Michael Lyons Horsemanship

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Michael Lyons Horsemanship Helping riders build confident, willing horses through clarity and consistency. Clinics • Lessons • Training • Apprenticeships
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Michael dedicated his life to bettering the relationship between horse and rider. Together Michael and his wife Julia teach riders nationwide to better connect with their horse

🐴 **RANCH RIDING WEDNESDAYS ARE BACK!** 🤠One of our most popular group sessions is making its return, and we're excited ...
10/11/2026

🐴 **RANCH RIDING WEDNESDAYS ARE BACK!** 🤠

One of our most popular group sessions is making its return, and we're excited to get everyone back in the arena!
Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills for the show pen, build confidence with your horse, or simply become a better rider, **Ranch Riding Wednesdays** are a great opportunity to learn, practice, and make progress alongside other riders.

Each week, we'll work on different elements of Ranch Riding, including:
🐴 **Ranch Riding Patterns** — Improving transitions, precision, maneuver ex*****on, and overall quality of movement.
🐴 **Ranch Trail** — Building confidence, accuracy, and communication through obstacles.
🐴 **Rail Work** — Developing consistency, balance, and quality of gaits while working around other horses.

One of the biggest benefits of these sessions is the opportunity to ride in a group setting. Getting your horse comfortable with traffic, distractions, and other riders is valuable whether you're preparing for the show pen or just wanting a more confident, well-rounded horse.

And with the days getting shorter, we're putting our indoor arena and lights to good use! No more racing against the sunset to get a ride in after work.
Wednesday Evenings - 5:30 PM to approximately 6:30–7:00 PM
**limited spots available**

Our goal is to create a fun, encouraging environment where riders can challenge themselves, learn from one another, and continue building better horses.
You don't have to be a seasoned competitor to join us. Just come ready to ride, learn, and improve!
You'll find the sign up link for the session in the comments below... or visit our website under Lessons. Our new Fall lesson schedule is LIVE and posted as well.

The trot is a powerful gait when bringing a horse back into work.It can be easy to want to get right back to loping, but...
09/22/2026

The trot is a powerful gait when bringing a horse back into work.

It can be easy to want to get right back to loping, but there is so much we can develop at the trot first.

Unlike the lope, the trot is a symmetrical gait. It asks the horse to use both sides of the body in a more even, coordinated way, making it incredibly valuable for rebuilding strength, balance and body awareness.

But a good trot isn’t just about moving forward.

We’re looking for the horse to eventually be able to lift through the back, engage the abdominal muscles, support the ribcage through the thoracic sling, and move the shoulders freely, all while staying relaxed and rhythmic.

And that takes time.

With a horse coming back into work, we often start with a long and low trot, allowing them to stretch forward and down through the topline. This gives the horse somewhere to go, allows the tension to release and encourages relaxation and movement through the back before we start asking for more posture.

From there, as strength develops, we can gradually ask the horse to carry themselves a little with more lift, more engagement, more balance.

The goal isn’t to put the horse into a frame.

It’s to build a body strong enough to hold good posture on its own.

Sometimes the simple work is the work that matters most. A relaxed, balanced, truly connected trot can tell you a whole lot about the body underneath you.

TWO WEEKS CAN CHANGE A LOT. 🐴We have officially opened enrollment for our 2027 Michael Lyons Horsemanship Apprenticeship...
09/14/2026

TWO WEEKS CAN CHANGE A LOT. 🐴

We have officially opened enrollment for our 2027 Michael Lyons Horsemanship Apprenticeship, and over the next several weeks, we want to give you a better look at what makes this program so different from anything else we offer.

A clinic gives us a weekend together.
The Apprenticeship gives us two weeks.

Two weeks to slow things down. To ask why. To work through different horses, different personalities, different problems and different stages of training.

Because good horsemanship isn't about memorizing another exercise.
It's learning to read the horse in front of you, understand how and why they respond the way they do, recognize when something isn't working, and develop the feel, timing and confidence to change your approach.

During our Apprenticeship, students step directly into our training program. You'll work through foundational groundwork, round pen work, body control, softness, young and unstarted horses, problem solving, liberty, trailer loading, riding, trail exposure and so much more.

But more importantly, we want to teach you how to think like a horseman.
You'll see things go right.
You'll see things go wrong.
You'll work with horses that make it easy and horses that make you question everything you thought you knew. 😉
And that's exactly where some of the best learning happens.

This isn't two weeks of sitting in a classroom watching someone else train horses.
It's real horses. Real situations. Real time. Real learning.

📅 February 21 through March 10, 2027
📍 Randleman, North Carolina
👥 Limited to just 6 participants

If you've ever wondered what could happen to your horsemanship if you could step away from everyday life and immerse yourself in learning for two weeks... this is your opportunity.

This isn't just about becoming a better rider.
It's about becoming a better student of the horse.

Registration is now open. ❤️
Link in the comment section below.

08/31/2026

In this clip, Michael is talking to his clinic folks about why we spend so much time building various cues, good use of aids, and body control at different speeds. This clinic was our Lots of Loping Clinic, so he was specifically talking about how a good lope starts being created well before we start loping. Thank you to our lovely assistant, Lori for helping with the demo!

08/30/2026

A training tip from our Lots of Loping clinic this weekend!

08/29/2026

You never truly know what Michael may say when you’re in a clinic with him 😂

Ranch Riding Clinic Sign UpComing to RiverMist Farms in Church Hill, TN! Join Michael and Julia Lyons for a 3 day Ranch ...
08/22/2026

Ranch Riding Clinic Sign Up
Coming to RiverMist Farms in Church Hill, TN!

Join Michael and Julia Lyons for a 3 day Ranch Riding Clinic focused on developing the skills needed to create a willing, responsive, and confident ranch horse.
Whether your goal is to compete in ranch riding, improve your horsemanship, or simply gain a better understanding of how to guide and communicate with your horse, this clinic is designed to help you build a stronger foundation.
Ranch riding is about much more than memorizing a pattern. It is about creating a horse that is soft, responsive, and capable of performing each maneuver with purpose and understanding. Throughout the clinic, we will break down the individual pieces that make up a successful ranch riding horse and show you how to improve both horse and rider.

What You'll Work On:
• Creating forward, willing movement without tension
• Improving transitions and making them smooth and purposeful
• Building better body control of the shoulders, ribcage, and hips
• Developing softness, responsiveness, and connection
• Understanding how to improve maneuver ex*****on
• Creating better stops, turns, and lead departures
• Learning how to ride patterns with confidence and precision
• Understanding what judges are looking for in ranch riding classes
This Clinic is Perfect For Riders Who:
• Want to improve their ranch riding performance
• Are preparing for ranch horse competitions
• Want a better understanding of body control and maneuver development
• Are looking to build a softer, more responsive horse
• Enjoy learning the "why" behind the training
Michael and Julia tailor each clinic to the riders and horses attending. Whether you are just getting started or already showing, you will receive individualized coaching designed to help you and your horse progress.

Address

5396 Old Walker Mill Road
Randleman, NC
27317

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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