We've all heard it: the naysayers who believe that dressage horses are overly-sensitive, delicate flowers. Tristan Tucker is on a mission to change that perception and prove that every horse, no matter how sensitive, can be trained to be confident and relaxed in a method he calls the TRT Method. The popular clinician's plan produces a more balanced and flexible horse with no more fear and stress, and you can learn the method with Nancy Lavoie at Ashby Stock Farm in Ashby, Massachusetts, Oct. 15-16.
"Tristan Tucker teaches response training that allows you to maximize your horse's full potential," Lavoie said. "Tristan focuses on building a strong foundation with strong basic fundamentals while enabling the horse to gain an understanding of how to respond to the aids and maintain a relaxed connection regardless of the environment."
On Sept. 18, Tucker stood before a sold-out crowd in the Netherlands. The event attracted 800 people from the Netherlands, the UK, France, Denmark, Germany and Norway. After his hilarious act about the mistakes people make loading their horses unto a trailer, he explained the TRT method and how to introduce the right mindset for learning. One of the demonstrations included Grand Prix rider Jill Huijbregts and her reactive Grand Prix horse, Eventz Zamacho. At the Dutch National Championships, she had to retire during her test because Zamacho was too tense. After Tucker showed the rider how to reduce her horse’s tension level he went from explosiveto accepting the presence of umbrellas, noise and applause—all in the space of 40 minutes.
‘It was worth every penny,” said event participant Remmy von Dam. ”What a great, clear way of explaining to the horse, without making him afraid. What a great sense of humor. And than the end results!” Von Dam explained that there was a 3-year-old stallion who was full of himself and walked all over his owner. “After 20 minutes, he was paying attention to his leader and he knew exactly where to stand.”
The timing of the clinic is perfect to give you the tools you need for show season and you will learn from the trainer the professionals use. Tucker is an international phenomenon who will teach you to communicate with your horse in a way that can trigger an instant transformation. The TRT method is designed to mentally train your horse and uses groundwork to create the changes.
"My message is that every horse can be confident and relaxed," he said. "It just takes the right training."
Lavoie is known for bringing a wide range of clinicians to her farm as well as conducting her own clinics. She specializes in individualizing the content to match the experience and level of each horse and rider.
"It is possible to access many aspects of horsemanship and training in these clinics," she said. "We can incorporate ground work (based on the TRT Method), unmounted work to develop reading body language and rider exercises for better preparation of the seat, legs and upper body coordination, and all aspects of dressage training through the levels to include suppleness, self-carriage, proper use of the aids, developing a good seat, teaching new movements, application of the aids, test riding and more."
She is proud to bring the Tristan Tucker clinic to the area and welcomes auditors. "Tristan is generous with his knowledge, has great communication and confidence with the horses and a wonderful sense of humor," Lavoie said. You can watch her video invitation to the clinic on her website.
Auditors must register ahead of time and there is an online registration form on her website. To register, click here.
Nancy Lavoie's Carousel Dressage Horses is now based year-round at Ashby Stock Farm in Ashby, Massachusetts. The mission of Carousel Dressage Horses is to train horses through the USDF and FEI levels and to help them be the best they can be while providing a relaxed environment for the horses, all within a positive training center for horses and their riders. She is available to teach outside clinics and receive trailer-in lessons and she has some exciting new prospects for sale.
"We teach dressage enthusiasts how to communicate with their horses in a positive and confident way," she said. "We are here to help riders realize that in order to be successful in dressage, one does not need to build tension and pressure in your horse. We strive to be competitive in the show arena with sound and happy horses, because good training is not an accident; it is created purposefully with a determined system.
To learn more about Nancy Lavoie Carousel Dressage Horses where old-fashioned horsemanship meets modern expertise, click here. Like her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nancy.later.