Incentives are offered to clinic hosts. Please contact Kris Graef (BrentGraef@yahoo.com) if you're
interested in hosting a clinic.Brent limits his horsemanship clinics to approximately 12 riders per class. It's imperative that each person in the class gets plenty of personal attention. Each class is different because it's based on the needs of the students and horses in each individual class. Regardless of which class you ride in, Brent will give you as much information as he possibly can. Bring a notebook, and an open mind, and enjoy the journey!
In an effort to more efficiently help his students and friends attain their horsemanship goals, Brent offers several different types of classes:
- Foundation Class
- Advancing Class
- Horsemanship with Cows
- Young Horse Handling Class
- Canyon Class - Horsemanship on the Trails
Foundation Class -- 9:00 AM to noon each day for 3 days
This class is a great confidence booster for you and your horse. It's perfect for young horses, greener riders, or serious students of horsemanship who understand the value of getting the foundation more solid and want to refine their groundwork!
"I believe this has been the most significant, thought provoking,
thought CHANGING, clinic or instruction I've ever been involved in
during my entire horsemanship journey beginning in the mid- to
late-90's. To give a short rational one word answer, the clinic was
phenomenal."
~ Tami
~ Tami
Learn the basics of understanding your horse... how to earn his trust and respect, and how to offer softness, fairness, and clarity to your horse. This is the perfect class to get help with issues such as trailer loading, standing to mount, and standing for the farrier.
We are working to develop a good foundation of understanding for the horses and students. The groundwork skills you'll develop directly relate to the skills you'll need when you get into the saddle.
This class is about half groundwork and half riding. Working from the ground is a great opportunity to learn to recognize your horse's expressions, see brace, and see correctness in his movements without the interference of a rider. Riding will be done at the walk and trot. We'll be working on softness, timing, accuracy, smooth transitions, and recognizing and fixing up brace.
Colts are welcome to be in the groundwork portion of the class, but the horses who participate in the riding portion need to already be going under saddle.
Advancing Class -- 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM each day for 3 days
We'll explore soft feel, softness through transitions, cadence (how to get in time with the feet), control of the horse's hindquarters, frontquarters, and lateral movements. We'll work on recognizing and fixing up brace from the saddle. You'll learn to direct your horse's mind and take the concept of "feel" to a deeper level. You'll develop the awareness, skill, and understanding to become the partner your horse has been waiting for. Your horse will become softer, more supple, and better balanced. We'll ride at the walk, trot, and canter.
"I can't tell you in words what the Brent Graef clinic did for me as a
person and as a horseperson. In Brent and his training methods, I saw
"lightness" that I've never seen before. His method of teaching the
horses the basic communication movements was phenomenal, and I might
add, EASY and GRACEFUL for the horse" ~ Betty
Horsemanship with Cows -- 1:30 to 4:30 each day for 3 days
To participate in this class you must be comfortable at the walk, trot, and canter.
The purpose of this class is to use cows as a tool to improve our horsemanship. First, we'll spend time visiting some of the basics of good horsemanship. We'll work to get better stops and crisper turns and then....... BRING ON THE COWS!
Giving yourself and your horse a common focus allows the two of you a
great opportunity to blend together and work as a team. The emphasis in
this class will be on good horsemanship, and low stress cow handling.In this class, we'll learn the basic moves a horse needs to effectively work a cow. You'll develop an understanding of some of the key elements used and the positioning required to work cattle.
Anyone is welcome to participate, whether you ride English or western. You and your horse do not need any previous cow working experience. (We will not be roping in this class.)
Young Horse Handling - halter start untouched yearlings (See on-line video on the home page!)
This "specialty course" is offered near Brent's home in Canyon, TX. You will not be bringing your own horse to this course.
Many people never have the chance to learn how to handle young horses. In this course, you'll have expert guidance and coaching every step of the way. We'll be working with yearlings that were born and raised in the pasture and have had very little (if any) handling by humans. These colts are about as pure as it gets!
This course is made available to those who are confident around horses and VERY SERIOUS about their horsemanship. This class is not for the faint of heart. These young horses are, for all intents and purposes, wild animals.
We'll be working with these young horses together and teach them to:
"it's SO difficult to put into words what happens at the Young Horse
Handling clinic. The stuff that you see--the stuff that happens on the
outside, is the easy part. But what changes on the inside of both
horse & human is so special & intimate that it feels almost
sacred." ~ Kathy
- catch
- halter
- lead in the proper position
- follow the feel of the lead rope
- pick up and hold their feet
- tie
- trailer load
- accept wormer
- prepare them to accept a needle for their shots
- accept the saddle blanket and the cinch
- ENJOY having humans in their life!!!
Participants fly into Amarillo, TX (airport code "AMA"). We'll pick everybody up from the airport and chauffer the group to/from the ranch each day. (No car rental necessary). Convenient, affordable accommodations are available. Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Sorry, spectators are not allowed at this class.
Canyon Class - Horsemanship on the Trails (See on-line video on the home page!)
Cost: $1100. 6 day class includes:
- stabling for 1 horse. (Shavings will be available for purchase. There is an additional charge for extra horses/stalls)
- breakfasts, lunches, and several home-cooked evening meals. (Participants with special dietary needs are responsible for their own meals. When we eat in restaurants, each person is responsible for their own meal ticket).
- Affordable accommodations available for an extra charge (non-smokers only).
Treat yourself to a vacation with your horse....and Brent Graef!!! This open-range class provides a unique opportunity to re-connect with nature, refresh your spirit, and improve your horsemanship skills. This clinic is designed to offer riders plenty of one-on-one time learning from Brent.
Spend 6 days riding through some of the most beautiful country Texas has to offer. In this exciting clinic format, the natural landscape becomes the classroom for long days of learning. We'll ride in places such as Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyon, and Pole Canyon. Although some will be spent in the arena, the majority of this class will be spent out on the trails.
If cows are available, you'll experience real-life cow working situations. This will be slow, ranch style, low stress cow working. We will NOT be roping any cows during this class.
Each morning we'll load up the horses and caravan to the day's events. At the end of each day's ride, we'll head back to the home ranch for our evening meal. The dinner table is a wonderful place to re-visit the day's events. Often, during evening discussions, Brent does simulations to help riders understand how they might improve their communications with their horse.
To participate in this class you must be confident at the canter outside the arena. (Riders need to have a certain degree of proficiency as we ride in some very remote areas during this course.) This class is 100% OUTDOORS. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. As is customary, no Stallions please. (Sorry, we do not have horses for lease.)
This class is also available to private groups. Contact
BrentGraef@yahoo.com
