2007 US tour highlights
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The only way to describe the most recent series of clinics and lessons in the US during May, is as an unqualified success. We can’t thank our hosts, organisers, and clinic participants enough for making it such a marvelous experience for all.
This round of clinics was a fantastic opportunity to follow up with participants from the clinics in 2006, and also to introduce even more people to Carlos’ absolutely gentle philosophy. It didn’t take long from him to have everyone riding bitless – and both the horses and riders feeling more relaxed and confident, both in the arena and out on the trail. Even more dramatic was the transformation he achieved in the starting of a highly aggressive and hard-to-handle paint mare.
The trip also provided an opportunity for Carlos and Dr Robert Cook, the man who developed the Bitless Bridle, to meet and share their mutual passion for ensuring that horses have the chance to be ridden without a bit, whether in a Bitless Bridle or simply in a halter. |
Carlos & Dr Cook 18 May 2007
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Carlo was definitely here...with his hat!
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But it's no good...got the hang of it
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But it’s no good for Carlos to do groundwork with a horse if the owner can’t, and this owner had certainly got the hang of it!
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But groundwork...with your horse.
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But groundwork isn’t all about work – it’s about making, and enhancing, a real connection with your horse.
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Sometimes a surprising connection!
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Safety, as always, was an integral part of the work. Here, the focus was on one-rein stops, disengaging the hindquarters.
Riding with bits at the start…
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And putting a gearbox (speed control) on the horse.
...but not at the end!
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Plus a few more new bitless riders...
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Two more new bitless riders.
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These were just a few of the people for whom it was the first time they’d jumped in awhile…let alone bitless.
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Trailer loading was another popular clinic, with a couple of real challenges, thought it doesn’t look like it here!
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Trailer loading stressful? Maybe once… There were more than a few happy faces after the trailer loading clinic, where one of the horses had not been able to be loaded for 15 years – those issues were resolved in 15 minutes, and loading isn’t a problem any longer
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All trailer loading should leave you like this.
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The last of the clinic groups at the end of a rewarding day…
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…relaxing together…
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…and making sure Carlos’ new book was a hit with the locals!
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