Tips on Organizing a Centered Riding^® Clinic

If you are interested in organizing a Centered Clinic here are some tips on how to go about it.

Finding & Hiring a Clinician
Only Level III and IV Centered Riding Instructors/Clinicians are authorized to teach Open Centered Riding® clinics and only Level IV Centered Riding Instructors/Clinicians are authorized to teach Instructor Update clinics and Instructor Courses. Sometimes Level IV Clinicians have a Centered Riding Instructor come with them to assist at the clinic to meet part of that instructor’s updating or upgrading requirements. Usually the clinic provides meals and lodgings for these assistants.

• To get a list of instructors, use our Instructor Search Form on our website doing searches by Instructor Level
• Each clinician sets their own daily rate, expenses, maximum number of clinic riders/lessons and is responsible for scheduling their own clinics and whether or not they require a deposit to hold the dates
• Different clinicians have different areas or disciplines of expertise
  
  • Although they can teach riders of all disciplines some are more experienced than others in specific disciplines
• Contact several clinicians to find out their daily rates, availability, maximum number of clinic riders, how they like their clinics run, etc
  • If your riders will be predominately from one discipline check to make sure that the clinician is experienced with that discipline
  • If the clinician is flying in find out what airport they fly out of so that you can incorporate the cost of their ticket (if you are paying for it) into your clinic expenses

Budgeting and Organizing the Clinic
Before you can set the fees for participants make certain you have accounted for the following clinic costs

• Clinician’s fees, travel expenses plus accommodations and meals
• Arena rental
• Telephone – long distance calls
• Participants hand-outs (usually about 10 pages each)
• Cost of brochures advertising the clinic plus postage
• Local advertising
• Other costs

In setting your participant’s clinic fee take your anticipated total costs and divide it by 75% of the maximum number of people that would fill the clinic

• If the clinician’s maximum number of riders is 16 then divide your costs by 12
• If the clinician’s maximum number of riders is 12 then divide your costs by 8
  • That way if the clinic does not fill (first-time clinics sometimes do not fill), you as the organizer, do not lose money
  • Encourage people to come and audit at a reasonable fee (they may want to ride in the next clinic!)
  • Once you’ve hired your clinician she will help you organize the daily clinic schedule and give you other tips

Facilities & Amenities

• Preferably an indoor or covered ring in case of bad weather
• Ring should be of sufficient size for four riders to work safely in
• Cones, poles, jump standards etc depending on the disciplines being taught
• Some clinicians prefer a P.A. System with wireless mike if they are teaching in a large arena
• Large area for daily un-mounted awareness lessons
  • Mini trampoline and/or Therapy/Gym balls are great if you have them
• On-site stabling and/or horses available for use in the clinic
• Including lunch in the clinic fees so that everyone eats together is often done and promotes discussion among the riders and clinician
• Toilet Facilities
  
• Nearby reasonably priced restaurants and hotels if you anticipate out-of-town participants