Mike Schaffer

AlythLong · Mike Schaffer

Has anyone read his books or attended one of his clinics? Opinions please. I am thinking of auditing when he comes here in Novemember and would like some idea of what and how he teaches. Thanks in advance. Alyth

Niek

aint a fan.. While i like his ideas of not to much contact (im not to good at that part of the equasion) He has no issue with putting his horses to deep and btv..

His idea/picture shown in his blog about horse having face infront of the vertical and the poll as the highest point as the goal to achieve followed by the picture how he feels dressage would look, which is just not the truth.

But hey auditing is never wrong, i saw some stuff by clinicians i knew i didnt like just to be sure my feeling was right

cynthia peterson

I have both his book "Right From The Start" and his new EBook (just out, available on his website)

He is a follower of the Baucher style, and much more of the Fillis style of the Buacher style. That said, that particular style is best suited for someone who has a more advanced knowledge of horsemanship and horse body mechanics (for search of a better word) If a inexperienced rider just started cranking away on his rein positions and Baucher style flexion without a knowledge of what what the "big picture" is, then there could be trouble. And I don;t think he intended his book for beginners. His flexions are most certainly very useful, especially in the EBook. His rein positions are useful. But, of course a advanced person knows flexions and rein positions are just a outcome of feel and timing. Rein positions and flexions depend even more that then anything!

The vid in his blog--- this is a troubled horse he has been working with for sometime. He has had a update of that horse for some time. We just don't know how hard it is to correct others mistakes. Doesn't Pat Parelli still moan about Magics previous trainers? That said, I don't like seeing the BTV either. You have to look at the whole horse. There are things I would like to see better and things that are very good.

To sum it up. He is a knowledgeable horseman with some good things going. I think you could learn from auditing with him. There is merit in his books. Everybody will have to judge it from there as to how much you can use. That's the whole thing on this horse training deal, judging what you can use and what you can't, either for your own style or the horse your dealing with

AlythLong

Thank you for your comments.

So to move off at a tangent, who would you reccommend for someone to "start dressage"!! Someone who is reasonably confident at walk and trot riding freestyle. Pony is going kindly and in reasonable self carriage. They have been playing PNH for several years and now want to branch out/move on towards learning "dressage". My "bible" has always been Henry Wynmalen but I think today people want someone more modern!!!

Alyth

Sunny

Alyth, I believe Karen Rohlf might be a good direction for you.

She is my choice for learning in the Dressage area. I have her book and DVD's, get her monthly newsletter, and after seeing her in Florida last March, I really think she is absolutely wonderful with horses. She is a kind, loving soul, and really works with the horses with a great understanding.

She really communicates well, both with the horses and the humans, and does still incorporate some PNH in her teachings, she uses the halter, and stick and string, and hackamore. And with the background we all have here, she is very easy to understand and follow.

Here's her web site http://dressagenaturally.net

And she's definately modern!

cynthia peterson

First off, Henry Wynmalen's book still holds the test of time. Keep with all you have ever learned from HW.

I too love Karen Rohlf and have everything she put out. KR presents things well, and most certainly will be something someone with Parelli background would like. She also knew everything Pat and Linda are now learning BEFORE Pat and Linda knew it. That is because she had a excellent mentor before Parelli. I sure wish Parelli would use her more. I wish people would keep in mind you can't get what KR has from just Parelli. And you need some NH from somewhere, to get what KR has. There are also some real good dressage masters from generations ago who knew what the NH knew all along.

I like Ginger Gaffney. She does have a excellent DVD out. IMO in that one DVD has pretty much what you want to learn. Unfortunately she only does clinics in the western states, and I am in the Midwest. I still look at her DVD above most all the others I have (including KR)

Terry Church worked with Tom Dorrance. She does come my way sometimes. That's a very good NH link Clinician in dressage (and did dressage before TD)

Dr Deb Bennett has a excellent free forum. Her CDROMS, CDs and DVDs are really excellent. She too worked with Tom Dorrance. I'm telling you, no one explains what those dressage moves, how the horse is capable of doing them, how to do them, the Dr Deb. Her material is very reasonable too. i have had some real eye openers on her. It's like, oh that's what that is! And I had been doing them for years!

I'll probably think of more... both ones to keep or avoid!

Jane Savio is more traditional, but she sure can break things down to the ABCs of dressage.

If you want to get into classical and see things you can "dream of doing", then ask again and I will tell you my favorites on that!

Mary Wanless's books are pure gold.

Lastly, I can not say enough that when you get "up" there in your horsemanship then there are more "aids" and aid combinations to get those movements we so admire. Things like seat, rein positions, weighing of the stirrups, legs aids, using the WHOLE leg. That's when the learning comes in! Because there's just things that work if you do them the right way!

Gallop On

I have his book and I like it a lot. I haven't read it in a bit though, I never really thought of him as a 'in and down and we will do dressage for one hour' kind of guy. But did find his book pretty good and there's definitely no harm in auditing.