Clinton Anderson Exercises

Exercise 1

Desensitizing with the Rope - To be able to throw the lead rope over and around any part of the horse's body without the horse reacting. (1-1)

Exercise 2

Desensitizing with the Stick & String - To be able to throw, slap, and swing the stick and string all over and around the horse without the horse reacting. (1-1)

Exercise 3

Yielding the Hindquarters - To be able to yeild the horse's hindquarters anytime you apply pressure in that direction. (1-2)

Exercise 4A

Backing Up: Method #1 - Tap the air, tap the rope, tap the clip, tap the nose - To tap the air with the stick while using low energy and have the horse respectfully back away. (1-2)

Exercise 4B

Backing Up: Method #2 - Wiggle, wave, walk, and whack - To wiggle the rope, wave the stick, and have the horse back away with a respectful attitude. (1-2)

Exercise 4C

Backing Up: Method #3 - Marching method - To get the horse to be more aware of your hula hoop, your personal space, and to read your body language. (1-3)

Exercise 4D

Backing Up: Method #4 - Disengage and backup - To yeild the horse's hindquarters with body language and to get the horse to yield away from pressure on the nose. (1-3)

Exercise 5

Yielding the Forequarters - To be able to drive the horse's front end around 360 degrees while pivoting on their hindquarters and crossing their front feet over. (1-3)

Exercise 6

Lunging for Respect Stage One - While maintaining an arc in their body and being light on the lead rope, the horse should trot energetically around you and continue circling until asked to yield their hindquarters. (1-4)

Exercise 7

Flexing Their Head and Neck - To be able to lightly pick up on the lead shank and have the horse soften to the pressure and touch their nose to their belly. (1-4)

Exercise 8

Sending Exercise - To be able to send the horse through tight, narrow spaces at both a walk and a trot, and then have the horse yield to face you. (1-4)

Exercise 9

Changing Sides - To get the horse to change sides without having to move your feet. Remember, whoever moves first loses. (2-1)

Exercise 10

Run Up and Rub - To be able to run up to the horse from many angles and have the horse remain standing quietly. (2-1)

Exercise 11

Slap and Tap - To get the horse to stand still while feeling a slapping and tapping sensation all over their body. (2-1)

Exercise 12

Helicopter Exercise - To have the horse stand still while the stick and string are twirled around and above their head. (2-1)

Exercise 13

Changing Eyes - To get the horse to walk around you with an arc in their body, to yield their hindquarters with softness, and to follow the feel of the lead rope. (2-1)

Exercise 14

Slap and Walk - To have the horse stand still when you slap the stick and string on the ground while walking around the horse. (2-1)

Exercise 15A

Touch and Rub - Nose - To get the horse to move away from steady pressure applied to the nose. (2-1)

Exercise 15B

Touch and Rub - Poll - To get the horse to move away from steady pressure on their poll, which will assist in haltering, bridling, etc. (2-1)

Exercise 15C

Touch and Rub - Hindquarters - To get the horse to associate moving their hindquarters from leg pressure of the rider. (2-2)

Exercise 15D

Touch and Rub - Forequarters - To get the horse to yield their forequarters by using your fingertips and steady pressure. (2-2)

Exercise 16

Head Shy Exercise - To have the horse stand still and relax while you wave your arms and hands all around their head and face. (2-2)

Exercise 17

Flexing - Stage 2 - To get an immediate response from your horse when they are asked to flex their head and neck. (2-2)

Exercise 18A

Circle Driving - Stage 1 - To have the horse trot in a circle around you while maintaining a four foot distance with slack in the lead rope. (2-2)

Exercise 18B

Circle Driving - Stage 1 - To be able to circle drive the horse, change directions fluidly and move off in the other direction without stopping your forward movement. (2-2)

Exercise 19

Lunging for Respect - Stage 2 - To have the horse circle around you, stop, pivot on their hindquarters, roll back 180 degrees and go off in the opposite direction. (2-2/3)

Exercise 20

Throwing the Rope and Stopping - To have the horse relax, slow down, and eventually stop while having the rope thrown over their back. (2-3)

Exercise 21

See-Sawing the Rope - To have the horse relax while the rope is "see-sawed" over their back and under their belly. (2-3)

Exercise 22A

Desensitizing with a Plastic Bag - Body - To be able to rub, scratch, and flap the plastic bag all over and around your horse's body. (2-3)

Exercise 22B

Desensitizing with a Plastic Bag - Face - To be able to rub, scratch, and flap the plastic bag all over and around your horse's head and face. (2-3)

Exercise 23

Sidepassing - Stage 1 - To have the horse sidepass away from you down the fence when you create energy with the stick and your body language. (2-4)

Exercise 24

Leading Behind - To have the horse follow behind you while mimicing your actions, including; running, walking and stopping. (2-4)

Exercise 25

Leading Beside - To have the horse follow beside you while mimicing your actions, including; running, walking and stopping. (2-4)

Exercise 26

Turn and Go - To have the horse follow the pressure of you pulling on the lead rope when it is around their hindquarters, and then depart with energy. (2-4)

Exercise 27

C-Pattern Exercise - To get the horse to go from one side of us to the other side of us while we're walking in a straight line. (3-1)

Exercise 28

Flex and Poke - To get the horse to flex off steady pressure. (3-1)

Exercise 29

Line Driving - To drive the horse in a straight line and a circle at a walk, trot, and canter to match your speed and stay beside you. (3-1)

Exercise 30

Stirrup Driving and Flapping - To get the horse to move away from the pressure on their belly and to desensitize flapping of the stirrups. (3-1)

Exercise 31

Lunging - Stage 3 - To have the horse circle you, to keep our feet still, have the horse maintain its gaite and direction until asked to stop. (3-2)

Exercise 32

Out Back Exercise - To be able to move the horses feet backwards away from you in a straight line and then bringing them back to you under light pressure. (3-2)

Exercise 33

Backing Angles - To gain more control of your horse's feet while backing them up. (3-2)

Exercise 34

Changing Eyes - Stage 2 - To have the horse yield their hindquarters 360 degrees, and then come through the gap and yield their forequarters 360 degrees. (3-2)

Exercise 35

Picking You Up Off The Fence - To be able to get up on a fence, pick your hand up and have the horse come up to you, side pass, and let you get on them. (3-2)

Exercise 36

Backing Circles - To be able to backup your horse in circles. (3-3)

Exercise 37

Leading Rollbacks - To be able to get those horse to come up besides, when we stop, they stop, when we backup, they backup, and to be able to pivot the horse on their hindquarters for a 180 degree turn. (3-3)

Exercise 38

Crossing or Jumping Over Obstacles - To get our horse to jump over an obstacle any time we want. (3-3)

Exercise 39

Backing Serpentines - To get the hose to back up in serpentines. (3-3)

Exercise 40

Circle Driving on the Long Line - To get the horse to do the circle driving exercise on the long line. (3-4)

Exercise 41

Lunging Stage 3 on the Long Line - To get the horse to go around us as in lunging stage 3 so they maintain their direction and gaite in a trot and a canter. (3-4)

Exercise 42

Changing Directions on the Long Line - To get the horse to change directions on the long line without breaking their gaite. (3-4)

Exercise 43

Circle Driving Transitions - To get the horse to rate their speed and energy on the circle driving path. Anytime there is a change in pressure on the drive line, they should adjust. (3-4)

Exercise 44

Outback Exercise on the Long Line - To get the horse to back away from us without our feet moving and to return to us without our feet moving. (3-4)

Exercise 45

C-Pattern on the Long Line - To get the horse to the C-Pattern on the Long Line. (3-5)