Clinic Descriptions
Which class should I take?
If you are unsure of which class to take, send me an e-mail and let me know.
Level 1 – Getting Started
In order to have a partnership with a horse you need to understand their language. Natural Horsemanship takes you step by step through learning how to communicate with your horse. Horses have survived for centuries using Opposition Reflex, which is doing the opposite of what Predators want you to do. This language can be broken down into games that horses play. If you master these games you can teach your horse anything you want to. What an amazing focus for a clinic! When you realize that Opposition Reflex is the reason you get frustrated, disillusioned, and get mediocre results with your horses, you’ll move into a whole new level of understanding about what you need to learn to make incomparable progress … and it doesn’t matter what riding experience level you’re at now.
This clinic introduces you to the basic concepts and skills of this program. The focus of this clinic will be starting and developing a strong lasting partnership with your horse on the ground therefore no prerequisite riding skills are required
Why start on the ground?
When you understand the horse’s language you will want to start building your communication on the ground first, so when you ride, it will be an easy transition. This also keeps you safe, allowing you to read your horse for any tightness before riding.
What will be covered:
- We will use simulations to help you clearly understand the concepts at this level
- Communication Basic Equine Psychology: Learn why horses do what they do and why force, fear and intimidation do not work
- Personal Space
- Learning Level 1 Patterns
- The Games: Learn how to communicate with your horse in their own language
- Opposition reflex: Learn to tell if fear or domination is the root of your horse’s resistance and what to do about it
- Saddling as a friendly game
Format: This is a two-day course with two three-hour teaching sessions each day. This clinic will emphasize theory and will be balanced with practical skills and activities.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.
Natural Horseman Equipment Needed: Rope Halter, 12 foot lead rope, training stick, and string, saddle & pad (possibly no riding in this clinic).
Level 2 Harmony
Once safety and basic skills are learned now we can build on these, and establish a deeper communication with our horse. Level 2 is about confidence. Most of all, you will begin to have even more fun with your horse now that you are safe and confident!
What we will cover:
- We will use simulations to help you clearly understand the concepts at this level
- Add purpose to the games: Learn to increase your online skills and add interest to the games with an obstacle, Level 2 Patterns
- Use of phases: from teaching to reinforcing
- Make vs. want: How can you help your horse to get exuberance?
- Transition to the 22 foot line
- Basic Liberty: Learn how to transition from online to liberty so your horse does not even know
- Introduction to Impulsion: Learn how straight lines and circles effect how horses think and how to begin a program to balance their whoa and go
- Introduction to riding Harmony Techniques and Patterns
- Proper Saddle Fitting Strategies
Format: This is a two day course with two three-hour teaching sessions each day. Each participant will only move on to riding if both the horse and rider are ready.
Prerequisite: . All participants should be comfortable walking, trotting and cantering their horses in an enclosed area prior to this clinic. You are not required to have attended a Level 1 clinic but a thorough understanding of the basic concepts and skills as presented in the home study pack is expected.
Natural Horseman Equipment Needed: Rope Halter, 12 foot line, 22 foot lead, carrot stick, savvy string, saddle, saddle pad, natural hackamore
Level 2 Advanced Harmony
Now we add more purpose and more challenges. Building towards Harmony. Level 2 is about confidence. Most of all, you will begin to have even more fun with your horse now that you are safe and confident!
What we will cover:
- We will use simulations to help you clearly understand the concepts at this level
- Transitions online: Learn how transitions build respect and attention
- Changes of direction online: Learn how body language and position influences your horse
- Sideways without a fence and in the saddle
- Games at liberty: Learn to set yourself up for this
- Liberty: Learn when it’s time to advance to liberty and when to go back online
- Leads: Learn how body position in both the horse and rider affects leads
- Simple Lead Changes
- 4 Savvys
- 9 step back up
- Advancing Fluidity Techniques
- Bridle Wisdom (Hackamore, Freestyle/Trail, Myer Cradle Bridle)
Format: This is a two day course with two three-hour teaching sessions each day. Approximately half the time will be spent with ground skills and half on riding skills. Each participant will only move on to riding if both the horse and rider are ready.
Prerequisite: All participants should be comfortable walking, trotting and cantering their horses in an enclosed area prior to this clinic. You are not required to have attended a Level 1 clinic but a thorough understanding of the basic concepts and skills as presented in the home study pack is expected.
Natural Horseman Equipment Needed: Rope Halter, 12 foot line, 22 foot line, saddle, saddle pad, stick and string, natural hackamore, and snaffle bridle, bareback pad is optional
Level 2/3 Freestyle and Trail Riding
Trail riding can be the most relaxing and enjoyable time spent with your horse…it can also be frustrating and frightening if you or your horse are not confident on the trail. Jigging, spooking and bolting are many of the problems a lot of students face when taking their horse into unfamiliar territory. You will learn how to Ride Out with Savvy and safety, you will learn ways to give you and your horse more confidence. You’ll start off online and mounted in an arena or playground. Then, with your new skills you’ll go on a trail ride and practice your new skills.
Don’t miss this opportunity to go on a trail ride with a Master Instructor!
Prerequisite: This class is for Level 2+ students. You need to have either completed the Level 1 introductory course or passed your Level 1 audition to participate. Students should be comfortable walking, trotting and cantering.
Natural Horseman Equipment Needed: Rope Halter, 12 foot line, 22 foot line, saddle, saddle pad, stick and string, and natural hackamore
Level 3 & 4 Refinement Leading to Performance
Lets check on that foundation and start to refine and advance your communication. Building towards Refinement and Elegance is where the Parelli foundation really starts to to look like a picture of true partnership and a grand relationship. Let’s get together and find the pieces of this program that you need to take your horsemanship to higher levels. Lets get you ready for an Audition if you prefer that too!
What we will cover:
- Have you refined your phases and really turned it into a game for you and your horse?
- We will use simulations to explore energy and set you up to walk a mile in your horse’s shoes
- 5 zones and layers within the zones
- Simple and flying changes of direction online: Learn how body language and position influences your horse
- Sideways and beyond the sideways category of play
- Games at liberty: Learn to engage your relationship at liberty with quality
- Liberty: Learn when it’s time to advance to liberty and when to go back online
- Leads: Learn how body position in both the horse and rider affects leads
- Simple Lead Changes and Flying changes for level 4
- Patterns in 4 Savvys
- 9 step back up, Backing Circles in 1/8th turns
- Advancing Fluidity Techniques
Format: This is a two to 4 day course with two three-hour teaching sessions each day. Approximately half the time will be spent with ground skills and half on riding skills. Each participant will only move on to riding if both the horse and rider are ready.
Prerequisite: All participants should be comfortable walking, trotting and cantering their horses in an enclosed area prior to this clinic. You are required to have attended a Level 2 or 3 clinic and have a thorough understanding of the basic concepts and skills as presented in the home study pack is expected.
Natural Horseman Equipment Needed: Rope Halter, 12 foot line, 22 foot line, feather lines, 45′ line, saddle, saddle pad, 2 sticks, 2 strings, and bridle, bareback pad is optional
Mounted Shooting Clinic Beginners to Advanced
Anybody can shoot a gun from a horse……Once! Cowboy Mounted Shooting is one of the Equine Industry’s fastest growing sports! I like to joke that, “It is the most fun you can have with your Clothes on.” Many horse people want to understand the process of gaining their horse’s confidence for shooting a gun safely from the saddle. I call this the Extreme Confidence Game. Learn the steps and building blocks for gaining the trust and acceptance that leads to gunfire from the saddle without compromising safety or your partnership with your horse. How do you get a horse ready for the Sport of Cowboy Mounted Shooting? What do you need? Gear, Dress code, Guns, Holsters, starting the training process. How do you get started? How is the sport set up to host cowboy and cowgirl competitors of all ages, experience levels, all types of horses and speeds? What do the patterns look like and tell me all about the Guns and ammo! Lets get started!
Mounted shooting is way more than Shooting! Using a Horsemanship Foundation to improve your Maneuverability and confidence to practice elements of Mounted Shooting Patterns. Being the best in Mounted shooting requires a horse and rider who can ride fast, shoot, navigate courses of fire and repeat. Slow and right beats fast and wrong! ….. Fast and right beats everything! Learn about the skills and horsemanship patterns that leads to harmony, fun and success in the sport of Cowboy Mounted shooting.
Function, Freestyle, Finesse, Speed and Gunfire! Extreme Equestrian sports demand a strong, solid, complete Horsemanship foundation based on Trust, Partnership, Communication, Understanding and consistency. Then learn how to layer the foundation strong enough to be able to introduce extreme performance sports. How can you grow and develop your partnership into extreme sports without sacrificing the relationship? Can you go extreme without introducing brace in the body or mind?
What we will cover:
- Have you refined your cues and really turned it into a game for you and your horse?
- We will use simulations to explore intention and set you up to walk a mile in your horse’s shoes
- Ground set-ups to teach horses all about gun fire.
- Gun Safety
- Equipment
- Performance Patterns
- Setups to Safely shoot from the back of a horse.
- Course Management
- Riding your horse with 1 hand.
Format: This is a two day course with two three-hour teaching sessions each day. Each participant will only shoot near or on their horse if both the horse and rider are ready.
Prerequisite: All participants should be comfortable walking, trotting and cantering their horses in an enclosed area prior to this clinic. You must be able to control your horse in an controlled catastrophe situation.
Equipment Needed: Rope Halter, 12 foot line, feather lines, saddle, saddle pad, 1 stick and string, and bridle, Ear Protection for you, Ear protection for your horse (small foam “Cat Toy Balls” Optional: Holsters, 2 Single Action .45 cal. pistols, Performance splint boots, helmet (under 18 years old a helmet is required)