Natural Horsemanship
5429 highway 17 East P0S 1C0 Echo Bay, ON, Canada

If you need a definition of horsemanship this is definitely a big part of it and the reason the right start is so important.

Here is the unbridling demo. Just as important this is done correctly so your horse is left with a good feel for the bridle.

If you have been following along on the last posts here is the next one. After many years of practice my long time partner "J " shows how to accept the bridle. unbridling to follow.

Well the winter weather and covid are keeping us close to home with not much happening. So after the last post where I used the head shy horse issue as an example I thought I would do a video to show the technique I use to get a horse haltered and helps to prepare the horse for bridling. These aren't the greatest videos but they will demonstrate the basics. This something you can work on over the winter when it is too cold to ride or with your young horse.... Here is the first one.

Good morning everyone. Hope you are having a great day and enjoying the nice winter we having in the Sault Ste. Marie area. As you can see I have found time to do another natural horsemanship piece. I do find it difficult to get down in words the nuances of working with horses. If you have any feedback or questions I would love to have your comments. Natural responses...Continue reading

With all the time on my hands these days I thought I might share a few things about natural horsemanship. So here goes the first little bit. Natural Horsemanship is really nothing more than learning and using the nature of the horse to achieve a desired response through a process that develops a conditioned response. To apply natural horsesmanship we need to develop an understanding of how a horse thinks and behaves.... When we start to more fully understand what motivates the horse and get better at reading their behavior by observing their body language we can communicate better and use those natural tendencies to achieve a desired response. It is this kind of approach to training horses that some of the more notable horsemen such as Bill and Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, John Lyons and Buck Brannaman introduced to the equine community and has come to be known as natural horsemanship. Next post will speak to some of those principles. P.s. Full disclosure: I stole this Picard meme from someone else.

If you were thinking of getting in on a level one - natural horsemanship clinic, but missed the April clinic I have a couple spots available in a second level one (Creating a Willing Partner) clinic on May 15 and 16. PM me for details and check out previous posts for info on the horsemanship program.

The April 17 and 18 clinic was a lot of fun and I believe everyone got a good start on their horsemanship. partnerships were developed and improved over the first two days of the journey. The next Level Two clinic is scheduled for June 19 and 20. Thanks to those who attended and High Rail Stables for their facilities and support.

UPDATE APRIL 17 & 18 LEVEL ONE CLINIC at High Rail stables 75 % booked. Only 2 spots left. This program is designed to be progressive from level to level. Contact me for private lessons or summer clinics. Available weekends for clinics May 8/9, July 10/11, Aig 7/8. 2021 Spring - Summer Program The Natural Horsemanship Program is designed to develop your knowledge and skills to help you improve your horse’s performance. ... Level one will Create the Willing Partner. Level Two will Develop the Riding Partnership. Level three will work on Refinement and control. This program can be delivered as a series of clinics or lessons. Clinics are two days @$250 (minimum of 6-max 8). To register please contact Larry. (see contact info below or PM) Clinics To start the season, I am pleased and excited to be working with High Rail Stables, to offer three, two-day Natural Horsemanship Clinics that will take you and your horse through the Natural Horsemanship Program. Space will be limited and interest is high so register soon. Clinics are two days @$250 (minimum of 6-max 8). To register please contact Larry. Lessons In June, I plan on offering small group, 2-hour lessons, on weeknight evenings (TBD). This lesson program will work on the skills and knowledge you and your horse require to work cattle. Lessons will include horsemanship for cattle work, flag work and practice on live cattle. Dependent on Covid conditions and availability of cattle. Additional clinics or lessons can be arranged. Contact me for further info and available dates . 705 542 7993 [email protected] See Facebook Page. Natural Horsemanship Larry Skinkle

Requests for next summers clinics are coming in now. If you are considering hosting a Natural Horsemanship clinic you should probably send me a PM or give me a call.

Watching the NCHA Futurity tonight. Some of the best cutters and cutting horses.

Hi folks As promised, below is an outline of my Natural Horsemanship Program. I have developed this program based on many years of delivering pieces of the horsemanship Journey through clinics, lessons and training horses. If you are interested in the program or any portion of the program give me a call to discuss how I can help you and your horse. Natural Horsemanship Program...Continue reading

I have to say it. 2020 was a very interesting year. Our horses got a really good rest. I did a some clinics in Massey and Wawa. We took in a couple penning/sorting jackpots in New Liskeard and Renfrew late in the summer and some trail rides. And I have been doing a few horsemanship lessons locally. All in all a pretty quiet year when it comes to horsey events. For 2021 I feel pretty positive about the coming spring and summer. I have had time to reflect on what I could offe...r as a program to help horses and people. I have put together a horsemanship program that will benefit every horse and horse owner no matter what you do with your horse. From dressage to cow work or trail riding or jumping. Stay tuned for more details to follow. If you are really interested PM me, call or email. All the best to you and yours for 2021. Larry

Tom Dorrance is a legend. I try to learn and practice his methods. Few of us can ignore the wrong things. In fact we tend to concentrate on those wrong behaviours. Rewarding positive change is far more effective. With horses and people. Maybe give it a try in 2021.

These three ladies (Amanda Quesnelle, Amber Costa and her mom Carol) all have some winter homework to do now. They are great students and I really enjoyed doing groundwork lessons with them.

Now that hunting season is pretty much finished and there is not enough ice for fishing hard water I guess lessons for people and horses will have to fill my days.

Some real work last month for the neighbours. Sorting the bull and some calves then moving the cows to the home farm. Video is short but you will get the idea.

The July Clinic at Massey fairgrounds has been rescheduled to August 15 and 16th. Day 1 will be suitable to make improvements on your horse's fundamentals and help the rider with developing proper practices when training your horse. this clinic will be good for all horses and riders no matter their level of training. Day 2 will use the fundamentals from Day 1 and further develop the horse and rider for more advanced work.... Participants will leave this two day clinic with a number exercises they can use to develop and refine their horse's performance. Contact Brian Channon if you want to register and get clinic outlines. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the clinic. See poster below for further details.

Some pics from last weekends clinic in Wawa. thanks to Heather Johns for organizing and Tracey and Murray Davidson for hosting.and everyone for participating.

Found one for them. Thanks everyone for the leads. Looking for a friend. Kid safe horse for 12 year old girl. PM me with picture or video that I can pass on. Preferably from Sault Ste.Marie area.

I am working with Massey Ag Society to create some activities. If you want to learn how to start your young horse or restart that pasture ornament these 2 days will give you the tools you need to get the right start.