Cost vs. Price in Horse Clinics
I recently had a discussion where the person said they wanted to ride in an upcoming clinic, but asked, “Was it worth the money?”
This is where you need to evaluate the difference in Cost vs. Price.
Say the clinic is $500. The $500 is the price.
(This post isn’t about the cost of what a host & clinician incur, but you as the rider.)
From a price perspective, you spend $500 to spend 6–8 hours in the presence of that clinician, and not all of it will even be horseback. Also, factor there are 14 other riders. It can be easy to view it as I have to share my time, so I get even less one-on-one time. Is it worth it?
Now, let's look at it from the perspective of Cost. The clinic doesn't just cost $500. The amount of potential knowledge that you can gain can and often will literally change the trajectory of your life/career with horses.
You may learn one small thing that will cause you to shave a second off your time, allowing you to pull more checks, or consistently increase your maneuver by half a point, earning more points and ribbons, or maybe even teach your horse how to perform something new that allows you to sell them for $2000 more.
Is that worth the cost?
There is also a great cost in not gaining the friendships and networking opportunities that come with going to a clinic. You may meet someone there who one day will help you buy/sell your next horse or hire you to train their horse. Or may even turn into a best friend and traveling partner.
Is that worth the cost?
And for those 14 other riders? With the cost of that $500, you get to not only take a super lesson for yourself, but you also get to take 14 other super lessons in the same day, watching 14 different horse & rider combinations with 14 different sets of challenges and how each one worked through. 14 other examples of what worked and what didn't that you can think back on down the road when you're on a different horse, because you would have never experienced it on your other horse during a one-on-one.
Is that worth the cost?
And if you can't afford to ride in a clinic, then by all means go and audit!
As Warren Buffett says, “The most important investment you can make is in yourself.”
Go to the clinic.
