Ground Training
Training Under Saddle

Clinic 1:  Ground Training

• leading exercises
• control of the horse’s body parts
• round penning
• outdoor obstacle course/trailer loading
• advance and retreat technique - obstacles and desensitizing
• building a connection with our horses

We also demonstrate our What Color is Your Horse Really? program relating to our new Color Tool™ booklet. We talk about the horse and rider personalities being broken into four traits: Red sorrel, Blue roan, Dapple gray, or Yellow palomino. We learn through ground training and round pen demonstrations that each color has its own set of strengths and limitations, which can be applied to every person and every horse. From this portion of the clinic, the key take home message is that as we work in our strengths and on our limitations, our personal growth gives us the ability to grow in our relationships.

Clinic 2:  Training Under Saddle

• equitation
• stopping exercises
• control of the horse’s body parts
• turns on forehand and haunch
• teaching the horse to follow its nose by one-rein riding
• roll backs
• counter flex
• diagonal reverse
• counter canter
• canter departures
• consistency in all gaits
• building a connection with our horses

Part of what we talk about at the Colt Starting Clinic is recognizing the importance of transferring what we learn on the ground to the saddle. At this stage, it is important for riders to recognize when to get tough and apply your knowledge and when to ask for  help on what to do next. Both situations can be frustrating, but remember that frustration is part of advancing to better horsemanship.