The I.E.E.S. forum was installed on this web site today - Thursday.
As an absolute fan of the Cyberhorse forum, I sent a few e-mails (5 all together - didn't have time for more) to some of the people who are regular contributors at Cyberhorse but also visit other sites, like the THM, Horseland and other forums.
I sent a short message to them to let them know of this new forum and invited them to "drop in sometimes". I value their opinion and believe they have something important to say.
I also made an open announcement at THM, Horseland and S/W horse.
If I have offended anybody by doing this, I apologize, as my intention was to offer another place for debate and discussion, not to draw people away from other forums, but to come here as well, if and when they feel like it.
As some of you might have noted, this web site has no advertising, except a small logo of our sponsor on the home page and we would like to keep it this way. The proceeds of our book store go to charity, so I.E.E.S pays for it all.
Yes, we do advertise our own clinics on our site - and are happy when people talk about them and our trainers on other sites, like Cyberhorse. Naturally. However, Cyberhorse is a commercial site and is dependent on paid advertising.
Here you can feel free to talk about your favourite trainer or a clinic you went to. We don't mind, as we are for good education and the advancement of the sport - unconditionally. (As long as there is no defamation or slander going on, as we could get in trouble for publishing remarks of that nature!)
When we first started I.E.E.S. we asked Cyberhorse to help us to promote our cause (to help improve the standard of Dressage) and our first Clinic with Robert O.Mayer. Our advertising budget was not the greatest, I must admit - but we found plenty of sites where we could advertise our clinics for no or a very small fee and we invested what it would have cost us to advertise on Cyberhorse in other important things, like some equipment for the clinics. However we still would have advertised with them in the future.
The I.E.E.S. web site was built by Michael and myself and has become a hobby as well as a medium for expressing what we would like to achieve.
Without our Sponsor Ray White Chelsea and Robert O. Mayer's generosity, I would have lost all my savings, but because of their help and the support of other people, we might actually have something ongoing to offer. And there ARE people who appreciate what we do!
Our goal is to make our clinics work, so they become self-funding. The rest you can look up on our web site.
What you see is what you get.
I hope this explains a little more.
If there is any reason, why I.E.E.S. is not welcome within our equestrian community, please let us know. It will save us a lot of money. But if you think we have a good idea, support us so we can continue.
Thanks,
Carola
Hi Carola, You already know you have my support, and in whatever small way I can, I will encourage people to support your clinics. Personally, I really appreciate what you are trying to achieve, you are doing it for us (the riders) and also for the advancement of our sport in Australia - which every visiting trainer agrees needs to improve. I recently met a Dutch rider who has moved out here, and her comment on the Dianna Ferrari was how much lower the standard is here compared to Europe. We have a long way to go, and introducing international experts and teachers is one way to help us get there. I am disappointed that Bill & Berni won't support you - I guess it's a commercial decision rather than anything to do with the love of Dressage. Australian's need to put aside their ego's, step outside their comfort zone (or square they live in) and go out there and learn as much as they can. Otherwise, some time down the track, it will be you, Classically Trained, Shahron, Anne-Maree (if I can ever get her out competing) Kelley and me who will be winning gold at the Olympics!!! :o)))
Good on you Carola, and I really hope that you can continue to provide us with these great riding masters from overseas.
Does anyone remember how long or how hard it was for Nuno Oliveira and Franz Maringer to get accepted here in Australia?
Interesting how Bill said he'd let the other RoM thread go on, and yet he dosn't mind threads about other clinics - Richard Weis, Andrew McLean etc. hmmm
I had the same thought. The Peter Horobin thread wasn't bad either - but then again, Peter Horobin advertises on Cyberhorse.
On the other hand - Forum rules did not apply.
Some are more equal than others. I understand.
Well, who ever is organizing his clinics is most welcome to leave a message here. It's free. (Now we will be swamped -grin)
Seriously - as long as it has something to do with EDUCATION.
Hi Carola, I must admit that i was surprised that my thread on who will be attending the Claudia Garner Clinic was removed - I have posted another tread asking politely for an explanation.
I guess i know the answer but would like to at least have my thread acknowledged as a matter of courtesy. I too visit the Cyberhorse Forum regularly - mainly for info - I have read quite a few threads re clinics and "check out this website" type of comments - It seems that you may be a threat!! I would like to congratulate you on your business idea and guarantee my support to your overseas trainers as I KNOW that I will benefit from their expertise - i certainly won't bury my HEAD IN THE GROUND!!!!! And Annette I agree with you totally - I can see that Carola's work will only escalate and there will be more and more riders interested and eventually she will have no trouble filling her clinics. Yes it took a long time for Nuno to be recognised - and now he is what we look for in a trainer (well the smart ones do!) My experience has lead me to the belief that there are two ways of riding (two paths you can go down) one path says that there is a quick fix - gadgets and hands!!!!! the other path says that there is a better way with quiet hands obiedience to the leg - willing submission without tension - but this takes longer - either way you come to a crossroad - but the quick fix never quite makes it - while the quiet hands goes ahead leaps and bounds. Anyway this is my theory and after trying the quick fix way with many trainers i have learnt the hard way that this is only what it is a quick fix. And that there is only one particular trainer that I have come across here in Victoria who will guide you along the correct path, Manolo Mendez - maybe there are some others too, and one particular trainer from America - Robert Mayer - thanks to Carola for bringing him here for us. I will definately book in for the Claudia Garner Clinic.
I would be interested in any comments regarding your riding experiences and the different paths that you may have gone down and how you have learnt from them.
When I came to Aussie-land in 1986 I finally had the chance again to have a horse. I took lessons with a level 1 instructor to get me "going" again after several years of not riding.
After I had a few, I wondered why my arms and shoulders were hurting and why it all felt so very "wrong".
Michael bought a video camera and taped my last lesson with this instructor - when I got to watch it, I was in shock. I was trying to pull my horses head to me and nothing was happening at the back end. When the horse was sewing-machining along with the head behind the vertical, the instructor made positive comments... ...you get the picture......
She was a judge as well, by the way.
Things have changed a little since then.(One would hope)
Today, when judging at a competition, I actually saw a lot of the opposite: "Indefinite rein-contact". Lots of riders nowadays are to shy too "receive" in their hands what they create with legs and seat, almost throw the reins away, and horses literally "fall apart", with the impulsion falling out of their nostrils (note: this is NOT judge lingo!).
It is not easy to learn the right feel. But it is even harder to teach it. Not many people can.
Just having quite a giggle imagining myself old and wrinkled competing in the Olympics Dressage Squad. I figure by the time I am good enough after attending enough of Carola's clinics and then taking the work home to do training I will be needing a mechanical A frame to put me on horseback. After all I am 31 now (oh god that feels old typing it) and it is not getting any easier - there is just too much to learn after a late start with horses.
Thank you for putting that little picture in my mind
Thank goodness, someone makes me laugh after grinding my teeth since last night.....
To put you at easy: I think you don't even look old enough to have a driver's license!(giggle) - So, keep working on it (with cavasson!) - so we can introduce flying changes at the next clinic!
Cheers,
C.
hi carola i think you have done a great job setting up the forum WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im sure i will have a few dressage questions within the next week
Loz
well, I must say, I was a bit disappointed about the whole hoohah
on CBH, so thank you!
If you can think of any problems....FIRE AWAY. We will all try to help. And if you still have problems, we will ask Robert, or Claudia, or Sue, or Walter or Jessica or....
