Preparing your horse for garrocha stick work starts with building trust and confidence using a simple tarp. In this foundational lesson, Michael Gascon demonstrates how to desensitize your horse by...

Driving a gaited horse up into the bridle means creating balance, collection, and control by engaging the hind end while maintaining softness in the front. Instead of just moving forward,...

Proper pad fitting is essential for the comfort and performance of gaited horses. Using a cutback saddle pad helps prevent pressure on the withers, especially when the horse is asked...

Struggling with a hot or sensitive horse that just won’t walk? The spiral exercise, taught by horse trainer Michael Gascon, offers a calm, effective way to redirect excess energy without...

In this advanced horsemanship Q\&A, Michael Gascon breaks down the essential techniques for teaching horses to disengage their shoulders—a key 10th-grade skill. Using a combination of groundwork and saddle work,...

The Houlihan is a unique roping technique that allows riders to reverse their swing and rope from the opposite side of their horse. Popular in rodeo and ranch work, it’s...

Preparing a Paso Fino for the Pleasure Division at the Grand National Championships takes precision, patience, and a well-trained off switch. Michael Gascon, the Horse Guru, showcases how his gelding...

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...

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...

Yes, your gaited horse can learn to spin — and do it beautifully! In this blog post, Michael Gascon breaks down the step-by-step method for teaching a gaited horse to...

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,...