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It's All in the Details — Taking a Good Horse to a Finished Horse! 🐴
Join Michelle Jerry, Ken McNabb Master Trainer, for an intensive five-day clinic dedicated entirely to the art of finishing horses!
This clinic is something I am extremely passionate about! I love the fine-tuning, the little details, and watching a horse and rider develop the timing, feel, softness, and precision that take their horsemanship to the next level.
This is not a foundation clinic or a colt-starting clinic. This is an advanced, all-riding clinic designed for riders and horses who already have a solid foundation and are ready to build on it.

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What is finishing work?

Finishing work is about taking everything your horse already knows and making it better!

It's the difference between a horse that can perform a maneuver and a horse that can perform that maneuver correctly, willingly, smoothly, and with the lightest possible cues.

We aren't just looking for a stop — we're looking for a balanced, soft, correct stop.

We aren't just looking for a turn — we're looking for a horse that understands how to guide through its body, maintain balance, and respond to the rider's seat and legs.

And we aren't just looking for a spin — we're looking for correct footwork, body position, timing, rhythm, and softness.

It's not about doing MORE with your horse. It's about doing what you already know BETTER!

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What will we be working on?

Throughout our five days together, we will focus on the finer details of riding and training, including:

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• Collection & Softness: Developing a horse that carries itself correctly, stays soft through its body, and responds willingly to the rider.

• Guiding & Steering: Refining how your horse follows your seat, legs, and body while reducing dependence on the reins.

• Body Control: Developing independent control of the shoulders, rib cage, and hindquarters.

• Spins & Turnarounds: Working on correct footwork, balance, speed, rhythm, and responsiveness.

• Stops & Backups: Improving engagement, straightness, softness, and the overall quality of your stops and backups.

• Transitions & Speed Control: Creating smooth transitions, maintaining consistent rhythm, and developing better control at all gaits.

• Straightness & Balance: Helping your horse travel correctly, stay between your reins and legs, and maintain balance through maneuvers.

• Timing, Feel & Release: Learning how the smallest adjustments in your riding can make the biggest difference.

• Putting It All Together: Combining individual maneuvers into patterns and developing consistency, precision, and responsiveness.

 

We will focus not only on HOW to perform these maneuvers but also WHY they work, WHAT makes them correct, and HOW to recognize and fix the little things that can make such a big difference.

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What to expect during the five days

Come prepared to RIDE, LEARN, and WORK!

This is an all-riding clinic, and we will be spending our time in the saddle working through the details.

Each participant will bring TWO horses, allowing us to work on different challenges, develop different skills, and apply what we are learning to more than one horse.

Not every horse will be at the same place in its finishing process, and that is perfectly fine! We will work with each horse and rider where they are while continuing to challenge them to improve.

You can expect:

• Hands-on instruction and individual coaching from Michelle.

• Plenty of time in the saddle working on specific maneuvers.

• Detailed explanations of the timing, feel, and body control behind each exercise.

• Opportunities to work through challenges and make corrections.

• Progressive exercises that build on what we accomplish throughout the week.

• An emphasis on developing YOU as a rider and trainer, not just improving your horse.

We will be working hard, but we will also be taking the time necessary to make sure the horses understand what we are asking.

The goal isn't perfection in five days. The goal is progress, understanding, and giving you the tools to continue developing a more finished horse long after the clinic ends.

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Daily Schedule

January 19–23, 2027 (Tuesday–Saturday)

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Morning Riding Session

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch Break

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Afternoon Riding Session

That's 6½ hours of riding and instruction each day, totaling 32½ hours over the five-day clinic!

Our 1½-hour lunch break will give everyone time to eat, rest, care for their horses, and recharge before the afternoon session.

All training will take place in our HEATED INDOOR ARENA at Heart & Hooves in Deer River, Minnesota.

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Who is this clinic for?​​

This clinic is designed for accredited trainers and experienced riders who are ready to take their horsemanship to the next level.

Participant Requirements:

• Must be an accredited trainer or approved by Michelle Jerry.

• Must receive pre-registration approval before signing up.

• Must bring two horses with established riding foundations.

• Horses must already walk, trot, and lope confidently under saddle.

• Horses must be physically capable of participating in five days of riding.

• Riders must be comfortable working at an advanced level and willing to challenge themselves.

This is NOT a beginner or foundation clinic.

We will be focusing on advanced riding, refinement, and finishing work rather than teaching the basic fundamentals.

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Registration, Approval, & Payment

PRE-REGISTRATION APPROVAL IS REQUIRED!

All riders must be approved by Michelle Jerry before registering to ensure that both horse and rider are prepared for the level of training offered.

• Total Tuition: $1,250

• Non-Refundable Deposit: $250 due at registration

• Remaining Balance: $1,000

• Payment Deadline: December 1, 2026

All clinic fees must be paid in full by December 1, 2026. Includes participation in all five days of instruction and stalls for two horses.

Requiring full payment ahead of time allows us to confirm our participants, ensure the clinic is filled, and properly plan for five days of advanced training.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE — FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!

Your spot is not secured until you have received approval, and your deposit has been received.

• Check mailed to 36105 State Highway 6 Deer River, MN 56636

• Venmo: @Michelle-Jerry​-1

• 7% processing fee on credit card payments​

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Auditing ​Opportunities

Want to learn without bringing a horse?

We will also be offering a limited number of auditing spots!

Auditors can observe the training process, watch the maneuvers being developed, and gain a better understanding of the timing, feel, and techniques involved in finishing horses.

Auditing Fees:

• $25 per day

• $100 for the entire five-day clinic

Auditing spots are limited! You must contact Michelle directly to reserve your spot.

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Why I'm offering this clinic​

Finishing work is truly one of my favorite parts of training horses.

There is something incredibly rewarding about watching all the little pieces come together. When a horse begins to understand the smallest cues, the rider develops better feel, and everything starts to flow, that's when the magic happens!

I want to share that passion with riders who are excited to learn, willing to put in the work, and ready to challenge themselves.

My goal is for you to leave this clinic with not only more refined horses but also a deeper understanding of the training process and the confidence to continue that work at home.

It's not about how many maneuvers your horse knows. It's about how well your horse understands them and how little you have to do to communicate what you're asking.

That's what finishing work is all about!

Come ready to RIDE. Come ready to LEARN. Come ready to WORK!

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