Deciding on which horse to take to a clinic

[dale]

Here's something I'm mulling over in my head and I thought it might make an interesting thread

I will be attending my first colt starting clinic and I'm deciding between two horses. An unstarted 3yr old and a 15yr old ex-racehorse. I am going to the clinic to improve myself, and get the most out of everything, so I'm trying to decide which horse will I benefit from the most at the clinic. Obviously I realize each horse and situation is different and anything can change once the clinic is underway, so any expectations I have with the horse of choice will of course be turned on it's ear.

The 3yrold will have his moments but overall he's 'go with the flow' kind of guy.

The 15yr old has a lot of try but the racing baggage has brought on fears and he reverts to his racing ways in groups and if going any faster than a walk. I know he would be the choice for an audience...

Either horse I bring will teach me many many many things, which of course will help immensley with any horse I am around so neither decision is a bad one. Ideally it would be great to attend two clinics but that's not an option this year. I'm just mulling over which to take.

Does anyone here ever decide between a 'project' horse and an unstarted horse for clinics? Does that decision involve how you want to improve your own skills, vs. are you looking for help with a specific horse?

[Excess]

Does anyone here ever decide between a 'project' horse and an unstarted horse for clinics? Does that decision involve how you want to improve your own skills, vs. are you looking for help with a specific horse?

How lucky you are to go to a colt starting clinic! I wish I could go. I've never been to a colt starting clinic before but it's one I'd love to go to. It sounds like you have two great horses to choose from and like you said you'd learn a lot from each. I guess if I were in your position, I'd choose which kind of horse I plan on working with the most. Are you planning on starting more colts in the future? Or are you going to be working with more off-the-track horses?

Also, whatever you learn you can bring it home and apply it to the other horses. In one of Buck's videos...I think it's the groundwork video...he has a bunch of colts that were started and then he had an off-track QH that needed to be started. I got to admit I was much more interested in this horse than the others.

I think you should take the TB. Other people there will be bringing colts. You can listen and watch them, then take what they learn and bring it home to work with your 3yr old. And you have the TB to work with which will teach you something else. So you'll get the best of both worlds.

[LD.]

For me, it might depend on who is teaching the clinic. Some clinicians are better with certain problems/projsects. Who are you riding with? LD

[Scout]

LD gave great advice. Some clinicians would be over my head for starting a colt but there are some with whom I've felt great with. Depends on their approach and how comfortable you are with that.

[dale]

It's pretty equal in regards to the future - I look forward to both unstarted colts and project horses.

What is the thought process that brings an individual to take one over the other. There are lots of factors involved but for me it's a decision between putting myself first (what will help my own skills the most, which will then extend to my other horses) or put the horse in need the most first (which is both really, but of course will still transfer to my other horses). This is very much a win-win situation, I was just curious if others have chosen between these two types for a colt starting.

Great feedback guys!