Rudolph Rostek clinic

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

I may have the opportunity to go to one. However, money and time are tight.

Anyone clinic with him? He's with the SRS - is this the chance of a lifetime and I am nuts if I don't do it?

Thanks for any info!

[Tiki]

I've only audited with him, but he is absolutely incredible. He breaks it all down and tells people how to keep it simple, and it really works. Saw much improvement in all the riders simply by keeping it simple. Most people try to do too many things at once and it all adversely affects the horse.

[slc2]

Where is he doing a clinic?

[Elegante E]

I had a report from a friend who went and was glad I hadn't wasted time after hearing about it (think he knows his stuff but the lessons were short and there were other things that made auditing hard).

Saw his cohort who taught the winter session and it was a waste of time. The problem was that most of the riders were beginners so the instruction was too simplistic/basic. There was little to learn. His english was limited as well (did hear that Rostek's was much better - but be sure there's a good sound system, think that was a problem at the other clinic).

I think it really is a matter of who is riding in the clinic and what level you are at. If you can get the rider information ahead of time that would aide in your decision.

[FleetwoodStarr]

I would absolutely go for it, in fact I'm clinicing with him this summer. He is wonderful, and his english has been rapidly improving since his first american clinics a few years ago. I know its pricey, but I've always gotten a huge amount out of my rides with him.

[PiaffeDreams]

The first time he came here to Northern Ca. I did not ride with him, but went to audit and check it out. I got a lot out of auditing and it was nice there were horses going from training level through FEI, aa's, j/yrs, and pros. When he came back 6 months later I made a point to get into the clinic and rode. He was very very good. The lessons are short, but intense. He works you and the horse hard for short durations, a walk break, and then back to hard work. You get an improvement and you are done for the day. I would have very much liked to work with him longer, but what I got was a turnaround point for my horse and I.

His english was good enough and he was very accomodating to questions. He strongly emphasizes praise and reward for the horse.

Unfortunately it is extremely expensive and when he came a 3rd time, as much as I had wanted to ride and told the host to save me a space I could not afford it. But, hind sight being 20/20 and all, I was saving my $$ to ride with my regular trainer who had been coming for 10days every 6months and I'd worked with for a couple of years- continuity being a good thing and all I opted for riding with him - and then he suffered a medical condition and has never been able to travel back here again to teach. Ugh... should have ridden with Rudy.

If he came back, I'd ride again for sure. So, yes, take your opportunity and if you can't ride, do audit you will get a lot from that too.

[FleetwoodStarr]

PiaffeDreams- he's coming back this July, you can contact Lori and see if there is anymore space in the clinic.

[PiaffeDreams]

Thanks Fleetwood. I will do that. Do you know what weekend? I'll go check the Western States Lipp. site and see if there are any updates. Are you going to ride?

[FleetwoodStarr]

Yes I'm riding, I think its the weekend after Pebble Beach, the second weekend of July? I don't know if there are any openings left, but its always worth a try:)

[Dressage_Diva333]

I rode my gelding with him last summer in Northern Cali. A short lesson, but it was hard. I enjoyed it, and learned a lot. My horse did great, and he was very glad it was over as well! He really explained very well, I would clinic with him again.

My only complaint is that where the clinic was the footing was uneven, and quite deep. Not Rudy's fault of course, just a note :)

[Karoline]

He will be clinicing in Santa Rosa, CA July 31st, August 1 and 2.

[slc2]

Watching lower level riders get taught isn't educational?

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Thank you so much!!

This is money (and diesel will cost more than the lessons!), and time - I am going out of town the next week, already scheduled (to Sunkissed to help with an open house).

I can rationalize it - we didn't have a spring clinic at our barn (scheduling issues), so I saved that money. I am not showing unless baby schooling shows, and then maybe only 1 or 2. I will be promoted July 1 (as high as you can get in my profession) and in theory I get a big raise (we only get 2 big raises in our tenure). And it's literally my birthday (which maybe I shouldn't celebrate, except to say, glad I'm still here after all this time?).

Ted would love the opportunity to get out - he loves visiting and shows. Rostek's approach is right up our alley. I am a lower level rider (First), but my mental understanding far exceeds my physical ability, so maybe that will help.

If people were neutral or hesitant, since it is pricey, I'd say no. But people were very positive.

[HSS]

Rudy is hands down the best instructor I've ever seen. In my long life.

That includes the likes of Klimke, Stuckleberger, Boldt, on the illustrious list of clinicians I've watched/ridden with.

If you're serious about your riding, he's a not to missed opportunity.

I wouldn't care if I was watching him teach a rider how to sit on a burro, it'd be worth it.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Thanks, guys, I'm in! (At least I left a message saying that I was in, after I called this AM).

[Mike Matson]

I saw Rudy in one session take a non-FEI rider from four tempi changes to threes to twos to ones - all straight, forward, and coming from behind. His communication skills in doing this were exceptional and positive. It was a beautiful thing to see. Glad to see you are signing up!

[merrygoround]

Here on the East Coast, I think I hate you all!!!! ;) ;) :lol:

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Hey, here in the heartland, we don't always get what you have on the east coast!

Except for floods, hail and tornadoes....

[goeslikestink]

Watching lower level riders get taught isn't educational?

your wrong-- slc2
unless you are a top performer yourself which your not,
you cant say that,

of course watching is learning be it lower levels or higher ranking , what we look for is insperational -- to watch an idol or proven trianer,

how he does it how he can get the horse to move from a - b
and how you can learn easy step to get a- b and how you can learn
cuase to adjust or correct a fualt or encourage both yourself and the horse

would i watch atop notch do a clinic at lower levels you bet i would

cause i want to learn - watching you can see things that arnt in a book that you can just paste an answer to

and lets face facts your not a trianer but a novice rider taking lessons from a trianer

difference is i am a trianer and yet still have lesson from top notch people of all disiplines
and watch a well to improve myself and my horses

[slc2]

Originally Posted by slc2
Watching lower level riders get taught isn't educational?

your wrong-- slc2

goeslikestink, you misunderstood me. I think it is VERY educational to see how a trainer works with lower level riders.

Note, I asked a question "watching lower level riders get taught isn't educational?" because i think it tells a great deal about a trainer or instructor, and I think it's VERY important that people get to watch as many people as possible teaching all levels of riders and horses.

To be fair, though, if someone is riding at second level, and wants to know how Rostek would work with a horse who is crooked in the first phases of half pass, he or she might not be able to justify a 2000 mile plane flight, hotel, rental car, meals and other expenses to see him work with training level riders. That's not exactly a real bad choice, either - we have a very big country here and travel costs are out of this world. The person might opt for a clinic closer by where he knows someone will be working on half pass.

Our country is just too big. People have to pick and choose very carefully where they spend their money.

It doesn't mean the person is a snob. It just means they have something specific they need to see.

But that's why i asked the question - to see what was meant by the statement.

[Speedy Alice]

Dressage Geek - glad you're riding! I agree with everyone who posted in this thread (with the exception of Elegante E who has an axe to grind) that Rudi is a wonderful instructor for all levels. His English is great - not as good as Herbert's (the SRS "cohort" Michele was referring to in her post above), but there is no trouble understanding him, and he is good at conveying concepts and corrections to the riders.

My lessons with both Rudi and Herbert changed the way I rode, both mentally and physically. In that sense, riding while at a lower level can be priceless, because one's entire future path can be changed for the better.

Both Rudi and Herbert are the kinds of clinicians from whom auditors can learn a lot; one auditor told me she took more notes from Herbert's clinic last July than from any other clinician she's audited (she audits a lot of clinics). I saw her notes and they were fabulous. These guys teach every step of the ride and it's easy to see and hear what they are doing and why.

I've got dates for other U.S. SRS clinics on my website (there are some on the East Coast as well as the Midwest and South), but I don't have the California dates online yet because I got that info while I was in Vienna (just got back last night).

It's definitely expensive, especially with the EURO being so high, gas prices being up, etc. but if you can somehow audit or ride, it's well worth it!

Enjoy the lessons! :)

[Pippin]

www.SRLipizzan.com he will be in Lincoln July 24th - 27th...