We have some exciting programs that will allow our hosts generate some income for their riding clubs, boarding stables, etc., as well.  

Please contact us at Info@HorseThink.com if you’d like to select a clinic topic and date, and we’ll get working on making a great weekend for you and your friends.

Clinic Topics:

·         Self Defense for Trail Riders

This clinic is a three hour session that teaches riders, mostly women and girls, how to recognize predator behavior, how to avoid an attack, how to stay safely in the saddle if you’re approached or assaulted, and how to teach your horse how to help you escape safely.  The clinic is an amazing experience – a great way to learn how some of the same techniques that mounted police officers use for crowd control.  Scot presents the techniques in a non-threatening way that helps both people and horses learn progressively.  This clinic also provides the riders with some real-life experience in a safe and friendly environment to see just how they would react – and more importantly how their horse might react.  

Riders bring their own horses, and auditors are welcome.  This clinic is limited to 10 riders per session.  Several sessions can be presented in a weekend if the host wishes.  It can be combined with another three-hour clinic.  Or it can be held on a Friday evening before a weekend clinic. 

$100 per rider, $25 per person to audit

·         Groundwork for the Young Horse

This is a three hour session for people to work with their young horses, not yet under saddle, or older horses who need a refresher.  You will learn how your horse thinks and learns and how best to build a solid foundation for your next riding horse.  You will learn basic techniques and philosophies that will help you build a solid, reliable and trustworthy mount.  Learn the building blocks to putting a good foundation on your horse before that first ride.

Handlers bring their own young horses, and auditors are welcome.  The clinic is limited to 10 horses per session.  Several sessions can be presented in a weekend if the host wishes.  It can also be combined with another clinic.

$100 per rider, $25 per person to audit

·         Improving your riding and balance using a bareback pad

A three hour session that allows people to experience for themselves the benefits to their riding that can be achieved by riding with a bareback pad instead of a saddle.  This is a fun clinic for people to enjoy the freedom of riding unencumbered – and to have each rider take the time to really feel their horse’s movement.  Learn simple exercises to loosen your body, and begin to learn how to influence your horse’s movement in subtle and soft ways using nothing but your seat, back, and legs.

Riders bring their own horses, and auditors are welcome.  This clinic is limited to 10 riders per session.  Several sessions can be presented in a weekend if the host wishes.  Or the clinic can be combined with any of the other sessions listed above over a weekend.

$100 per rider, $25 per person to audit

·         2-day Thinking Horsemanship clinic

This 2-day clinic covers everything from effective groundwork techniques for solving all sorts of problems to exposing the horses to sensory training by the end of the weekend.  Riders learn how best to teach their horses, have the opportunity to ride in a group and build effective herd confidence, work on riding techniques for controlling pace and dealing with common problems riders encounter when out with other horses such as jigging and horses who HAVE to be at the front of the pack on a trail ride (or who refuse to take the lead).  By the end of the clinic, riders will learn how to begin to train their horses for all types of sensory work – also called bombproofing.  Horses are exposed to mock gunfire, tarps and simulated scary surfaces, etc.

Riders bring their own horses, and auditors are welcome.  This clinic is limited to 10-14 riders per session, depending on the size of the arena (to be negotiated in advance with HorseThink).

$300 per rider, $25 per person per day to audit

·         3-day Thinking Horsemanship clinic – advanced riding and sensory work

This clinic begins the same as the 2-day clinic above.  On the third day, we add more advanced groundwork techniques, more advanced riding skills, and a host of advanced sensory opportunities.  We add games with large balls, flares, motorcycles/ATV’s, gunfire, helicopters, etc. depending on the group.

This clinic is very popular with volunteer mounted posse groups and can be customized to include formation riding for crowd control situations, depending on the level of horses and riders attending the clinic.

Riders bring their own horses, and auditors are welcome.  This clinic is limited to 10-14 riders per session, depending on the size of the arena (to be negotiated in advance with HorseThink). 

$400 per rider, $25 per person per day to audit

Other customized clinic programs are available for special groups.  Call or write for more details to discuss a more advanced or specific program that will meet your group’s needs.

 

Here is what the clinic host is responsible for doing:

·         Secure the facility.  Some stalls will need to be available depending on the duration of the clinic (overnight board to be paid by participants).  (If a full weekend clinic, some people will need to board Saturday night, for example.)  The facility should have a covered arena if in a part of the country where inclement weather is possible.  We also need access to a sound system for Scot’s wireless microphone.  Most arenas have a stereo system that works perfectly.

·         Publicize the clinic in your local area.  HorseThink will supply you with customized fliers for your use – and press releases if you wish.  We will also publicize your clinic in Scot’s on-line newsletter and to his database of riders in your area.  You can use the fliers, e-mail lists, post in tack shops and local boarding facilities – at trail heads, even.  You can place ads in local horse publications and/or newspapers.  You can place announcements on local and regional equine websites and calendars.

·         Collect all required paperwork in advance.  HorseThink will provide our liability release forms and informational sheets that are required of each participant.  You will need to coordinate with the facility owner for their liability release (and short-term board release, as applicable).  HorseThink will assist you in tracking the paperwork.

·         Collect the funds from participants.  The clinic host will be responsible for collecting and tracking all clinic participant funds and remitting the basic fee to Scot for his time (see below).  All funds collected by the clinic host in excess of Scot’s fees are the host’s to keep.

·         Remit a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total fee 60 days in advance.  

·         HorseThink will answer detailed questions from potential participants about clinic content and/or suitability of a particular horse or rider for the event.

 

How does the clinic host benefit?

·         Increase visibility in the local horse community for your riding club/group or stable.

·         Consider offering a free demo by Scot on a Friday night before the weekend clinic as a benefit to a local charity of your choice.  Consider partnering with a local tack shop or boarding stable to host this event.

·        Make MONEY for your group!