I get to give my first 'clinic!'

ErinR76 · I get to give my first 'clinic!'

I shared my notes from the Buck clinics I went to last year and this year with a gal, and she was impressed with them so she asked if I would come show her and some of her friends what I learned, and try to teach it to them. I said sure! We have agreed on a date and they are even going to pay for my gas plus a little extra to come down and help them! These gals are primarily Parelli, and are growing curious about Buck and what they could learn from him. This (helping others get better with horses) is right up my alley, and I am SO excited!!!

whudson

Sounds great !!!

PasoBaby_CarolU

That's awesome Erin....I find helping others is often in your genes.

Hertha

And helping others lets you experience more horses plus forces you to clarify all the ideas and nuances dancing around in your head.

jackspark

Gotta go with Carol.... genetic. Now the trick is, can you get what you know across to them, in terms that they'll understand

ErinR76

I am VERY good at explaining things

I understand the nuances of language and have a pretty good vocabulary :D

PasoBaby_CarolU

I think you'll do fine Erin. I understand WHR only because of your notes. You have been a great help to me.

I have to agree also with what Hertha said. When we go to clinics with our horse we focus on our horse and our problems. At a clinic where you teach, you have to deal with a bunch of different horses and horse/people problems. You often have to dig down for things you may not have paid attention to when you learned them at first. You may even have to go look for an answer somewhere else.

Great experience.

But, I do find people either have the desire to teach or they don't. I know many people who are very good with horses who don't offer to help people who are having problems. It's like it doesn't occur to them to offer.

ErinR76

its tough...so many times i want to offer help but I don't want to be a rude-ass and butt in if I'm not wanted. And even if I did offer, they'd be like, 'and who are you? what do you know?' I can't get it across to them what I do know and why they should trust me. so often it just goes unsaid, or I offer very nonchalantly and either they take it or not.

A friend of mine has had her horse since march, a 3 year old, and the barn owner also broke him in/trained or whatever term we are using now a days. Gentled. But not much trailer loading. So I parked my trailer and let her practice with it and offered my help, free of charge. She wanted to do it her way so I was like okay. She'd get only so far and then no more progress. It took a week for her to come around, and after me saying, "You know, I really am qualified to teach you and him this; just trust me." Finally she came around and said, Okay I'm losing my patience, can you help me? And I did and my way works of course.

I'm not big on selling myself or marketing....not myself, not products, whatever it is! I hate convincing people.

ErinR76

Well I did it, today! There were just five of them, but I got to explain all the things I learned in the Buck clinic! The gals seemed real pleased and kept thanking me afterwards, so I guess it went well. It was very fun to be able to do that. I could do it for a living, if I could find enough business! LOL

then we went on a trail ride through the host's ranch. Apparently Gonzales isn't hurting too much regarding the drought, there was beautiful green grass almost everywhere, and huge trees. It was really lovely.

Chablis

That's just awesome, Erin! Well done!

misstux

Oh how wonderful!

Clarissa

Erin are you studying to become a 'buck" instructor? Or just passing on your knowledge?

In any case it's a great achievement to successfully come through your fist clinic. Well done!

ErinR76

Nah, I don't think Buck has certified instructors. I'm just passing on what I learned. I had shared my notes from the clinic on a local yahoo group of horsewomen, and one gal asked if I could come show her and some friends some of the exercises in person. So I did. I totally wouldn't mind doing it again.

jackspark

Don't let the grass grow under your feet........see if you can set up another before too much time passes! Good job Erin

PasoBaby_CarolU

Great job Erin...Buck didn't wait until he was THIS good to start teaching. Teaching is part of the learning process. I find I learn a lot from other people's horses and problems. I think I've watched two dozen Parelli clinics with Margaret teaching other students. I can't tell you how many times that has helped me with other horses. They weren't my horse's problems at the time, but I'm like a sponge, I love to learn.

Congratulations...start a diary so you remember what you learned from you students too.

Great job. Wasn't it Bill Dorrance who said the most important thing you can do is pass the knowledge on.

ErinR76

Thanks Carol. Part of me DOES feel like, 'well there are so many people who know more than me, what business do I have teaching?' but then I can say to myself, there are people out there who may not have this information and it could help them, so why not?!

It was interesting some of the questions I got and in order to explain what I was doing, I sometimes had to really stop and think how can I explain this in a way that is understandable?

The biggest challenge was a horse that walked out fine on the trail, but was real un-energetic in the arena. He was a real sweet paint horse, but sort of felt like he had his head up in the clouds. It was challenging to get his attention on his owner in a way that was not offensive to him. I ended up helping her a bit on the 'mount from the fence' exercise' and he finally made it. I think her best bet is to train him on the trail, not in an arena, frankly! I let her get on my horse so she could feel what some of the exercises felt like with forward movement...feel that it was easier with forward movement.