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Apprenticeship Program

(updated November 2, 2008)

Wilds Horsemanship’s Apprenticeship Program is a very intense program requiring dedication and strong commitment.  Hard work is essential and the reward will be great – for at the end of the program, you will feel a huge sense of accomplishment.  To be able to communicate and connect with a horse’s mind is a beautiful thing.  Through hard work and dedication, you can achieve what most horse lovers only dream of.   

The apprenticeship program is broken into a four, a five, or a six week session.  Each week of each session costs $1000 per person with a $250 booking deposit required for scheduling.  This nonrefundable deposit is necessary because of the time that is set aside exclusively for the apprenticeship program and will be deducted from the last session’s cost.  A Certificate of Apprenticeship will only be awarded to those who complete all desired sessions (you must complete at least the four week session to be an Apprenticeship graduate).             

Stalls will be provided and are included in the price.  Each person is responsible for his/her own stall cleanings, feed, hay, and supplements if desired.    

Students are required to have a full cheek snaffle bit for their horse while attending class at the Reining W Ranch.  We refuse to use harsh, harmful bits, and the full cheek snaffle is proven to be very gentle.  A lariat rope and dressage whip are also required for training.  Protective boots for your horse are not required but are suggested.  These are all available for purchase at the ranch along with many other helpful tack supplies.  

Students must have one primary horse to complete the program.  It doesn’t matter if the primary horse is green or already trained because all horses in the program will be started from scratch.  Students also need to have a back-up horse available in case of injury or sickness of the primary horse.  A negative Coggins test is required for all horses and will be checked upon arrival to the ranch. 

 

Apprenticeship Program--Topics Covered:

Ground Work / Preparing to Mount

½ Day Orientation, 1 ½ Days of Observing Jason Starting a Horse

Inside and Outside Turns

Whoa!

Come to You

Spook in Place

Go Forward Cue

Disengagement of Hips

Controlling Shoulders from the Ground

Directional Control

Proper Leading

Picking Up Feet

Introduction to Fly Spray

Tying

Preparing Horse for Saddle

Giving to the Bit

Trailering

Under Saddle Basics / Time to Mount

Serpentines

Controlling Hips and Shoulders

Sidepassing

Head Down

Backing

Squeeze to Go

Sit Back to Stop

Crossing Minor Obstacles

Calm Down Cue

Gaining More Control

Directional Control

Connect Rein to Shoulder

Connect Rein to Hip

Clock Work

Collected Stops and Back-Ups

Lead Preparation

Speed Control

Seat and Leg Cues

One Rein Stop

Problem Solving

360 degree turns front & rear

Faster Stops / Sliding Stops

Dragging Objects

Crossing Major Obstacles

Tricks (lying down, sitting down, smile, and more – as time allows)

*Topics under each heading are in no particular order.