2012 Equine Presenters
Our 30th Anniversary Celebration calls for something--or someone(s) extra-special!
Scroll down to read about our outstanding presenters:
Jason Patrick
Larry Whitesell
Many more to come...
Aaron Ralston
Cowhorse Productions
“Ride with a Reason”
Scroll down for details about clinic and presentations.
Get Clinic flyer now.
Host of RFD-TV's "The Ride," Aaron Ralston is all of these: Horseman, Competitor, Teacher, Performer.
Before going to work for NRHA Hall of Famer, Doug Milholland, Aaron Ralston grew up on a ranch in Western Colorado and rodeoed through his childhood years. After working for Doug, he moved back to Colorado and began a horse training business, specializing in reining and roping. Over the years, Aaron’s training expertise has expanded to include reined cowhorse (cutting, reining, fence work), ranch horse versatility, and ranch sorting.
In 2008, Aaron and business partner Brad Zanin started Cow Horse Productions. Cow Horse Productions produces the TV show, “The Ride with Aaron Ralston,” for RFD-TV, as well as events, competitions, and The Ride Remuda. Aaron is eager to educate others about what he continually learns along “The Ride” from his TV program, clinics, seminars, publications, and performances. Although Equine Expo/Horse Fairs are new additions to Aaron’s résumé, he has had a lot of experience with teaching the horse and rider. He not only has a natural feel for the horse, he has a gift for teaching riders. He is an extremely diverse horseman with many experiences from out-on-the-ranch, to competing in the show arena, coaching riders, and performing in front of thousands!
Aaron teaches a variety of riding topics such as beginner to advanced reining; stockmanship; working a horse with the Cow-Trac® mechanical cow; trail: in and out of the arena; ranch horse versatility; ranch sorting; roping; colt starting; horsemanship; competing in the show arena; problem horses; and bareback and bridleless riding. He has als
o performed in numerous Freestyle Reining competitions throughout the years. In 2010, Aaron performed in the National Western Stock Show Dodge Invitational Freestyle reining, the World Equestrian Games Freestyle Reining Exhibition, and at Equine Affaire’s Fantasia in Columbus, OH and West Springfield, MA.
For a full resume that includes highlights of Aaron’s life as horseman, showmen, teacher and performer, click here. To learn even more about Aaron Ralston and Cow Horse Productions, please visit www.cowhorseproductions.com.
See some of Aaron’s recent performances on YouTube:
Equine Affaire “Reining Freestyle” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_gWi87iWrk
Equine Affaire “Garrocha With a Spin” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ-XxBKV5-w
“The Ride Promo” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZj6fuHNWxI
“Aaron Ralston & Hey Houston” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0t208VgAe0
“Aaron Ralston & Spendin’ Peptos Money”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYxE6JZAM2U
THIS ONE DAY CLINIC, "RIDE FOR A REASON" HAS SOLD OUT
DON'T MISS AARON'S FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY CLINICS - DETAILS BELOW:
Aaron Ralston at the Four States Ag Expo:
Saddle Up to "Ride with a Reason" with Aaron on Thursday, March 15
Be one of 10 participants to “Ride with a Reason” in this unique clinic. Learn Aaron’s signature approach to holding purpose and meaning for the horse to better understand why we ask them to do what we do.
Ride for a full day and work with Aaron on maneuvers including (but not limited to) turn-arounds (spins), stops, circles, and body control through different drills which riders can use at home and through use of the mechanical cow.
For more information, view/download clinic flyer here.
Clinic participants need to complete a Livestock Exhibitor's contract: download here. Clinic registration includes a pen for the day, so there is no charge on the exhibitor's contract--just send it in so we know who you are and that you agree to abide by our terms and conditions.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will feature twice daily arena presentations by Aaron. His topics will include:
- Pre-Flight Check for Safety and Performance: Working with your horse from the ground up to insure you have your horse's focus and attention to safely ride or use it to get the most out of your horse while performing.
- Ride With a Reason: Aaron's signature approach to holding purpose and meaning for the horse to better understand why we ask them to do what we do.
- Evolution Training Series, Part I: Series overview and concepts of Focus, Rider Rhythm, and Cadence
- Evolution Training Series Part II: Continuation of Part 1 to include further concepts, including preparation for the stop and turn-around
- Evolution Training Series Part III: Continuation of part I and II, to include further concepts of front and hind body control, preparation for the stop and preparation for the turn-around
- Evolution Training Series Part IV: Performance Principles: Learn the "Self Monitoring System" (SMS) and how to put it all together.
Sponsored By:
Sweet Pro Equipride Equilix
CowTrac Farrier's Fix Iconoclast
People Helping Horses Greeley Hat Works
Jason Patrick
Whispering Willows Ranch
Returning to celebrate the Ag Expo's 30th anniversary is popular and gifted horseman, Jason Patrick.
Jason is a Colorado ranch-raised cowboy who discovered natural horsemanship as a teenager. Jason has professionally trained horses for close to 20 years and has developed his own style of horsemanship that has been noticed and appreciated by people across the country. Perhaps his best advertisement has been his horses, which have been admired as they showed their skills in ranch rodeos and Ranch Horse Versatility competitions, as well as in completing everyday ranch work. Jason has been featured on CMT, RFD-TV and numerous radio programs and in national publications, and is popular at horse expos and clinics throughout North America.
A successful competitor in many disciplines and capable of training at every level, Jason is known especially for giving young horses an excellent foundation; he has started approximately 2000 horses. As founder of the Rescued to Ride program, he also excelled at “re-starting” horses which had been mishandled or neglected or left too long idle. It’s obvious from watching Jason at work that helping a horse learn—from whatever starting point—is his passion and his joy.
At the 2012 Ag Expo, Jason will give two demonstrations each day, highlighting the progression of a horse's learning from start to finished bridle horse. For more information about Jason Patrick, visit www.whisperingwillowsranch.com/
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will feature twice daily arena presentations by Jason. His topics will include:
- Evaluating a Prospective Horse
- The Next Step: After Colt Starting
- Stepping It Up: Getting More From a Young Horse
- Troubleshooting: Preventing Wrecks!!
- Intro to Cattle For a Young Horse
- The Bridle Horse, "A Work of Art"
Larry Whitesell
Whitesell Gaited Horsemanship
Larry Whitesell believes that classical training enhances the horse's natural ability to gait, and that just about every rider can master the art of gaining "relaxed collection" in their horse.
Renowned gaited horseman since 1980, Larry was very successful in the show ring, winning regional, national and grand national championships. In 2002 he was trainer of the year. He has held judges cards in several gaited breeds.
Initially, he trained using the traditional gaited horse methods, thinking these were the only way to yield gait. As his training progressed he wanted to train gaited horses to a higher level so they would gait for any level rider and the riders could count on them to be safe and dependable. In his quest to learn correctness and lightness, Larry began studying classical dressage in the early 1990s from contemporary masters who had studied under Nuno Olivera and at classical schools in Europe.
Classical training teaches the horse to rebalance itself into a relaxed frame of collection, engaging the hind legs. Engagement of the hind legs, whether false or real, is what makes a gaited horse gait. Larry learned to bring horses into a more classical frame to gait. When you strengthen the correct muscles, the horse can carry a rider and rebalance into natural collection.
Larry learned in short order that horses were more consistent in their gait and could perform gaits with a wider range of speeds when classically trained. Correct training builds confidence in a horse.
Natural horsemanship puts a great foundation on horses and prepares the horse mentally and physically to begin training for collection. Classical training then takes communication with the horse to the next level of lightness. Most gaited horses only need a mild degree of collection to gait.
Larry continues his education each year from classical dressage instructors. He travels the U.S. and Canada doing clinics and equine expositions. His goals are to help people understand what makes gaited horses gait so we can spare the horses from some of the training myths attached to the gaited world that are not in the horse’s best interest. By making things better for the horse, the horse will be smoother, safer and more dependable for riders.
Larry teaches you how to teach your horse to relax so you can teach a correct response with the least effort. He teaches you how to teach your horse to respond to subtle cues. His clinics are a shot in the arm for your riding program, providing very intense instruction to all levels of riders on their own horses that instills an eagerness you will carry with you so you can further your relationship with your horse at home.
For more about Larry Whitesell, visit Whitesell Gaited Horsemanship at http://whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will feature twice daily arena presentations by Larry. His topics will include:
- In Hand Work for Improving Gait - Twice on Thursday
- Beginning Under Saddle Work for Gait - Twice on Friday
- How Collection Solves Behavior Issues While Improving Gait (Twice on Saturday
- Solving Gait Issues and Advancing Gait and Advancing Gait to Higher Levels - Twice on Sunday