I Went to a Clinic and So Should You
As published in the July 2018 issue of Western Mule Magazine
Horsemanship clinics have become quite the to-do amongst us in the equine world. More and more people are attending clinics of various types and flavors in hopes of improving their horsemanship skills. Indeed, most of my friends have been clinic attendees at some point. As usual I was late to the party. My first equine clinic experience occurred just recently with Ty Evans of TS mules. It was fantastic. Ruger and I both learned a lot and are looking forward to attending another in the future. I wish I had attended sooner. If you’re interested in becoming a better horse or mule person, don’t wait as long as I did.
So why attend a clinic? I had three main goals in mind when I signed up for the Ty Evans Mulemanship clinics; instruction, investigation, and socializing. Ever since my encounter with gravity last year riding hasn’t been pleasant, not because of anything Ruger did, but rather because of the nagging worries and “what-ifs” that I felt when on him. After meeting Ty in person last year, I knew that he’d be an excellent resource to help me get joyfully back in the saddle with good form. And the socializing side of the equation? The clinic was hosted by the North Idaho Saddle Mule Club, which has a reputation for feeding people well, very well.
Attending Ty’s clinics—both for riders and spectators—was an inspiring, motivating and very fulfilling event. I was able to observe, explore new ideas, and immerse myself in being a better horseman during the entire event. It was a great opportunity to learn from a renowned professional, expand my horsemanship skills and grow as a rider.
With that in mind here are six tips to help make your clinic experience even better than mine!
Know What To Expect:Contact the clinician directly and visit their website to learn what will be covered at the clinic. Do the areas covered coincide with your aims? If you want to improve your riding, then a clinic that consists of solely ground work might not meet your needs. You wouldn’t want to take a green colt to a horsemanship clinic where everyone is expected to ride. Ask if the featured clinician will be the person teaching the clinic. Some “big name” clinicians may only make an appearance; farming out the actual work of conducting the clinic to an understudy. I’m glad Ty was there teaching the entire time for both of the clinics I attended. Your time is precious and money is hard to come by. Make sure you’re signed up for the right clinic to meet your goals.
Be Physically and Mentally Prepared:Riding in a clinic could require being in the saddle up to eight hours a day. If you and your horse are weekend warriors, this could be quite taxing. An animal that’s been lounging in the back pasture for the past year before being taken to a clinic will keep you from taking full advantage of the scheduled activities. Start getting you and your horse physically and mentally “legged-up” before the clinic date rolls around. Being physically fit and prepared will help both of you get the most from your clinic experience. I signed up for two back to back clinics (Mulemanship I & II). By the end of each day Ruger and I were both exhausted in every sense of the word.
Make Sure Your Trailer Is in Order and Your Horse Loads:If your trailer has been sitting for months, it’s time for a good look over and perhaps even some maintenance. Your horse hasn’t been loaded for a while and a bit of practice before the event will save time and energy that you’ll need during the clinic. Check things out a week or two before the clinic, including loading, so you don’t run into problems the morning you try to leave. While I went over the trailer I neglected to include enough practice time loading Ruger into the new rig. It was quite embarrassing to need help loading at the end of the clinic!
Don’t Be Afraid:If the clinician asks for a volunteer, step up! Be the guinea pig. Let the clinician use you and your horse for every example possible. Sometimes you’ll look like a star. Occasionally you won’t. But you’ll always learn something and gain valuable experience.
Don’t Be Shy:You’ve taken time from your busy schedule. You’ve paid to participate in the clinic. Don’t disappear into the crowd. Ask questions. If you’re struggling with an exercise, ask for help. Ask for an explanation if you don’t understand the directions. Ask the clinician to observe your maneuver and critique your performance. Most clinicians want and like riders who are hungry for knowledge and want to learn.
Spectating Can Be Great:My much better half, Celeste, audited Ty’s Clinics, while I rode. She learned a tremendous amount by doing so and is looking forward to attending Mulemanhip I and II with her Icelandic horse next year. Yes, Ty helps horses with people problems just as much as he helps mules. Without the pressure and responsibility of riding herself, she could still grasp the concepts and see Ty’s techniques played out on multiple animals. Just because you may not be riding in a clinic, much can be gained while observing.
Here’s a link to Ty Evans TS Mules website where you can learn more about him and reserve a spot at one of his clinics if you’re so inclined. www.tsmules.com
As always to find new places to ride and camp, as well as how to have more fun while you’re there, visit www.TrailMeister.com