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...

Tying your horse safely is a crucial part of effective horsemanship, and the H-style hitching post offers one of the safest, most practical solutions. In this blog, we break down...

Riding a spooky, young, athletic horse can feel intimidating, but success comes from redirecting energy—not resisting it. By using soft, one-rein redirection and keeping your horse moving forward, you can...

In this Q&A session with eighth-grade riders, horse trainer Michael Gascon breaks down the critical skill of disengaging the hindquarters—a key step in gaining total control of your horse, especially...

The jog trot is a crucial gait for developing a calm, responsive horse with a quiet mind. It allows riders to refine cues, improve collection, and teach softness without triggering...

Using a breeching on your gaited horse offers major benefits for balance, collection, and saddle stability—especially on challenging terrain. It gently encourages the horse to keep their hind end underneath...