Desensitizing your horse while standing still is only half the battle—the real challenge is keeping their focus and respect in motion. In 3rd Grade Horsemanship, desensitizing exercises test whether your...

Graduating from kindergarten to first grade in horse training is all about teaching your horse undivided attention. Instead of lunging for exercise, you’ll learn how to build focus, respect, and...

Horses, like children, can throw temper tantrums when they’re frustrated, confused, or testing boundaries. Bucking, rearing, or refusing cues often point to gaps in training and a lack of respect...

Struggling to get your hot or sensitive horse to walk calmly? In this post, Michael Gascon shares a powerful yet gentle technique called the spiral, designed to redirect your horse’s...

Tying a horse to the outside of a trailer safely starts with choosing the right location, rope length, and knot. Your horse should already know how to stand tied before...

Proper halter fit is essential for safe and effective horse training, and in this post, Michael Gascon walks you through how to fit a natural horsemanship rope halter using his...

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...

Using a solid bridle on your horse can dramatically improve consistency, confidence, and control—especially for gaited horses. Unlike a snaffle, a solid mouthpiece helps align the horse’s head, neck, and...

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...

Bitting a gaited horse correctly is key to unlocking a smooth, consistent ride. In this clinic, Michael Gascon demonstrates how to introduce a finished bit to an Icelandic horse and...

Training a young foal starts with building trust and communication through simple, respectful steps. In this session, we introduce Dashi to leading using a halter and a butt rope, reinforcing...

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...