What do you expect to get out of riding in a clinic?

[Texarkana]

I go to clinics to learn from a set of fresh eyes and to maybe hear something in a way I haven’t heard it before.

Something that frustrates me about clinics is not having a rapport with the instructor.

I hate paying $$$ for someone to repeat something I already know in the same manner I’ve heard it my whole life. You know, like “more leg!” I’m trying to apply more leg but if it was that simple we wouldn’t be having issues!

Also, I’m 5’3” and built like a weeble. Every clinician spends the first half the clinic trying to make my body into something it’s not. My arms and legs will not magically grow longer no matter how many times you tell me to reach or try to reposition them. And believe it or not, I’m well aware of my body’s shortcomings- every clinician acts like they are the first person to tell me I need more length of arm or leg. It’s irritating because riders built like, you know, riders don’t have to go through this. The clinician just has them start riding.

So anyway, I don’t go to clinics all that much because of all this.

[Fiesta01]

@Foxglove

In the three day clinic I learned exactly nothing. However, the clinician subsequently had me send videos to him of performances, and then has given very, very helpful suggestions after viewing each one.

At least they realized that they had given you short shrift and decided to make it up to you.

One year, I was auditing at the Festival of Champions at Gladstone. One of our Olympic medalists (dressage, not going to say who except in a PM) was teaching a range of levels throughout the day. He was giving very effective help to the PSG and above riders. One poor 3rd level rider, who, let’s face it, was paying the same amount as the FEI riders, got pretty much nothing out of her session.

She was a very competent rider on a nice, big-moving WB. Clinician proceeded to watch her go around in circles, occasionally asking her to change directions, all the time chatting with audience members. About every 10 minutes, he would offer some minor correction to the rider.

I don’t know how the rider felt, but I as a spectator was pretty much turned off forever from this clinician. If he felt teaching a 3rd level was beneath him, he shouldn’t have agreed to doing it.

On the other extreme was Michael Poulin. What a warm, caring clinician for riders of all levels. I couldn’t have been more impressed. Even as an auditor, I learned so much to take home for my own horse.

[Knubbsy]

@Texarkana

Also, I’m 5’3” and built like a weeble. Every clinician spends the first half the clinic trying to make my body into something it’s not. My arms and legs will not magically grow longer no matter how many times you tell me to reach or try to reposition them. And believe it or not, I’m well aware of my body’s shortcomings- every clinician acts like they are the first person to tell me I need more length of arm or leg. It’s irritating because riders built like, you know, riders don’t have to go through this. The clinician just has them start riding.

Had a lesson with a clinic/visiting trainer and he said I could hit him* for remarking that I have short legs and my fuller thigh got in the way of my whip, which … okay? My legs haven’t gotten longer in the last two decades and have only gotten wider; I recognize my shorter, wider limbs aren’t as functional as long, lean limbs. Once we got past the fact that I have decent body awareness for a hobbit, we did well together. I get that as athletes, body mechanics need to be addressed but if it’s not actively causing a problem or if the rider isn’t saying it’s a problem, move on (I have gotten better about being open with clinicians about my own body quirks and how they affect my riding, generally sets us up better.)

*didn’t hit him, told “yeah, I know” and we moved on to try a different grip on the whip to compensate.

[RedHorses]

Dressage clinics are often 1:1 sessions with the clinician. They’re still clinics.

I think a single session is a real hit or miss lottery. Even two consecutive days over a weekend gives a better chance of getting some good information. Going to clinics with the same clinician regularly is even better.

I worked with the same clinician for years. They were based in Europe and came over 3-4 times a year. Usually for a week, sometimes just for a 3-4 day weekend. I always took as many sessions as I could afford. It was great for my riding and my horses. We did develop a rapport to the point I would do something just as they started to tell me to do that.

[Fiesta01]

@J-Lu

I’ve loved having someone show me that “yeah, your horse actually can do this comfortably”.

Totally agree. There’s nothing like getting on your horse after your preferred clinician gets off. I’ve had a couple of epiphanies about what my one mare was capable of and how wonderful it felt.

[Obsidian_Fire]

@Knubbsy

Had a lesson with a clinic/visiting trainer and he said I could hit him* for remarking that I have short legs and my fuller thigh got in the way of my whip, which … okay? My legs haven’t gotten longer in the last two decades and have only gotten wider; I recognize my shorter, wider limbs aren’t as functional as long, lean limbs. Once we got past the fact that I have decent body awareness for a hobbit, we did well together.

This made me chuckle but it’s really not funny. I too am short with fuller thighs. I’ve had a couple clinics where these “detriments” were made out to be “you are a worthless rider”. In neither case did clinician offer to get on my horse to see if it was really me - it was not, same horse both times, a very difficult mare. And telling the audience in very carefully phrased words that it was my “lack of fitness” causing the issue (it was not) was just over the top.
I have a clinician I ride with regularly right now. 90% of his lessons are given at the walk. It doesn’t fit everyone, but if you can’t even do walk work what happens when you trot or canter? So he and I have had many discussions and bottom line he wants the horse to be balanced first and foremost. Also, I have seen him give the same courtesy and attention to people just learning to ride as to those who are doing UL work. That’s the kind of person you want to ride with.

[findeight]

Always best to spend a smaller amount to audit any clinician before forking over the big bucks to find out they either don’t communicate clearly, don’t work with the reality of horses and riders in front of them or are asshats. Bigger the name, more likely all of the above and bigger chance of coming out scared and frustrated.

Lesser known clinicians vary from amazing to clueless. Audit first. You can always get up to a months worth of lessons from a local trainer for the cost of a clinic.

[MsM]

I like to audit dressage clinics. Technology has been an aid as I have seen videos of many clinicians and have some idea of those I would not work with.

I have often been without regular instruction. In the summer I can get one of two instructors I have worked with once or twice a month. They flee to Florida in the winter!

I have gone to a couple of clinics with my old horse. Mixed results. One person (now an S judge) didnt offer much useful and cut my lesson short to ride another client’s horse. Upon watching more, it became apparent that she didn’t put much effort into teaching non-WBs.

I agree that I would go to a clinic to get new insight and perhaps hear things in a different way. And right now, I would go to get my horse off-property. I have learned to check credentials and see who this person has worked with. Both of my current instructors have worked with many of the same people and so have similar philosophies and methods. I would not deviate too far from that basis for a clinician. Eventually I might branch out to someone with a different background, but I would definitely audit first.

I am actually considering going to a clinic about 30 minutes away at the end of March. Not too expensive and the clinician has a good background. We will see… I have ridden intermittently this winter and haven’t had a lesson since December. Horse will need reminders about trailer loading and I have to pay for trailering. And of course, I don’t know how he is off property. Could be interesting…

[sascha]

What do I expect? Same thing as from a really good math class - help to lead me towards figuring out how to solve problems. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Willesdon]

@Texarkana

…
Also, I’m 5’3” and built like a weeble. Every clinician spends the first half the clinic trying to make my body into something it’s not. My arms and legs will not magically grow longer no matter how many times you tell me to reach or try to reposition them. And believe it or not, I’m well aware of my body’s shortcomings- every clinician acts like they are the first person to tell me I need more length of arm or leg. It’s irritating because riders built like, you know, riders don’t have to go through this. The clinician just has them start riding.

A good teacher (which not every clinician is) teaches you techniques and gives you the tools to solve problems to deal with your own particular problems. The overwhelming majority of riders are not the ideal shape, ideal weight, ideal level of fitness and no one is the same as anyone else. Similarly, no perfect horse exists. The horse and rider adapt to each other, that is precisely the skill of riding. Consider the skill of para-dressage riders. A good clinician should be able to help every rider, regardless of level, and send them home feeling empowered to do better.

[Texarkana]

@Willesdon

@Texarkana

…
Also, I’m 5’3” and built like a weeble. Every clinician spends the first half the clinic trying to make my body into something it’s not. My arms and legs will not magically grow longer no matter how many times you tell me to reach or try to reposition them. And believe it or not, I’m well aware of my body’s shortcomings- every clinician acts like they are the first person to tell me I need more length of arm or leg. It’s irritating because riders built like, you know, riders don’t have to go through this. The clinician just has them start riding.

A good teacher (which not every clinician is) teaches you techniques and gives you the tools to solve problems to deal with your own particular problems. The overwhelming majority of riders are not the ideal shape, ideal weight, ideal level of fitness and no one is the same as anyone else. Similarly, no perfect horse exists. The horse and rider adapt to each other, that is precisely the skill of riding. Consider the skill of para-dressage riders. A good clinician should be able to help every rider, regardless of level, and send them home feeling empowered to do better.

Exactly. A good instructor shouldn’t just be nagging you about biomechanics you can’t change. A good instructor should be able to see the whole picture and suggest improvements based on the body type of the person.

Unfortunately, most of them just go for the low hanging fruit.

I don’t say this without humility. There are 101 things about my position that need serious help. But the only ones a lot of clinicians dwell on are the obvious ones that I can’t change, like the length of my legs and arms as compared to my torso. Harping on that in a non-constructive manner isn’t helpful.

Some of my best, most helpfu lessons and clinics have been with fellow short riders who can say, “I have this problem too and here are some ways to deal with it.”

[Spudsmyguy]

I have found the opposite to what was said about the clinician paying more attention to beginner / less experienced riders. Most of the ones I’ve been to the clinician has the lower riders do some circles or jump some small logs for a few minutes, throws out a few comments, then concentrates on the upper riders jumping the big stuff for the remainder.

[eightpondfarm]

@beowulf

I enter clinics at or below the level I’m showing depending on the horse.

Why?

[beowulf]

That is the general industry ‘rule’ - you should be schooling at home at least one level above what you are showing, and the same goes for clinics.

It is considered a clinical faux pas to enter a clinic unprepared to ride the level. Most clinics are broken into levels with all riders being grouped to their prospective level. E.G all BN eventers ride in a group, and so on so forth. It’s considered rude to both the clinician and the riders in your group to be taking time away from the clinic for the clinician to set aside extra “smaller” exercises for you because you are unprepared. It is also not uncommon for the clinician to push riders a bit outside of their comfort zone, meaning you may be asked to ride things out of your level within reason. I entered a Peter Grey clinic at BN over the summer and we were schooling Training level questions.

Other times, I might take a step back - especially if we are encountering any confidence issues at shows - and the clinic is a good way to get new tools for my toolbox.

[eightpondfarm]

so, (just an example for clarification) you’re showing at Third Level. Showing at 3rd. And you enter the clinic at Second Level?

so as not to be disruptive or to take up undue focus upon yourself and your horse?

[atr]

She’s talking about jumping, not dressage. Dressage clinics are nearly always individual lessons and you and the clinician work out what you can do and what you will be working on.

[eightpondfarm]

oo000Oo. sorry.

[atr]

Actually, there is an exception to that… if you are riding in a symposium-type clinic where you are being more of a demo rider and the purpose of the clinic is to educate the auditors, then you would probably be riding at a level below what you are currently competing at.

[sportyspicepony]

Also typically if you’re showing at 3rd level you’re schooling 4th level at home (if you follow this protocol which I think everyone should).

The best clinic experiences I’ve had were with a clinician who really knew the horse I was riding bc he was my trainer’s experienced prelim horse that she had ridden with this clinician regularly since he was a baby.

Other than that, for me it’s mostly been an opportunity to get out and do something, I’m not a big fan of competing so I do sometimes tend to treat clinics like they’re my time to show off, and the learning is just a fortunate coincidence that also happens lol.

I will never forget a dressage clinic I rode in where the trainer is somewhat notorious for being a little bit mean…. She screamed at me at one point “STICK YOUR LITTLE TITS OUT!!!” Lmao I didn’t really enjoy the experience but I do still hear her voice in my head sometimes when I’m hunching my shoulders!

[eightpondfarm]

@sportyspicepony

Also typically if you’re showing at 3rd level you’re schooling 4th level at home (if you follow this protocol which I think everyone should).

yes. i understand. Thing of it is…she was showing at a higher level than schooling (clinic-ing). So the opposite of what you are saying and what is indeed conventional wisdom. Hence, my question.

@sportyspicepony

I will never forget a dressage clinic I rode in where the trainer is somewhat notorious for being a little bit mean…. She screamed at me at one point “STICK YOUR LITTLE TITS OUT!!!”

LOL…well, THAT would stick with you!! funny.