CLINICS

How to host one – and how to get the most out of attending a clinic.

BY JENN WEBSTER

Hosting an equestrian clinic can be a rewarding experience, as the event brings a wealth of new information to keen participants. Organizing or participating in clinics, however, can be a lot of work. By the same token, they are an opportunity for riders, drivers, handlers, and officials to gain a new perspective in horsemanship.

Advertise Your Event In Good Time

– If you have valuable information to offer, or you are bringing in a popular trainer/judge from outside your region, it’s likely your clinic will fill up fast –provided you have properly marketed your clinic. With limited weekends available in the year, there are plenty of events vying for participants. Ensure you give ample notice of your event date, allowing folks to book the time required to attend!

ORGANIZE –Depending on the discipline, each clinician will have a preference for clinic format. Some like to have participants bring their horses out twice in a day, some like participants arranged as individuals or groups, and others have all participants in the arena at once. Ensure every participant is aware of their riding times well in advance of the actual clinic date. That way, they can plan their day if they don’t intend to stay and watch when not on a horse (although, auditing is a valuable learning opportunity as well!). instructions. Conversely, a clinician can quickly lose their voice if they constantly have to yell or project their voice long distances. Having an adequate sound system set-up will eliminate these clinic success busters.

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CLEAR

SOUND –

One of the most frustrating aspects for clinic participants or auditors is an environment where they cannot properly hear the clinician’s

LUNCH – If your facility is too remote for participants to travel for lunch, plan to offer a meal in the middle of the day. There are several ways to host a clinic meal, and it may include an elaborate spread of food that you put together, or it could be a potluck to which everyone contributes. Either way, give participants plenty of notice about lunch, especially if you will require some kind of contribution or payment from participants.