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With almost a decade of training experience and through the influence of folks such as Ray Hunt, Peter Campbell and Buck Brannaman, Mark has developed a unique combination of training skills which have proven to be successful whether he is working with a ranch horse or an award winning National Champion Jumper. Mark has the ability to zero in on the core source of problems and then follow through with instruction for both the horse and rider to overcome these obstacles. Many times it comes down to simply unlearning unproductive habits and replacing them with actions that open up the channels of communication between the rider and the horse. Mark's goal is to help riders understand how to clearly communicate with their horse as well as understand why their horse may be reacting the way they do. Clear communication is vital for any rider who wants to have an enjoyable relationship with their horse.
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One example of Mark’s success with difficult horses came along in the form of a beautiful, blonde, 18 hand-high, Belgian! When Mark was first introduced to Barbie, she was 7 years old and had never been haltered, handled or worked with. In fact, she’d be "out to pasture" since her birth. Mark decided to take on the challenge of working with this big beauty and soon found they were two peas in a pod... both strong, determined and stubborn.
Starting with general round pen training, Mark broke the ice and began to build trust with Barbie. From there, he began to improve their bond through groundwork and horsemanship techniques that mirror the type of games horses play with one another. It was not long before Mark was able to put a saddle on her and begin riding.
Their bond continued to grow as Mark aspired to have his relationship with Barbie be a living example of what time & training can do for your relationship with your horse. To date, Barbie has been a participant in amateur rodeos as one of the horses used to haze the bulls after a buck-out, she's been trained to pull wagons and carts, is gentle enough for children to ride, yet talented enough to perform dressage moves. This horse & rider team has even walked away from jumping competitions with numerous awards.
Early on, there were moments where these two would dig in their heels and pull in opposite directions. The key to Mark's success with this once wild Belgian is this....relationship!Get to know your horse, let them get to know you, play with them, teach them and learn from them. If you have their trust and confidence, you'll find the possibilities are endless!
To learn more about Mark Lyon's training techniques or to schedule a private training appointment, please call (402) 680-2257.
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