Tallman Training Centre

Affordable Quality Horse Training and Sales

Clinics - Special Introductory Pricing

Please Note:  Prices listed here are offered for the FIRST 4 CLINICS BOOKED.  After that pricing will be subject to reevaluation, so book early!

Option #1:  Participation Clinic:  participants working with their own horses - troubleshooting problems, basic horsemanship skills, most things come back to groundwork.  Group session with each participant getting individual attention.  Full day, 2 sessions (morning 8-12/afternoon 1-5).  If there are 2 different experience levels in the group, the sessions are best divided between experience levels, however, if there are few riders (up to about 5) each rider could have a morning slot and afternoon slot.  
Price:  $200/day up to 8 riders (4 per session) + mileage, accommodation & meals.  Mileage is .50/km between my house & yours.  No "fast food", white bread, processed cheese or balogna.  If more than 8 riders, days can be extended after supper for an extra charge ($25/hour).

Option #2:  Demonstration Clinic:  Basic round penning skills, foundation building.  Need a new horse for each 1 hour period (average, though actual session length will be based on knowledge acquired during session.  We conclude sessions based on what the horse has learned, not the time on the clock).  Will use participant's horses, discuss what I am doing with the horse, and give the owner of each horse some hands-on time with instruction if it feels right.  
Price:  $200/full day or $125/half day + mileage, accommodation & meals.  Half day only one meal required (and obviously no accommodation).

In both clinic options sessions are based on current knowledge of student (whether horse or human).  My focus is on foundations, and most problems stem back to foundations.  With the right basic knowledge & exercises most issues can be resolved and most maneuvers carried out.  

note:  half day clinics can fill the other half of the day with hoof trimming if there are horses in need to balance not only the hooves, but the cost of mileage as well (make it more worth while for the clinic hosts).

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Lessons

I will be offering riding/training lessons in the coming season that are focused on horsemanship and improving relationships between horses and their people.  Individual lessons will be $35 each, you can bring your horse to me, work with one of mine, or pay my mileage to come to you - I have a minimum $75 charge to travel for lessons, so it would be best to have groups of 2 or 3 people to make it more affordable.  Group lessons are $25 per rider/handler with a minimum $75 charge.  Please contact me for more information.

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Training Fees and Guarantees

The basic fee for horse training is $500 per month.  This fee includes basic feed (hay, salt/mineral, flax) for your horse while the month of training is being completed.  This fee does not include additional supplements needed for undernourished horses, any required veterinary care, deworming, hoof trimming, etc.

My Guarantee

As every horse is different, and every horse comes at a different stage of training, I can not guarantee specific results.  I guarantee that your horse will receive 23 sessions per month of training.  Due to 'life' and unforeseen delays, this training may take more than one calendar month to complete.  The owner will not be billed extra if the training runs over one calendar month. 
 
In the event that The Trainer does not observe improvement in the horse's nature and training within the first 10 sessions, the owner will be contacted with the option to remove the horse from training and pay only the board portion (@$25/week) of the bill.  If at that point the owner chooses to keep trying, and requests that training continue, s/he will be billed at the normal rate from the time the horse arrived at The Centre, regardless of the outcome.



What Can You Expect?

Generally, after a month of training at Tallman Training Centre, you can expect to be able to ride your horse.  You can expect that your horse will pick up their feet and stand for the farrier.  You can expect that your horse will accept the bridle willingly and quietly.  You can expect your horse to accept the saddle.  You can expect that your horse will respect your space, not walk on you, bite you, or kick you, and move out of your space when asked.  You can expect that your horse will stand tied, and step into a horse trailer.  You can expect your horse to return to you in as good or better condition than it was in when it arrived.

Most Horses, after a month at Tallman Training Centre, will walk, trot and lope on a decent (though probably not yet perfect) circle, in both directions, and on the correct lead.  Most horses will have been ridden down the ditch and accustomed to motor vehicle traffic.  Usually they will have been ridden 'out' at a walk, trot and a lope, but most certainly, they will understand that they must walk home (before anything else) in a relaxed manner, on a loose rein.  Until they understand that lesson, they will not go faster than a walk outside the yard.  They will most likely be used to riding with dogs running about their feet (in front, back and beside), as well as through the long grass and sometimes in (and out of) the bushes.  They will be comfortable being ridden 'out' alone, without any other horses.  They will understand that it is safe to walk over a tarp and a bridge, and through brush rubbing against their sides/legs/belly.  Through this understanding, they will be well on their way to understanding that they can trust you, the rider/handler, to direct them through any obstacle, and that you will not force them into or through any situation that will endanger their being.  Most horses will have started side passing, and will be backing well.

Some Horses will be comfortable riding out in groups or alone (I don't always have the opportunity to ride with others, and I do not ride with others until a horse is comfortable alone).  Some horses will be beginning to learn flexion, lateral and vertical, from the poll.  Some horses will be starting to yield their hip over, turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches.  In the first month of training, these horses are the exception, and not the rule.  Most of these movements start in the second month of training, progressively improving through further training.  Flexion, however, starts on the ground, before the horse is ever ridden.  It is introduced under saddle once the horse has a good understanding of basic movements and direction.

There are Always Exceptions to every rule.  Some horses will only have a few rides on them, where more groundwork is required than others.  Abused horses or spoiled (back yard pet) horses make up the bulk of these horses.  Occasionally, horses that come unhandled fit in to this category as well, though generally they come around sooner than the previously mentioned exceptions. 

On Average a horse gets between 10-13 days of groundwork in the first month, and the balance (10-13) mounted work.  Occasionally I will be on a horse in 5 sessions, sometimes not until 20.

Absolute Honesty.  All horse owners are welcomed and encouraged to inquire about the stage of training their horse is at.  I am happy to talk about progress or problems at any time, and also welcome owners (and anyone) to come out and watch me ride.  If you have a horse in training and want to see for yourself how they are going, call ahead to let me know so I can arrange my day to be working your horse when you are here. 

Support.  I welcome all clients to come out and work with their horse under my instruction while their horse is in training.  I encourage owners to ride their horse at least once before taking the horse home, so they know just where the horse is at.  I welcome and encourage owners to contact me at any time after taking their horse home for advice on any problems that might arise, or for a refresher on cues and what the horse knows, or tips on further training.  I also make myself available as a training reference in the event that the owner decides to sell the horse, as well as offering various options in terms of advertising and selling of horses that I have trained.

All Horses For Training Must Be -

  • AT LEAST 2 years old, preferably older.  The only exception is if the horse is coming only for halter training.  A horse must be past their 2nd birthday, not just "2 this year" for riding.  Two year olds in training at Tallman Training Centre receive shorter, lighter sessions than older horses, on account of not being physically mature.  Horses that are more high strung should wait until their 3rd or 4th year, as they are more likely to work themselves.  I will accept and PREFER horses any age greater than 2.
  • Up to date on Vaccinations.  Required vaccinations include EEE/WEE/Tetanus and Influenza.  These shots must be administered, or boosted if necessary, 2 weeks prior to delivery to The Centre.  Rhinopneumonitis, Strangles and West Nile Virus can also be vaccinated against at the owner's discretion.  Strangles will become mandatory in 2008.
  • Up to date on Dental Work.  Tallman Training Centre reserves the right to call an equine dental technician for any dental work required at the cost of the owner.  If you have a preferred EDT please specify.
  • Sound.  Please be sure that your horse is sound before bringing them to The Centre.  Horses that have foundered or are otherwise lame will not be accepted for training.  It is also important that your horse be sound of wind - horses with heaves or other respiratory challenges will not be accepted for training.
  • Healthy.  Please check your horse over to be sure they do not display signs of:
  1. Snotty Nose
  2. Coughing
  3. Runny Eyes
  4. Skin afflictions including ringworm
  5. Lice
  6. Swollen Glands
  7. Any other anomaly that may be passed to other horses
  • In Good Physical Condition.  The trainer reserves the right to supplement any undernourished horse at the expense of the owner.
  • Open.  I will not accept pregnant mares for training under saddle.
  • Booked for at Least One Month.  Horses must be booked initially for one month.  After the first month, sessions can be paid individually at a rate of $20/session, and board paid on a daily basis, or you can book for another month.  Monthly bookings have the advantage of 3 Free sessions, and often a lower board rate.
 All horses are subject to hoof trimming at the discretion of the trainer.  It is not required that a horse have their feet trimmed prior to delivery, but the owner will be billed for any hoof care required for said horse.  I prefer to keep the horses  barefoot  whenever possible, but where required, shoeing will be contracted out to a quality farrier at the expense of the owner.  Trimming alone is $20/horse/trim.  The trainer has been trimming hooves for over 17 years.

All horses on site during routine deworming will be dewormed, at the expense of the owner.  It is recommended that you discuss deworming with the trainer prior to deworming or delivering your horse.


I reserve the right to refuse any horse upon delivery that exhibits lameness, illness or any other contradiction to the above outlined requirements.  These requirements are put in place for the well being of the horse, and all other horses in training here at The Centre