INTRO TO DRIVING
GROUNDWORK & GROUND DRIVING CLINIC
DATE
​March 21-23, 2025​
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TIME
10am – 6pm each day
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LOCATION
Kaspian Equestrian Centre
33375 Range Rd 21
Olds, AB
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COST
$365 for ADMC members
$395 for non-members
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Auditors $20/day or $50 for all 3 days​
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Potluck lunch Saturday & Sunday!​
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Hosted by the Alberta Donkey and Mule Club, this clinic is ​for anyone who is curious about driving, new to driving, or training a new driving equine. The goal of the clinic will be to promote safety and proper training methods to help prepare you and your equines for a safe, fun drive and help you develop a calm and confident equine under harness.
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We will cover a wide variety of groundwork activities, from basic leading and standing quietly to the nuances of longe work to ground driving and preparing to pull a load.
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Driving experience is welcome but not required. Equines of all sorts, ages three and up, are welcome.

LEARN TO...
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Approach driving in a safe, thoughtful way
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Break the driving training down into bite-size pieces so you can educate your horse one skill at a time
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Communicate effectively with your voice, rein, and whip aids
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Prepare your horse to begin pulling a load or hook to a vehicle
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Bring out the best in yourself and your horse, both on the ground and in harness
WHAT TO EXPECT
In this three-day clinic, we will focus on the foundational skills that make for a reliable driving horse.​​​
FRIDAY: Groundwork
Focus on key skills that are essential for the driving horse to master.
SATURDAY: Ground driving
Fine-tune your own driving skills for effective communication and partnership. Opportunity to ground drive a cones course at the end of the day.
SUNDAY: Intro to pulling
Safely begin pulling simple loads and learn how to prepare for a cart. Opportunity to try your hand at log skidding at the end of the day!
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WE WILL ALSO COVER...
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Understanding the driving harness
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Choosing the best starter vehicle for you
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Safety rules and best practices
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...and more!
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Each participant will get two semi-private lessons on the Friday, and one individual lesson on each the Saturday and the Sunday. There will be theory classes and full group activities each day, and plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
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No driving-specific equipment is needed. Bring a harness if you have one, but it is not required. Everybody will begin with groundwork on the Friday, and then Saturday and Sunday's lessons will be tailored to where each partnership is at in their skills and training.​​
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​AMENITIES
This clinic will be held in Kaspian Equestrian's spacious, heated indoor arena. A washroom is available in the barn. Please bring your own chair.
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The ADMC is coordinating a potluck lunch on the Saturday and Sunday. Bring your own snacks and water bottle.
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Overnight stalls and pens are available for an additional fee.​
