and Mark was able to show me how to remain soft and in balance.  Whenever I get nervous, I rewind my brain to that clinic.  He is an amazing horseman and teacher.

Ken McNabb and Chris Cox.  Both are no frills, get er done kind of guys.  They both have you use what ever you have on hand, no special stuff.  They stress communication with the horse, and give  the horse time to figure out what the right answer is.   

 Good to hear so many responses! Most of those clinicians I've read about, though I'm not quite farmiliar with the dressage clinicians, as that's not my arena at this present time. Ken McNabb, Craig Cameron, Chris Cox, Mark Rashid, Julie Goodnight-all of these clinicians are phenomenal horsemen and women, and all very inspiring. I will definitly look into those other clinicians you guys mentioned. I think we might have a book by the Jane lady, but I'm not sure. Keep on learning! :)

No offense intended to anyone here, but Julie Goodnight needs to stick with what she knows.  She's good with the horses on the ground but in the saddle I'm not the least bit impressed. 

She needs to take some dressage lessons before she's going to teach anyone dressage.  Another thing that annoys me is that the Majikal Mylar Bit fixes everything.  Even a rider with bad hands

My favorite clinician is definitely Clinton Anderson, though I use different techniques from different trainers to fit the horse--because I believe that no matter how good a training method is, you've got to listen and adjust to the individual horse.  I like Stacy Westfall as well; she's big on safety.  But I've also gleaned tips from Chris Cox, Ken McNabb, Craig Cameron, John Lyons, and various other "cowboy" clinicians.  I will say, though, that I don't like Pat Parelli's methods--too confusing.  I almost got hurt on a horse trying to do something he had showed the viewers at one of his tours.  And Julie Goodnight and Lynn Palm aren't among my favorites, either (no offense).

One thing I don't agree with that Clinton Anderson recommends (though he doesn't strongly recommend it constantly, like recommending his method or the Legacy boots or the Pyranha fly spray, etc.) is working with the babies too hard, too early.  I like John Lyon's approach--gentle, yet not permitting disrespect from the baby, and developing a relationship that lasts a lifetime.

I'm also not happy about how it's all about CA now.  All about his "method", and there's nothing in the world better than his "method."  He's driven the prices up.  He makes you feel like if you don't buy his incredibly expensive Fundamentals, Intermediate and Advanced packs, you won't get anywhere.  He did away with the cheaper Gaining Respect and Riding with Confidence DVDs.  I liked him a couple of years ago, when he was more humble, better than I do now.  I still like the training method, but I'm a little unhappy with the attitude.  Honestly, I was glad when he didn't win the Road to the Horse--maybe that'll knock him down a few rungs.

i went to the CA walkabout tour in washington as well.  i thought it was an excellent 2 days, i learned alot, and it was good value ($50 for both days, free if you were a member--or know a member, which i did).

he is an excellent teacher of people.  he explains things very well and very clearly.  i came home and read through some of my other horse training books and was--oh, i get it now.  the difference being that these other people are excellent horse trainers, but, not necessarily excellent people trainers and they don't explain things as well.

clinton anderson is not teaching anything new (i don't think), but, he has the knack of making it clear for the average person. 

his dvd packs may be expensive, but, the books were a fair price and other items were priced well. 

the knowledge i took home has helped me alot with my horse.

i did join his downunder club to see what else i could learn and i am borrowing my friend's fundamental series.  is the club worth it?  don't know yet, maybe not, but, we'll see.

i have been out of the horse game for a long time, so, his is the first live clinic i've been to in 30 yrs (!) and it was excellent.

on the negative side--he is rather an annoying full of himself guy.  i think he's racist and sexist (i get that from some of his "jokes") and after awhile his sell, sell, sell is ick, ick, ick. 

that walkabout tour would have probably only been a one day show, if there wasn't so much promotion of everything.

i haven't seen any other clinicians, but, i have read alot of books in the last 2 years and i can't fault ca's ability to teach people how to work with horses.  the book i have is clear and explains every step in terms a layman can understand and seeing him live was fabulous.

and, truthfully, the stuff i did buy there--even though he pushes it down your throat--it is good stuff and they sell it for less on the tour than it costs at the store.

SO--to finally answer the question....Clinton Anderson gets to be my favorite clincian this year by default since he's the only one i've seen and the fact that his method is working really well on my horse

Now, I will say Clinton's choice of words in some of his jokes was not exactly appealing to me, but some of his jokes I thought were pretty funny. I can definitly tell you, my father enjoyed the clinic almost as much as I did, and that's saying something, for he's never been a horseman. Now he's telling everyone about Clinton Anderson, and I must say I am proud of how much information he learned from the tour! I came back with a lot too, though it was almost everything I'd already learned, I was still inspired. Hope you enjoy the NWC, my neighbor is a member and (lucky me!) she lets me read the magazines and watch the DVDS. I enjoy it very much! Have fun horsing around!

Reining_Lover:

I will say, though, that I don't like Pat Parelli's methods--too confusing.  I almost got hurt on a horse trying to do something he had showed the viewers at one of his tours.

 

 I like to make a habit of pointing out one good thing about every horse clinician- and though I am no Parelli follower, I will say this. He's got a cool Frisian! :):):):):):):):)

Gailforce, there is a good clinician that will be close-ish to you in October.  Ken McNabb.  If you want more info, email me, he is similar to CA, but not sell sell sell.  Tells clean jokes.  lol...  

I don't know how feasible it would be for you to bring your horse down from BC, but email me, and we'll chat. :)

jmoon111@gmail.com