Cliff Schadt Performance Horsemanship

06/08/2025

Having a great weekend Clark Farms Quarter Horses!

05/25/2025

05/24/2025

"It is a common assumption that if a person has problems controlling their horse, the solution is usually to focus on the bit. The bit is supposed to be the communication tool, so do we change tools or just use it more aggressively?

Neither. In most cases, it is only the presentation we need to change.

We should look at the bit as the point where our energy meets the horse’s energy. Is it like two quiet streams merging as one, free of waves from clashing currents? Or like a powerful waterfall pounding into an otherwise quiet pool, causing currents to churn in all directions? When energy from our hands and body are synchronized with our horse’s energy, it looks effortless. When our energy is not in sync with the horse it can be like the 4th of July, with hands, head and feet going in all different directions like fireworks. We may ignore the display because, to whatever extent, we may consider it “normal.” For the horse, it is not normal. The majority of his life he is placing his feet..." Martin Black

read more here: https://martinblack.net/martin-black-articles/where-your-energy-meets-your-horses-energy.html

05/23/2025

First ride for Kit Kat!

05/23/2025

Our next big clinic and c**t starting weekend begins tomorrow!

05/13/2025

03/30/2024

“Ride for the Brand”

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 "𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱" 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻?

In contemporary usage, the phrase "riding for the brand" is often applied to a situation where someone is loyal to a team, company or organization.

But the phrase, unsurprisingly, has roots in the cowboy culture of the American West. It refers to the unwavering loyalty and commitment cowboys had to their ranches or outfits. Cowboys were expected to work hard, protect the ranch's assets and uphold the ranch's reputation.

In ranching circles, "riding for the brand" is a calling of high order. It means more than just doing your job; it means taking pride in your work, being willing to go the extra mile and never giving up, even when faced with adversity.

In the words of Red Steagall, from his poem "Ride for the Brand":
𝗦𝗼𝗻, 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻, 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻.

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰: "𝘚𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩," 1947. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳-𝘛𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴

03/29/2024

Do you have a favorite quote? I'd love to hear it!

01/15/2024

We are excited to be hosting Bret Davis of Horsemanship As An Art for a 3 day Horsemanship Clinic in Ocala, Florida February 22, 23, & 24th!
Our immersive clinic format will include a morning group horsemanship session for all participants ($600). After a lunch break, Bret & Cliff will work together starting young horses in the round pen ($750). In the afternoon, morning participants will have a scheduled individual lesson to continue working on specific issues one-on-one with Bret (included in morning cost).
Auditors are welcome ($20 per day) and strongly encouraged for all day, as you will get to witness how solid c**t starting practices relate to our riding fundamentals that lead to success under saddle!

Limited riding spaces, c**t starts, and stalls available, please contact [email protected] today to reserve yours!

01/13/2024

Starting great ones in Ocala this winter!

11/16/2023

This was one heck of a clinic and time of fellowship