Training Tip of the Week:
Practice rollbacks on the fence for better steering
Monday January 30, 2012
The more changes of direction you can do with a horse, the better your steering gets. Rollbacks next to the fence work great on horses that have limited steering and work off their front ends. Normally, if your horse is kind of stiff and heavy and not very well-trained, when you turn left, he’s not going to stop, collect himself and turn left with any degree of sharpness. But by using the fence, the horse has two choices. He can keep going forward and bump his nose on the fence, or he can stop, collect himself, suck back over his hindquarters and turn. The sharper turns you can get your horse to do, the more he’ll start to work off his hindquarters. The bigger U-turns your horse does, the easier it is for him to be lazy and drag himself through the turn with his front end. Basically, the fence does all the work and because you’re constantly reinforcing to the horse "Stop, turn, stop, turn," that automatically puts the horse’s weight back on his hindquarters and improves his steering.
Clinton’s standout gelding, Roosters Ten, better known as Diez to his legions of fans, turns 12 this week on the 31st. The bay gelding has been with Clinton since 2001 when the clinician purchased him at the NRHA Futurity Sale. According to Clinton, it was love at first sight, and he often refers to the gelding as "the prettiest horse in the world." If you’ve ever seen Clinton and Diez perform their advanced riding demo or groundwork routine at Walkabout Tours, you know the powerful connection the two share. With his superb athleticism, impeccable conformation and all-around pleasing personality, Diez not only accompanies Clinton to tours, but has starred in countless Downunder Horsemanship training DVDs, television shows and photo shoots. Click Here to take a look at Clinton riding Diez bridleless in this video clip from several years ago.
Method followers gathered in Perry, Georgia to set the 2012 Walkabout Tour off for the year. And what a tour it was! Clinton had the crowd on its feet with his advanced riding demo in which he rode Diez, his 2000 bay gelding. Besides keeping the crowd entertained with his Aussie-wit and giving away great prizes and products, Clinton had the horsemen gathered enthralled as he explained how the Method can work on a variety of horses using local problem horses in demonstrations like gaining a hard-to-catch horse’s trust and respect and teaching a fearful horse to load calmly onto a trailer. The generosity of the crowd helped the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss organizations, the Central Georgia Ranch Horse Association and the Special Olympics Georgia, raised $5035. Both organizations provide unparalleled services to their communities. The CGRHA is a fun, family-friendly organization that encourages its members to advance their horsemanship through its clinics, shows, events and fellowship, while the Special Olympics Georgia provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Our next tour stop is March 24-25 in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the Ford Truck Arena at the Tulsa Expo Square. We hope to see you there!
In the February NWC DVD, Clinton works with the soldiers of the Caisson Platoon of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment. Besides getting a "behind the scenes" look at how the platoon takes part in ceremonial military funerals, Clinton works with the soldiers to help them solve two specific training cases. One horse is scared of the caisson that is pulled in the ceremonies, and the other horse is very reactive and spooky in general, making him almost uncontrollable. Using the Method, Clinton gives the soldiers the knowledge and tools to help both horses learn how to use the thinking side of their brains and overcome their specific problems. Not only do the horses become reliable partners able to fulfill their duties, but the soldiers learn how to better communicate with them. Packed full of training advice, especially geared towards spooky horses, and the makeup of one of the U.S.’s most respected military units, the lesson is as much instructional as it is inspirational.
Clinton will kick February off at the ranch doing what he loves best - working with this year’s crop of 2-year-olds. Clinton and his team at the ranch started the young horses at the beginning of January and are continuing to see great progress in the colts and fillies.
Starting mid-month, Clinton and the Downunder Horsemanship production crew will start filming a couple of new television shows for FSN and RFD-TV. One show will focus on halter breaking an untouched rescue horse, while the other will be an emotional story about the healing strength and power horses provide and an individual’s will to overcome all odds.
Training Tip of the Week:
Moderation is key when working with young horses.
Monday January 23, 2012
It’s important that when you’re working with foals, you don’t underwork them or overwork them. Be careful of falling to one extreme or the other. I recommend working with foals 15 to 20 minutes a day and giving them short, frequent breaks throughout the session. With foals, you have to be conscious that you don’t run them out of air. When you first start working with the foal, three or four laps around the stall will tire him out. That’s why I recommend giving the foal frequent breaks to catch his air. The more you work with him he’ll gradually build his stamina up so that your training sessions can last longer. Once a horse gets out of air however, he stops thinking and quits looking for the right answer. Instead, he’s focusing on survival and finding air.
At the same time, I don’t want you to think foals are so delicate and fragile that you can’t make them move their feet or correct them when they misbehave. They’re a lot stronger than what people give them credit for, and if you don’t move their feet and correct disrespectful behavior, they’ll quickly turn into problem horses.
Working with your foal isn’t going to harm him as long as you don’t go to either extreme. You have to stay in the middle - not excessively working him and not treating him like he’s made of porcelain either. Moderation is key.
Visit Downunder Horsemanship at the Horse World Expo
Monday January 23, 2012
If you’re headed to the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, February 23 to 26, be sure to check out the Downunder Horsemanship booth. Although Clinton won’t be holding any demos during the event, a selection of his training kits, equipment, tack and apparel will be offered for sale. Knowledgeable Downunder Horsemanship staff members will be on hand to answer questions and explain Clinton’s Method and latest innovations.
The tenth annual Pennsylvania Horse World Expo is held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center and features national and international trainers and clinicians. On Friday and Saturday night, horsemen from a variety of disciplines gather for Theatre Equus, described as a professional choreographed two-hour event that’s part circus, part Wild West show and part equestrian ballet. Besides insightful training demos and entertainment, the expo also boasts a shopping smorgasbord for all equestrian lovers. Downunder Horsemanship will be located at booth space 511-513. Click Here for more information on the event. We hope to see you there!
Clinton’s former stallion Jag (aka Chicoutmyblingbling) was purchased at the end of 2011 by Matt Lantz Performance Horses of Michigan, and is standing to the public. The 2004 bay stud was bred and raised by Clinton, and is by legendary performance sire Smart Chic Olena and out of Clinton’s outstanding broodmare Princess in Diamonds. Jag offers world-class bloodlines for those serious about reaching the top levels of the performance horse industry. The Lantzs have set Jag’s stud fee at $1,000, and can be contacted for more information at Click Here or 810-730-1707. Clinton and the Downunder Horsemanship team wish Jag the best of luck at his new home!
We’re headed to Perry, Georgia for our first Walkabout Tour of the year. The trucks are packed to the brim, and Diez, that will be used in the Advanced demo, is loaded up and ready to roll!
The tour will be held January 28th and 29th in the Reaves Arena at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter and will be our only East Coast stop of the year. Doors open at 8 AM for NWC members and 8:15 AM for general admission. All tour tickets are now electronic. If you are unable to print off your ticket, you can claim it in person at "Will Call" when you arrive at the Walkabout Tour. If you need to stop at "Will Call," be sure to either have your ticket order number or the first/last name of the person who ordered the ticket.
We’ll welcome the Central Georgia Ranch Horse Association and the Special Olympics Georgia to the tour as our Ritchie Ball Charity Toss organizations. The two groups are working together to head up the event that has turned into a crowd favorite. At each tour Clinton and feature sponsor Ritchie Industries team up to help a local nonprofit organization raise money for their cause through the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss, so be sure to visit them and purchase a tennis ball or two for your chance to win incredible prizes, including a complete collection of Clinton’s DVDs, a mecate set and more!
Like always, our sponsors will be on hand to answer questions about their products and services and offering great giveaways. Click Here to head over to the Tour webpage for a complete schedule of the weekend’s events. We hope to see you there!
As you start working toward your horsemanship goals for the year, don’t forget that Clinton has several outstanding clinicians, certified at either the Professional or Fundamentals level of the Method, available for private lessons and public clinics. The clinicians are personally trained by Clinton to help you learn the Method and build a better partnership with your horse. Each clinician is hand-selected by Clinton for their extraordinary communication skills and horsemanship abilities and has received extensive training from Clinton at the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch. "Each clinician has impressed me with their dedication to the Method and their ability to achieve top-level results," Clinton says. "I can say without a doubt that they exceed my expectations when it comes to helping owners and their horses progress. I am continually impressed with their ability to communicate and their dedication to the Method, and I know you will be too!"
The Professional and Certified Clinicians offer two types of instruction - private lessons or 3-day Fundamentals clinics. In either option, the clinician comes straight to you (that means no long distance traveling or the hassle of hauling a horse!).
For a complete listing of all of Professional and Certified Clinicians, Click Here.
If you dream of becoming a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician, check out our all-new Academy website that explains what Clinton is looking for in ideal candidates and how to apply.
Training Tip of the Week:
Hard-to-catch horse tip: Spend time in the pasture away from the horse.
Monday January 16, 2012
Have you ever had to go into the pasture to fix the fence and the horses that normally won’t let you touch them are all over you like a bad smell - picking up your tools, nipping at your shirt and just being obnoxious? That’s great because you’re showing the horse that every time you come to the pasture, you’re not just there to get him and go work. You may come to the pasture to fix a fence, sit in the grass and read a book, etc. Stay in the pasture for 10 minutes and then leave. Come back a little later, stay another 10 minutes and then leave. Why is it that the horse is no longer afraid of you? Because you’re not acting like a predator on a mission to get him. The more you ignore your horse, the more he’ll come up to you - he won’t be able to help himself. If you have a really difficult horse to catch, when he gets investigative and comes up to you, give him a treat before leaving the pasture.
Downunder Horsemanship Partners with HRTV The Network for Horse Sports
Monday January 16, 2012
Renowned clinician Clinton Anderson is partnering with HRTV The Network for Horse Sports, to bring his award-winning Downunder Horsemanship television show to the network’s lineup of equestrian programming. Reaching 19 million homes, HRTV features coverage of equestrian events including horse racing from top U.S. and international race tracks as well as a wide range of world-class English and Western horse competitions, and original programming and documentaries covering the world of horse sports. "When we were approached by HRTV to join their network, it seemed a natural fit for Downunder Horsemanship," Clinton says. "We look forward to having the opportunity to provide horse owners with another means to learn the Downunder Horsemanship Method."
Downunder Horsemanship will begin airing on HRTV January 17th at 8 PM EST, and will feature the "Off-the-track Thoroughbred" series. The 13-part series chronicles the retraining of Tricky, a 3-year-old gelding whose career on the track is over. From beginning Tricky’s training in the roundpen to riding him on the trail on a loose rein with a group of horses, Clinton explains the process of taking Tricky from an overly reactive mount to a calm and attentive partner.
A lifelong student of horsemanship, Clinton has accumulated an immense amount of knowledge on gaining the trust and respect of horses and learning to communicate with them. The culmination of his knowledge is the Downunder Horsemanship Method - a step-by-step approach to safely training horses. A natural teacher, Clinton is renowned for his easy-to-understand instruction and ability to help horse owners get results quickly.
Each episode of Downunder Horsemanship features Clinton sharing the proven results of his horsemanship method and working with horse owners one-on-one to solve common behavioral and riding problems as well as advancing their horsemanship. Clinton’s commonsense, practical instruction offers something for every level of rider. A top-level reining and working cow horse competitor himself, the native Australian often visits respected trainers in various disciplines to get a firsthand look at training practices and goes behind the scenes with industry leaders for in-depth interviews.
HRTV is available on channel lineups throughout the country and on DISH Network as well as AT&T’s U-Verse and Verizon’s FIOS service. A live stream of HRTV and web exclusive content, in addition to previews and free content, is available on its subscription broadband portal at www.hrtvlive.com.
For more information about Clinton Anderson and Downunder Horsemanship, visit www.downunderhorsemanship.com. Additional information about HRTV and its programming schedule can be found at www.hrtvlive.com.
Downunder Horsemanship and Ritchie Industries Team Up for Third Year to Help Non-profit Equine Organizations
Monday January 16, 2012
As the feature sponsor of the Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour, Ritchie Industries is again partnering with Downunder Horsemanship for the third year in a row to help non-profit equine organizations raise money for their individual causes. At each Walkabout Tour stop, a local organization with equine connections is selected to run the Ritchie Charity Ball Toss. Throughout the two-day event, spectators purchase tennis balls from the non-profit organization for $5, and on Sunday afternoon toss them into the arena trying to be the closest to a pre-determined marker. Those closest to the marker receive Clinton's instructional DVDs and Downunder Horsemanship training tools. All money raised goes straight to the non-profit organization.
Clinton sees the ball toss as a way to give back to the communities he visits and the charity event has become a fan-favorite at tours. "The ball toss is something I love partnering with Ritchie to bring to the crowd. It's a great way to help local organizations raise funds they need to continue to make a difference in their communities," Clinton says.
Organizations chosen to head up the Ritchie Charity Ball Toss in the past have included equine rescues, therapeutic riding centers for children, adults and military personnel, and 4-H groups. Thanks to tour spectators’ generosity and Ritchie’s willingness to support the event and often match the monies raised dollar for dollar, the ball toss has earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for non-profit organizations around the country.
"This weekend was one of those amazing events that demonstrates how powerful an act of kindness is, and what happens when you send it forward," Rebecca McManus of Leg Up Therapeutic Riding Center, a past organization chosen to run the Ritchie Charity Ball Toss, said after the event. "Leg Up wishes to thank Clinton Anderson, the Downunder Horsemanship organization and Ritchie Industries for creating a fundraising event that supports local equine communities. We were honored to be selected for this fundraising activity and were humbled by the generosity of all the people at that event."
Organizations interested in running a Ritchie Charity Ball Toss at a Walkabout Tour need to fill out an application on the Downunder Horsemanship website for consideration.
The Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour will be making six nationwide stops in 2012:
January 28-29 - Reaves Arena at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, Perry, GA
March 24-25 - Ford Truck Arena at the Tulsa Expo Square, Tulsa, OK
June 16-17 - Jacobson Exhibition Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA
August 4-5 - Save Mart Center at Fresno State University, Fresno, CA
September 8-9 - Majestic Valley Arena, Kalispell, MT
October 27-28 - George Henderson Expo Center, Lufkin, TX
Click Here for more information about Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tours.
NWC Anniversary Contest: Share Your Favorite NWC Memory
Monday January 16, 2012
Five years ago in February, Clinton launched the No Worries Club as a way to help Method followers stay better connected to him and his approach to horsemanship. Much has changed with the club over the past several years from bolstering the club site with even more information to the growth of our club booth (small to gigantic!), but one thing hasn't changed, all of the amazing people who are a part of the club! The club is what it is because of all of our passionate members. All of us in the office and on the road staff have great memories of meeting and interacting with Clinton’s most loyal followers, and we thought it’d be fun to have you reflect on your fondest memories of the club as well, whether it be from a tour, meeting new friends or getting the advice you needed to progress your horsemanship. Of course, we’re turning it into a fun contest with a great prize up for grabs!
Rules:
1. Post a photo of your most favorite NWC memory. All photos must be posted in this thread, Click Here, to be entered in the contest.
2. Only one post per member, but you can include as many pictures as you would like.
3. Make sure to share a story about your picture - tell us what makes the moment captured special.
4. If you would like your photo to be published in the Spring Journal, please email it (with your description) to journal@noworriesclub.com, subject "NWC Photo Contest."
Timeline:
1. Post your photos in this NWC forum by Friday, January 19th.
2. The following day, we'll post a poll in a separate thread for members to vote on their favorite entry. (All the pictures will be moved into another thread for ease of voting/viewing the entries.)
Prize
The NWC Essentials package, which includes a NWC halter, lead rope, Handy Stick and string!
Kayla Duba, pictured here with her horse Dakotas Speedie Dice, credits the Method for bringing together her competitive experience in dressage, combined training, western riding, and most recently, barrel racing. She’s a firm believer in Clinton’s adage that good horsemanship is good horsemanship, no matter what discipline you ride. As a sales representative, Kayla enjoys hearing customers’ personal stories and answering their questions about the Method, saying it’s a constant reminder of the impact Clinton and Downunder Horsemanship have on the equine industry.
Training Tip of the Week:
Rearing horse tip: Do the opposite of what he wants to do.
Monday January 09, 2012
If your horse is rearing because he doesn’t want to go somewhere, use a little reverse psychology on him. Don’t think, "How can I make the horse move?" Think, "How can I make it uncomfortable for him not to go the direction that I want?" You’ll do that by working the horse hard wherever he wants to be and letting him rest and relax where he doesn’t want to be.
For example, if the horse tries to rear up when you go to ride him away from the barn, work him hard at the barn. Using one rein to direct him, hustle his feet. You can do a lot of serpentines by bending the horse with your left hand and left leg, or going the opposite way, your right hand and right leg. Rollbacks, cantering the horse off, bringing him to a stop and rolling him over his hocks to change directions are also a great exercise in this situation. But in reality, it doesn’t really matter how you move the horse as long as you hustle his feet and are constantly changing directions. The more times a horse changes directions, the more he has to think and pay attention to you.
The newly released Clinton Anderson Clinician Academy website www.clintonandersonacademy.com is loaded with all the information you need to fulfill your dream of becoming a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician. On the site you’ll learn how to apply for the Academy, what qualities Clinton is looking for in potential candidates and be invited to watch an informative video on the life of Academy students. Clinton introduced the Academy to the public in 2011 and currently has several standout horsemen going through the rigorous process of becoming certified. Currently, several Professional and Certified Clinicians are available for private lessons and public clinics. A complete listing of all Clinton Anderson Certified Clinicians can be found on the Academy website.
Learn how Clinton and the Method are helping one of our nation’s most distinguished military units in the February 12th FSN episode "Old Guard, New Method." The episode features the Caisson Platoon of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment that is used in a ceremonial capacity during formal military funeral processions in Washington D.C., and performs final honors to the fallen, both past and present, in the Arlington National Cemetery daily. Members of the caisson unit first met Clinton at a Fundamentals clinic they participated in last October. A proud supporter of the military, Clinton was intrigued with the unit’s duties and struck up a connection with them. Last December, he traveled to Washington D.C. to learn more about their work and help them fine-tune their Fundamentals one-on-one. The FSN television show chronicles Clinton’s visit with the unit, describes its distinguished history to the country and details how the Method is incorporated into its daily training. Impressed with the soldiers’ horsemanship skills and desire to learn, Clinton gave them five Fundamentals Kits and five participation spots in his upcoming Fundamentals Clinic in an effort to help them continue their success with the Method. For more information about our TV programming Click Here.
Clinton and his team at the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch have begun starting this year’s group of 2-year-olds. The 10 young horses were raised on the ranch, imprinted at birth and then taught all of the groundwork exercises by the time they were yearlings. When their 2-year-old year rolls around, accepting a saddle and rider is just a natural progression for them. Though their careers are just getting started, Clinton is excited at the potential he’s seeing in the fillies and colts, bred for either reining or working cow horse competition, and is starting to dream big.
If you’re starting a colt this year, be sure to review Clinton’s comprehensive Starting Under Saddle DVD series that runs for over 11 hours. In the series, Clinton works with a wild mustang, taking you step-by-step through the process of establishing first touch to safely taking a colt through his 14th ride.
Kate Helfrich shows her gelding I Know Im Dynamic aka Tex on the AQHA circuit in the All Around Amateur events including showmanship, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation and western horsemanship. But Kate and Tex aren’t confined to the arena, the pair enjoys going out on the trails as well. An avid Method user herself, Kate loves building relationships with customers and learning about their successes with the Method.
Training Tip of the Week:
Teach your horse to jump and cross over obstacles
Friday December 30, 2011
Crossing and jumping over obstacles builds the horse’s confidence and tests how much he respects and trusts you. A lot of horses will do arena work just fine, but when you ask them to start negotiating unfamiliar obstacles, they’ll often give you resistance. Use the groundwork for a purpose; I call it "reason training." Giving the horse responsibility and a reason to do the groundwork will make it more fun and exciting for both of you and will challenge the horse’s respect and trust in you. Drilling on the same exercises the same way every day is what causes a lot of horses to become pinny-eared and sour. Horses get bored very quickly. You’ll notice that when you introduce obstacles, your horse’s ears and attitude will pick up considerably.
Obstacles will also teach the horse to pick up his feet and pay attention to where he’s going. Don’t micromanage his feet - teach him to be responsible for himself. As a horse trainer, your greatest tool is your imagination. The more creative you can be, the more your horse will enjoy his job.
We hope 2012 is already off to a great start for you, and you’ve made plans to improve your horsemanship or meet a personal training goal this year. Clinton will be challenging himself by continuing on his reined cow horse adventure and polishing his skills as a showman. He encourages you to test your skills by trying a new discipline or challenging yourself to reach the next level of the Method. Whether you’re looking to get started in the Method or want to fine-tune your horsemanship skills, we’ve got the instruction and tools you need to get the job done. For a little New Year inspiration, Click Here to watch Clinton and his beloved mare Mindy perform their last liberty act together, demonstrating their amazing partnership!
Clinton caught some well-deserved downtime over the holidays and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He and Amy both appreciated all of the cards, well-wishes and gifts they received and send out a big THANK YOU! It’s back to work now as Clinton is busy filming TV shows for FSN and will head to Idaho later in the month to film an RFD-TV show with new sponsor Standlee Hay Company. He’ll close the month with a tour in Perry, Georgia, and help his top-gelding Diez celebrate his 12th birthday on the 31st.
Do You and Your Horse Want to Star on Downunder Horsemanship TV?
Friday December 30, 2011
When Clinton began airing Downunder Horsemanship on Fox Sports Net last year, he had no idea how popular the series would become. In fact, the half-hour show has evolved from Clinton just working with problem horses and their owners to the clinician, best known for his easy-to-understand horsemanship method, visiting with horsemen about their personal successes and helping them overcome challenges.
Because of an overwhelming response from horse owners across the country wanting help with their horses, needing a confidence boost or just wanting to share their horsemanship success stories, Downunder Horsemanship has created a Casting Call webpage on its website to better organize potential stories. The page currently offers nine submission categories:
Inspire Us - Have horses and the Method changed your life? Confidence - Are you searching for lost confidence? Last Resort - Is your horse a threat to your life or other horses? Horse Power - Do you use horses in your everyday life? Competition - Have you or do you want to use the Method to gain a competitive edge? Undesirable Match - Are you in a bad horse relationship? Coping with Losses and Challenges - Have horses helped you cope with a loss or overcome life’s challenges? Relationships - Have horses brought you and your family and friends closer together? Other - Have a story or problem that isn’t listed? Share it with us!
Whether you’re dealing with a problem horse, searching for lost confidence, are in a bad horse relationship or have an inspiring success story to share, Downunder Horsemanship wants to hear about it!
For those lucky enough to be selected, Clinton and his film crew may travel to the horse owner’s location for filming. Click Hereto visit the Casting Call webpage to learn more about the types of stories Downunder Horsemanship is looking for and how to submit an application for consideration.
For more information on Downunder Horsemanship airtimes on both Fox Sports Net and RFD-TV Click Here. To watch hour-long Downunder Horsemanship episodes Click Here.
Clint Newman and his finished roping gelding Poco Legend aka Pete have competed at local jackpots, rodeos and USTRC events. Pete is an all-around favorite at Clint’s house, having taught Clint’s daughter, 6, and son, 9, how to ride. Clint has taken the gelding through the Method, even participating in a clinic taught by Certified Clinician Dale Cunningham. At Downunder Horsemanship, Clint enjoys helping customers get their hands on the information and products he knows from personal experience will work for them.
Training Tip of the Week:
Keep a horse that trips interested in his job
Tuesday December 27, 2011
When a horse constantly stumbles, he’s basically telling you that he’s bored to death. Keep things interesting and challenge him by incorporating more variety into your lessons. You’ve heard me say time and again that consistency and repetition are keys to teaching your horse, and that’s certainly true. You can’t expect your horse to learn anything if you’re only working with him once a week. But you also have to be sure to add variety and keep things interesting for your horse. Remember that if you include too much variety the horse will never learn anything because he never gets to practice a lesson long enough to get good at it. But if you have too much consistency (you practice the same thing every single day) the horse will get bored and resentful. Set poles on the ground and ride your horse over them so that he has to think about where he’s placing his feet. Get out of the arena and ride him outside. Canter him down the road or around the pasture to free up his mind and get energy in his feet. Ride him over uneven terrain so that he really has to concentrate on where he’s placing his feet. I love working my horses over the obstacle course at the ranch because it allows me to work on exercises but offers a new challenge to the horses and keeps them on their toes. The more you can keep your horse guessing, the more attention he’ll pay to you, the more interested he’ll be in his work and the more fun you’ll both have.
The 150-page winter issue of the No Worries Journal will be arriving to NWC members at the beginning of the month. The issue features articles on 2012 clinics, success stories from members and a recap of the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity where Clinton’s horses Duke and Kit competed. And as always, it comes jam-packed with training tips from Clinton, including how to stop a horse from pawing, teaching a horse to lead by the muzzle and a discussion on why mistakes are a natural, and necessary, part of being a top horseman.
Clinton is proud to announce that standout horseman Mark Tarver has graduated the Academy as a Certified Clinician in the Fundamentals level of the Method. Mark not only excelled in the Academy and helps train Signature Horses for Clinton, but he is now available for Private Lessons.
Fast Facts:
The native Texan spent 26 years serving the city of Dallas as a police officer. The last 10 years of his career were spent as a mounted officer, patrolling the city’s streets by horseback.
Mark credits Bear, a Quarter Horse gelding and his 8-year-partner on the police force, as being responsible for helping him find Clinton and the Method.
Riding with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ranks as one of the best horsemanship experiences Mark has had in his career.
Mark is as passionate about helping others learn horsemanship as he is about the Method and his love for horses. "With just a little instruction, time and effort, virtually anyone can begin following the Method and get immediate results with their horse," he explains. "These animals bring me a great deal of personal joy and fun. I want everyone who has a similar desire to experience the same level of excitement, joy and fun as I do with horses, while avoiding the unnecessary frustration, fear and dread that unfortunately is too often associated with them. I believe I have a responsibility to pass on to others the gift of knowledge and skill I’ve been given."
Learn more about Mark and his journey to becoming a Certified Clinician in the Winter 2012 No Worries Journal.
For a complete listing of all of Clinton’s Professional and Certified Clinicians, Click Here to visit the clinic page on the Downunder Horsemanship website.
This fall Downunder Horsemanship added several new hands to its already accomplished production department. Joining producer Scott Anderson are editors Bob Green, Grant Slawson and Martin Spirit. Each of the three creative minds came to Downunder Horsemanship with years of experience and personal accolades. In fact, you may have recently seen some of Martin and Grant’s work. The duo worked on the History Channel’s show "Vietnam in HD" just before coming to work for Downunder Horsemanship. While you’ve already experienced some of the new team’s work in RFD-TV’s "Training an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred" series and on the December NWC DVD, the team is ready to put their creative talents to work on all 2012 releases. Look for a new season of Downunder Horsemanship RFD-TV to begin airing on February 21st.
If you’re in the Eastern part of the nation, mark your calendars for January 28th and 29th when the Walkabout Tour will be in Perry, Georgia. Clinton and crew will bring two-days of nonstop instruction and entertainment to the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. Click Here for the weekend’s schedule.
If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, there’s still time to call the office and make your requests. NWC members remember to take advantage of your five free tour tickets by calling 888-287-7432. See ya, in Georgia.
Training Tip of the Week:
The secret to a feather-light horse.
Monday December 19, 2011
I’m a fanatic about flexing my horses because I believe that you can never get a horse too soft or supple. How many times have you heard someone complain that their horse is too light and responsive? Not often I bet. But people are always complaining about their horses being stiff and resistant. What most people don’t realize is that lateral flexion - flexing your horse’s head from side to side - is the key to vertical flexion and true collection. But before you can teach your horse how to flex his head under saddle, you first have to teach him the lesson on the ground.
When people watch me ride Mindy and Diez and see how I can control them off just a feather-light touch, they often ask me how I got them to be so light and responsive. The answer is I started teaching them to soften to pressure from the first day I started working with them. The sooner you can teach your horse to soften and give to pressure, the lighter and more responsive he’ll be. If he knows how to give to pressure on the ground, it will be ten times easier to get him to do the same thing when you get on his back.
Downunder Horsemanship welcomes Standlee Hay Company to its family of sponsors. Based out of Eden, Idaho, the company is dedicated to growing, producing and manufacturing the highest quality forage products available. In search of quality forage to feed his 70-plus head of horses on the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch, Clinton began using the company’s products at the beginning of the summer and was impressed with the results. So much so, that he not only asked them to join the Downunder Horsemanship team, but will be filming an RFD-TV show at the company’s headquarters at the beginning of next year, covering the process Standlee Hay follows from field to finished product. If you’ve placed an order with Downunder Horsemanship this month, you probably received a free sampling of Standlee Hay’s Whinny Nicker Horse Treats. Click Here to learn more about Standlee Hay Company.
Happy Holidays from Clinton and the Downunder Horsemanship team! We hope you get to spend the season with those you love, and of course the special horses in your life. We’ve appreciated your support throughout the year and look forward to helping you work toward reaching your personal horsemanship goals in 2012. The Downunder Horsemanship office will be closed Monday, December 26th and Monday, January 2nd. If you’re looking to add some Clinton or the Method to your holiday break, head over to DownunderHorsemanship.TV to watch free episodes of Clinton’s hour-long RFD-TV show.
Clinton will be answering readers’ questions in the 2012 issues of Young Rider - a popular every other month magazine for youth equestrians. Each reader whose question is selected to be answered will receive an annual membership to the No Worries Club, a halter, lead rope and a Handy Stick and string from Downunder Horsemanship. Learn more about Young Rider on their website.
The Downunder Horsemanship staff came together to create an extra-special Christmas treat for the Stephenville Foster Home for Children, an organization devoted to caring for approximately 60 children from broken or dysfunctional homes. The Downunder team donated personal funds to come up with Christmas baskets filled with everything needed for a movie night, an act we’ve been carrying out for the past four years. "A lot of these children are working hard toward overcoming a tough start to make the best of themselves," Clinton says. "It’s a great cause and something my staff and I look forward to doing each year." Several staff members deliver the Christmas baskets personally to the home and get a chance to interact with the kids and wish them a Merry Christmas.
Training Tip of the Week:
Are you taking the bridle off correctly?
Monday December 12, 2011
Taking the bridle off is something that most of people do without thinking and oftentimes rush through the process because they’ve finished their ride and are ready to put the horse up and get to the house. When you rush you either don’t take the time to do the job properly or you don’t think about what you’re doing.
It’s very easy to take the bridle off incorrectly; carelessly pulling the headstall over the horse’s ears and dragging the bridle off his face. When you just pull the bridle off the horse’s face, you don’t give him a chance to spit the bit out which means the bit hits his teeth causing discomfort to his gums and soft tissue. A lot of horses develop bridling problems because of this.
When you’re taking the bridle off, stop and take a look at the position of the bridle to the horse’s head. If it’s at an angle, then there’s a pretty good chance you’ll whack the horse in the teeth with the bit. To avoid hitting his teeth you should hold onto the headstall against his head with your right hand and slide it down his face. This will allow the bit to glide over his tongue and out of his mouth without hitting his teeth.
Every horse will become defensive towards the bridle if you repeatedly hit his teeth with the bit, so be considerate when unbridling your horse.
Husband and wife reining duo, David and Gina McGee, have had a year of success on their Clinton Anderson Performance Horses, and closed 2011 out with impressive year-end accomplishments at the National Reining Horse Association Futurity. Gina and Sydney (aka Chics N Salsa - Smart Chic Olena x Mindy) placed 19th in the Rookie of the Year National Championship, a feat that required the pair go up against hundreds of others. David had an equally successful time at the futurity in the Non-Pro National Championships, earning 9th in the Limited division, 4th in the Intermediate division and 5th in the No-Pro division aboard his mare Sparkles (aka Shine on Retsina - Shining Spark x Retsina). David also made it past the first go on Rocky (aka Chics Dig Scars - Smart Chic Olena x Princess in Diamonds) and on to the Consolation round, just missing the Finals. Clinton and Downunder Horsemanship congratulate Gina and David on their success and wish them the best of luck in 2012. For more information on Clinton Anderson Performance Horses Click Here to visit the Downunder Horsemanship website.
December 16th is the last day ground shipping charges will be applied to outgoing orders for Christmas delivery. Increased shipping rates will go into effect on all orders placed after the 16th if you want your package to arrive in time for Christmas. If you’ve been putting off ordering a gift for that special horse lover in your life, act now! Click Here to visit the Downunder Horsemanship store for great gift ideas and the latest sales.
The last tour of the year is down in the books. And what a tour is was! The Equidome at the West World of Scottsdale was thrumming with energy as Clinton shared the innovation, inspiration and instruction that have earned him and the Method worldwide acclaim. The weekend’s demo horses were great students for Clinton to work with, allowing him to show how the Method can be used to restart a horse, help a spooky horse learn to use the thinking side of his brain and teach a hard-to-trailer horse to load himself. And, Clinton’s personal horse, Marty (aka Great Like Elvis - Wimpys Little Step x Homecoming Chic) made his first tour appearance. The 3-year-old stud colt is in reining training at the ranch and put on a great advanced performance for the crowd, a testament to the foundation the Method can instill in a horse. For a recap of the Scottsdale tour excitement Click Here. Visit the Downunder Horsemanship website, Click Here to view the 2012 schedule and order your tickets now!
Clinton recently said goodbye to his last group of clinic participants for the year. The students in the November 1 - 11 Fundamentals Clinic came to the ranch wanting to communicate with their horses better and to refine their horsemanship skills. They left saturated with knowledge and excited to continue on their horsemanship journey. Click Here to get a feel for their 10-day experience by watching the clinic slideshow. Click Here for information on clinics at the Downunder Horsemanship website.
Training Tip of the Week:
Mouthy horse tip: Make his feet move!
Monday December 05, 2011
When a horse gets mouthy, put his feet to work. The most effective punishment you can give a horse is making him move his feet. Horses are basically lazy creatures and would rather stand around with their legs cocked daydreaming about their next meal than moving their feet and working up a sweat. They’ll always choose the option with the least amount of work involved.
So if you’re standing next to your horse and he starts nibbling on your shirt, turn around and put his feet to work and turn a negative into a positive. Practice some Backing Up, Lunging for Respect, Sidepassing or Circle Driving. The horse can’t mouth on you and move his feet at the same time, especially if you make him hustle with energy and do lots of changes of direction. If you’re consistent, it won’t take long for the horse to connect the two together; when he gets mouthy, you’ll make his feet move.
One of the best ways to stop a mouthy horse, and especially horses that bite, is to back them up. Backing Up is a very humbling exercise for a horse to do. When a horse gets mouthy or tries to bite you, it’s a very forward action; he’s coming forward to get you. When you back him up, it’s the complete opposite; he’s being submissive to you by moving out of your space.
Clinton’s favorite app - Horse 360, an interactive tool to learn the horse’s anatomy and challenge your knowledge, now has 20 levels and 300 detailed images! With the addition of the new levels, the app is packed with even more anatomical information including levels on the horse’s teeth and facial structure as well as a more detailed breakdown of the horse’s conformation and organ system. Besides offering a fun way to learn the horse’s anatomy in a game-like setting, the app allows users to converse with equine professionals in a unique way with its Vet Talk feature. "The more knowledgeable you are, the better horseman you’ll become. Not only will this app add to your overall horsemanship knowledge, but it’s fun as well!" Clinton says of Horse 360. Whether you’re a beginner or expert, the app allows you to learn at your own pace, test your acquired knowledge and compete with friends. Click Here to download the app at the iTunes store. For more information on Horse 360, visit its website http://horse360.com.au/. Look for the Horse 360 commercial to air on episodes of Downunder Horsemanship starting December 13th, and watch your email inbox for a special offer from Horse 360!
The trucks are en route and Clinton and his road staff are headed to Scottsdale, Arizona for our last Walkabout Tour of the year! We’ll welcome the Maricopa County 4-H to the tour as our Ritchie Ball Charity Toss organization. At each tour Clinton and feature sponsor Ritchie Industries team up to help a local nonprofit organization raise money for their cause through the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss, so be sure to visit them and purchase a tennis ball or two for your chance to win incredible prizes including a complete collection of Clinton’s DVDs, a mecate set and more!
Like always, our sponsors will be on hand to answer questions about their products and services and offering great giveaways. Feature sponsor Ritchie Industries will be giving away an automatic waterer and our newest sponsor, Horse 360, an Australian-based company, will be giving away several of their Horse 360 apps - an interactive tool for learning the horse’s anatomy.
MyHorse Daily, an online community for horse lovers, is offering a free downloadable groundwork guide from Clinton titled Clinton Anderson’s Ground Work: Tried and True Horse-Training Methods. The booklet contains tips and detailed instruction on how to teach your horse Fundamentals level exercises. Visit the site at www.myhorse.com and click on the free guides tab to download your copy today!
How Good Are Your Fundamentals? Rate Yourself Today
Monday December 05, 2011
Have you ever wondered where you stack up in your ability to execute basic horsemanship skills? Clinton has the answer in "Test Your Fundamentals" a No Worries Club member exclusive training tool that allows you to benchmark your progress in the Method and sets you on the road to a better partnership with your horse.
Last fall, Clinton invited three horsemen with varying degrees of experience and their personal horses to his ranch in Stephenville, Texas to perform each of the 33 exercises in the Fundamentals level of the Method. Roundpenning, groundwork and riding exercises such as backing, yielding the hindquarters, yielding the forequarters, riding on a loose rein, vertical flexion and stopping are all covered. As the students perform each exercise, Clinton critiques them, offers helpful tips to improve their performance and gives them a grade. Clinton’s honest review cuts straight to the chase, and subsequently improves each member’s performance.
To view the "Test Your Fundamentals" and boost your application of the Method and become a better horseman, log on to the No Worries Club site and click on the Video Library.
For information on the Fundamentals level of the Method, Click Here to visit the Downunder Horsemanship website.
Training Tip of the Week:
A horse’s training should begin in the roundpen.
Monday November 28, 2011
When people ask me where they should start a horse’s training, I tell them all the same thing, no matter if the horse is three or thirty. My advice when you get a new horse is to pretend the horse knows nothing and start from scratch. In my method of horsemanship, that would be the Fundamentals Level, starting with exercises in the roundpen and progressing to groundwork with the halter and lead rope and eventually under saddle exercises.
I recommend starting in the roundpen because it’s the safest place to earn your horse’s respect, and it allows you to get to know your horse. You’ll find out how athletic he is, how lazy or sensitive he is and how willing he is to move forward and follow your suggestions. Working in the roundpen also allows you to establish the fundamentals of respect without being connected to the horse. Because you’re not connected to one another, the horse is able to get further away from you, which makes initial training sessions safer for you. Anytime you’re connected to a horse by a lead rope, you have to be relatively close to him. If he tries to do something disrespectful like kick out, bite or run over you, the chances of you getting hurt are much higher. It also allows you to begin gaining his respect by moving his feet forward. In the beginning, many horses are reluctant to do this and will try to drag you around if you’re connected by a lead rope. By starting this training in the roundpen, you are able to really get his feet moving without the risk of being drug around. After a few sessions in the roundpen, the horse will have a higher level of respect for you so when you do put the halter and lead rope on him, he’ll be in a better frame of mind to pay attention and learn.
December’s No Worries Club member exclusive DVD is all about the Clinton Anderson Academy - an intense program for standout horsemen to become certified to teach the Method. Four students are currently enrolled in the Academy, and we continuously receive interest from prospective candidates, which is why Clinton decided to take you behind the scenes to the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch and let you see for yourself what is expected of Academy students and get a feel for their daily routine. You’ll watch the students work with their training horses, receive lessons from Clinton and Professional Clinician Shana Terry and hone their own teaching skills. You’ll learn about the caliber of student Clinton is looking for and what he envisions for the future of the Academy. Keep an eye out, as your DVD may not arrive until the second week of December this month.
Our favorite Aussie starts the month off by attending the National Reining Horse Association Futurity in Oklahoma to watch the best reining horses in the world compete for top honors. Then it’s off to Washington D.C. to reconnect with the five members of the Caisson Platoon of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) that attended a clinic at the ranch in October. Clinton will work with the soldiers and their horses for an upcoming television show. In the middle of the month, he’ll share the Method at the Walkabout Tour in Scottsdale, Arizona, and continue to film television shows and ride his performance horses at the ranch. At the end of the month, Clinton will celebrate the holidays and welcome in another year of helping others achieve their horsemanship dreams with his wife Amy at the ranch in Texas.
"Rusty Executive" for America’s Favorite Trail Horse
Monday November 28, 2011
Traci Woodard, a NWC member from Florida, and her husband’s horse Rusty Executive won the week 8 episode of America’s Favorite Trail Horse - a television reality series hosted by American Competitive Trail Horse Association. Traci sends out a big THANK YOU to all those who voted for her and Rusty and is excited to be in contention for overall AFTH!
On November 29th, the top 10 horses will compete for votes and the AFTH title, with the top horse receiving $25,000, second $15,000 and third $10,000. To be considered for the honor, the duo survived grueling trail challenges, was selected as one of a hundred finalists from 900-plus auditions around the country and edged out nine other contestants on the week 8 episode to earn their spot in the final round of voting.
Rusty and Traci’s episode airs at 7pm CST then voting for AFTH starts at 8 PM CST on November 29th and will end 48 hours later at www.actha.tv. Support Traci by voting for #357 Rusty Executive. Click Here to view a video about Rusty.
Training Tip of the Week:
Correcting the buddy sour horse.
Monday November 21, 2011
It's very natural for horses not to want to separate from each other because they know that there is safety in numbers. When you're dealing with a buddy sour horse, you have to use a little reverse psychology on him. Instead of the horse thinking that being with his buddy is the best place in the world, you have to make the horse believe that his buddy is the worst thing in the world. That is accomplished by making the horse move his feet and work hard around his buddy and letting him rest away from the other horse.
Instead of thinking "I need to separate him from his buddies, think "I need to make the horse uncomfortable for being around his buddies." Instead of trying to drag the horse away from his buddies, make him work next to his buddies. Trot him around in circles, canter some serpentines, anything to hustle his feet. You want him to work hard, preferably at the canter, so he gets to huffing and puffing.
After 10 to 15 minutes of working him hard around his buddies, move him 50 to 100 feet away and let him rest. Rub him and give him a chance to catch his breath. It's important to find a starting point for your horse. In the beginning, you might only be able to take your horse 20 feet away from the other horses. That's OK, you'll gradually build your horse's confidence little by little, until eventually, you can ride him off by himself without a struggle.
Clinton and the entire Downunder Horsemanship team wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoy the day and give thanks for all you've been blessed with. Clinton is thankful for the many talented horses in his life, his supportive family, a great team and all of his loyal horse-loving customers. The Downunder Horsemanship office will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but will resume normal business hours on Friday for our most unbelievable Black Friday Sale yet!
This spring, Clinton will host a five-day clinic for those wanting a boost in their confidence. You may have grown up riding like a Comanche, but with the passing of time have lost some of that nerve. Or, maybe you're new to horse ownership and realize you're in over your head. The clinic will be tailored for riders in search of confidence and wanting to enjoy their relationship with their horse. Clinic curriculum will center on elements from the Method especially geared toward regaining lost confidence and putting the fun back in horsemanship.
Whether your fear is based on cantering, riding in a group or even working on the ground with your horse, this five-day clinic ensures you'll leave the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch a confident and in control leader your horse respects, which means you can get back to enjoying your passion!
Please note that this clinic is ONLY for those needing a confidence boost. Riders looking to show off their Fundamentals skills should not apply - this clinic will not advance your skills and you will be out of place in the group.
To learn more about the clinic or how to apply, visit www.downunderhorsemanship.com and click on the Tours/Clinics tabs.
Since the launch of Downunder Horsemanship.TV, the free online site that streams Clinton's RFD-TV show, horsemen around the world have been taking advantage of having access to Clinton and the Method at their fingertips. In fact, the site is averaging a 1,000 views a day, and 54 countries/territories around the world have logged on to watch Clinton in action!
The top 10 countries logging on daily:
United States
Canada
Australia
United Kingdom
Mexico
Germany
France
New Zealand
Spain
Israel
Log onto to www.downunderhorsemanship.tv to watch up-to-date episodes of Downunder Horsemanship and receive the innovation, inspiration and instruction you need to achieve your horsemanship goals. NEW! You now can view our TV shows with subtitles in English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French. The site features three episodes of Downunder Horsemanship - the most recent installment followed by the previous two weeks' episodes. New episodes are uploaded to the site every Wednesday, following their premier on RFD-TV each Tuesday.
If you dream of becoming a better horseman and building a more enjoyable partnership with your horse, you've got to get hands-on help learning the Method at the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch in Stephenville, Texas. Clinton will be hosting four clinics next year, and Professional Clinician Shana Terry will instruct two Fundamentals clinics. Whether you're searching for lost confidence, wanting to learn the Fundamentals, refine your Intermediate skills or start a colt, our 2012 clinic schedule has something for everyone!
Clinton's Clinic Schedule
April 25 - May 5 10 Day Fundamentals Clinic
May 14 - 18 5 Day Confidence Clinic
June 1 - 10 10 Day Colt Starting Clinic
November 1 - 11 10 Day Intermediate Clinic
Shana's Clinic Schedule
June 18 - 22 5 Day Fundamentals Clinic
October 1 - 5 Fundamentals Clinic
Training Tip of the Week:
Avoid chasing your foal.
Monday November 14, 2011
Do not ever let a foal get into the habit of thinking he can avoid you whenever he wants. When you first go to work with him, be sure you’re in a small, enclosed space, such as a stall or roundpen, so that he can’t run away from you. I always have someone help me catch the foal for the first couple of weeks so that he never develops a habit of running away. If you let the foal run away from you, darting around his mother, ducking under her belly, etc., he’ll soon turn catching him into a game of "You can’t touch me!" And once he learns that game, undoing his bad habits will take a lot of work. Set yourself up for success by starting to work with your foal as soon as you can, working in a small, enclosed area initially, and having someone help you in the beginning.
If you’ve ever dreamed of starting a colt with Clinton Anderson by your side, this summer, you’ll get your chance to receive world-class instruction straight from the man himself. For the first time in five years, Clinton is holding a colt starting clinic in which he’ll help participants take their unstarted young horses from never having been saddled to riding out on the trail and over a challenging obstacle course in 10 days.
Rider Requirements:
Riders must be able to walk, trot and canter confidently with an independent seat and must demonstrate their ability to do so in a video application. There are no restrictions on the horse used for the video application - i.e. you can use your old, broke gelding.
The colt starting clinic will run 10 consecutive days - participants will not receive a day off because it’s crucial the young horses receive consistent training. With that in mind, it’s important that you are physically fit to handle working with your young horse all 10 days of the clinic.
Colt Requirements:
Colts brought to the clinic must be 2 years old or older and be halter broke - meaning they can be lead in and out of the trailer and to the roundpen. Preferably, the colt should not have been saddled or ridden.
Video applications should be sent to Amy Anderson’s attention to the Downunder Horsemanship office or emailed to amy@downunderhorsemanship.com. Video Applications are being accepted now.
‘Tis the season...to accelerate your horsemanship! Take advantage of our HUGE holiday specials this Black Friday (November 25th) and Cyber Monday (November 28th). Look for nearly all of Clinton’s instructional DVDs and innovative training tools and equipment to be marked down. Customer service representatives will be available to help you with your purchases throughout the Holiday Season Monday thru Wednesday Thursday 8 AM to 7 PM CST and Fridays 8 AM to 5 PM CST. The Downunder Horsemanship offices will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but our online store will be up and running, featuring great savings on Legacy Sports Boots (view our Legacy Boot sale at www.twitter.com/downunderhorse on Thanksgiving!).
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Refer Your Friends to the NWC and Earn Downunder Horsemanship Cash
Monday November 14, 2011
We’re excited to offer a rewards program for our most loyal customers - our No Worries Club members!
With the newly launched Refer a Friend Program, you’ll earn a $25 e-gift card for every friend you get to join the club. The gift certificates are redeemable in the Downunder Horsemanship store and at all Downunder Horsemanship events including tours and expos. The program tracks the Downunder Horsemanship bucks you earn and keeps an ongoing tally of your balance. And the friend you help sign up receives an incredible deal - a yearly membership for only $150 - $50 off regular price!
Referring a friend is as easy as logging onto your personal account on the No Worries Club website and clicking on the Refer a Friend Program tab and sending your friends an email, inviting them to join the club.
To learn more about the program and how you can get started, visit your No Worries Club account on the NWC website, and be sure to read the program’s Frequently Asked Questions.
Big congratulations to Aintshesweet for winning the NWC Halloween Contest! While there was no shortage of creativity with members and their horses’ costumes, "Mr. Snuffleupagus" stole the show and received the most votes from all of you. For her creative efforts, Aintshesweet won a Method kit of her choice. Take a look at all the entries by clicking here.
Training Tip of the Week:
Rearing horse tip: Fix the problem from the ground.
Monday November 07, 2011
Rearing is a clear sign of disrespect. To gain a horse’s respect, you have to move his feet forwards, backwards, left and right and reward the slightest try. If your horse is rearing, he’s telling you that you don’t truly have his respect. You need to spend more time working with him on the ground, establishing yourself as the leader. The Downunder Horsemanship Method contains over 30 groundwork exercises you can use to gain your horse’s respect and get him to use the thinking side of his brain, all of which makes him a willing partner.
After working with hundreds of horses over the years, I’ve found that a week or two of consistent groundwork usually cures rearing before you get back in the saddle. Why? Because the horse’s respect is earned on the ground by moving his feet, he’s using the thinking side of his brain and he is no longer fearful.
Downunder Horsemanship’s tour manager, Ethan Sickles, has been jet-setting across the country the last several months to scope out possible locations for next year’s tours. On site visits, Ethan visits with the potential facility’s management and tours the grounds to get a feel for its layout. The growth of Walkabout Tours in recent years means that only facilities capable of accommodating 4,000 fans are feasible. But it’s not all work for Ethan - part of site visits includes finding the nearest Chinese restaurant (Clinton’s favorite go-to tour meal) for when the Downunder Horsemanship team brings the tour to town. To learn more about Walkabout Tours and how you can get involved either as a volunteer or demo horse owner Click Here.
Clinton will be bringing his Walkabout Tour to six locations across the country next year. The two-day events offer something for all levels of horsemen and are jampacked with not only instruction on the best Method in the world, but inspiration and innovation that only Clinton and Downunder Horsemanship can provide. If you want to see the Aussie horseman in action and witness the difference the Method can make, mark your calendar for these dates:
January 28-29 Perry, Georgia
March 24-25 Tulsa, Oklahoma
June 16-17 Des Moines, Iowa
August 4-5 Fresno, California
September 8-9 Kalispell, Montana
October 27-28 Lufkin, Texas
Click Here for facility and host hotel information. Don’t forget, No Worries Club members receive 5 complimentary tickets to tours each year! To request or purchase tickets contact us at 888-287-7432.
The final stop of the 2011 Walkabout Tour will kick off next month at the West World of Scottsdale’s Equidome in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’ll be two days of nonstop innovation, inspiration and instruction as Clinton works with local problem horses and demonstrates the advanced levels of the Method with his personal horse.
Like always, our sponsors will be on hand to answer questions about their products and services and offering great giveaways. Feature sponsor Ritchie Industries will be giving away an automatic waterer and our newest sponsor, Horse 360, an Australian-based company, will be giving away several of their Horse 360 apps - an interactive tool for learning the horse’s anatomy.
If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, there’s still time to call the office and make your requests. NWC members remember to take advantage of your five free tour tickets. See ya, in Scottsdale!
Do you wish your horse would load calmly on the trailer? Unload without a hassle? Or just stand calmly once he’s in the trailer? Catch Clinton’s article in the December issue of Horse Illustrated for answers to all those questions and more. In the article, Clinton discusses how to teach your horse to crave the trailer using the Approach and Retreat Method. Next year, Clinton will appear in the magazine on a regular basis, answering readers’ questions in the publication’s Western Roundup feature.
For 35 years, Horse Illustrated has provided horse owners with trusted information on horse management, riding and training for all breeds and styles of riding. To learn more about the publication and how you can view a copy of Clinton’s article Click Here.
Having problems worming your horse? Use the Approach and Retreat Method to get him to calmly and willingly accept wormer. You can even put honey on the wormer tube as I’m doing here. The sweet taste of the honey will not only encourage the horse to readily open his mouth, but will have him looking forward to getting wormed. For more tips on worming your horse, refer to the Problem Solving on the Ground and Under Saddle DVD series.
Downunder Horsemanship Salutes USTRC’s Junior Looper Champions
Monday October 31, 2011
As a 2011 corporate sponsor of the United States Team Roping Championships’ Jr. Looper program, Downunder Horsemanship has supported the young ropers throughout the year and provided incredible prizes for division champions at the Finals Championships last week in Oklahoma. Besides receiving a Gist Silversmith belt buckle featuring the Downunder Horsemanship Roo logo and a Clinton Anderson Signature Martin Saddle, each of the 18 winners were presented with a gift bag of Downunder Horsemanship products that included a Downunder Horsemanship halter. Salesman, Clint Newman, was on hand to congratulate the winners and award them their prizes.
Clinton decided to partner with the USTRC’s Jr. Looper program for youth 12 and under this year because he recognized the program’s importance in providing youth with a knowledgeable foundation to develop their horsemanship skills. Participation in the Jr. Looper program is free for youth 12 and under. Visit USTRC’s site to learn more.
Want to know about the hottest sales on the best horse equipment and training courses in the industry? Hop on over to Downunder Horsemanship’s twitter feed and see for yourself! Every Thursday until Christmas, we’re featuring ONE DAY ONLY sales on our innovative and results-oriented products. Everything from Clinton’s instructional DVDs to his industry-best tack and equipment will be marked down for one day only. A heads up - even though our office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, a can’t-beat super savings online only deal on Legacy Boots that will be announced on Twitter, so be sure to check it out.
Relive the Katy Tour’s Innovation, Inspiration and Instruction
Monday October 31, 2011
We love sharing the fun and learning opportunities that take place at Walkabout Tours, and hope you enjoy this slideshow from Katy! We saw plenty of familiar faces, including members who had signed up for the club when we were last in Katy almost five years ago. That tour in 2007 was the first event in which we unveiled the club! Back in the office, we’re busy welcoming our newest members to the NWC and are looking forward to the last tour of the year in Scottsdale, Arizona. Click Here to learn more about Walkabout Tours.
Clinton just returned from a weekend spent at a technology conference in Orlando, Florida, full of newest innovative ideas on the technology front. We can’t wait to see what he has in mind for Downunder Horsemanship! On Tuesday he welcomed the last group of clinic participants to the ranch for the year. He’ll help the thirty riders learn and advance their knowledge of the Fundamentals in the arena, over the obstacle course and even in the classroom. Clinton will wrap the month up by going to the National Reining Horse Association Futurity in Oklahoma City.
Does your horse constantly jig on the trail, trying to go faster than you want? Don’t add to the problem by pulling back on two reins, trying to force him to walk. Instead, put his feet to work and get him to use the thinking side of his brain and pay attention to you. The more you move his feet forwards, backwards, left and right, the more he’ll relax and use the thinking side of his brain. Moving the horse’s feet puts his excess energy to good use, and convinces him that jigging just results in more work. Horses are basically lazy creatures and will always pick the option of the least amount of work. Eventually, the horse will realize that walking on a loose rein is much easier than having to hustle his feet and change directions.
Cantering with Confidence Tips Galore in NWC November DVD
Monday October 24, 2011
For many, just the thought of cantering can be nerve wracking, but as you learned in the September 2010 DVD Cantering with Confidence, being
knowledgeable and having a dependable horse can nip fear in the bud. This month, Clinton welcomes one of the students from the DVD back for another
lesson. Mari Jo Blend, who is much improved from last year, is ready to reach another level of confidence, and ultimately, improve her horsemanship.
After her initial lesson with Clinton, Mari Jo followed his advice and practiced cantering on a well-broke horse and then found herself a safe,
dependable partner. In this lesson, Clinton works with Mari Jo and her new horse Slyck, getting them to the point of being able to canter outside the
arena and doing rollbacks on the fence. The DVD also discusses common horse problems that crop up when riding in a group, such as kicking at other
horses, being pinny-eared and getting too close to other horses on the trail.
We are welcoming our last 2011 10-Day Fundamentals clinic participants and their horses to the ranch this weekend. Clinton will work one-on-one with
thirty individuals and their horses helping them learn and fine-tune their application of the Method. Aided by his Professional and Certified
Clinicians, Clinton will help each of the participants finesse their application of the exercises in the first level of the Method and take their
horsemanship to the next level. Participants will have one of the best equine facilities at their fingertips - the Downunder Horsemanship clinic
facility boasts a 300’ x 150’ covered arena, 300’ round arena, 50’ roundpens, an obstacle course with more than twenty challenges and plenty of land for
trail riding. Click Here to learn more
about clinics. 2012 Clinic schedule to be released soon!
Dream of getting expert hands-on help in the Method, but can’t make it to the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch for a clinic? No worries - Clinton’s Certified Clinicians come directly to you! Personally trained by Clinton to help you learn the Method, each Certified Clinician is hand-selected by Clinton for their extraordinary communication skills and horsemanship abilities. In 2012, Certified Clinician Dale Cunningham will be holding several three-day Fundamentals clinics across the nation to give horse owners the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to build a better relationship with their horses. Each clinic is limited to 12 participants, ensuring personalized instruction, and costs only $750 for the entire three days.
To view Dale’s upcoming schedule (see below) and to contact him to reserve your clinic spot call 303-809-2006 or email dalec@downunderhorsemanship.com.
Training Tip of the Week:
Your greatest tool as a horse trainer
Monday October 17, 2011
When it comes to training your horse, your imagination is your greatest tool. The more creative you can be in your lessons, the more interested your horse will be in his job. You’ve heard me say, "Consistency is your greatest ally and inconsistency is your greatest enemy." And that’s absolutely true. It will take you a very long time to train your horse if you’re inconsistent. However, just as important as consistency is, you have to be sure to include variety. Variety means mixing it up for your horse and keeping him guessing at what you’re doing. It keeps him interested in his job and on his toes. However, you have to learn to balance the two. Too much consistency and the horse will get bored and resentful in his job. Too much variety and he will never learn anything.
Jim Jones, better known on the NWC forums as Renegade, started riding horses as a teenager over 54 years ago, and after a break, got reintroduced to his childhood passion two years ago. Today, he and his wife own two horses and one donkey. The couple started practicing the Method with their horses when they saw Clinton for the first time at the November 2010 Murfreesboro, Tennessee tour. Members of the club since, the couple says the Method and Clinton have become a regular part of their daily lives.
-What is your favorite thing to do with your horses?
We love to trail ride and just spend time with them.
-What is your biggest success with the Method?
Getting our horses to respect us, which is still a work in progress, but we’ve seen marked improvements.
-What do you like best about the club?
The staff that is so helpful at tours and being able to access loads of information on the NWC forums, like getting questions answered and being able to chit-chat with other members about what's going on with our horses or anything else.
-How has the club inspired you to be a better horseman?
It’s opened up a whole new world of horses than just putting a saddle on and riding. We’re getting a better understanding of why horses do what they do and how to correct them and stay safe at the same time.
-What is your favorite Clintonism?
Frustration begins where knowledge ends.
-If you had the chance to work with one of Clinton’s personal horses, which one would you pick? Why?
This is a hard question to answer, but if I had a choice, I believe I would take Mindy. As far as why, that is even harder to answer. I'm still green; maybe she could teach me how to be a better horseman.
Judging from the traffic our server is getting and the feedback we’ve received in the office, you’re enjoying DownunderHorsemanship.TV. We can’t blame you, having free access to Clinton and the Method whenever and wherever you need it is an unbelievable deal. Currently, the site is streaming full-length episodes from the RFD-TV series "Working with an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred." Besides being able to watch up-to-date episodes, the site offers immediate connection to Downunder Horsemanship’s social media sites, our online store, Clinton’s upcoming schedule and the extensive NWC video library. Head over to DownunderHorsemanship.TV and add us to your favorites so you can watch Clinton and the Method to your heart’s content anytime, anywhere.
Our friends in Texas are always an energetic, supportive bunch and those who gathered for the Katy tour were no exception. Clinton and Mindy's daughter, Jillaroo, rocked the Great Southwest Equestrian Center with their advanced demos on the ground and under saddle, and Clinton explained how the Method can work on a variety of horses using local problem horses in demonstrations like gaining a hard-to-catch horse’s trust and respect and teaching a fearful horse to load calmly onto a trailer. The generosity of the crowd helped the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss organization Heart of Texas Riding Center raise $4600. Based in West Texas, the family-run facility meets the needs of children with Autism, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. Relive the Katy tour excitement via our slideshow which will be posted later on our Facebook page. To learn more about Walkabout Tours on the Downunder Horsemanship website Click Here.
Our next and final tour stop in 2011 is Scottsdale, Arizona, December 10-11 at the West World of Scottsdale in the Equidome. We hope to see you there!
NWC Member Competing for America’s Favorite Trail Horse
Monday October 17, 2011
Traci Woodard, a NWC member from Florida, and her husband’s horse Rusty Executive are competing for the title of America’s Favorite Trail Horse - a television reality series hosted by American Competitive Trail Horse Association. To be considered for the honor, the duo survived grueling trail challenges and was selected as one of a hundred finalists from 900-plus auditions around the country.
The 100 finalists were filmed this past spring at the national finals for the AFTH series that premiered on HRTV this fall. The show will run for 10 weeks, showcasing 10 riders and horses per episode. Horse lovers around the country will ultimately decide which horse is truly America’s favorite trail horse by voting on their favorite horse each week. Final episode airs Novemeber 1st at 8pm EST and can be viewed on DISH channel 404 on HRTV or www.actha.tv.
In week 12 the top 10 horses will compete for votes and the AFTH title, with the top horse receiving $25,000, second $15,000 and third $10,000. "It is very touching for us to see what a great horse Rusty has become thanks to what we have learned from Downunder Horsemanship," Traci says, speaking for herself and her husband Mike. "We can’t wait to see the results; go ‘Roo!"
Voting for AFTH will be held November 1st through 3rd at www.actha.us. Support Traci by voting for #357 Rusty Executive. Club members will recognize the gelding from the now infamous "Most desensitized Horse" contest on the NWC forums. Click Here to view a video about Rusty.
Anytime you want your horse to come to a stop, you should sit down deep in the saddle and relax. It’s what I call, "Sit before you pull." For example, if you’re trotting and want the horse to walk, you should post to the trot and then sit two or three strides before asking him to stop. If you sit before you pull you’re giving the horse a pre-signal of what is going to happen. With repetition, he’ll start reading your body language and realize when you sit down and relax, he should come down to a stop even before you pick up on the rein and flex him.
You know it’s important to keep your horse’s legs well-protected while working him, and now, you can do so with one more style option - an elegant lace pattern from Legacy Boots. Clinton trusts the Legacy System Boots to protect his horses’ legs, ensuring their soundness and longevity. Whether you’re exercising, training or out on the trail, support boots add natural reinforcement to the limb and ensure proper protection against outside hazards and interference from legs knocking together during maneuvers. To hear why Clinton believes every horse should wear support boots and how to properly fit them to your horse’s legs Click Here.
We’re headed south to Katy for our second to last Walkabout Tour of the year. Our trucks are packed to the brim with the latest products (all featured in the fall catalog), including new clothing styles and a florescent orange halter - believe us, you can’t miss it!
We’ll welcome the Heart of Texas Riding Center, a family-run facility that meets the needs of children with Autism, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, to the tour as our Ritchie Ball Charity Toss organization. At each tour Clinton and feature sponsor Ritchie Industries team up to help a local nonprofit organization raise money for their cause through the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss, so be sure to visit them and purchase a tennis ball or two for your chance to win incredible prizes including a complete collection of Clinton’s DVDs, a mecate set and more!
Like always, our sponsors will be on hand to answer questions about their products and services and offering great giveaways. Our newest sponsor, Horse 360?, an Australian-based company, will be joining us for the first time, so be sure to head to their booth to check out their Horse 360? app - an interactive tool for learning the horse’s anatomy.
On Saturday evening, following the conclusion of the day’s demonstrations, sponsor ADM will hold an informative nutrition seminar over a complementary dinner at 6:30 PM. For solid advice on how good nutrition fits into your training program, be sure to attend and take advantage of equine nutritionist Dr. Judith Reynolds’ knowledge. To learn more about the seminar or to make reservations to attend, please check out our Blog section.
Learn How Good Nutrition Fits into Your Downunder Horsemanship Training Program
Join renowned Equine Nutritionist, Judith Reynolds, Ph.D., P.A.S., Dipl. A.C.A.N., for a complementary dinner and nutrition seminar/discussion about the all important link between your horse’s diet and his behavior. And, bring your questions! (After Clinton’s demonstration)
6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Texas Children’s Hospital Arena Club
Upstairs overlooking the main arena Great Southwest Equestrian Center
2501 South Mason Road
Katy, Texas 77450
281-578-7669 Make your reservations early – Seating is limited
For reservations, contact: Karen Gregg or Joan Larson at 800-680-8254
Email: Karen.gregg@adm.com Be sure to provide your name/s, address, telephone, email and number of horses you own
Win an Extra Chance to Win FREE FEED
For One Horse for One Year
Presented by ADM Alliance Nutrition®, makers of GLO for Life™, ultra-premium feeds and supplements featuring added fats and digestible fibers, formulated free of corn starch, grain products and fillers, so you can feed your horse the way your horse is meant to eat. We're Going AGAINSTthe Grain . . . FOR the Horse
Put Your Creativity to the Test and Win a Method Kit!
Monday October 10, 2011
It’s time for the annual NWC Halloween Costume Contest. Our members are a creative bunch and never fail to amaze us with the costumes they come up with. We’ve seen everything from a scuba diving "seahorse" to a "jack" in the box to Little Bo Peep! This year, the prize is bigger than ever - the grand prize winner will get to select a Method kit of their choice. That means if you win, you’ll get a Fundamentals, Intermediate or Advanced kit!
The Rules:
1) All photos must be posted in the contest thread: Click Here in order to be entered into the contest.
2) Only one post per member. (If you dress up multiple horses be sure all your photos go in one post.)
Photos must be posted in the contest thread by November 2nd. The following day, we’ll post a poll in a separate thread for members to vote on their favorite entry. Good luck, and remember, the sky’s the limit!
No Worries Club Members! Share Your Photos with Us
Monday October 10, 2011
We know you love your horses and have put in a considerable amount of time and resources to enjoy your partnership. That’s why we want to showcase you and your horse in the NWC Journal. Send us a snapshot of you and your equine partner as an attachment to journal@noworriesclub.com and we’ll feature you in our Member Photos section in an upcoming Journal.
Training Tip of the Week:
Your horse is always paying attention.
Monday October 03, 2011
Horses are excellent at observing every small little change. We humans aren’t so good at noticing little changes. For example, your horse recognizes the fact that you allow him to take a step toward you into your personal hula hoop space without correcting him by backing him up. He notices that you walk around him to get to his other side instead of making him move his feet around you. On the other hand, most of us don’t notice our horses taking a step away when we go to mount until the problem has escalated so much that we can’t even get near him. You might not notice your horse creeping up on you as you’re leading him until one day he runs over the top of you. Problems don’t show up over night. Rather, they get progressively worse and because we’re so poor at being observant, we don’t notice until they blow up in our face.
Clinton has found a fun new way to add to his horsemanship knowledge with the Horse 360 iPhone app. The interactive learning tool disguised as a game allows users to study a horse’s anatomy in a fun setting. "Being a true horseman isn’t just about riding well, but understanding how your horse thinks, why he does the things that he does, knowing how his body functions and caring for him properly," Clinton says. The Horse 360 app is made up of three components - two learning levels that feature multiple choice questions and a total recall phase, and Vet Talk, a feature that highlights and names the part of the horse’s anatomy the user points to. Rather than studying anatomy out of a book, the app allows users to not only study general conformation and the skeletal, muscular and organ systems, but makes learning fun. "I think the app is genius and even found myself getting stumped," Clinton says. "I love learning and have to admit the Horse 360 app has become my new favorite toy." To learn more about Horse 360 and its app, visit www.horse360.com.au.
Though there are many horsemen around the world who claim to be Clinton’s biggest fan, No Worries Club member Theresa Rhine can officially hold the title for 2011. The California horsewoman won an essay contest held by Gift of the Horse in which she explained why she believed in Clinton and his method of horsemanship. Theresa’s essay chronicles her battle with cancer and training her Arabian Red, a horse that she had all but given up hope on until she discovered Clinton and the Method. Theresa was selected among hundreds of entrants, and she couldn’t have been more thrilled to have been chosen as the winner. For her efforts, she won a renewal of her NWC membership and a DVD series of her choice. Click Here to learn more about Theresa and how Clinton has inspired her to reach her horsemanship goals.
Though Clinton and his method of horsemanship regularly inspire horsemen around the world, last weekend, it was the Aussie clinician who was ultimately inspired. Clinton and his film crew visited Rainier Therapeutic Riding in Yelm, Washington to work with their Horses for Heroes program, a rehabilitative horsemanship program for military personnel and veterans with medical injuries or illnesses. Clinton first met the group when they were selected to run the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss for the Seattle, Washington Walkabout Tour this July and was immediately impressed with the selflessness and heroics of its members. During the filming session, Clinton spent three days with the military men and women, visiting with them and then showing them ways to improve their horsemanship technique. At the end of the three-day visit, Clinton even headed out on the trail with the group. Clinton’s time with the Horses for Heroes program will air on next season’s Fox Sports Net show. You can access behind the scenes photos of the filming by visiting Rainier Therapeutic Riding’s Facebook page.
Celebrating the Launch of DownunderHorsemanship.TV
Monday October 03, 2011
The launch of DownunderHorsemanship.tv, our online video streaming site, was not only highly anticipated with Method followers, but around the Downunder Horsemanship office as well. To kick off the site’s "going live" at noon CST this past Friday, the entire staff celebrated with a pizza party and viewing of the uploaded RFD-TV shows. Be sure to check out the newest Downunder Horsemanship innovation at www.downunderhorsemanship.tv to view Clinton’s full-length RFD-TV shows for free. Three shows will be uploaded to the site at any one time, the most current episode followed by the previous two weeks’ shows. New episodes will be uploaded to the site every Wednesday, following their premier on RFD-TV each Tuesday. Currently, we’re streaming all of this season’s shows to date "Working with an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred" so that viewers can stay up to date on Clinton’s progress with the Thoroughbred Ricky.
Training Tip of the Week:
Make the Punishment Fit the Crime
Monday September 26, 2011
When your horse misbehaves, it’s important that you match your correction to what the horse did. If the horse made a little mistake, make a little correction. If the horse made a big mistake, make a big correction. And when you do correct him, it shouldn’t be a big deal or turn into a fight. For example, if I’m dealing with a horse that bites, I’ll back him up aggressively for fifteen or twenty steps and then act like nothing ever happened. You can’t let your emotions get involved with your corrections. When I correct a horse, there are absolutely no emotions involved. I don’t lose my temper and start cussing and whacking the horse as hard as I possibly can. I get in and I get out. I make him feel uncomfortable for doing the wrong thing and then move on.
Starting on September 30th, our latest innovation is going live...to the world! We’ve created www.downunderhorsemanship.tv, a website that will host up-to-date episodes of Clinton’s hour-long Downunder Horsemanship RFD-TV show. Now you can watch Clinton’s award-winning television show anytime, anywhere. A countdown to the website’s official launch begins Septemeber 27th at noon. Log onto www.downunderhorsemanship.tv to join in the countdown and watch full-length episodes.
The Fall Journal will be arriving in your mailbox soon. With over a hundred pages packed full of training articles, success tips, heart-felt inspirational stories and the latest innovations taking place at Downunder Horsemanship, Journals are a must-read! Articles in this edition include teaching your horse to not race ahead on trails, stopping on whoa, NWC meet-up groups, and spotlights on members and their horses.
Professional Clinician Shana Terry will welcome twenty students to her 5-day Fundamentals clinic next week. Equestrians from all around the country are hauling into the ranch for the opportunity, including a group of soldiers from the Caisson Platoon of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment. First used by the military to carry ammunition, the caisson is now used in a ceremonial capacity during formal military funeral processions in Washington D.C. Not only will Shana teach students the Fundamentals, but she’ll have them riding on trails and working their horses over the obstacle course.
Clinton’s October is filling up fast with a tour stop in Katy, Texas mid-month and continuous work on projects. He and his film crew will be busy taping television shows for Fox Sports Net and RFD-TV, as well as an upcoming NWC monthly DVD. In between shoots and training his horses, Clinton will continue teaching the current group of Academy students at the ranch. Then towards the end of the month he’ll compete at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity in Ardmore, Oklahoma on Chics Dig Scars (aka Rocky) and Thecrowdlovesme (aka Duke).
When adjusting the bit in your horse’s mouth, keep something in mind. Horses learn through reward, the release of pressure. You want to show your horse that if he gives to pressure, you’ll reward him by releasing the pressure and giving him a loose rein. With that being said, I place the bit so that it sits just in the horse’s mouth. You don’t want the bit hanging out of the horse’s mouth, but you don’t want it making more than half a wrinkle either. If you took your finger and placed it in your mouth and then closed your mouth around it, that’s how you want the bit to rest in your horse’s mouth. Your finger shouldn’t be pressing the corners of your mouth, but it shouldn’t be hitting your teeth either. The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to bit placement is not to make the bit too tight because if you’re constantly pulling on the horse’s mouth, he’ll never receive a reward for doing the right thing. Horses learn from the release of pressure, not the pressure itself.
Want a little ‘Roo in your Christmas? Or, know someone who does? Starting on September 29, every Thursday until the week before Christmas, we’re offering unbelievable ONE DAY ONLY sales on our best-selling products from tack and equipment to books and stocking stuffers. Sales will be announced only on our twitter feed, so be sure to follow us on Twitter.
Downunder Horsemanship in Stephenville, Texas is seeking an experienced professional with a proven record producing positive results to meet sales goals with a minimum of 3-5 years functioning as a Sales Manager. Knowledge of Clinton Anderson’s products and his Method will definitely give you an edge over the competition. If you are a dedicated hardworking person looking for a challenge in a fast paced environment, apply for this full time position at: www.downunderhorsemanship.com, Careers.
Our tour team is headed to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas next month, and here in the office we’re already getting organized and packed for the event. We were last in the Houston suburb in February 2007, a memorable event because it was the first tour we unveiled the NWC! If you joined the club at Katy in 2007, be sure to come over to the club booth and say, "Hi!"
Like all tours, the Katy event will not only be full of entertainment and instruction, but great giveaways and sponsor involvement.
If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, there’s still time to call the office and make your requests. NWC members remember to take advantage of your five free tour tickets. See ya, in Katy!
Clinton Adds Horsemanship Advice to Team Roping 101 Book
Monday September 19, 2011
Team Roping is one of the fastest growing equestrian sports, and Trafalgar Square’s newest release, Team Roping 101, caters to all those joining in the fun. Endorsed by the United States Team Roping Championships, the book is a complete and well-illustrated guide that covers terminology, rules, horsemanship practices, rope handling skills, equipment, drills, horse selection and much more. Top trainers in the industry share their advice, and Clinton has a few chapters on horsemanship. In fact, Clinton penned the books foreword. For more information and to purchase the book, visit www.horseandriderbooks.com.
Training Tip of the Week:
Adjust to the situation.
Monday September 12, 2011
When you’re working with your horse, you have to be able to change your body language quickly. You have to be able to raise the intensity when your horse is misbehaving and instantly relax when he does the right thing.
Be a part of a history-making event at the 2012 Midwest Horse Fair®! We know that you are talented and now we want you to share it with us. Be a part of Midwest Horse Fair®’s Got Talent and you may be showcased in one of the evening shows at the 2012 Midwest Horse Fair®. (April 20 or 21, 2012). This epic weekend draws over 50,000 attendees every year and the Friday and Saturday night shows are a must-see experience. Click Here to download the application.
Want a daily dose of inspiration? Horse training tips? Get motivated with Clintonisms? Or, stay in the know on all the latest Downunder Horsemanship happenings? Log onto Facebook and like the Downunder Horsemanship fan page at www.facebook.com/downunderhorsemanship. Our page features an all-new landing page with a photo of Clinton working the gorgeous stallion Whizkey N Diamonds (aka Foster) over the obstacle course. Take a look and let us know what you think!
Our favorite horseman will celebrate his 36th birthday on the 17th. Clinton will spend the day at the ranch riding his personal horses and then cap the evening off with dinner and a movie. Top on the Aussie’s list of favorite restaurants? PF Changs and Del Frisco’s Steakhouse.
Join us with posting back a video in the comment section also wishing Clinton a very Happy Birthday! Click Here
How do I post a Video Response?
You can record a new video and upload a your video to your own youtube account. Then click on the empty comment box. Select the option at left of the comment box and click "create a video response".
Our fall catalog, full of your favorite Downunder Horsemanship products and new additions is on its way. Pay close attention to the models - they're all Downunder Horsemanship employees! (see page 17 for bios) To request a catalog Click Here. If you want to take a sneak peak, view our catalog online: Click Here.
Training Tip of the Week:
Frustration ends where knowledge begins.
Tuesday September 06, 2011
Some days you’re going to feel good about your relationship with your horse, and other days you’re going to wonder why you even bother. That’s normal, we’ve all been there, including myself. As you get better and more knowledgeable, the days that make you want to pull your hair out will be far outnumbered by the good days. Whenever you feel frustrated with the progress of your horse’s training, it’s because you’ve run out of knowledge. The more clinics you go to, the more books you read, the more videos you watch and the more time you spend with your horse, the more knowledgeable you’ll be and the more answers you’ll have.
Not only did Clinton put on an inspiring and information-packed Walkabout Tour in Columbus, Ohio last month, but his production crew was busy filming episodes for the Fox Sports Net show. Before the tour kicked off, Clinton helped a horsewoman correct her mare’s bridling and mounting issues. But filming didn’t stop there. Throughout the weekend, the production crew had their cameras rolling and was conducting interviews for what will be an episode devoted to the inspiration, innovation and instruction that make up a Walkabout Tour. Be sure to tune into our FSN show that airs weekly on Sundays at 10:30 am nationwide. Click Here for your local listings.
Although she’s basking in retirement, there’s no doubt Mindy is still the queen of the ranch. On Monday, September 5th, Mindy celebrated her 18th birthday, no doubt by receiving her favorite treat - bread. The liver chestnut mare has been by Clinton’s side since he bought her as a yearling in 1994. Before coming to America with Clinton and helping him at expos and Walkabout Tours, Mindy helped a young Clinton burst onto the scene in Australia when the duo placed third at the Australian Reining Futurity in 1997. Clinton retired his beloved mare in 2010 at the Vegas Tourcation in front of thousands of his fans. Watch some of their freestyle performance in this video clip Click Here.
We’re on the hunt for problem horses for next season’s Fox Sports Net show. If you own, or know someone who owns, a horse with one or more of the problems listed below, head to the Downunder Horsemanship website and download the Problem Horse TV Application (lower right hand of the screen) for your chance at getting free help from Clinton. Clinton and his production crew will even travel to your home for filming!
We are specifically looking for horses with the following problems:
On the Ground and Under Saddle:
Bites
Can’t Worm
Aggressive in the Stall
Afraid of Fly Spray
Aggressive at Feed Time
Can’t Blanket
Spooky
Kicks out when Groomed
Bathing Problems
Leading Problems
Can’t Handle Legs
Won’t Stand Still for Mounting
Head Shy
Buddy/Barn Sour
Hard to Bridle
Arena Sour
Pulls Back when Tied Up
Bolts
Hard to Catch
Rears
Trailering Problems
Cinchy/Saddling Problems
Afraid of Clippers
Can’t Give Vaccinations
Won’t Stop
Won’t Go Forward
On the Trail:
Trouble Crossing Obstacles - Water, Logs, Gullies, Bridges, etc.
No Worries, Mate - Craving More of the Method? We’ve got You Covered.
Tuesday September 06, 2011
The NWC online video library keeps growing and growing! Not only are Downunder Horsemanship RFD-TV shows online (over 100 episodes in total!), but a majority of the monthly DVDs since the club’s inception in 2007 are uploaded as well. That’s over 20 DVDs and over 40 hours of footage! And, extra videos like the immensely popular "Test Your Fundamentals" are also available for viewing. If you haven’t logged on to the NWC site recently, be sure to head over to the video library and get caught up.
Training Tip of the Week:
Pushy horse? Teach him to sidepass.
Monday August 29, 2011
Sidepassing is a good exercise to practice with all horses, but especially if you have a pushy horse that always invades your space. A lot of pushy and disrespectful horses use their bodies to lean into you and push you around. Sidepassing teaches the horse to move his whole body away from you when you ask.
An enthusiastic crowd gathered for the Columbus, Ohio tour August 27 - 28, making the event two days of nonstop energy, excitement, and of course unbelievable instruction and inspiration from Clinton. We were excited to see the Discovery Riders, the nonprofit organization running the Ritchie Ball Charity toss, raised $3920. The funds will help the Zanesfield, Ohio group continue to provide therapeutic services for individuals with emotional needs, communication disorders, physical challenges and learning disabilities. The Walkabout Tour will next be in Katy, Texas October 15 - 16.
No Worries, Mate - September NWC DVD - All About Tricks
Monday August 29, 2011
The September DVD is en route and is all about trick training. Professional Clinician Shana Terry and her horse Jillaroo demonstrate a variety of tricks from bowing to the more complicated Spanish Walk. Shana explains how to start teaching your horse tricks and gives important success tips and troubleshooting advice. If you witnessed Shana and Jillaroo’s performance at the Vegas Tourcation in 2010, you know the pair shares an incredible bond.
Be on the lookout for the Trick DVD series that will be released in the Fall of 2012!
Congratulations to Clinton and his 3-year-old Thecrowdlovesme! Clinton and "Duke" won the 2011 Limited Open (only level entered) SRCHA Cow Horse Futurity in Ardmore, OK this month. The pair won the high rein work with a score of 148, earned a 138 in the herd work and a 143 on the fence. Clinton also placed fourth with his mare Catinthehat aka "Kit". Training and competing on reined cow horses is a new venture for Clinton, which makes his success all that more meaningful. If you remember, Australian trainer Ian Francis joined Clinton earlier this year to critique his work with these two cow horses in order to prepare for their futurities this year. To learn more about the duo, check out the May NWC DVD "Cow Horses With Ian Francis".
Around the Office - Cowgirl Swank hats available online!
Monday August 29, 2011
Downunder Horsemanship is excited to announce that its sought-after hide-on-hair, crystal logo caps and visors custom made by Cowgirl Swank are now available on its online store. Downunder Horsemanship first added the exclusive caps to its Walkabout Tour product line in February, and has since sold out of the caps at every venue in the country.
Besides offering Downunder Horsemanship fans a trendy, fun way to show their support of Clinton Anderson and the Method, the caps are made from the best products on the market, are durable and provide eye-catching style. Handcrafted by Cowgirl Swank, the caps and visors are available in a variety of colors and hide options, and each features the ‘Roo logo. The Downunder Horsemanship signature brand is embossed on the hats with Swarovski crystals - a precision-cut luxury crystal produced by a company in Austria.
"To ensure customer satisfaction, we only select products of the best quality to include in our product line. Each Cowgirl Swank cap is diligently handcrafted and designed with superior materials including Swarovski crystals," Cooper Flinn, Downunder Horsemanship’s purchasing manager says. "The craftsmanship and detail put into each Cowgirl Swank hat goes above and beyond our high standards. There's no doubt the trendy creations allow Clinton's supporters to wear the 'Roo logo with style".
To learn more about Downunder Horsemanship Cowgirl Swank caps, visit www.downunderhorsemanship.com or call the office at 888-287-7432.
Cowgirl Swank, a South Dakota based company, has been creating customized caps since 2007. Visit its website www.cowgirlswank.com to learn more.
Always look for quality first by establishing a starting point. Once the horse understands what you’re asking of him, then you can look for quantity. For example, I’d rather have a horse be able to take just one correct step, than twenty bad ones. Always think quality over quantity.
Event Spotlight - Off to Columbus, Ohio Walkabout Tour
Monday August 22, 2011
Clinton and team members are on their way to Columbus, Ohio for this weekend’s Walkabout Tour. The Big Blue truck will arrive at the Ohio State Expo Center Wednesday morning and the crew will begin setting up on Thursday.
Doors will open Saturday morning at 8 am for club members and 8:15 to the general public. Clinton’s mini, Phoenix, will be at the front door helping to sell tour programs. Be sure to stop and say hi to the little gelding.
Our sponsors will be on hand for the event, many of them offering great giveaways! Feature Sponsor Ritchie Industries will be sending one lucky attendee home with an Eco1 Fountain. Ezall will have a special offer on its products, and Vetericyn promises to have some fun handouts. ADM Alliance Nutrition will be holding a complementary dinner and seminar at 6:30pm on August 27th at Ranahan's Restaurant. For reservations, contact: Karen Gregg or Joan Larson at 800-680-8254 or Karen.gregg@adm.com.
At each tour Clinton and Ritchie Industries team up to help a local nonprofit organization raise money for their cause through the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss. Discovery Riders, a therapeutic riding center located in Zanesfield, Ohio will be hosting this weekend’s Ritchie Ball Charity Toss. Be sure to visit them and purchase a tennis ball or two for your chance to win incredible prizes including a complete collection of Clinton’s DVDs, a mecate set and more!
Club members - don’t forget to wear your NWC t-shirts to win exclusive prizes!
Learn How Good Nutrition Fits into Your Downunder Horsemanship Training Program
Join renowned Equine Nutritionist, Judith Reynolds, Ph.D., P.A.S., Dipl. A.C.A.N., for a complementary dinner and nutrition seminar/discussion about the all important link between your horse’s diet and his behavior. And, bring your questions!
(After Clinton’s demonstration)
6:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Ranahan’s Restaurant
South End of Building #9 - 50 yards west of the Coliseum
717 East 17th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211
Make your reservations early – Seating is limited
For reservations, contact: Karen Gregg or Joan Larson at 800-680-8254
Email: Karen.gregg@adm.com
Be sure to provide your name/s, address, telephone, email and number of horses you own
Win an Extra Chance to Win FREE FEED For One Horse for One Year
Presented by ADM Alliance Nutrition®, makers of GLO for Lifesm, ultra-premium feeds and supplements featuring added fats and digestible fibers, formulated free of corn starch, grain products and fillers, so you can feed your horse the way your horse is meant to eat.
When we learned members had taken it upon themselves to create meet-up groups to practice the Method, troubleshoot each other’s problems and offer support, we were impressed and excited. Learning the Method and enjoying your horse is more fun with friends! If you have a NWC meet-up group, be sure to let us know by emailing the information below to journal@noworriesclub.com. Individual groups will be featured in upcoming issues of the NWC Journal. To find a meet up group near you go to http://www.noworriesclub.com/forumdisplay.php?f=275.
Questions for Groups:
What made you decide to start the group?
What is the name of your group? Does the name have any special significance?
How are meetings organized? Do you have a central contact person?
What state and region are you from?
How far do members typically travel to take part in your gatherings?
Where/how have you successfully advertised your group? (i.e. NWC site, Facebook, meetup.com, etc.)
How many NWC members typically attend your play days?
Do only NWC members attend or do you welcome a variety of riders?
Describe what happens during a typical play day. (Do you trail ride, review/critique your application of the Method, do groundwork, ride, watch DVDs?)
How many play days do you try to hold a year? Or how often have you been having meetings?
What makes your group interesting?
When is your next play day scheduled?
If someone were interested in joining your group, how would they contact you?
Clinton and his staff at the ranch are weaning foals this week. There were eight foals born this year, four colts and four fillies. Since the foals have been handled since birth and taken through the Fundamentals groundwork, they’re independent and used to being away from their dams’ sides. When it comes time to wean, there is hardly a fuss. In fact, in most cases, the mares mind more than the foals do. For information on how Clinton weans his foals, refer to the Summer 2010 NWC Journal article "Stress-free tips for Weaning Your Foal" or review the Handling Foals, Weanlings and Yearlings DVD series.
Downunder Horsemanship has been growing, so much so, that in the past several months we’ve welcomed quite a few new members to the Downunder Horsemanship team.
Ethan Sickles - Tour Manager
Mike Calaway - Systems Administrator
Michelle Stone - Accountant
Bob Green - Video Editor
Todd Hang - Application Developer
Dan Shirey - Project Manager
Clinton is quick to acknowledge that the success of Downunder Horsemanship isn’t only built upon the Method, but the team he has working for him. The new team members were chosen because they live Downunder Horsemanship’s core values of hard working, ambitious, loyal and personable, and have exemplary skill sets in their individual departments.
Introducing the first of its kind
. . . PRIMEGLO™ . . .
Tuesday August 16, 2011
From the ADM Alliance Nutrition®, GLO for Lifesm family of ultra-premium feeds
Introducing the first of its kind . . .
. . . PRIMEGLO™ . . .
Specially formulated to meet the needs of adult trail and pleasure horses Without overdoing the calories
AND
Without the need for additional nutritional supplements
With our unique blend of ingredients for optimal digestion, shiny coat, strong hooves and bloom, PRIMEGLO™ provides balanced nutrition. It is a protein-vitamin-mineral fortified, pelleted feed which provides concentrated energy from stabilized rice bran, Soy Shine™, and Omega Flax™. It provides the perfect combination of fats and digestible fibers for pleasure and trail horses. PRIMEGLO also provides alfalfa, which can help lower the chances of ulcers, complexed trace minerals, CitriStim®, direct-fed microbials, and Proponse® yeast. The mineral portion is sourced from GROSTRONG® Minerals.
PRIMEGLO™ is designed to be fed at a 2 - 4 lb per horse per day rate for horses weighing 900 - 1,200 lb, which lowers the daily feeding cost when compared with the typical 6 - 10 lb feeding rate, making for a more economical total feeding program while at the same time fostering overall health.
As with all our GLO for Life feeds, PRIMEGLO™ is free of Corn Starch, Grain Products* and Fillers
We're Going AGAINST the Grain FOR the Horse
Be sure to visit our booth at the Downunder Horsemanship Tour Stop in Columbus, Ohio on August 27-28
Sign up to win Free Feed for One Horse for One Year - Drawing will be on Sunday
*AAFCO Definition
Training Tip of the Week:
Keep emotions out of the mix.
Monday August 15, 2011
A word of caution when correcting your horse: There should be no emotions involved. Don’t lose your temper or get angry - when a correction is over, it’s over. Get in and get out and act like nothing ever happened. Think about horses out in the pasture together at feeding time - the dominant mare will keep her pasture mates away from the grain, but twenty minutes later they’ll be standing head to tail swishing flies off each other. They don’t hold a grudge and neither should you.
Larger audiences, more product and a bigger production for Walkabout Tours means we needed more team members on the road! Early this summer we’ve added five outstanding individuals to the rank of road staff. Ron Choate, Laura Guerin, Sandi Bal, April Schultz and Gordon Schultz will all be traveling to every Walkabout Tour stop from now on to set up and help work the event. The new road staff members are not only NWC members, but volunteered at multiple events and impressed us with their hard work, ambition, personality and loyalty to Clinton and the Method. Learn how you can volunteer at a tour and Click Here to follow this link to the Downunder Horsemanship website.
The best part of our No Worries Club is you the members! We look forward to hearing your personal success stories, experience with the Method and looking at your pictures. And most of all, we love featuring you in the No Worries Journal and sharing your stories with other members. There are multiple ways in which you can be a part of Clinton’s quarterly publication, take a look:
What Would Clinton Do? - we take a common question Clinton is asked and have you the members answer it in the way you think Clinton would. Three responses are chosen for publication and given Clinton’s critique. The three members each receive a $50 e-gift card to Downunder Horsemanship.
Member to Member - from time to time we post questions on the NWC forums asking for your input and then share selected answers in the Journal.
Photos of you and your horse - in each issue members and their horses are featured in our Member Photos page. Email your photos as attachments to journal@noworriesclub.com.
And we’re always looking for story and article ideas! If you have a great idea, send it to us at journal@noworriesclub.com. Help us make the Journal a publication you enjoy reading!
A new group of training horses arrived at the ranch this weekend for Clinton’s Academy students to train. Chris Webb & Jaclyn Sansaver along with our other Academy students will teach the horses the Fundamentals of the Method, including groundwork and riding exercises, under Clinton and Professional Clinician Shana Terry’s guidance. The horses will be in training for six weeks, and besides learning the Fundamentals will be worked over the obstacle course and ridden on trails. Before taking their horses home, owners will receive an entire day’s worth of lessons from the Academy student who trained their horse.
Around the Office - Retraining an Off-the-Track-Thoroughbred
Monday August 15, 2011
An all-new season of Downunder Horsemanship premiers next week on RFD-TV featuring off-the-track-Thoroughbred Tricky Warrior, aka Ricky. The 13-episode season will chronicle the bay gelding’s arrival at the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch complete through his training in the Method. Working with Ricky, Clinton explains how the Method is effective at helping all horses, no matter their background, become soft, supple and safe partners. "Thousands of Thoroughbreds get washed up at tracks every year because they’re too slow, too old or they get injured. It doesn’t mean they can’t have useful careers after their race days are over," Clinton says. "Quite to the contrary, they can be extremely productive and enjoy the next 25 years of their lives." For air times and station information, visit the Downunder Horsemanship website.
Downunder Horsemanship Adds Cowgirl Swank to its Online Store
Friday August 12, 2011
Stephenville, Texas (August 11, 2011) – Downunder Horsemanship is excited to announce that its sought-after hide-on-hair, crystal logo caps and visors custom made by Cowgirl Swank are now available on its online store. Downunder Horsemanship first added the exclusive caps to its Walkabout Tour product line in February, and has since sold out of the caps at every venue in the country.
Besides offering Downunder Horsemanship fans a trendy, fun way to show their support of Clinton Anderson and the Method, the caps are made from the best products on the market, are durable and provide eye-catching style. Handcrafted by Cowgirl Swank, the caps and visors are available in a variety of colors and hide options, and each features the ‘Roo logo. The Downunder Horsemanship signature brand is embossed on the hats with Swarovski crystals – a precision-cut luxury crystal produced by a company in Austria.
"To ensure customer satisfaction, we only select products of the best quality to include in our product line. Each Cowgirl Swank cap is diligently handcrafted and designed with superior materials including Swarovski crystals," Cooper Flinn, Downunder Horsemanship’s purchasing manager says. “The craftsmanship and detail put into each Cowgirl Swank hat goes above and beyond our high standards. There's no doubt the trendy creations allow Clinton's supporters to wear the 'Roo logo with style."
To learn more about Downunder Horsemanship Cowgirl Swank caps, visit www.downunderhorsemanship.com or call the office at 888-287-7432.
Cowgirl Swank, a South Dakota based company, has been creating customized caps since 2007. Visit its website www.cowgirlswank.com to learn more.
Every time a horse calls your bluff and you back off, you lose a lot of respect. Every time you threaten that he’s going to get it and you don’t follow through, it gets worse for the next time. It’s just like with kids, if you make hollow threats, they know that they don’t have to take you seriously, and as a result they get more disrespectful. When you’re working with your horse, always do what you have to do and follow through. Do it as easy as possible, but as firm as necessary.
Event Spotlight - Experience the Intermediate Clinic
Monday August 08, 2011
When Clinton opens the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch up to clinic participants, days full of instruction, hard work, fun and comradery between students are sure to be had. The horsemen who were selected for the June 29 - July 9 Intermediate clinic were no exception. Not only were they well-versed in the Method, but they excelled under Clinton’s instruction and discovered a whole new level of horsemanship. Get a feel for their 10-day experience by watching the Intermediate Clinic Slideshow. Information on Clinics can be found on the Downunder Horsemanship web site.
Those of us in the Downunder Horsemanship office have come across some very unusual objects (like a life size model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex!) or odd obstacles to maneuver around with our horses in our years of trail riding. In this month’s No Worries Club contest, we want to know the most unique obstacles or objects you have encountered with your horse out on the trail or at home. Send us your photos for your chance to win big!
The Rules:
1)All photos must be posted on the NWC forums in this thread - Click Here
2)Only one entry per member.
Timeline:
1)Post your photos on the NWC forums by August 22.
2)On August 23 we’ll post a poll in a separate thread for members to vote on the most unique obstacle.
The Prize!
The lucky winner will get to choose any DVD set of their liking (excluding the Fundamentals, Intermediate and Advanced Method kits)!
From the Ranch - Congrats to Gina McGee and Sydney!
Monday August 08, 2011
Performance Horse owner Gina McGee of North Carolina and her mare Chics N Salsa (aka Sydney) are on a roll this year. The rookie pair is ranked second in the 2011 National Reining Horse Association Southeastern Affiliate Standings and will be competing at the end of October in the Southeastern Regionals where the top eight go on to the nationals in Oklahoma! Gina purchased Sydney (Mindy x Smart Chic Olena) from Clinton’s Performance Horse program and immediately struck up a rapport with the athletic, good-minded mare. We’re proud of both Gina and Sydney, and wish them the best of luck!
We are seeking a professional warehouse manager with 2+ years of experience to join our team in Stephenville, Texas. The right candidate will have proven experience in physical inventory/cycle counting, shipping in a direct fulfillment environment and receiving. Strong analytical skills combined with an acute attention to detail, effective organizational development, leadership and overall management skills along with professional communication/computer skills are required. The ideal candidate must have availability to travel as requested. If you fit these requirements and want to be part of a leading company in the equine industry, please apply by following this link to the Downunder Horsemanship web site - Click Here.
Whether you ride English or western, compete or trail ride, we all have one thing in common and that’s to be the best horseman we can be. A truly great horseman moves as one with their horse and has extremely good balance. One of the best ways to develop good balance with a horse is to learn how to post to the trot. The trot is a two beat diagonal gait, and when you post correctly, you’ll be sitting one beat and raising the next. In order to stay in rhythm with your horse, you must have good balance and be in time with his feet.
At the end of the month, the Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour will invade the Coliseum in Columbus, Ohio. For two days, Clinton will use local horses to illustrate how the Method helps human and horse communicate, and will showcase what a true partnership looks like with his horse Diez.
Our sponsors will be on hand, many of them offering great giveaways! Feature Sponsor Ritchie Industries will be sending one lucky attendee home with an Eco1 Fountain. Ezall will have a special offer on its products, and Vetericyn promises to have some fun handouts.
Not only will there be great instruction and giveaways, but you’ll get a look at new Downunder Horsemanship merchandise like black camping chairs with either the NWC or Roo logo, Roo sunglasses, window shades, notebooks, tumblers and first aid kits.
No Worries Club members be sure to wear your club shirts for a chance to win exclusive giveaways. Doors open at 8 AM for NWC members and 8:15 AM for the general public. Hope to see you there!
A new NWC web site feature makes navigating the information-packed site and using all its capabilities even easier. Each page now has a tutorial tab (located on the left hand side of the screen) that you can click on to get a detailed description of all the page you are currently visiting has to offer and how to use its features. Don’t know how to post a comment or upload a photo? The tutorial will step you through the process when you are ready to make a post. Go ahead, log on to www.noworriesclub.com and take the tutorial for a spin!
Do you know a horse that could use Clinton’s help? Submit an application by visiting www.downunderhorsemanship.com and downloading the Problem Horse TV Application on the lower right hand of the screen. Act fast – spots are limited!
With just one clinic to teach this month, a 5-day Fundamentals, Clinton will make it to a couple of shows with his performance horses. The first weekend in August he competed on Rocky (Chics Dig Scars), a 3-year-old stud colt by Smart Chic Olena out of Princess in Diamonds, at the One Hot Reining in Waco, Texas. In the middle of the month, he will switch gears and take his working cow horses Duke (Thecrowdlovesme), by Smart Chic Olena out of Shine Smartly, and Kit (Catinthehat), by High Brow Cat out of Shine Smartly, to a SRCHA Futurity (Reined Cow Horse) in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Clinton will also spend a day this month with a Make A Wish horse-lover, an opportunity he feels honored to have been selected for.
Training Tip of the Week:
Teach your horse to wait for you.
Monday July 25, 2011
Whenever I get on my horses, I do nothing but lateral flexing for the first three to four minutes. I bend their heads from side to side before I ask them to move off. Not only does this get them really soft, but they start to anticipate it every ride. If you have a horse that constantly walks off when you mount, you’ll be amazed at the end of one week how quietly he’ll stand if you do lateral flexing every time you get on. Teach your horse that when you get on, he needs to stand there and wait. The last thing he expects you to do is to walk off straightaway.
Several weeks into their venture to become Clinton Anderson Certified Clinicians, our two Academy students Jaclyn Sansaver and Chris Webb are impressing Clinton with their dedication, ambition, knowledge of the Method and commitment to excelling. Besides working with Clinton and Professional Clinician Shana Terry one-on-one, training horses on the ranch, studying the Method, taking tests and participating in clinics, the Academy students will be attending all Walkabout Tours to meet Clinton’s fans. If you’re headed to a tour this year, be sure to track them down in our retail area.
Are you interested in the Academy? The first step is enrolling in a 10 day Fundamentals Clinic at our ranch in Stephenville, Texas. For clinic details and dates, Click Here.
Look for Colt Starting: Beyond the Fundamentals to arrive in your mailbox the first week of August. This spring Clinton took you behind the scenes at the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch, detailing the method he uses to start colts. This lesson follows in the same manner as Clinton and Professional Clinician Shana Terry demonstrate how they continue to progress the colts and point them towards their specialized disciplines. Clinton works with Marty, a colt he rode during demonstrations at Road to the Horse, and Shana works with Brie, a full sister to standout reiner Chromed Out Mercedes who now stands stud at Bob Loomis’ ranch. During the lesson, Clinton and Shana work on laying the foundation for neck reining and executing collected lead departures, as well as gaining even more softness and control under saddle.
Eleven eager students will trailer into the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch from around the country this weekend to participate in the August 1-5 Fundamentals Clinic. From Desensitizing and Lunging for Respect to the Cruising Lesson and Vertical Flexion, participants will learn and fine tune the Fundamentals groundwork and riding exercises as well as work their horses over the intricate obstacle course. While participants will arrive with a variety of backgrounds and experiences with horses, we’re certain they’ll leave with more knowledge, new friends and a better partnership with their horse.
The first shipment of the Advanced Series arrived at the Downunder Horsemanship warehouse, and the kits are now making their way around the world to our customers! The third and final level of the Method comes complete with 7 instructional DVDs, 14 detailed Arena Mates and a laminated exercise sheet. Clinton continues to work with the Quarter Horse gelding Bow, whom he started training in the Fundamentals Series, progressed to the Intermediate Series and is now finishing in the Advanced Series. Bow’s transformation from a reactive, spooky horse in the Fundamentals to a respectful partner Clinton can control with a feather-light touch is unbelievable. Now you can achieve the same results with your horse. Clinton’s step-by-step instruction makes teaching your horse the most advanced maneuvers easy-to-understand and achievable. If you liked the results you experienced in the Fundamentals and Intermediate Series, you’ll the love the way your horse responds and rides after you’ve completed the Advanced Series. What are you waiting for mate? Get your Advanced Series today and unlock the secrets to being a world-class horseman. Click Here for more information.
Training Tip of the Week:
Stopping a grass snatcher.
Monday July 18, 2011
A horse can only think about one thing at a time - he's either got his attention on you or on his next snack. If you're walking down the trail and your horse grabs a mouthful of grass, he's obviously not thinking about you. You need to redirect his feet and make him hustle. As soon as he snatches grass, bend him around in a circle and kick his side with your inside leg. Wake him up and get his attention back on you. You're saying to the horse, "Hey, you don't have time to be eating grass because you’re too busy listening to me and hustling your feet!"
After you make your point, put the horse on a loose rein and dare him to take another bite. It's important to ride on a loose rein so the horse can commit to the mistake. If he wants to take a mouthful of grass, let him. Think of it like this: You can't arrest somebody for standing outside the bank with a gun. You have to wait until they go into the bank with the gun and then you can arrest them. That doesn't mean that you let your horse stop and graze for 20 minutes; just wait for him to chomp at the grass and then hustle his feet.
One of our largest Walkabout Tour crowds of the year gathered at the ShoWare Center just outside of Seattle to spend the weekend learning from Clinton and witnessing the results of the Method. The crowd was not only quick to interact with Clinton, but helped support Rainier Therapeutic Riding through the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss, raising $4,595 for the nonprofit organization that provides therapeutic horsemanship and riding lessons to active duty and veteran soldiers with disabilities. Follow us on facebook to relive the weekend of innovation, inspiration and instruction.
Since the release of the new No Worries Club site this spring, the Downunder Horsemanship team has been consistently tweaking and adding information to make the site an all encompassing learning tool. Recently, updates were made to the "NWC Video Library" that now includes over a hundred television shows (even some of our top-rated FSN episodes!), all of the exclusive NWC monthly DVDs, Clinton’s Q & A in which he answers members’ questions, and the newly released "Test Your Fundamentals". That’s a wealth of information to help you on your horsemanship journey - be sure to take advantage of it!
When Clinton’s mentor Ian Francis visited in February and watched Clinton work his personal horses, he wasted no time sharing his knowledge with his protégée. The two spent the better part of each day on horseback, swapping tips and learning from each other. We got it all on film!! You can watch the pair and learn all about Clinton’s cow horses in our May NWC DVD by logging on to www.noworriesclub.com --> Video Library --> NWC Video’s. When Ian stepped on the plane to return to Australia, he left Clinton with plenty to work on to improve his horses’ performance. This week, Clinton hopes he gets Ian’s nod of approval and picks up more techniques to better himself as a horseman. A firm believer that you can never stop adding to your knowledge, Clinton, in typical fashion, already has a list of questions prepared to ask his mentor.
Team members in the Downunder Horsemanship office are focused on installing a new software system that boasts cutting edge technology. Though you won’t personally see many of the changes, you will experience the benefits of the new system with an enhanced online ordering system, faster checkout lines at tours and a quicker processing time when placing a phone order. The new system will also make it easier for us to recognize our loyal No Worries Club members. Working closely with the software company, Downunder Horsemanship employees key to the new software installation were in meetings and training sessions all of last week learning how to most efficiently use the software. The new system should be up and running by next spring.
Clinton and the Downunder Horsemanship crew are headed up to the Northwest this week to bring the Method to Seattle, Washington. While Clinton will work with local horses in demonstrations that vary from establishing respect on the ground to desensitizing a spooky horse, his personal horse Diez will join him for advanced demonstrations on the ground and under saddle. Choked full of education and entertainment, by the time you leave the ShoWare Center, you’ll be more inspired to achieve new levels on your horsemanship journey.
Not only will you have a chance to win great giveaways from Downunder Horsemanship and its sponsors, but you’ll have the opportunity to help Rainier Therapeutic Riding, a local nonprofit organization that provides therapeutic horsemanship and riding lessons to active duty and veteran soldiers with disabilities. At each tour, Clinton and feature sponsor Ritchie Industries team up to hold the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss - an event that allows a local organization to raise funds for their cause. Be sure to support Rainier Therapeutic Riding!
Saturday evening, sponsor ADM will be hosting a complementary seminar and dinner with equine nutritionist Judith Reynolds, Ph.D., P.A.S., A.C.A.N. The seminar will be held in the Club Lounge at the ShoWare Center. Reservations can be made by calling Karen Gregg or Joan Larson at (800) 680-8254 or karen.gregg@adm.com.
No Worries Club members be sure to wear your club shirts for a chance to win exclusive giveaways. Doors open at 7:30 AM for members and 8 AM for the public. Get a taste for the tour by viewing a slideshow of our last event. Hope to see you there!
Training Tip of the Week:
It’s called a soft feel, not a soft look
Monday July 11, 2011
When working on collection, too many people focus on where the horse’s head is at, but the secret to achieving true collection has nothing to do with where the horse carries his head. Your only concern should be with how he feels in your hands. Collection should feel light, not heavy. It’s called a soft feel, not a soft look. So even if your horse lowers his neck and tucks his head in but is still leaning on the bit, don’t release the reins. Only give back to him when he softens, and as soon as he does, instantly reward him. Remember, horses learn from the release of pressure, not the pressure itself. The quicker you release the pressure, the faster he’ll learn.
No Worries, Mate - How Good Are Your Fundamentals? Rate Yourself Today
Monday July 11, 2011
Have you ever wondered where you stack up in your ability to execute basic horsemanship skills? Clinton has the answer in "Test Your Fundamentals" his newest training tool that allows you to benchmark your progress in the Method and sets you on the road to a better partnership with your horse.
Last fall, the Downunder Horsemanship clinician invited three horsemen with varying degrees of experience and their personal horses to his ranch in Stephenville, Texas to perform each of the 33 exercises in the Fundamentals level of his training method. Roundpenning, groundwork and riding exercises such as backing, yielding the hindquarters, yielding the forequarters, riding on a loose rein, vertical flexion and stopping are all covered. As the students perform each exercise, Clinton critiques them, offers helpful tips to improve their performance and gives them a grade. Clinton’s honest review cuts straight to the chase, and subsequently improves each member’s performance.
"My hope in creating ‘Test Your Fundamentals’ was to give students an additional tool to fine-tune their application of the Method. Watching another person work through the exercises and hearing my critique will give you tips to better your own performance," Clinton shares. A lifelong equestrian who struggled to learn horsemanship as a young boy, Clinton emphasizes with horse owners who have a desire to learn but aren’t sure where to get the right information.
"The secret to horse training is being educated. I tell people frustration begins where knowledge ends. In other words, if you don’t get it, your horse won’t get it and then nobody gets it," he explains.
Whether you’re brand new to horses and are learning the ropes, or are an experienced Method user, "Test Your Fundamentals" will give you tips and insight on how to obtain better feel and timing and step up your horse’s performance.
To view the "Test Your Fundamentals" and boost your application of the Method and become a better horseman, log on to the No Worries Club site by Clicking Here to go to the Video Library Section. When you get there, click on the "Testing the Method" section.
When we opened the ranch up to Intermediate clinic participants, we were excited to welcome familiar faces back to Downunder Horsemanship and knew you’d recognize several individuals as well. Jennifer Baird and her mustang Ransom trailered down from Montana to take part in the 10-day clinic. You’ll remember Jennifer from the November 2010 NWC DVD in which she was selected to be Ransom’s new owner. Clinton had previously trained the mustang for the upcoming Colt Starting DVD series and worked with the BLM to find the perfect adoptive home for the gelding. Jennifer impressed Clinton with her application of the Method last fall and continued to gain his approval throughout the clinic.
When Lina Webernick was chosen to be one of the lucky three members to take part in Clinton’s Challenge - a session in which she and her horse Whiskey performed each of the exercises from the Fundamentals Series while Clinton graded her, her goal was to improve her application of the Method so that she could participate in the Intermediate clinic. Not only did they get in the clinic, but the pair from North Texas showed their dedication to learning and their heart to get to the next level.
When Debra Halsey took her two Signature Horses, Harley and Jazzy, home to Ohio, she hoped she’d be back to the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch to participate in future clinics with Clinton. Already well-versed in the Method, having attended several Fundamentals clinics, Debra was excited to be approved to attend this year’s Intermediate clinic. She returned to the ranch with Harley, less than a year after taking him home, and worked on honing her skills at the second level of the Method.
If you’ve got a Ritchie waterer, get your camera out and take a photo of your animals using the fountain for a chance to win incredible prizes. Walkabout Tour feature sponsor Ritchie Industries is holding a photo contest in which the grand prize winner will receive over $2,300 worth of product including a premium Ritchie Omni 1, a Fundamentals Kit, Clinton’s Barrel Racing Success with Sherry Cervi DVD series, Clinton’s Horsemanship 101 DVD series, gift certificate for a free pair of Justin Boots, eZall Bathing Kit, Resistol USTRC Collection felt hat, Wahl KM2 Clipper, Ken McNabb’s Applied Riding Series and a one year subscription to Horse & Rider. Prizes for second and third place are just as great! Visit Ritchie’s facebook page for contest details, how to enter and a list of prizes you could win. Contest deadline August 1st. Good luck!
Are you fed up, frustrated or downright scared of your horse's disrespectful behavior and bad habits? Clinician Clinton Anderson is on the hunt for the country's worst problem horses to showcase on his award-winning television show "Downunder Horsemanship" that airs on Fox Sports Net and RFD-TV. Whether your horse is dangerous on the ground, reckless under saddle or uncontrollable on the trail, Clinton wants to help - for free!
We are specifically looking for horses with the following problems: On the Ground and Under Saddle:
Bites
Can’t Worm
Aggressive in the Stall
Afraid of Fly Spray
Aggressive at Feed Time
Can’t Blanket
Spooky
Kicks out when Groomed
Bathing Problems
Leading Problems
Can’t Handle Legs
Won’t Stand Still for Mounting
Head Shy
Buddy/Barn Sour
Hard to Bridle
Arena Sour
Pulls Back when Tied Up
Bolts
Hard to Catch
Rears
Trailering Problems
Cinchy/Saddling Problems
Afraid of Clippers
Can’t Give Vaccinations
Won’t Stop
Won’t Go Forward
On the Trail:
Trouble Crossing Obstacles – Water, Logs, Gullies, Bridges, etc.
Spooky at Objects – Other Animals, Vehicles, etc.
Bites other Horses
Kicks out at other Horses
Races Ahead when Ridden in a Group
“Fresh” when Ridden on Trails
Jigging
Grass Snatching
Selected horses and their owners will be invited to the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch in Stephenville, Texas to work one-on-one with Clinton while cameras roll. Renowned for his step-by-step instruction, no nonsense approach to horsemanship and ability to get inside a horse's mind, Clinton has worked with thousands of horses and their owners to help them build a mutually safe and enjoyable partnership.
To apply, visit the Downunder Horsemanship website www.downunderhorsemanship.com and click on the "Problem Horse TV Application" link on the lower right hand of the screen. All applications must be accompanied with a short video illustrating the horse's problem at its worst. The better able you are to catch your horse's dangerous behavior in action, the better chance you have of getting Clinton's help at no cost to yourself. Act quickly, only a selected number of horses will be chosen for this unique opportunity.
Training Tip of the Week:
Before hitting the trail
Tuesday July 05, 2011
A horse has to be respectful, calm and using the thinking side of his brain in the arena (or a controlled environment) before he will behave the same on the trail. If you can’t walk, trot and canter your horse on a loose rein and bend and soften him in an arena, you won’t be able to do it out on the trail either. The lack of control you have of your horse in the arena will get worse when you take him outside.
Event Spotlight - Last Call to Clinic with Clinton in 2011
Tuesday July 05, 2011
Did you have plans to learn one-on-one with Clinton this year, but time got away from you? Take a step toward achieving your horsemanship goals and enroll in the 10-Day Fundamentals Clinic November 1 - 11. Clinton will be instructing participants through the first level of the Method in which you’ll learn to teach your horse to catch you in the roundpen, respect your personal space, read your body language and develop a good gas pedal and brake under saddle while gaining control of his five body parts. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your application of the Method or wanting to learn the Fundamentals, you can’t afford not to take advantage of this great learning opportunity. You’ll have a state-of-the-art facility at your fingertips, receive the best instruction in the world and build lasting friendships with fellow participants. Check out the fun participants have had at clinics so far this year here. To learn how to register for a clinic or to get more information, Click here to visit the Downunder Horsemanship website.
When you heard Clinton unveil the Clinton Anderson Clinician Academy, did your dreams of becoming a world-class clinician ignite? Learn what Clinton is looking for in successful Academy applicants, what will be expected of you and how Clinton and Downunder Horsemanship will support your career straight from Clinton by viewing this video by logging on to www.noworriesclub.com and viewing our NWC video library. In his typical no-nonsense approach, Clinton discusses the Academy in detail from how to apply to what life as a Clinton Anderson Certified Clinician will be like. Well underway with several students in training, the Academy is another innovation Clinton created in order to make the Method more accessible to his ever-growing base of students.
When Clinton put a callout to his No Worries Club Members for horses his Academy students could train, the Downunder Horsemanship phone lines lit up, and the first two sessions were booked in a matter of days. Calls came in from all across the country, from a variety of riders, and as a result, the first class of training horses is diverse. Academy students will be working with a broad range of horses from western-disciplined Quarter Horses to Hanoverians. Upon arrival, the horses went straight to work learning the Fundamentals Level of the Method, and will be ridden all over the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch including on the trails and over the obstacle course. Owners of the horses will receive a full day’s private lesson with the clinician who trained their horse starting the last week of July. The second group of horses will begin arriving at the ranch July 30th. Keep your eye out for more training opportunities in the Spring of 2012.
Around the Office - Give it up for the DUH Production Crew
Tuesday July 05, 2011
For the second year in a row, Downunder Horsemanship was recognized with a Telly Award in the Educational Television category at the 32nd Annual Telly Awards. Telly Awards recognize the best in television, video production and internet content from around the country. Thanks to a team effort, including the hard work of Downunder Horsemanship’s Scott Anderson and Katie Lang, we were recognized for the "Obstacle Course" show which aired on FSN January 23rd. The show featured Clinton working with a group of clinic participants over his newly created obstacle course. Take a look at the show yourself by visiting the No Worries Club TV show library at www.noworriesclub.com. Downunder Horsemanship airs on FSN and RFD-TV weekly. Click here for stations and times.
Horses aren’t born knowing what is right and what is wrong. All they know is what they’re allowed to get away with. If you allow your horse to be pushy and disrespectful, he will become pushy and disrespectful. If you teach him to yield and move away from pressure, he will be respectful because that’s what you’re allowing him to do.
Today, we are welcoming participants in Clinton’s 10-Day Intermediate Clinic to the ranch, and we’ve got to say judging by the excitement they’ve exhibited, it’s going to be a great experience for everyone involved. The clinic will run from June 29-July 9th with participants receiving hands-on instruction from Clinton on a variety of topics including how to execute rollbacks, leads and build the foundation for sliding stops, lightning-fast spins and overall body control. In an effort to ensure the class progresses over the 10-day course and participants get the most out of the experience, Clinton requires that Intermediate clinic participants excel at the Fundamentals level of the Method before attending a clinic at the Intermediate level. Each participant sent a video application into the Downunder Horsemanship office demonstrating their aptitude at all of the Fundamentals exercises. To learn more about clinics and to download an application, visit Click Here.
The Summer Journal is dedicated to Clinton’s late mentor and renowned horseman Gordon McKinlay, who passed away last November from cancer. In this commemorative issue, you’ll learn how Gordon became one of Australia’s most-respected horsemen and how he impacted Clinton’s life. Clinton shares humorous tales, harrowing life lessons and a touching tribute to the man who shaped his career and life. As you read the Journal, we hope you join us in remembering one of the world’s greatest horsemen. The Journal will ship the first week of July. Special note for members residing in Canada; due to the USPS strike there will be a delay in shipment. Stay tuned to www.noworriesclub.com, forums, and announcements for up-to-date shipping information. Otherwise, please allow three weeks for delivery. If you have not received your Journal by the last week of July, please notify the NWC at 888-287-7432.
With the start of July looming, Clinton’s schedule already looks choc full for the next 31 days. He’ll bring the month in teaching an Intermediate clinic in which he’ll guide students through rollbacks, bridle bending exercises, and help them build the foundation for sliding stops, spins and flying lead changes. Then it’ll be filming upcoming television shows for RFD-TV and FSN, helping horse owners learn how to safely earn their horses’ respect and enjoy their time spent with their equine partners. In the mix, he’ll also film No Worries Club DVDs and pose for photos. But it won’t be all work - the Aussie will continue to train his personal horses and motor around the Cowboy Capital of the World in his new ride - a Black 2011 Ford F250 Super Duty truck.
A brand-new season of Downunder Horsemanship kicks off Sunday July 3rd on Fox Sports Net. The network’s top-rated equine program focuses on Clinton helping frustrated owners build a respectful and enjoyable partnership with their out of control, and in many cases, dangerous ho
