Yesterday I hosted my last of the season Skill Builder Show clinics. The weather was great. After two cancelled Skill Builders due to weather, rain, rain and more rain, our show clinic went off without a hitch.
Many thanks to the best show secretary Michelle, and whipper in, Georgie. And of course to all the participants and the judge Grits McMullen who unselfishly supplied comments to all riders throughout the day.
I began offering these Show Clinics to prepare my handful of students for the show ring. “How do I prepare them for showing without the added expense of memberships, trailering, fees, stress of being away from home etc.” I asked myself. Well we brought the show to them.
The format for my Skill Builders is quite unique. Originally I had the riders ride their course and then get comments from the judge directly and then re-ride the course to be judged. This took VERY long and was DIFFICULT to schedule. So I decided to have the whole class and give the comments generally to the group once the class was completed but before the placings were made. For example, overall everyone used the ring very well but number 153, where are you? you should use the corners better to prevent cutting and then…. I think you get the idea.
This was well received by coaches who repeat … repeat … repeat the same thing over and over again. But when it comes time to place at a horse show and when a judge tells you the exact same thing that your coach has been telling you, well you tend to listen a bit more closely.
Parents loved the idea of comments. They wanted to know why their little treasure placed or didn’t place. Its all part of the education package.
The competitors like it to. So often when you attend a show you think that you had a wonderful round only to find yourself out of the ribbons and really, no explaination as to why. Well, at the Skill Builders, you have the opportunity to learn and progress through the experience of others and to appreciate the comments that are given to you in the spirit that they are ment. As a learning tool.
For those who have shown before a clinic show format may seen a bit unnecessary but it was well received by all. If you are interested in learning what the hunter judge is looking for check out this article that outlines some simple things that judges look for when you are in the show ring.
So with 2009 out of the way I can start to plan for 2010! Any more ideas?
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