Natural Horsemanship Apprenticeship Program

Ever Dreamed of a Career Training Horses?

We'd Love to Help You Get Started!

Learn a new language....

Become the leader horses want to follow....

Begin your Journey into Natural Horsemanship.

What is Natural Horsemanship?

Horsemanship is the way humans interact with horses.  Natural Horsemanship is communicating with horses in their language thus making it natural to the horse.  If you understand what is important to a horse, are able to read each horse's horse-nality, know how, why and when to respond, the possibilities of what you can achieve with your horse are endless!

Why Invest in the Natural Horsemanship Apprenticeship Program?

1.  Achieve Grade 14 in the Rounds Ranch Natural Horsemanship Program with your horse and with one of the horses from the Ranch.

2.  Acquire the necessary foundation required for pursuing a career in training horses naturally.

3.  Opens the door to greater opportunities where you will be able to choose your area of expertise.  (For example:  Starting young horses, finishing horses, problem solving, training for specific events and disciplines etc.)

4.  Work with a large variety of horses with varying issues as well as assisting in starting young horses.  There is absolutely no substitute for handling dozens of horses and reading different horse-nalties when pursuing a career in horse training.  This is an invaluable opportunity and critical to your learning in becoming a professional horseman.

5.  Obtain horsemanship skills that will last a lifetime!  Even if you do not pursue a career with horses you will gain valuable knowlege, achieve amazing results with your horse and gain huge insights in personal relationships.

6.  The Apprenticeship Program is a very cost effective way to learn Natural Horsemanship.

What you will Learn

The following are a few highlights of what you can expect to learn in the program.

On the ground training, teach your horse to:

~ Catch you instead of you catching the horse

~ Stand for you while being groomed and tacked without being tied

~ Come to you at liberty when you are on the mounting block or fence for you to mount

~ Be completely confident around frightening objects and in all situations

~ Do flying lead changes on the circle at liberty

~ Go over jumps and cross through water and ditches at liberty

~ Load onto a trailer up to 40 ft. away at liberty

~ Approach and retreat sideways at liberty

On horseback, teach your horse to:

~Perform immediate transitions from walk to trot to canter to gallop to walk to back up without using reins

~ Willingly follow your focus wherever you want to go without needing to use the reins.

~ Do flying and simple lead changes with and without the use of reins on straight lines and turns.

~ Ride bareback and bridleless wherever you want to go at all gaits, as well as through transitions from halt to canter and back to halt.

~ Jump 2 ft. or higher bareback and bridleless

~ Perform simple lead changes, bareback and bridleless

~ Stand on your horse's back

~ Bridle and unbridle while mounted

~ Ride sideways with and without reins

Cost of Program:  $1250 + GST per month.  (One Year Program)  10% deposit required upon acceptance into the program.   Balance of the first month's payment is due one month prior to the beginning of the program.  Subsequent payments are due the first of each month.  Non refundable.

Accommodations:  Shared On-Site Housing $250 + utilities per month.  (Limited space available) We will assist you in finding local affordable accommodations if the on-site housing is filled.

Employment Opportunity:  To help reduce the cost of the program you may have the opportunity to work at the Ranch doing daily chores, leading trail rides in the summer months and/or working in the AgTourism part of the Ranch.  You will receive a credit of $10 per hour toward your next month's payment.

Also, upon completion of the one year program, you may have the opportunity to become employed at Rounds Ranch teaching lessons and training horses.

Special Events:  Throughout the year there will be fun activities planned i.e.

                        ~ Trail rides through a large Provincial Forest

                        ~ Evening socials around a campfire

                        ~ Cornfield maze challenge

                        ~ Fun evenings on horseback playing games

                        ~ Moving cattle on horseback

                        ~ Plus more fun and adventurous activities!

Location:  Rounds Ranch, (Just North of Barrie)  1922 County Road 92, R.R.# 2 Elmvale, Ontario  705-322-6293

Application Process:  Email Geri Rounds at ger@roundsranch.com for an application form.

"Invest in yourself to become the horseman you dreamed of"