Description of up-coming clinics and retreats:

March 29, 2008     Celebrate the Horse at the T&T Ranch

In 2007 we started the first annual Celebrate the Horse day at the Haines ranch.  It was a great opportunity to showcase our local and regional equine experts.  2008 Presentations: 

• Dr Mark Oman DVM from La Grande - Equine Dentistry - The More You Know...The Longer Your Horse Will Live
• Greg Gommersal from Idaho - Saddle Fit - Riding Western, English, or Bareback...How to Allow Your Horse to Move.     Greg will also have a wonderful display of true Californio/SE Oregon-type trappings, such as rawhide bosals, reins, horse hair mecates, and mohair cinches
• Dr. Matt Kern DVM from Baker City - New and Old Equine Diseases now in Eastern Oregon...West Nile & Pigeon Fever - What is it?  How can we prevent it?
• Alice Trindle from Haines - Demonstrations... (1) Seat, Leg, Hands for All Disciplines  (2) Developing Rhythm in Horse & Rider (3) Get Handy...Working A Horse from A Top Another Horse
•  Nancy's Leather - Nancy will display her fine halter and leads, plus beautiful leather work
• Pamela Roan, CVT from Baker City - Elkhorn Equine HoRspital - Equine Medical Extended Care...Come learn about this new facility, located near Baker City, for medical care and therapy for your horse
• FREE Lunch!  For the first 100 people through the door, we'd like to serve you lunch.  Come early and stay all day!

March 30 - April 3, 2008      Work in Hand Clinic 

Focus & Format:  This is will mark the second year we will offer a 5-day, intensive look at the Work in Hand postures, developing self-carriage and self-confidence in both horse and rider.  Maneuvers we will practice include: Shoulder-in on circle and on a square; Haunches -in and Half-pass postures on the track, on the diagonal, and on a circle; Liberty and on-line work with the surcingle;  You will be offered the opportunity to bring a young horse, perhaps not yet under saddle, as well as an older schooling horse.  We truly TAKE the TIME for both you and the horse to understand.

April 12-16, 2008  & October 11-15, 2008  

5 Day Horsemanship Clinic in Fort Bragg, CA

OK Fort Bragg...Time to go to WORK!  Alice has been to the area for the past several years and now is your chance to get exactly what YOU WANT to WORK ON - on the agenda.  Group riding to music?  Dressage movements such as shoulder-in, renver, half-pass?  Picking up the correct leads?  Doma Vaquera and the traditions of the Spanish?  Work in Hand?  Learning to use the lariat from the round pen to the horse to catching a moving target?  Give us a call with what you would like to develop in your horsemanship! 

April 18-20, 2008   Western Idaho Horse Expo 

Alice will be returning to the Idaho Horse Expo, and with the new format - YOU CAN RIDE WITH HER!  Watch the Idaho Horse Council's web site for all the details! expo.idahohorsecouncil.com/

Kalispel, Monatana  Focus & Format: This will be Alice's first time in the Kalispel area, and she is really looking forward to it!  The day will start with 'kitchen table' discussion, then move on to private lessons with participants.  Late morning will be group lessons with everyone working on perfecting basic ground school maneuvers.  The afternoon will be spent applying the morning skills on board, with lots of group riding and fun!  

May 1-4, 2008    Wilderness First Aid for Horse & Rider

Focus & Format: Join Joan Schaffer from Missoula, Montana, as she presents her certification course on First Aid for both horse and rider.  Joan's program has received high mark reviews from the American Heart Association, Backcountry Horsemen, and many other riding groups throughout the west.  Alice will join the group for horsemanship skill development and safety with horses in the afternoon sessions.  To be held at the T&T Ranch in Haines, Oregon.

May 16 - 18, 2008    3-Day Introduction to Alice Clinic

Emmett, Idaho  Focus & Format: This is a great way to check out Alice's principles and discover the wonderful teacher she has become!  The format will include morning discussions and quite a bit of ground work and work-in-hand practice.  Afternoon sessions will be filled with riding and applying the great skills you learned in the morning.  "Alice dealt with my fears with compassion, and gave me the tools to move past allowing those fears to inhibit my relationship with my horse."  (Comment from a 2007 participant)

May 24 & 25, 2008                               Trainers Workshop

Focus & Format:  Many people are interested in starting their young horses under saddle, but few people have taken the time to truly prepare themselves and the horse for a positive experience.  Join Alice for weekend as she shares and demonstrates such topics as: Mindful use of the round pen; Use of the lariat, flag, whip and other tools; Working from atop another horse; Proper ponying - not dragging!  Tools to evaluate a horse for purchase.  This will be a great opportunity for anyone planning on taking the Colt to Horsemanship clinic, June 2-10, 2008, or for folks looking to expand their colt training skills and awareness.

May 29-31, 2008    3-Day Principles of Classical Dressage

Focus & Format: Developing the basics of the Classical Training steps is critical for any discipline.  Alice will help riders to first work WITH their horses to develop a willing communication, and apply those concepts to developing rhythm, timing, balance, schwung, straightness, connection, engagement, and the beginnings of collection.  Work in hand, driving on long lines, surcingle work, and attention to riders posture.  A great way to prepare you and your horse for a summer of success!

June 2-10, 2008                       6-9 Day Colt to Horsemanship Clinic

July 14 - 19, 2008                    6-Day Colt to Horsemanship Clinic

Focus & Format: There simply is not a better opportunity around to put a soft, willing start on your young horse, or to re-start with the proper foundation.  The focus is on taking the time for the horse and human to understand how to work together, and to offer a variety of situations that allow the human to become a good leader.  Round pen work; Lariat, ropes, flags, tarps, car wash, bridges for obstacles; Working from atop another horse; Herd work; Surcingle & liberty;  Format: Alice will work with the young horses in the morning, while everyone observes, for at least the first few days.  In the afternoon, students work the same skills on their schooling/older horse.  Later in the week, the students are working with and riding their colts.  Fun...Safety...and Understanding!

Focus & Format: We will focus on developing rhythm and timing, and begin requesting greater collection, straightness, and engagement in our horses.  Of course, posture for the humans will be a key element!  The format will allow for each person to receive at least one (1) private lesson from Alice for each participant, where she will focus on any area you wish.

LOCATION & CONTACTS: Nancy Bender (406-363-6818; nancysl@montana.com)

In Hamilton, Montana 

September: Building on the Basics - Lateral and Herd Work: This is a continuation of the June clinic described below.  We will be working on lateral movements, developing a flowing and effortless leg-yield.  Plus, more herd work or quadrille or military-type riding to music.   This clinics is a perfect continuation of Alice’s presentation and understanding of ground skill games, herd situations, and dressage movements all applied to improve your riding experiences. Basic maneuvers include, but are not limited to shoulder-in, counter-bends, and work-in-hand. It will include socializing and building on teamwork with your horse by applying military-type riding maneuvers and patterns. We will meet in the mornings for kitchen table discussion of the specific principles of the day, then apply those principles in ground and riding exercises. Afternoon sessions will entail more riding in group situations and games to build on the partnership established in the morning sessions.

Morning: Trail Safety and FUN!   Trail riding is one of the most rewarding activities we can do with our horse. And yet, there are probably only a handful of people and their horses’ that you really want to ride with! Join Alice as she talks about equipment, and how to prepare your horse for a safe & fun trail ride. You will practice the "15 minute Warm-up", how to control all four corners of your horse and lots of riding over obstacles, opening gates, & surprising occurrences!

Afternoon: Posture and More!  Our primary communication tool with horses is through body language. We need to develop clear & consistent messages through our focus, balance, posture, & timing. Alice will lead you through a series of exercises to supple you & your horse to prepare for good posture in the saddle. When we get out of the way of the horses, it’s amazing how easily they accomplish our slightest suggestion! Must be able to walk, trot & canter.

Focus & Format: With the current interest in Trail Competitions, many people are wanting to get into the fun!  Unfortunately, the opportunity to present the human and their horse with situations that allow for practice over, through, and around obstacles that they may encounter in Trail Classes is limited.  Join Alice as she leads horse & rider teams over bridges, through water obstacles, under car washes, over logs, dragging objects, and opening gates!  All accomplished in a willing manner, with the horse looking to their human for leadership.

August 11 - 16, 2008

Cows, Mountains, and FUN Retreat 

Six full days of treating yourself and your horse to ranch life.  We will do some schooling in the morning, aimed at developing a soft and willing partnership in both human and horses.  Then the afternoon will be off to the mountains, or out in the field & pen to play with cows.  We may even have a REAL JOB for you to do one day, moving cows in a mountain pasture.  The bunkhouse, with all its comforts will be waiting in the evening, along with the great food Susan has become famous for sharing!  Come immerse yourself in the culture of Eastern Oregon for a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual experience.

September 15-20, 2008   

ANNUAL WOMEN'S RETREAT

This 6-day retreat has become an annual favorite, with gals returning year after year!  We play with cows, jump logs in the mountains, and tell great stories in the evening around the fire.  Life-long friends are made, and everything that is shared in Haines...Stays in Haines!  This year we will focus on the use of the round pen and lariat as a tools to help our horses get braver with self-carriage, and help the humans to multi-task, and improve our riding.  Learning to think, focus, and feel for and with the horse, and developing our "Horseman's Protocol" into a habit.  IT IS SO MUCH FUN...GALS, PLEASE COME JOIN US IN HAINES!

September 15-20, 2008               Doma Vaquera Clinic

Focus & Format: This will be a fun weekend to learn about the traditions of the Doma Vaquera - The Spanish Cowboy.  The clinic will be team-taught by Ami McHugh and Alice.  You will learn from Ami, performing on her beautiful Andalusion stallions, the traditions of the Doma Vaquera equipment, basico patterns, and the garrocha.  Alice will work with the group to develop a willing partnership with their horses, both on the ground and in the saddle, to develop the basic movements.  Everyone will dance with the garrocha, and ride a basico pattern.  Check out Ami's web site at: www.jackassmtranch.com

*Non-refundable deposit is due one-month prior to first day of class. Total payment required first day of course/class/forum/workshop. No make-up for missed sessions.