Cowboy Up Horse Training & Symposiums LLC. By Matt Leonard

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas to all. And a fast New Year!!

12/25/2019

Merry Christmas to all, your families, friends and horses!!

12/06/2019

A simple trail ride can be used as one of the best training tools available. Your horse will want to do things their way. Using this opportunity to teach them and expose them to as many new things as possible will help them gain confidence, trust and acceptance of you as the driver.

Bomb proof horses will try to just walk the trail. Since you have movement, which is needed for training, add things like softening on the bit, breaking at the poll and connecting the reins to the shoulder and feet, even things such as, teaching our pals to rate their speed at trots and the cantor.

A true partnership comes when we use times like this to focus on all the little details. (But we need to be willing to spend that time. Ie. Stepping in a puddle, rather then leaping over it). Instead of just walking the trail, use this time to have your partner focus on all the things you want to teach. When he does each correctly and constantly, add to it. If you are out for an hour, spend 30 minutes of that time for training and focus. No matter the time on the trail, use it to the advantage of you and your horse.

As long as we utilize our time. The distractions on the trail are great at helping us improve our horses training, understanding, communication and trust.

08/26/2019

Love this dude!

06/06/2019

What a day,.....beautiful!!

06/05/2019

Poor dude! Feeling left out!

06/05/2019

Gunners Special Night,...doing some hydrotherapy swimming,....getting ready!!

06/03/2019

No matter how excited or spooked,...teaching the "calm down cue" from the ground and from rein will keep your horse from running away with or from you and strengthen your ability to build confidence as well as communication. Most important, trust. Knowing you wont let him get eaten by that ”Horse Killing” tractor, car or loud noise creates and builds his trust in you as the driver, handler, and all things between. (It’s physically and mentally impossible for your Equine buddy to be excited or spooked with his nose to the ground).

05/12/2019

05/12/2019

Building a partnership that grows for life!