615.379.1056

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!

Clinics – The Key to your Success

Choosing a Clinic

In today’s market, there are a wide variety of clinicians available to the horse community. Choosing which clinic is the right fit for you and your goals can feel overwhelming! Read on for some tips about what makes a good clinician and how to get the most out of your clinic experience.

L1-Horse Training Program clinic

What makes a good clinician?

So often we find that great trainers and showmen are not necessarily great instructors.  We head to a clinic with a well known professional only to find that they are lacking in communication skills. Teaching people and helping them find success is very different than working with the horses solo. Humans and horses communicate in very different ways so it is important to find a clinician that has a proven track record of being able to communicate with the people participating in their clinic. In addition, a good clinician should be able to explain an exercise or correction in a variety of ways so that every participant, regardless of level, can understand the concept and apply it to their horse.

"Josh was amazing at understanding the level of rider I want to be with my horse. I’m not a Reiner, I’m a Ex Dressage Rider, now a National Park Trail Rider! I have many years in the saddle, Josh was able to teach me and my horse how to be a “TEAM” on the trail through his exercise drills. Confidence, Commitment and Clear Communication is what I rode away with and so did my Warmblood!!"

Another factor to consider is versatility. Does this clinic apply to all styles of riding or is it specialized to one specific discipline? We often forget that no matter what game you want to play with your horse, all horses communicate the same way. So, does the horse care if you put a western or an english saddle on them? Not at all! Good riding is good riding, no matter what saddle you are using. Find a clinic that embraces all horses, all levels, all disciplines – this demonstrates the understanding your clinician has about horse training and their capability to modify their instruction to suit your personal goals.

Getting the most out of your clinic experience

The first decision to make when choosing a clinic is – should I participate as a rider or as an auditor? For those unfamiliar, auditing is attending the clinic as a spectator and taking notes to reference when you go home and apply the concepts to your own horses. Auditing is a fantastic, low pressure way to glean amazing information with the backdrop of live riders working through their individual challenges. Often there are riders experiencing your same issues. Auditing allows you to watch the corrections in real time and see the impact it had for both the rider and the horse.

"I audited a three day riding clinic in Naples, FL this past December. I wasn’t sure what to expect but was treated with the same respect shown to the riders in the clinic even though I only paid a very affordable daily fee. Josh was approachable and very knowledgeable. I admired his willingness to describe past mistakes in his training approach over the years and how he learned from them. That is always appreciated because no one is perfect. His opening rider’s meeting was super helpful and I was included in the meeting without feeling out of place. His instructions during the clinic were broken down into basic steps along with the rationale. He gave good feedback to his class and helped with specific problems some were having."

Riding in the clinic adds some additional responsibilities to the experience – hauling, caring for your horse, and working through all that comes with a new environment. For many recreational riders, traveling with your horse may be intimidating. With the right clinician, all of this is totally worth it! A good clinician will take the time to address your specific problem areas and work to build your confidence every step of the way as well as providing a wide variety of take home tools to facilitate your continued success. So how can you be a good participant?

  • Be on time and ready to work every day of the clinic
  • Be realistic about the goals you set for yourself and your horse
  • Ask questions! More importantly, ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer
  • Research your clinician and his methodolgies prior to the event to ensure your priorities align
  • Consider bringing a friend to audit and take notes while you ride so you can focus on the task at hand

"I've never been so wowed by a family, like I am theirs! They go above and beyond just to help someone with their horse. My horse and I were part of the 2016 Hoosier horse fair in Indianapolis and the Lyons helped me so so much, from saddle fitting, to pad help, to showing me many many other things with my mare, including reassuring me and making me stray away from giving up hope!! I am certainly blessed to have personally meet this family!! I will never forget any of the Lyons and I will never forget what they did for me and my horse in the short time of being around them!! Thank you guys again so so much, it's people like you who give others hope and make some realize that there are still good people in this crazy world!!"

Upcoming Josh Lyons Clinics

You can access clinic registration pages from our Event Calendar. Clinic registration pages include specifics for the facility hosting our team. General clinic information can be found on our Clinic Page. Clinics are limited to just 15 riders so hold your spot today!

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

Intensive Horse Training Workshops in Scottsdale, AZ!

Attending a workshop with Josh Lyons is an incredible way to improve your horsemanship and your relationship with your horse.  Workshops are designed to meet the needs of each individual rider – no student is overlooked or gets lost in a “production line”. Our small class size allows everyone to find SUCCESS!!!

During the course of  3-Day Workshops you can expect that both horse and rider will learn foundation exercises, lessons, and principals covered in the conditioned response program offered at Lyons Legacy. Riders will first and foremost learn to effectively control their horse.  No matter if you have been horseback for years or rode a horse years ago, all riders have the same common goal: to improve the level of control they have in regards to the horse they are riding.  Lyons Legacy is here to help you reach that goal and take your horsemanship to the next level.

The cost of our 3- Day Workshop is $900 per horse and rider.  Auditors (Fence sitters) are always welcome for $25 per day.

5-Day workshops are 1 Week of totally immersive hands-on instruction. The instructor will utilize the see
one, do one, and teach one training methodology. Instruction and demonstrations will be given
during the morning and afternoon sessions. The riders will then train on their horse to perform
the exercises. Small class sizes allow coaching and evaluation to build your skills in a fun,
supportive setting.

The cost of our 5- Day Workshop is $1250 per horse and rider.  Auditors (Fence sitters) are always welcome for $25 per day.

Check out our EVENTS page to find a clinic or get signed up!