When attending a clinic one must remember a few, considerate and courteous rules regardless of the reason of attendance and regardless of whether you agree with the clinician or not.

1.  You are at the clinic as a GUEST. This means that someone else has opened up his or her private home or stable to YOU for YOUR benefit. Think of how you would like others to behave in YOUR stable, YOUR home and kindly give the host the same courtesies.

2. Do NOT feed any animals, horses or otherwise, without asking the OWNER first. The animals may have health issues (such as glucose or insulin resistance) that may disallow certain "treats" or foods. This is especially true where there are rescue horses. Feeding treats without permission may cause adverse behaviors or have serious consequences in the health of the animal.

3.  Keep your disagreements for the question and discussion portion of the clinic. Do NOT constantly interrupt with *your* beliefs or disagreements when the clinician is speaking. This not only causes confusion for the other people attending but also disrupts the clinic schedule.

4.  Be courteous of ALL attendants at a clinic regardless of their level of competency or knowledge. Put downs, sarcastic remarks or answers are a sure deterrent to learning and a clinic environment is one for learning. This kind of attitude is also hurtful to others.

5.  Whisperings between attendants is to be expected at times but when they are constant, it becomes disruptive. Someone who really WANTS to hear may not be able to do so and may miss some key points in the lecture or discussion.

6.  It is always "OK" to disagree with something that someone has said but please, if you're going to disagree do it with RESPECT. Respectful debate is always a healthy learning environment when both debating persons are respectful and keep on topic. I, for one, enjoy debating pertinent points with others. Debating allows each person to think and I always learn something new when debating with a fellow enthusiast. It also helps to clarify something and perhaps tell the clinician, improvements are needed in order to make things more definitive and clear for the participants.

7.  Keep an open mind even if you're gone to the clinic with the intent to check out the clinician -- you just may learn something new.

8.  If you must leave early, that's well and good. Do so gracefully and quietly continuing to be courteous and pleasant to others on the property.

9. Oh, be ON TIME for the start of the clinic but if you are late then enter quietly and try not to disrupt the proceedings if they've already started.

10. If you've not paid prior to the clinic, be prompt to pay your fee to the appropriate person.

11. If you've received handouts and do not wish to take them home with you, leave them in the condition they were given to you so that perhaps someone else might benefit from their use.

These simple rules may seem like "All the things I learned in Kindergarten" but there seem to be a few people who forget some of these simple rules. Be sure you're not one of them.

If you have other 'peeves' about clinics and attending students and would like to see them posted, please email them to me at caballus@charter.net

I would be happy to review them and post them if they are apropos.