Julie Winkel and Danny Marks at the Sport Horse Conformation Seminar

Those of you who know me know how much I crave learning new things as well as staying current on all things horses!

I love teaching as well, mainly because I always learn new things from the students, horses and participants. Whether it’s giving a riding clinic, a judge's clinic, a USHJA Trainer Certification Program clinic or an Emerging Athletes Program clinic, I always learn. I always gather feedback at the end from the participants in order to find out what exercises or topics they grasped or what epiphanies they may have had.

At a recent EAP Clinic in Colorado, a young rider told me her biggest takeaway was that my theory of riding was based on educating rather than training the horse and rider. I LOVED this assessment! The more I think about it, the more true that statement rings! I'm against drilling horse or rider in order to make them robots. I'm into communicating and educating them to help them understand the what, how and whys.

In September, at Maplewood Stables here in Reno, Nevada, I offer six courses of various topics related to our sport.

Julie Winkel and Stallone at the Young Horse Trainer School

We start with world-renowned Belgium horseman Jos Kumps for a three-day riding clinic. And, yes, I will be riding in it as well! Can’t wait to learn from him!

We then have a six-day Young Horse Trainer School for those interested in specializing or just becoming more educated in young horses. This school is led by world-famous horsewoman Linda Allen from Mexico and equally renowned horseman extraordinaire Jose Alejos from Guatemala, with guest clinician Benny Vandervaeren from Belgium. This week is always special!

Then we dive into three clinics approved by the U.S. Equestrian Federation and U.S. Hunter Jumper Association for licensed judges and officials, although open to everyone.

The Sport Horse Conformation Seminar features Dr. Daniel Marks, USET team veterinarian for decades and Dr. Chrysann Collatos, Maplewood Stable's veterinarian.

Next, is Hunter and Jumper Course Design Clinics with Linda Allen and Nancy Wallis, followed by our Judge's School for Hunter and Equitation with Fran Dotoli and myself. We wrap it all up with a USHJA Trainer Certification Program clinic with Juliana Zunde and myself.

Super September is so fun and certainly information and education overload month for me! If I can retain half of what I learn, it’ll be a ton! I hope to see lots of old and new friends at Maplewood in September that love horses and our sport as much as I do!

Julie

Julie Winkel and Juliana Zunde with the USHJA TCP attendees (and Blueberry!)

Continuing Education Junkie