March NWC Preview: Arizona Desert Adventure Pt. 3

Over the years Clinton Anderson from Downunder Horsemanship has developed a method for training horses regardless of their age, history, or any behavioral issues and past traumas. Join him on his weekly endeavors of tackling some of the most challenging situations with problem horses, and problem owners. This week, we watch as Clinton demonstrate some advanced techniques from his Arizona Adventure Digital Download

The goal of this episode is to show viewers advanced techniques with training exercises that you can do out on the trail or in the desert. This is the third part of Clinton’s Arizona Adventure Digital Download, and he is excited to continue demonstrating new activities.

Clinton will be working with his horse Goose during this episode. Goose has been traveling with Clinton and is at random maturity. Clinton begins by having Goose practice lateral flexion. He says that regardless of the training level or age of a horse, it’s always important to work on lateral flexion to warmup and keep your horse engaged. Clinton compares practicing these moves to putting grease on a tractor—every day you just have to add a little bit. He then bends Goose around a little to carry on the warmup. This will help ensure that your horse is paying attention and listening to you, which is essential for safety out on the trail. All it takes is two or three minutes to achieve this. Bending is still lateral flexion, but now it’s lateral flexion while in speed or moving. Again, it’s a great way to ensure your horse is mentally dialed in before a ride.

After Clinton completes the warmup with Goose, he begins his ride down the wash. This ride may seem similar to the last few days, but Clinton is planning to execute more advanced techniques and alternative exercises. Even though Goose is well trained in riding, he’s a show horse, therefore it’s important to get him outside to use his feet. The method is for anybody, regardless of if you have a trial horse, a show horse, a recreational horse, or a competitive horse. You’ll want to make sure that your horse is well-rounded and prepared for anything. Remember, variety keeps it interesting for your horse, but consistency is what gets them trained.

Clinton tells us that it’s important to balance the two and allow your horse the opportunity to have a second career after their first one, especially if your horse is a show horse or into competitive riding. There’s just something about getting your horse outside, giving them a long ride with wet saddle pads and concentrated training. Like Gordon McKinley used to say, “You leave on a young horse, you come back on an old one.”

Clinton tells us that he finds cantering to be one thing that most people don’t do enough of with their horses. Steady miles are important because it allows you to really connect with your horse and get them to listen, relax, and build your confidence. However, a horse that gallops too fast, dips and dives, and is all over the place is not a horse for a beginner to learn how to lope on. It’s too hard for them to develop the confidence. Instead, start with the basics in the Clinton Anderson method and work your way up to more advanced training.

The Clinton Anderson method is the key to getting the most out of your partnership with your horse and we want everybody to experience the difference it will make. When you become a No Worries Club member for $19.99 a month, you get up to 50% discount on any of your purchases. You’ll also get eight digital videos, four digital journals a year, and access to the No Worries Club website, the largest collection of Clinton Anderson method material and resources in the world. If you want the ultimate experience, the premium membership is for you. You get all the benefits of the No Worries Club, a printed copy of our No Worries Club quarterly journal, and access to all the Clinton Anderson method and the professional series kit training videos. Altogether, that’s thousands of dollars of horse training and 20 years of horsemanship delivered right to your fingertips.

Start your digital training experience today. Visit our homepage and download the Downunder Horsemanship app to experience the Clinton Anderson method in a whole new way.