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Educational Impact
ADA typically plans and hosts at least one major Clinic each year featuring a nationally recognized dressage professional. Our clinics are designed to make a major educational impact on both the RIDERS and the AUDITORS who participate.
Our selection focuses on presenting ideas, training concepts, and/or problem-solving techniques for each level of training. The clinic is not simply 6 to 8 hours of public dressage lessons; it is a presentation and demonstration of the featured professional’s training philosophy conducted for the benefit of both riders and auditors.
Rider Selection
The rider selection committee is comprised of the ADA Education Chairman and up to two additional ADA members. The committee always strives to select the most appropriate horse and rider combinations from the applications received. Incomplete applications and poorly shot video (smudged lenses, unfocused and distant images, etc.) don’t improve an applicant’s chance of being picked. Volunteerism, length of membership and service to the organization are considered.
Every featured professional and every mix of applicants produces a different set of training criteria and final outcome at our clinics. Sometimes the “best” horses and riders are selected; sometimes a mixture of horses and various training issues are selected; sometimes the featured professional requests particular riders they are familiar with.
Get the Most out of ADA Clinics
We hope that ADA members and non-members of our dressage community take full advantage of the educational opportunities ADA strives to provide. While getting away from home, work, and/or family for an entire weekend can be difficult, we strongly urge you to attend from start to finish. By participating in the entire event, you’ll see transformations in horses and riders that can often be dramatic.