So, I’m riding in my first western clinic this month. The only clinics I have attended have been english - I’ve recently returned to my roots in ranch riding after a decade-long foray into HJ. Any recs for western clinic attire? The clinic is in showmanship and equitation. What is typical? The info just said “traditional clinic attire” which means nothing to me in this case, since I usually would wear breeches, boots, and a tech shirt (lol). Help!
TIA!
Well fitting jeans that are long enough to drape a little over your boots.
Western boots.
Western hat (or your helmet if you’re up for it)
Well fitting (meaning snug) top. This could be a turtleneck and a fleece vest.
I would google for images of this clinician’s past clinics, just to get a better idea. Who is it with, if I may ask?
Have fun!
Showmanship and horsemanship?
Nothing too flashy. Stick with solid color boots with a low sturdy heel, like a roper or lacer. Nothing you would go dancing in. Long sleeve button down shirt, or depending on the weather a warm top with vest or neat, clean coat or jacket.
TMares gives good clothing advice for western Clinics I have attended. You are comfortable to do what will be asked of you, leading or riding your horse.
I had not been to a clinic for a while before auditing one a year ago. This was a big name, Western Clinician, high priced to attend. Have to say I was totally shocked by the attire, behaviour, of the riding attendees! Many looked dressed from Goodwill throwaways! No boots, shorts and beyond tattered, ripped (not fashion shredded), jeans and shirts. Few actually LISTENED to what he was saying or demonstrating with his horse.
There were some folks appropriately dressed, male and female, on their nice horses, endeavoring to follow Clinician’s example to attain the correct horse response.
Have to say I was pretty shocked at the poor atttire, disrespectful behaviour
I agree.
Clinic I attended last spring was about the same. Plus some of the attendees arguing with the clinician. If they knew so much why bother going?
Pretty much ruined me for clinics. Think I’ll stick to riding with my trainer.
I had never attended a clinic with riders who were not dressed in “casual western” of jeans and nice shirts. No short T-shirts or skin tight tanks, ripped jeans, SHOES. Perhaps with some luck that one clinic will be the only one of it’s kind I run into!
I would certainly give a good clinician a chance by attending, seeing what I could learn from them. I have been happy with my take-aways from past clinics, some of which had me scratching my head the first day! The attendees were a varied bunch, though all were respectful and willing to try things as directed by the clinician. The original clinician was neatly dressed, VERY CLEAR in his demonstrations of the steps to progress to “a better handling” horses. He just got a bunch of “yahoos” with money to buy his time as students. He was attentative to those actually trying, asking for help, made a helpful comment to anyone even vaguely trying the exercises. I learned “new ways to ask,” while watching his demonstrations, got some tips to add to my previous training experiences. I did not consider the auditing time, drive time (4 hours each way) to get there, a waste of my time. Certainly would not let the experience put me off attending other clinics! Those yahoos are not going to ruin my fun!!
I have always felt that clinics were helpful to me and my horse, getting both of us out our comfort zones. Horses benefitted with new methods, building on previous training. Teaching self-carriage for instance, is helpful to ride Western, English or for a Driving horse. One of the best, most useful clinics I ever attended! I just never know what great thing I will learn, have improved my horse, by attending. I don’t have a weekly Trainer for lessons, we do most ourselves to get our horses to the skill levels we enjoy using.
Aces N Eights, after giving yourself time to forget that bad clinic, try again. Don’t give up after one poor experience.
I always wear jeans long enough to cover and slightly stack on my boot. (When your riding your jeans will naturally ride up a bit and I don’t like the jeans half way up the leg look).
a belt.
Riding boots (for me that is Anderson beane boots with a square heel. If you wear spurs please make sure you aren’t wearing boots with a 3/4 heel that spurs manage to fall down and off your foot because there isn’t sufficient heel to steady your spur.
I typically always wear my hat properly shaped (felt or straw depending on season)
and finally just weather appropriate tops. This time of year that’s probably under armor, a sweater or fitting sweatshirt and a vest. Or forgo the vest and opt for a coat that lends to riding and moving around easily. I’m a big fan of the brand Free Country. Sams club sells them but they are available online. There are many nicely fitted style that are warm and comfortable.
as for my horse, he will be clean, tail tied up and appropriate leg wear for the job. Maybe not my show saddle but certainly a clean and in excellent working order work saddle. I typically go for a headstall with some rawhide on it, not a cheap plain leather headstall but not a $500 show one either. And whatever bridle I’m comfortable using when possibly trying new techniques on my horse. (Aka don’t over bit your horse.)
Maybe all this isn’t necessary but I feel it puts together a respectful picture and shows the clinician that you took the time to make yourself and your horse look presentable.
You may also want to ask the coordinator if the clinician wants horses warmed up and ready to ride. Even if they say it doesn’t matter either way, take the time to warm up your horse (you know if he or she needs 15 of trotting and loping before he goes to work. Don’t waste the clinicians time by spending a check of the clinic time riding the fresh off your horse. Show up warmed up and ready to go to work! )
I agree, I shouldn’t let one poor experience with other attendees lack of respect put me off. The trainer was great because besides helping he is also a judge which I think enhances the learning.
A team roping clinic but on by a multi year NFR qualifier I went to the year before was awesome.
Yes!!! 
Eh, around my neck of the woods, we don’t get very fancy.
Even went to my first “western pleasure, showmanship, horsemanship, etc” clinic last year, and I wore my normal jeans, boots, helmet, and warm vest over a warm underarmor shirt (it was a chilly day, although the clinic was indoors). Everyone else was dressed pretty casually, and the same. Granted, I didn’t RSVP in time to get into the whole clinic but I was able to get signed up for one of the private lessons they offered. The clinic folks were just fantastic, and I’m hoping to get signed up for the whole thing when they come back this spring.
Any other clinic I have been to, I’ve worn about the same thing – riding jeans with boots, and my helmet. And whatever shirt based on the weather and location (indoor / outdoor) that day. Been to barrel racing clinics, horsemanship clinics, reining clinics, etc.
The cutting clinics I’ve attended were fairly casual. Ball cap, jeans, belt and boots. Jeans def. stacked. Shirt appropriate to the weather. Everything clean and workmanlike. Horse groomed, tail tied up and booted or wrapped. Cutters don’t do bling, so no worries there.
Question from H/J-Event-Dressage-Driving Rider/Driver:
Why “tail tied up” 
Unless you are meaning tails that drag the ground otherwise?
Tails get braided and tied up to avoid having horses stepping on them while working or hauling.
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