Building respect through groundwork is the foundation of every great horse-human partnership. In this Kindergarten Q\&A, Michael Gascon explains why backing up, handling pressure, and working just outside the horse’s...

Preschool is the crucial first step in colt starting, where a horse’s respect, responsiveness, and mindset are evaluated before any saddle work begins. In this phase, Michael Gascon uses free...

Teaching your horse to side pass isn’t just about movement—it’s about timing, feel, and trust. In this session, Michael Gascon demonstrates how to break down the side pass into clear,...

Struggling with a spooky or overly athletic horse? The Power of a Circle exercise, taught by Michael Gascon and demonstrated with Chance, helps refocus your horse’s energy and improve their...

Mastering 11th grade "push obstacles" is all about building confidence, control, and clear communication with your horse. In this stage, you'll learn how to guide your horse through fear of...

In Part 5 of our Intro to Driving series, we follow Mango, a 17-year-old Paso Fino, as he progresses from ponying to confidently pulling a cart. This session focuses on...

Teaching your horse to drop its head for bridling is a valuable skill that enhances both safety and communication. This Western-style approach works best with a respectful, well-trained horse that...

Discover the fundamentals of long lining and ground driving with Michael Gascon and Tito, a young Paso Fino colt. In this introductory session, Michael demonstrates how to safely teach left...

In this session with Michael Gascon and Chet Day, we dive into using the Respect Series to help break up a horse’s pace and develop softness, responsiveness, and balance. By...

Learn how to teach your horse the “Come Get Me” trick, also known as the Statue of Liberty mount, with step-by-step guidance from horse trainer Michael Gascon. This fun and...

Thinking about buying a new horse? Before you commit, it's essential to test ride the horse safely and thoroughly to understand their true temperament and training. In this guide, Michael...

Training a green horse to navigate finesse obstacles like the railroad step over builds confidence, precision, and trail-readiness. Unlike push obstacles, these require a horse to slow down and think...