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INSTRUCTION
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Longeing is mandatory for riding
students to help teach centering, balance, transitions
and the like for both horse and rider. |
MRM-pageant-horsemanship |
Our
instruction is primarily offered in a workshop approach,
in small groups, in order to build session to session for
a solid understanding for both horse and handler. Each class
is taught with hands on experience in safety, time, flexibility
and give and take.
Clinics
are for larger groups with the intention of showing examples
and ideas for thought and application. These clinics are
for information and example but do not take the place of
our workshops.
We
offer a ground class for those who want to begin their journey
and for those who want to update and improve on their current
skills and knowledge. This class offers instruction and experience
in all aspects, from choosing a suitable horse to hoof and
health care, grooming, gear needed and how to use it and
most every basic of knowledge.
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Jeff-and-Sue-teaching |
Riding-starts-young |
Our
Ground Training Classes are given to apply basic ground control
in and out of the round pen. Teaching a horse to respect
the handler is our number one priority for safety and success!
We not only demonstrate ground control, each handler also
works horses to learn how to read, move and direct them under
his choosing.
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Prep-talk-before-a-ride
with Todd Miller |
Training-and-instruction |
"The
Thompson's single handedly saved my love and life as a
horseman. I came to Montana in 2002 with my wife, Wendy,
who grew up with horses and missed them dearly...so I got her
back into them. I've always wanted to ride, so here was the
perfect opportunity. Long story short, I rode without learning
how, and ended up below and behind the horse twice...fortunately
without injury. Thank God, we met Jeff and Sue...they taught us
everything...from the ground up, before putting me back on a
horse and when they did, it was on a dear departed friend,
"Uncle Bo". They put the confidence back in me, before I ever
lost it. 'Till the day I die, when I'm asked how I learned to
ride and manage horses...my answer will be the Thompson's from
Montana.Thanks for everything, and God Bless!" Todd Miller,
Wyoming 06'
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Bailey-Jo-showing-Dandy |
Dandy-doing-what-she-does-best |
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“I have known Jeff and Sue Thompson for a long time and
just recently had Jeff ride my horse KP. Having Jeff
and Sue work with him helped me to have confidence to
continue my training with him and their evaluation of my
horse was very helpful. I am looking forward to having
more lessons with them too! When I left KP with you I
was confident that he would be well cared for. It is
important to me to know that he would not be mishandled
in any way. I appreciate you talking with me about him,
sending pictures of his progress and explaining what we
will be doing in lessons. I know that you care about
the horses. ”
Thank you, Yvonne Hanson, Great Falls, MT
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| Julie and Gus |
"Having
been a horse owner most of my life, I have taken
many riding lessons from various instructors. My
Percheron gelding "Gus" and I had gone to numerous
trainers over 7 years, including dressage classes at
college. NOTHING clicked until we began training
with Sue! Not only did it work for me as a rider,
but it also worked for "Gus".
Sue's training
has brought out an amazing, agile, responsive,
willing horse in “Gus” and a confident, steady rider
out of me. In our few short years together - we
have accomplished more than I could have imagined!
Jeff and Sue have
also helped me tremendously with my new project, a
Friesian stud colt. My first stallion and my life
long dream. My respect for the Thompson's is such
that I knew I could purchase this colt, because
their expertise and skill would bring me a wonderful
stallion and the training I need in order to handle
a stallion.
Jeff and Sue are
kind, accommodating and encouraging with their
training techniques and teach the basics and
fundamentals until those are solid and then they
move on to the next step. For these gifts I am truly
grateful, in fact, if it weren't for Jeff and Sue, I
would not have purchased my Friesian stallion and
could not be where I am today with "Gus". Thanks
Guys! "
Julie Davis,
Colorado
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| Gus
and Nikko playing |
There are
lots of good horse trainers out there, but Jeff and
Sue Thompson are excellent! After winning the Red Lodge
Home
of Champions Queen title in 98’ our daughter, Kristy,
ran in Jan. of 2000, she ran for Miss Rodeo MT, coming
in 2nd Runner-Up. We first met Sue at this pageant, as
she was running the Kiddie Rodeo at Circuit Finals in
Great Falls. We just "clicked", and when
Kristy decided to run for Miss Rodeo MT again in 2001,
we contacted
Sue about helping Kristy fine-tune her riding for the
horsemanship portion of the pageant. Kristy had been
taking riding lessons since she was small, including
riding under an Olympic eventing coach and also a very
successful trainer of reining and barrel racing futurity
horses. Kristy is a Level 2 certified ski instructor,
so she recognizes a good sports instructor when she
finds one- To impress Kristy takes a lot. Saying she
was impressed
with Sue is an understatement! By the end of her first
lesson with Sue, Kristy was hugely impressed, amazed,
and excited about how Sue diagnosed and got to the
root of even the tiniest errors that had escaped the
notice
of other coaches and trainers. Kristy went on to win
the horsemanship portion of the pageant by a huge margin
over the next closest competitor as well as the title
of Miss Rodeo MT 2001.
Over the course
of that year, the Thompson’s
were always available to help, both with coaching Kristy
for the horsemanship for Miss Rodeo America as well
as lending her their wonderful stallion, “Codys
Royal Cisco”. You'll not find a nicer "gentleman-stud" than “Cisco” anywhere
on the planet!!! I have witnessed first-hand how his
great disposition, as well as his talented athleticism
and excellent conformation are passed on to his progeny.
Kathe Mensik-Red Lodge, MT
Miss Rodeo Montana Inc. Exec. Board Member and Officer
Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo Royalty Director
and Kids' Events Chairman
Certified Professional Ski Instructor for 35 years
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| Kathe on Fury 06 |
Riding
classes are broken down into the following categories:
Beginner
levels I, II, III- Students learn basics in balance,
footfalls and give and take. Walk and jog only. |
| Intermediate
levels I, II, III- Technical skills that improve ones
horsemanship. Walk, jog, trot (posting) and lope. Learn
rhythm, tempo and suppleness. |
| Advanced
levels I, II, III- Teaching balance for riding on contact,
collection, impulsion, and straightness. Lope, canter,
and lead changes, showing and competing. |
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colt classes teach basic beginning skills that are needed
to read, evaluate and direct the unskilled youngster.
By exposing the handler to many young horses, we teach
what the horse needs in many situations. Control is learned
through decisive communication in a safe and successful
manner. |
INSTRUCTION
RATES
Hourly
rates are: Private @ $30, Group @ $25, Family @ $40
Ground
Class Rates
Ground
class is 8 sessions over four weeks-
Entire
class:
Adult $200.00, children under 18 year’s old, $50.00/person additional.
Includes book, instruction, demonstrations and tests.
Family
rate:
$300.00 Includes book, instruction, demonstrations and tests.
Individual classes are: adult $25.00/session, child $15.00/session.
Includes instruction, demonstrations and tests.
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