Picking up a young horse’s feet for the first time can be tricky, especially with a hot or sensitive colt. In this blog post, Michael Gascon walks through a safe,...

Struggling with a hot, sensitive horse that just won’t walk calmly? In this clinic, Michael Gascon shares proven strategies to de-escalate runaway energy without a fight—using spirals, crooked backups, and...

In this final session of the Horse Hop Challenge, Michael Gascon answers rider questions about speed transitions, collection, and solving common riding issues. He explains how to cue downward transitions...

In Part 4 of the “Intro to Driving” series, Michael Gascon works with Amy, a young warmblood filly overcoming hesitation and shutdown behavior under harness. This session focuses on building...

Teaching your gaited horse smooth transitions between walk, trot, and canter can dramatically improve their relaxation, responsiveness, and versatility. In this post, we work with Flip, a formerly high-strung Paso...

Introducing a green horse to the cowboy curtain is a powerful way to build confidence and control through thoughtful redirection. In this lesson with Thunder, we transition from round pen...

Struggling with a strong, reactive, or buck-prone horse? The 7th Grade Spiral is a game-changing groundwork exercise that builds softness, respect, and responsiveness. In this post, Michael Gascon breaks down...

Ready to take your roping skills to the next level? In this blog post, we break down the fundamentals of roping from horseback, including proper body position, swing technique, and...

Opening and closing a gate on horseback doesn’t have to be complicated—even if your horse is green or unpolished. In this post, Michael Gascon demonstrates a simple, safe method using...

A solid stop is one of the most important foundations in horsemanship, and the “6th Grade Stop” teaches your horse exactly that — when you say “whoa,” they shut down...

A strong backup is essential for improving your horse’s balance, collection, and responsiveness. In this guide, we break down how to teach your horse to guide while backing up using...

Mastering the heel loop is all about precision, technique, and the right hand positioning. Unlike a head loop, your hand should finish vertically with your pinky down and thumb up,...