Intro to Cows Clinic

Obstacle Confidence Building for a Safe & Successful Start with Cattle

Hosted by Cristin Kyle of Stable Relationships at our private family farm in Madison, NC. This clinic is built on Cristin’s proven Obstacle Confidence Building methods—designed to prepare both started and unstarted equines for their first calm, confident encounters with cows in a controlled, supportive environment.

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Clinic Focus

Cristin’s training philosophy centers on trust, respect, and clear communication from the ground up. Using the same step-by-step obstacle progression that has built countless confident horse-rider teams, this clinic translates those skills directly to cattle work. Whether your horse is green to cows, completely unstarted, or simply needs a positive reset, every exercise is broken down to ensure success for horse and rider alike.

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Clinic Overview

Morning Session (9 AM - 12 PM): Work on basic groundwork with your choice of equipment using cavesons, rope halters, lead lines, and optional tools (whip/stick, flag). Learn to recognize and address your horse’s insecurities, thresholds and work on emotional control. We will be utilizing our arena and obstacle area for the morning session. IF all of the equines are ready and prepared we may end with the start of our introduction work to cows!

Afternoon Session (1 PM - 4 PM): Progress to cow interaction (if your horse is up for it) with all the tools we used earlier in the day to build your horse up for the day! Riders ready to mount later in the afternoon (at instructors’ discretion) will work cows under saddle.
Post-Session: Stay “on course” until 4:45 PM to practice skills with guidance.
No riding experience is required—work can be done entirely on the ground. Helmets are mandatory for riders and encouraged for groundwork participants working cows in hand, and horses known to kick or bite must have a red ribbon in their tail and be announced.

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What You’ll Experience

• Obstacle Foundations First: Tarps, bridges, poles, and sensory challenges build focus, bravery, and responsiveness—before a single cow enters the picture.

• Controlled Cow Introduction: Cattle are introduced only after your horse is mentally prepared, using pressure-and-release timing to teach calm curiosity instead of flight.

• Unstarted Equine Track: Unstarted horses—gentle, progressive exposure that sets them up for lifelong confidence with livestock.

• Rider Confidence Tools: Learn to read subtle equine signals, offer quick releases, and lead with quiet authority—no matter your discipline or saddle choice.

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Why This Works

Cristin’s obstacle work has proven itself in clinics, lessons, and competition. Horses leave braver, softer, and more attuned—exactly the qualities needed for safe cattle work. By front-loading confidence through obstacles, even unstarted equines meet cows with curiosity rather than fear.

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Details

• Participant Cost: $300/equine and rider combo (includes all fees: clinic, cows, facility)

• Auditor Cost: $40/person (unlimited auditors welcome; bring your own lunch)

• Participant Limit: MAX 8 for personalized attention

• Deposit: $100 non-refundable deposit

• Location: Stable Relationships Private Family Farm – 1190 Smothers Rd. Madison, NC

• Open to: Started or unstarted equines; all disciplines & experience levels

• Bring: Your own horse (or inquire about leasing a lesson horse)

• Contact Cristin via stablehorsemanship@gmail.com or 336-686-2005 (call/text)

Leave the clinic with a horse that seeks direction instead of reacting, and the tools to continue building a Stable Relationship—on the ground, in the saddle, and around the herd.