What are the Benefits of Horse Expos?

How often do you get the opportunity to see several well-known and up-and-coming clinicians at the same time…in one place…for FREE?!

No matter what discipline you follow, you can always learn something from clinicians who specialize in other areas.  i.e. if you are a western rider, you can get quicker turns/stops, etc. by learning some of the bending techniques and collection taught in dressage. 

Everybody subscribes to "horse magazines" and they are great, especially now that photography has come such a long way...everyone knows...a picture is worth 1000 words.  But, the stop action of a photo can never quite tell the "whole" story.  Seeing a demo from start to finish can. The same goes for videos...they are much better than still photos, but only in a clinic or at an expo do you get the chance to ASK QUESTIONS and GET ANSWERS from the clinicians themselves!

If you check your schedule, plan your day, you can learn much from the demonstrations, seminars and talks.  Choose the demonstrations and lectures that you want to attend based on the description of the subject matter, rather than by the clinician’s name. Don’t ever let your mind get clouded or caught up with the main headliner names and the thought that you ONLY want to see their demos. Up-and-coming trainers who are trying to prove themselves and get their names known will present some of the best training methods and the freshest ideas. These new trainers are generally more thorough and will present clear, concise and easily applied methods. Always go into a demo with an open mind so that any pre-conceived training notions you may have won’t conflict with the training methods you have come to watch and learn from. Let your mind process what you’ve seen and don’t evaluate the positive and or negative points of the demo until after you walk away.

When watching a demo, ask yourself, if you went home and applied what you just learned to your horse, would the 3 most important rules in training apply? These rules are: 1. You can’t get hurt, 2. The horse can’t get hurt and 3. The horse has to be as calm or calmer at the end of the lesson. If any of these fundamental rules were violated in the training method you just saw demonstrated then it would not be a safe technique for you to attempt at home. Don’t watch a "circus act" and get caught up in buying training gimmicks that promise to get the job done. If you didn’t learn, in the demo, how to accomplish the training goal, buying the promoted videos, tack, sticks, etc. will not help you when you get home. Remember, equipment does NOT train the horse it’s the hands holding the equipment that do the training.

There are always plenty of booths which display the "latest and greatest" in the horse product world.  Many times you can get a free sample of something you've read about and have been "dying to try" but you just didn't want to spend the money or take a chance on mail order.  Once again, you can see, touch, and sometimes even "try" the product. Some of the best deals on horse-related items can be found at expos.

The promoters and organizers of the expos do their utmost to offer the public not only the best clinicians, but also some of the best experts on equine related issues like pasture management, pest control, veterinary medicine, etc. Take advantage of the expertise to gain as much knowledge as possible.

Most of the expos are in the wintertime, when you have the "I can't really ride my horse doldrums".  It's a great way to get out, see and learn new things, possibly see some old friends, meet new friends, and just spend some time in the "land of equine bliss"! 

To contact Kenny, or to learn more about his schedule or training programs visit www.kennyharlow.com.