| Kerry Kuhn is a horse training clinician
focused on the human/horse relationship. His clinics are designed to help people
of all levels and disciplines improve communication, confidence,
and response with their equine companions.
With the knowledge and experience Kerry has gained,
he hopes to teach riders how to become better partners
with their horses. By learning to listen to their horses,
a rider becomes aware that leadership is what their horse
needs. Being in the best place at the best time develops
the rider as a good leader. This is what Kerry strives
to teach.
Kerry is an accomplished
clinician who has given demonstrations nationwide.
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Kerry with his wife, Misti, & their
son
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Kerry Kuhn calls his approach to teaching
horses 'Practical Horsemanship'. He believes in promoting
useful horsemanship skills anyone can use. "I want people to realize they
don't have to be a horse 'specialist' to achieve a higher
level of horsemanship," says Kerry.
"People
believe that true harmony with a horse is something
magical. When actually, it is so simple, they pass
right by it. Through practice of proper techniques,
anyone can learn the language of 'Practical Horsemanship'. |
Kerry's primary focus is on
the interaction between horse and human. "People practice horsemanship techniques
every day. They just aren't aware of it," he says. "The
principles we use in interacting with each other can teach
us a great deal about how our relationship with our horse
should be."
To Kerry, horsemanship is a lifestyle. It is not something
we practice once or twice and expect our horses to be better
from then on. Horsemanship is something we should LIVE
every day. We should live it, not just for our horses,
but for ourselves as well. It is about learning to be positive,
no matter what the situation, and to develop an incredible
amount of patience.
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Once a positive relationship is established between horse
and rider, Kerry demonstrates how to keep it positive through
confidence and consistency. "A horse looks to his
rider for guidance and his rider needs to have the confidence
and skills to help him understand what is expected of him," says
Kerry. "Horses also need responsibility. It is the
rider's responsibility to set up the situation to be as
easy for the horse as they can. It is the horse's responsibility
to respond."
People are usually on one side of the spectrum or the
other. Either they demand respect and are aggressive in
their horsemanship. Or they are very passive and beg the
horse for the response they are looking for. People need
to find a happy medium. Learn to ask for the respect they
deserve. Be firm when necessary, not too strong, not too
weak. Do only what it takes to get the point across and
back off. These ideas build a strong leader. Horses look
for leadership, and that leadership is the key to success.
"Anyone can learn to be a better horseman," says
Kerry. "I learn something new about horses and horsemanship,
every day. To me, these experiences are the exciting part
of being involved with horses."
We learn to ASK instead of TELL, to be PERSISTENT
instead of IMPATIENT, and FIRM versus AGGRESSIVE. We develop
an attitude that is willing to listen and offer help when
needed. We learn to become a good horseman, a good person. |
