FOSH will no longer officially recommend clinicians. Instead, the web site will list clinicians who follow FOSH sound principles in natural, flat shod and sound training techniques. Clinicians on this list must also be members of FOSH.

The sound, gaited horse clinicians below are listed as a service to FOSH members.  On occasion, FOSH is contacted by individuals searching for a gaited horse TRAINER.  One of the issues with referring individuals to trainers is the challenge of tracking the trainer’s methods on a continual basis, etc.  FOSH decided that offering the names of sound, gaited horse CLINICIANS would actually be more helpful.  A clinician may also be a trainer; however, there are some distinguishing attributes that a clinician should possess.

A clinician is an individual who has achieved a level of knowledge and expertise that they can publicly communicate to others so those individuals can train and work with their own horse.  Their communications are such that auditors and participants can discern they are receiving sound, humane training information.  Participants can then decide what advice would be best suited for their horse and situation.
 

A clinician is someone who has taken the time to study under/with several other trainers/clinicians for an extended period of time and long enough to be able to transmit to audiences.  Some have several assistants with them demonstrating their points of interest and the "how to's" of their demos.  A clinician incorporates others' methodologies into a personal philosophy, and at their clinics, gives credence to those others who have influenced them.  At the same time, they demonstrate how their personal baton waves a bit differently or is in sync with their mentors; and then can really explain why.

Do some clinicians train horses?  Yes; however, that is not their primary source of revenue—educating humans to work with and train their own horses is their specialty.  Although these clinicians may not be located in your back yard, some of them appear at expos and clinics throughout the year in the United States and other countries allowing you to listen to their training information firsthand to determine if it is a good fit for you and your horse.

FOSH realizes that you may not agree with all the advice heard at a clinic; however, that is the nature of training animals with distinct personalities.  Before any clinician was listed below, at least two FOSH Directors and/or Executive Advisory Committee members attended a clinic to ascertain these individuals were sound, gaited horse clinicians.  These clinicians are also FOSH members.  Remember, every individual, horse and situation is different, and results are never guaranteed for an individual or a horse.

Finally, FOSH hopes you have fun with your horse as you travel the training path.

Please contact Cris Van Horn at editor@fosh.info if you wish to be considered for listing as a clinician on the FOSH website.  Cris will be your Point of Contact throughout the application process listed below:

FOSH places importance on education regarding the humane care, training, and treatment of all gaited horses for their emotional, mental and physical well-being.  FOSH will only support flat shod or barefoot horses, and will never endorse any event that uses stacks and/or chains as action devices, nor any mechanical, chemical or artificial means to modify the natural gaits of the horse.

FOSH’s main areas of focus for gaited horses are:  (1)  Educating people on sound training principles;  (2)  Supporting sound shows, events & activities; and  (3)  Working to end the cruel abuse of soring.

As a member benefit, FOSH publishes the Sound Advocate magazine bi-monthly.  In 2011, we started our “Meet A Clinician” series in the Sound Advocate, spotlighting gaited horse clinicians listed on the FOSH website. 

As an additional member benefit, FOSH lists clinicians who follow FOSH sound principles in natural, flat shod and sound training techniques on our Website. 

FOSH Procedure To Be Listed As a Clinician on the FOSH Website:

Clinicians desiring to be listed as a gaited horse clinician on the FOSH website must be current members of FOSH and complete the following procedure.

1. The prospective clinician completes the FOSH CLINICIAN QUESTIONNAIRE.
   
   
2. The prospective clinician submits their available marketing, educational and training materials that they sell/distribute to the public for two (2) FOSH Board members or one (1) Board member and one (1) Executive Advisory Committee (EAC) member to review.
   
   
3. Two clinics must be attended by two FOSH Board members or one FOSH Board member and one EAC member.  If only one BOD/EAC member is able to attend a live clinic because of geographical hardship, then videotapes of two separate clinics must be submitted.
   
   
4. Based on the outcome of the above, the two FOSH Board/EAC members give a summary of the material reviewed and clinic(s) attended to the Board and make a recommendation to the Board for acceptance or rejection with pertinent rationale.
   
   

If approved for listing on the website, prospective clinicians should submit a short summary of their clinic program and format for the website.  . Information may be sent by e-mail to editor@fosh.info or by regular mail to the FOSH address; 6614 Clayton Rd. #105, St. Louis, MO 63117.

Clinicians

1. Bucky & Nancy Sparks, Cortez, Colorado
Title: "B.L.E.S.S. Your Walking Horse"
www.blessyourhorse.com
Contact:  Walknthedogranch@aol.com or dumbplumbers@yahoo.com

Short Summary of Clinic - The training methods that are used are deeply influenced by classical training and dressage which over time have been adapted to the unique needs of the Walking Horse. The goal is to optimize the flat walk and running walk through achieving Balance, Looseness, Engagement, Softness and Soundness, "B.L.E.S.S." The approach to training is device and cruelty free, relying on sound training principles, which are easily learned and practiced. Clinic Specifics: 2 Day clinics, Maximum 12 horse rider combinations.


2. Diane Sept, Denver, Pennsylvania
Title: "Back To Basics Equine Awareness and Connected Riding for Gaited Horses"
Contact:  Dianesept@aol.com

Short Summary of Clinic - For the gaited horse, the approach addresses the bio-mechanics of the horse/rider. The students learn how to allow the riding of the horse to be easier with less effort and a better result. This allows the horse an easier more balanced way of self-carriage which lends to a more willing horse, a smoother horse, a healthier horse.  By learning to ride in balance, our bodies will be able to let go of tensions that might be causing us or our horse’s discomfort. Clinic Specifics: Diane will customize the clinic day/days to what the group would like. Also, it is very common that clinic venues offer a day of lessons prior or post clinic.


3. David Lichman, Sacramento, California. 
Title: " Gaited Horses Naturally"
www.DavidLichman.com
Contact:  david@davidlichman.com

Short Summary of Clinic - How Parelli Natural HorseManShip applies to gaited horses.  After meeting Pat Parelli, and learning how to interact with horses in a more natural way, David developed these techniques in order to give the gaited horse a better deal, and to give the gaited horse owner a better relationship and far better results.   Clinic specifics:  Visit  www.DavidLichman.com for more info on various levels of clinics offered.


4. Anita Howe, Napoleon, Missouri
 Title:  Natural Training for Natural Gait
www.howetheywalk.com
Contact:  ajh@howetheywalk.com

Short Summary of Clinic:  Real gait comes from balance, posture and impulsion of a horse, never from what’s nailed on his feet." Applying the bio-mechanics of gait, Anita has developed solutions for Tennessee Walking Horses and other gaited breeds that consistently correct and improve balance, gait and athleticism without the use of any artificial or mechanical influences, allowing natural talent and brilliance to shine through.  As a trainer, clinician and author of Freedom To Gait, she has a growing reputation for producing horses that are soft, more consistent, happier and more correct in their movement, while teaching riders to better understand and utilize the fundamentals of gait bio-mechanics to help their horses.  Anita will help you improve your relationship with your horse and the gait he’s giving you naturally.  Clinic Specifics:  One or two day clinics covering the basics, tools of gait correction, and refining the gaits.


5. Buddy Brewer, Greenback, Tennessee
Title:  Supernatural Horsemanship…Above and Beyond
Contact: jbgreenback@aol.com
 
Short Summary of Clinic – Buddy is a Certified Chris Irwin Trainer & Coach in Groundwork & Riding. The methods are based on understanding predator/prey psychology, reading equine body language, learning fluent human/horse communication and achieving balance by working with the biomechanics of movement. Learn to think, read and speak “Horse” to gain mutual respect and trust. Transform a “natural” horse into a “supernatural” horse whose body, mind and spirit are ready, willing and able to learn. Creating a better partnership, both on the ground and in the saddle, creates a better performance.  Clinic specifics:  Clinics are customized to the needs of each individual participant/horse with an emphasis on personal coaching.

6. Larry Whitesell, Baxter, Tennessee
Classical Training for The Gaited Horse
www.whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com
Contact:  info@whitesellgaitedhorsemansip.com
 
Short Summary of Clinic:  Larry Whitesell is a fulltime gaited horse clinician who teaches classical horsemanship for the gaited horse to all levels of riders on their own horses. Using Classical training, Larry teaches the rider to teach the horse to rebalance itself into a relaxed frame of natural collection, engaging the hind legs to achieve gait, getting relaxation so the rider can teach a correct response. By making things better for the horse, the horse will be smoother, safer and more dependable for riders. Larry continues his education each year from classical dressage and applied equine biomechanics instructors. He travels the U.S. and Canada doing clinics and equine expositions.  Clinic specifics:  Three day or five day clinics.  Five day clinics are limited to eight riders.


7. Brenda Imus, Kennedy, New York
Title:  Training and Tack that are better for the horse, easy on the rider…
www.gaitsofgold.com
Contact:  training@gaitsofgold.net.
 
Short Summary of Clinic:  Brenda Imus is a professional author, inventor, breeder, trainer, and gaited horse clinician. Her equestrian titles include From the Ground Up: Horsemanship for the Adult Rider, (named by Equus magazine as one of the top five new equestrian titles in 1992); Heavenly Gaits: The Complete Guide to Gaited Riding Horses; Gaits of Gold: Selecting, Fitting, and Training the Naturally Gaited Horse; and The Gaited Horse Bible.  Clinics cover gait recognition, bitting, saddle fitting, conformation, correct equitation, training exercises & techniques.  Clinic specifics:  Three day format with lecture, evaluations on the ground and mounted work.

8. Nya Bates, Melba, Idaho
Title:  Bates Gaited Horses
www.batesgaitedhorses.com
Contact:  rocknya@msn.com

Short Summary of Clinic:  Nya has trained Tennessee Walking Horses for trail, show, field trail and hunting for almost 40 years and shown flat shod TWHs extensively in California and Oregon before moving to Idaho. She trains horses with consistency, kindness and according to the FOSH sound training principles. She trains walking horses for the rider who enjoys the natural running walk and also trains other gaited breeds such as Paso Finos, Peruvian Paso's, Rocky Mountain Horses, Kentucky Mountain Horses, Five-Gaited Saddlebreds and Missouri Foxtrotters.  She teaches the rider to work with the horse using consistent responses and kindness.  Nya educates the rider to recognize each horse's natural gait tendency and teaches the rider to understand the cues the horse has been taught or teaches the rider how to educate the horse to the rider’s cues.  Clinic Specifics:  Clinics are set up on a private 'one-on-one' lesson format and generally are set up for 90 minutes per rider.  Each rider is able to focus upon their specific goals for their horse including, but not limited to, recognizing/achieving/development of gaits, improving riding skills, tack fit, safety and horsemanship.  The number of days depend upon the number of riders participating.