2024 Clinician Academy
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April 1 - May 17
Location
Downunder Horsemanship Ranch
Farmington,
AR
Training Tips
Training Tips
May 12, 2015
Training Tip: The Lightest Amount of Pressure
If a horse can feel a fly land on his hindquarters, he can certainly feel you picking up on the rein or lead rope, squeezing with your legs or sitting deeper in the saddle. No matter what you’re asking the horse to do, always ask with the lightest amount of pressure possible. Even if you […]
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Training Tips
May 5, 2015
Training Tip: Great Desensitizing Tool
Horses are naturally afraid of objects that move and make a noise, something that the plastic bag does both of. Desensitizing your horse to plastic bags will increase his tolerance of strange objects and acceptance of your tools. Remember, your goal as a horse trainer is to desensitize your horse to as many objects that […]
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Training Tips
April 28, 2015
Training Tip: A Two-for-One Special
Every horse has a thinking side to his brain, but until you show him how to use it, he doesn’t even know it exists. The thinking side is shoved way back in the corner of the horse’s brain. It’s like a tiny crystal ball sitting on a table covered up with an old tablecloth. Your […]
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Training Tips
April 21, 2015
Training Tip: The Sending Exercise
The Sending Exercise is a handy tool that can be used in a number of situations you encounter with your horse on a daily basis. As prey animals, horses are claustrophobic by nature, and when made to go through tight, narrow spaces, they naturally want to use the reactive side of their brains. This exercise […]
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Training Tips
April 14, 2015
Training Tip: Build Confidence With the One Rein Stop
The One Rein Stop is the first thing I teach every single rider in my clinics as soon as they get on the horse’s back. Why? Because once they realize that they can stop their horses anytime, anywhere, whenever they want, you wouldn’t believe the amount of confidence it gives them. I often refer to […]
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Training Tips
April 7, 2015
Training Tip: The Five Body Parts
It doesn’t matter what sport you do with your horse – western pleasure, dressage, trail, jumping, cutting, reining, etc., every single sport revolves around the horse being soft, supple and relaxed in order to perform his best. In order to get a horse soft and supple throughout his entire body, you need to concentrate on […]
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Training Tips
March 31, 2015
Training Tip: How Well Does Your Horse Lead?
Most horse owners don’t put a whole lot of thought into how their horse leads. In fact, most people think that leading is dragging the horse from point A to point B. The truth is, horses don’t magically know how to lead; it’s important to spend time to teach them how to. Teaching your horse […]
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Training Tips
March 24, 2015
Training Tip: A Staple Exercise
Lunging is one of the most used and abused exercises in the horse world. You can go to any horse show or training facility to see what I mean. Often you’ll see someone in the middle of an arena lunging a horse on a 60- or 70-foot lead rope. The horse is galloping around, he’s […]
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Training Tips
March 17, 2015
Training Tip: Expand the Comfort Zone
When you are desensitizing your horse to a new object, keep in mind that resistance is normal. Often, the reason for resistance is related to the horse’s desire for safety and comfort. Imagine a bull’s eye on a target.
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Training Tips
March 10, 2015
Training Tip: Work With Your Foal Now
Raising foals is a lot of fun. The thing to remember when you’re raising a foal is that the little things make a big difference – both good and bad. Using the Method to work with a foal just 10 to15 minutes a day for the first six weeks of his life will lay a […]
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