Clinic reports, anyone?

[FrancaV]

'Tis the season ... they're starting up around the country now. I just rode in a Peter Campbell clinic in Watsonville, CA. I plan to write up something but my brain needs to mull things over and rest a bit first. That first clinic of the year can really take it out of a person, especially when winter rides were few and far between!

The super short version is that the first day was quite challenging for me but I got really good help from Peter and the second day my mare and I felt like partners again. Has anyone else been to any clinics yet in 2007?

[dpony]

Bill Scott has a devoted group of followers in his home territory, but we were not able to get a spring date at our local large facility this year, and weren't able to find an alternate location suitable for a large clinic. A few of us were seriously interested in getting some input and we all came up with the idea of trying a mini-clinic over a weekend. Four of us were able to gather with Bill this past weekend and had a really spectacular experience.

Doing a mini-clinic with a smaller group provided for some much-needed individual attention. But, even better, because all of us recognized the learning value of watching others work, we were able to spend a good bit of time talking about our specific, individual issues over coffee first thing in the morning, and then going to work in a way that allowed all of us to spend some time working and some time watching.

We had an interesting mix of horses and riders. One long-time participant in Bill's clinics was riding a horse, somewhat new to her, but with a very inconsistent recent history and the kind of grumpy attitude one would expect from that. Another was riding with Bill for the first time, having watched a demonstration/clinic day that Bill did recently for a local equestrian club. She had a sweet mare who had been smothered with kindness but was quite lost and starving in the respect department. The third is a "re-rider", someone who had ridden as a young adult and is now returning to riding in middle age, and having his first experience with serious horse ownership; he has a mixed-breed mutt mare with a wonderful sense of herself, but with little experience with human leadership. I had my good gelding who is starting in the two-rein, but we mutually suffer from insecurity in new locations, so we had some things to work through in the hackamore the first day. I also have a sort-of-rescue school horse prospect who's getting a slow start on his new lease on life.

The first morning, we focused on ground work in the halter. All of our horses got a taste of what it's supposed to be like when Bill took the rope at appropriate moments. Bill's emphasis throughout was to get each person's ground work skills to the next level of precision, crispness, and feel. Each horse had separate issues that were interesting to watch. My school horse had a life-changing experience when Bill took the rope at a rough moment, and Skip discovered that his inherent sensitivity can be used to mutual advantage with a person, instead of being something he had to protect himself from by withdrawing into himself, or attempting to flee. Bill worked him briefly with a flag and it was an eye-opener for all of us to see how quickly a horse who hates to be put under pressure will learn to find the correct response--a moment when Bill's uncanny feel and timing are priceless.

In the afternoon, when we mounted up, we all reviewed how the ground work carries over to the under-saddle work. Each person got Bill's attention briefly until a suitable exercise was assigned to practice while Bill moved on to the next person. Occasionally, we would all stop and watch one person work through a sticky spot. The sweet mare was very reluctant to let other horses near her, so Bill and Jazz took her on a halter rope and helped her become more comfortable being in close proximity to another mounted horse. By the end of the weekend, she was very ho-hum about it, instead of squealing and kicking. The horse with the confused history was simply unresponsive to the leg, so that had to be reinforced in an organized and consistent way, and his rider had to school some of her own frantic tendencies to accomplish this. The mutt mare is remarkably flexible, but uses it against the rider in any attempt to move the forehand across; it was necessary to bring the outside rein into play to keep her from getting overbent and burried on her front end. I worked on riding unusual patterns in the arena--square turns, quarter lines, being independent of the rail--to help with straightness in the canter.

Sunday morning, we had a longer than expected session over coffee; there was just so much to talk about from what we'd experienced Saturday. We were completely playing the mini-clinic concept by ear, and this session turned out to be a highlight for everyone. It seemed that each of us had a major lightbulb moment around discussing someone else's issues. By the time we reached the bottom of the last pot of coffee, we'd decided to take the time to put each horse in the round pen, which took the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon.

In the large clinic situation, we usually only get to watch Bill in the round pen if he's starting a young horse. While that is always a pleasure to watch, I'd forgotten how much there is to learn from watching a horse that is not a "blank slate", and without the "benefit" of a leadrope. When I'm in a round pen, I'm usually too bound up in what I'm doing to think of talking about it, never mind that I'm out of breath. But Bill manages to do both without turning a hair, and it was much to our benefit. He's so good at noting when something is a hard spot for the horse, and when it's a lack of precision on the part of the person. A couple of the horse transformations just sent chills up our backs.

Our riding time that afternoon turned out to be short, but it was a good opportunity to review and get some new homework assigned. Everyone found something significant and positive to end on, and the only thing we were sorry about was that the weekend was over!

[Excess]

I'd love to hear some!

Has anyone been to a Mike Beck or Craig Cameron clinic?

I'm going to Equine Affaire in Ohio this year and Craig Cameron will be there. It will be the first time I've ever seen him.

[Weebonilass]

I did a clinic the beginning of March with Mark Schwarm, fresh back from a two month internship with Ray Hunt. Lots of stories about Ray, I'm sure due to just getting back from what must have been an amazingly intense two months.

The morning was a horsemanship clinic and then in the afternoon he had a working cow clinic and I think a lot of folks were impressed about how much cow the big AyRab had in him.

He was great... enough that I've reserved a spot for a May clinic.

I'm going to go audit a Joe Wolter clinic this month. I'd love to ride it, but think watching this time around is a wiser choice. It's expensive and a couple of more clinics with Mark Schwarm I think will prepare me better for getting my money out of a Joe Wolter clinic :)

[Fancy That]

Hi Franca - Looking forward to hearing about the Peter Campbell clinic. I was going to pop down and audit, dang it! Would have been great to see you and Seven!

I'm riding for the FIRST TIME in a clinic next weekend. Richard Winters in Salinas.

Has anyone here been to a Richard Winters Horsemanship clinic? I'm wondering what to expect (yes, there is a brief description of the clinic - but I've never even audited him, so would love any feedback)

I played w/ NH for years but for the past 1.5 years, I've turned back to my roots in H/J, Eventing and am serious about competing someday. For now, I'm dabbling in local shows, dressage, eventing, XC schooling, Hunter Paces, etc. Trying to meld the NH w/ traditional english (especially dressage) Finding it challenging!!!

[fionagirl]

Hey everyone! The highlight of my weekend was spending a day observing a Ray Hunt clinic here in Maine. (I was too chicken to ride in it!) There is so much to say that I would bore everyone. But a couple of things that are staying with me:

* All of the sayings -- the Ray-isms and clinician-isms -- completely came to life when hearing Ray apply them to particular horses, riders, and situations. What previously were just words, or words onto which I could hang just tenuous fragments of understanding, suddenly began to make sense ("began" being the important word!).
* I was simply astounded by his power of observation. In so many instances I could see that something wasn't working out just right but couldn't dream of what the cause was. Other times everything looked just dandy to me and low & behold Ray would point out how a certain way of interacting with the horse was not going to work out so well over time.
* I was left thinking a LOT about the balance between not enough, too much, and the right amount. Again and again he would be coaching riders through something and I would watch them swing between not enough and too much (just like I would have been doing) and nothing would really come together until Ray had helped them get to "just right."

Those are just a few thoughts. I know you all who have a lot more experience with this would have discovered far more in that one day, but I was thrilled to have gotten to see Ray and was pleased with what I was able to take away.

[Mares Tales]

Everyone needs to go to at least one Ray Hunt clinic before he isn`t traveling anymore!!!!

How many of us regret that we never saw TOM in person? I know I do.

So get thee to a Ray Hunt clinic while there is still time, for all the reasons that Fionagirl listed.

[Excess]

Fiona I am soooooooo happy that you posted that. I'm planning on going to audit a RH clinic later this month. I want to ride in it but I don't think I'll be able to unless I trade in my car and get myself a truck and a trailer! Ha. Not likely with gas prices going up. But I am happy to hear that you picked up so much from just auditing. I'm definitely going to go and watch hopefully both days of the horsemanship and the cow working clinic. We'll see. It certainly makes me real happy to hear that you picked up just as much from auditing. I lent some Ray videos to my barn owner who has a real nice trailer...hoping that he'll be inspired and will want to go too and I can hitch a ride with him. Wistful thinking. =)

[FrancaV]

Everyone needs to go to at least one Ray Hunt clinic before he isn`t traveling anymore!!!!

How many of us regret that we never saw TOM in person? I know I do.

So get thee to a Ray Hunt clinic while there is still time, for all the reasons that Fionagirl listed.I completely second that. I rode in one Ray Hunt clinic about 7 years ago and I was unprepared - it was my first ever clinic and I was very green. Borrowed horse was not green but also not that comfortable in his own skin, so to speak. Somehow we survived the first day and I might have relaxed enough to learn a thing or two the second day, but afterwards I swore I'd never ride in another clinic. Well, I did get over that notion but it took awhile, and I had to ride with some people who were more more supportive to help me regain some confidence.

I've audited Ray twice. The first time was a couple of months before I rode with him 7 years ago and I didn't understand much of anything I saw or heard - went right over my little green head. I've worked hard at this horsemanship thing since then. The second time I audited Ray was about two years ago. I loved that last one. Ray wasn't on horseback any more which was a shame but I think he tried a lot harder to phrase things in a way that people could understand and he spent more time demonstrating things on the ground than he used to. I almost think I could ride with him now and live to tell about it. ;) I understand what he's offering so much better; I learned a bunch of things about him and and had some "aha" moments about why his clinics are "designed" the way they are. I think watching how other folks handled (or didn't handle) Ray's instructions and suggestions gave me some clinic survival tools for my mental "toolbox". (Plus I don't get clinic jitters nearly as badly as I used to!) I'm now hoping I may have the opportunity to ride with him once more.

[KnightRider]

I audited a Ray Hunt Clinic 5 yrs ago, then just audited again last month in FLA at Tom & Trina Curtin's place. Must say that I got much more out of it this time around. It was way over my level of comprehension five years ago.

I'm sure I still missed alot this time too, but there was a big mix of riders to observe (including some PP people). Plus I had just finished a week at WinterCamp with Tom & Trina, so I think I was more "tuned in".

I understand that he'll be back again next year if his health permits. I'm going to try to be there. And I'll be riding in Tom Curtin's horsemanship Clinics in PA and VA in May and June. If you get a chance to ride with Tom Curtin, I recommend it.

KnightRider

[kewpalace]

We were completely playing the mini-clinic concept by ear, and this session turned out to be a highlight for everyone. It seemed that each of us had a major lightbulb moment around discussing someone else's issues. This is one of the things I love about going to clinics . . . seeing the other people discussing their problems (how they arose, what they've tried), addressing them in the clinic and beginning to solve them (or actually solving them) usually provide lightbulb moments for me in addressing and dealing with my problems. I find it hugely helpful. Even if they aren't actual lightbulb moments, they do start the filaments flickering . . .

[fionagirl]

The first time was a couple of months before I rode with him 7 years ago and I didn't understand much of anything I saw or heard - went right over my little green head. I've worked hard at this horsemanship thing since then. The second time I audited Ray was about two years ago. I loved that last one.

I totally understand. I know I didn't get out of it nearly what other more experienced horsepeople around me did, and yet I confess I chuckled to myself on the drive home that I wouldn't have gotten ANYthing out of it a couple of years ago. Nice to know that my brain is slowly, slowy absorbing something!

From what I hear and what I saw this weekend, Ray has mellowed. He went to great lengths to praise people, while nevertheless being relentless in insisting on the very best.

[fionagirl]

Has anyone been to one of his clinics? I'm planning to audit but think there might be an opportunity to ride. I usually don't spend the money to ride with someone 'til I've seen him/her, but I'm so eager to get rolling that I'm thinking I might. Any reports out there?

[FrancaV]

I haven't heard of him. There have been a number of names mentioned that I'm not familiar with. That's why I think this will be a great discussion section. I'd love to hear about other good horsemen (and horsewomen) out there.