This past weekend I got to ride with German-based dressage rider Catherine Haddad. She’s in the US trying to qualify for the World Equestrian Games this summer, so my dressage trainer Patrick set up a clinic for the weekend. I couldn’t afford two days of the clinic (it was REALLY expensive!), so we settled for Saturday only, which I think was better in the end! Saturday was about 100 degrees and Catherine worked us for 45 minutes straight with 2 walk breaks!!

She was an extremely good trainer. I would recommend her to anyone needing help with position and correctness. In the first 10 minutes, she had us warm up like usual and then push in to a very forward working trot. She decided that my leg position needed some improvement, so we switched out of my Passier dressage saddle in to a Stubben that she had designed. It had extremely flat panels but a very deep seat, allowing my leg to drop down and around the horse without being stuck in place by my saddle’s big knee blocks. After we worked on changing saddles, we spent the next 30 minutes working on me being able to sit the trot (Wanda has a HUGE trot) and by the end I was sitting correct!! It was like, “learn to sit the trot in 40 minutes with Catherine Haddad”. Fantastic!

If you’re thinking about taking a lesson/clinic with her, I would definitely recommend it. No question. She will work your tail off, but it is worth it. Just make sure you’re fit and the weather isn’t ridiculous! She’s also very nice, but stern. She takes her training very serious, and she expects you to feel the same about it. Hint: Do not ever ride with Catherine without spurs and a whip!! She loves weapons. Don’t be caught without them!!