Carl Bledsoe: Gaited Horsemanship, Part II: 3-Day Clinic in Maine

Back by popular demand and at a second location, Carl Bledsoe is returning to New England to continue his teaching tour with GHNE. This three-day clinic will focus on gait, softness, connection, and principles that develop the physical and mental development of your horse. For those of you who rode with Carl last year, he will bring new techniques and more advanced teaching instruction. To those of you new to Carl’s unique, horse-first, and gentle style of instructing, Carl will meet each horse and rider team at their level and help with individual goals. Typically, horse and rider teams will progress well throughout the clinic. Additionally, clinic riders have the option to purchase an individual, one-hour lesson on the fourth day to synthesize and conclude the lessons learned during the clinic. For more information, contact Loren Stevens at loren.stevens202@gmail.com.

CLINIC OUTLINE:

1. On the first day, Carl begins with an assessment that allows him to assess the horses as well as the riders and determine riding groups. After lunch, riders break into their assigned groups for group and individual instruction.
2. Carl starts the second and third days with classroom work to review the topics being discussed. Classroom work lasts approximately an hour. Then, the participants return to the arena. One group rides while the other group observes and interacts with Carl while taking notes. This format is very popular, interactive, and educational, and it also prevents the horses and riders from being physically or educationally too fatigued. This format also limits the number of riders in the arena at one time, giving intentional attention to those in the arena.
3. On the fourth day, Carl offers optional individual one-hour lessons to focus on synthesizing the clinic techniques personally for you and your horse.

CARL BLEDSOE BIO

Carl & Tammy conduct clinics and attend expos sharing his story of his progression from the show ring to now teaching and training with the best interest of the horse as his primary focus. They hope to prove just how wonderful, versatile, and extremely talented the Tennessee
Walking Horse, as well as the other gaited breeds, truly are. Carl has been a guest speaker at the Sound Horse Conference in 2014, a guest speaker representing the Tennessee Walking Horse in 2019 at the Equus Film Festival, a gaited clinician in 2018 at Equifest and the
featured gaited clinician at the 2020, 2023, and 2024 Horse World Expo, 2021 Georgia Horse Fair, 2022 Southern Equine Expo as well as 2023 Equine Affaire Ohio and Massachusetts. Carl was also a guest judge at the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Additionally, he was featured in the 2023 July edition of Horse Illustrated. Carl was also awarded 2022 Humane Horseman of the Year by the Humane Society of the United States for his work in advocating for the sound, humane training of Tennessee Walking Horses and other gaited breeds. The annual award honors individuals who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to protecting America’s equines. Carl and Tammy are, above all, advocates for the horse!