March 2020 Issue

Page 6 March 2020 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN From his farm in Talking Rock, GA, Carl brings with him a history of horsemanship and a wealth of knowledge to the gaited horse breeds. He is a second generation trainer of Champion and World Champion Tennessee Walking Horses which he has since moved away from. Carl is now an advocate for the sound Tennessee Walking horse and other gaited breeds. Carl declared, “I choose the horse.” Carl’s past is a key component in who he is today because it has completely molded and shaped him into the horseman he has become. He will admit, at one point he could not bear to look at himself in the mirror because of the pain that is inflicted on the horses in order to achieve the high stepping gait that is desired in a particular segment of the show arena. He made the decision to walk away from that world and it was the best decision he ever made. He now works will all breeds and disciplines and he and his wife, Tammy, have made it their life’s mission to speak out against the mistreatment and misconceptions of the TWH and bring awareness to this amazingly talented and toler- ant breed as well as all of the other gaited breeds. Rather than shortcuts and gimmicks, Carl believes in education and understanding by having compassion and empathy for the horse. He no longer considers it training but rather building relationships. He approaches each horse as an individual and always asks himself, What’s in it for the horse? Carl now has the honor and privilege of traveling and conducting various clinics and sharing his story of his progression from the show ring to teaching with the best interest of horse and rider as his primary focus in hopes of someday proving just how wonderful and versatile these amazing creatures are. Importance of the Walk to Achieve Correct Gait; Fix Pace or Trot (Fri., 3 pm, Equine Arena) Building the Bridge to Achieve Smooth & Correct Gait (Sat., 1 pm, Large Arena) Cantering the Gaited Horse (Sun., 10 am, Round Pen Arena) Exercises & Drills to Enhance Gait (Sun., 3 pm, Equine Arena) Visit Carl Bledsoe at the Gaited Horse Groups booths B1-B3. Julie Goodnight is the popular RFD-TV host of Horse Master airing Monday nights. Julie travels the US sharing her no-nonsense horsemanship training with riders of all disciplines. Whether you ride English, western, dressage or trail ride, Julie’s teaching helps you feel more confident in the saddle and helps you understand the “whys” of horseman- ship. You’ll get horse training help when you need it. She loves continually learning and sharing horse behavior insights and she relates that knowledge to how you should interact with your horses. She’s experienced in dressage and jumping, racing, reining, cow horse, colt-starting, and wilderness riding. You’ve probably seen her regular series in Horse Illustrated, The Trail Rider and many other horse publications. Julie is honored to be the International Spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association and was named Equine Affaire’s Exceptional Equestrian Educator. Julie grew up on the hunter-jumper circuits in Florida but is now at home in the west. She and her husband Rich Moorhead live in the mountains in Salida, Colorado. Both love versatility ranch horse competitions and riding cow-horses. Nose to Tail Body Control (Thurs., 2 pm, Large Arena) Fun Exercises to Improve Your Riding (Thurs., 5 pm, Seminar Hall A) Riding 'Til You’re 90! (Fri., 1 pm, Large Arena) Overcome Fear of Horses and Riding (Fri., 5 pm, Seminar Hall A) Life Lessons That Horses Teach (Sat., noon, Seminar Hall A) Collection & Lateral Movements (Sat., 5 pm, Large Arena) Round Pen Reasoning (Sun., 11 am, Round Pen Arena) Master the Canter; Cueing, Departures and Leads (Sun., 3 pm, Large Arena) See Julie Goodnight at the Goodnight Horsemanship booth 313, 314. With over fifty years of experience, Michael epito- mizes the true meaning of an old-time horseman. From the hunt fields to the Olympic games, Michael has the innate ability to teach every level of riding with enthusi- asm and precision. He has coached top riders such as Beezie Madden, Olympic Gold Medalist, Cheryl Wilson Grace and USEF Medals finalist winner Racy Texel. His coaching resume also includes riding greats Alison Firestone Robitaille, who at just 15 was winner of the ASPCAMaclay and USEF Medal Finals and Young Riders Championship, International Grand Prix Rider, Matt Serini, Elise Haas, winner of the USETWest Coast Finals and Darren Grazia- no, successful professional and five time USEF Champion Pony of the Year winner. This past year, Michael has dedicated his time to clinics with young riders and amateurs. Most recently he traveled to work with students in Lyon, France, Cali- fornia, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin. Currently based in Kansas City, Michael also has students in the Midwest on a weekly schedule and will travel to horse shows during the summer. Hunters & Jumpers; The Difference Explained (Fri., 3 pm, Seminar Hall A) Jumping Gymnastics for Problem Solving (Fri., 5 pm, Equine Arena) Winter Exercises to Prepare for Spring Show Season (Sat., 10 am, Seminar Hall A) Flatwork to Jumping: Connecting the Dots (Sat., noon, Equine Arena) Josh Lyons grew up on a cattle ranch in western Colorado. Training horses was not the family focus at the time; rather, it was earning a living from livestock. Soon his dad switched gears from working cattle to training horses. When John decided to share his training meth- ods with others, Josh was there with him travel- ing the country and riding in the clinics. At age 16, Josh gave weekend clinics, trained horses and conducted private instruction at a facility in Minnesota. It was then he realized that he too had a passion for training horses and a gift for teaching people. After graduating high school, Josh worked full time with his dad. Some years more than 30 weeks were spent on the road conducting symposiums, clinics and expos. At home, Josh assisted with the John Lyons Certification Program, a program he now conducts, manages and owns. The Lyons’ Legacy had begun. In addition to the Colorado facility, the John and Josh Lyons certification program has since expanded and as a result, Josh and his wife and partner, Jana, as well as their sons, have relocated in order to establish a training facility in the greater Nashville, TN area, where they now reside. Whether it be for clinics, the John and Josh Lyons Certification Program, or performance training, Josh and Jana are in constant demand. Currently, the certification program, one of the world’s most sought after equine educational schools, has produced hundreds of certified trainers spread across 43 states and 6 countries. “The most rewarding part of running this school is to see the positive impact our trainers are having on the equine industry.” says Josh. Josh is a regular guest at all the major horse expos, such as: Horse World Expo, Equues America, Equine Affaire, and Equitana. In 2002, he won the highly celebrated “In a Whisper” challenge. In addition to developing his own equine educational prod- ucts, Josh appears on TV and contributes articles for various horse publications. It is a rare person whose life goal is to help others with their horses. His under- standing of the horse’s mind and ability to bring out the best in both riders and horses is unrivaled; still, Josh strives to develop new and better training methods. Behind the barrier in a roping box or changing leads in a reining pattern, Josh demonstrates confidence, knowledge and style with a contagious smile. It is through years of dedicated work that Josh Lyons is one of the most talented horse trainers and clinicians in the world. Understanding the Release; Are We Finished Yet? (Thurs., 1 pm, Large Arena) Show Pen Warm-Up Exercises (Thurs., 5 pm, Equine Arena) Starting the Slide (Fri., noon, Large Arena) Building the ‘Want to’Attitude in Your Horse (Fri., 5 pm, Large Arena) Building the Stop You Need & the One You’ve Always Wanted (Sat., 11 am, Large Arena) Keeping the Fun in Your Training (Sat., 4 pm, Large Arena) Softness vs. Responsiveness (Sun., noon, Large Arena) Fast to Slow Circles; Control Speed through Your Seat (Sun., 2 pm, Large Arena) See Josh Lyons at the Lyons Legacy booth 1119, 1120, 1216, 1217. C arl B ledsoe J ulie G oodnight M ichael H enaghan J osh L yons