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Lyons Legacy Latest – September 2024 Newsletter

September 2024 Newsletter

September has flown by in the blink of an eye! While the weather is still warm and lovely, the leaves are slowly turning and falling – the first sign that fall is upon us! Team Lyons has spent the month in Colorado as we finish out or most recent round of certificate programs. We again had Troy Chappell assisting with those classes and here is what he had to say about these last two classes: “This group of students has been through a lot with injuries, sand blasted, colic, torrential rains, etc., but they all have come a long, long way. This class has put their heart and souls into it for sure and it shows in the arena. They’re all doing spins, stops, changes, etc. and doing it very, very well. In my opinion, this class has made the most progress of any class I’ve been around, great people!” So, let us congratulate our newest Lyons Legacy family members! 

Jay Buller of Copper Sun HorseWorks out of Smithville, AR graduating with his Certification buckle. Jay also earned his Accreditation buckle in 2022. 

Alisha Anderson of Breakthrough Horsemanship out of Missouri graduating with her Certification buckle. Alisha is also an Accreditation buckle holder from 2023.

Tacie Hatch of High Prize Performance Horses out of Tremonton, UT graduating with her Certification buckle.

Michael Neville out of Northbrook, IL graduating with his Accreditation buckle.

Alexan Woodard of Woodard Classics Equine LLC out of Fountain, CO graduating with her Accreditation buckle.

Teresa Speer of Rocking Speer Ranch, LLP out of Richland, MO graduating with her Certification buckle. Teresa also earned her Accreditation buckle in 2024.

Kristie Thornley  of High Prize Performance Horses out of Trementon, UT graduating with her Accreditation buckle.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of you! Wishing you all success as you take your next steps in the horse industry!!

Big news for 2025! We are relocating our CO campus to Diamond J Equestrian Center in Fountain, CO. This lovely facility has some wonderful amenities for our students right on site and is just a hop and a skip from Colorado Springs. Thank you to Diamond J for welcoming our team – we are very excited for the opportunity to work out of your facility! We would also like to send out a special thank you to everyone at Boon Ranch for hosting our classes in 2024. Their team was just amazing – kind, welcoming, efficient, and organized. You made the experience for our students and team very memorable!

Still accepting riders and auditors for the October clinics in MI & MD! Click the picture to register, auditors can sign up by clicking here.

Accepting applications to join the Lyons Legacy family of trainers in 2025! “This certification/ accreditation isn’t just a title; it’s a commitment to excellence. It’s about providing a unique, high-quality service that truly makes a difference in the lives of horses and their riders. The skills I’ve gained have not only transformed my approach to training but have also prepared me to fill a gap in our area by offering personalized, results-driven training programs.” – Teresa Speer, 2024 Certification and Accreditation graduate.

Our Colorado campus classes are eligible to receive Veterans Education Benefits. We are hopeful to have that same approval for the 2025 Arizona campus as well.  Classes are limited to just 10 students – don’t delay, enroll today!

State Renewal Success

AZ & CO State Renewals are completed!

Trade schools like Lyons Legacy Equestrian Academy need state licensure to ensure they meet a set of standards and are a legitimate educational option for prospective students. In addition, these standards set forth a level of quality that is expected from the curriculum. This helps to protect prospective students from investing in progams that will not meet their educational needs.

This process involves the submission of at least 20 essential documents, including financial statements, insurance certificates, surety bonds, course descriptions, faculty lists, and other required legal documents. For non-accredited institutions, the full review process, including both administrative and substantive evaluations, typically takes around 180 days.

The mission statements from both agencies are very similar. The goal of these agencies is to provide standards for and improve private occupational schools as well as to protect the citizens of their respective states against fraudulent or substandard private occupational schools. In both Arizona and Colorado, the board members are comprised of industry representatives, general public representatives, and financial community representatives. These groups work together to review submitted documents, interview school representatives in person at scheduled meetings, and verify the school has met their state requirements. We appreciate the hard work and dedication from both the Arizona Board Members and the Colorado Board Members!

state approval

None of this would be possible without the hard work of our administration team! Michele, program consultant, and Jana, Program Director, work tirelessly to make sure the necessary steps are taken to provide accurate and up to date information to these agencies. They deserve to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication to making Lyons Legacy a premier educational facility!

2025 Programs

With our state approvals in place, we are excited to offer our programs in both Arizona and Colorado in 2025! Each class takes just 10 students to ensure ample hands-on time working alongside of Josh Lyons. You’ll notice that the program names are different from state to state – that is driven by the requirements of each state in advertising of the programs. 

To help clarify, the L1 Program in Arizona is the same as the Certification program in Colorado. This program focuses on starting horses under saddle, groundwork, and foundation pieces. The L2 Program in Arizona is the same as the Accreditation Program in Colorado. This program focuses on higher performance concepts, finishing work, and game specific maneuvers. 

Each program is a stand-alone program, meaning you can take any of the programs as a single course or if pursuing both programs, in any order. You will find topics like marketing, starting your own business, and conducting clinics covered in both programs during their classroom time.

Invest in yourself and your future by gaining the foundation needed to find success with every horse you encounter. We can’t wait to have you join our team of Lyons Legacy Trainers!

Lyons Legacy Latest – August 2024 Newsletter

August 2024 Newsletter

August has been all about our Programs! The John & Josh Lyons Certification Program students started class on August 5 followed by the Josh Lyons Accreditation Program students on August 19. These groups have learned so much in the two weeks they have completed – way to go! They have worked hard, supported each other, shared ideas and will walk away with not only tons of new skills and knowledge but lifelong friendships. Becoming a Lyons Legacy trainer is a life changing experience!

August is also Jana’s birthday month – Happy Birthday Jana! Your endless work to keep our programs running smoothly is appreciated. 

September will be another month of work at Boon Ranch completing our programs and then Josh is back on the road for our final group of 2024 clinics. Team Lyons will be headed to MI, ME, MD, and ND – join us!

Registration for 2025 classes is open! With only 10 students per class, each student is guaranteed a personalized experience and lots of one-on-one attention. Working daily with Josh as your instructor is truly transformative. Some of the best learning moments are the unexpected ones – and that happens often with horses! Not only do you learn from your horses and your own mistakes and struggles, but you get to see your classmates work through their own, picking up valuable tools from both participating and observing. Hold your spot today and take the first step towards becoming a Lyons Legacy Trainer!

So many clinics, so little time!

Hey Graduates – we’ve got something special for you!! Join us in PA for a Grads only 5-day clinic. Hone your skills and pick up some new tools. It’s gonna be like a mini reunion! We are so grateful to Face Up Training & Colt Starting for welcoming us to their facility and hosting our graduates. Limited to just 15 riders, get your registration in today!

Make 2025 your year to achieve your dreams! Our programs can help you, whether it be professionally or personally, to grow as a trainer and gain the skills you need to find success.  Classes fill quickly, get your registration in today!

Remember, only our Colorado campus classes are eligible to receive Veterans Education Benefits. We are working diligently to gain approval in AZ as well – we are hopeful it will be in place for the April 2025 classes!

Student Stories – August 2024 Classes

We are excited to introduce the new students attending our John & Josh Lyons Certification  and Josh Lyons Accreditation classes at Boon Ranch! These students will alternate working with Josh over the next two months.  Take a minute to meet our new crop of students, learn about their history, favorite horses and future goals. We are proud to welcome this group to the Lyons Legacy Family!

Tacie Hatch

Azure Sky Miniature American Shepherds

Hi, I am Tacie Hatch. I am excited to be one of Josh’s certified trainers! I plan to train and show reining horses as well as barrel horses. When I was 11 years old, I had the opportunity to ride with Josh for a few days. During those days he offered me a scholarship to his certification program for when I turned 16. I rode and trained at home, as well as with Josh a few times, in that 5 year waiting period. Seeing Josh’s performance horses and even being able to ride a couple helped me fall in love with Josh’s training methods and the sport of reining even more! The horse I am most excited about right now is ‘Arizona’. She is a young reining bred filly that is sired by Gunners Special Nite and out of a Grays Starlight bred mare. I can’t wait to take all that I’m learning in the certification class and be able to apply it to the training for Arizona! Thank you Josh for helping me gain the skills and knowledge necessary to reach my dreams!

Jay Buller

 
Jay Buller here, myself and Melissa Buffington both own and run Copper Sun Horseworks, a horse training as well as horse transport company. We operate out of Smithville, Arkansas. I attended the accreditation program in 2022 and am now currently in the certification class. The future plans for our business is to create and grow our horse training side of the business. Right now we start and train quite a few colts a year for private clients as well as start and train our own colts to sell to the public. Our hauling side of the business keeps us busy about one week out of every month when we focus on providing equine transport coast to coast. I chose Lyons legacy as my primary means of continuing education mostly due to the fact that the methods and ideas of Josh and his father as well just plain work. The performance side of things with Josh just really stood out to me as well as the fact that he put a comprehensive 4 week course together to get us students on the right track. My favorite horse so far has been, oddly enough, a hot little cowy 4 year old gelding called Bandit. He puts 110 percent into everything he does, including the bad stuff! He’s a real challenge to get through because of that and just really pushed my knowledge, skill and temper beyond what I thought my limits were. I’m looking forward to using my new found knowledge in my personal program.

Alexan Woodard

 
My name is Alexan Woodard, and I am the proud owner of Woodard Classics Equine LLC. My husband and I are a dual military family currently transitioning out of service to dedicate ourselves fully to our passion: the horse industry. Throughout my journey, I’ve prioritized continuous education, firmly believing in the motto, “If your trainer doesn’t have a trainer, get a new one.” Learning never stops, and I strive to embody that philosophy.
In my equine career, I aim to provide tailored training programs that address the unique needs of each horse, offering my clients a wealth of diverse knowledge. I chose Lyons Legacy for its stellar reputation and dedication to working with veterans, which aligns perfectly with my values.
One of my greatest teachers has been my first owned horse, Doc, an Appaloosa I purchased eight years ago. When I met him, he had a 100% buck-off rate and was largely misunderstood. However, we formed a strong bond, and he has since become a reliable partner, even carrying my children. Doc has traveled extensively with me, more than many people ever do, and has been instrumental in shaping my passion for horses. He taught me that kindness always wins.
I am eagerly anticipating the start of the Lyons Legacy Accreditation program on August 19th, ready to take the next step in my journey.

Alisha Anderson

 
Hey! My future plans are to sell horses that I’ve trained through my program that are consistent, reliable, and enjoyable rope horses. I chose Lyons Legacy again because the Accreditation program was amazing! In the last 6 months, I’ve been able to use the methods I learned with Josh to better riders of all backgrounds. His methods are efficient and they work. I have been providing private lessons and plan to continue offering private lessons and clinics in the future.
My favorite horse is by far SoCo. Yes, she’s named after Southern Comfort! I got her as a halter broke 2 yr old and she’s been through so much with me while I’ve learned along the way. She’s my travel companion and my test dummy for every crazy idea of mine. I’m excited to attend Certification this year and I can’t wait to meet you all!

Teresa Speer

 
I am currently a part time horse trainer and want to be able to launch my horse training career into full time. I currently race with the BBR and was going to go to the World Finals, however I chose to attend the Certification class this past April! I am now returning to complete the Accreditation class. I currently have my degree in Equine Science in Training, however, I chose Lyons Legacy to further my career in training for several reasons. The school I attended did not teach us how to start a colt and even though I have been successful, I want to learn how to be more efficient. I believe foundation and horsemanship are the fundamentals of creating a great horse. My friend Alisha Anderson went to the Accreditation class and told me how fantastic the school was. Trusting my friend having first hand experience, I wanted to experience it for myself. And last but not least who is my favorite horse? Well that is a difficult question. I have several that I love: Bee, my finished barrel horse, is one in a million. She is blind in one eye, but yet she gets the job done with ease. You can throw a kid or inexperienced person on her and she goes down to their level, it’s an amazing sight to witness.  Then there is Moonshine, who I am bringing to the program. This horse is 3 and acts as if she is 15; after 30 days of training I was able to shoot a gun off her back! So with that being said that is a loaded question on who is my favorite horse, because quite frankly I love most horses!

Michael NeVille

My name is Michael and I have traveled from Northbrook, Illinois to pursue the Josh Lyons Accreditation program. My horse career hasn’t even begun! I am just trying to stay in the saddle and learn as much as possible. Under Josh’s amazing instruction I know I can gain the skills I need to move forward in the horse industry. I am also looking forward to the networking opportunities with my fellow classmates to help refine the direction I plan to pursue. My favorite horse is Denny, the Buckskin in The Man from Snowy River. I chose Lyons Legacy because I want to learn it right the first time!

Kristie Thornley

My goals are all over the place, but changing horses from being an expense to income, is a common denominator; as is a desire to help people enjoy their horses more. My horses are beautiful to me and my goal with them is to learn how to train for their potential. They are bred for barrels, because a few years ago, I thought I’d like to raise, train, and sell barrel horses along with lessons of how to ride them in the selling deal. I believe a barrel horse needs the emotional training of a reining horse.  It needs the obedience and discipline to run hard and then make perfect circles. However, after watching Josh, reining has become more and more interesting to me, and I find my interests are drifting to reining.  No surprise right? The horse is a great gift from God, and it’s important to me to use His gift to help others. Through the horse, we get know God’s Son better. 
 

Earn Your Lyons Legacy Certificate

2024 classes at our Arizona & Colorado campuses are accepting registration! The John & Josh Lyons Certification Program dates are August 4th – 29th – this program focuses on starting horses under saddle. The Josh Lyons Accreditation Program dates are September 1st – 26th – this program focuses on finishing work and higher level performance concepts. The L1 & L2 programs in AZ will run together from April 14th to May 9th. Register Now and start living your dream!

Lyons Legacy Latest – July 2024 Newsletter

July 2024 Newsletter

The Lyons team wrapped up three months on the road in July for a brief stint at home taking time to recharge before the August programs in Colorado kick off. We are especially grateful for the wonderful experience we had at Christian Equine Stables at the start of July. Marilee and her team have a beautiful facility and were fantastic hosts! We will be returning in July 2025 for two more 3-day clinic opportunities – both a riding clinic and a groundwork clinic. Registration is open for both these events!

The John & Josh Lyons Certification Program and the Josh Lyons Accreditation Program both begin in August. These programs include 4-weeks of intensive daily training with Josh as you build the skills necessary to reach your goals in the horse industry. Students of a wide variety of horse experience, riding skills, and ages attend our programs for both personal growth and professional development. 2025 class dates will be posted soon! Keep an eye on our Event Calendar for all new in person opportunities to train with Josh.

We have a group of great locations for our clinics coming up in October! We start the month in Hickory Corners, MI at Hickory Hollow Stables for a 3-Day Riding Clinic. Then we jump up to Warren, ME at Oyster River Equestrian Center for the third year in a row for a 5-Day Riding Clinic. Our final destination in October sends us to Derwood, ME at Unbridled Blessings for a 3-Day Riding Clinic. Click on the clinic ad below for additional details about these events or to get registered as a rider or auditor!

Recently, Josh invited Richie Wingfield as co-host of the twice monthly zoom session offered as part of our Lyons Legacy Online Training Program. One of Richie’s specialty areas is working with gaited breeds so he gave a little insight as to similarities and differences in training gaited vs. non-gaited horses. Click the picture above to enjoy the replay of that session!

Lyons Legacy Latest – June 2024 Newsletter

June 2024 Newsletter

Wow! June has been very busy for the Lyons Legacy team. We are very proud to introduce our April 2024 John & Josh Lyons Certification program graduates as members of the Lyons Legacy Trainers family: Chance Sexton, Alisha Anderson, Teresa Speer, Ava Scovel, Justyn La Manna, Liam Burnside, Lori Nelson, Richard Stephens, and Paul Wilcock! You can learn more about this crew and their future plans in our blog, titled Student Stories – April 2024 Certification Class. Our team wishes all of you success as you pursue your journey in the horse industry!

We will be returning to Boon Ranch in August for another round of programs – both the John & Josh Lyons Certification Program and the Josh Lyons Accreditation program.  We have room for additional students in both of these classes and remember, veterans can use their Veterans Education Benefits for either of these programs! Take the first step to your future in the horse industry by ENROLLING today.

July takes us to the mid-west for two clinics. The first stop is a 3-day Riding clinic at Christian Equine Stables in Bismarck, ND July 5-7, 2024 followed by a 5-day Combo clinic at Hickory Hollow Stables in Hickory Corners, MI July 16-20. The 5-day Combo clinic will have two days of groundwork followed by three days of under saddle work. We would love to have a few more participants join us at both of these events so if you can’t attend, please share these opportunities with your local horse communities! And remember, we always have room for auditors to get in on the learning.

 

Mark your calendars! Richie Wingfield will be joining Josh for a Zoom Session July 24th and it will be open to the public. They will discuss gaited vs non-gaited horse training and how they compare. More details to come in a future email!

THANK YOU to our most recent hosts – Gerry Cox Horsemanship in Corvallis, MT and Flying N Farm in Palmer, AK! We felt like family at both of these wonderful facilities and walked away with a new appreciation for the majesty of these beautiful landscapes. Until we meet again, keep Riding Like A Lyons!!

Supreme Court GI Bill Ruling

Supreme Court GI Bill Ruling

The majority of veterans attending college today with federal financial support use the Post-9/11 GI Bill program. This generous benefit passed in 2008 and awards eligible veterans 36 months of tuition payouts, housing stipends and other financial assistance. 

The Montgomery GI Bill program was the predecessor to that benefit, and is being phased out by the department. Although it offers far less money, it can still can provide several thousands of dollars annually to veterans for tuition costs if they paid into the program at the start of their military service. 

Currently, VA officials make students give up eligibility for the Montgomery GI Bill program when they register to begin using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. That means that once their education benefits from that program are exhausted, they cannot receive more tuition support from the other program. 

For veterans who have exhausted their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, the ruling could mean an additional 12 months of Montgomery GI Bill benefits to finish a degree program or start a new one, provided they served at least six years on active duty (three years each to qualify separately for the two programs). 

“We are pleased the Supreme Court has made it clear that when veterans serve their country and qualify for both GI Bill benefit programs, they have the right to those benefits. And we are particularly encouraged that the Supreme Court’s opinion is apparently not limited to situations where a veteran served separate periods of service with a gap in between.”

This decision should allow all veterans who served enough time to earn both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill to be entitled to use both GI Bill benefits in any order, up to the 48-month cap, as long as the benefits are not used concurrently. This is in direct contrast to how the Department of Veterans Affairs has administered the programs. 

Lyons Legacy has supported our veterans for many years and continues to offer programs approved for the use of Veteran’s Education Benefits. We are forever grateful for your service and hope this ruling allows additional veterans to pursue the educational path of their choice.

Additional Resources

Lyons Legacy Latest – May 2024 Newsletter

May 2024 Newsletter

May has been jam-packed for our Lyons Legacy team! Our John & Josh Lyons Certification Program is in the midst of their third week of instruction at the beautiful Boon Ranch in Fort Morgan, CO. The progress we have seen in both the horses and the students has been phenomenal! If you’ve ever had a lesson or done a clinic with Josh, just imagine the progress you could make with 4 weeks of intensive training. If you are ready to invest in yourself and your future, consider joining us in August. Both the John & Josh Lyons Certification Program and the Josh Lyons Accreditation Program are still accepting new students!

During our program break Josh also conducted two clinics.  First was the 5-Day Trainers clinic right at Boon Ranch.  Many of our program students participated alongside a wonderful group of clinic riders who traveled from Oregon, Wyoming, and even Wisconsin to join us for the event! Then it was time for Josh to travel to Montana where we were hosted by Gerry Cox at Mountain House Stables in Corvallis. On a scale of 1-10, Gerry gave us a 60 and is on the books to host us again in 2025.

With just one more week until graduation, we are looking forward to some travel in June and July for clinics.  June will take us to Alaska and July includes trips to North Dakota and Michigan. Make sure you get registered if you plan to attend these events!

Train for success - with THE BEST!

Riders of any discipline are encouraged to join us for a transformative experience riding in a clinic – we are not just for western riders. Josh has an extensive background in jumping and dressage allowing him to help everyone progress and succeed! If you can’t join us yourself, please share these opportunities with your local horse friends and communities. 

There are boarding options available for those traveling to attend the clinic – the clinic host can provide details and make reservations for your horse. Our clinic locations are limited so if ND or MI are in your range, join us – you won’t regret it!

Please note the 5-Day Trainers Clinic in Hickory Corners, MI will be 2 days of Liberty Work and 3 days of Riding. Click on any of the pictures above to be taken directly to the clinic info/registration page.  For general clinic information, check out our Clinic Page.

clothing

Lyons Legacy Gear is available! The General Store has tons of options. The Graduate Access Store has specialized logo options for program graduates. Reach out to Kristen at 615-379-1056 if you are a graduate and need the password to access the store!

Ready to pursue a career with horses? Learn more about what it’s like to be a student from none other than our current student group! 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!

Certification Class – Student Insights

We are always looking for new ways to share information about our program with our followers!  This past week Josh opened up his zoom meeting to the public to share some feedback from the students about their experience thus far in the Certification Program. This conversation is taken from the transcript of that zoom meeting from May 8, 2024.

Josh:  Alright, great. OK, we’re going to try something different with the zoom meeting. We’re actually up here in Colorado teaching class, so we thought it would be fun to open the meeting to the public. We’re going to let each student talk to you guys, kind of tell you their experience about their first two weeks and their unbroken horses and their emotions and what they’re going through. So what we’re gonna do is pass the iPad around and allow you guys also to ask them any questions you’d like as they share their stories.  

Hi guys. My name is Teresa Speer. I come from Missouri. I came here because I didn’t have training in Colt Starting. I have my degree in equine science and I knew that I enjoyed starting colts having started several of them. My friend Alicia, who’s here with me, she convinced me to come, which didn’t take much. Well, I got here and I’ve had many, many light bulb moments. I didn’t think once to start a colt on the ground with a bridle. I always started them with a halter, and that’s how I did my ground training. Once we started in with the bridle and got them softened up, got them moving off, you know we’ve done numerous things already in two weeks. Our first ride today was just short of amazing, just to see how supple they were, how soft, how easy it was and there was no fight. We did a lot, I mean, a LOT of groundwork. I know I calculated up this last three days 25 miles in the deep sand that we’ve done with the driving and ground work. And let me tell you, Josh has worked us and had us work those horses! It has been amazing just to see the process. There’s been a lot of emotions through everyone. It’s fun to watch everyone’s different horses and how they react and how to fix those horses because your horse may not have the same reaction as everyone else’s. It’s pretty cool seeing the different technique for the different horses and how to fix it and having that opportunity because your horse may be one way, another horse may be totally different. So, it’s been pretty cool to watch that and see those different changes and to watch the progression of everything. How short of time they can come along really is just neat. Does anybody have any questions? 

Zoom Guest:  
What type of bit did you use? 

Teresa:  
I started with mine in an O ring snaffle. We all start with the snaffle. 

I’m Liam. I’m from southwest Montana. I am a horse trainer, cowboy, sometimes hand model to pay the bills when cowboying doesn’t work and I work for a nonprofit called Heroes and Horses. If you’re ever looking to donate to veteran organizations, call us, ask about us later and we’ll let you know. Anyway, I brought a totally unbroke Mustang down here that just got out of the Oregon herd last year and it’s been sitting in my back pasture. He lost his mind the first like 2 days and today he was perfect, soft with me riding on top of him. So let’s say the novel or not novel, but the new thing that I’m learning here as opposed to my typical way of doing things is a way of sustained, controlled emotions for the horse. Being able to raise those emotions and then drop them down quickly. Usually, I just blow them up and then jump on them afterwards and I say that’s good enough. The things we’re doing here of sustained manipulation of the horses emotions is definitely paying dividends. I mean that horse, I couldn’t touch it two weeks ago and we were riding it today. So big, big, big improvement, definitely a testament of the efficacy of the program. 

Hey, guys. I’m Alisha. It’s nice to see some of you again. I know I saw some of you guys at some of the clinics last year. I did Accreditation last fall and I took my 10 year old mare. One of the things coming back to Certification class was trying to decide what horses I was going to take with me. So I brought my mare back again that went through Accreditation. It’s been kind of cool to see how all the groundwork and the ground driving, working on a lot of head control from the ground and a lot of stuff that we do in the saddle, but seeing it applied to the broke horses as well has been really helpful. We have 10 students here and each student brought two horses. You could bring a broke and an unbroke or you could bring 2 broke horses. I brought that mare of mine and then my unbroke that I brought is a 2 year old filly. I hadn’t saddled her or anything before we came. She’s been a lot of fun, been learning, really the importance of forward motion in training her. The coolest part has just been being able to see the same methods that are working on that 2 year old unbroke horse working with the other mustang that’s unbroken and Teresa’s three-year old that’s unbroke. Then also seeing it with the season broke horses and watching them get better. So if you guys are thinking about coming and you’re thinking like you might not have the right horses, I promise you do – just bring them and come!

Hey, I’m Paul and I’m from Bayfield, CO. What everybody said is absolutely true. I want to talk about the other benefit of being here – that you get to talk horses with nine other people that do different things with horses than you do, and there’s a whole lot that comes from that. Everybody here is trying to work together and to learn from each other and it’s absolutely amazing. The group that we have, I don’t know if they’re all like this, Josh, but this group is pretty awesome. We all get along. We all respect each other. We all work together. We all help each other. It’s a pretty amazing time. It’s a good facility. The instruction is great! I brought two young, green horses and I am amazed at what my little mare has done since I’ve been here. I’m absolutely dumbfounded and I did it! I don’t know what I’m doing but you know, Josh likes to say do this, do that and next thing I know the horse is doing what I asked him to do. It absolutely works, it definitely works. It’s a good time and I’m looking forward to the next two weeks for sure. You guys got any questions? You guys can ask me anything because, I mean, I’ll tell you! 

Zoom Guest:  
How old is your horse? 

Paul: 
I have one that’s three and one that’s four. 

Zoom Guest:  
OK. And this is the first time that you’re breaking both of them? 

Paul:
No, they were both green broke, had 30 rides at 30 days on them, and then I let them out to winter pasture, didn’t touch them at all. Didn’t put a saddle on them and brought them here as rough as I could possibly bring them.  

Zoom Guest: 
And now they’re all tacked up and ready to go?  

Paul: 
They’re awesome. I mean, absolutely stellar just the things they can do. Remember, we’re being taught and so it’s not like we didn’t spend the last two weeks just working on our horses. We’re watching, we’re learning, we’re learning techniques and but for the amount of hours that we’ve spent with these guys, it’s absolutely amazing the progress that they’ve made. It’s beyond my wildest dreams, sincerely and I have a little pack string that I run and I’m just amazed at the things I’m going to go home and do with those with what I’ve learned. 

Well, I’m from Michigan and I came to better my horsemanship and to learn how to break a colt. It’s been super fun for sure! We’ve had our struggles, definitely, and it’s so worth it. I highly recommend it. One of my favorite parts is probably just watching the horses grow. It’s so cool that I’m like learning with them. I’ve had so many light bulb moments since I came here! The horses I have, I brought a broke horse and am leasing an unbroke horse. I didn’t even know the unbroke before I came, and I already know her probably as much as I do my broke. It’s really cool to do all the exercises and learn so much with them. I love it so definitely glad I came. Also, at 12 years old, I’m the youngest person that’s ever attended the Lyons Legacy program and it’s really fun because I feel very included with everything. I know everyone’s a lot older than me but I I definitely appreciate that I’m included in everything and I’m learning just as much as they are. The first ride today was really cool, I loved it! 

Hi, I’m Lori Nelson. I’m from North Dakota and I’m just going to talk about Ava a little bit. She’s been amazing and she’s keeping up with all of us, so we’re really proud of what she’s doing. I came just wanting to fill in a lot of holes in my horse training and have learned so much. Josh is an amazing teacher. He answers all of our questions, goes through everything! I’ve had so many light bulb moments with both of my horses I brought too. I think Liam was talking about the emotional control and that was a big light bulb! Like bringing your horse up and then letting them come back down and finding the softness through the the release. Sometimes we have to put a lot of pressure on the horses and that was really huge for me. I have just learned a lot and it’s an amazing group of people. It’s fun to see the work ethic and the professionalism that everybody and Josh has. So I’d highly recommend it if you ever get a chance! 

Hi everyone, my name is Katie. I’m also from North Dakota. I came here with Lori. It’s been like everyone said, the group of people we have is amazing and it’s fun to watch everybody go through the journey. If you feel like you’re kind of in a tough spot when you look around everyone’s there and everyone’s willing to help you out. I’m a therapeutic riding instructor and we’ve been wanting to long line our horses for a long time because there’s a lot better movement and impulsion from the hind end, which is the therapeutic part of horses. So, I’m excited! I know that wasn’t an objective of this course, but it’s an added bonus that we’re going to go home and work on that with all of our horses, and it’s really going to help our humans that we help too. 

My name is James. I’m originally from out west here, but I did a military tour and live in Kentucky now. So, I had the opportunity to be able to come here and learn from Josh and the Lyons Legacy. I’ve known about these guys for many, many, many years and what I’ve been so intrigued by was on the performance side. I’ve grown up around horses but in my profession, I got away from them. I’m really interested in the performance side and being able to develop myself, even though I’m getting a little older in age. This particular program, with the colt starting, Josh has definitely got an answer for every problem, especially with this number of students, there’s always something that arises and he always has a solution through his method, and it’s tried and true! We’ve got a diversified group of folks in experience levels and definitely in horse levels. I brought two not finished horses, but they’re green broke horses. It’s helped them doing going back to the basics and bringing them back up. It’s definitely something you should look into if you get the chance and I feel honored just to be able to work with these guys, Josh, his boy, Troy, and the rest of the Legacy family. 

My name is Justyn. I’m from Syracuse, NY, and I came out here just because I was desperate for an opportunity. I’ve been working in barn management for four years and was just dying to do something to take the next step. I came out here and it’s been like I’m already planning what I want to do when I get back home. I’ve learned so much. I’m so excited! The amount of doors that I feel like are going to be opened for me is just remarkable.  

I’m Chance and I’m from the east Eastern Shore of Maryland. I’ve learned a ton here about stealing rides and kind of making sure there’s no holes. In the training with horses and stuff I’ve learned about reading the horses emotions a lot better and handling my own to correct them. 

Some of the things that are amazing about the class, and every class is different, but everybody always has the same common denominator. They have a love for horses. They have a desire to build a business or take their horsemanship to another level. The greatest thing about that is when a group of people get together with the same common goal. It’s pretty hard not to get along! Everybody asks, is every group like this? No, not necessarily,  every group is special, unique. With a group that’s important because one bad chain can really disrupt the class and we don’t have that in this group. It’s just a great group of people. All are willing to help, everybody’s willing to work and the work ethic is unbelievable. 

Lyons Legacy Latest – April 2024 Newsletter

April 2024 Newsletter

Josh, Jana and family had the pleasure of spending all of April at home in AZ!  This was a welcomed break before the craziness of our 2024 clinic schedule kicks into full gear. Next week Josh starts into the Certification Program class in Fort Morgan, CO at the lovely Boon Ranch.  We have 10 students participating and with a group that size we have enlisted the help of Troy Chappell to assist with the class.  We are so excited to welcome this group to the Lyons Legacy family of trainers! 

Starting Wednesday, April 24, 2024, our office will have limited availability during the day to answer calls and emails.  Kristen, our Office Manager, will be attending the IEA National Finals in Tryon, NC as a dressage scribe.  Please feel free to leave a message if you are in need of assistance and she will be sure to attend to messages and emails after show hours.

If you missed the April viewing of the fair, don’t worry! Another opportunity to participate in the Art of the Horseman Online fair is coming up on July 29th and 30th. Over 130 presentations on demand including our own Josh Lyons and the opportunity to purchase lifetime membership for just $197.00. Click the picture to get your free tickets today!

If you are hoping to ride with Josh in 2024, there are several opportunities!  All clinics on this list have space for riders except the November 18-22 clinic in ND. To hold your place in a clinic, you submit your deposit and can pay the balance anytime prior to the start of that clinic.  The amount of knowledge you will gain over the course of a Josh Lyons clinic is unbelievable!  And remember, all horses, all disciplines, all riders are welcome.  If you can’t ride – come audit and take home a wealth of information to apply to your own horses!

Fort Morgan Certification Program Horse Training School
Fort Morgan CO Horse Training School

There is no time like the present to invest in yourself!  Earn your certificate as a Lyons Legacy trainer in 2024 and start pursuing your dreams as a professional in the horse industry. Our Colorado Campus is equipped with both indoor and outdoor arenas, heated barn with automatic waterers, paddocks and pastures, and even hookups for our classes to stay right on site with their horses.  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!

Horse Trainer Highlight

R3 Performance Horses - Ridge Romine

R3 Performance Horses, owned by Ridge and Miranda Romine, offers weekly and monthly training programs, mini clinics, as well as standing On a Moonshine High, aka “Moonshine”, at stud on their farm.  Located in Athens, TN this beautiful facility includes a 10-stall barn, covered arena, and outdoor arena available for clients to use as well as a tack holding room, and wash area. Ridge completed the Josh Lyons Accreditation Program in 2023 leaving Colorado riding, thinking, and teaching at a completely different level which accelerated the success of R3. Meeting back in 2013, Ridge and Miranda established clear goals for what they wanted in their life. With college, military, job placements, and more, they knew moving to Athens, TN offered the balance of family values and lifestyle opportunities they wanted. They welcomed their son, Ryker, to the world in 2019, and their daughter, Royce, in 2023. Together they vowed to cherish time, continually improve each other, and show their children the foundation of a team and partnership.

Upon returning home from deployment with the United States Coast Guard, Ridge shifted his career path, focusing on being the best all-around horseman he can be. In order to continue his education and provide higher quality finish horses after colt starting, Ridge chose the Lyons Legacy program. As Ridge says, “when I attended a 3 day clinic back in 2016, I learned a ton in those 3 short days. I couldn’t get over how much I learned in such a short period of time that it drove me to pursue the Accreditation. The way Josh teaches makes new exercises a lot easier to understand. His analogies when explaining make the concepts stick in your head in a way that really helps me learn.” Here he found where his true passion lies with horses – being able to establish a concrete foundation for a horse and rider so they have the best tools and confidence to navigate through all situations.

“My main thing was to be able to work for myself,” Ridge says. “At the end of the day, I want to be able to work and spend time with my family. The market of training horses has gaps in integrity, communication, and accountability. If I can accomplish client goals and mend the lack of trust in the horse community, then that is what I consider success. Any day on the back of a horse is better than a day working for somebody else. ” After finishing the accreditation, Ridge gained the confidence to start his own business using the tools Josh gave him to answer the questions many people ask.

The Future of R3 Performance Horses

Ridge continues to seek additional learning opportunities to further develop his skills and services. “I would really like to become the best overall horseman I can be. I want to be able to gain enough knowledge and perspective to provide services over multiple disciplines instead of falling into one unique niche. Continuing to learn is a huge goal for my future. The day I say “I know everything about horses” is the day I am wrong. Whenever I get the chance to pick Josh’s brain, I am trying to gain more and more knowledge. I’m grateful Josh is willing to chat, teach, and even mentor when it comes to new, old, and future opportunities.”

Together with his family, R3 Performance horses continues to grow and add new services to their clientele. You can reach the R3 team at: 

TRAINING CONTACT INFO

Phone: (423) 333 – 8782
Email: ridge@r3performancehorses.com

INVOICING & SCHEDULING

Phone: (423) 333 – 8782
Email: miranda@r3performancehorses.com

Student Stories – April 2024 Certification Class

We are so excited for the upcoming John & Josh Lyons Certification class at Boon Ranch starting April 29, 2024! Our group is full and it is a very diverse class.  Take a minute to meet our new crop of students, learn about their history, favorite horses and future goals. We are proud to welcome this group to the Lyons Legacy Family!

Teresa Speer

 
I am currently a part time horse trainer and want to be able to launch my horse training career into full time. I currently race with the BBR and was going to go to the World Finals, however I was afforded the wonderful opportunity of coming to the Certification class! I currently have my degree in Equine Science in Training, however, I chose Lyons Legacy to further my career in training for several reasons. The school I attended did not teach us how to start a colt and even though I have been successful, I want to learn how to be more efficient. I believe foundation and horsemanship are the fundamentals of creating a great horse. My friend Alisha Anderson went to the Accreditation class and told me how fantastic the school was. Trusting my friend having first hand experience, I wanted to experience it for myself. And last but not least who is my favorite horse? Well that is a difficult question. I have several that I love: Bee, my finished barrel horse, is one in a million. She is blind in one eye, but yet she gets the job done with ease. You can throw a kid or inexperienced person on her and she goes down to their level, it’s an amazing sight to witness. Then there is Athena, who is my up and coming barrel horse. This horse is flat outright amazing when it comes to athleticism. I started her in December on the barrel and pole pattern and she has already won $1000 with limited races. She has surpassed Bee in speed and she is still just on cruise control! Then there is Moonshine, who I am bringing to the program. This horse is 3 and acts as if she is 15; after 30 days of training I was able to shoot a gun off her back! So with that being said that is a loaded question on who is my favorite horse, because quite frankly I love most horses!
 

Alisha Anderson

 
Hey! My future plans are to sell horses that I’ve trained through my program that are consistent, reliable, and enjoyable rope horses. I chose Lyons Legacy again because the Accreditation program was amazing! In the last 6 months, I’ve been able to use the methods I learned with Josh to better riders of all backgrounds. His methods are efficient and they work. I have been providing private lessons and plan to continue offering private lessons and clinics in the future.
My favorite horse is by far SoCo. Yes, she’s named after Southern Comfort! I got her as a halter broke 2 yr old and she’s been through so much with me while I’ve learned along the way. She’s my travel companion and my test dummy for every crazy idea of mine. I’m excited to attend Certification this year and I can’t wait to meet you all!

Chance Sexton

Hello! I have a western background, but I work with a couple of horses of different disciplines at my current job and really enjoy it. I plan to eventually be able to sell reliable and trustworthy trail and pleasure horses. I chose Lyons legacy to learn more methods that can be applied to many disciplines and have enjoyable trail horses regardless of background. Pic of my favorite, my boss’s Tennessee walking horse Scooter and I.

Justyn La Manna

My future plans for my horse career are to be able to support myself through horsemanship, while helping “problem horses” and getting young horses started out on the right foot. I chose Lyons Legacy because I have always felt behind in my horsemanship journey and felt as though having time to focus solely on horses with a talented mentor is just what I need. Lastly my favorite horse is a gelding named Duncan that I have lessoned on for a couple of years and have been taking care of at my current job helping to manage a lesson facility.

Liam Burnside

I chose Lyons Legacy for my training because I previously studied under one of John Lyon’s students from back in the day and he spoke very highly of John and Josh. I hope that this program equips me with the tools to create my own successful business.
I work part time as a horse trainer now and volunteer often with a non-profit for veterans doing equine therapy (among other things). My plan for my future is to be able to support myself full time with horse training and eventually to start my own non-profit to support veterans through horsemanship. My favorite horse right now that I’m working with is a nervous nelly named Noah. He’s my friend’s horse and a big ball of nerves, but he’s such a smart and emotive horse once you can get his head.

Ava Scovel

I know I want to do something with horses, and I think I might like to be a trainer and a clinician because I like teaching people and horses. I’m hoping this course will help me decide what I’m going to do in the horse industry. I had a great experience riding in a Josh Lyons clinic last summer, and Josh’s methods were really effective on my horse. He really helped me understand why we were using the techniques he was teaching. Josh made training a horse seem like a piece of cake! Chloe is my favorite horse! She is a 21 year old buckskin Foundation Quarter Horse. I can count on Chloe to take care of me in the arena, in the show pen, or on the trails. She’s patient with me while I learn new things, but she constantly challenges me to be a better rider.

Katie Oakland

 
Hi everyone! I am lucky enough to be involved with horses in various aspects of my life ❤️. I grew up showing horses, however we have switched over to the rodeo world following our kiddos and their dreams. My family (husband & 3 kiddos) and I house a therapeutic riding and Equine Assisted Services center on our farm. I am a certified therapeutic riding instructor for TR 4 Heart and Soul. I also teach Equine Studies courses at the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College. My future plans are to help build solid performance horses with my family, and encourage the highest level of horsemanship possible for our Equine Assisted Services participants and our Equine Studies students. After riding with Josh at a clinic, it was clear that the Lyons program encompasses the highest level of values and horsemanship, and it will benefit our programs to become a mentor and incorporate the principles of Lyons Legacy into our programming. My favorite horse… such a tough question… I would have to say Eva.

James Stephens

https://southerncrossrvpark.com/

I grew up on a cattle ranch in which we used horses as a tool on the ranch. I had an opportunity to join the military which changed my path for a 31 year career but all circles return to where I started. My wife and I own Southern Cross Ranch and have a small herd of horses we breed and train. Our family have always had horses and now I have the means and time to develop the knowledge I feel that true horsemanship requires.  Josh Lyons  and Lyons Legacy are renowned in this area so I hoped to be able to develop this knowledge through participation in their program. My favorite horse is the horse in my picture – a buckskin named Vaquero.

Lori Nelson

www.nhsc.edu/equine 
NHSC Equine Studies and Ag-tivities

I currently teach equine courses (Equine Nutrition, Equine Care & Management) at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, a tribal college in North Dakota. Our coursework also includes Equine Assisted Services, in which we integrate trauma-informed principles along with culture and relational horsemanship. I have shown horses in my younger days but now focus on barrel racing at rodeos and ranching with my husband. I would like to improve my horsemanship and training skills to improve my own training/performance program and to better prepare students for the real-world and integrate higher level horsemanship into our program. I have chosen Lyons Legacy because Josh is an amazing teacher and we value him for his strong faith and ethical principles. Not only is he talented at teaching advanced skills, he is able to break down things down and explain in simple steps. He does a fantastic job at balancing communication and relationship with horses with practical coaching/teaching lessons to our horses with high level results. My favorite horse is my current horse that I compete on, Fame. 

Paul Wilcock

Hazel Croft Farm

My future plans for my horse career are to train my own horses, maybe I will rescue and train a mustang or two. I want to be a resource for my local equine community. I think it all depends on how much I enjoy training horses! Possibly offer some training of other’s horses as well. I chose Lyons Legacy because honestly, it was the first one I saw that accepted the GI Bill. Then I asked around to some of my horse mentor people and they all said John Lyons has been recognized as a great horse trainer for many years. Although only a few people knew of Josh, they all said it was a great opportunity for some great experience. So I watched a bunch of YouTube videos of Josh, called the school and got enrolled! My favorite horse…. he recently had to be put down. His name was Two-Bit, he was a 12 yo grade horse that didn’t love people but was a stellar horse. He and I had an amazing bond. So, now, I would say Hunter, my coming 4 yo AQHA gelding. He has a great mind and wants to learn which makes him pretty easy to train.  

Earn Your Lyons Legacy Certificate

2024 classes at our Colorado campus are still available and accepting registration! The John & Josh Lyons Certification Program dates are August 5th – September 13th – this program focuses on starting horses under saddle. The Josh Lyons Accreditation Program dates are August 19th – September 27th – this program focuses on finishing work and higher level performance concepts. Register Now and start living your dream!

Lyons Legacy Latest – March 2024 Newsletter

March 2024

March feels like it is whipping by and spring is upon us! It has also proven to be a busy month for Josh, starting with two days of private sessions with an amazing group of ladies from North Dakota. We had a great time with Megan, Deb, and Alicia and look forward to seeing them again when we head their way in November!

A few days later, Josh hit the mid west for two 5-Day clinics with a couple days of private sessions in between.  First stop, the lovely WKU L.D. Brown Ag & Expo Center in Bowling Green, KY.  We saw familiar faces from past KY clinics, some Lyons Legacy graduates, and a great group of first time Lyons clinic riders. We even had the Amateur Champion of the 2020 Appalachian Trainer Face Off hosted by the Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue join us for a few days! One of our riders, Natalie, put it best when she said ” the best part was our group of riders, your attitudes were all amazing, everyone was friendly with smiles.”

Then it was off to Reflections Equestrian Center for two days of private sessions leading up to another 5-Day Clinic.  Josh was able to help a young, unstarted stallion get going under saddle – a fun way to spend the afternoon! The clinic group includes many past attendees and of course some graduates came through to say hi and lend a hand. Everyone at Reflections makes our team feel like they are right at home. Thank you to both WKU and Reflections for your hospitality and sharing your beautiful facilities for our events!          

Easter Sunday Prayer

Oh Lord, You loved this world so much that you gave your one and only Son, that we might be called your children too. Lord, help us to live in the gladness and grace of Easter Sunday every day. Let us have hearts of thankfulness for your sacrifice. Let us have eyes that look upon Your grace and rejoice in our salvation. Please help us to walk in that mighty grace and tell your good news to the world. All for Your glory do we pray, Lord, Amen.

Still accepting riders and auditors for the April clinics in Arizona! Click the picture to register, auditors can sign up by clicking here.

Ready to pursue a career with horses?  Join us in 2024 to earn your certification!  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!

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!

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!

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!

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

Horse Trainer Highlight

Breakthrough Horsemanship - Alisha Anderson

Alisha Anderson has two passions. Teaching – and horses!

Currently she’s on the road assisting with Josh Lyons clinics and traveling around the country. She has combined those passions into the career she hopes to follow for years to come.

Working with Josh happened ‘by the Grace of God’ and she’s thankful for the opportunity, she says. She graduated from the Josh Lyons Accreditation Program in 2023 and has plans to also complete the John & Josh Lyons Certification Program in April 2024.

While the Josh Lyons training helped Alisha hone her skills, she bought her first horse years before while serving in the Air Force and stationed in North Dakota. Her love of horses started as a youngster when she lived on a farm for a time. She took riding lessons even after her family moved off the farm and into an apartment. She said she worked on a dairy farm as a teenager and saved her money to help pay for the lessons.

Her goal has been a career centered around horses. She admits she’s still figuring it out. Her business, Breakthrough Horsemanship, offers travel lessons as well as horse training.

“I love teaching and I have a passion for that. I missed working with students,” she said about her time worked as an instructor in the Air Force. “I like what I’m doing now because I participate in clinics and private lessons – and I like the travel. From here it’s a matter of figuring out when and where.”

She credits her own love of learning and working with others to getting her where she is today.

“I attended clinics and did all I could to learn and network,” she said. “I enjoy teaching – and horses – and I enjoy putting the two together.”

Find out more about Josh Lyons clinics and their upcoming dates and locations at joshlyons.com

Spanish Cowhorse & Performance Horses - Angel Ramirez

Angel Ramirez is just 17 years old, but she’s already completed the Josh Lyons Accreditation Program, becoming the second generation in her family to do so.

And she knows what she wants for her future – continuing to operate the family ranch with the help of her sisters.

In the meantime, she is continuing her training and she loves competing.

“Josh Lyons has been a family friend for 20 years and my mom trained with him back in 2002,” she said. “It’s an awesome community to be around so it was a no brainer to be trained by him.”

Her family’s ranch is home to 400 cattle and it’s located in Montana, about 30 miles outside of Billings.

In addition to working on the ranch she competes in cow horse competitions like reining and cutting. Because she is under age 18 she competes in youth classes. She started out in rodeos, competing in barrels and pole bending. She competes in non-pro classes but would like to someday compete in pro circuits, too.

“My favorite event is the open roping,” she said. “I’ve been doing that since I was 13.”

“I just love competing and the horsemanship of it,” she added. “It’s a great community and there are some good jackpots, rider earnings and horse earnings.”

Her goal is to do both ranching and competing. But for now she’s home-schooled. Her favorite subject is history and she says she’s good at math. It’s not all about books, though. Depending on the day, she might spend the day fixing fencing or helping at neighboring ranches. She likes the routine because it keeps her on her toes.

Right now she’s working on training her youngest horse. She has several quarter horses: Abilene, Pecos, Buck and Star to name a few. She prefers Quarter Horses because of their grit, athleticism, and willingness to work.

“They’re solid,” she said.

She’s continuing her work with Josh Lyons, too, including a five-day clinic this month.

Lyons Legacy Latest – October 2023 Newsletter

What a busy month! Our wonderful training horse, No Better Cat aka Boon, has spent time with the Scottsdale Equine Reproduction Center team receiving training on the phantom in preparation for his upcoming breeding season.  He took to it like a fish to water and his swimmers tested phenomenally for both cooled and frozen shipments. If you are interested in breeding your mare to Boon or want more information, click the link below.

While Boon was learning the ropes of standing at stud, Josh travelled to Reflections Equestrian Center in Missouri for a 5-Day Trainers Clinic as well as a 3-Day Riding Clinic. We were blown away by our youngest rider – just 9 years old! These up and coming horse enthusiasts are just as hard working and talented as the adult riders.  Following the Missouri clinics, Josh then headed to North Carolina to hold a 3-Day Riding clinic at Michael Lyons Horsemanship. Not only did Josh get to enjoy working on maneuvers and finishing work with the group, but also got to spend time with family.  Thank you to both of these facilities for hosting us!

Josh is now enroute to North Dakota for another set of clinics at the brand new and heated Twin Buttes Fairgrounds arena. We are so appreciative to the tribe for allowing us use of their beautiful facility and look forward to some great events!

Our next adventure takes us to Naples, FL! This clinic has space for two more riders and auditors are welcome for just $25/day. Join us for a fun and informative event! Click the picture for more information.

Arizona clinics ready to register riders! Click the picture for info or to register, auditors can sign up by clicking here.

Horse Training Events
Horse Training Events

Ready to pursue a career with horses?  Join us in 2024 to earn your certification!  We are excited to announce our Arizona programs will be held at a private facility in San Tan Valley, AZ.  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!

Protecting your Veterans Benefits from Scams

Spotting Education Scams - Protect your Veterans Benefits!

Furthering your education or starting a new career can be daunting.  For those who have served in our military, it’s coupled with transitioning back to civilian life as well. Veterans are often the target of deceptive recruiting practices so we would like to share some information about protecting your benefits from scams.

Advertisements requiring you to give personal information or pay a fee for employment, especially those targeting specific demographics can be misleading or even fake. 
You can find free, official information about federal jobs at usajobs.govFedsHiresVets.gov, and CareerOneStop.org.

Be wary of educational institutions that promise immediate student loan forgiveness or debt cancellation to entice Veterans to enroll in classes. Be sure to research Loan Forgiveness to understand how and if you may qualify.

A  “guarantee”  to Veterans for a scholarship in exchange for a redemption/processing fee is often a red flag along with promised incentives such as free laptops, gift cards, or other “freebies” for enrolling in courses.

Beware of high-pressure sales pitches where you feel pressured to pay a fee immediately or risk losing the so-called “opportunity”  for a scholarship or financial aid.

horse training school

At Lyons Legacy, we are committed to providing not only a top notch educational experience but the resources our Veteran students need to protect themselves and their benefites.  For additional resources about utilizing your benefits, check out our Military Friendly page. You can also find resources like the GI Bill comparison tool and other information on our Isakson & Roe Disclosures page.

Lyons Legacy Latest – August 2023 Newsletter

The month of August has proven to be a nice change of pace for the Lyons Legacy team after spending June and July on the road.  The Josh Lyons Accreditation class started their program on August 7th at the lovely Mesa County Fairgrounds in Grand Junction, Colorado.  They will spend 4 weeks working personally with Josh, ultimately joining the family of Lyons Legacy Trainers!  Students hail from Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Missouri, Montana, and Ohio.  They are a fantastic group and we are looking forward to resuming class on Monday, September 4th.

We’d like to give a special shout out to all our host facilities for 2023:

Upcoming 3-Day clinics: Click Here

Upcoming 3-Day clinics: Click Here

Train for success – with THE BEST!

Josh and Johnny are looking to take on a few new training horses as soon as September.  One space open with Josh, two open with Johnny.  Horses receive approximately 4 hours of training per day and tons of exposure! Call Kristen at 615-379-1056 for more information.

 

 

 

 

Still accepting riders and auditors for the October clinics in Festus, MO! Click the picture to register, auditors can sign up by clicking here.

 

 

Ready to pursue a career with horses?  Join us in 2024 to earn your certification!  We are excited to announce our Arizona programs will be held at a private facility in San Tan Valley, AZ.  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!

APPLY NOW

 

New Campus in Arizona!

The Lyons Legacy program is ever expanding to meet the needs of our clientele.  We would like to take a minute to share some exciting news!  Our team has been working behind the scenes to offer certificate programs in the state of Arizona.  It is with great excitement that we share our approval by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education.

The Board licenses and regulates 217 private postsecondary educational institutions operating vocational and degree programs. Each new license application contains 23 items that must be reviewed and approved by Staff and then the full State Board. This includes CPA prepared financial statements, certificates of insurance, surety bonds, course descriptions and faculty resumes to name a few.  On average, it takes between 180 to 240 days to process a new application.

This monumental task could not have been completed without the hard work of some key Lyons Legacy team members! Jana Lyons, Owner/SCO Director, deserves the “Lyons” share of credit as she was responsible for submitting documentation, presenting our program information to the Board, facilitating an on-site visit, and much more.  Michele Lenard, Program Consultant, was essential in creating the documents required for submission and meeting the requirements for Board approval.  Kristen Bosgraf, Office Manager, also provided resource support to the team as they prepared for submission and presentation of our program materials.

What does this mean for our students?  A new campus location for students to pursue a professional career training horses!  In 2023, the Arizona campus will offer the L2-Intermediate Professional Horseman Program January 9 – February 17.  This program, also known as the Josh Lyons Accreditation Program in Colorado, is designed for trainers and riders who are ready to take their training to the next level.  This Program will equip you with the foundation and skills to become a professional rider and trainer. It is structured to specifically target and refine the training techniques needed to go to the show pen or train higher level performance-based riders and clients.

Our students come from a diverse range of riding disciplines, including but not limited to reining, dressage, cutting, jumping, barrel racing, ranch horse versatility, ranch sorting, mounted shooting and/or extreme trail riding. The L2-Intermediate Professional Horseman Program is designed as a four-week hands on course, working personally with Josh, to obtain the skills necessary to reach your desired goals.  Classes have a maximum of 10 students, so each student gets a unique, personal experience throughout the program.

The next step for our Arizona Campus is approval to accept Veterans Benefits.  Jana, Michele, and Kristen are currently working through that process.  At this time, we are accepting applications for the upcoming L2 program for all self-pay students.  If you are ready to join the Lyons Legacy Team – contact us today!

Arizona Campus Information

Straight Talk from Students – The Accreditation Program

Troy Chappell and April Scarbrough are classmates in Josh Lyons’ accreditation program. But that’s not all they have in common.

Both have had successful careers in the past – Troy as a farmer in North Dakota, April as an active duty Marine – and both now hope to start a new career training horses and helping others in the process.

“I’ve downsized and I figured I’d retire and do something I enjoy,” Troy said. “As a farmer I had horses and I’ve done tons and tons of trail riding but as I age I want to do more than just ride – I want to teach.”

Troy, 59, said he’s helped people in the past, privately, but never as a business. That’s what he wants to change with Lyons’ help.

“This program is just the best,” he said. “Josh makes you feel like family – there’s no pressure. He really helps you tune in to what you want to do.”

One technique that sticks with him is a technique that helps the horse – and rider – let go of unwanted stress. He describes taking the horse in slow, small circles and then slowly increasing speed and moving in bigger circles.

“It raises their emotions up and down … it helps to control the horse’s emotions,” he said. “There are tons of exercises to control parts of the horse’s body – it’s kind of complex, but we break it down and put it together.

“I’m just here to better myself,” Troy said. “A horse is never really finished, and as a horseman, you never stop learning – it’s kind of a lifelong thing.”

The accreditation program is a four-week, hands on course. Trainers learn to control every aspect of a horse’s performance. The program offers targeted training techniques aimed at training higher level horses and riders.

These students say the program is about the horse, but it’s about the trainer too. They say no horseman – or horse woman – is the same – you take what works for you and leave the rest.

April retired from the marines a over a year ago. At 43, she hopes to become an equine therapeutic riding instructor.

“I looked at the qualifications for an equine therapeutic riding instructor and I realized my riding was lacking,” she said. “My brother had horses and I rode as a little girl – trail rides and wagons. As an adult I tried barrel racing and also practiced dressage. But I knew I wanted to learn more.”

She knew early on the Lyons program was different.

“I’ve learned more in two weeks than I did in all the years before,” she said. “There are definitely differing skill levels, but there’s no judgement here. I’m the least experienced but it’s no big deal.”

April wants to team up with a non-profit to help treat women suffering from trauma, specifically military sexual trauma, which refers to experiences of sexual assault or sexual harassment that a Veteran experiences during military service.

“The VA has counseling and therapy but no specific activity to get them off the couch and out of their heads.”

She also pointed to the Lyons organizations use of the GI Bill® Benefits as another factor that drew her to the Lyons program.

These benefits help qualified veterans pay for college, graduate school or training programs.

“I’ve been very grateful for that,” she said.