High Performance Clinics With David O’Connor Coming in January

Ottawa, Ontario — Canadian Eventing is pleased to announce the Canadian Eventing High Performance Riders and Coaches Clinics with David O’Connor, to take place in January 2007.

Coaches and riders are encouraged to register as auditors. Acting as the demo riders will be the High Performance Development Team Riders, with the focus being on one and two star level junior and young riders. The clinics will be held January 22-23 at Greystone Stables in Delta, BC and January 25 -26 at the Royal Canadian Riding Academy in Cedar Valley, ON.

“Our main focus for these clinics is as a coaching seminar. We would like to try to smooth out the lines with coaching techniques at all coaching levels,” stated Canadian Eventing High Performance Chair Grit High. “We are excited that David is coming, and thrilled with the interest we have had from coaches. They will have the opportunity to reap a lot of benefits.”

With a combination of practical rider training sessions and special discussion topics, each auditor will have the chance to observe:

Dressage: practical training session, improving dressage technique and rider position.
Show Jumping: practical training session, improving jumping technique and rider position.
Planning, implementing and managing a successful training and competition program.
Preparing for the Olympic/short format CCI three day events.
Providing effective coaching support in the competitive environment.
Individual and team competition.

Pre-registration is available until Thursday, January 18, 2007. The cost is $150 for Equine Canada NCCP Certified Coaches, $175 for Equine Canada Sport License Holders and Canadian Eventing members, and $200 for the general public. Registration will also be available ‘at the door’, at the cost of $200.

For more information, area hotel rates, directions and registration forms, please visit equinecanada.ca.

An Individual Gold, and Team Bronze Medalist at the 2000 Olympics, O’Connor competed internationally for the United States Equestrian Team from the 1980’s until his retirement from competition in 2004. During that time he earned three Olympic medals, two Pan-American Games medals and two World Championship medals.

Together with his wife Karen, also an Olympic medalist, O’Connor now devotes his time to the training of riders and horses. He is also the current President of the United States Equestrian Federation, a cross country course designer, and the International Technical Advisor for the Canadian Eventing Team.

“David is an excellent clinician. He has a good understanding of horses and riders, and the ability to assess them immediately,” commented High. “Not only can he get on any horse and show improvement, he can help the rider achieve that improvement.”