2024 Clinician Academy
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Collection should feel light in your hands, not heavy. In other words, don’t worry about where your horse’s head is at; you’re only concerned with how he feels in your hands. I tell people that it’s called a soft feel, not a soft look. That’s the difference between my method and some of the others […]
Read MoreOnly stop working your horse when he has a good attitude and is respecting you as the leader, or at the very least, has a better attitude than when you started your training session. When horses first come to the ranch for training, especially if they’ve been disrespectful for a while, they get worked more […]
Read MoreIf you show your horse in an event with patterns, like reining or dressage, don’t practice the pattern from start to finish during training sessions. Doing so is likely to cause your horse to anticipate the next maneuver and get ahead of you. Taking your horse through the same patterns over and over is not […]
Read MoreBe smart about the trails you take your horse on, being sure to take his experience, your experience and the type of trail into account. For example, if you’re taking your horse out on the trail for the first time, I recommend riding in an open area where you have plenty of room to move […]
Read MoreVertical flexion is something that you’ll build on with each give. First the horse has to understand that when you pick up on the reins and apply pressure with your legs he needs to maintain whatever gait he’s in and give to the pressure. As soon as he understands that concept, then you can ask […]
Read MoreWhen it comes to training your horse, your imagination is your greatest tool. The more creative you can be in your lessons, the more interested your horse will be in his job. You’ve heard me say, “Consistency is your greatest ally and inconsistency is your greatest enemy.” And that’s absolutely true.
Read MoreIf you’re having trouble with your horse getting ahead of you, stop and assess the situation. Without realizing it, you may be unintentionally giving your horse “pre-cues” to a maneuver. When I was riding Mindy regularly, I had to be very careful of this. Because she was so in tune to me after 13 years […]
Read MoreWhen I introduce backing up to a horse, I always start by yielding the horse’s hindquarters first and then asking the horse to back up a step. By yielding the horse’s hindquarters, you’re putting energy in his feet and then just redirecting it backwards. Think about it like this – what’s the hardest part about […]
Read MoreWhen you first teach a horse something, it’s a concept lesson. From there, you’ll work on perfecting the exercise. Each time you work with the horse, you’ll look for a little more improvement.
Read MorePeople often complain to me about their horse leaning against the bit and pulling on the reins. “He has a hard mouth, Clinton. How do I fix him?” they’ll ask.
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