Equine Clinics. Are You And Your Horse Getting Your Money’s Worth?

• June 20, 2014
• |
• Jessie Salter

Posted in: Horse Care, Horse Training

Continuing to educate yourself and learn is imperative in all parts of life including your horsemanship.  You can read books, watch videos, and observe, but nothing compares to the real hands-on experience of a clinic.  No matter what your horsemanship level is, we all fit in somewhere in a clinic setting.  So how do you make the best of it?

First and most importantly,  you need to open up and be honest with yourself.  Admit that there is always more to learn, and that your way isn’t always the best.  If you don’t go to a clinic with this frame of mind,  you are wasting your money.  You may go with the intent of fixing your horse, when really it’s YOU that needs to be fixed.  Are you prepared to handle that and do your best to improve yourself?

Learn by watching others.

Even the best of the best don’t know it all.  The true champs continue to learn throughout their entire career. They may attend a horsemanship clinic, or just visit with and observe their competition at a show or the practice pen. Picking up certain drills in the warm up pen, or discussing a sticky colt that finally had a break through are all ways of staying open to a higher level of horsemanship. We can all learn something from each other if we have an open mind.   When you can admit that to yourself, you are one step ahead in become a better horseman.

For those beginners looking to get into a certain sport or just improve their horsemanship skills, clinics are a great way to get started.  That clinician is there for the individuals.  Good clinicians will take their time making sure each person gets what they need.  Pay attention to everyone and their horses in the clinic when you can.  You’ll be surprised how much you can learn just by watching and listening to all the advise that’s given.  Ask questions, and if you don’t get it, keep asking.

Pay Attention and Be Engaged.

Most importantly, know that not everything works for everybody or on every horse.  Take it all in and keep it stored in your “tool box” .  You may take home one or two great ideas that you apply to every horse you get on. Then there may be a few things that you take out of that tool box only for certain situations.  The idea is to have it overflowing throughout your career with horses, and in life!

Be Willing To Try New Things.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
― Benjamin Franklin

Posted in: Horse Care, Horse Training

About Jessie Salter

Horses have been a part of my life since I can remember. Riding with my Dad as a youngster was what I lived for. There was nothing better than working cows, or racing my dad across an alfalfa field. It seems I never grew out...

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