Torchlight Training

Clinics

 

For many years I hosted up to ten clinics a year, but at the moment I am focused on settling into a new life in North Carolina. That is not to say, however, that once fully established here in the heart of East Coast Horse Country, I might not start organizing clinics again, assuming I can charm a few dates out of Stephanie's busy schedule...

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A Word From Stephanie (so you know where we're coming from)

 

As someone who has been called on both as a rider and instructor to help rehabilitate many Iberian horses over the years, I have strong feelings about the rollkur issue. "I simply cannot conceive why any educated trainer would routinely ride any horse, but especially not Spanish and Portuguese horses, in hyperflexion. There is no quicker way to destroy their natural balance, disengaging and putting them on the forehand, stressing their backs and legs, making real connection and throughness impossible. This is why so many young trainers today have problems with extensions with baroque-type horses and also lose the ability for the fantastic light collection in piaffe and passage these horses historically possess.  Especially hypersensitive Iberians ridden this way can become neurotic, while more mentally stable horses may shut down or even become aggressive. The great classical masters knew what they were doing, and it's time for us to revisit them and heed their warnings if truly classical, horse-friendly horsemanship is to survive the controversies of our modern competitive age."  (Quote by Stephanie Millham from a 2009 dressage clinic)