Clinic -Trip Harting "S" judge

[farriersgirl]

I have the opportunity to ride in a an upcoming clinic with Trip Harting - does anyone know of him? I know he was in CA as well as OH. Thanks

[Sebastian]

Don't waste your time or money. JMHO.
Seb

[honeydoozy]

Don't waste your time or money. JMHO.
Seb

I've actually heard that phrase regarding that person more often than I care to remember. :no:

[Ange]

I've had him as a judge, and his word choice (for comments) was considerably less positive than the other judges that weekend.

[rebecca yount]

Trip Harting's father, Stretch Harting, had the Potomac Horse Center here in Maryland back in the sixties, I think. I believe it was Mr. Harting (elder) who brought Nuno Oliveira to Maryland back then. That was where the Potomac Valley Dressage Association sort of got started.

Trip seems to be a dog lover, and it looks like they are making a documentary about his life--here's a blog:

http://triphartingsblog.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=9

[Ensigne]

A a past show manager, and as a rider, I like Tripp.

For my rides, he was a great judge, with many positive and constructive comments.

And he thanks each rider at the end of the test.


As a manager, he was very easy to work with, fun, riders were pleased, and I'd hire him again, if I were still managing shows.

[Lisa Cook]

Speak of the devil - I just sat in a workshop of his at the USPC National Meeting yesterday. The talk was called "A View from C" and it was 1 & 1/2 hours long.

I'm not sure how it would pertain to a clinic situation, but if riding in a class that he was judging, it is clear that accurate geometry is WAY high on his importance list. Only in dressage can 10-15 minutes be devoted to describing what a 20 meter circle should be shaped like!

From his talk yesterday, he clearly gave the impression that he is very empathetic to the horse, and does not tolerate riders who ride roughly or inconsiderately of their horse. He actually teared up at one point, while talking about riders who blame their horse when things aren't going just right, instead of realizing that they (the riders) are usually a large part of the problem.

[Bold Jax]

Please contact me personally about this.

[eurofoal]

He gives help to our local Pony Club dressage riders, so somewhere in there he has a heart. I've never found that heart in my rides with him judging. He was very demoralizing and I would not ever show under him again. My life is too short to get his variety of "constuctive criticism". His Pony Club riders have left in tears.

[ideayoda]

Phyllis Fields brought N.O. to PHC, and built St Aggies for him to teach in (the small indoor).

[Dune]

I've shown under him a few times and found him to be pretty right on as a judge, but he'll crucify you if you can't ride. He's pretty showy and for the money you can find someone else who would help you just as much if not more.

[slc2]

I always thought he was tough but fair. If sometimes he gives negative comments maybe it is worth working on those points. He is an S judge.

The documentary is about a specific period of time in his life, not the whole thing. i' don't think it's about horses.

[Peggy]

I have no idea what he'd be like as a clinician, but I loved him as a judge. But I may be prejudiced. Won a 20+ horse first-level open class at the Del Mar Dressage show under him. As an amateur on a TB.

I've always found him funny in person, but I can see that his sense of humor might be too acerbic for some. He wrote an article on attire for the CDS publication years ago that contained the following (paraphrasing): On the subject of spur straps and bra straps, neither should be flapping. If the judge nods his head throughout your entire ride, check the latter.

[rebecca yount]

Galopp, I know that Phyllis Field (no "s"--as in Marshall Field--a dept store empire in Chicago) did it--my teacher Jean Paul Pare was there at PHC as a student then, and knew Phyllis and Bettina, was also in Portugal with the three of them, but I thought Stretch Harding owned the Potomac Horse Center then. That's why I said that.

[Reiter]

I've always found him funny in person, but I can see that his sense of humor might be too acerbic for some. He wrote an article on attire for the CDS publication years ago that contained the following (paraphrasing): On the subject of spur straps and bra straps, neither should be flapping. If the judge nods his head throughout your entire ride, check the latter.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[ponygrl]

I know lots of people who love him.

I however, ended up with a jumping lesson instead of a dressage lesson, and didn't have a very positive experience. But that's what the rest of my group wanted to do.

[MontanaDun]

I rode with him in a clinic a couple of years ago and had a great ride. His focus on what we needed to work on was right on (at least it matched what everyone else has on working on!).

He provided some very helpful tips and thoughts for presenting our best features and minimizing our problem areas during a test.

He was looking for an active, balanced and soft horse and overall was quite helpful. I would happily clinic with him again.

MD

PS And he wasn't breed snobby about my QH.

[Lambie Boat]

it's been my experience that those who have suffered a near-death experience come back a little sharper, with a little less patience, and don't 'suffer fools gladly'. Trip had a very serious illness a while ago, (heart attack? I'm not sure but something surprising for such a young man). I don't know him very well, but seen him in action and think he's very funny and means well. So why not cut the man some slack jack? It's not as if he's crawling into bed with the Parellis

[fiona]

And the porn name for that movie would be?

[slc2]

Linda and Pat Go Trippin'

Trip Hardins with Pat and Linda

Patco's Gone Wild

Bimbo Trainers from Buffalo

Fear and Loathing in Timonium

[TKR]

He judged a show for us about 10 years ago when I was president of our local dressage club and decided we needed to have a recognized show. I found him to be delightful and professional. His judging garnered positive remarks from those who showed and he was very courteous to the riders. I enjoyed getting to know him.
PennyG

[ctanner]

Fiona and slc2, you are both too funny:yes::lol::yes:

I knew his sister Donna and his dad.

I would audit before I paid to ride with him,and only if I had the time.

[Melissa.Hare.Jones]

Linda and Pat Go Trippin'

Trip Hardins with Pat and Linda

Patco's Gone Wild

Bimbo Trainers from Buffalo

Fear and Loathing in Timonium

Not only is that the shortest post I've ever read from you, but the funniest! LMAO. :D

[Blkarab]

I rode with Trip about 4 years ago in a clinic on my VERY Green Arab mare. :eek: (she had been in training for about 3 months at the time)

It was a very good experience for me and my mare. He could tell I was nervous, gave me some good tips for getting her under control (some I still use today), and put me at ease during the ride.

He's a little quirky and he will work the riders hard, but not in a bad way either. I found his criticisms fair and pretty straight on.

I didn't know who he was before I took the clinic, and learned afterwards that he was an "S"---so I didn't have any preconceived notions about what to expect.

[shea'smom]

I have never ridden with him, but he spoke at the last PC National Examiner's clinic and he was great. Very knowledgable, very easy to understand, obviously LOVES the horses.
He has been the judge at many PC dressage rallies and is great with the kids, without leading them on.
I would jump at the chance to ride with him, or audit.

[Carol Ames]

Rebecca Yount, Stretch Harting owned PHC up unil his death; Trip was there VERY briefly:winkgrin:, until his father "fired him "; he was to have replaced B.H. , Betty Howett;:no: but, even his father was amazed at how many people he could "set off " in such a short period of time;:eek: Charlie Musco, and bobbie Ayers were also there then; I think Donna may have come into the office after that; in short the Harting family, or at least Stretch may have started PHC but, they also brought it down very rapidly:sadsmile::no:; PVDA organized one of the first "L judges programs with Col. Lundquist, Betty Howett, and Sally O' Connor :yes:, quite an illustrious group!:yes:As I recall there were schooling shows monthly; I know I rode several horses in them; including "the flying Dutchman" It was a wonderful opportunity to get horses, and riders out and into the arena:yes:

[slc2]

I don't put too much stock in dad-son conflicts determining how good an instructor or judge some one is 25 yrs later.

[dulawan]

I cliniced with Trip a few years ago on a hot-headed warmblood. I learned a tremendous amount in the few days! He really helped me cope with the horse on my own at home. He is not into natural horsemanship techniques at all, (i.e. head to knee) & really helped me get my horse's attention thru riding and remaining calm. He also really practiced us on show techniques - riding corners, circles, transitions. I participated in show immediately after that & everything I learned really helped. Trip did not seem that personable to me, but I didn't care. He was a great teacher for me at that time with that horse.

[NJRider]

I had a lesson with him about 4 years ago. It was organized by a close friend of him who told me that Trip has an illness and at times can be moody and difficult. Those traits came out in my lesson. My lesson was free, since I took the spot of someone who could not go and it was not even worth my gas money. I understand if he has health issues, but maybe he should not accept teaching assignments when these issues may affect his ability to teach.
Now that it is 4 years later, maybe those are not a problem? I would recommend auditing before riding.

[onetempies]

With any clinic, I'd suggest auditing before signing up to ride in one with that clinician. However, I've been shown under Trip with a Holsteiner/TB mare cross and with my TB mare. Both horses have done tremendously well under him and scored VERY well. Comments were right on and the experiences were quite positive.