Julie Phillips
As an auditor at my first RPH clinic, I fully expected to be rendered invisible in some dusty corner and never speak a word to the clinician. Boy, was this clinic different! Not only did Robbie actively engage the auditors throughout the clinic, but he also took time during the lunch break to chat with me personally (ask him about his fox-hunting experiences, he has some great stories!). If you’re an auditor, expect to participate by asking or answering questions, holding a horse or two, or even helping with setup or demonstrations. You’ll feel a part of the action and therefore, be more invested. As an auditor, you also come away feeling acknowledged and valued rather than a second-class citizen who’s not as profitable as the riding participants. You leave feeling like it’s the best clinic you’ve ever attended, partly because of the content (which is excellent) and partly because you were so readily included in the group and by the clinician. Robbie even remembers auditors’ names, which is impressive.
Robbie’s clinics are laid-back, informal and fun. He sets a non-judgmental, non-intimidating tone and fosters a learning environment where participants need not be afraid to ask dumb questions and make mistakes. In fact, he never hesitates to point out anything he could have done better himself, and then show you how to fix it. He laughs at himself, praises every horse he rides as “the smartest horse in the world,” and spins everything to a constructive end. He’s encouraging to participants, but not in an empty “you can do it” way – he follows through and proves to the person that they can do it. I also loved the way he took time to help people work through issues with their horses, yet didn’t hesitate to hop on each horse himself to fix a problem. Sometimes watching what he did as a highly-skilled horseman made the process so much clearer than seeing a student struggle through the steps. Both perspectives are helpful to auditors, and Robbie covered them both.
It’s rare to find a horseman who’s a master at his craft – think “doctoral level in horsemanship” – yet can (and even wants to) explain concepts in simple terms to riders who are still in “grade school.” He’s down-to-earth and open-minded, with a surprisingly eclectic background. The clinic was individualized and flexible. Instead of sticking to a rigid plan, Robbie changed up activities on the fly if the horses or riders clearly needed something different at the moment.
At the beginning of the clinic, I was skeptical. A lot of people can spout off great ideas but only the horse can tell you if they actually know their stuff. Robbie knows his stuff, and then some. When he started working with the first horse, I thought, “That’s interesting, I wonder if that will work?” Within 10 minutes, I was thinking, “Wow, what did he just do and how can I learn more?” Every horse Robbie worked with came out remarkably improved – not just cooperating, but showing relaxation, softness, confidence, and curiosity. Many clinicians can get horses to do what they want, but Robbie gets them to want to do it and feel good about what they’re doing. He’s not tied to a specific method or formula, but rather uses his “feel” and a wide range of options to treat each horse as an individual. He knows when to stick it out, and when to switch gears; when to ramp it up, and when to quiet down; when to push harder, and when to quit; when to stick to the rules, and when to break them.
I’d encourage anyone who wants to become a better horseperson to pursue instruction with Robbie. If you can’t ride in the clinic, come as an auditor. It’s more affordable than auditing events with big-name clinicians, and honestly, you’ll get way more out of the experience than you would from many of the more well-known natural horsemanship celebrities. Robbie’s “feel” and skills are up there with the best in the industry, but he’s actually accessible to riders of a wide range of skills and disciplines. That makes all the difference in the world.