TRAINING

Our Focus

We develop sensible horses of all breeds that enjoy taking their rider on equestrian adventures. To read some case studies about horse behavioral issues we've addressed, please click on:  Case Studies.  To read how our clients feel about having us train their horses,

click on: Mystic Paso Fino Ranch - Testimonials.

Why Natural Horsemanship?

Jackie and Ron were introduced to natural horsemanship in 1990, starting with Pat Parelli and continuing to attend clinics by Parelli, Dennis Reis and others since. Rather than using force, we train horses using minimal pressure, released as soon as the horse “gives” to the pressure. Rewarding the slightest “try” makes the horse more willing to try and it learns to respond to lighter and lighter cues. Whether starting a colt, or re-starting an older horse with bad habits, these methods are safe and effective.

Using the Round Pen, Arena, Trail Course and Trails

Training starts on the ground in the 60 foot round pen, where the horse learns to give to pressure. The horse learns how to back, go forward, move its shoulders, its hind quarters, do a leg yield and be driven and lunged. Then we take the horse out to the ranch’s trail course where the horse learns to apply what it has learned in a more challenging environment. When you ask a horse to go over obstacles that the horse initially finds intimidating, you test and deepen the level of respect that you started to build in the round pen. The horse also learns that however dangerous something may appear, it can trust you when you ask it to approach something new and scary.

Once the horse can do the ground work, we start doing the same exercises on its back in the round pen, working on getting light, responsive transitions. Once transitions work well in that smaller space, we will take the horse into the arena, better suited to practice leg yields, shoulder in, haunches in, half passes and canter exercises or for working building a stronger liberty relationship with your horse.  Then we take the horse back to the trail course to deepen its respect for its rider, and develop its courage and agility before going out to explore the Oregon wilderness.

Videos

To learn more about how we use the trail course to teach horses and riders bravery check out our video on Trail Course on the Lessons page.  to learn more about how we use the round pen to teach horses and riders, check out our video on the Round Pen as your Classroom: