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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Introducing stairs and bridges to a green horse can be a challenge, but with the right techniques, it’s a rewarding experience for both rider and horse. Michael Gascon emphasizes the...

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 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...