Horse Training Clinics - How To Survive Your First Equestrian Clinic

If you are still getting to know your new horse, attending horse training clinics can be an excellent way of improving your confidence levels and socializing your horse. Both of you will experience many new things by participating in clinics, and you can gain the benefit of tuition from a range of equestrian trainers covering all methods of horse training.

Don't worry if you are still a beginner, you are sure to find horsemanship classes to fit your needs. Most horse training clinics provide for different levels of experience, from novice to advanced.

Here are some tips to make your first clinic a success;

1. Don't leave it too late to book your place.

Many horse owners these days are taking an interest in training their horses, so some equestrian clinics get fully booked or have a waiting list. Book straight away if you notice an advert for a clinic that you want to attend.



2. Look for horse training clinics close to home initially.

Don't make a commitment to travelling your horse long distances if you are not sure how they travel.



3. If you need to transport your horse to the clinic, they should be familiar with the trailer you are using on the day.

You could have problems with loading your horse onto a strange trailer on the day of the clinic, so during the weeks before the clinic try out loading your horse or travelling brief distances, so that on the day you both get there calm and relaxed.



4. Try and locate somewhere that is holding training clinics close enough to ride to.

Also, see if there is someone else at your stables that would like to go with you. This will help if you or your horse are anxious about riding out on your own.



5. Try to pick an established clinic as their services are already proven.

For instance, does your neighborhood riding stables run clinics with guest horse trainers? How about your nearby equine college? They sometimes have excellent equestrian facilities that are perfect for holding horse training clinics.



6. If possible, make contact with the instructor before the day of the clinic.

If you are able to have the instructors phone number, phone them to introduce yourself and your horse. They should be happy to let you know what to expect from the clinic, and can tell you if there is any preparation you can do beforehand. If you know what to expect, you will be able to make the most of all of the various activities and exercises on the day.



7. On the day of the clinic, you should aim to leave ahead of time.

You never know what may crop up; there may well be bad traffic or an unexpected setback with loading your horse, and you need to make sure that you are not hurried. Having plenty of time in hand will make sure that you drive calmly and safely.



8. Plan to have plenty of time when you arrive at the clinic as well.

You will need time before your first training session to settle your horse, as they may be slightly unsettled with all the new sights and sounds and other horses.



9. Make sure you take lots of healthy snacks and water to drink for yourself (as well as food and water for your horse).

Keeping hydrated throughout the day will enable you to remain alert and focused. This will help you get the most from your training sessions.



10. To get long-term benefit from the training you receive during the clinic, you will need to practice the exercises once you return home.

Once you and your horse have had some time to relax, run through the lessons again every day until you see an improvement.

To get the most from your first experience attending a horse training clinic, do your planning in advance so you don't have any unpleasant surprises!

Follow these tips, learn lots of new things, build a better relationship with your horse - and best of all, have fun :)

Read some more horse training articles here or contact us to find out more about how EquiSecrets can help you and your horse...