international dressage clinics
equistraconsulting offers its Friends and Clients Training with Certified German Trainer (Fluent in English and French).
Dave Thind, originally from Canada, is a full-time trainer and clinician. Dave devotes his training skills towards educating both horses and riders from various disciplines using the principles of classical dressage. His clinics are popular across the world and he focuses on better riding through understanding biomechanics (equine and human) and body awareness, all while staying true to classical principles.
He has worked as a Bereiter (Trainer) and Reitlehrer (Instructor) in Germany and Dave is a fully certified German 'Trainer A' (third of three levels and recognized across the world as International level III.
He and his students have had great success in dressage - from basic to FEI levels, as well as show jumping, eventing and hunter/equitation. His students have received many accolades, including national awards such as Equine Canada's Gillian Wilson Award for Junior Equestrian of the Year.
Dave's additional expertise was brought out when a back injury led to Dave's fascination with human and equine biomechanics and his close study of various body awareness techniques including Feldenkrais®. Dave is also a Reiki Master and treats his horses with this.
contact Dave
Testimonials
Just wanted to thank you
for the outstanding clinic
you gave us a few weeks
ago. It was very well
received by absolutely
every rider. Personally, I
found the lessons
extremely beneficial. My
mare has been doing
very good work since the
clinic and I feel that I
have a lot more tools to
work with now.
Thanks again,
Kathy Thode
Moravia, NY
more..
Lotta Bramfelt, Vaudreuil, QC
When I met Dave I had started to ride again after 25 years out of the saddle. In just a few lessons Dave showed me the keys to a balanced and effective seat. To have a lesson with Dave is something magical. He has the ability to show you how to use your seat and body in a correct way, and how to get the right feeling for yourself and the horse. When he guides you to tune in to the horse with your body and seat something fantastic happens. A lesson with Dave is a breakthrough experience. Dave is a true horseman, a wonderful rider and teacher. He loves horses, people and to teach. He teaches you the classical
principles, how to ride your horse in a relaxed and natural way. I am truly grateful for what Dave has given me as a rider. I recommend him as a teacher and coach with all of my heart. Thank you Dave!
Julie Gagné, Montreal, QC
Formerly an incorruptible hunter/jumper with a vague, unwarranted bitterness towards dressage, I had my unfounded prejudices towards the art shattered when I discovered Dave. Through his lessons, I have come to perceive dressage as both an art and a language, a mounted dance based on a complex and subtle conversation between horse and rider. Dave has since generously and very effectively conveyed his astounding mastery and understanding of dressage, with every lesson bringing forth a deeper seat and, more and more often, the exhilaration of that blissful resonance between horse and rider when harmony is achieved, when you find a balance - the perfect give and take, the ideal rhythm - and you feel unity with your mount, a conversation so clear that it could hardly be discerned as coming from two separate minds. Well, I’ve gotten a pre-emptive taste of that, and Dave’s devotion to both his riders and horses is what I have to thank for it. Thanks Dave.
Lyne Ouellete, St-Julie, Qc
I have been a dressage rider for 17 years. One day, I saw Dave warming up his horses at a show and I noticed that he rode very well and with lots of class. I decided to ask him to get on my mare for a quick schooling and I quickly realized the extent of his skills. The mare displayed a lightness and obedience that was in perfect harmony with the rider. He showed me how to be « with » the horse and how to get her responsive and light to the aids. The next day, I was second in a class of 20+ riders with a score of 62%, an improvement of 9%. It was from that moment on that I asked Dave to train me and my mare. In my first lesson, we worked mostly on my position and getting my horse forward off the aids – that wasn’t easy! I learned to trust my mare and to work with her, allowing her to step up into the bridle. My mare’s true colors are now showing with dramatic improvements in elasticity, rhythm and suppleness. Dave’s knowledge and drive for perfection have allowed me to continually surpass my expectations, and myself. I now have the feeling that my mare is doing all the work – at least most of it. I simply get on my horse and enjoy.
Daniela Moretti, Pilates Instructor, Montreal, QC
I always dreamed of taking dressage lessons, but due to a bad back I was never able to continue with my lessons. My back is better now, and I began riding with Dave just last summer. At 42, I am living a dream I thought I would have to give up. I always read about dressage being a harmonious and effortless dance
between horse and rider, and as early as my first lesson with Dave, I began feeling the pleasure of what Dave refers to as a "psychic ride". I owe a lot to Dave, his persistence, patience and great teaching skills make my riding lessons fun, informative and painless. I can't tell you enough how much this all means to me.
Jennifer Peters, BC
I met Dave for the first time in Spain at a catch riding Nations’ Cup and I had the pleasure of being on the Canadian team with him. From watching Dave ride over three days, I saw right away that his style is very correct and he can make a difficult ride look easy. It was very exciting for me to watch Dave ride and I was pleased to get a lot of advice before I rode. Dave’s positive way of speaking was a delight; I really enjoyed critiquing my rides with him because he told me what I did well and what he thought I could improve on in a
very positive and motivating manor. From our conversations, it is very evident that Dave is extremely knowledgeable. He is talented and kind to horses. His approach is to work with the horse, rather than force the horse to do what you want it to do. I would absolutely love to have lessons with Dave on my own horse because he is an awesome trainer, coach, and one of the nicest people in this competitive sport. In the future I plan to organize a clinic with Dave in BC so that I can train with him.
Dave Thind, originally from Canada, is a full-time trainer and clinician. Dave devotes his training skills towards educating both horses and riders from various disciplines using the principles of classical dressage. His clinics are popular across the world and he focuses on better riding through understanding biomechanics (equine and human) and body awareness, all while staying true to classical principles.
He has worked as a Bereiter (Trainer) and Reitlehrer (Instructor) in Germany and Dave is a fully certified German 'Trainer A' (third of three levels and recognized across the world as International level III.
He and his students have had great success in dressage - from basic to FEI levels, as well as show jumping, eventing and hunter/equitation. His students have received many accolades, including national awards such as Equine Canada's Gillian Wilson Award for Junior Equestrian of the Year.
Dave's additional expertise was brought out when a back injury led to Dave's fascination with human and equine biomechanics and his close study of various body awareness techniques including Feldenkrais®. Dave is also a Reiki Master and treats his horses with this.
contact Dave
Testimonials
Just wanted to thank you
for the outstanding clinic
you gave us a few weeks
ago. It was very well
received by absolutely
every rider. Personally, I
found the lessons
extremely beneficial. My
mare has been doing
very good work since the
clinic and I feel that I
have a lot more tools to
work with now.
Thanks again,
Kathy Thode
Moravia, NY
more..
Lotta Bramfelt, Vaudreuil, QC
When I met Dave I had started to ride again after 25 years out of the saddle. In just a few lessons Dave showed me the keys to a balanced and effective seat. To have a lesson with Dave is something magical. He has the ability to show you how to use your seat and body in a correct way, and how to get the right feeling for yourself and the horse. When he guides you to tune in to the horse with your body and seat something fantastic happens. A lesson with Dave is a breakthrough experience. Dave is a true horseman, a wonderful rider and teacher. He loves horses, people and to teach. He teaches you the classical
principles, how to ride your horse in a relaxed and natural way. I am truly grateful for what Dave has given me as a rider. I recommend him as a teacher and coach with all of my heart. Thank you Dave!
Julie Gagné, Montreal, QC
Formerly an incorruptible hunter/jumper with a vague, unwarranted bitterness towards dressage, I had my unfounded prejudices towards the art shattered when I discovered Dave. Through his lessons, I have come to perceive dressage as both an art and a language, a mounted dance based on a complex and subtle conversation between horse and rider. Dave has since generously and very effectively conveyed his astounding mastery and understanding of dressage, with every lesson bringing forth a deeper seat and, more and more often, the exhilaration of that blissful resonance between horse and rider when harmony is achieved, when you find a balance - the perfect give and take, the ideal rhythm - and you feel unity with your mount, a conversation so clear that it could hardly be discerned as coming from two separate minds. Well, I’ve gotten a pre-emptive taste of that, and Dave’s devotion to both his riders and horses is what I have to thank for it. Thanks Dave.
Lyne Ouellete, St-Julie, Qc
I have been a dressage rider for 17 years. One day, I saw Dave warming up his horses at a show and I noticed that he rode very well and with lots of class. I decided to ask him to get on my mare for a quick schooling and I quickly realized the extent of his skills. The mare displayed a lightness and obedience that was in perfect harmony with the rider. He showed me how to be « with » the horse and how to get her responsive and light to the aids. The next day, I was second in a class of 20+ riders with a score of 62%, an improvement of 9%. It was from that moment on that I asked Dave to train me and my mare. In my first lesson, we worked mostly on my position and getting my horse forward off the aids – that wasn’t easy! I learned to trust my mare and to work with her, allowing her to step up into the bridle. My mare’s true colors are now showing with dramatic improvements in elasticity, rhythm and suppleness. Dave’s knowledge and drive for perfection have allowed me to continually surpass my expectations, and myself. I now have the feeling that my mare is doing all the work – at least most of it. I simply get on my horse and enjoy.
Daniela Moretti, Pilates Instructor, Montreal, QC
I always dreamed of taking dressage lessons, but due to a bad back I was never able to continue with my lessons. My back is better now, and I began riding with Dave just last summer. At 42, I am living a dream I thought I would have to give up. I always read about dressage being a harmonious and effortless dance
between horse and rider, and as early as my first lesson with Dave, I began feeling the pleasure of what Dave refers to as a "psychic ride". I owe a lot to Dave, his persistence, patience and great teaching skills make my riding lessons fun, informative and painless. I can't tell you enough how much this all means to me.
Jennifer Peters, BC
I met Dave for the first time in Spain at a catch riding Nations’ Cup and I had the pleasure of being on the Canadian team with him. From watching Dave ride over three days, I saw right away that his style is very correct and he can make a difficult ride look easy. It was very exciting for me to watch Dave ride and I was pleased to get a lot of advice before I rode. Dave’s positive way of speaking was a delight; I really enjoyed critiquing my rides with him because he told me what I did well and what he thought I could improve on in a
very positive and motivating manor. From our conversations, it is very evident that Dave is extremely knowledgeable. He is talented and kind to horses. His approach is to work with the horse, rather than force the horse to do what you want it to do. I would absolutely love to have lessons with Dave on my own horse because he is an awesome trainer, coach, and one of the nicest people in this competitive sport. In the future I plan to organize a clinic with Dave in BC so that I can train with him.
© 2006 equistraconsulting all rights reserved