Why David?David's patient, insightful and unique musical approach to teaching has inspired the following comments...
Randy Hi all, Just wanted to send a quick thank you to each one of you who worked so hard to pull off this clinic. Despite some of the nastiest weather Texas has to offer, the clinic was spectacular; I learned so much about my horse and my relationship with him and was so inspired by David's videos and by watching the skills of the L3 riders in the clinic. Thank you especially for taking the time to come to Texas. I loved watching your way with the horses and all of the advice you offered so graciously. I was very aware that I was out of my league (and way out of my comfort zone) in that clinic, but your calm cheerfulness and ability to have high expectations without pressure did a lot to ease my fears. I'll be watching your website and hoping you plan a return trip to Texas soon, anywhere from Amarillo to Austin - I'll be there! -Peggy and Elijah Dear David, Thanks for the fabulous weekend in Atanta! Please say "thank you" to your family for sharing you with us and the rest of your students all over the world. You have such a gift for teaching. It is remarkable how you are able to take in 20 human personalities and 20 horse personalities and create such a wonderful dance of growth and fun and learning. I'm studying with a shaman (who also happens to be from California) who says that the goal in life (for everyone) is to become an elder, one who takes joy from what he does and gives back to his community and helps others attain their vision. You are surely such a person and have reached this point at such a young age. So again, thanks for all your help and sharing your wisdom! Cindy (and HH) I cannot thank you enough for your help with my TWH, Cinnabar, last month. "We" are gaiting nicely now, and I had exquisite canters from him yesterday, wind and all. He never broke once, and never paced at all! He is SUCH fun, and I send you a hug every time I ride. I really appreciate all the help you provided for us, and hope I'll have more opportunities to learn more PNH. Of all the clinicians I've studied and observed, I think Parelli is the most thorough in establishing the necessary connections, and YOU are an excellent instructor, able to communicate with both horse AND handler! Thank you again. Ginny Hi David - I just wanted to thank you again for a most excellent lesson on Tuesday. I learn so much from my lessons with you and, as the days go by, the lesson sinks in deeper and deeper. With your guidance, one of these days I will be able to figure some of this stuff out on my own. Thank you for being my teacher. I wanted to say thanks for the great clinic you conducted this weekend. This is the second clinic I have observed you teach and each time I walk away inspired and challenged with this system. Several years ago I purchased the PNH book at a local bookstore. I read it, then read it again. But, it wasn't until I audited your Level I clinic in Minnesota that you made it make sense. Watching the Level II clinic this last weekend had the same effect. Hope to see you again when you make it back down here next year. Great job and keep up the good work! Thanks. Just wanted to formally say that I enjoyed David Lichman's Level 1 at Handy Acres on Nov 3 and 4. I really didn't know what to expect. As the weekend drew nearer, I was wondering if I had made a mistake, and should have used the money for a lesson instead. Saturday afternoon, when the horses came in....It was hard to just sit there and be silent, because inside, I was SCREAMING, this is unbelievable! I wish my horse was here! It was all I was hoping that it would be and more. Dave Dear David, I just wanted to thank you again for coming to Atlanta and delivering a terrific Level 2 Clinic last weekend. I learned a tremendous amount about Level 2 and gained incredible confidence in my horse and myself as a rider. I also had more fun than I've had since I was a kid! I can't wait to participate in another clinic! Thank you again!! Holly I wanted to thank you again for your time and your wisdom. I feel like the time spent with you was the boost I needed to get to level one. You're amazing. I'm always in awe of someone who has learned and gained mastery over something. More so when that knowledge is effectively imparted to others as in this case, me. Harvey I was one of the auditors at the Level 1 weekend in New Jersey on Saturday and Sunday. And I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. Thank you. I found myself wishing, more than a few times, that I could have participated with my horse. Always wondering, how would my horse have reacted to that? It was hard to have enough savvy to be silent. You made it look easy, inviting, that anyone could do this. A comment that you made on Saturday morning really stuck with me. That your horse is a mirror of how you live your life. I heard the same thing about riding. That how you ride a horse, mirrors how you live your life. Will someone see my horse's behavior and shake their head in disbelief and think, "whatever that guy is doing, I want to do that too!" or "Man, I sure am glad that isn't my horse!". It is up to me to decide how that will be answered. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. Ralph Well, I am still walking around with a smile on my face. I LOVED the lesson and it woke up the boys. They rode home in rush hour traffic like angels. Thank you SO much...especially meeting me at the level I am at (although I am usually not so clutzy--honest); and for being so sensitive to my limitations. You are a great teacher! Nikki David Lichman Thank you so much for being such a patient teacher. I learned so much from the seminar. I know how to ask Pizazz to do things in a way that he can understand. We have been doing very well together since the training. Thanks again for all your help, I would have never got as far as I have with out your help at the last few clinics. Mary You are a wonderful teacher and you care so much for the horses and what we communicate to them. Thanks for coming and sharing your knowledge with us. I look forward to seeing you next time you are in TX-anywhere and I'll be there(hey that’s a song!) Adios- Robin I have never felt her underneath me the way I have been feeling the past few days. I feel like where I'm going, she's going. I felt a connectedness with her that I've never felt before. An acceptance of me as the leader, which I have to thank you for working with my mare and then passing those skills on to me, because I didn't know what I was missing until I've been discovering it now. I think that we're on a good journey now, she and I. I think it's the very beginning of the journey after 8 years of being together Thank you, thank you so very much Carla Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed auditing the Level 1 in Ione this past weekend. Many things I have heard for years finally made sense to me, Pam Hi David, I attended your clinic this weekend in Ione and wanted to thank you for such a great experience. The information was explained well, the demo's were clear and I hope I retain even 1/10th of what was presented. I also want to tell you that the L2/3 workshop in Hillsbro, Oregon was one of the best clinics I've attended. Thanks! Stevie As auditors my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My husband, who is supportive of the horsey things I do with Desirae but who admittedly does not like the smell of a barn, was prepared for the weekend with a stack of books to read when he got bored. Instead of being bored he was fascinated with the training and said he was so glad he had come. The only PNH training he had seen prior to this was one demonstration of Pats at the Western Horse Expo last year. If you see the demonstration in isolation without understanding the PNH philosophy and the total sequence of communication that occurs to get to that point, the demonstration can look like a number of very neat circus tricks. It gave him a greater understanding of what we are trying to do with Desirae's horse Moony. As a level 1 course auditor, I had the advantage of being able to observe the successes and fascinations of every single horse in the group. What a unique perspective! I almost (repeat "almost") think that auditors should be charged more than participants. We don't have the confusion of hanging on to our own horse while David is instructing others in the group. I am always inspired by his little "sermons" that I've heard at the beginning of Level I weekends. I think he enjoys"philosophizing" and he's good at it. It's inspiring and it touches the heart, at least it did mine. One of the things I always get from auditing David's clinics are IDEAS that I can use at home with my horse. I also really like seeing him work his horses, so I know what I can expect from my horse! (For example, I never even thought about having my horse jump part of a barrel--I always thought the horse would naturally just go around. Now, I know I can ask for and expect the jump.) And I love watching David ride--it's great "modeling." I also like watching a group of horses and riders--I can see the interactions, and what is and what isn't working. And watching David "problem solve" is poetry in motion! I just had to write and tell you what a great time my good friend Stacie and I had at your clinic in Beaverton. Thank you so much for yet another GREAT experience. Although it has only been 3 weeks since we attended, his behavior has had a marked improvement. He is respecting my space, stopped biting, attempts at licking are fewer and doesn't use me like a wind sock at the end of the lead rope. He is more relaxed and I enjoy being around him again. Your patience in the clinic helped me find mine. I work with him a little every day and even though we are no where near mastering all 7 games life on the farm is much better. I want to tell you I thought the David L. Gaited clinic was great. It helped me a lot as we have one Icelandic that doesn't tolt, he trots, and then one mare that doesn't trot, she tolts or paces. So I got pointers for both. The gelding that needs to tolt has already changed. David, Great to meet you & see you in action. You were everything "you were cracked up to be" & so much more. I think that Samantha's comment really summed up my feelings about the workshop as well. It really connected the whole program. I sure hope that you can free up some time this fall. "I have had a lot of trainers, but I've never enjoyed the lessons as much asI am enjoying the lessons with you..." Kris Photos by Roger Wesley Imes |