A horsemanship clinic at the Grain Millers Harvest Showdown gave riders an opportunity to sharpen their skills and strengthen their connection with their horses. Trainer Alison Erskine, who grew up riding horses and attending clinics herself, led the session. With about 10 years of experience in her back pocket, she spends up to 10 hours a day in the saddle, running a small horse breeding program while helping both riders and horses improve their performance. “I had 10 awesome women today,” Erskine said. “They hopefully took something away and can go back and put it into their own horses and maybe teach their kids and stuff like that.” Erskine said horsemanship is about building clear communication and trust between horse and rider. “It’s bridging the gap of communication of, ‘Hey, this is what I want to do.’ Will this horse come with me and do it willingly as a willing partner?” she said. Erskine added that strong horsemanship is essential whether a horse is being used for work, competition, or recreation. While there are many different training philosophies, Erskine said riders should choose an approach that aligns with their goals and values. “There’s plenty of ways to skin a cat, and it goes based off your morals as well as what you want to do with your horse,” she said. Erskine specializes in cow horse performance training, teaching horses to work with and respond to cattle. She said well-trained horses are predictable, responsive and willing partners. “They’re very patterned in what they do, they’re soft, they’re supple, they’re willing,” Erskine said. “You can put them in front of a cow and you can bring them to work.” Among those attending the clinic was Jessica Prieb, who competes in cowboy mounted shooting. She was at the event with a horse she purchased two years ago, a former barrel racer with a strong personality called Annie. “I was using her as a step-up horse to gun-break and use as a shooting horse. We’re not quite there yet,” she said. Prieb said she attended the event to improve communication with her horse. “Different clinicians will always teach you something different,” Prieb said. “It’s up to you as a rider to take what you want and then go out and apply it to you and your horse.” For Prieb and Annie, the focus is on their relationship. “She’s a bit of a stubborn horse with lots of opinions,” Prieb said laughing as Annie was tugging the reins between them. “I think it’s about understanding why she has different holes in her training and trying to close those gaps.” Erskine noted that clinics can benefit more than just those in the saddle. This particular session was free for auditors, allowing spectators to learn by watching. “You can learn a lot from the stands and by not riding a horse,” she said. Despite taking place on a weekday morning, the clinic attracted a strong crowd, demonstrating the enduring appeal of horses and horsemanship for riders of all ages.
