grinandbareit - 2015-11-14 3:21 PM With so many clinics out there, how do you choose? Even though I am a clinician and a coach, I am going to try to be as unbiased as possible in this post. What to look for depends a great deal on what your goals are. Ask yourself these questions... Do you want to be a professional rodeo cowgirl and haul and rodeo for a living? Do you want to buy and start young horses and go to the futurities? Are barrel racing and horses your hobby and so you want to learn as much as you can to make you and your horse the best team possible for the long haul? The barrel racing clinic that you attend depends on how you answer those questions... If the rodeo road is where you want to be, then find someone that has made that kind of horse and hauled to the rodeos. They can answer your questions and give you great information on how to do that. If you want to go to the futurities then go to the futurity trainer that has a good record and learn from them. BUT be sure to remember that these folks keep these horses for 18 months and then they're gone. They tend to do things to make them work NOW and don't think as much about the future. If you are like many of us that want to enjoy our horses, win a little and have a long term relationship with a horse or horses that we love, then find someone that trains for that kind of horse. They don't have to be famous. There are some amazing horse people that choose not to haul all over the country. I would make sure that they have won on and trained numerous horses, not just one horse. Watch their horses and make sure that they are the kind of horse you would want for yourself. Check with other people and see what they have to say. You can be a great horse-person but not be a great teacher. Bottom line... Look around and keep an open mind... Shop your clinic, expensive does NOT mean better. Ask around and check references. Look at their past attendees and see if they have improved after attending the clinic. Anyone can say they are a clinician, but the proof is ALWAYS in the pudding. Have a blessed day!