Performance clinic

Yesterday, I discussed Stone Horses' newest sponsorship program designed to grow performance showing by by encouraging and supporting non-competitive performance clinics. 

That's all well and good, but what, you may ask, does a non-competitive performance clinic look like? In today's guest post, Lisa Smalley of Smalley Saddlery answers just that question. Thanks, Lisa! This is awesome.

Hosting a Performance Clinic 

by Lisa Smalley

Hosting a performance clinic is great for two reasons: 

• Helping others to learn or increase their knowledge about performance.
• Getting together with fellow model horse hobbyists in a low-stress, judgement-free, non-show setting where everyone is sharing knowledge and learning!

I have hosted two performance clinics, in 2017 and again in 2024. In both cases, we had a large range of performance experience in our attendees at each. There were halter-only showers who came to learn about performance, novice performance showers who were thrilled to have a place outside of a show to learn and ask questions, and experienced performance showers- learning and sharing knowledge.

Google Forms is free, and I created a form for registration and had people check yes or no for each class so that I could gauge how much space we might need.

The clinic was set up in the following format:

• four show rings (since that is what fit in the room)
• maximum two "entries" per class, with no tack changes (tried to have a separate horse for each class when possible)
• four classes were set up, we evaluated all of those classes, then set up and evaluated the next four classes

It takes time to set up, evaluate and discuss entries, so a full performance class list was not feasible. I chose a limited number of classes (eight) that could potentially incorporate entries from multiple performance classes. That way, we could discuss each entry as well as similarities and differences. For example: all types of harness were together and we had a great variety- racing, pleasure, fine, draft, etc. 

The Pleasure class included Western/Ranch/English/Huntseat/etc. because the bottom line is that the horses should be a pleasure to ride, and we could point out the different gaits performed and equipment required for each. The limited number of classes also freed us from rushing around all day like we normally do at a show.

I utilized the following class list for the 2024 clinic.

• Harness (all types- pleasure, fine, draft, etc.)
• Stock Work (Anything with livestock, ex: cutting, roping, team penning, etc.)
• Over Fences (Hunter, Jumper, Cross Country, etc.)
• Pleasure (Western, Ranch, English, Hunt Seat)
• Trail (English, Western, etc.)
• Dressage (English and Western)
• Pattern Classes (English or Western - Equitation, Horsemanship, Reining, Western Riding, etc.)
• Showmanship

After each class was set up, we gathered at the table and walked around the ring in the same manner as a judge, looking at each entry. Then we would discuss the class and ask questions. It was meant to be a no-pressure environment where you could ask anything. There isn't always time for this at a fast paced, highly competitive show, plus sometimes people are to embarassed to ask questions in that environment.

If someone had a lot of real life experience, they might take the lead with explaining different aspects. For example: In 2017, I lovingly pestered Pat Coulter to come down to the clinic and be my English expert. She obliged and was wonderful in sharing her wealth of knowledge from both real horse and model horse showing experience. 

We miss you, Pat!

Renee Foust attended in 2024 and shared lots of driving knowledge in the Harness class to help everyone to better understand the parts of harness in different disciplines and the equipment used. We could have talked *forever* about each class, but we had to keep an eye on the time to be able to complete all eight classes.

It is great to have model horse hobby get togethers of different sorts outside of shows. We are often stressed at shows or constantly running around. It's really enjoyable to be able to spend time with our fellow hobbyists in a more fun and less stressful environment. With the performance clinic, all of us learned new things - even the experts - and we had fun doing it! 

Thanks again, Lisa. I hope someone out there is taking notes. This is a really do-able format for a performance clinic. Come on, performance showers! Let's make this happen!