Turnarounds are tough. Go to the Larry Trocha website and get his DVD “Teach Your Horse Rollbacks and Spins” He sells it as a special offer for $9.99. Best 10 bucks you’ll ever spend. It is really a $40 - $60 video…I guess it’s a draw to his other videos which are priced in the more usual price range. While your there get his FREE video, “Training Aids.”

Another “trick” I learned from Larry Rose video….the order in which you train is important. Work on spins first when the horse is fresh and wants to go somewhere. Stops next when he’s tired enough that he wants to stop but still fresh enough he can stop hard. Circles last, when he’s good and tired where he’ll listen and relax.

I learned at the clinic I train too much and don’t show enough….ha. Look up-not at the horse. “Square” the circles. Watch for the markers. When the rules say center of the arena they mean center, not somewhere thereabouts. Give your horse some pre-cues before the center. Look the judge in the eye….let em know your here to give him/her an opportunity to see a good horse. Trust your horse….this is her day, let her show what she’s got and don’t fiddle too much with her.

Great thing is that Chris got to watch the clinic. And now she keeps after my butt to remember this stuff and work it in. Way my memory is it’s a good thing I got a short name sometimes. She’s the one with the eye for details and can absorb things. Sometimes things I’m told get caught up in the hollow wind currents between my ears.

Also learned ……..don’t ever leave the ignition part way on when you shut the truck off. Always carry jumper cables. Also do not accidentally hit the automatic door locks when you get out of the truck. Do not leave the spare set of truck keys in the jeans you wore to the show then throw them in the back seat of the truck when you change into show clothes. A buggy whip will reach down to the door lock switch when you get the top of the passenger door pried open. Do not park your rig in the front row with your ranch name emblazeoned all over it when you are going to do completely stupid things. A raised hood on a truck and two people sticking a buggy whip into the door will attract more attention than a million dollar reining horse. Reining folks are really nice…most waited until they got out of earshot to laugh.

Did you learn a ton at the clinic? What were some of the showmanship tips?

Where are the photos? I wanna see photos of you and Brandy kickin’ butt!