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Clinics
Riding and Auditing
All of our Clinics allow Auditors. Most have Rider Spots that are available. Check the calendar for complete listing of booked clinic dates.
Clinic Locations:
Falconridge Stables in Seattle, Washington. Contact Dr. Jean Nokes at mdghivi@comcast.net or Alison Moss at amoss@dearbornmoss.com.
Legacy Farms in Celina, Texas. Email Diane Huber at haltatx@gmail.com.
Jacksonville, Florida - Contact Sandy Mooney at housedoctorinc@comcast.net.
Fenwick Grove Riding Academy in Woodstown, New Jersey - Contact Fenwick Grove Academy in Woodstown, New Jersey - email Laura Johansen at lauraj1@comcast.net or call (856) 769-4219.
Broken Auger Lusitanos in Ferndale, Washington (near Bellingham) - email Barbara Daugert at bdaugert@gmail.com.
Victor, Idaho - email Jodi Seaton at bjseaton@tetontel.com.
Bear Creek Equestrian Center in Winthrop, Washington - email Poly Lucy and Debra Prentice at bearcreekequestriancenter@methownet.com.
Reindance Stables - Hillsboro, Oregon - Contact Anna Bigwood at abigwood@comcast.net. Auditors welcome. Website: www.reindance.net
Grand View Stables - Oregon City, Oregon - Contact Lois Garcia at grandview2007@msn.com.
Illinois (near St. Louis, MO) - email Sherry Rodenmeyer at srodenmeyer@wisperhome.com.
Legacy Farms in Celina, Texas. Email Diane Huber at haltatx@gmail.com.
Clinic Specifications:
2008 Clinic Rates:
Dr. Thomas Ritter - $900.00/day
Shana Ritter - $800.00/day
COMBINED: Both Thomas and Shana Ritter - $1600.00/day ($100 discount)
2009 Clinic Rates:
Dr. Thomas Ritter - $1000.00/day
Shana Ritter - $900.00/day
COMBINED: Both Thomas and Shana Ritter - $1800.00/day ($100 discount)
Requirements:
Airfare provided if outside of immediate area - see details below
Local transportation provided
Hotel or other suitable accommodations provided
Meals provided
Clinic Format:
Two-day minimum. Three-day clinics preferred (Third day can be a half-day if necessary and can be pro-rated accordingly)
Schedule 45 minutes for each ride with breaks after every second ride in case rides go overtime.
No more than 8 rides per day.
For COMBINED CLINICS: If two arenas available, Thomas and Shana can teach in separate arenas. Otherwise, Thomas and Shana can share the same arena, and are quite accustomed to doing so. Riders should be willing to share arena space, also. If certain horses cannot work in the arena with other horses, Organizer can modify the schedule accordingly, or charge the student for a lesson spot with both Thomas and Shana together.
Longe Lessons are welcomed. Please provide a safe longeing horse, side reins, cavesson, and longe whip. It is possible to divide the lesson up so that the first half is done on the longe, working on the rider, and the second half is done off of the longe, working on the horse.
Group Lessons and Semi-Private lessons are an option.
Dr. Thomas Ritter Lectures are an option, in place of lesson(s).
Other Conditions/Requirements:
FLIGHTS: We fly out of Portland International Airport (PDX). When booking our flights, do not book flights which depart earlier than 8:00am. Whenever possible, book our return flights on the last night of the clinic rather than the following day.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION: Lcoal transportation can be provided by clinic organizer, friend, or participant to taxi us to/from airport, hotel, meals, etc. Alternatively, a car can be provided for our use.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel preferred, but some exceptions allowed in certain situations. Non-smoking rooms only.
MEALS: Morning - please provide small, heatlhy options, coffee, and juice. Lunch and Dinner - Shana is a vegetarian who eats some seafood. Please provide healthy meal options. We are happy to go to local restaurants and are always interested in local cuisine.
REFRESHMENTS: Please provide water, juices, and sodas throughout the day. Snacks are appreciated.
PAYMENT: Payment in full needs to be made by the last day of the clinic. Check, cash, or money order accepted. Make payable to "Ritter Dressage".
SOUND SYSTEM: It is greatly appreciated if organizer can provide sound system with portable mic for clinician(s).
EQUIPMENT: Please provide longewhip(s), work-in-hand whip(s), several longelines without an attached chain (and with loop ends rather than the heavy rubber donuts), side-reins, circingle, and cavesson. Highly recommended: ground poles, blocks, cones, and other suitable markers for marking "arena patterns".
RELEASE OF LIABILITY: All riders must sign a release of liability statement which includes both Thomas and Shana Ritter. We do carry insurance which covers our clinic lessons.
RIDING: Thomas and Shana *might* agree to ride participants' horses, however, this is entirely up to the discretion of Thomas and Shana. Do not expect Thomas or Shana to ride a horse that is dangerous - a clinic is not a suitable time or place for such corrections. Alternatively, Thomas and Shana will likely show the rider how to work through the problem on the ground via longeing, long-reining, work-in-hand, or double-longeing.
Booking a Clinic:
To book a clinic with Thomas Ritter, Shana Ritter, or both, please email us at thomas@classicaldressage.com or levade@classicaldressage.com. Alternatively, give us a call at (360) 631-1101.
Generally we book our calendars 6-12 months in advance, but occasionally dates open up. Feel free to contact us to inquire about a date that has opened up.
New clinic locations should not be in a location near enough to an existing location that it may hinder either organizer's ability to fill the clinics.
It is the Organizer's responsibility to promote and advertise the clinic in order to adequately fill the clinic. We are happy to provide a listing in our calendar, but organizers should not expect this listing alone to be sufficient to advertise the clinic.
Cancellation Policy: No penalty if cancelled 60 days in advance. 50% of full clinic fee must be paid if cancelled 30-60 days in advance and we cannot fill the date. 100% of full clinic fee must be paid if cancelled less than 30 days from scheduled date.
Participant Requirements:
AGE: Due to the intellectual nature of dressage, please - No riders under 8yo. Thankfully, no upper age limit. :-)
SOUND, SAFE HORSES: All horses in cinic must be sound, and able to do walk, trot, and canter safely. Some exceptions may apply depending upon circumstances (i.e. young horses, older horses, etc.) No exceptions on the soundness issue - it is simply not ethical to make a lame horse work.
SUITABLE EQUIPMENT: All horses must have a dressage bridle, dressage saddle, and dressage bit(s). Strange bits, strange saddles, and unsuitable bridles only skirt the real issues. Bridles must have a suitable nose band which fits appropriately. No Western-type "Rope Reins" please. Double-bridles should only be used on horses and riders at 2nd level or above, and it is highly recommended to bring a regular snaffle bridle, too. Never use a flash noseband or drop noseband on a double-bridle. If riding with a double-bridle, rider should always wear spurs. All riders should ride with a dressage whip unless specifically given prior permission not to. Polo wraps are not required, but always look nice.
SUITABLE ATTIRE FOR RIDER: Riders should wear suitable attire: riding breeches, riding boots, etc. Showing up for your lesson in shorts and clogs is not recommended. :-) Helmets are not required by us, but often recommended. They may be required by the facility. Weather permitting, please do not wear baggy clothing. Much preferred would be neat, tidy, well-fitted breeches, shirt, and perhaps a vest so that clinicians can see and correct rider's position. Spurs are optional.
VIDEO/NOTE-TAKING: If the facility offers a videographer for the lessons, we highly recommend that you take advantage of this opportunity and have your lesson videotaped. If the facility doesn't offer it, but you can have a friend/family member/stranger video your ride, please do so. Videoing your ride not only offers you documentation of where you've been for the future, but it also offers a reference for you to refer to time and again. There is much in a lesson that the rider misses, but will catch if they can watch the video later. Note-taking is allowed. We highly recommend riders take notes of the exercises and the observations made immediately following the ride. If they need clarification on specific exercises or explanations, they can do this at the clinic or via email after the clinic.
OPEN MIND, READY TO LEARN: Students should be open and ready to learn.
TREAT HORSE WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT - "Always remember the horse is smarter than you think." - Karl Mikolka.
Recommendations for Clinic Organizers:
Those new to clinic organizing can become easily overwhelmed by this venture. Here are a few pointers which may help:
Contact us to secure your dates for the upcoming year. Please be sure to confirm them with us before advertising your clinic. Book the airline tickets as soon as confirmation has been made, so that you secure the best rates possible. Email or snail-mail the itinerary to us.
Advertise well in advance in local GMO publications, on the internet, and via email so that prospective riders and auditors know about the clinic. If you have a website, include information on your website.
Require all riders to pay in advance and sign a release form for the facility at that time. Make a policy to only refund cancellations if their spot is able to be filled. This is a good time to find out if they have any scheduling preferences (early morning, late afternoon, both clinicians combined, etc.).
Send every rider an info sheet so that they know how to get to the clinic (a map can be helpful), when they should arrive, and where they should go when they arrive. Stabling information should be included. Also include information on any videographer that may be available, hotel recommendations, etc. Also please send our "Participant Requirements" as outlined above so that every rider shows up with a sound, suitable horse and the appropriate equipment and frame of mind.
Please do not restrict auditing except in special cases. It is up to the Organizer's Discretion if they choose to charge for Auditing.
Providing refreshments for riders/auditors is highly recommended. Some facilities charge an Auditing fee and include lunch and refreshements at no additional charge. Some charge a lower or no fee and charge separately for food and refreshments.
If stabling is provided, find out if stallion owners and mare owners object to their horses being near each other.
When working out the schedule, please allow a break every few lessons so that, if running overtime, it is possible to catch up and/or run to the bathroom, get something to drink, etc. Consult with stallion owners whether they have special needs in regards to the scheduling with their stallions (i.e. need to warm-up or lesson with no mares in the arena, need to be first of the day or last of the day, etc.).
If the clinic will be in extremely hot weather, please consider dividing the day's schedule into two shifts: an early morning shift and an evening shift to spare riders, horses, and clinicians the heat of the day.
Post the schedule to your website, if you have one. Email the schedule to all riders and auditors. Please have extra copies to give to the clinician(s) and post at the facility on the day(s) of the clinic.
Be sure to let us know who will be picking us up from the airport and where to meet them. Because the airlines often do not feed their passengers on the flights anymore, a light meal or snacks are appreciated. If the flight arrives fairly late, beginning the rides a little later in the next morning isappreciated.
If any of the horses/riders have special situations, please brief us about this upon our arrival.
"Are Dr. Ritter's clinics worth attending? In my opinion, very positively and
definitely yes. I have studied with him on several occasions when he has
come east to Maryland and I will study with him in the future on any occasion
when the opportunity presents itself and put my pennies aside in the meantime
in order to do that. There are hardly any opportunities in the US to study
with competent people and I will always support the few who offer a student a
correct education and then deliver it.
I can count on less than two full hands the number of people, who live and
teach in the US, who have a sufficiently extensive background and solid
education to make serious study worthwhile. Dr. Ritter is on that list. I
did not know Dr. Ritter personally before I got on a horse, shook his hand
and introduced myself in the arena and started work. But I knew and know his
teachers and I know where he was educated and how he was educated. And that
information counts with me. Greatly."
- Kasette@aol.com
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