I will be conducting a clinic at Diamond TR (west of Little Rock) on Saturday, February 14 (yep Valentines Day, so bring your Sweetheart- human or equine) entitled Getting Your Horse involved in the Training Process. Too many times I see horses with issues with cues because the signals are confusing or not held long enough for the horse to figure out what the purpose is. Clinic will start at 9:00 a.m. and end between 3 and 4:00 p.m. To register contact Diamond TR Ranch at diamondtr.com.

You can’t teach a colt or an older horse to be a reining horse in 30 days. In the preliminary stage of laying out a solid foundation, I want to teach him to learn. When I ask him to do a maneuver, I want him to look for a way to accomplish it instead of resisting me. The only way to do this is to be consistent with your cues and don’t try to force the issue. In other words, be patient and don’t try to physically overpower the horse. If you get into a tugging contest, the horse will win because he’s bigger and stronger. He will learn to resist. Only apply enough pressure to get a correct response. If you start out with the most amount of pressure applied to get a response, where do you go from there? The horse must have a release. The key to horse training is pressure and release. Apply the pressure and release it as soon as you get a desired response. This keeps horses from becoming intimidated and resistant, because they believe if they do the right thing the pressure will be released. I believe that if you take a little more time with a horse he will learn faster.

Here is how we include the horse in the training process:
1. Listen to him. The horse will tell you what he’s thinking. He can communicate confusion, fear, understanding, excitement, or level of effort through his body language.
2. Build a basis for communication. Ray Hunt always said, “Reward the smallest change and the slightest try.”
3. Always be consistent in your cues. Start from the ground and then progress to the saddle with lateral and vertical flexion, control of the feet, and control the movement of the body. This will build a supple, willing horse, and give consistency to communication.
4. Expect and accept failure. Each cue is not going to be understood and executed. Therefore, failure becomes a “teachable moment” in which we can re-evaluate our communication. It is also an opportunity to back up and make sure the fundamental training steps have been learned.
5. Build a foundation for success. Everything we ask a horse to do, he already knows how to do. We are just asking him to do them exactly when we want him to do it. All a horse can do is move forward, backward, sideways, left, right and stop. Everything we ask is a combination of these maneuvers or change in speed. Start slow and build momentum. Allow the horse to buy into our system.

The next Cow Horse Clinic at Circle C Arena in Pleasant Plains will be on  February 7, starting at 9:00. We are continuing our Building Your Cow Horse Fundamentals series. We will focus on trail class and Ranch Riding. As part of the Trail, we will have a roping clinic- since roping a dummy is a requirement in ranch trail. As always, we will work on getting your horse soft, responsive and engaged. We will also work on using your body correctly to set up maneuvers. For more information contact me – cowboyjones90@gmail.com or Alice Singleton- alisin88@gmail.com. Cost is $75.00 and lunch will be provided.  Circle C Arena is an enclosed arena, therefore, comfortable riding protected from wind, rain and though not toasty- warmer than outside.

These clinics will assist you in getting your horse softer and quieter, but also build rider confidence. Your horse and horsemanship will improve, whether you ever compete or not. Plus, we have Fun!

The safest and most enjoyable horse is a broke one!

Photo by Laurie Harris

I have donated a Day Clinic for up to 5 people to the Mayflower FFA benefit auction. You get a clinic with friends, a better horse; FFA gets a donation and I get another day horseback. The Auction will be on February 13 at the Mayflower High School cafeteria. There will be a dinner ($10.00 per person) at 6:00 p.m. 0f bbq ribs, chicken & brisket, plus, beans and potato salad. There will be bingo and then the live auction. The Auction is the major fundraiser for the Mayflower FFA. A great night of fun.

I will design your clinic for your horsemanship needs- training issues, fundamentals, trail riding, packing or ranch versatility. I will travel to a destination of your choice(with some limitations on travel). Within Arkansas or borders, No Problem. Contact me and we will work it out, if possible.

In addition to my item, there will be: handmade furniture, wood saddle racks, razorback items, duck calls, hunting trips, quilts, cutting boards and many more hand crafted items. Something for everyone!

I will be glad to take a bid for you, if you cannot attend.