I was first approached in August by Craig Johnson at the Tulsa Reining Spectacular about the possibility of attending a special clinic that would be taught by a dressage master whom I had never heard of, (which shouldn’t be a shock since I could not name any other person in the world associated with dressage), and would be attended by four western and four dressage riders.  Craig explained that it was going to be held at Stargate, a super nice dressage place not too far from where I live and that Pat and Linda Parelli, whom I had the honor of meeting the previous year, would be there.  He said that a lot of high roller types that are into dressage would be there and there may be some future business possibilities there if they got inspired about reining, and it should be a lot of fun.  And, oh yeah, I may just learn something that could help me with my reining training.  Well, I’m easy, so I said sure.  I should also say that in Craig’s sales pitch to me, he said that he had already invited Pete Kyle and Tim McQuay before me, but they couldn’t be there because of other commitments, so would I like to come?  Luckily my ego “has a pretty tough skin” by now.