One of the most important exercises you can teach your horse is how to back up. The better you can get a horse to back up, the more respectful and responsive he will be in everything else that you ask him to do. A good backup is the foundation of the stop as well as collection. In the Fundamentals Series, Clinton teaches his horses four separate methods of backing:
Method 1: Tap the Air
Method 2: Wiggle, Wave, Walk and Whack
Method 3: Marching
Method 4: Steady Pressure
Each of these four methods share a common overall goal: To get the horse to back up and move respectfully out of your space any time you ask. It’s important to teach the horse each method, not just one or two, because each one teaches him to back away from a different type of pressure. The four methods are designed to be taught in the order listed above for your safety and to be best understood by the horse.
Clinton will be teaching a group of horsemen the four methods of backing up in Mason City, Iowa at the North Iowa Events Center, May 19th – 21st. While all participant spots are taken, spectators are welcome to watch all three days of the Fundamentals Clinic. Other than being in the arena with Clinton and his clinicians, there is no better way to add to your horsemanship knowledge.
The clinic will begin daily at 9 a.m. and conclude around 5 p.m. The gates to the facility will open at 8 a.m. for spectators, and the day will include an hour lunch break. Learn more about the clinic and purchase your spectator tickets now on our website.
