Exclusively at the Verde Valley Equine Festival
Arizona Horseman’s Challenge 2014 • April 4, 5 & 6
Competing Horse Trainer Feature: Thomas Clover, Southern Arizona
(1) The horsemanship dynamics of seeing what is
often overlooked. (2) Mastering the right moves
at precisely the right time. (3) Knowing what
tools to use and when to use them. These are
just a few key elements that combine to create
the finest of horse trainers. And, this is what the
Arizona Horseman’s Challenge is all about.
After graduating from college with a degree in
wildlife ecology, Thomas pursued training colts and
found himself drifting to Tucson to find work for
the winter riding. He resides in southern Arizona
where he’s been working for himself as well as for
the Bandalero Ranch, a breeding/training facility
that specializes in reined cow horses.
T
Thomas’s horsemanship centers itself around
the understanding of communication between
the human and the horse. If a horse understands
what the person wants, most often he will do
exactly what we want. On the other hand, if
we understand how our actions and energy
are perceived by the horse, we will be able to
understand how the horse will respond to our
work with them. These principles are necessary
weather we are starting performance horses or
pleasure horses; Quarter Horses or Clydesdales;
western or English disciplines. With this
foundation, a horse has the potential to go any
direction because the basis for understanding
is clear.
homas Clover was born and raised in the
mountains of Wyoming. His family has
been involved in the outfitting business
in and around Jackson Hole for more than
three generations. “Being in a packing family
is much more than going on trail rides”, claims
Thomas. This is where he first started getting
on green and unbroken horses. “Taking care
of a large herd of horses that spends most of
its time wandering around open country will
quickly teach a person how to work with their
stock to accomplish their tasks.” It was this early
backcountry horsemanship experience that truly
instilled Thomas’s love of horses.
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6140 E. Cave Creek Rd., Suite #5
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 • 602-419-6436
36
January 2014
AZintheSaddle.com