Customer Reviews

Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders

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The first book I bought on horse training was "There Are No Problem Horses, Only Problem Riders" by Mary Twelveponies. Then I bought "Lyons On Horses" by John Lyons. Then I subscribed to Lyons' "Perfect Horse" magazine. Then I attended a community ed horse training class. Then I bought "You Can Train Your Horse to Do Anything!: "On Target" Training -- Clicker Training and Beyond" by Shawna Karrasch. I've skimmed Pat Parelli's stuff. I've seen Monty Roberts on DVD and in person. I've seen John Lyons' video series. Just so you know where I'm coming from.

The only purchase I regret is the Mary Twelveponies book. I can't think of a single solution in her book that isn't better solved by the others, and some of her advice is questionable. Lyons is great, but spend your money on his magazine instead of his book. Clicker training is very useful (I solved a bridling problem in one day after reading the book) but Karrasch wastes many pages prattling on about the science of operant conditioning. I read B.F. Skinner is college; I didn't need the history lesson. She does the same thing in the related video -- exceedingly disappointing. Monty Roberts can do anything as long as he has enough panels and mechanical contraptions and a big strong gentle well-trained saddle horse to work alongside the horse he is training. If his ego and use of terms like "Join-Up" and "Language of Equus" doesn't put you off, you can learn a lot from Roberts. Parelli always seems to be having more fun with his horses than anybody else, but I can't figure out what he's doing half the time. (see update on Parelli, bottom)

Which brings us to Clinton Anderson. What I especially appreciate about his approach is its effectiveness. Anderson excels in two areas: his techniques give rapid results and he is an exceptional communicator. Most of his clinics are not the standard get-a-green-horse-in-the-round-pen-and-be-on-him-by-the-end-of-the-day. Instead, he works with riders who are having problems with their horses, and teaches the riders to be trainers rather than doing the work for them. That approach has helped him refine his techniques and appreciate all the ways we are likely to apply them incorrectly.

For the book, Anderson recruited two riders with problem horses and put them through his program. Each chapter describes the technique, its purpose, how to apply it, how to deal with bad reactions from the horse and mistakes from the rider. It was especially helpful to read the comments from the two women on how their horses reacted and how they had to overcome their own mistakes.

I've only done one session with my horse and the results were dramatic enough to make a believer out of me.

For a sample of his techniques go to his web site, scroll down to the bottom, and click on articles. There's some good stuff there that isn't in the book.

If you have a horse that doesn't always know what you want or won't always do it, or you're a little afraid of it, this is the best book I've found. I highly recommend it.

Update, 12/21/2006
Last summer I attended a Pat Parelli 2-day seminar, and since then I've had the opportunity to review his Level 1 and Level 2 instruction material. There is an amazing degree of agreement in Clinton Anderson's and Pat Parelli's techniques. Both stress ground work on a long lead using a rope halter and a stick with a string, Parelli's 7 games all have counterparts in Anderson's techniques, both stress riding with reins on the saddle in an enclosed area to develop a good seat, both stress the importance of starting with the lightest possible touch and being willing to escalate to whatever it takes to achieve the desired behavior, and countless other similarities.

Where the two differ is that Anderson is all efficiency and maximum results in the least possible time, which is why he won the Road to the Horse colt starting competition 2 year's running. Parelli wants you to get into your horse's head, develop a relationship with him, and come up with training exercises that keep him interested. Advance in Parelli's program and you'll be able to direct your horse over a jump from a hundred feet away (could be just the thing if your horse gets out -- just get his attention and send him back over the fence.)

Seriously, these two celebrity trainers have highly complementary techniques. I found the Parelli seminar helpful and inspiring, and I think Parelli fans would have the same reaction to a Clinton Anderson seminar. I think Parelli fans would find Downunder Horsemanship to be a helpful supplement to the materials they already have, and I think readers of Downunder Horsemanship would profit from seeing Parelli demonstrate his techniques

My background is in english riding (in England), with an 18 yr gap between last owning a horse and just getting an unbroken 3 yr old - my first youngster. So, I bought and borrowed, a lot of books, each around $15-$25 by as many different trainers as I could. Almost without exception, I found that everyone's "entry level" book gave a broad outline of the trainer's philosphy/methods, with little detail and no practical exercises. In effect, each was just a teaser to get you drawn into their expensive courses.

Except for this one ! After the theory is a full section of groundwork exercises, and then a full section of riding exercises. I thought I'd wait until my first youngster was going well under saddle to tell you how great this method is. From very scared and spooky unbroke youngster, my horse is becoming one of the nicest mannered horses Iknow - after two months. Clinton Anderson's methods work, they're clearly explained - you don't need to go buy a whole lot of extra DVDs and kit... and the horses love it.

The reason for Clinton Anderson's popularity is that he not only understands, respects and is an ADVOCATE for horses but that he is exceptionally intelligent, thoughtful and insightful, an accomplished and effective rider, an absolutely remarkable trainer/clinician and (most importantly) a perfectly brilliant COMMUNICATOR. He certainly did not INVENT Natural Horsemanship, but because of his natural gift for explaining and illustrating how to get the results he gets (and his generosity in holding NOTHING back!), his students (human AND equine) "get it" in record time and are eager & excited to learn more. I have read soooo many horse books in my lifetime and gone to soooo many clinics and watched soooo many videos...now, along comes Clinton to systematize and present this information in a way that ANY idiot (even me) can readily understand and put into practice - WITHOUT chasing the poor horse around endlessly in a round pen or on a lunge line - to achieve SOLID results without creating fear or pain. I saw a great cartoon in Western Horseman recently which showed a couple of ancient Greek know-it-alls badmouthing "that newfangled horse whisperer, Xenophon." Clinton is a Xenophon for our time - and long overdue. Read this book and watch him live, on video or on RFD-TV and you, too, will "get it." This guy is our best hope for opening a lot of closed minds on both sides of the "English" and "Western" fences and making the world a more enjoyable and SAFER place for horses AND their riders. PS: If you are sick of riding around in an arena and want to take your horse trail riding (or ANYWHERE new & strange), Clinton's your boy. I also recommend his trailer-loading video - short, clear & boy does it WORK. Just like the rest of his stuff. UPDATE: Clinton was in Nampa, Idaho in April 2005 and lived up to his reputation 100%. He looked tired & exasperated in the "autograph venue" but he was totally "ON" with the horses & any skeptics in attendance appeared to have been converted. About ALL the current crop of "horse whisperers" I must make one comment, though. Even the most gifted clinician can't teach timing, tact & body language. That is something that comes from experience & spending years around horses. So don't think that by buying books & videos you will achieve the same results. I do think that by sticking with Clinton Anderson you will stand the best chance of being successful in your horse training efforts, not hurting or ruining your horse, and not getting killed or maimed in the process.

The number one reason I love this book is because he tells you the truth about how the horse will most likely react at first. I love Lyons and Parelli and the other natural horsemen BUT Clinton is my favorite. I have a horse that NEVER reacts the way those other books say she will. As a matter of fact they don't say how shell react. Clinton tells you the mistakes most people make and the mistakes the horse will make when beginning. For example...to teach the horse to back by tapping the air infront of it. Chances are she'll try to walk forward or to the side first, then he tell you what to do. AND it's really nice to hear the comments from his students cuz they express most of the same frustrations I have when working with my 2 yr old. (And their horses are alot more of a problem horse than mine.Theirs buck, bit, pin the ears and wait for a chance to get you.) I haven't even finished all of the book and I can't say enough about it. The ground work techniques are wonderful. You will love this book if you want real step-by-step, problem-by-problem and correction-by-correction instruction. I love it!!!!!! I plan on buying more of his products. OH AND he doesn't use any tricks or fancy equipment...just a halter, lead rope, and handy stick and sometimes an extra string!! IT's GREAT!!! If need my help like I do BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

This is probably the best spent money of any horse training item you will ever buy. Clinton Anderson's horse training methods are very effective. His horses love, respect, and trust him, and he explains how to get the same kind of relationship with your horse, while teaching them to flex, pivot, back, yield, soften and supple, and a whole lot more!. Everything is clearly explained in words and pictures, and he includes common horse problems, common handler problems, and troubleshooting tips. I have been working with horses for 15 years and have never had as good success as I have had with Clinton Anderson's methods. I would reccommend this to anyone, regardless of age, discipline, ability, or type of horse.

I was having some serious respect issues with my 8-yr old horse. It was so bad I considered shipping him back to my trainer and even selling him! I was at the end of my rope when a friend suggested this book. She was using the techniques on her horse. I didn't believe in the "natural horsemanship" boat that everyone seemed to be on but I figured I didn't have anything to loose at that point. Thank God I did! I have my partner back. This book is easy to understand and the techniques are so simple. THEY REALLY WORK! I can't recommend this book enough. I truly thank Clinton for giving me my friend and partner back. I'd look pretty funny in the show ring without him! :)

Just what I needed! This book is like a portable fix-it clinic. It¹s clear,
easy to understand, and has tons of gorgeous pictures that illustrate what
you¹re supposed to do and how you¹re supposed to do it. This book takes
some of Clinton¹s ³signature² exercises and shows you how two different
riders applied them to their horses. Every exercise has simple
instructions, success tips and troubleshooting suggestions. Every exercise
also tells you what can go wrong ­ and (most importantly) how to fix it. I
especially liked how the two riders gave their viewpoints. They made me
think that I wasn¹t in this alone. My mare and I haven¹t mastered all of the
exercises yet. But within a few days of applying what Clinton said, she was
more willing, more flexible and I was more confident working with her.

It provides specific suggestions on how to work with your horse and what results you can expect. It addresses problems and provides detailed solutions in an easy to understand format. Adding the experiences of the two students in the book was a brilliant idea and helps the reader relate to the experiences in the book. Clinton Anderson is noted for his skill at communicating with both horses and people and this book is proof. Fun to read, great pictures, and well written.

This is one of the best books on training available today. Not only does Clinton Anderson have very sound methods, but his presentation is excellent. Many very talented riders and trainers are out there - but very very few individuals have the gift of communication that Clinton does. He explains things clearly and without becoming bogged down. The combination of this plain-speaking style and the numerous full color photographs leave little room for doubt as to what Clinton wants you to do.
Unlike many other clinicians that put out a book or two, Clinton's book does not read like an advertisement for his DVDs and seminars. Granted, if you appreciate his training techniques you'll want to attend a seminar or buy a DVD or six, but that is a great advertisement for his products without the hard sell.
Clinton Anderson will also appeal to the folks out there - me included - that appreciate horses as willing partners and working horses. Clinton does not humor the pushy, dominant or the spoiled. He explains very clearly why respect is the foundation on which to build a good horse - without it you can't have a reliable, trustworthy partner. I think that if more horse owners applied Clinton's methods there would be many more useful horses in the world. It's not rocket science, but in Clinton Anderson's hands it is art.

This is a great book that helps horse lovers deal with difficult horses. By going through a series of lessons with both an English and western rider, the reader understands the process via several points of view. Each horse and rider in the book has its own unique problems, and Anderson deals with each problem clearly and methodically. Its filled with colorful photographs and excellent illustrations.