In my neck of the woods, traveling to a riding clinic is pretty common. Maybe it’s the dearth of particular trainers here or the lure of a famous name that causes us to ooh and aah at a posted flyer on the barn wall.

I never rode in a clinic, or even heard of one, until I began riding dressage. When the opportunities first arose for me to ride with some chef d’equip grand pooba, I used to jump on it. Hurry! Reserve your spot before someone else gets it!

Now a little older and wiser, and perhaps a little more poor, I’m far more conservative in my jumping on the next clinic wagon. Often at $170 to $225 a session, more if a private and with someone whose name you might recognize from Practical Horseman or Dressage Today, clinic costs can be a huge chunk of change. Factor in trailering fees if you don’t own your own trailer and overnight fees if you plan to stay for a two- to three-day clinic.

I’ve ridden in several clinics, of which only a small handful were truly worthwhile. When considering investing into clinic training, watch the clinician FIRST before signing up. I sat through two entire days of clinics with one trainer only to determine that it would be a waste of money for me to ride with him. It was a good learning experience. Watching a clinician first before riding with him allows you to answer the following questions:

• Is he good working with your level and your horse’s level? Some clinicians are great with upper level horses and riders. Some are not good at all with lower level.
• Does he change his technique or teaching as needed with different horses and riders? Why would you invest a lot of money into someone that does the same cookie-cutter clinic for every horse and rider regardless of  level and needs?
• Does he allow a working dialogue and how difficult is he to work with? I was horrified when I heard one clinician tell a junior rider she was not to speak unless spoken to. Remember, regardless of whom the clinician is, it’s your dime. You are the paying customer, and you deserve respect.
• Is the clinician there to give clinics or is there an ulterior motive? I’m not very keen on clinicians who try selling me their sale horses when I’m trying to work with my own horse.
• Is he enjoying the time with each horse and rider? I think we’ve all seen the bored, indifferent instructor; there’s no need to pay a clinician for that.
• Is it all bells and whistles or does he really know what he’s talking about? I heard much hoopla over one clinician, who had a harem of ladies who followed him to every clinic. I learned more from his video than from riding in and observing his clinic.
• Is it a multi-day clinic? If it’s a good clinic, doing as many days as possible helps you and the clinician get in synch, and assists you in really making the training techniques habit by the time the clinic is over.
• Will it be worth the money?

In defense of clinicians, it’s not easy for them to have all the answers when they’ve just met you and your horse for the first time. I’ve found that sometimes day 1 may be mediocre, but by day 3, there’s breakthrough and we’ve worked it enough that I recall it easily. But you'll see that for yourself if you watch a few days of clinics.

In the old days, I used to sign up for whatever dressage clinic was coming around. Now I follow my rules above, and though I had previously wasted a few thousand dollars in clinics that weren’t right for me or my horse, one of my grandest riding experiences was a clinic with my childhood hero, a US Olympic gold medal winner. Though it was a jumping clinic, and I prefer dressage, I had the time of my life with him. That clinic was worth every penny. I hope you have at least one of those.