Spanish Mustang Foundation Youth Clinics

During the spring and summer of 2010, the Spanish Mustang Foundation hosted SMF Youth Clinics with trainer, Robin Doughman. Scholarships were awarded to nine students for the summer sessions this year. The foundation is reaching out to children, the next generation, so they can understand the history and the nature of Spanish Mustang horses.


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The first two clinics focused on five ground-work maneuvers with a rope that build communication skills and provide a safe environment for the child and horse. Leadership capabilities are developed when the child achieves a mastery regarding the following core skills.

  • Leading
  • Backing
  • Turning the front end
  • Disengaging the hind quarters
  • Moving the shoulders

In June the clinic was located at the Little Cayuse Ranch where the children had the opportunity to ride. This experience brought about a deeper connection that lead to a feeling of partnership between rider and horse. The connection between the horse and its partner reveals the healing power of horses. Horsemanship based on a natural partnership is a technique with many rewards. It can build confidence and patience that can lead to self-worth.


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Students, Lillawah Andes and Rhiannon Doughman, expressed their experiences so well that we have decided to share them here.

I love the horses and people at the Spanish Mustang Foundation. All of my experiences with them have been wonderful. I work with a mare named Nahpi and she is a bay Spanish Mustang. She is sweet, willing to work, and well-tempered. Robin Doughman is a very nice and gifted man and all the horses love him. Every girl gets to work with one assistant per clinic along with Robin, the main teacher. I’ve worked with Donna and other wonderful assistants. I am grateful that the Foundation let me work with their great horses and people and I appreciate it very much.

 

Lillawah Andes, age 11



I love the Spanish Mustang Foundation because it gives me an opportunity to work with horses more often. It also gives me a chance to practice what I already know, but still learn new techniques with the horses and the rope. It’s a wonderful, fun, and educating program for all ages. Another reason I love it so much is that I get a chance to work with my grandfather (Papa, as I call him) on something we both enjoy very much. There are so many wonderful, caring people to work with; Sandy, Muriel, and Donna are just a few. My papa is the main guy though. I’ve worked with him not only at the clinic but my whole life. (THANKS PAPA!!) I’ve been working with a horse named Noway. She is a very nicely trained, caring horse that I have found pretty easy to work with in most aspects.

SO A BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE SPANISH MUSTANG FOUNDATION!!

Rhiannon Doughman, age 15



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We thank Robin Doughman for his careful instruction given to each student and their horse, and all the volunteers who donate their time. A special thank you also goes to the Spanish Mustang horses that made these clinics the extraordinary experiences that they were!

Robin Doughman gives private and group lessons, and presents clinics on horsemanship that increase safety and promote a deeper understanding of and communication with horses. Call 505.466.1549 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to schedule an appointment, class or clinic.