Have you ever been so excited about something you just couldn't wait to tell anyone and everyone? Well, I had just such an experience recently and thought it would be worth sharing. My good friend, who also happens to be my horses' trainer, invited me along to a two-day
Chris Cox Horsemanship Clinic. It was the a real eye-opener to say the least and the best money I've spent in a long time.
"Horsemanship is a way of life and an exciting journey. Along the way you discover the journey is not just about the horse; the journey is about you as well. It's about getting to know yourself and learning to control your emotions so that you can communicate clearly with this wonderful animal, the horse. Always keep an open mind and never lose your passion, and you'll never lose the direction for your journey." This is the philosophy of Chris Cox and the key is knowledge. The more knowledge and understanding you have, the more effective you can be in communicating with your horse. Even if you're a good rider and have no apparent problems with your horse, I think we could all improve and hone our abilities and develop our horse's full potential.
If you own a horse or are even thinking about buying a horse, Chris can show you how to put horsemanship theory into practice with a minimal amount of gear and no gimmicks, and his building-block approach minimizes confusion and maximizes results. I told my husband the only thing I want for Mother's Day is Chris' DVD When you come across someone who has not only integrity and passion for something, but skills and knowledge beyond their years like Chris Cox, you should heed their advice. If you ever get the chance to go to one of his clinics, as I just did, it will be time well spent. My friend and I drove an hour and a half each way to get to his clinic and I would do it again in a heartbeat. In a covered arena at the San Antonio Rose Palace, a crowd of about 200 were electrified and awed by the natural talent of this ultimate horseman. Chris Cox has a God-given gift for not only communicating with horses, but for teaching lay people, such as myself, the techniques necessary to put horsemanship theory into practice and strengthen your riding partnership with your horse. My desire and goal is to attend one of his 6-day clinics at his ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas. His passion is contagious and truly inspires me to take this journey of authentic horsemanship.
Watching him read the cues of the horses body language and then see him communicate to the horse with his own body language was absolutely amazing. He explained that a horse must think about something before he does it. And if you pay attention to the signals a horse gives with his body language you have a chance to redirect him in a positive way. Horses learn through relief from pressure. That pressure might be from a rein, hand, leg or spur. It could also be pressure from just you presence, which your horse picks up on through, you guessed it, your body language, even if you aren't touching him. Relief of pressure and the timing of that relief is crucial to success. Once you know when to give that relief and your horse learns that relief comes from you, he will always look to you for relief. This relief is all a horse wants and it works better than treats or petting.
Chris Cox has won The Road to the Horse Championship the last three years running for a reason, he's the best at what he does. He's the real deal, authentic and a true master horseman. Chris says, "The difference between a horseman and a trainer is that the trainer trains the horse while the horseman trains himself." I would highly recommend his training DVD s whether your a seasoned veteran or you just bought your first horse. My horse is an ex-barrel racer and has a lot of holes in her foundation. She showed no respect, would never stand still and was hard to control. Since we started using his groundwork techniques she has improved tremendously and I couldn't be happier.
If your ready to really learn how to be a horseman or horsewoman and your willing to put in the time and effort, I tip my hat to you. You can get individual DVD s or the complete set which covers just about any situation you can think of. The Chris Cox training DVD s will guide you in a natural progression from the basics to advanced maneuvers and collection. No matter what kind of horse you have or what riding discipline you prefer, Chris' approach to horsemanship creates a fine partnership for both horse and rider. With the right knowledge and training tools you can effectively achieve your riding goals. Good luck and God speed.
