SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, March 8, 2018, Pre-EXPO Clinic
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Gaited Horsemanship Clinic with Larry Whitesell
• How to improve gait without devices. Lightness. How to develop the horse gymnastically to facilitate relaxation, create flexibility and balance. How to school the horse in hand and under saddle. How to build engagement to improve gait without building resistance. How you ride affects your horse's balance and gait. Balanced, light stops. Collection.
Special Gaited Horsemanship Offer
Horse Owners can have the entire 4-days of activities, including the half-day Clinic with Larry Whitesell, the Ride with the Expert Program and Mane Event for a package deal of $325! - $325 includes everything you need to participate in the half-day Rocky Mountain Long Ears Clinic, Ride With The Experts and Mane Event!
(4-Days, 1 Stall, 1-Shared Tack, Entry & Parking Passes)
What You Will Learn
- How to improve gait without devices
- Lightness
- How to develop the horse gymnastically to facilitate relaxation, create flexibility and balance
- How to school the horse in hand and under saddle
- How to build engagement to improve gait without building resistance
- How you ride affects your horse's balance and gait
- Balanced, light stops
- Collection
About Larry Whitesell
Renowned gaited horseman since 1980, Larry was very successful in the show ring, winning regional, national and grand national championships. In 2002 he was trainer of the year. He has held judges cards in several gaited breeds.
Initially, he trained using the traditional gaited horse methods, thinking these were the only way to yield gait. As his training progressed he wanted to train gaited horses to a higher level so they would gait for any level rider and the riders could count on them to be safe and dependable. In his quest to learn correctness and lightness, Larry began studying classical dressage in the early 1990’s from contemporary masters who had studied under Nuno Olivera and at classical schools in Europe.
Classical training teaches the horse to rebalance itself into a relaxed frame of collection, engaging the hind legs. Engagement of the hind legs, whether false or real is what makes a gaited horse gait. Larry learned to bring horses into a more classical frame to gait. When you strengthen the correct muscles, the horse can carry a rider and rebalance into natural collection.
Larry learned in short order that horses were more consistent in their gait and could perform gaits with a wider range of speeds when classically trained. Correct training builds confidence in a horse.
Natural horsemanship puts a great foundation on horses and prepares the horse mentally and physically to begin training for collection. Classical training then takes communication with the horse to the next level of lightness. Most gaited horses only need a mild degree of collection to gait.
Larry continues his education each year from classical dressage instructors. He travels the U.S. and Canada doing clinics and equine expositions. His goals are to help people understand what makes gaited horses gait so we can spare the horses from some of the training myths attached to the gaited world that are not in the horse’s best interest. By making things better for the horse, the horse will be smoother, safer and more dependable for riders.
Larry teaches you how to teach your horse to relax so you can teach a correct response with the least effort. He teaches you how to teach your horse to respond to subtle cues. His clinics are a shot in the arm for your riding program providing very intense instruction to all levels of riders on their own horses that instills an eagerness you will carry with you so you can further your relationship with your horse at home.
http://www.whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com/index.php