Woodys Mama - 2017-01-04 3:05 PM I have been to Joseys and agree with you. I bought Denas dvd set and I would totally go to one of her clinics. I *think* she puts a max number of students so she can work individually, I called her a few years ago to get a clinic together and never had enough intrest where I live.

EmtRoper - 2017-01-04 4:36 PM

I have audited her entire clinic, she is VERY knowledgeable on the bloodlines of a horse and she bases your drill work off of that. If you have a grade horse or a off-bred type with not familiar bloodlines she will give you the brush off because she wont know how to work that horse because she doesn't know their bloodlines. She will help you but she does not go as in depth as she does with the other clinic participants. Overall it seemed that the people in the clinic enjoyed her and they learned a lot. The people in our area are almost 50/50 on the clinics half of them cannot wait to attend another and the other half will never attend again.

Wild1 - 2017-01-05 7:32 AM


Funny you brought this up, I was told the exact same thing!!! And the horse I was debating on taking isn't the fashion lines right now, so I'm unsure too, she's coming to WI in April and I need to make my mind up like soon, uggg

Wild1 - 2017-01-05 7:32 AM Funny you brought this up, I was told the exact same thing!!! And the horse I was debating on taking isn't the fashion lines right now, so I'm unsure too, she's coming to WI in April and I need to make my mind up like soon, uggg

merdth6 - 2017-01-05 9:36 AM


This is the clinic that I'm referring to.  I have a mare that is not brand name bloodlines, she's foundation bred.  I'm having problems with my 2nd barrel and looking for help to correct this.  I hope that she doesn't just pick the horses with the big breeding and help them.  I will be very disappointed. I also know that the problems with my 2nd barrel are my problems, not my horse.  My mare is 7 and not completely finished. I do have a gelding that is finished, but I feel I might get more out of he clinic on my younger mare. Not everyone can afford big named horses and breeding.  I did all the breaking and training myself and I really think my mare is a nice horse.  Last year was my first year asking for speed and we ended up making the short go in my NBHA IL state show and she placed 3rd in the 3D against tough competition. I really hope I'm not dissappointed.  

k.maddocks24 - 2017-01-05 10:15 AM I've never been to one of Dena's clinics, so I can't speak to what's included at hers. I will say if you feel the issues are arising more from your riding, I think you'd benefit tremendously from a Jane Melby clinic. Jane does a great job helping correct training/horse issues as well, but I was really impressed at how much she helped me as a jockey. Night and day difference. She doesn't get stuck on bloodlines - my gelding is grade and I felt like I got the same attention as anyone else there. I've audited one of her clinics and ridden at one. Both times there were people with 2 horses there, and they were able to work with both horses throughout the clinic. There was a good range of experience levels in both riders and horses, so I picked up a lot of knowledge for future reference as well. She usually brings some horses for sale with her. My gelding hit a point one day where he just couldn't handle any more mentally. She let me ride one of her horses for a bit to keep working on my own skills and practicing that muscle memory. I was really impressed with both clinics, and the only reason I didn't go back last spring is because my bridal shower was the same weekend as the closest one!

dream_chaser - 2017-01-07 12:15 PM

 I found Dena to be great and treated everyone the exact same regardless of their horses pedigree, I didn't have a "well bred" horse or a lot of knowledge.

Dena is blunt and I respect that, I had no knowledge of her method prior to going and I found it a simple idea to catch onto. I followed what she told me to do following the clinic and my first jackpot back I won it...and I had not even been CLOSE to winning jackpots prior.

 

I'mlost - 2017-01-07 9:07 PM

Go and tell her your horse is "brand name" pedigree. Lol like when I was younger my mom would sew brand name labels on my cheap goodwill jeans.

Runninonthebuck - 2017-01-08 9:49 AM

I have been to two and will be attending a 3rd all at the Wisconsin facility that she is returning to this spring. I have taken two different horses, neither one had Dash Ta Fame breeding. I got just as much attention as everyone else. I am one to attend clinics with an open mind and I watch everyone else go. There is something to be learned watching every single horse go. What I like is that she doesn't cookie cut them. She tries to work with that horses style.
After the first clinic I e-mailed her with questions and she sent me her personal number, Dena talked to me on the phone for an hour trouble shooting with me. That horse was cow bred top and bottom.

Runninonthebuck - 2017-01-08 9:49 AM I have been to two and will be attending a 3rd all at the Wisconsin facility that she is returning to this spring. I have taken two different horses, neither one had Dash Ta Fame breeding. I got just as much attention as everyone else. I am one to attend clinics with an open mind and I watch everyone else go. There is something to be learned watching every single horse go. What I like is that she doesn't cookie cut them. She tries to work with that horses style. After the first clinic I e-mailed her with questions and she sent me her personal number, Dena talked to me on the phone for an hour trouble shooting with me. That horse was cow bred top and bottom.

Runnincat - 2017-01-10 1:19 PM

My first Dena clinic was on a horse that was all cowbred.  I loved her clinic.  She was so helpful to me and I felt I had the same amount of attention as every one else.  I like her method and her teaching style.  Her clinics are setup so she works with one rider at a time.    She has helped me with other horses and none of them were designer pedigrees.  She has alot of knowledge as she has trained and ran alot of horses that outright took first.  

When it comes to the clinic business, you are always going to get 1 to 3 riders that say they love the clinic, then there is a "middle" group that liked it and had fun and learned what they wanted, then there typically are 1 or 2 that say they hated it and learned nothing.  This has been the case at every clinic I ever attended or hosted and it doesnt matter who the clinician is.

My advice would be to go and check it out for yourself.  Draw your own conclusions.  Personally I take opinions with a grain of salt.  Everyone has a perspective that they draw from and it might not be yours.