Eric Horgan

[SCMJ]

Just wondering if any of you have experience with riding with Eric and if you have liked his clinics and learned a lot from them? I have heard some wonderful things already but would like more opinions

[roki143]

I rode in a clinic with him several years ago on my JUST off the track guy. He was really good - IF you listened and kept your mouth shut (like most good clinicians). He wanted to see people try (hard) to do what he was asking them to do, and if you did that, then he was awesome!

I would definitely do another clinic with him!

[Absolut]

Eric is excellent. He is one of the people I respect the most in our sport. He has an incredible 'eye' as well as being a genuinely good person.

[Joan from Flatlands]

Nothing but good to say about Eric - started riding w him in clinics in the mid-eighties and hosted clinics w him for 10 plus years. Still bring riders and horses to him as the schedule allows.

Joan from Flatlands

[ss3777]

My opinion may not count, I am an Eric junkie!!!! I just finished a 3 day clinic with him and will be doing a 5 day camp with him in June. I totally agree with the other replies, you need your listening ears on and to keep your comments to a minimum. I think what makes him different from other international caliber teachers is that he is truly invested in communication. If you sat and watched him for a day you would see that his message is very consistent (foward, lack of tension in horse and rider, no force) but it is tweeked for the type of learner that a student and horse are. For example, I am better if I am pushed but another student might be more fragile and needs to be nudged. Also I am more visual so Eric will often tell me to watch so and so. Another women was more tactile and he took one end of her reins and mimicked what she should be doing while she closed her eyes and felt the difference as she held onto the other end. He is not there to make new friends, you may hear somethings that might seem brutally honest and he has little patience for folks that are not trying. He will work with all types of horses and riders but he expects you to work hard. I can not wait until the next clinic!

[SCMJ]

thanks guys...he is coming to my barn this coming weekend and its very helpful to hear all of this!

[RAyers]

LOVE HIM!

Bring a good red wine for after and you will get more than you money's worth. The man is a wealth of understanding

Reed

[luise]

Well, I will be the lone person that will say I don't like him. I think that he was a little too cookie cutter, trying to get every horse ridden the same way. I did a clinic with him in the fall on my old horse, a qh/belgian draft cross. He did not understand my horse, nor how he needed to be ridden. The things he wanted me to do did not work for us at all. When I started riding (discretely) the way I normally rode my horse, things came together, but I didn't really let him know that. I think if you have a naturally forward, uphill horse, then his techniques will work fine. But if you have a horse that you need to put your leg on to rebalance him, well, god help you. For me it was a huge waste of money. He also made snotty comments about how if I had been to the clinic on Friday, then I would understand the flatwork stuff he was asking. I shot back that I had to work so that I can afford to ride! He made me cry as well as one of the other riders in the clinic. If anything, it made me realize how lucky I am to have the trainers I have.
Now, keep in mind that I have regular trainers who provide excellent instruction (one of whom trains with Sally Cousins), so he didn't really bring anything new to the table for me. I suppose what you get out of the clinic will depend on what kind of regular instruction you get now. Just my 2 cents.

[Little Valkyrie]

I ride with Eric about four times a year, and have done so for the past few years, and I cannot say enough good about him. He is a really fantastic trainer who is awesome with all types of horses. From a saintly draft cross, to a slightly mentally unstable warmblood, to a somewhat talented, lazy Quarter Horse, to (finally) a talented but temperamental mare. I had an awesome lesson on every one of them and always learn something. I am a student and can generally only afford to do one or two days of the clinics and he has never said anything about it and has always been more than encouraging. And yes, I have come away from more than one lesson crying, but it was basically because he said something I knew was right but didn't want to recognize (about a horse being suitable for the job, not riding). I find if you really pay attention to what he says and stay off your high horse you have an amazing lesson. Have a wonderful time, you will learn a lot!!

[roki143]

Well, I will be the lone person that will say I don't like him. I think that he was a little too cookie cutter, trying to get every horse ridden the same way. I did a clinic with him in the fall on my old horse, a qh/belgian draft cross. He did not understand my horse, nor how he needed to be ridden. The things he wanted me to do did not work for us at all. When I started riding (discretely) the way I normally rode my horse, things came together, but I didn't really let him know that. I think if you have a naturally forward, uphill horse, then his techniques will work fine. But if you have a horse that you need to put your leg on to rebalance him, well, god help you. For me it was a huge waste of money. He also made snotty comments about how if I had been to the clinic on Friday, then I would understand the flatwork stuff he was asking. I shot back that I had to work so that I can afford to ride! He made me cry as well as one of the other riders in the clinic. If anything, it made me realize how lucky I am to have the trainers I have.
Now, keep in mind that I have regular trainers who provide excellent instruction (one of whom trains with Sally Cousins), so he didn't really bring anything new to the table for me. I suppose what you get out of the clinic will depend on what kind of regular instruction you get now. Just my 2 cents.

I actually thought a bit of the opposite...
My horse, although he is an OTTB, is naturally more downhill and slow. Even now as he is moving up the levels, he is more inclined to lope around fences rather than be uphill and 'jumping' at the canter. Eric was VERY dilligent with us about getting him moving through and from behind even though at that stage he was very green. Those with more quick horses, he focused on getting rhythmical and relaxed -- but we did a whole lot of flat work that did transfer over to what we did over fences.

I don't know, 2 horsepeople = 3 opinions, right?

[luise]

I ride with Eric about four times a year, and have done so for the past few years, and I cannot say enough good about him. He is a really fantastic trainer who is awesome with all types of horses. From a saintly draft cross, to a slightly mentally unstable warmblood, to a somewhat talented, lazy Quarter Horse, to (finally) a talented but temperamental mare. I had an awesome lesson on every one of them and always learn something. I am a student and can generally only afford to do one or two days of the clinics and he has never said anything about it and has always been more than encouraging. And yes, I have come away from more than one lesson crying, but it was basically because he said something I knew was right but didn't want to recognize (about a horse being suitable for the job, not riding). I find if you really pay attention to what he says and stay off your high horse you have an amazing lesson. Have a wonderful time, you will learn a lot!!

My point is just that money is limited and life is short--why should I pay money to cry, when someone else can point out my faults in such a way to not be insulting. There are plenty of good clinicians out there. My advise is always audit first. I did the clinic because it was at my barn.

[ASB Stars]

I rode several different horses with Eric, through the years, and I cannot say enough great about him. He is marvelous. And this was for pure dressage!

I had a horse who was completely BTV when I started with him- he had been a top Jr. Hunter- ridden in a wire- and I was doing dressage with him. Eric made a suggestion, and I questioned it- then rode the horse both ways- what he was asking for, and what I had found I needed to do. He was enough of a professional, and human being, to acknowledge what the horse needed, and he was simply brilliant in his other suggestions with the horse. Eric taught me to do the first canter pirouettes that I ever did with the horse, and cleaned up alot of trash from other instructors for me.

We had Eric in to the Equestrian Center that I ran at least twice a year, for several years. I would recommend him to anyone who genuinely WANTS to learn- he will tell you what he thinks- and he is usually dead on.

Along those lines, all those years ago, I asked him what I needed in order to get to the next level in the sport. He didn't hesitate, "a new horse, and a new instructor". I kept the horse through his retirement, and passing, and dumped the instructor. Ironically, she is a well known judge, now. That says alot!:lol:

[Jleegriffith]

Based on the responses he sounds like someone I would enjoy riding with. I prefer the no BS approach. I am always willing to try new things if you can explain the theory behind it and please don't treat me like a baby. Then again I grew up with instructors that were tough as nails and you shut up rode or else. I don't like instructors who don't pick me apart or give me enough work to improve upon.

[west5]

LOVE HIM!

Bring a good red wine for after and you will get more than you money's worth. The man is a wealth of understanding

Reed

very very true :)

He is a good clinician and I've ridden different horses with him from fancy warmblood cross to "school horse". I did not find his instruction to be horse dependent. The only negative I can say is just like all people in any job I have experienced him to be "more" or "less" there on a given day.

He usually runs late too, in a "positive" way, trying to give everyone what they need. Don't schedule anything for right after your time.

[ss3777]

LOVE HIM!

Bring a good red wine for after and you will get more than you money's worth. The man is a wealth of understanding

Reed


Oh, I thought the red wine was only when you had an involuntary dismount. I had to buy two in one weekend............young horse blues. I got the ole ~well if he is going to do that you need to put a neck strap on him~~~