Kathy Connelly (shown here long lining) and Betsy Steiner will kick off “How to Develop a Winning Program and Partnership with Your Horse” at the 2014 Adequan/USDF Convention. (Brigitte Voelk – photo credit)
Cambridge, MA (December 3, 2014) — Kathy Connelly and Betsy Steiner, two of the biggest names in U.S. dressage, will launch their Nutrena/USDF Adult Clinic Series, “How to Develop a Winning Program and Partnership with Your Horse,” at the 2014 Adequan/USDF Convention held Dec. 3-6 in historic Cambridge, Mass.
The dressage icons will co-instruct the series, which will be held in each of the nine USDF regions and will run from the spring of 2015 through 2016. They will conduct five clinics aimed at the adult amateur in 2015 and four the following year. Eight riders chosen from a pool of diverse equestrians of all levels will participate in each clinic. Riders and auditors will benefit from the attention of both of the instructors as they take turns helping the riders and interacting with the attendees during the two-day clinics.
The duo will present their kick-off to the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the host hotel for the USDF convention, the Hyatt Regency Cambridge.
Connelly is a respected international trainer, coach, clinician and “S” judge and has excelled in the international show ring. She competed as a United States Equestrian Team Rider at the World Cup in Sweden and as the highest placed Grand Prix rider on the U.S. Bronze Medal Team at the North American Championships. She is the Vice Chairman of the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee, and was a U.S. Team selector for the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 World Equestrian Games. She is a popular commentator, having served at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, the 2013 USDF Dressage Finals and recently at the 2014 USDF Dressage Finals in Lexington, KY, providing expert analysis to the live-feed for the event.
Steiner is also an international dressage trainer, coach and clinician. She represented the U.S. at the World Equestrian Games in Sweden and is an accomplished commentator, having provided her expertise for the 1995 World Cup of Dressage, the 1996 Olympic Games and, most recently, the 2014 World Equestrian Games Trials in Gladstone, NJ.
“We are looking very forward to doing this,” Connelly said. “We are so enthusiastic and want it to be fun and joyful for the people. We have an amazing group of amateur riders in this country.”
She said that she and Steiner individualize their instruction for the clinics according to what the rider tells them about their present situation and they use that information to build upon. She added that their goal is produce a top educational experience with clearly presented material for both riders and auditors.
Both Connelly and Steiner share a belief in using a calm approach to teaching and they believe it’s important to help the horse and rider develop a partnership.
“It’s very important for a trainer, coach and instructor to leave the dignity of the horse and rider intact,” she continued. “We want for people to feel very comfortable to bring their treasure, which is their horse, to us.”
“I just finished doing the USEF/USDF live Internet commentary in Kentucky at the U.S. Dressage Finals and was very impressed with the presentation and riding of our United States Adult Amateurs,” she said. “Come one, come all to the clinics, riders and auditors. We welcome your participation!”
To learn more about the Nutrena/USDF Adult Clinic Series, click here: http://www.usdf.org/education/clinics/adult/index.asp. To get more information about the Adequan/USDF Convention, go to https://www.usdf.org/convention/. For more information about Kathy Connelly and her impressive dressage background, email kathyconnellyavf@aol.com or call 978-486-8674.
Contact: Kathy Connelly
kathyconnellyavf@aol.com
978-486-8674