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| One thing is certain - whatever clinic you attend (with your horse or mule, or as an auditor) you will learn a lot! You'll also meet great people and have a lot of fun! | ||||||||||||||||
| Clinic Formats: | ||||||||||||||||
| The organized progression of this course makes it the best route to becoming an effective horseman, with a safe, soft, and willing mount. It does, however, require a long-term commitment to stick with the course, and to work with your horse or mule on a regular basis between clinics. This course requires a group of at least 8 participants who are committed to completing the 6-step course. Classes meet at 1 - or - 2 - month intervals for an intensive weekend, then go home and practice for the next class. Class progression is:
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| I can say from my own experience that no matter what level you think you are in horsemanship.... beginning at the beginning is a must. - Fran Odom | ||||||||||||||||
| Other Clinics: | ||||||||||||||||
| Learn to make your rides more fun, through becoming a more effective rider, with a safer, more attentive mount. | |||||||||||||||
| With special consideration for the young or un-started horse or mule, we focus on building a healthy foundation for success.   | |||||||||||||||
| This type of clinic makes use of Round Pen and Ground Work techniques, focusing on getting wild and unhandled horses and mules (such as Rescues, BLM and PMU adoptees) gentle, comfortable, and connected with us. Similar to the regular Starting Clinic (above), only with a special focus on the unique needs and qualities of wild, unhandled horses and mules. | |||||||||||||||
|  | Become a better rider. Develop your horse or mule's potential for soft, safe, willing performance. Participants will learn to deal with many riding challenges in a safe, non-resistant manner. Plus:
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| Get it right on the ground, before you get into the saddle! Fix problems safely - with two feet on the ground. This course benefits any person and any horse or mule: It teaches "ground manners" to young stock, solves problems and improves performance with experienced animals, and teaches you, the handler, how to communicate more effectively and safely with all horses and mules. Jerry is a firm believer in groundwork! Get it right on the ground and it will pay off in the saddle! If you have problems in the saddle, fix them on the ground! | |||||||||||||||
| It all starts here. Develop a deep Connection with your horse or mule! Learn to direct your horse or mule at liberty (with no halter )! The round pen's first purpose is to build a strong connection between horse (or mule) and human. Through learning to direct the animal's movements, we connect to his mind. The round pen is also the perfect place to work with troubled stock, and to work with any horse or mule's occasional issues of behavior and attitude, while keeping a safe distance. The Round Pen's second purpose is to teach and perfect all the skills and movements that are needed for precision riding. All the skills we will use on the ground and in the saddle begin in the round pen: forward movement, gaits, stops, backups, neck flexion, hindquarters yields, shoulder yields, spins and turns, and, most of all, a soft feel and a willing partnership! | |||||||||||||||
| Horses and Mules used for driving need the same solid foundation as saddle horses, with special attention given to ground control under harness. This clinic is for all driving stock, whether draft horses, for logging or for pulling wagons and carriages, and for saddle horses and mules whose owners want to add the versatility of being able to have them pull a cart or carriage. | |||||||||||||||
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Mounted Unit Clinics are designed to meet the unique needs of the individual unit involved. | |||||||||||||||
| For experienced riders only! Participate, under Jerry's guidance, in a real cattle round up! Learn to drive, cut, rope, and pen calves on a working ranch. | |||||||||||||||
| For experienced riders and stock. A natural culmination of Trail Safety and Riding classes is a venture into the backcountry.
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| Every horse or mule needs to know how to load into a trailer. Recent fire and flood emergencies have proven over and over, that the horse or mule who survives a disaster is the one that can be loaded quickly and evacuated. Failing to develop trailer-friendly stock can have tragic consequences. | |||||||||||||||
| Jerry can customize a clinic designed specifically for you and your group of 8 to 12 participants.
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| Learn to safely and effectively handle your horse or mule in stressful situations, through sensory (obstacle, spooky objects, de-sensitization) training. It's fun, too!
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| The "At Liberty" exercise is a sort of a "mass round-penning." The humans begin in the middle of the arena, directing the horses & mules around the perimeter, as a herd. This exercise helps horses (especially those who live in individual paddocks) learn to "be horses," to move and interact in a herd. It begins to prepare the horses for being ridden in a group setting, and their handlers get a glimpse of how their horse will get along with others. The people also learn important skills in handling stock from a distance. Once the animals start moving together smoothly, "At Liberty" is a thrilling sight to experience! | |||||||||||||||
