Clinton Anderson - "No worries club"

I am excited to have found www.noworriesclub.com. This gives me access to all Clinton Anderson's TV shows ( 200 episodes) on ground training and colt starting via my computer. I just watched show #1 -3. It is a progressive series which is exactly what Rupert and I need. Now I can see what Linda was telling me. There are forums, articles and you get a discount on his shop. I am always amazed how the information I need finds me.

Rupert - advice for next step

Linda is helping Rupert and I. It has been 10 years since I backed my last batch of foals. Linda has a big half clyde mare named Bailey. Years ago when she got Bailey as a 4 yo Premarin Mare, she could barley be haltered. She worked her on the ground for years and now has a nice riding horse. Now Bailey's foal is a 5 yo colt named Bambino who Linda has worked extensively on the ground. She is up on all the different ground training methods and watches RFD TV video of Clinton Anderson.
She had recommended that Ruperts initial round pen work be on the lunge line. This worked very well. My previous foals (8 of them) all went into the Round pen w/o a line attached and worked free. The big difference is they had all been weaned. They learned to turn to the outside, turn to the inside and joining up. Back then I was very fortunate to be introduced to a young man from Colorado named Tyler McCann. I had just returned from visiting my sister in England. While we where camping one of her friends daughters was reading a book by Monty Roberts. "What you haven't heard of Monty Roberts?" There I was in Scotland sitting by Loch Linne reading a fascinating story. Wow it made so much sense. I had been a horse person for 20+ years and I had never been introduced to this. When I got home I was telling my friend about it when her daughter who was visiting said; " My boyfriend does that. I will bring him by tomorrow." Tyler had be en raised with Ray Hunt as his mentor. He showed me so much in the few days he was on Maui that I invited him back for a clinic. Little did I know he was still in High school. A nice young man with a wonderful feel for horses. This lead me to study Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, John Lyons and Monty Roberts. This all happened around 1997-2003.

Linda advises don't forget to use your body language to send him out on the lunge. Point to the direction you want him to go. Bend forward at the waist toward his hip that you want him to go.
Wave the wand 3 times in the air over his hind quarters, If he doesn't go you tap him 3 times. Usually they will go on the first tap. If he goes well on the large circle good. If he doesn't then you make the line shorter to the middle range, if that doesn't work then you walk him on the short line just out of the kicking zone at the walk. Don't be afraid to let him know with the wand he needs to stay out of your space. The Reason is, you can not have a 1200 lb animal in your lap. He must respect your space. I am constantly having to remind Bambino to stay out of my space.

Yes I remember years ago I could not lunge Divine. She would drag me all over the arena. John Lassetter watched us for about 5 minutes, took hold of the lunge and shortened it to 15 meters and she lunged like a dream. "When you have control on the shorter circle, then you can let her out a little longer. The moment she starts dragging you around you shorten her up and put her to work."

Linda says once he lunges well, next we have to work on changing eyes. On the lunge I can send him forward along the rail, then ask to change directions, send him past me as I stand in the middle of a figure 8. I remember doing this with Tyler.

Then free work in the Round Pen
Then Trailer Loading and Unloading. He does this but has never had the doors closed or the trailer moved.

Rupert - The training begins Week 1-3

Rupert will be 4 yo on June 16th. This is a log of his training adventures.

3 weeks ago Rupert entered Kindergarten. He has not been weaned and all prior work over his life has been done in the proximity of his mom. When he was young he learned how to wear a halter, lead fairly well, back up on command, move his haunches L or R, Stand for trimming, go in and out of a trailer, and wear a blanket.
He does not know how to tie. Does not like water at all!, has never had a surcingle or girth on, Has not been away from his mom.
Previous attempts to have him separate from his mom result in all out pandemonium on both their parts. Rupert can not focus on anything else, trys to get out of the round pen or arena and becomes unleadable.
I was encouraged by Linda who said Bambino, her 17+ hand part Clyde was never weaned either. He is 5 and still with his mom but goes out on his own now. "I just put him to work and in 2 weeks he got over it."
I started leading Rupert in the evenings. It was obvious I needed to establish his trust and become the leader. I always make sure he has at least 30 min to 1 hour to gallop and play before I start work. Week 3 he does basic leading, stopping, backing, labyrinth work before going out of his pasture.
Week 1: We stop, back, turn haunches L or R and lead going in any direction.
Week 2: A ground labyrinth is added. A series of poles he has to walk through, stop, back and
turn in. This went quite well and he was very relaxed.
Week 3:- Now to expand his boundary and remove him from the pasture with his mom into
the adjoining area. This went well the first day as he was just 10-15 feet away going
up and down the fence line. The next day I ventured further, up to 30 feet away.
As soon as I went around a tree he became anxious. Suddenly 18 h tall and dancing
on the end of the line trying to run over me. I was trying to halt and back him w/o
success. Yikes he is big. Closer to the fence he settles down and is good the remainder
of the time.
- This evening I intend to repeat the further away scenario but want him to be more
comfortable so I turn out a calm mare into the pasture he will be in. This works very
well. He is calm, does all his ground work and it was a success even w/ his mom
calling and pacing the fence line.
- Today Rupert enters the round pen to lunge. I have a halter on and a 25 foot soft
nylon line. I walk, back and halt around the pen. Then I ask him to walk forward to
the left. He stops to eat grass. I tap him on the quarters and he bolts forward.
He stops 50 feet later and eats grass, repeat scenario and by the 3rd time he doesn't
try it again. Very calmly he trots and walks. He is licking his lips. Great I will stop
here. I am very happy and scratch his belly and lead him calmly back to his mom
who had been whinnying and running up and down the fence. The round pen is
approximately 20 feet from the fence line. Using the line in the pen helped prevent
him from sticking his head through the open rails and from frequently changing
directions and running willie nilly.
- Today I will try to lunge both directions if he goes well initially. Yes he lunges well to
the left. It is way more difficult to the R. He immediately turns around to go L. After
3 attempts I realise I have not lead him from the R side. I try to lead him but he
keeps trying to put me on his Left. I shorten the line up and manage to get him to
walk around the track of the RPen with me just out of the kicking range. This seems
to work. He walks and trots well to the Left. I am introducing words walk and Trot,
and burrrp for stop. A kiss for forward. He is very sensitive and I make sure I lightly
touch him with the whip. I put a saddle blanket all over his back and neck, face with
no problem, he is calm. Belly scratches for a reward.
-Today I work him at noon, just before feeding, All the horses are out of their
paddocks into the pastures. I did not hand walk him thought the labyrinth. I halter
him and walk, open and go through a gate, halt, walk 10 feet, halt and back and right
into the RP. He lunges well to the L but has much more energy. Calling occasionally
to his mom who is calling and running down the fence. To the right he keeps turning
around quickly. I try to get the line low so it goes back half way between his hock
and tail dock. He knows the exercise where you but the lead behind his butt and pull
on it and he has to turn toward the pressure and turn facing you. This works on the
lunge line. However sometimes he is quicker than I am and gets the line high and it
wraps to the middle of his neck. The first couple of times he shakes and lowers his
head and slaps his front feet down in a little tantrum like activity. He is pulling me
around the R.pen. I don't want to let go of the rope and have him get scared of it
dragging behind him. I do drop the whip and hang on with both hands. Lucky I have
long legs. Then I get smart. Instead of trying to stop him I just cut him off at the
pass and get big ( hands up) and have him turn to the outside to go Right and thus
unwrapping the rope from his neck. Of course because he is excited and animated
everything is happening quickly. This goes on for 10 minutes. Finally he walks and
licks his lips. So we accomplished a lunge to the right. Walk, trot and halt on
command to the left.

John Lassetter clinic report

It is always exhausting to put on a big clinic. You have the preparation which starts 2 weeks out. Trimming hedges, getting the footing right. General cleaning and arena maintenance. This time I hired a young man to do the heavy trimming. Then there is the more domestic shopping, planning meals and house prep for John. Scheduling the clinic, flyers and emails. Marilee from the Big Island and my parents are the ones who help the most. I could not do it without them. Carole loaned her house right across the street which was a big help.

This time Marilee and John arrived within hours of each other. Perfect timing and no lost luggage for John. The next day John will be teaching. He has been gone from England for weeks teaching in Canada and the US. He has to have clothing for the cold and the heat. He has had no days off.

We have dinner at Mom and Dad's catching up on the past 6 months and laughing. John fades quickly due to the time zone change. In the evening the final arena grooming is done by tractor headlights. The watering of the arena is started. 2 hours this evening.

I am up at 5 am. More arena watering for the next 3 hours right up to the start of the clinic. Set up the chairs, sound system and the arena cones and poles. Marilee is tasked with cooking John's breackfast. She laughs saying "I will give it a shot" as she treks down my hill with a large picnic basket in hand.

I am usually the first to ride but today I trailer Ann from the Horse Center for the first ride. She and Reinbeau have really improved over the last 6 months. They look great. Ann is smiling. The biggest thing I took away from the lesson is the technique John uses on this particular big horse to get the horse forward and reacting to the leg. He does not use it for other horses. You have to be a good balanced rider who is able to ride the big forward gaits you will generate and who will not be afraid and pull back on the reins. He asked no one else to do this ( he did tell me to think about the symbols but I think he knew I was not brave enough yet to do this with Freederic). He wants you to eventually get to the spot where when you just slightly take your leg away the horse will power forward. It eventually becomes a very subtle aid. He attaches the word "Symbols" to this exercise. When you use the symbols in music you take your hands apart and then clap the symbols together when you use them. This is what your legs will be like. If you clap him the first time and nothing happens the next time you use leg and whip. If he reacts great, go forward. Then at next long side try again. If he doesn't react you can use a double clap. It doesn't take long and he is jumping forward when she takes away the leg slightly. "Check the symbols" John says at times through out their work.

Reinbeau is 5 yo, 17h+ This clinic he was doing his counter canter. 10m canter circles where you could really see him sit down. He got more balanced in the canter and had some great extended canters.

Kalae the awesome girl

Kalae did double duty and carried 2 riders each day for the 3 day clinic. She went first in the morning and then last of the day.

Her morning lessons were pushing the envelope or comfort zone and learning new things. She still worked in the afternoon but not quite as hard. Overall she needs more submission as when she tends to become more compressed she wants to come above the bit for moments (transitions) and also she becomes more crooked. She is not totally through. I need to work on thoroughness and straightness. When I get her more compressed and she is powered up I need to learn to be more subtle in my aids as it will require less from me. There is a fine line and it just takes feel and tact.

Homework is to begin to introduce the double bridle. Start with easy work so she gets used to double bridle. Do not work on my flying changes for a while. Work on my canter pirouettes and making the counter canter absolutely balanced. Think a wider working pirouette. Initially I was trying to make the Canter Pirouette too small and loosing the canter.

The canter needs to be absolutely straight. When I canter down the center line in right lead canter, she wants to put her HQ to the right. This makes the flying change to the L impossible. I have learned from the Kyra Kirklund symposium that I am subtly collapsing my waist to the R. This puts more weight on the L seat. The horse is harder to bend L. If I am conscious of this and collapse subtly to the L to counter the R collapse I feel more pressure in the R seat. Then suddenly my horse goes straighter. Need equal weight on both sides of the horses spine. Ride the horses back, not the saddle.

Her lateral work is OK, she is doing it but she could be more expressive in the lateral work. With time it will come.

* Video #1 is Trish and Kalae

* Video #2 is Marilee and Kalae - John advised to invest in more ground poles so that I have at least 12 in a fan position so the horse can really bend the joints and strengthen their muscles. He states Conrad Schumaker uses up to 16 poles in the fan when he comes to Goodwood every other month to teach.

Lassetter clinic

Ride, ride , ride!!! Whooo pass the oxygen please. "Freederic the Great" dish's out the aerobic workout. Gasping and sweating but having fun flying around the arena. Come on down and get on the "big boy". Mr Lassetter puts you though the gymnastic routine. Go at it for 45 minutes. "Determination! Come on Tishie - Grit teeth and spit ivory"
* Freederic is wearing a single support rein from the middle of his girth. through the bottom of his flash nose band to the left hand of the rider. Held outside the little finger w/ the snaffle rein held between the 4th and 5th finger. Not attached to the bit or threaded through it.

Horses in Tombstone Arizona

"The West was won on Horseback" . Our Nation was dependent on Horses. I can not imagine riding across the US. You would be looking for water, shelter and food. Suddenly you come across something like the Grand Canyon. How do you get across? Why do you keep going? How do you find out where to go? How do you find the towns? There were rudimentary maps at best and no GPS.