Components of a Successful Clinic

Posted by Lance Earl of DallyPost on April 19, 2011

In order for a clinic to be successful, concepts and ideas covered must be presented in a logical order and they must match the skills and abilities of those in attendance. It makes little sense to teach the basics to a group of advanced horseman. Likewise, covering advanced material with a group of beginning riders will be a waste of time for everyone involved.

DallyPost sanctioned clinics are offered in a cafeteria style, where you, the host, can pick and choose the content and direction that will be of most use to your group. The following is a list of clinic sessions that we offer. Each session will have a specific area of focus that you may include in your clinic.

For your convenience, these sessions are ordered according to difficulty where the most basic lessons are to be listed first. Generally speaking, each session will build upon material covered in previous sessions. You are free to pick and choose the sessions you want for your clinic. However, please use caution when skipping sessions so that you do not pass over material that will later be an essential foundation for more advanced sessions.

It will be our pleasure to assist you in designing a clinic that will be of maximum benefit for your group of riders.

Meet 'n' Greet:

Whenever possible, we try to offer a few hours of socialization on the evening prior to the first day of a clinic. This event begins with a short discussion on tack and training techniques followed by general questions and answers. Most important, however, are the acquaintances made and friendships that are forged.

How Horses Learn:

Softness and Flexibility:

The most basic and essential quality of a versatile horse is softness. Where softness exists, a horse's movement will be correct and beautiful. This session will focus on building and increasing a horse's willingness to respond with softness to a rein, seat and leg cues.

Foundations of a Correct Stop:

Many of the advanced maneuvers performed by performance horses are preceded immediately by a stop. If the horse stops incorrectly, his body position will be such that correctly completing the next maneuver will be difficult. However, if the stop is correct, then it will be easy and natural for the horse to remain correct as he completes the next maneuver.

This session will focus on the fundamentals of building a stop where the horse remains soft, collected and correct. The primary objective will be to teach a horse to want to stop with the slightest cue instead of forcing the stop by pulling on the horse.

Building Correct Turns:

If a horse can't turn around correctly, he will never be much good for anything more complicated than plodding down the trail. Virtually everything more demanding than that will require correct turns. A correct turn demands that the horse learns to turn while maintaining a correct body position. This session will focus on helping a horse learn to turn in a way that is natural and correct for him.

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Developing a spin:

A correct spin is nothing more than a series of correct, ninety degree turns all strung together. That seems simple enough, but things can quickly fall apart as more repetitions and more speed is required. High quality spins take a lot of time and patience. The biggest challenge always is to not push your horse so hard that you ride him into trouble. In this session, methods will be taught that will help a rider methodically teach the spin and only advance as the horse is able.

Controlling the Hip:

Correct lead departures and lead changes, just to name a few, are totally dependent on having precise and total control of a horse's hip. If you cannot move the hip, your horse is missing an important and even an essential element of a truly versatile horse. For some reason, this is one area where many people struggle. In this session, you will be taught several effective exercises that will help you consistently and easily “get the hip”.

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http://www.dallypost.com/dp/article.php?pub=3&article_id=159

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Building Lead Departures and Changes:

Lead departures and lead changes seem to be a real point of trouble for many riders. The truth is that many riders have problems because they apply the wrong cues or because they do not want to put in the time. The wonderful thing about lead changes and lead departures is that they positively demonstrate how well a horse is trained. When these maneuvers become soft and smooth, the rider can be proud of the work he has done with his horse.

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Cowhorse Fundamentals:

This session will focus on basic cowhorse work. Key elements of focus will include:

1. Reading the cow.

2. Maintaining a working advantage by maintaining correct position.

3. Tracking a cow.

4. Stopping correctly.

5. Making correct turns.

This session can be completed with live cattle or with CowZ (a cutting flag). However, CowZ is recommended.

Cutting Flag Techniques:

This session will focus on proven techniques for training a horse using CowZ, a cutting flag. Key areas of focus shall be on developing correctness in a horse. Common training mistakes will also be covered.

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Introduction to Ranch Riding:

This class demonstrates a horse's ability to move freely and softly in all four gaits and deal with unfamiliar objects and obstacles. The clinic will focus on building softness, flexibility and willingness in a horse. A number of exercises will be taught that will prepare you and your horse to find success in this class.

Introduction to Ranch Reining:

This class demonstrates a horse's ability to complete a variety of advanced maneuvers including lead departures, lead changes, loped circles, stops, rollbacks and spins. A number of exercises will be taught that will help you master these advanced maneuvers.

Introduction to Ranch Cutting:

This class demonstrates a horse's ability to work quietly and effectively from a herd of cattle. You begin to master a sport where proper position is everything. Each rider will be worked with individually at his or her level, to improve position, timing and correctness of moves.

This session may use CowZ by DallyPost or live cattle. Generally CowZ will be more effective for beginning riders and cattle will be best for advanced riders.

Introduction to Ranch Cow:

This class demonstrates a horse's ability to work a single cow through a variety of advanced maneuvers. Maintaining a working advantage is the key to the successful completion of this class. The focus will be to help each rider understand how to get and keep a working advantage that will result in effective control of the cow.

This session may use CowZ by DallyPost or live cattle. Generally CowZ will be more effective for beginning riders and cattle will be best for advanced riders.

Schooling Competition:

Each rider will have an opportunity to show his or her stuff while completing one or more of the four classes in a DallyPost versatility competition. The single difference is that your clinician will coach you through each step. Additionally, he or she will provide you with a written critique of your performance. You should consider this critique as a written guide to propel you to the next level of horsemanship and your horse to the next level of versatility.

Rules, patterns and score cards are available for each class in the DallyPost rule book.

 

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