A number of years ago when someone said they were attending a “ Clinic”
it usually meant they took their horse to a trainer for an intense one or two days of training and education in a particular discipline- whether it be dressage or reining. Today, however, things seemed to have changed greatly. Now people attend clinics by sitting in bleachers watching the person giving the clinic work with a horse in the arena. Todays “clinics” have turned into entertainment for the masses.
I see all the photographs of horses jumping over chairs and barrels and through hoops. I have seen videos of these clinicians standing on a horse’s back cracking a bull whip. This brings to mind the historical posters of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show or the great entertainment at the rodeo. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for those trick riders, stunt riders and entertainers, but they don’t bill themselves as horse trainers. Of course they have worked hard and trained their horses to perform, but being able to stand on a horse’s back and crack a bull whip is certainly not a requirement for a good trail, endurance, pleasure,
driving, hunter jumper, dressage etc. rider or horse.
Personally I can not think of a time when I wished my horses were trained to allow me to stand on their backs and crack a whip or swing a rope, unless I wanted to be a trick rider. I have no need to have my horse jump over a chair or any other non-traditional item, again unless I want to start a new career as a trick rider or my horse wanted to audition for the circus, rodeo or films.
At these “clinics”, as they are referred to, a horse has been pre-selected for the demonstration. The horse has met certain requirements for height and age. According to some “clinician’s” websites you will be notified if your horse is accepted as the “ demo horse” after you have submitted your information. Somehow I don’t feel that’s quite right.
I think what actually bothers me the most is that some people who attend come away feeling inadequate - as if they just aren’t bright enough to get it. Some, who do take their horse, also come away feeling as though it was their fault that they couldn’t make the horse do what the trainer had done. A good trainer/instructor should educate, train and work with both horse and rider, so they come away from the clinic with some knowledge. The instructor shouldn’t make the rider feel as though he/she is incapable of understanding what they are teaching and, therefore, it’s the rider’s fault. If you speak to someone who has taken , say, a dressage clinic they will tell you “ Oh I really learned a lot and I’d take the clinic again, because the trainer is so good,” they won’t say “well I’m just too nervous or I don’t have the intelligence to understand what she was teaching me”.
I know I have been on this soapbox in the past, but I feel it’s an issue worth addressing again. Over the past 17 or 18 years we have seen more and more of these people giving “clinics” across the country. In that time we have also seen an increase in horses with problems and more fearful riders - think about it!
I will state again there are people like Monty Roberts and Linda Tellington Jones, to name a few, that I respect. I also respect many people who give traditional clinics who help horses and people.
I just believe if you want to see trick riding you can attend a rodeo or circus and enjoy the show. If you want to further your education or seek the help of professional then it’s not about entertainment - that’s bad for everyone, most importantly the horse.
I see all the photographs of horses jumping over chairs and barrels and through hoops. I have seen videos of these clinicians standing on a horse’s back cracking a bull whip. This brings to mind the historical posters of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show or the great entertainment at the rodeo. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for those trick riders, stunt riders and entertainers, but they don’t bill themselves as horse trainers. Of course they have worked hard and trained their horses to perform, but being able to stand on a horse’s back and crack a bull whip is certainly not a requirement for a good trail, endurance, pleasure,
driving, hunter jumper, dressage etc. rider or horse.
Personally I can not think of a time when I wished my horses were trained to allow me to stand on their backs and crack a whip or swing a rope, unless I wanted to be a trick rider. I have no need to have my horse jump over a chair or any other non-traditional item, again unless I want to start a new career as a trick rider or my horse wanted to audition for the circus, rodeo or films.
At these “clinics”, as they are referred to, a horse has been pre-selected for the demonstration. The horse has met certain requirements for height and age. According to some “clinician’s” websites you will be notified if your horse is accepted as the “ demo horse” after you have submitted your information. Somehow I don’t feel that’s quite right.
I think what actually bothers me the most is that some people who attend come away feeling inadequate - as if they just aren’t bright enough to get it. Some, who do take their horse, also come away feeling as though it was their fault that they couldn’t make the horse do what the trainer had done. A good trainer/instructor should educate, train and work with both horse and rider, so they come away from the clinic with some knowledge. The instructor shouldn’t make the rider feel as though he/she is incapable of understanding what they are teaching and, therefore, it’s the rider’s fault. If you speak to someone who has taken , say, a dressage clinic they will tell you “ Oh I really learned a lot and I’d take the clinic again, because the trainer is so good,” they won’t say “well I’m just too nervous or I don’t have the intelligence to understand what she was teaching me”.
I know I have been on this soapbox in the past, but I feel it’s an issue worth addressing again. Over the past 17 or 18 years we have seen more and more of these people giving “clinics” across the country. In that time we have also seen an increase in horses with problems and more fearful riders - think about it!
I will state again there are people like Monty Roberts and Linda Tellington Jones, to name a few, that I respect. I also respect many people who give traditional clinics who help horses and people.
I just believe if you want to see trick riding you can attend a rodeo or circus and enjoy the show. If you want to further your education or seek the help of professional then it’s not about entertainment - that’s bad for everyone, most importantly the horse.
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