Pelham Saddlery presents

SPRING FLING 2008

May 17 & 18, 2008
Apple Knoll Farm, Millis, MA.

" Six Time Olympian & Dressage Legend"
ROBERT DOVER

Auditor Pre-Registration is closed!

Walk-In Info!

We will accomodate walk-ins both days!  Lunch will be available on a first come, first serve basis($10.00).  Doors open at 8:00am each day, please bring a comfy chair just in case.  Directions and hotel info can be printed here.  No need to call, just come by!  We're looking forward to seeing you!

Pricing for both days

NEDA Members $85.00

NON Member $100

Under 21: $75.00

1/2 day available only after 12:30 $50.00 for all

Cash or Check only (no credit cards at event)

 In a recent interview, Dover gave some insight into what riders and auditors can expect if they attend his NEDA clinic.

Q: What is your main goal as a teacher when you are working with riders?

A: I think you’ll find that what I am is always trying to give people is a true understanding of not only the basic principles of dressage, but also of why things work the way they do. In other words, I want them to understand how things all relate. And, connecting what they’re seeing in their minds eye to what they’re getting from their horses. I try to bring it into a perspective so they can go home and say, ‘You know what, I really knew that at a gut level, but maybe I haven’t thought of it in the same way.” So, that’s really what I try to do in my lessons and clinics everyday. I try to articulate what this is really all about.

Q: What are some of the key issues or problems that you see in riders when teaching?

A: In general, what we find out when we teach is that we’re teaching the same lesson again and again. We teach the basic principles. We teach about half halts and what that means because that really is the key to all of it. And, while what we teach varies by the level of the animal and whether or not there are specific lessons the horse needs to learn, in general we teach again and again the ideas of forwardness, straightness and half halts. This is what improves upon the harmony of horse and rider and produces an excellent and beautiful result.

Q: Is it harder to teach clinics where you have only a short time to get to know the horse and rider as opposed to students you work with all the time?

A: It is, but it’s like everything else. It’s about how well people communicate and how well they’re able to create visual analogies for people to focus on. I have spent most of my adult life doing this, so I hope I’ll be able to give people not only an educational experience but also one that is a lot of fun.

Q: What’s the benefit of auditing your clinic?

A: I get auditors every day at my arena because people know that when they come to watch someone else’s lesson they’re going to get one too. I tend to be very interactive with people. So, people can be assured that everyone who comes to audit is going to really feel like they’re a part of it. And I assure them that they’re going to go home thinking that the time they spent at the clinic was very well spent.