CLINICS - Horsemanship, Ground manners, Trail skills, ...
RAFTER DIAMOND K LIVESTOCK
TEAMBUILDING
Your Horse and You

Would you and your horse like to operate as a team?
Effective teamwork requires effective communication

Here are some samples of communication issues between you and your horse:
Does your farrier have a tired back when he is done with your horse?
Does your horse stop without rein pressure when you "quit riding"?
Does your horse come to be caught or do you have to go get him?
Does your horse stand quietly when you are admiring the view?
Will your horse load in a trailer without you leading him in?
Can you worm your horse without worming yourself?
Are you having problems with flying lead changes?
Does your horse move when you are getting on?
Does your horse get strong on a line of jumps?
Do you lead your horse - or does he lead you?
Does your horse lead and back up softly?
Does your horse pull back when tied?
Does your colt need a first ride?
Does your horse respect you?

WE CAN HELP!

Any one of these symptoms indicate you could use some help with your horse.
One on one coaching or will design custom clinics for your group at your site.

When we bought our first paint stallion he had an "attitude".  It wasn't a good attitude, and in fact, he was becoming dangerous.  We successfully took
him back out on the show circuit and introduced him to cattle work and pleasure trail riding - not the arena stuff.  We can take visitors into his pen and
we are hand breeding mares using only a rope halter.  Ken is helping him to develop respect, NOT FEAR, for the human using only basic groundwork
skills.

The horse is a herd animal.  They have a keen understanding of leadership and respect. In any team, there is a leader, if you are not the leader, then your
horse will be.  We can help you understand what it means to be a leader, not a dominator.

As you become the leader of your team, you will develop effective communication with your horse.  A "Horse Whisperer"?  Nope - the horse is a
sensitive creature - he doesn't need you to whisper to him.  The only part of our body that is as sensitive as the skin of a horse is our fingertips.  Horses
are so sensitive to body language, your mere thoughts cause you to move in a way your horse can understand.  Don't believe me - come and see.  Your
job is to DO LESS each time until it looks like you are doing nothing.

Is your colt ready to start?  Do you have control of his hindquarters from the ground?  If not, then you are taking your chances.  If you don't have
control of his hindquarters, then you don't have control of his mind.  We can help you to connect your reins to his feet through his mind

Ken or Kerri-Lee 780-449-0749 or e-mail horses@rafterdiamondk.com

We can customize a clinic for your needs at your location or at ours.

Check out a past clinic - pics and discussion
Enter starting street address:

City, State or Zipcode:
Driving directions to
50542 Range Road 225

From North Edmonton
Take Hwy 16 to Hwy 21 and turn
south toward Camrose.  Just over
the hill after the ESSO, turn left on
Township Road 510.  Go east 2
miles to Range Road 225.  Turn
right and go south 1/2 mile.  Turn
right and then left into our driveway.

From South Edmonton
Take Whitemud Drive or Anthony
Henday to Hwy 14 East.  At Hwy 21,
turn south toward Camrose and
follow the above instructions.

From Devon area
Take Hwy 60 East to Range Road
225 (which is the next cross road
AFTER you have crossed over Hwy
21).  Turn left on Range Road 225
and go north 1.5 miles.  Turn left
and then left into our driveway.

From Beaumont
Take Secondary 625 East to Range
Road 225.  Turn left and go north
1.5 miles.  Turn left and then left
into our driveway.
OR
Take Township Road 510 east to
Range Road 225.  Turn right and
go south 1/2 mile.  Turn right and
then left into our driveway.

From Leduc
Take Rollyview Road or Airport
Road to Hwy 21.  Turn left and go
north on Hwy 21 to Secondary 625.  
Turn right and go east 2 miles to
Range Road 225.  Turn left and go
north 1.5 miles.  Turn left and then
left into our driveway.
Rafter Diamond K Livestock
Ken and Kerri-Lee Schmuland
50542 Range Road 225
Leduc County AB T0B 3M1

Web presence:
www.rafterdiamondk.com
horses@rafterdiamondk.com
Facebook group - Rafter Diamond K Livestock

Telephone contact:
Home: 780-449-0749
Fax: 780-449-0761

Ken cell: 780-915-3026
Kerri-Lee cell: 780-915-3027
Tamara cell: 780-221-3028

We are in Leduc County, Alberta, Canada
20 minutes southeast of Edmonton, Alberta
15 minutes south of Sherwood Park, Alberta
12 minutes east of Beaumont, Alberta
30 minutes northeast of Leduc, Alberta
5 minutes west of Northern Bear Golf Course

We are two miles east of Highway 21 between
Township road 510 to the north and
Secondary 625 to the south.
FROM THE GROUND UP

Your horse is learning from you every minute you are with him.
Are you aware of what he is learning?

What you do with your horse on the ground can really build your relationship with him and translate to a better
experience together whether you are riding along the trails or looking to perfect the timing of your requests for
advanced precision work.

Preparing your horse to be caught before you get to his head.
Would you like to be able to do liberty work with your horse?  How do you get started.
Exercises you can do away from the trailer to prepare your horse to get in the trailer.
From just a few minutes together to all your time - there is so much you can do on the ground.

Are you taking the time to train your young horse from the ground while he is not yet physically mature?
If your horse is under 4 years of age, you should read the following article by Dr. Deb Bennett
The Ranger Piece - Maturation of the Horse

Saturday
Time on the ground is well invested to help you understand what the feet and body are doing.
Once you understand feet and body, then you have a better idea of what you are feeling in the saddle and when to ask
for things so your horse can give them to you easily.
Horse must be manageable on a halter in a group situation.
Rope halters with minimum 12 foot lead preferred.  We can loan you one if needed.
Sunday
Simple things you can do to enhance your riding experience.
Translating your ground work into skills in the saddle.
Bridle Horse Development
Every Second Sunday
Call 780-449-0749 to confirm which Sunday we are on

Developing skills from the ground and from the saddle that will
prepare you and your horse to ride "Straight Up" in a spade bit - if that is your desire
This work will allow you to finesse your relationship with your horse, regardless of your
actual equine discipline


We ride from 9 am through 12 am and then head to the house for lunch and conversation regarding the session.



Cost is $150 for the session for riders.
$40 for auditors
- we often hand you a horse to try some of the ground exercises.

Dress for the weather. We have a covered arena, but it is not heated.

Room for living quarters trailers. There is also a nice little bed and breakfast just around the corner from us.

Call us at 780-449-0749 to book your spot.

Bring your lunch.  Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water will be available.

Please bring buckets for your horses.  Hay and/or hay cubes and fresh water are available.

TRANSITIONS

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO ASK FOR A TRANSITION?

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail – BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

When we ask our horses for a transition we need to “prepare them to the position for the transition - ”.the transition will
take care of itself.  Our job is the preparation – then get out of the way – so the horse can take care of the transition.  
Sometimes the mind might be ready, but the feet are not and sometimes the feet might be ready but the mind is not.

This is fun to develop because you feel an incredible sense of accomplishment when you get it.
It really puts you in tune with your horse, whether you are trail riding, working, showing for pleasure or just enjoying time

To develop a good walk/trot transition, start with the back up.  You need to be able to back your horse up for at least 4
steps on only one rein, with a little float in the rein and you should be able to do the one rein backup for 4 steps with either
rein.  When this is working for you ride your horse forward for 5 strides at the walk, then slow down the left front and stop
the right front at the height of its’ flight and put it in reverse.  When you can go from forward to reverse with no hesitation,
you may have already figured out that you are essentially trotting in reverse.  A correct backup is a diagonal gait in reverse
with the right front and left hind and the left front and right hind moving together.

So how does this affect a walk to trot transition – When the horse is walking, after the right front moves, the left hind
moves.  To take the transition, stop the right front in mid-flight. When the left hind catches up release the front and move
into the right diagonal trot with your body as your horse takes the transition you set him up for.  Simple as that.

All of this takes practice, feel and timing.  It won’t be perfect and it won’t be immediate – but as long as you keep thinking,
feeling and trying you and your horse can be consistent in getting correct diagonals
every time.  

Ken says be patient, hang in there.  Rome wasn’t built in a day.  But if you want some help - come on out and let's play.


The day will start at 9 am and go until the last question has been asked.
Cost is $150 plus GST per day.  Come for one or come for both.
$25 per day for auditors.

Dress for the weather. We have a covered arena, but it is not heated.

Room for living quarters trailers. There is also a nice little bed and breakfast just around the corner from us.

Call us at 780-449-0749 to book your spot.

Bring your lunch.  Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water will be available.

Please bring buckets for your horses.  Hay and/or hay cubes and fresh water are available.
Pens/outdoor stalls can be made available if you wish with advance notice.
FOUNDATIONAL HORSEMANSHIP

"I've been taking lessons for years.  How come nobody ever told me that before?"

Now is your chance.


MAY 25 & 26, 2019

Ever wonder why your horse is better on one lead than the other?  Have you thought about when is best
to ask for a gait transition?  Does your horse resist the back up?  Is your horse refusing jumps?  Does
your horse get uptight when other horses leave the arena?  What about creeks or puddles?

Is there anything else that is bothering you or your horse?


Using Evidence Based Horsemanship ideas Ken will present coping strategies.

Each day starts at 9 am and will go until the last question has been asked.
Cost is $150 plus GST per day.  
You will get the most out of being here for the weekend, but if you can only make it for one day, you are
welcome.
$30 per day for auditors or $50 for the weekend plus GST.

Dress for the weather. We have a covered arena, but it is not heated.

Room and power for living quarters trailers.
There is also a nice little bed and breakfast just around the corner from us.

Call us at 780-449-0749 to book your spot.

Bring your lunch.  Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water will be available.

Please bring buckets for your horses.  Hay and/or hay cubes and fresh water are available.
Pens/outdoor stalls can be made available if you wish with advance notice.
SOME PAST CLINIC TOPICS
CAN BE CUSTOM DESIGNED FOR YOUR GROUP