NWNHC is excited to welcome back our longtime friend and clinician extraordinaire, Dave Ellis for an amazing clinic that will launch you on your Cowboy Dressage journey and help you refine your finesse.
Dave is a 6-star Parelli Master Instructor and “Recommended” clinician of the Cowboy Dressage World Professional Association.
Cowboy Dressage is a riding discipline who’s guiding principle is Soft Feel. It is a wordless, intimate and spiritual communication between horse and rider. Soft feel is not only sending messages but having the sensitivity and awareness to feel and receive the message the horse sends back. The timing and use of the Release, Relaxation, Preparation and Execution are the basic fundamentals of Soft Feel.
Dave Ellis performing a Cowboy Dressage test.
Cowboy Dressage is for everyone, all breeds and all levels of horsemanship. You can show or just enjoy enhancing your skills and connection with your horse. All you need is a willingness to learn.
Northwest Natural Horsemanship Center 32925-A SE 46th St. Fall City, Wash.
The Clinic
This clinic is open to students who embrace and practice natural horsemanship and Soft Feel techniques. There are only 12 rider spots available. Auditors are welcome to watch and learn.
Day 1 starts with playing critical ground games that will enhance your horse’s responsiveness while riding. You will continue with understanding the need for straightness and creating it in your horse. Next up is using preparation, timing, and balance to create smooth, controlled gait transitions.
Day 2 focuses on practicing and improving skills learned the previous day and learning how to move your horses’s feet when and where you want them for turns on the forehand and on the haunches. You will also discover the techniques necessary to teach your horse the lope. We will end with an abbreviated Cowboy Dressage practice test, chosen by you. Each rider will ride the test and then get support, coaching and feedback.
Prerequisites
Students and horses should have advanced riding experience and can work at a walk and trot. Experience at the lope/cantor is valuable to do more advanced Cowboy Dressage patterns, but not necessary. No experience with Cowboy Dressage or traditional Dressage is needed.
Auditing 1-Day $65 2-Day Pass $125 At The Door $75 per day Pre-registration requested. Discount for groups of five or more. (Contact us for details and pricing.)
Horse Boarding
Overnight board: $35 per night There is limited stall and paddock boarding at the Northwest Natural Horsemanship Center, so register early. No charge for trailer tying during the day.
Nearby hotels and camping: There are several nearby hotels and Airbnbs. Camping is available at Northwest Natural Horsemanship Center. Request information on registration form below.
