ABOUT JP’s CAREER & EQUESTRIAN KNOWLEDGE:
Francisco Cancella D’Abreu, International dressage trainer & competitor, editor-in-chief “Equitacao Magazine”, Founding Rider of both the Real Escuela Andaluza D’Arte Equestre (Spain) and the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, Chef d’Equipe of the Portuguese Dressage Team, FEI International Judge Candidate. He said: “I have known J.P. Giacomini since the beginning of his distinguished professional career. I have been an interested witness all along to his successes in all the disciplines he practiced. I strongly feel that his vast equestrian culture, hard work, versatility and imagination have contributed to the enrichment of the world’s horsemanship”.
Alexandra Dees, Doctor of Chiropractics, breeder of Sport Arabians, Warmbloods and Lusitanos, Registrar of the Int. Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Assoc.: “JP is a rare find: A horseman capable of thinking outside the boundaries of the current equestrian platitudes, yet is still committed to the true spirit of the classical riding of the masters. JP blends the best of the French and Portuguese styles with his own unique methods based on a thorough knowledge of sport horse management. As a chiropractic physician, I deeply appreciate JP’s dedication to the well being of the horse, both mental and physical. I have never before worked with a trainer that has such ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the horses and riders he teaches. Every aspect of JP’s method that I have seen is firmly based on the in-depth knowledge of the structure and biomechanical function of both the horse and rider. I can testify to the fact that my horses, after an hour of intense work in collection will exhibit no pain upon palpation of the para-spinal musculature. In fact, none of JP’s horses that I have worked on, have ever shown the characteristic pain and tension patterns unfortunately prevalent nowadays with dressage horses. This is the most fundamental demonstration of the correctness of JP’s method and philosophy.”
Jacqueline Vine, Level 2 PNH rider from Australia said: "At Equitana, I was impressed by JP's credentials, brain, vision and how the test horses used in the demos reacted positively to his technique. I just finished reading JP’s book on the Relax Reflex Reward System. It is a brilliantly concise, yet thorough, overview and understanding of horsemanship through our time, for our time...Watching JP teach is like watching Pat Parelli, Sally Swift, Willi Shulteis and Nuno Oliveira rolled into one!! He is a brilliant instructor and horseman.
Mary Jane Hall, a classical dressage enthusiast who owns Lipizzaners and Andalusians (Santa Rosa, CA) wrote: “JP is truly a master and I believe we are lucky to have someone of this caliber here in the ‘States’. We need to hang on to him... I think his method needs to be kept as a national treasure and everyone should see and learn it, not just classical riders and trainers, but ALL disciplines of riding and driving.”
Christine Adderson, a Level 4 Parelli Instructor, visited J.P. for a week from Canada and wrote: “From being in the company of JP and observing him with his stallions, I feel that he is simply a genius! I witnessed him using innovative methods in the training of specific actions while still respecting the principles of training in their simplest form. As well as his creative mind, his strong analytical skills served to isolate the issue that needed attention, find the answer, and then recombine it back into a whole.”
ABOUT ‘JP’s ESSENTIAL HORSEMANSHIP™’ AND ‘ENDO-TAPPING™’ :
Allen Pogue, horse trainer extraordinaire, equestrian educator and entertainer, specialist of liberty horses and foal education, said: “The Endo-tapping procedure is so revolutionary, so all encompassing, so simple and works so well, every time, be it with severe rehabilitation cases, newborn babies or older performers needing to improve. It is the most significant progress in horse training since Man broke off twigs from trees to make horses go forward”.
Anne Buchanan, Field Director for the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) emailed after her first lesson with JP on her rescued Thoroughbred racehorse: Obviously, a mere thank you, and some exchange of currency, can't begin to express the appreciation I feel for what you did for my horse and what I LEARNED from you! I have so often heard people talk about what a front or hind leg should be doing, but didn't have the slightest clue of what to look for. Tonight, everything you did with Cappy was transparent and understandable. I really, really appreciate that. Taking the mystery out of things I long to learn is so, SO gratifying. Thank you.
An e-mail from Cindy Meens, a horse breeder for 30 years: “I have a colt that was a total ‘nut case’, preferring to launch himself against the walls of a stall rather than be touched. I tried everything I knew to do: let him run with nice foals, isolated him, nothing was working... After only 3 days of tapping sessions, I am absolutely amazed at the change in my colt! I now have a ‘puppy dog’ where there used to be a suicidal maniac. He is now out with the other foals and comes running to greet me. I can halter him, lead him, tie him, pick up his feet, introduce him to other people without a blow up. I can even lead him around with just a hand under his chin. In fact, he's the sweetest, friendliest foal on the place. I am in awe and I can't thank you enough for this. This Endo-tapping is the most incredible aide I've ever seen. Every horse on the place gets it now! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!!!
Mary Jane Hall (Santa Rosa, CA) wrote: ...The Endo-aids are the most amazingly effective tool I have ever seen. Absolutely every horse, every breed, every age, every discipline of horse in the clinic welcomed it eagerly... Every solution to every problem became simple even for a novice to do. What I saw JP accomplish in 3 days with a beginner rider and her 30 year old Appaloosa was incredible.
Jacqueline Vine, Level 2 PNH rider, saw JP at Equitana in Melbourne, Australia: During a clinic I Participated in, the horses responded 100%, every time and stayed relaxed up to 40 minutes after their lesson. They all showed lengthened strides in all their gaits, rounded top lines and were chewing and licking. The Endo-Stick is a great tool, very effective, well designed and it created no negative response or fear. The clinic was outstanding.
ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF HIS WORK TO VARIOUS BREEDS
AND DISCIPLINES:
John Whittaker, one of the World’s leading Showjumpers since 1975, said: “Novilheiro’s [JP’s famous Lusitano stallion] outstanding dressage training with J.P. gave him an instant start and a very quick rise to the international level of Show Jumping”.
Carol-Lynn Mc Ardle, longlisted for the US 3 Day Eventing Team for The Olympic Games of 88 and 92 and the WEG of 90, Grand Prix Dressage rider, wrote about a recent clinic with JP (Dec 2002) she attended in Seattle WA: JP gave a clinic in Seattle (December 4 - 8, 2002) and it was an overwhelming success. Not only did all the riders and their horses reach new heights in communication and understanding, but unlike so many clinics where the clinician goes home and leaves everyone to struggle with what was changed, JP left us all with such concrete tools and philosophy that we cannot wait to have him back. My horse is working at Prix St. Georges, and JP produced movement in him that was far beyond what I imagined him capable of. Most importantly, it has stayed and I can now produce it myself. Now Grand Prix feels much closer! . . A few days after JP left, one of my students was preparing her horse to work. He was spooked by a dog and, within seconds became uncontrollable and quite dangerous. She picked up one of JP's long Endoswhips and started tapping him wherever she could reach in his frenzied spinning. Within a few minutes he had stopped spinning and relaxed, not just to a workable state but completely! He snorted, chewed, lowered his neck and completely "let go"! He became ready and willing to work, when a few moments before he was completely "out of control". This student (a beginner) had been helped by JP once during the clinic and had been concerned that she could not continue to produce the same results once JP was gone. Now she knew she was in control and her progress has been staggering in just one week. Two other students of mine who also participated in the clinic can't stop talking about their horses movement and progress since JP's help. They are also teachers and have been so excited to share JP's philosophy with their own students. Why has it taken us so long to get his help? Well now that we have he will have a difficult time getting rid of us.
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Mr. Larry Mahan, 5 Time World Champion All Around Cowboy & Cutting Competitor, after a clinic with JP said: “...I was pleased with the results I achieved with my cutting horses after the clinic...EVERYONE can benefit from J.P.’s training methods.”
Peter Pletcher, World Champion Hunter Rider & Chronicle of the horse Horseman of the Year, said in his editorial column: “...By the way, JP, thank you for resolving the flying lead change problem on that really tricky horse my client sent you. He is much easier to ride in the ring now and I finally can take him to the shows and be competitive. He actually was champion the last time out, which is a huge improvement. I will let you know if I have another one who needs your “fixing” magic”.
Lily Simic-Vramic, Professional French Show-Jumper and Instructor, wrote in her letter to JP after a clinic: ... “Along with Dick Stillwell [British show jumping Team coach and BSJA senior coach]) you are the only rider who rides as he teaches: with complete simplicity in both basics and advanced movements. I have watched you for 3 days, working with a range of horses that included a draught horse, an Iberian, a Standardbred, a Selle Francais and a Thoroughbred and I noticed that you worked always in the same method, yet differently in each approach, zeroing in on the horse and rider’s primary problem so instantaneously that we all got the impression you had always known them. I presented you with 3 horses that had nothing in common: a big Selle Francais gelding, a very hot, small Thoroughbred mare, and a ‘laid back’ five-year-old stallion. You did find, instantly with each of them, the detail that was nagging me and prevented me from progressing in their training. Your explanations, (contrary to many I have listened to before), were clear and simple. Allied with your cordiality, this made the clinic very enjoyable for me...”
Mary Hanna, Olympic Dressage rider, brought Limbo, Londoner and Rituel to a clinic at her Melbourne stable. Kyra Kyrklund and her Australian student Mary Hanna became interested in the 3R's at Equitana 99 and Mary held a private clinic at her place: "I learned a lot about long lining and found the Endo-Stick a very interesting idea: it helps relaxation and stretching down...The horses in the lessons responded, learned and became more relaxed and responsive." Following the 5 day clinic, the Stallion Rituel scored 77% to win the Australian Young Horse Championship, judged by Michael Klimke.
Allie Untiedt, Morgan owner, driving competitor, said: Since then [3 day clinic] I have won all my Morgan Show Driving classes, as well as the first open driving class I’ve competed in. That’s results!! I can say without any reservations, any horse and rider will benefit from working with JP and his clinics are WELL WORTH the money and time invested.
Priscilla Hobback, Artist, Arabian breeder, “TTeam” practitioner: “...When you started this schooling, your understanding of Arabians, their strengths and weaknesses have allowed more development than I thought possible. I would love to see more Arabian horses developed athletically and mentally by your methods. They become so catlike and light - I feel you bring out all the horse has in him - to a level that I can ride and perform - not just watch.
ABOUT HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE BAROQUE (IBERIAN) BREEDS:
Mr. Arsenio Cordeiro, Multiple Champion Lusitano breeder, author of “Lusitano, Son of the Wind”, past President of the Portuguese Breeders Association and the Lusitano Stud-Book, International Judge:
“Jean Philippe Giacomini is one of the world’s great enthusiasts of the Lusitano horse and of Baroque Horsemanship.... Portugal is in his debt for the discovery of Novilheiro...thanks to him this stallion became the most famous Lusitano horse in the world of equestrian sport.”
Col. Juan Llamas, retired official of the Spanish Cria Caballar (National Horse Breeding Services), artist, International Judge & Celebrated Author of Seminal Books on the Spanish Horse, referred to JP Giacomini as: “The world renown ecuyer whose talent for creating collection guides his High School horses to achieve the uppermost limits of classical sophistication”.
Don Angel Peralta, world famous rejoneador (mounted bullfighter), president of the Cartujano’s Breeders Association, after a training demonstration by JP at his breeding farm in Sevilla, dedicated one of his books with these words: “To Jean Philippe, with my admiration for the understanding and compassion he demonstrates in his training of horses and with the love that we both share for them.”
Robert Duvall, Oscar Winning Actor, “Gus” from “Lonesome Dove” (based on the Pulitzer winning novel by Larry Mc Murtry): ...“Thanks for all your help. Because of your introductions, we had a tremendous time in Spain. What great contacts you have to a world we never knew existed! Cowboys doing classical dressage, what a combo!”
Barbara Driscoll, Ph.D., Iberian horse enthusiast, from LA. After attending a seminar, she wrote to the Editor of “Andalusian”: “...As an introduction to classical dressage training methods and as a terrific commercial for the Iberian horse, the seminar was overwhelmingly educational and thought provoking, well organized and presented just right. There was a wonderful flow of ideas and each session built very well upon the previous session. One felt as if one was figuring things out for oneself, rather than being rather skillfully taught.”
Patty Jacobs, breeder of Champion Andalusians, wrote this after auditing a seminar: “...What we read in books of Portuguese & Spanish horses was clarified before us: docility counter-balanced with brilliance, domination laced with trust, suppleness, rhythm, balance... Dancing horses, beauty in motion, an unforgettable experience.”
