|
Training Services
For Horses | For Riders
Craig Thompson offers training for horses and riders of all levels
in a relaxed, success-oriented environment. From starting young horses
to putting the finishing touches on going veterans, Craig emphasizes getting the most out of every horse. He offers numerous services for riders, including lessons, coaching, clinics and working student opportunities. Sale horses are also a central part of Craig Thompson Eventing.
Craig has three principles that underpin his teaching and training:
1) horses do what we tell them, sometimes we just don't realize
what it is we are telling them;
2) horses and riders need to let the easy things be easy;
3) patience and repetition will teach most horses and most riders
most things.
Below you will find a bit more about what Craig offers. If you
have any questions, feel free to ask.
Horses
Whether the task is developing young talent to the upper levels,
breaking youngsters or re-schooling difficult horses, Craig is
happy to help. Craig accepts horses for owners with specific training
or competition goals, for general evaluation, or sale. Owners
interested in sending a horse for training should start by emailing
the details of their situation. The email should provide the basic
details about the horse's age and experience, as well as what
the owner would like to achieve through the training.
Craig's ability to start young horses has been proven by a 1st
place finish in 2005 and 2nd place in 2006 at the Virginia Horse
Trials CCI*-Young Horse and by numerous top placings in the Young
Event Horse Series. In fact, Craig's series of articles "Introducing
the Young Horse to Jumping" recently appeared in the USEA's
official magazine, Eventing USA.
top^
Riders
Craig is happy to teach riders of all levels, from those just
beginning to ride right on up through the highest levels. Riders
are welcome whether they have specific competition goals or would
just like to improve their riding and horse's way of going. Occasionally,
practice horses are available as well.
Private lessons typically last 45 minutes. Sometimes lessons are shorter, sometimes longer, depending on each horse and rider's needs. Semi-private and group lessons are sometimes available. Craig occassionally travels to teach lessons if there are enough students available for lessons and a suitable facility is available.
Lessons are best scheduled by calling Craig directly at (803)
634-0379. He generally teaches Tuesday through Sunday, though
not on weekends when he is competing. Students should be on their
horse and in the schooling arena at the scheduled start of their
lesson. Comfortable dress including a hard hat, half-chaps, chaps,
paddock boots or riding boots is expected. Be sure to sign a release.
Download Release Form
Craig is happy to help riders at events or shows, though his
availability is sometimes limited by the number of horses he is
riding at the show. If you want specific help at a show, please
arrange this in advance of the competition. Help in the warm-up
and coursewalks are available, though Craig believes that if he
and his students do their work at home, then his students won't
need him in competition.
Craig often schools cross-country and welcomes students to join
in. The fee may vary, but is usually comparable to lesson fees.
Clinic Information
Craig teaches clinics as his schedule allows. He charges a daily rate
plus expenses (travel, food, lodging). In 2007 Craig taught clinics in
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
Please feel free to contact us via email for information or to book a
clinic for 2008.
Upcoming Clinics:
2009 dates to be posted here soon.
The question for Craig wasn't, Can they jump big?, but, Can they canter to
every jump in a calm, steady rhythm? Are they consistently responsive to
the aids? Can they a jump tiny little jump on a twenty meter circle --
which is hard! -- or a few poles on the ground downhill on a slope and still
manage to maintain a dead-steady rhythm and get their feet in the right
place every time?
This was music to my ears, and I applaud Craig's mettle in insisting that
each rider master A before moving on to B, no adrenaline required. The
clinic was entirely without thrills or spills, but it was, I believe, an
excellent example of what a clinic should do: crack the door to a world of
possibility by opening riders' minds to what can be accomplished by
systematic learning and diligent devotion to the most basic of the basics.
In the end, it is so much more fun to be able to do it right than just to be
able to do it.
- Colleen Meyer, Kingsbury Hill Farm Clinic, August 2007
|
