Great Clinic By Hall of Famer Charlie Smith
Author: Chandra Morris
Date published: May 6 2008
NRHA Hall of Famer Charlie Smith gave YRHA a run for its money and put on a super clinic for 12 riders at Sliders Arena in Manhattan May 2-3, 2008. Participants and spectators included rookies, non pros, a reined cow horse trainer, and a couple of green reiners.
Kicking off the clinic by assessing the assembled riders’ knowledge of penalties (what they are, where they occur, and how many points), Smith offered insight into the judge’s perspective and made it a point to encourage riders to recognize penalties as they occur. Throughout the clinic, he drove the point home by inviting the riders to watch each other perform maneuvers and afterwards asking if anyone saw penalties.
Following the penalty seminar, Smith assessed each rider and horse pair’s circles and rollbacks, offering suggestions to help improve the maneuvers. In some cases, he recommended that the rider try changing his/her riding style. In others, he suggested specific exercises to help the horse improve in the maneuver.
The second day of the clinic, Smith led the riders through lead changes and stops. Very few will be able to forget his booming voice calling out to each rider to “build, Build, BUILD” in the rundown to the stop.
To conclude the clinic and give riders a chance to test their newfound skills, Smith mocked up a pattern that included all the elements: circles, speed changes, turnarounds, lead changes, stops, rollbacks, and backing. One by one, the riders ran the pattern and demonstrated their understanding of Smith’s teachings. Did they meet with a measure of success? You bet! As one spectator commented, “Everyone got something out of the clinic.”
Known for his own achievements as a non pro and open rider, Smith is equally well known for the non pro clients he has coached to world championships. YRHA was fortunate to be able to bring him to Montana for a clinic, especially on a weekend when he had non pros riding in competition in Michigan.
The legacy Smith left the riders in this clinic includes exercises and pointers that could very well factor into success in the show pen. 