How to Ride in a Clinic for the First Time

I've been a little quiet here lately... with good reason, though! We hosted a clinic with a guest instructor at my farm last weekend. What a fun experience for all of our riders and auditors!

We had quite a mix of horses and riders participating in this clinic. Some were pretty advanced, had ridden at the upper levels, and had ridden in clinics like this before. And for some this was their very first time! Their very first time riding in a clinic with a guest instructor. Their first time trailering their horse off the property to ride in a higher pressure situation. Their first time staying away from "home." Lots of firsts!

Doing something for the first time can be so scary! Many of the people auditing the clinic said they wished they could ride in an event like this but they didn't feel confident in themselves or their horses... or BOTH!

Can I tell you a trade secret? Confidence comes from experience. Yes, you can CREATE confidence! (More on that HERE!) But in order to do that, you have to do the thing... whatever the the thing is... you have to do it. You may have to do it scared the first one, two, or ten times... but you have to do it!

So... How can you ride your horse in a clinic for the first time? Let's discuss!

Find the Right Clinician

This may seem like a "Duh!" statement but, believe me, it's often overlooked! Find a clinician whose training philosophies align with you and your horse's current program.

Research the clinician. And be willing to look beyond a "famous" name! Find videos of them riding and teaching. Are you inspired by them? Do they ride like you'd like to ride? Do their horses "go" in a way you'd like your horse to go? Do other people that ride with them seem to enjoy working with them?

Get Clear on Your Expectations

Get clear on your expectations... and I'm not talking about the clinician here.

Where are you and your horse in your riding journey? Like really... you'll need to communicate this accurately to your clinician in order for them to give you their very best instruction.

Are you having to travel to another facility for this event? And is hauling off the property a new experience for you and your horse? Tell your clinician this! And adjust your expectations accordingly. If you're schooling Second Level at home but you've never traveled for a big event until now, be prepared to spend most of your time working on the fundamentals (think Training Level stuff!) and teaching your horse how to settle and work away from home. This is a very valuable experience! But adjust your expectations accordingly.

Communicate Clearly With the Clinician

When you ride with a clinician, you probably don't know each other. This may be the clinician's first time seeing you and your horse. They often don't know anything about you before you and your horse step into the arena. It is YOUR job to tell them.

Be honest. Now is not the time to try to impress them and build yourself up. The clinician can't do their best job coaching you if you don't give them an accurate picture of where you are in your riding and training journey.

Don't Be Afraid to Speak Up

Don't be afraid to say something if the clinician asks you to do something you or your horse may not be comfortable with - no matter how "famous" the clinician may be!

You are your own best advocate. And you are your horse's best advocate.

Good clinicians value you and your horse's best interests and they will listen to you when you speak up and tell them why something their asking may not work. Don't be afraid to talk to them.

And if they're not willing to listen to you, they're not worth riding for. I have left clinics early on two occasions because the clinician valued their own ego more than they valued me and my horse's learning experience.

Final Thoughts

Riding your horse in an event with a clinician can be an AMAZING experience! But choose wisely! Find a clinician whose training philosophies align with your goals... someone who you truly admire! And then adjust your expectations accurately for where you and your horse really are in your journey. Set realistic goals! And finally, NEVER be afraid to advocate for yourself and your horse - no matter how "famous" the clinician is! You know yourself and your horse best.

Get out there! Riding with clinicians can be such a rewarding experience! We host mounted and unmounted clinics at my farm in Los Angeles several times a year. I'd love for you to join us! Send me a message to get on the list to find out first about our next event!

Have you ridden in a clinic before? What did you think?

Would you like to ride in a clinic? What is holding you back right now?

Tell me in the comments!