Hosting a Clinic:  FAQ                                        

     

Do you travel and put on clinics outside of Minnesota?

Yes.  Depending on the circumstances, I can either fly or drive to your location.

What levels do you teach?

I’m endorsed to teach levels 1 through 3.  When I travel quite a distance to teach a clinic, sometimes the host will arrange two clinics back-to-back.  For example, a Partnership clinic might be followed by a Harmony clinic for a different, more advanced group of participants.

What would you charge for travel costs?

Currently my travel expenses are $1.00/mile (if I drive) and/or the cost of the airline ticket and associated costs (travel to the airport, for example) to travel and stay at a location.

What size facility will I need?

The ideal facility for 10 riders is an arena that’s at 100' x 200'  with decent space and sightlines for auditors.  It's best to have a facility with both an indoor and outdoor riding space in case of inclement weather (such as hard rain, high wind, extreme cold).  The minimum indoor arena size for ten people and horses is approximately 70’ x 180’ (or the equivalent).  If your facility does not have an indoor riding arena with the minimum area, you can have one in your immediate area available to move/trailer/ride to in case of severe weather.

What else should I look for when finding a facility?

If you are hosting a 2-day clinic, you will need to have stall space available for those horses staying overnight. 

It's helpful to have motel, hotel, B & B, etc. accommodations nearby for those participants and auditors that do not wish to camp.  Also, restaurants for dine-in or carry-out.  Oftentimes clinic hosts will offer a hot lunch or have a catering truck on-site. 

You will need to have bathroom facilities or a porta-john available to participants/auditors.

Having electrical outlets adjacent to (or within extension cord distance of) the arena allows for me to use an audio system that provides both music and loudspeaker.  It's also nice to have electrical available for those participants or auditors that wish to camp overnight

How many clinic participants (people with horses) do you require?

This depends on the size of your facility.  I am authorized to teach 10 students at one time, and the minimum size of the arena in order to do this should be 70' x 180' with room available somewhere for auditors to sit and observe either in a roped off area inside the arena (usually for indoor arenas) or with good sight lines outside of the arena (outdoor arenas).  If you have a smaller facility, then the number of participants would have to be limited.  Please contact me (njr@pnhsavvy.com)to inquire about small group lessons.

Can children participate in the clinics with their horses?

Yes! In general, children 12 and older can register for my clinics. If the child is 14 and older, a parent is not requested to stay at the clinic the entire time, although the parent must still sign the liability waiver.

In my experience, the kids do just fine...a lot depends on the child's maturity level and the difficulty of the horse. It also works out really well if a child (12-14) has a parent that also participates/rides in the clinic with them.

What should I charge the riders?

This can be determined once you have found a facility since facility fee and travel expenses must be figured into the participant's total fee.  Contact me at njr@pnhsavvy.com for more information. 

What should I charge the auditors?

An auditor fee is usually $30/day.

What should I charge for stall rental?

Stall fees are set by and go directly to the facility owner.  I have seen stall fees range from $10-30/night depending on the facilities.

Do you have Parelli educational materials and equipment to sell to participants and auditors?

Yes!  I have a full line of Parelli Savvy Programs, videos and equipment to sell at the clinic.  If you'd like to purchase your equipment prior to a clinic, you can do so at my Parelli WebShop

 

What will my responsibilities, as host and local organizer, be?

You’ll be the contact person listed on my web site and on the Parelli web site list of events.  As such, you’ll need to find the facility, make arrangements for stalling horses, catering lunches sure there are engough toilets, and answering people’s questions via phone and email.  You’ll take registrations and checks, arrange for 1 to 2 volunteers* to help me with clinic set-up and with equipment sales, arrange for volunteers* to help you with check-in of participants and auditors, keep a list of all names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses for everyone who comes to the clinic.

You’ll spend time on the phone and on the computer answering email inquiries.  You’ll arrange for any local advertising after consulting with me.  You’ll provide those interested in the clinic with written (by mail or email) information regarding directions, information about the facility, stall arrangements, health requirements, motel and camping accommodations, what they need to bring to the clinic,etc. You’ll collect and keep track of the registration money, and keep me informed of progress and any problems. 

*Volunteers audit the clinic free of charge.

Will I get paid for my hosting efforts?

There is compensation for being a local host/organizer.  Contact me (njr@pnhsavvy.com) for detailed information. 

What sort of horse should people bring?

Bring to the clinic a horse you can walk, trot/gait and canter on—on purpose!  The first three levels in Pat’s program are about teaching us humans, not training the horses.  Since your horse is your mirror and since horses teach people (just as people teach horses), you will learn more easily and more quickly with your “best” horse.

NO stallions!  Pat urges you not to play with your stallion until you’ve graduated from Level 3 in his program.  He feels so strongly about this that he asks us instructors not to teach anyone with a stallion who has not graduated Level 3.  Stallions are by definition more difficult and require much more savvy than geldings, mares and even mules.  

My friend has a pony (yearling, green horse, etc.) she would like to work with, but obviously she cannot do the riding part, is that all right? Would you still charge her full fee?

Yes, the pony is welcome in the clinic, and yes, the full fee would still apply even if the pony cannot be ridden.  This applies as well to any young or unridden horse.

What kind of deposit from participants do you ask for and is it refundable?

I strongly recommend that the host get payment-in-full at the time of registration, but alternately suggest a 50% deposit at time of registration, with the balance due 4 weeks before the date of the clinic.  Deposits and/or payments are not refundable unless I cancel the clinic, or in case of true medical emergency.  Should a participant want to withdraw s/he may find a replacement from the waiting list which the hosts keeps or from among his/her own acquaintances. There is a $50 fee if we help in locating a replacement for you.

Do you allow video cameras?

No, sorry. Your best videos are in your partnership, harmony and refinement programs, and on Savvy Club DVDs.  Do bring a small pad and a pen too, in order to take notes.  So much happens at a clinic, it's nice to have a few key phrases and strategies written down in order to jog your memory back home, after the clinic.  You may still take pictures as long as they are not used for publication.

Do you require the participants (in a beginning clinic) to have prior knowledge of Parelli Natural Horsmanship?

While prior knowledge isn't required, I urge students to purchase the Partnership Program and equipment for Level 1 (the Safe Complete Kit) and start studying, and practicing if time allows, before the clinic. Participants get much more out of a beginning clinic when they are already familiar with the concepts of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, have viewed the DVDs, read the lesson booklets and gotten familiar with the tools.

It’s also true that knowledge is the second key to success!  And the Partnership Program is the most effective, most recent guide to beginning and to  this program.  When you enroll in a clinic or course, the Partnership Program becomes your text book for further study at home.  So participants should expect to purchase this by the time they leave the clinic or plan to do so from the web site soon after.

Do you require the participants in a beginning Partnership clinic to use the basic PNH tools (halter, 12’ lead, carrot stick and savvy string)?

The tools are the third key to success!  And without the proper tools, no one can successfully practice on his/her own after the clinic.  That said, no one will be barred from a beginning clinic because of lack of the proper tools.  However, should I believe that a human or horse is in danger due to lack of effective, safe equipment I will ask that participant to leave the arena.  And, I will not personally handle any horse not “wearing” the PNH equipment should the person need hands-on help. 

If a participant is initially reluctant to purchase the original Parelli equipment I have a set or two of loaner equipment available for use during the first day.

Do you do assessments at clinics?

 Yes.  As long as the clinic host has set aside time for live assessments, I'm happy to do them.  However, participants should not expect to be assessed during the clinic and those who are participating in a Level 1 clinic for the first time will need to wait until they’ve had time to absorb the new knowledge and to practice on their own before assessing.

How much does it cost to have a live assessment?

The fee for a live assessment is $100/hour.  During a live assessment, I offer coaching when necessary.

How much does it cost to send in a videotaped assessment?

Please visit this page: Video Assessments & Video Coaching for more information on sending a video assessment to me directly.

How far in advance do I need to contact you about hosting and scheduling a clinic?

I'm scheduling now for 2009.