Clinton Anderson - Clinton Andersons Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders

Equine training can be a hazardous activity, which may subject the participants to possible serious injury. Clinton Anderson and his associates will not assume any liability for your actions.

This book provides general information, instructions, and techniques that may not be suitable for everyone. No warranty is given regarding the suitability of this information, the instructions, and techniques to you or other individuals acting under your directions. Personal instruction, in addition to viewing Clinton Andersons entire equine video series, is suggested to best understand these training ideas.

Dedication

All my life I have had a craving to be around horses and learn how to train them and create a better relationship with them. I was fortunate enough to learn from two of the greatest horsemen in the world: Gordon McKinlay and Ian Francis. At least 80 percent of all my knowledge came from these two guys. The lessons they taught me are irreplaceable. They taught me how to have feel and timing, and they gave me the chance to gain experience. And to them, I owe the world.

I have the greatest parents in the world. My mother and father always encouraged my sister and me to do whatever we were passionate about. Without them I would never have had the opportunities to grow and develop my skills. My grandparents Fred and Thelma Piercy were the ones that got me into horses in the beginning. My grandmother had a great love for horses and she passed it on to me. She passed away about 15 years ago, but I still remember all of the lessons she taught me with horses. I didnt know much at the time, and I so dearly wish she could be around today to see the horseman Ive developed into. Grandparents can be the greatest things in childrens lives, and I was lucky enough to have the greatest grandparents.

To the Reader

I hope this book helps you develop your own feel, timing, and experience so you can take your own horsemanship to the highest level possible. I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this, and I truly hope to get a chance to meet you in person.

Take care, mate.

Acknowledgments

N o book is possible without the help and support X 1 of many behind-the-scenes people.

Thanks to Martha Cook at Trafalgar Square for providing the impetus behind the entire project.

A world of thanks to Charles Hilton for his photographic expertise. And thanks to Caleb Gray for prov i ding such clear illustrations.

Special thanks to Paula Horsch and Cecelia Trabert for being such willing, committed, communicative students.

Personal thanks from Clinton

I have been very fortunate to have worked with true, masterful horsemen. They taught me so muchabout horses, about people, and about life. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

I would like to thank Gordon McKinlay from Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Gordon taught me the importance of getting a solid foundation, doing your groundwork, and preparing the horse before you get on. He is a master at starting unbroken and problem horses. He is a tremendously hard worker and a very honest man. Without the time I spent with him, there would have been a big hole in my life and in my program.

Ian Francis, of Gympie, Queensland, is truly a great trainer. He helped me get my horses soft, supple, and responsive. He excels in many different performance worlds, including the cutting, reining, and pleasure horse industries. He is a remarkable hand; one of the best in the world.

I thank both of these men for spending so many hours to help me achieve my horsemanship goals.

Thanks to my parents, Robert and Cheryl Anderson. Without your support and love throughout my life, I wouldnt have had the opportunity to learn from these two men, and others.

Thank you to Ami Hendrickson for all your hard work and dedication. You put a lot of heart and soul into this project, and it shows.

I am grateful to these people for being by my side. You are only as good as the ones you have around you.

Personal thanks from Ami

Thanks so much, Clinton, for giving me the opportunity to work with you on this project.

Thanks to Charles for your wonderful photos, and to Caleb, the great eleventh hour illustrator.

Thanks to Terri Gordon, Sheila LeBeau, and Denise Hettig for volunteering so many hours analyzing pictures.

Special thanks to my family for your support through the many long hours I spent sequestered away in my office. To Robert, the most wonderful husband in the world, and Cassandra, for not begrudging me this work during her first year of life. Thanks as well to Aunt Mel, Grandma and Grandpathe best babysitters anyone could ask for.

Clinton and Mindy, his Australian Quarter Horse mare.

I f you have seen his TV program, watched his videos, read his articles, or attended his clinics, then you know that Clinton Andersons techniques can achieve amazing results with almost any horseeven yours!

A native Australian, Clinton has been honing his knowledge and horsemanship skills since he was very young. When he was only fifteen, Clinton left school to begin a series of apprenticeships with some of Australias best horsemen. He opened his own training facility three years later. At nineteen, he began conducting horsemanship clinics and seminars.

He has successfully competed at the national level in reining futurities and continues to enjoy reining competition.

Clinton believes that all riders can communicate effectively with their horses, regardless of age or experience. He specializes in showing people how to gain their horses respect, build trust, and improve responsiveness.