Advanced Horsemanship Clinics

Horsemanship III and IV 

horsemanship III and IV are the last of four levels of horsemanship offered by Sheridan Performance Horses.  Unlike other systems, you may sign up for any level that you as a rider feel ready for.  The "SPH" levels system is designed to give you a guideline for what kind of training may be offered at your clinic.

All horsemanship clinics now have Matt's Four Steps to Better Body Control program built in.  Each clinic level advances body control within the program.  This systematic approach teaches the rider how to gain increased accuracy and yielding with minimal effort!

Sheridan Performance Horses is now offering two different types of performance horse clinics.

Horsemanship III - Principles of Performance Horsemanship

At this level participants work on the various exercises needed to prepare a horse for higher level performance.  Participants use Matt's Four Steps to Better Body Control to advance into high level yielding of all 8 of the horses body parts.  Riders will learn how to create advanced yielding of the horses head, neck, shoulders, back and hind quarters.  Participants will develop skills needed to enable horses to perform slide stops, spins, lead departures and lead changes.  Emphasis is placed on starting to develop the finished bridle horse.  This clinic focuses on the "dry" work that is done prior to a reining or cow horse event.  No livestock are required for this clinic.  Emphasis is placed on maintaining a balanced rider and horse throughout each exercise.  We also recommend this clinic for Dressage, English and Pleasure horses as well.  This clinic can be adapted to meet your skill or discipline.

Horsemanship IV  - Versatility Ranch Horsemanship

This is the clinic for anyone interested in or is wanting to compete in versatility ranch horse.  In this clinic Matt discusses and teaches you how to work through the different events in a versatility competition.  As in Horsemanship III, participants work on advancing Matt's four step program.  Emphasis will be placed on preparing a horse to slide stop and spin, as well as, the cow working portion of the competition.  As time allows the clinic may also include work on the trial obstacles, ranch pleasure and roping cattle.  Livestock are required for this clinic.

Note: Horses ridden in these clinics are typically advancing in their bridling and may be ridden in bits other than a snaffle bit or bosal hackamore.