With more than 50 years of experience in horsemanship and an unending curiosity about life, riding, and the world at large, Craig Stevens is a unique presence in the field of classical equitation.

As director of the National School of Academic Equitation in Seattle, USA, Craig firmly believes that there are no ’throw-away’ horses or people and works with all levels of riders and horses of any breed and background. Over the years he has trained many horses through and beyond Grand Prix level in dressage and to advanced levels in eventing. Craig's students and the horses he's trained routinely place in regional and national championships both in Europe and in the Americas. Not surprisingly, he is in high demand as a clinician all over the world.

In his younger days, Craig performed touring exhibitions of High School dressage, including the airs above the ground and movements of fantasy equitation. He now specialises in showing riders of all levels how they can achieve confidence and brilliance in the saddle or on the ground while making the work genuinely fun for their horses too.

Craig's secret, though he would be the first to deny that anything he does involves secrets, is his ability to teach the physical tact and understanding of the old French masters to modern-day amateur and professional riders. The result is a way of riding and training horses which requires absolutely no muscular force in the aids, is almost unbelievably straightforward and yet highly effective in helping even the most "difficult" of horses become calmer, safer and a pleasure to ride.

Perhaps because Craig is not afraid to say exactly what he thinks, or perhaps because his preferred way of working and riding horses is rather different from modern mainstream views, he is not without some critics. On the other hand, Phillipe Karl, the respected trainer, author and former Ecuyer of the Cadre Noir said recently: “Modern competitive dressage has a major influence on equestrian teaching. Although many turn away from it, there are very few with enough equestrian culture, passion and courage to swim against the tide and propose alternatives that are worthy of interest. Craig Stevens is one such person.”