Tips
What is the difference between a Host and a
Coordinator?
A Host is the person who owns or rents the facility that is to be used for the event. A Coordinator is the person who
plans, promotes, organizes and runs the clinic. Sometimes a clinic is both Hosted and Coordinated by the same person, but
usually they are not.
If you are interested in Hosting a clinic at your facility but you do not want the responsibilities associated with
Coordinating the event, contact me directly.
What will my responsibilities, as host and/or coordinator, be?
If you are simply Hosting the clinic and there is another person doing the Coordinating, your only responsibility is making
sure that you are a good Host! Being on hand to show people where to park and where their stalls are located is important,
as well as being available in case of an emergency (power outage, etc). It is also your responsibility to collect the
stall deposits from the Coordinator for those people who reserved a stall ahead of time, and collect money from those who
did not.
As clinic Coordinator, you have a very different job. You will be working directly with me via phone and email prior to
the event. 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 locate and book the facility, make arrangements for
stabling horses, catering lunches, ensuring there are enough toilets, and
answering people’s questions via phone and email. You’ll take registrations and
payments, arrange for *volunteers to help me with clinic set-up, arrange for volunteers to help you with check-in and keep a list of all names, addresses, phone
numbers and email addresses for everyone who comes to the clinic so that I can add these to my contact list.
You’ll arrange for any local advertising in the paper or on the radio and I will provide you with flyers and posters to
distribute. You’ll provide me with a list of information regarding directions, information about the facility, stabling details,
health requirements, motel and camping accommodations, what they need to bring to the
clinic,etc. so that I can post this on the website for students to download. You’ll collect and keep track of the
registration fees and keep me informed of progress and any problems.
Once someone has registered, you will send them out a rider/spectator package in the mail.
*Volunteers audit the clinic
free of charge.
Will I get paid for my hosting/coordinating
efforts?
Although most people volunteer to be a Host or Coordinator purely because they are so passionate about the program and wish to
promote it, there is compensation for being a local
Host/Coordinator. Facility Hosts have the choice of participating in the clinic at no charge or being paid a facility
rental fee.
Clinic coordinators are required to sign a booking agreement and send me a deposit to secure the clinic dates. Then, if
the clinic minimum is met, they receive a free spot in the clinic and 100% of the auditor proceeds. For clinics that are
full (10 participants) I will often give my coordinators additional gifts to show my appreciation for a job well done. Like
horsemanship, you will get out of it what you put into it.
Do
you travel and put on clinics outside of British Colubia &
Ontario?
Yes. Depending on the circumstances, I can either
fly or drive to your location. If you live in another country and are willing to secure the appropriate work visa, I am happy
to teach internationally as well.
What levels do you teach?
I’m licensed to teach levels 1 through 4. When I travel quite a distance to teach a clinic, sometimes the Coordinator 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 $0.90/km (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. For certain areas that I teach in frequently (Ontario) I have incorporated my travel
fees into my Instruction Fees, which makes setting the cost for the clinic simpler for the Coordinator.
What size facility will I
need?
The ideal facility for 10 riders is an arena that’s 100' x 200' with decent space and sightlines for auditors. For more
advanced groups, however, sometimes a large field close by is ideal, especially if there are
natural obstacles such as logs and water. Level 1 clinics definitely require enclosed areas, though.
Roundpens are great for
Liberty work, but not necessary if we have an arena. It's great 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 ), but depending on the level of the group
this can change. If your facility does not have an indoor riding arena, it is good to 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 coordinating 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 clinics will offer a hot lunch or have a catering
truck on-site.
You will need to have bathroom facilities or a
porta-potty available to participants/spectators.
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,but my minimum is 6 students.
If you have a smaller facility, then the number of
participants might have to be limited. Please contact me
(pnhclinics@yahoo.com) directly if you are unsure if your facility would be suitable.
Can children participate in the clinics with their
horses?
Yes! In general, children 14 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. I make every effort to locate quality affordable facilities to help keep clinic costs as low as
possible.
What should I charge the
spectators?
An spectator fee is usually around $25-$30/day, but this is decided by the clinic Coordinator and can vary. Some of my
Coordinator offer discounts if you register early or purchase tickets for more than one day. Sometimes riders are given
complimentary spectator passes which they can give away or sell.
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?
Due to they dynamic nature of the currency exchange market, I do not provide Parelli equipment for purchase at clinics. I like to say that I am in the business of
education, not retail! You can support me
with your commission by shoping for all your Parelli equipement via the 'Shop' link on my website, www.fawnanderson.com. This link directs you to the Parelli website
but I am credited with the sale. So thank you! Items ship very fast and this gives you the most up to date products and pricing, as well as specials and discounts.
What sort of horse should people bring?
Bring to the clinic a horse you can walk, trot/gait and canter on—on
purpose! (Unless it is a Ground Skills Clinic) The first three levels in Pat’s program are about teaching the human and 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 4-8 weeks before the date of
the clinic. To be eligible for Early Bird discount you must pay in full by the cut-off date. The full class tuition is
required to guarantee the participant a position in the clinic. A refund will be given if the participant gives at least
a 30-day notice of cancellation and is able to replace (him)herself with another qualified candidate. It can be helpful
to check with the Coordinator to see if there is a waiting list to contact other students from. In the event of elective
cancellation, deposit will not be refunded.
Do you allow pictures or videos?
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.
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 progressing in
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, it
is difficult to successfully practice on your 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 effective
equipment. Improper equipment can cause the horse to be confused about the message which
can result in having to be firmer than I believe is fair to the horse.
If a participant is initially reluctant to purchase the
original Parelli equipment there is occassionally a set or two of loaner
equipment available for use during the first day.
Do you do assessments at clinics?
The new way to assess for a Level is though a 10min taped 'Audition' for that level. These tapes are sent to the Parelli center in either FL or CO (Call the office to get
instructions) and the goal is for them to be reviewed within as little as a day upon being received. It's a great way to get an objective opinion of where you are at.
I do offer audition preparation sessions, where I can help you plan for your audition or give you some tips to clean up your skills and increase your chances of passing
a level. Each winter I personally do dozens of these assessments when I am at the Parelli Center riding and teaching.
How far in advance do I need to contact you about hosting
and Coordinating a clinic?
I'm scheduling as much as a year
in advance, so the earlier you contact me, the better your chances of getting
the dates you would like.
Fawn Anderson 