Road To The Horse 2024

In 2003, a small crowd gathered at the Cowtown Coliseum in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards to watch Clinton Anderson, Curt Pate and Josh Lyons compete in the El Camino del Caballo Challenge. From these modest and humble beginnings, Road to the Horse has developed into a worldwide phenomenon, inspiring fans from around the world to develop a deeper understanding of the horse.

Road to the Horse 2024 will be streamed, free of charge via PBR RidePass on Pluto TV. All Road to the Horse 2024 Clinics, Wild Card Rounds and Championship Competition Rounds will be aired on March 21-24, 2024. Click the picture to watch!

Lyons Legacy Competitors

Ken McNabb, a Lyons Legacy Certified trainer, will be representing the USA in 2024! Ken is known for creating a unique environment where each horse is trained using gentle methods and the rider is coached to become their best. Ken often tells folks to “Dream Like a Kid and Ride Like a Cowboy.” Ken’s faith in Christ, along with his commitment to strong family values and patriotism, help make him the kind of speaker people truly enjoy and connect with.

Lindsay Patterson will be competing in the Wildcard division with none other than Brandi Lyons as her Pen Wrangler! With over a decade riding and training for her successful business, Beyond The Bit, Lindsey has seen and done it all. Her training career began when she met her mentor and friend Brandi Lyons. Having completed both of Brandi’s intensive trainer certification programs, and subsequently working for Brandi as an assistant trainer, she has traveled across the country, engaging in horsemanship clinics, expositions and demonstrations.

For more information about the 2024 Road to the Horse competition and all the competitors, visit https://roadtothehorse.com/

Lyons Legacy Latest – February 2024 Newsletter

February has been a quiet month for Josh and the team – a welcome break before the spring/summer clinic madness begins! We are pleased to announce our latest class of Lyons Legacy graduates: Lori Ricigliano, Amy Parsley, and Jason Siebels! They completed their program February 2 and are already moving on to their next adventures. Lori will be competing in the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Challenge in Lexington, KY this coming October. Amy will be competing in the 2024 Appalachian Trainer Faceoff in Winfield, WV this coming August. Jason is launching his own business, Running JS Training, offering training and exercising services in the AZ area. Make sure you support not only these new graduates but our whole team of Lyons Legacy Trainers!

For all our online school participants, our next zoom meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28th at 7:00pm Arizona time. If you haven’t heard – online school students have the opportunity to connect with Josh twice each month in the form of a zoom meeting to learn about a variety of topics and get feedback from Josh about not only the topic at hand but any other issues you have been experiencing with your training. The Lyons Legacy Online Training Program is a great option for those who cannot travel to in person events, as a supplement to your clinic experiences, and even as preparation for your participation in either a clinic or program.

Train for success – with THE BEST!

The benefits of attending a clinic – either as a rider or auditor – far outweigh the financial investment! Each clinic is unique to the goals of the riders participating. That means every clinic is a new experience, even if you have ridden with Josh before! All types of horses and riding disciplines are welcomed and encouraged to participate. Come ride with us!

Private Instruction Opportunity In April

Our calendar has opened up for additional private instruction time in the month of April. Lessons will be available in the Scottsdale, AZ area – come to us or if you are local, we can come to you! Half-day sessions (10am – 2pm) are $600 and can include two riders for that cost. Let’s get you ready for show season! Call Kristen to check availability, get questions answered, or to schedule at 615-379-1056.

Ready to pursue a career with horses? Join us in 2024 to earn your certification! We are still taking applications for these upcoming classes:

John & Josh Lyons Certification Program – April 29, 2024 – June 7, 2024

John & Josh Lyons Certification Program – Aug. 5, 2024 – Sept. 13, 2024

Josh Lyons Accreditation Program – Aug. 19, 2024 – Sept. 27, 2024

Remember, only our Colorado campus classes are eligible to receive Veterans Education Benefits. Classes are limited to just 10 students – don’t delay, enroll today!

Thoroughbred Makeover 2024

Lori Ricigliano, of Ricigliano Farms, graduated from the L2-Intermediate Professional Horseman Program February 2, 2024, joining the ranks of Lyons Legacy Trainers. Lori  is very active in the horse industry.  She has held her Judges License as a  USEF / AHA – “R” rated Arabian Horse Judge for over 25 years. She is also a published author and clinician for horsemanship and horse training as well as host of the syndicated equine radio talk show Hoof Beats with Lori.

One of her next adventures is to participate in the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover held October 9-12 in Lexington, KY. Lori and her mare Kitty will be one of over 400 competitors hoping to win the $10,000 cash prize! The whole Lyons Legacy Team will be rooting for Lori and Kitty.  Show them how to #ridelikealyons!

The Thoroughbred Makeover is the largest Thoroughbred retraining competition in the world for recently-retired ex-racehorses. The Retired Racehorse Project, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, created the Thoroughbred Makeover to showcase the trainability and talent of off-track Thoroughbreds. The competition is intended to inspire good trainers to become involved in transitioning these horses to second careers, and the National Symposium serves to educate the people involved in the care, training, and sale of these horses to responsible owners.

Ten competitive disciplines are offered at the Makeover: Barrel Racing, Competitive Trail, Dressage, Eventing, Field Hunter, Polo, Ranch Work, Show Hunter, Show Jumper, and Freestyle (a free-form division to demonstrate skills of the trainer’s choice). A horse may be entered in up to two disciplines.

Preliminary rounds take place on Wednesday and Thursday. Each competitor receives a preliminary round score and placing, and the top five in each discipline advance to the Finale, which takes place on Saturday in the Covered Arena and is broadcast via livestream. The Finale is a separate championship event and competitors are placed by Finale scores.

Each discipline competes separately in Finale, and each has their own final test to determine the Makeover Champion in that discipline. Judges from all disciplines then rank the ten Makeover Discipline Champions, and the Thoroughbred Makeover Champion is named (and earns a $10,000 check!).

The competition will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY on October 9-12, 2024.

Horse Trainer Highlight

April returned to her hometown of Tyler, TX after retiring from the Marine Corps, in May of 2021. She joined the Marine Corps at 17 years old and served our country for over 24 years in the aviation field, recruiting & career planning. Her husband is also a retired Marine, and their son currently serves in the Marine Corps. Hoorah! She has worked with Veteran nonprofits, serving as a board member and officer throughout the years. After retirement, she began looking for a Veteran horse program in East Texas and was one of the first Veteran riders at Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center! This led April to seek continuing education as she felt a calling to help other veterans heal and follow their passion with horses.  Through her research she found the Lyons Legacy Equestrian Academy program.

April, chose to attend our John & Josh Lyons Certification program in August of 2022 and joined the ranks of Lyons Legacy Trainers on September 23, 2022. After graduation, she returned home to move forward with her equine career. Many Veterans have invisible “soul” wounds, and she believes horses are God’s vessel for healing. As a lifelong equestrian, April’s passion for horses paired with her love for Jesus and our Veterans, led her to serve on staff at Starbrite. The additional skills she gained from her experience in the Lyons Legacy program, paired with her previous experience at Starbrite and with horses in general, made her the perfect choice to take on the role of Program & Site Director at Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center.  Her next adventure is completing her PATH certification to be able to better serve her clientele and fulfill her role at Starbrite.

April has owned horses since the age of 18 with the exception of while deployed to Iraq in 2005. In April’s words, “horse ownership while on active duty is not for the faint of heart.  Moving often required hauling cross country, new stables, farrier, vet and hay supply with little time to ride.  However, the reward of meeting new horse people, having a constant happy place always outweighed the hardship.  My horses and time with them were when I was not a wife, mom, Marine, family member, friend, but just myself.  It was and is my therapy. Through prayer and souls searching I know my purpose is to help other Veterans that struggle with PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma.”

About Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center

Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a service organization that utilizes equine assisted activities to spread the Love of Christ by empowering youth, adults and veterans with a variety of needs and abilities. The Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and member of PATH International. (Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship) and is located in Whitehouse, TX. The programs offered at Starbrite include Therapeutic Riding, Horsemanship, and Horses for Heroes.  These programs are supported by a large group of volunteers to facilitate the learning environment.

Lyons Legacy Latest – January 2024 Newsletter

January blew in and blew out pretty quickly for our Lyons Legacy team!  We have been blessed to spend the month of January in San Tan Valley, AZ at Rocking Horse LLC conducting our program.  Not only did we have an amazing group of students and horses, but we also had the pleasure of one of our graduates assisting with that class.  Their program wraps up on February 2nd and they will be off to put all they have learned to use in their personal businesses.  Congratulations to the 2024 class of L1 and L2 graduates! There are graduates of our programs all over the country – you can seek out a Lyons Legacy Trainer using our Trainer’s Directory.  We are proud to help promote these wonderful graduates and connect them with folks in need!

If you are interested in earning your certificate as a Lyons Legacy Trainer we have several class options for 2024 in Fort Morgan, CO:

These classes only accept 10 riders and are eligible for the use of Veterans Education Benefits!  If you are on the fence or need more information, call Kristen at 615-379-1056 and she will be happy to assist.

We’ve Been Zooming!

The January Zoom Meetings were terrific and we are so pleased that the addition of topics and scheduling have been well received! Students of the Lyons Legacy Online Training Program participate in now twice monthly zoom meetings to hear Josh’s perspective on a variety of topics as well as ask their questions, real-time, along the way.  Lyons 101 Course participants also get the zoom replays added to their bonus content as an added resource to their program.

We have a variety of course options available in this online format. If you are already part of our community through one of our focus courses and want to take advantage of utilizing the zoom replays, you can purchase the Lyons Training Program to add to your course library!

2024 is upon us and this year, invest in yourself! Horse riding and training is a lifelong pursuit of additional skills to increase your effectiveness and overall enjoyment of your experience with your horses.  No matter your goals, preferred riding discipline, or breed of your horse – you are welcome at our events! We strive to create an atmosphere of support, encouragement, and learning in a judgement free space. Click any of the above pictures for more information about that event or the event calendar button below for a full listing of all Josh and John Lyons clinics and programs.      

Private Instruction – Limited Time Only!

For those of you in or coming to Arizona in February – let’s ride!  Josh offers two types of private instruction options – half day and full day.  

A half day session will be from 10am – 2pm, cost $600/session.  Half day sessions can include 2 riders.  Additional riders can join for $300/session with a max number of 4 riders.

Full day sessions run like a clinic typically, 9am – 5pm with a lunch break. Cost for a full day session is $2500 and can include up to 4 riders. Lease horses can be arranged for your lessons for $70/day and stalls for personal horses are available for $35/day.

Contact Kristen to check availability and get your sessions scheduled!

2024 Clinics – Let’s Ride!

Our team was unbelievably blessed in 2023 with wonderful hosts and facilities for our 3 and 5 Day clinics!  That trend is carrying over to 2024 and our calendar is already full. If you are looking for an amazing learning opportunity for both you and your horse, consider joining our team for a clinic in 2024! 

Our clinics take a maximum of 15 riders; we want to ensure every rider gets the attention and time they need to understand each concept that is covered over the course of the clinic. In addition, auditors are always welcome to join in on the fun!

Cost for our clinics are: 
3-Day Rider – $900
5-Day Rider – $1250
Auditors – $25/day
These fees do not include stalls or hookups, though most facilities do offer those options for the events. Check event details for pricing – some may include facility fees.

2024 Host Facilites

Lyons Legacy Latest – December 2023 Newsletter

The Holiday Season is upon us and we would like to take some time to reflect on this past year.  Josh has been across the country conducting clinics in AZ, MO, KY, ND, CO, MI, PA, ME, NC, and FL! Some truly special people have come into our lives along the way, and for that we are so blessed.  We have had riders of all ages show us amazing dedication to not only their horse’s continued education, but also their own. Thank you, each and every person who supported Lyons Legacy in 2023, and most especially, thank you to ALL of our host facilities!

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL ON CLINICS!

Get your registration and deposit submitted by January 31, 2024 for any 2024 Josh Lyons clinic and receive our Lyons Legacy Trainers Clinic course from our Online Training program FREE 🙂 
Make 2024 the year you improve your horsemanship and start to #ridelikealyons!

 

Josh will be participating in the 2024 Art of the Horseman Online Horse Fair!  You can read more about the fair and claim your FREE ticket in our blog titled Art of the Horseman 2024 Online Horse Fair.  Click the picture to read more!

 


We have heard your feedback and will be making a few changes to the Zoom experience!  You can expect to see a regularly scheduled day and time, twice a month, as well as a more focused, topic based conversation.  Click the picture to learn more about the Lyons Legacy Online Training program!   

Ready to pursue a career with horses?  Join us in 2024 to earn your certification!  We are excited to announce our Colorado programs will be held at Boon Ranch in Fort Morgan, CO.  You can learn more about this location on our Colorado Campus page. We are still taking applications for these upcoming classes:

Remember, only our Colorado campus classes are eligible to receive Veterans Education Benefits. Classes are limited to just 10 students – don’t delay, enroll today!

Art of the Horseman 2024 Online Horse Fair

What is Art of the Horseman?

The Art of the Horseman Online Horse Fair is an online resource for horse enthusiasts to seek valuable knowledge from a wide variety of professionals in the comfort of their own home.  Created by Jack and Paula Curtis, their goal was to make educational opportunities more accessible to the masses as they found over the years that a well-rounded education was essential.  The line up of presenters includes trainers from all disciplines, veternarians, farriers, and much more!

In 2024, our own Josh Lyons will be included in the lineup!  This is a great opportunity to get a taste of our Lyons Legacy Online Training Program as well as useful content from so many other great presenters.  You can view the fair for 2 Days ONLY, January 29th and 30th, 2024 at 9:00 AM CST.  There is so much information available, you may need or want more time to learn.  The Art of the Horseman offers monthly and lifetime access as well!  Take advantage of FREE ACCESS for two days only to get a taste of what this fair has to offer.

Unique Opportunity to Learn with John Lyons

If working with John Lyons is on your bucket list – 2024 is your year!  John is offering several opportunities to experience his conditioned response training system first hand.  

Two Week Intensive in North Carolina

It’s not a clinic with 10 riders over 4 days and greatly varied rider levels. It’s an in-depth, detailed course in effectively changing your concepts in traditional training.  Spend one on one time with possibly one of the best creative thinkers in training.  This course will only accept three qualified riders to participate. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate of completion in recognition of your accomplishment!

The course starts on January 5, 2024. The cost is $10,000. Stalls are included. Bedding, feed and cleaning are not included. The course will be conducted out of Michael Lyons Horsemanship facility in Randleman, NC. Cabins are available at an additional charge of $750 for the two weeks.

CALL John Lyons directly at 970-366-2856 to inquire. Two spots currently open! 

Did you know the following?

-40 different performance related benefits come from the hind quarters

-7 come from the shoulders

-3 come from the head, neck and mouth

-The head and neck are like a Christmas tree ornament; no wrong place to hang it but never use it for directional control, speed control, or to increase speed.
 
-Suppling or giving to the bit always takes out performance
 
-Softening of the mouth using the mouth is counterproductive and looses performance
 
-The mouth is never the part of the horse that is pulling on the bit.
 
-100% of every maneuver we do with the horse should involve the hindquarters first. Legs to control the hindquarters are ineffective 80% of the time. Therefore we just give up on using or involving the hind quarters
 
-99% plus riders use only the nose and mouth to guide and control their horse.
 
-The rider should be riding an 11” horse not a ten foot horse.
-The tail of the horse will teach the horse directional control 100% better and 50 times faster than the mouth
 
-The difference between aids. What controls direction what controls speed and what happens when we miss use or mix them up. What does what?
 
-99.9% of all riders can not effectively control the elevation of the horse’s head at any or all speeds. Nor the hind quarters or shoulders.
 
-What is the formula for increasing and improving performance?
 
-Overuse of our aids leads to more lack of control.
 
-We can greatly simplify our cue system while making it far more effective and teaching the horse much faster.
 
-Never ride an unbroke horse always ride a performance horse. Never warm up a horse.
 
-Goals are never distance
 
-Effectively eliminating working on negative behaviors while strengthening the bond and relationship with the horse.
 
-How can I get my horse to love being with me?

All of the above will be covered in-depth during the two week training program. Your investment in your learning will be repaid 1000 times over. This is not a clinic, it is an individual special course opening up a complete change in your training.

John Lyons Clinic Opportunities

Colorado Campus moves to Fort Morgan

Horse Training Certification Program

Big news – we are moving our Colorado campus from Grand Junction to Fort Morgan!  The opportunity to take advantage of a private facility was too good to pass up.  Boon Ranch is just 10 minutes outside of Fort Morgan, offering our students a wide variety of local accommodations and attractions. Additionally, there are some hookup options right on site for students that hope to utilize their LQ trailer or RV!  Take a look at these amenities:

We feel so very blessed to embark on this new endeavor with Boon Ranch!  Hosting our programs at a private facility gives our students an intimate environment where they can focus on their progression without feeling like they are on public display. Thank you Boon Ranch!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17