Horsemanship Clinic

June 10, 2007

Horse Psychology, Body Language and Communication

Key Objectives:

At the end of the clinic, you will:

1. have gained an understanding of why horses behave they way they do and how to read your horse’s body language to tell you what your horse is likely thinking, feeling and trying to communicate to you.
2. have gained an understanding of how and why your horse reacts to your body language.
3. have had hands-on experience in reading your horse’s body language and using your own body language to get better responses.
4. have gained an understanding of how and why your horse reacts to your mental thoughts and attitude.
5. have gained an understanding of how and why your horse reacts to your emotional demeanor.
6. have gained an understanding of how and why you control your horses body through his mind and spirit.
7. have gained an understanding of how horses learn.
8. have gained an understanding of the princicples of how to teach your horse.
9. have had hands-on experience in communicating with your horse on the ground that will turn him into a highly responsive, calm, confident and willing learner.
10. have been introduced to some of the key principles and practices of horsemanship that will begin your understanding of knowing what to do and how to do it when faced with any problem.

Clinic Format:

At the beginning of each segment:

1. I will talk briefly on the principles and practices involved.
2. I will demonstrate and teach the principles and practices with a suitable horse.
3. One-on-one, I will help each participant put into practice the principles involved with their horse. Afterwards, each participant can either continue to practice with their horse in the arena while I help another participant or continue watching other participants.

Note:
This clinic is a combination of ground work and on horseback.

Key Points of the Clinic:

1. Horses don’t like or want to be uncomfortable or troubled.
2. If you can read what your horse is likely thinking, feeling and trying to communicate to you, you will have a better chance of helping him.
3. If you can communicate with your horse in a manner that your horse is likely to comprehend easily, you will have a better chance of helping him.
4. By understanding what’s going on in your horse’s mind and emotions and knowing what to do and how to help him, you will become self-confident and provide the necessary self-confidence to your horse so that he responds to you in a calm, confident and willing manner.

Clinic Agenda:

12:00 - 12:10 Overview of Clinic Objectives & Agenda
12:10 - 12:30 Principles and Practices of Horse Psychology and Herd Behavior
12:30 - 01:30 Reading Your Horse’s Body Language
01:30 - 02:30 Using Your Body (Mind & Spirit) Language
02:30 - 03:30 Basic Communication Principles & Practices
03:30 - 03:45 Coffee Break
03:45 - 04:45 Basic Learning and Schooling Principles
04:45 - 05:30 Using Body Language, Communication and Schooling Principles to Help Teach Your Horse Something New or Solve Some Problem

Note: If you'd like even more detail, i.e., a description of all the exercises we'll cover in this clinic, email me and I'll send you the file.