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Clinic Formats:

Start-Up Clinics: A Start-Up clinic is exactly that. The first clinic I give in an area is by definition a start-up clinic. Start-up clinics can take on several different forms depending upon how much clicker training experience a group has. Start-up clinics are usually two days. Once I have worked with a group, we can move beyond basics to the lessons described in the books and videos. The progression of clinics is as follows:

Start-up Beginner Clinic: A beginner clinic is geared towards novice clicker trainers. No prior clicker training experience is required of either the horse or the handler. The clinics will cover in detail the foundation Lessons of clicker training:
targeting, backing, head lowering, "happy faces", "the grown-ups are talking, please don't interrupt", and stand on a mat.

These lessons introduce the handler to the principles of clicker training. They give you tools to build polite manners and great emotional self-control in your horse. Clicker training creates eager, enthusiastic horses. I want to be certain that it also creates polite, good "citizens", Just like Kindergarten for children, these simple lessons are fun, easy for the horse to learn, but so important for building a solid, "good citizen" foundation.

Start-Up Intermediate: These clinics assume a basic understanding of clicker training and the material covered in the first two books and videos. The intermediate clinics build on the foundation of the Start-up Beginner Clinics. They assume that all of the horses have already been introduced to the clicker and are familiar with the foundation lessons.

These are primarily ground work clinics. We're looking at lateral flexions: what are they?; how do you introduce them to your horse?; what do you do with them once you've got them? In other words we are looking at the balance of the horse, both physical and emotional. How does he move? Is he stiff and braced? Does he crowd into his handler? Does he spook at his own shadow? What other training issues does he present? We'll be looking at safety and performance issues, so the lessons will include much of the material covered in the Step-By-Step book.

The overall focus of these clinics is to develop beautiful gaits, but to get there some horses may need "play therapy". They need to learn to blow bicycle horns, kick soccer balls and play "touch the goblin" games. So while trick training is not the main focus of these clinics, it is included as needed to build a horse's emotional stability.

In the intermediate clinics we will be looking at clicker compatible horse handling skills. Pressure and release of pressure can be combined with the clicker, but escalating pressure, and punishment "poison" the experience. We will look at poisoned cues: what are they, and how do we avoid them in training? For many people this involves a huge shift away from the horse training they have learned. So while horses can learn very fast in clicker training, their human teachers may take longer to process this intermediate phase of clicker training. Horses and handlers may progress very fast through the beginner and intermediate lessons, or they may encounter issues that take more time to resolve.

For groups that I have been working with the clinics evolve into:

Advanced Intermediate: Advanced intermediate clinics begin to carry the clicker into riding. One of the expressions I often use is: riding is just ground work where you get to sit down. So riding is dependent upon first building a solid foundation of ground handling skills. Once this is in place it is time to ride!

Riding can be divided into three phases.

Phase one is safety. What are the basic handling skills a rider needs to be safe in an unsafe situation? What does the horse need to be comfortable with so the rider never finds himself in an unsafe situation? Answer both those questions and you'll have a solid horse and rider team.

Phase Two is balance. Here we look at the core skills that develop beautiful gaits. A horse that moves well is beautiful to look at, feels like heaven to ride, and most importantly will stay sound for years. So riding performance is built on a core understanding of equestrian "t'ai chi".

Phase Three is Performance: Here we connect the core balance with performance sports. Performance sports include recreational trail riding, as well as dressage, jumping, and all the other sports we normally associate with that name.

Advanced Intermediate clinics cover ground work plus the riding fundamentals of phase one and two.

Advanced Clinics: Advanced clinics are for people I have been working with over a period of time. I know both the horses and the people well, and they are familiar with my work and have been using the lessons at home. The main focus of the advanced clinics has shifted from the ground work of the preceding clinics to riding. We are working towards the individual performance goals of each rider.

Which level clinic should I start with?

When I first started giving clinics I didn't divide them into different levels. Clicker training was new to the horse world, and all the clinics were by definition start-up clinics. It was easy to design a program knowing the material would be new to everyone attending. But then things became a little more complicated. I began to do repeat clinics. We'd have groups where half the people had already been through the initial start-up clinic. Their horses were clicker-wise. They wanted to move on, but the other half were clicker novices.

So the clinics covered a broader range of material, I developed the videos to support and accompany the clinics. I knew that whatever details I couldn't get to because of the time constraints of clinics were well covered in the videos. That freed up clinic time to cover material that is harder to put into books and videos.

Clicker training has continued to grow by leaps and bounds. The clinics have to keep changing to adjust to the ever changing needs of the clicker community. We've now reached a point where many people have a solid foundation of clicker basics. They have moved on into the more advanced levels of clicker training. I have clinic groups that I have been working with for six or seven years. The horses are truly knock your socks off gorgeous. I also have an ever growing demand for more beginner clinics at one end of the spectrum and requests for certification training for instructors at the other. So the clinics will continue to evolve and change to meet these many needs.

So who should attend which clinic? I'll answer that in an odd way. Obviously, I attend them all since I am giving them, and I have to say that I learn from them all. No matter how many times I go through the basics of the foundation lessons, the horses always teach me something new. And it goes without saying that I learn from all the experienced clicker-trained horses that I meet.

So here is my answer to which clinic you should attend: If you are an experienced clicker trainer, and there is a start-up/beginner clinic in your area, by all means attend. And better yet, bring your clicker-wise horse with you. The first time clicker trainers will be inspired by your horse, and it is such fun to share clicker training. You'll have a wonderful weekend. One of the best ways to learn is to teach, and these groups always benefit from having experienced clicker trainers joining in.

If you are a first-time clicker trainer and the only clinic in your area is an intermediate or advanced clinic, by all means come. Only here I would add, but do your homework. Watch the videos, familiarize yourself with the "Step-By-Step" book. That way you'll understand the terminology, and you'll know how I teach. You won't be lost when we start talking in "code" referring to exercises such as the "touch the goblins" game.

What will you learn at an advanced clinic? If you are a beginner, where you can head with clicker training. You'll still need to teach your horse the foundation lessons, but the Intermediate and advanced clinics will show you the broader picture: what does a clicker trained horse look like?; what can you do with clicker training?; where can you head with it once you have a solid foundation of good manners? So, yes, by all means, if you are a beginner, do come to the intermediate and advanced clinics. Just plan on leaving your horse at home.

Should I bring my horse to a clinic? What level clinic will he fit into?

It's important here to understand that beginner, intermediate and advanced refer to your horse's clicker training experience, not his general training level. So a grand prix dressage horse who is brand new to clicker training would be a beginner horse. He may know piaffe and passage, but he still needs to learn the rules of this new "game". On the other hand, a youngster who has been clicker trained since birth may be an advanced horse. He may not be old enough yet to ride, but he is clicker-wise and knows how the game is played.

So place your horse both by the training issues he has, and his level of clicker experience. If that grand prix horse has been well socialized, and has learned how to learn, he'll progress very quickly with clicker training. He'll transition fluidly into a clicker environment. A different horse may have a variety of training issues. His training will progress more slowly as his owner untangles the many layers of his reistence.

So should you bring your horse? And will it be worthwhile attending a clinic if you don't?

I've been giving clinics for a chunk of years now, and I would say that preparation is a major key to getting the most out of your clinic experience.

First prepare yourself. Learn about clicker training. Introduce your horse to the clicker via targeting. Many of the concerns people have before they start clicker training evaporate once they see how it really works. Those questions disappear, but others may emerge. Introducing your horse to the clicker before the clinic gives you a head start on formulating the questions you need to be asking. And the more experience you and your horse have with clicker training, the more you'll get from the clinic and the further into the work you can go.

Second prepare your horse. If you have a youngster who has never been away from home, prepare for the clinic by taking him on short trips. If your horse is fretting about being away from the security of his home environment, he won't learn as much as he might if he were more relaxed about traveling. And having him settled and relaxed certainly makes the weekend more enjoyable and productive for you.

For those who keep your horses turned out, most clinic facilities offer stalls for your horses. I've seen horses who were perfectly fine with the training, but who became nervous wrecks when they had to stay in a stall over night. So get your horse used to being in a stall. This isn't just for his comfort at clinic and shows. If your horse should ever be injured and require stall rest, he will tolerate it better if he is comfortable being in. So before you take him off to a clinic where your options for overnight stabling may be limited, get your horse used to being in overnight.

Be realistic. At clinics there is a lot going on. If you aren't comfortable handling your horse at home, you may not be ready to take him off to a clinic where he is likely to be even more of a handful. Especially if you are dealing with an aggressive horse, you may be better off leaving your horse at home so you aren't distracted by concerns for your safety and his.

And don't worry that you won't be learning as much if you don't have your horse with you. When you attend a clinic without your horse you can focus so much better on what others are doing. You can watch all the horses and learn from each one. You can learn the new handling skills you'll need to be safe and comfortable around your horse. When he's working well with you at home, you'll know you're ready to take him to a clinic. Because you've done your homework that first clinic will be a positive, constructive learning experience for both of you.

Directions to Brigadoon Farm and Area Motels and Airports

Local Motels

There are several motels within a five mile radius of Brigadoon Farm. We recommend the Best Value Inn and Suites, 1588 South Highway 35 Bypass. 281-331-0335. Room rates average about $60 per night. Each room has a microwave, refrigerator, cable tv, iron, and more. A continental breakfast is served daily. This hotel is located about 18 miles from Houston Hobby Airport. It is also located next door to a Best Western (281-331-4545 at $74 per day) and a Comfort Inn (281-756-8800 at $79 per day). All of these hotels have websites if you would like to know more about them.

Directions to Brigadoon Farm

Brigadoon Farm is located one-half hour south of the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. From the North or North-East take I45 south to FM 528 west. Go 10 miles and turn left on to the stop light on Victory Lane. Brigadoon Farm is one mile on the left side of the road immediately after crossing the bridge. From the North-West take 288 South to highway 6. Go East on highway, through Alvin to Bypass 35. Go North on Bypass 35 one mile to FM 517. Go right (East) on 517 about fifty feet. Then make a left (North) turn on Clifford Street. Go about three miles. Brigadoon Farm will be on the right side of the road.

Houston Hobby Airport is located about 17 miles from Brigadoon Farm. To get to Brigadoon Farm from the airport, as you exit the airport, stay in the left hand lane and make a left hand turn on to Airport Blvd. Stay on Airport Blvd for about a half mile until you reach the intersection of highway 35. Go left on highway 35 (south) for 15.2 miles until you reach the stoplight at FM528. Take a left on FM 528 until the next stoplight (less than one half mile) which is Victory Lane. Turn right on Victory Lane. Brigadoon Farm is one mile on the left side of the road immediately after crossing the bridge.