Hosting and Organizing a Centered Riding^® Clinic

 

Thank you for your interest in hosting a CR Clinic!

Here are some tips on hosting and organizing a Centered Riding Clinic:

 

Type of Clinic

Determine what type of clinic you will hold, see: Types of Clinics. If Centered Riding is new to your area, an Open Centered Riding Clinic is advised. Your clinic may be open to riders of various disciplines, or it may have an emphasis on a specific discipline such as Dressage, Western, etc. An Open Centered Riding Clinic is the easiest type of clinic to fill, and it can help local instructors qualify to take the CR Instructor Certification Course. 

If you wish to organize a CR Instructor Certification Course, you should know that instructors must meet certain requirements to participate and be eligible for certification. (Please see Organizing a CR Instructor Certification Course.) It is best to have at least 6 instructors who wish to participate before scheduling a Centered Riding Instructor Certification Course.

Centered Riding Instructor Update Clinics are for updating and continuing education for certified Centered Riding Instructors. If the Updating Instructors are limited, these may sometimes be combined with an Open Centered Riding Clinic. (Please see Organizing a CR Instructor Update and Open/Update Clinics for more information.)

Finding & Hiring a Clinician

Only Level III and IV Centered Riding Instructors/Clinicians are authorized to teach Open Centered Riding® clinics.  Level IV Centered Riding Instructors/Clinicians are the only clinicians authorized to teach CR Instructor Update clinics and CR Instructor Certification Courses. Sometimes (with permission from the Level IV Clinician and the clinic organizer) a Centered Riding Instructor may assist at a clinic, which helps them meet updating or upgrading requirements. Usually the clinic organizer provides meals and lodgings for these assistants.

Centered Riding Inc. does not assign clinicians to teach clinics. Clinic organizers should choose a clinician from the list of CR Clinicians, and contact the clinician directly to make arrangements.

• For a list of CR Clinicians, use the Instructor Search Form to search for a Level III or Level IV Clinician, or click here.
• Each clinician sets their own clinic fees, maximum number of clinic riders/lesson sessions, clinic schedule and other requirements, and is responsible for scheduling their own clinics, travel arrangements, and other clinic details.
  • Although CR Clinicians can teach Centered Riding Clinics for riders of all disciplines, some are more experienced than others in specific disciplines or areas of expertise. If your riders will be predominately from one discipline,  discuss this with your clinician. 
• Contact clinicians to find out their availability, rates, maximum number of clinic riders, how they organize their clinics, etc. 
  • If the clinician is flying in, ask what airport they fly from, so you can incorporate the cost of their ticket (if you are paying for it) into your clinic expenses. If driving, determine the distance and mileage charges

Budgeting and Organizing the Clinic

When setting fees for clinic participants, consider the following clinic expenses:  

• Clinician’s fees, travel expenses plus accommodations and meals
• Arena and/or portable toilet rental
• Participant hand-outs and information
• Cost of advertising the clinic 
• Liability insurance
• Cost of lunch, snacks or other meals, if included in the clinic
• Other clinic expenses

When setting clinic fees, plan your fees and budget so that the clinic will cover expenses even if it is not completely full.  One suggestion is to add up your anticipated total costs and divide it by 75% of the maximum number of participants. (Consult your clinician for maximum number of clinic riders.) Also, consider charging fees for auditors or spectators, and for CR Instructor Update Clinics or CR Instructor Certification Courses, for Student Riders.

• Require payment in advance (full payment is suggested) in order to reserve a spot in the clinic. 
• Encourage people to come and audit at a reasonable fee (they may want to ride in the next clinic!)
• Set a cancellation policy. (You may choose to say, "no refund if a clinic rider cancels, unless their spot can be filled.”)
• Maintain a waiting list, in case of cancellations. 
• Your CR Clinician can help you organize the clinic schedule, answer questions, and give you other tips.

• Indoor or covered ring is preferred, in case of bad weather. Riding ring should be large enough for at least 4 riders to work safely together.
• Space for groundwork and/or lecture (can be held in an arena or outdoors in good weather), with seating and space to sit, move and lie down.  Mini trampoline and/or therapy/gym balls are useful if available.
• Cones, poles, jump standards, etc, depending on the disciplines being taught.
• On-site stabling for horses brought by participants.-Lesson horses (if available) for participants who cannot bring a horse.
• P.A. System with wireless microphone is desirable, especially for a large arena.
• Toilet facilities (it may be necessary to rent a portable toilet).
• If possible, provide lunch on site (this should be covered by clinic fee and auditor fee);  this  promotes discussion among riders and clinician. Coffee or other refreshments are appreciated by participants. 
• Parking sufficient for clinic participants, horse trailers.
• List of nearby reasonably priced restaurants and hotels, if you anticipate out-of-town participants.

Clinic Organization and Publicity

• Arrange for liability insurance to cover the organizer and the host facility. Many clinicians carry their own professional liability insurance, but you should make sure you are covered. 
• Create a clinic flyer (have clinician check it for accuracy) and post it locally and online.
• Your Clinician can list your clinic on the Centered Riding Clinic Schedule on the CR website free of charge. 
• Create a clinic registration form (ask clinician for help) with a liability release. 
• Keep records of participants who have signed up and payments. 
• Compile information to be sent to clinic participants (schedule, directions, other information) 
• Create a clinic schedule and assign riders to riding times and/or groups.   
• Publicize your clinic online, locally, and in equestrian publications and calendars, on your website, and in social media. Most clinics are filled by word of mouth through contact with local stables, clubs, instructors, etc.

 

Community Search