October Short Courses

We are starting some new classes this fall.  They will all be short 1 or 2 session classes.  These classes are not intended to totally transform your understanding or your horse’s behavior but only to build a better foundation for that understanding.  We are offering these classes as a short course so you and I may sift through the details so we may form bigger classes that better fit your needs.  We will be limiting all these short classes to a minimum number of participants, however we encourage as many as possible to attend as an auditor and get a taste of my teaching techniques and understanding.

Minding in the Barn – “Groundwork”

I have had many requests for a ground working class.  I see many doing ground work with too much of an agenda and not enough consideration for the needs of the horse.  Ray told us that his dad had always said, “ if a horse would mind you in the barn he would mind you in the field”.  Ray said that he didn’t understand this until after he left home to work on other ranches and saw the difference as their horses were well behaved, but other horses were scared, nervous, rude, evasive, etc. and had other bad behaviors while catching, feeding, grooming, harnessing, or otherwise tacking and they worked the same way in the field.  I decided I would offer a ground working class and call it “Minding in the barn”, making their needs the focus, not some pre-determined agenda.  There are many cool things your horse will do when these things are the result not the objective.

This class will be open on a first come first serve basis and limited to a minimum number of participants.  This class will be held October 16^th and 17^th from 1pm to 4pm each day.  The cost is $50 for this short course, which includes both days. Auditors can attend for $5 each day.  Family members of the participants attend free of charge.

Horsemanship for Riders over 50 years

We don’t intend to check birth certificates.  All riders of any age should always slow down and work at a pace that is appropriate for themselves and their horses.  However, there are many riders in this age group that may just be starting to ride or returning to riding after a long break while raising kids or building a career and now feel their reflexes and coordination is somewhat diminished and need to find ways to stay slowed down without letting their horse get too fresh or to dull or lethargic.  This can lead to the horse doing something the rider didn’t predict.  The benefit of a small short course class specifically designed for those that fit this demographic is so we can get in a safe environment and to work at a pace that each is more comfortable with and have clear instructions while they are learning to move with the horse.  Also at the same time be able to watch each other overcome many of the natural reactions they all share that may be counterproductive to what they really want their horse to do and that they genuinely believe they are asking them to do.  Also learning to recognize when the horse is too fresh and how to use that energy to make him safe.  The value of helping to keep him more responsive is so you have the ability to keep him out of trouble.

This class will be open on a first come first serve basis and limited to a minimum number of participants.  This short course will be offered on October 23^rd and 24^th from 1pm to 4 pm each day.  The cost is $50 for this short course, which includes both days. Auditors can attend for $5 each day.  Family members of the participants attend free of charge.

If your interested in attending one of these courses, please fill out the form on our “Contact Us” page, or give Debbie Hill a call to schedule your to reservation.