Hey there, Reader

As the summer driving season begins, I've been having a lot of conversations with my students lately about preparing to take their horses to upcoming clinics.

Clinics are a great opportunity to get away from home, learn and grow with your horse, and connect with other drivers. Often, clinics hosted by a local club or group afford you the opportunity to learn from a higher-level pro than you might normally have access to in your area.

I love both attending and teaching clinics, and I strongly encourage you to seek out opportunities to attend any and all such learning opportunities that you can.

But taking your horse to a clinic can be a significant investment of both time and money—especially with the cost of fuel these days! So let's talk about how to set yourself up for a great experience, and make the most of your time at the clinic.

Things to Consider When Signing Up

Who is the clinician? What's their specialty and teaching style? Do they teach in the way that you learn, and at your level? A glowing recommendation from a trusted source is worth a lot.

Why do you want to learn from this person? What do they have to offer you right now? What makes this clinic a good fit for you and your horse at this stage?

Where is the clinic being held, and who is the host? Environment matters. Verify that the host has a good reputation for running smooth, safe events, and find out what the stabling arrangements will be and where you'll be driving.

While I encourage you to take advantage of every learning opportunity you can, it's good to know what you're signing up for before you put your deposit in. Jumping in out of FOMO—the fear of missing out—is a good way to end up in an unfortunate situation.

If you're not sure, consider auditing instead. Attending as a spectator, without your horse, is a great way to suss out the venue, get to know the clinician, and still learn a lot. If all goes well, you can make it a priority to bring your horse next time.

How to Prepare Leading Up to the Clinic

Does your horse load and haul well? First, you have to get there. If you don't haul regularly, do some practice trips beforehand. It's a terrible feeling to be trying to leave for a clinic and discover you can't get your horse on the trailer. Hauling is a skill like any other—it requires practice to feel comfortable.

How will you transport your carriage? Most carriage drivers ultimately invest in a truck and trailer that meet their needs, so they don't have to make multiple trips. With a bumper pull trailer, you can often put the carriage in the bed of your truck—most marathon carriages and two-wheeled carts fit comfortably in a standard 6'4" truck box. Sturdy ramps and an electric winch are a big help if you do this regularly.

You can also put the carriage in the trailer with your horse. Remember hauling physics: heavier weight belongs toward the front. Too much weight on the tail makes the rig unstable and unsafe on the highway, so put the horse in the nose and the carriage behind. Trailers with a side ramp are especially helpful here. If you must haul your carriage in the nose, ensure your horse is still positioned over or in front of the trailer axles for safety.

Make a checklist and check it twice. I once had my horse fully harnessed and nearly ready to hitch when I realized I'd forgotten my reins at home! If possible, load the trailer a day or two ahead of time—especially if you have a long drive. Double-check the stabling arrangement and make sure you have everything your horse needs: buckets, hay nets, more than enough hay, grain and supplements, fencing materials if you're self-stabling (and don't forget the ground rod if you're using a solar fence charger), a rain sheet and cooler if stabling is outdoors, fly spray…

Practice hitching with your horse tied to the trailer. As soon as you leave home, your usual routine tends to go out the window. It pays to have a routine that feels the same whether you're at home or away. Practice harnessing and hitching with your horse tied to the trailer at home, so that when you get to the clinic, the sights and smells are familiar and your routine feels largely the same.

Build breathing room into your routine. It's easy to get swept up in the busyness and energy when a lot is happening around you. The more you build breathing room into your regular routine—especially around hitching—the more resilient you'll be when things get chaotic. I make a habit of standing quietly for several minutes once we hitch, before we go anywhere. My horse, my groom, and I all know that's our time to chill and breathe. Practice this at home so it becomes automatic when the stakes are higher. This one habit has had a more profound positive influence on us than almost anything else we do.

Consider what you want to get out of this clinic. What are your goals for the season? What are your current challenges? How can you make the best use of this opportunity, given the horse you have and the driver you are, today?

Clinics aren't necessarily the place to try something brand new. Many clinicians—myself included—will not allow participants to hitch a horse for the first time in a clinic setting, because there are too many factors working against the horse's best chance of success. If you're not sure, ask the organizer ahead of time so you can plan accordingly.

Making the Most of Your Time at the Clinic

When you arrive, get the lay of the land before you unload your horse. Know where your horse is to be stabled and where you're allowed to park. Some venues are very particular, so ask questions if anything feels unclear.

Do what you need to help your horse settle after the trailer ride. Some horses are happy to go straight to their stall and munch on hay; others appreciate 20 minutes of hand walking or easy lungework to stretch their legs first. No matter what others are doing, you do what's best for your horse.

Be mindful of what's going on around you. Clinics are busy places, and you need to have your head on a swivel. Notice if another driver could use a hand, or if a horse seems to need a bit of extra space. Best not to assume—if you're unsure, just gently check in.

Mind your capacity. Clinics are chock-full of activity, and you'll want to catch as much as you can. I like to block off 30–60 minutes before and after my lesson to focus on just myself and my horse. Give yourself plenty of time to get harnessed, hitched, and warmed up. After your lesson, give your horse a good brush down, and if possible, give yourself a few minutes to process before rejoining the group.

Bring a journal. Your brain is about to get very full! After my lesson I find a quiet spot to scribble notes while it’s all still fresh in my mind.

Check your mindset—regularly. Clinics are for learning, not competing or showing off. What do you need to be in a learning state of mind? What expectations do you need to let go of in order to be fully present and open?

Sometimes learning is tough. Sometimes things don't go how you'd hoped. Sometimes your horse gets overwhelmed—and sometimes you do. I promise, we've all been there. Practice adjusting your expectations on the fly, don't be too hard on yourself, and definitely don't be too hard on your horse. Do find the key learnings to carry forward.

Integrating the Lessons Once You're Home

Debrief the entire experience. By the end of the clinic, your brain will be full and probably a little fried. Debriefing helps you make sense of everything you learned and find the key takeaways to focus on going forward.

Debriefing can look like talking through the whole thing with your groom, coach, or a trusted friend—or it can look like journaling or recording a voice memo. I find it really helpful to debrief on the drive home, while everything is still fresh. If I'm driving alone, I'll call a trusted friend on Bluetooth or record a voice memo on my phone. However it looks, that big brain dump is enormously helpful in processing and integrating both the experience and the lessons.

Over to you, Reader. Are you signed up for any clinics this season? What has been your experience attending clinics before? What would you add to this list for someone doing it for the first time?

Happy driving,
Christine