David De Wispelaere

[sam&anita]

my OH got me a present for our anniversary of marriage (12,5 yrs). o my god and what kind of present, add to say i did'nt had one for him :blush:  SHAME ON ME...
in june i'm going to germany to the chateau du dressage from david de wispelaere. for five days me and my horse will stay there, every day we will have a private lesson with david....i have to admitt i'm feeling a bit strange....
on one hand i'm VERY HAPPY, david is a real classical trainer, so that is a dream come true
on the other hand i'm very nervous about it, it is a two hour drive and i have to borrow a trailer somewhere and teach sam to load and unload before  i really hope that turns out well, becaus i have a little stubborn horse. the other thing i'm worried about is our level of riding. i know david teaches everybody despite their level, but i'm a bit nervous about it, we are still riding very basic.
when i first heard about the present i di'dn't know if i had to be happy or cry
the more i think of it the happier i become.....
just had to get this of my hart, thanks for listening....and any advice for teaching loading and unloading is welcome

anita

[Sonora]

Sounds like a lovely opportunity! What a lovely hubs

o my god and what kind of present, add to say i did'nt had one for him  SHAME ON ME... :blush:

~ you're gonna have to pull out the stops now  :lol:

the other thing i'm worried about is our level of riding. i know david teaches everybody despite their level, but i'm a bit nervous about it, we are still riding very basic.
when i first heard about the present i di'dn't know if i had to be happy or cry

I have that too! 'beginners syndrome'  :(  :lol:  Hope you learn loads and are glad you went! [/color]

[Sonora]

Just did some research, the course looks great!

This somewhat amused me though :lol:

The price for the program is 820 Euros which includes the Individual lessons, a single room   for   4 nights in in the 16th century castle, breakfast, a light lunch and one candlelight dinner.

Is that with him??!  
 

[shoveltrash]

wow...what a WONDERFUL hubby you have Anita!!!!!
when do you go?
i'm sure it will be a great experience
and we FULLY expect a report of it too!
(so that i can beg MY OH for a wonderful gift like this!!! :lol: )
T.

[Sonora]

and we FULLY expect a report of it too!

Ditto

[sam&anita]

dont'worry guys i will keep you updated when i'm back....but you'll have to wait for it because it half way june that sam and i will go there....
SO EXCITED

[Sonora]

Cool! I hope you have a nice time  

[Heather]

Well Anita,

You needn't be nervous!! David is one of our saddle agents, and we have just spent two days with him on our agents training workshop here in the UK. He is simply delightful- wonderful company, and has the welfare of the horse totally at the heart of his training.

He has become a friend since we met at the Horse Event,- you wouldnt believe some of the things outside the horse world that we even have in common, like we were both trained to play the pipe organ as well as piano!!

He has just today invited Remmelt and I to visit when we are over at the beginning of June, so when are you going?

I am hoping to get him known over here too- his CV reads like a 'whos who' but he is still so approachable, maybe seems quiet until you get to know him a bit, but great sense of fun too.

You will have a fantastic time!!!

Heather

[demevrouw]

What an incredible present!!
From what I've heard and read about David I'm sure you'll have a great time and learn a LOT.
Enjoy!!

And Heather, don't forget to let us "continentals" know in case you're organizing a clinic/workshop or other public thing together with David (I remember you mentioning something earlier this year) - I'd definitely come and see that!


Claudia


 

[Heather]

I am hoping we can get to see David and partner, Patrick on the 27/28th if possible. David has invited us to a concert, if I can persuade my philistine partner, Remmelt, to come along to a Classical one, as he is taking me to an Eric Clapton one in Rotterdam on the 1st june, so fair exchange eh? :lol:

It is so refreshing to find a trainer on so much the same wavelength, and not just in equestrian terms!! I feel I have really found a valued new friend, and am so glad to have met David at the Horse Event last year. Now, I just have to get him known here as well. We so badly need a dressage trainer whose first thought is for the horse's welfare- these are few and far between, never mind with the fantastic training background he also has!

Heather

[Marengo]

What a wonderful present! I wish I was close enough to take my horse up to David's. I'd just like to second what Heather says about him though. I was also at the agent's training last week and David is just SUCH a lovely guy. I'm even further behind you in terms of classical training (like we have NONE  :lol: ) and there is no way I would feel intimidated at the thought of having lessons with David. He is so approachable and friendly, and genuinely loves horses for who they are as individuals, not just as 'personal glory machines'. And I hope he doesn't mind me saying, but he was telling us at dinner that he started out riding bareback with his Shetland pony, generally bombing about and having fun before ever having lessons.  

[Heather]

No Wendy, I can guarantee he wouldnt mind!! David still believes in hacking his horses out and jumping them as well, so that they have fun, not just solid schooling!

Heather

[sam&anita]

hi heather i will be with david from 12 till 16 june....please tell that you will be there in the same week, i've allways wanted to show you my spanish sam....he is so gorgious!
i'm very glad to hear that david is one of your saddle agents.....i was a bit nervous about how he would react om my sbs and riding with a pelham  
i can't wait untill june  
anita

[Heather]

He'll be fine with the saddle, but doubt he will like the Pelham though! Like most German trained trainers, they are considered a no no.

But riding my new Lusitano Sudi in the pelham for the first time this morning, after the strong contact he took in the snaffle when I went to try him, trying to tank off and run through my seat aids, in the pelham, which he has never been ridden in before, he immediately lightened and after five minutes was like a feather in my hand. His fast, rushing trot turned into one I could cadence purely with my rise and sit, and about half the speed that it had been. It was like being on a different, much more educated horse.

I know I couldnt achieve in the snaffle a fraction of the lightness and harmony I had this morning!

Heather

[sam&anita]

oh well he probably has to get used to me riding with a pelham :P  whoeeaaaaa
otherwise he can kick me out of his beautiful castle.
no just kidding....
but still don't know heather when you will be in germany

anita