Chris Cox Horsemanship - Recently Updated Pages

TV Show Fan Site

chriscox — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:59:25 CDT

Welcome to the Chris Cox Horsemanship wiki!

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and shared my passion and dedication to the horse. I am humbled by the overwhelming response to my authentic style of horsemanship and the positive results from horse people like you who have benefited from my instruction. Once again, thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you soon.” May God bless you, your family and the horses you ride.
--Chris

This site is a place for those of you who love horses and the western lifestyle as much as Chris does to share your challenges, successes and journeys in horsemanship.

WE HAVE ONE RULE: No slamming/No Gossip (of each other, other clinicians, techniques, products, etc.). Everyone has something to contribute. We want this to be a family friendly place to discuss horses and their impact on our lives.

What you can do here:

Join the discussion forum and make some new friends
View YouTube videos of other horse owners and Chris. We encourage you to send us your YouTube submissions of your successes with your horse so that we may post them to the site. Email the url of your YouTube video to video@chris-cox.com
Find the episode number of your favorite TV episode

RFD-TV Episode Guide Index

chriscox — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:07:30 CDT

2008 Episodes

Featured on the August 4, 2008 Episode of Chris' show is the inspiring story of Nadia and the children at the Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center. Chris even donated his retired demo horse Stinger to this amazing cause! (video by Spirit Horse Center)

“Chris Cox Horsemanship” airs three times a week on RFD-TV, the popular rural-theme television network available as a basic channel to 40 million homes. (DirectTV channel 379 and Dish Network channel 231.) Taped at his Diamond Double C Ranch in Mineral Wells, TX, Chris’ half hour show features new and exciting topics as well as previous episodes that were the most requested from our viewers. Special episodes also feature Chris visiting ranches across the country to work with horses and their owners as part of our “Problem Horse Series”.

Chris’ motto of “Building Confidence through Knowledge” gives viewers an idea of what they can expect to learn. Raised on a cattle ranch in the wilds of Australia, Chris has a strong background in both Western and English disciplines. He has implemented a style and technique that has universal effectiveness, whatever the riding style. His common sense, straight forward approach enables horsemen and women at all levels to gain insight into horse behavior and leads them into a safe, versatile partnership…on the ground and in the saddle. Chris travels regularly to expos and horse events across the country, and holds numerous clinics at his 175-acre training facility near Mineral Wells, Texas, throughout the year.

Back episodes are available for $19.99 per show, click here to browse selection.

Show Times Eastern Central Mountain Pacific

Tuesday 1:30 pm 12:30 pm 11:30 am 10:30 am

Tuesday 11:30 pm 10:30 pm 9:30 pm 8:30 pm

Sunday 5:30 pm 4:30 pm 3:30 pm 2:30 pm

Week of April 28:

Show Title: Tour of the Diamond Double C Ranch
Overview: Chris takes you on a close look at the Diamond Double C Ranch & its Facilities.
Major Topics: Indoor & Outdoor Arena Layouts, Stabling, Holding Yards, Guest Facilities, Horse Comfort.
Episode #: 328.

Week of May 5:

Show Title: Making the Decision to Shoe or not to Shoe your horse.
Overview: Chris takes a closer look at the reason for either shoeing your horse or leaving him shoeless.
Major Topics: Types of Hooves, maintaining healthy hooves and deciding when to either shoe or not to shoe.
Episode #: 329.

Week of May 12:

Show Title: First Time to Accept A Bit:
Overview: An in-depth look into a horse accepting the bit for the first time.
Major Topics: Getting the horses head to relax, along with opening the mouth to accept the bit.
Episode #: 330.

Week of May 19:

Show Title: Riding with NCHA Hall of Famer, “Bill Riddle”
Overview: Chris goes to ride with the respected horsemen & cutting horse trainer, Bill Riddle.
Major Topics: Working with Cutting Horses.
Episode #:331.

Week of May 26:

Show Title: Children with Horses – Part 1
Overview: Chris showcases and assists a couple of unique young children in the horse industry.
Major Topics: Horses and Youth
Episode #: 332

Week of June 2:

Show Title: Children with Horses – Part 2
Overview: Part 2 of Chris working with some talented young Children in the horse industry.
Major Topics: Horses & Youth
Episode #: 333

Week of June 9:

Show Title: Roping With Chris Cox & Guests
Overview: Chris works on his horsemanship in the roping arena.
Major Topics: Roping & Horsemanship
Episode #: 334

Week of June 16:

Show Title: Working with the Texas Tech Ranch Horse Program
Overview: Chris assists the youth from the Texas Tech Horse Program.
Major Topics: Assisting youth with their Horsemanship.
Episode #: 335

Week of June 23:

Show Title: Visiting Oswood Stallion Station
Overview: Chris takes you on a journey behind the scenes of the Oswood Stallion Station where some of the best performance horse stallions stand.
Major Topics: Equine Breeding & the Facilities.
Episode #: 336

Week of June 30:

Show Title: 3 Year Olds Working Cattle
Overview: Chris demonstrates his 3yo Futurity Horses and their Progression on cattle.
Major Topics: 3yo Futurity’s working cattle.
Episode #: 337

Week of July 7:

Show Title: Chris Cox Classics – Part 1
Overview: Chris takes you back in time for a look out some of his old training films.
Major Topics: Horse Training Techniques
Episode #: 338.

Week of July 14:

Show Title: Chris Cox Classics – Part 2
Overview: Take a step back in Time as Chris re-visits some of his oldest training films.
Major Topics: Horse Training Techniques
Episode #: 339.

Week of July 21:

Show Title: Chris Cox Classics – Part 3
Overview: Chris re-visits the highlights of some of his past training films.
Major Topics: Horse Training Techniques
Episode #: 340.

Week of July 28:

Show Title: Tour of the Diamond Double C Ranch, Mare & Foal Program.
Overview: Chris takes you for a look into the Diamond Double C Breeding Program.
Major Topics: Mare & Foals
Episode #:341.

Week of August 4:

Show Title: The great things that horses bring out in people.
Overview: Chris visits a therapeutic riding centre that has a magnificent effect on the human being.
Major Topics: Assisting people with special needs in reaching their full potential through interaction with horses.
Episode #: 342

Week of August 11:

Show Title: Jack Brainard the Horseman and Author.
Overview: Chris takes a look at the history of a great horseman.
Major Topics: Jack Brainard, horses and books.
Episode #: 343

Week of August 18:

Show Title: Chris visits the Texas Cowgirl Chicks Drill Team
Overview: Chris visits with some very talented extreme young ladies in the horse industry.
Major Topics: Texas Cowgirl Chicks Drill Team.
Episode #: 344

Week of August 25:

Show Title: Tunica Mississippi Tour Stop – Part 1
Overview: An overview of the Tunica Mississippi Tour Stop Demonstrations.
Major Topics: Tour Stop Demonstrations
Episode #: 345

Week of September 1:

Show Title: Tunica Mississippi Tour Stop – Part 2
Overview: An overview of the Tunica Mississippi Tour Stop Demonstrations
Major Topics: Tour Stop Demonstrations
Episode #: 346

YouTube Videos

chriscox — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:26:27 CDT

If you've used Chris' methods and would like to show off the result, make a video telling us about your experience and post a video to YouTube and then tell us about it, maybe you'll see it featured here! Thank you to the fans who have posted these videos of Chris on YouTube already.

	The State of Horsemanship Today - Be Assertive! Teach your horses in a willing, non-abusive, respectful way
Pepto and Chris at the MN Horse Expo	Teaching to give to the brace
Bridleless Demo with Man from Snowy River Music and Unchained Melody at Western States Expo	Bridleless Demo at Murfreesboro, TN Tour Stop with J. Parson's original song written for Chris, "Ride the Journey"

Past Shows

chriscox — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:41:33 CDT

Past episodes are available from Chris' web site for $19.99 each. Click here to shop

Show #1: Catching the uncatchable horse Chris works with a horse that has a problem with being caught, he show’s how feel and timing on the ground is an important step in catching your horse.
Show #2: Encountering obstacles on the trail-Part 1 Chris takes you to the trail and shows you how to overcome fear of obstacles for you and your horse. Part 1 of a 3 part series.
Show #3: Encountering obstacles on the trail-Part 2 Chris takes you to the trail and shows you how to overcome fear of obstacles for you and your horse. Part 2 of a 3 part series.
Show #4: Encountering obstacles on the trail-Part 3 Chris takes you to the trail and shows you how to overcome fear of obstacles for you and your horse. Part 3 of a 3 part series.
Show #5: Seat position Chris will show you how seat position affects you and your horse’s balance.
Show #6: Riding with your legs Chris shows you how to use your leg as an aid to move your horse’s front end, rib cage and hind quarters.
Show #7: Working your horse on cattle-Part 1 Chris will show you how to teach your horse to stop and turn correctly with the cow. Part 1 of a 2 part series.
Show #8: Working your horse on cattle-Part 2 Chris will show you how to teach your horse to stop and turn correctly with the cow. Part 2 of a 2 part series.
Show #10: Stopping Chris will show you how to stop your horse correctly.
Show #11: Leads and leads changes Learn what lead your horse is in and how you can change it.
Show #12: The Leading Edge-part 1 Take your horsemanship to the next level with superior ground control.
Show #14: Rein Management Achieve vertical and lateral flexion through proper use of your reins.
Show #15: Creating the Natural Headset Chris teaches you how to get your horse to keep his head in the natural position.
Show #16: Turn arounds Learn how to transfer your horse’s weight to the hind quarters so that you can achieve rollbacks and turn arounds.
Show #17: Curing the Head shy horse Chris shows you how to enter this area with your horse’s full trust and confidence.
Show #18: Reading Your Horse’s Personality Learn how to read your horse’s personality through their body language.
Show #19: Stop the Bucking - This isn’t a rodeo, put a stop to bucking. Show #20: Collection - Chris will teach how to ride your horse collected on a soft rein.
Show #21: Horsemanship I - Part 1 Follow Chris and his students through a 6 day Horsemanship clinic. Four part series.
Show #22: Horsemanship I - Part 2 Follow Chris and his students through a 6 day Horsemanship clinic. Four part series.
Show #23: Horsemanship I - Part 3 Follow Chris and his students through a 6 day Horsemanship clinic. Four part series.
Show #24: Horsemanship I - Part 4 Follow Chris and his students through a 6 day Horsemanship clinic. Four part series.
Show #25: Young Guns in the Cutting Horse Industry - Part 1 -Chris will work with a couple of the young stars in the Cutting Horse Industry.
Show #26: Young Guns in the Cutting Horse Industry - Part 2 - Chris will work with a couple of the young stars in the Cutting Horse Industry.
Show #27: Where are my horse’s feet when I’m riding? – Learn the foot fall of each foot while your horse is in motion.
Show #28: Purchasing a performance horse – Watch Chris as he prepares to buy prospects from one of the biggest sales in the horse business.
Show #29: Teaching the problem horse to tie. – Learn Chris’ steps in correcting and preventing this problem.
Show #30: Ponying Show #31: Loading the Problem Horse Show #33: Choosing the Right Horse Trailer
Show #34: Equine Surgery Show #35: Problem Horse #1 – PA Expo Bucking Horse p.1
Show #36: Problem Horse #1 – PA Expo Bucking Horse p.2 Show #51: Embryo Transfer
Show #54: Refusing the Gate Show #56: Water Crossing Show #60: Working 2 yr. olds on cattle
Show #63: The Relax Cue for your horse
Show #64: Creating the natural headset- see also #15 & 82
Show #66: Working the cow dog
Show #69: Working the cutting horse
Show #70: Roll backs Show #77: Problem Horse in the roping box – see also #127
Show #78: What to look for when purchasing a Horse – see also #28
Show #82: Headset – see also #15 & 64
Show #86: Advanced Horsemanship
Show #96: Working with foals Pt. 1
Show #97: Working with foals Pt. 2
Show #98: Bucking Horse Pt. 1
Show #99: Bucking Horse Pt. 2
Show #100: The 100th Episode
Show #104: Handling the feet (Sacramento)
Show #105: Trailer loading a young horse – see also #31 & 111
Show #106: Trail Ride Training
Show #109: Keeping your horse fit
Show #110: Who’s Barn Is It Anyway? – Barn sour horse
Show #111: Trailer loading; Harrisburg, PA - see also #31 & 105
Show #112: Building Rider’s Confidence
Show #113: Catching the uncatchable horse – see also #1
Show #114: Rating A New Horse Show #115: Bucking Horse in PA – see also #19 & 35 & 36
Show #116: How to achieve softness
Show #117: How to choose the correct footwear
Show #118: Cowgirl Pam Minick
Show #119: Correct Driving While Hauling
Show #121: Dressage and Natural headset
Show #122: Transition from snaffle to curb
Show #125: A day with a working ranch horse
Show #126: Hippotherapy
Show #127: Problem horse in roping box – see also #77
Show #128: How to fit a saddle – see also #163
Show #129: Problem horse – Colt Starting
Show #130: Building Rider’s Confidence Pt. 1
Show #131: Building Rider’s Confidence Pt. 2
Show #135: Barn safety
Show #136: Problem Horse – Handling the feet; M. Curtis @ ranch
Show #138: Working a young horse on cattle – see also #7 & 8
Show #139: Lindy Burch
Show #140: Refusing the gate at the track
Show #141: Larry Mahan
Show #142: Stinger Retirement
Show #143: Red Steagall
Show #144: Muscle manipulation w/ Troy Brandenburg
Show #145: David Stoecklein
Show #146: Problem Horse – Headshy
Show #147: RE-RUN; Trail Riding #106
Show #148: RE-RUN; Rollbacks #70
Show #149: Where are my horses feet? Understanding foot fall – see also #27
Show #150: Horse on buffalo and mechanical cow
Show #159: The Texas Kid Rodney Hayes
Show #161: Working with jumping horses at October Hill Farms
Show #163: Saddle Fitting
Show #164: Equine dentistry with Randy Riedinger
Show #165: Bridle-less with Pepto

Training Philosophy 101

chriscox — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:27:07 CDT

We've compiled here a few key concepts straight from Chris that are key to understanding his training program and his horsemanship philosophy - think of it as the Cliff Notes guide to Chris' teaching!

Ride the Journey: Life is a journey, and my journey is with horses. Come Ride the Journey is my way of inviting you to join my life, learn the lessons I’ve learned and continue to learn from the horse, and make the horse, to some extent, your life and journey as well. The journey lasts until the day I die, because the way I see it, there will always be something for me to learn from a horse or another horseman. Don’t forget: the difference between good and great is passion. And I hope you’ll share my passion for the horse.

Build Confidence through Knowledge: Self-doubt and fear are often based on lack of understanding or information. With horses, where confidence is a necessary ingredient for success, it’s crucial to have both understanding and good information. That’s what I offer in my program — the knowledge that gives you the information you need to understand your horse and help it to understand you. Through knowledge you’ll gain the confidence both you and your horse need to establish a better relationship.

Keep it Simple: The less you need in the way of special equipment to communicate with your horse, the better. Think about it — horses don’t use sticks or flags to get their point across to each other. Body language, posture, pressure, eye contact, personal space — these are things horses naturally understand and they’re also the most effective in communicating with a horse. These are the things I rely on in my program to communicate with my horses.

Patience: There are no shortcuts to good horsemanship. You can’t skip steps. And the lessons you are taught at a clinic or class need time to become a part of your natural way of communicating with your horse. That takes time and practice. When your patience does run out, with yourself or with your horse, you’ve probably hit the end of your knowledge. Be aware of this and make sure you have a reservoir of patience to tap into as you work to improve your horsemanship. Patience comes from believing in your program – you know it will work. Although I am not a naturally patient person, I have patience with my horsemanship because I believe in my program and know it will work.

Prepare Your Horse: I never ask a horse to do something I haven’t prepared it to do. By the time I’m asking a horse to step on to a trailer, that horse has all the preparation it needs to do it. By prepare I don’t mean desensitize. I don’t desensitize my horses as much as a lot of people do. It’s easy to overdo it and end up dulling your horse. It’s okay for your horse to react to something, but if he’s properly prepared he won’t overreact.

Have a Plan: Each time you go out to work with your horse, have a plan of exactly what you want to accomplish that day. This will keep you working through a program with consistency. If you don’t have a plan, time gets wasted, and you’re likely to fall back on something you’ve already done and bore your horse, or move ahead too quickly not having thought about what your next step should be. Don’t get up in the saddle and wait to see what happens. If you don’t have a plan for your horse, the horse will have a plan for you.

Be Consistent: Whatever you do, be consistent. A horse values consistency because it can always be sure of what is expected. Mixed signals, different rules for different locations (in the stall vs. in the pasture), various handlers using conflicting cues — all lead to confusion and then resentment on the part of the horse. Remember, whenever you’re handling your horse, you’re communicating with your horse, so be consistent always. Many people change once they get in the saddle. You must be the same in the saddle as you are on the ground. Otherwise, your horse will react to the change in your behavior; it isn’t consistent.

Soakin’: When your horse has done something right, the best thing you can do is to leave it alone to soak up what has just happened. Just let it rest. You do this when the horse has accomplished the task with softness and give. If your horse is soft, it’ll soak up the lesson because a horse’s mind is like a sponge. When it’s soft and pliable, it can soak up a lot. When it’s stiff, it doesn’t take on much.

Give Something Back: When your horse gives you something, respect its dignity by giving something back. You do this by rewarding an effort on your horse’s part. Get in, be effective, then leave your horse alone. The best gift you can give your horse is the gift of relief. When the giving goes both ways, you’ll have a fine partnership with your horse. If you don’t provide relief to your horse he will find a way to get it.

Repetition: Repeating in small steps is a good way to help your horse to gain confidence and understanding. For instance, when you first put on a saddle pad, take it off again right away. Do this again and again until the horse understands that one step and has confidence that it is a safe thing. The horse needs to understand that pressure doesn’t last forever. He needs to understand that the saddle goes on, but it comes off too. He needs to understand that he’ll go in the trailer, but he’s not trapped and will be able to get back off. The repetition makes the step a part of the horse’s library of “knowns,” so that now that step can be built on without resistance.

Spice Things Up: Any horse can benefit from a change-up. Take a reining horse on a trail ride, jump your dressage horse, ride your trail horse around some cattle. New experiences engage a horse’s mind and build confidence. If you focus too much on a single thing day after day, your horse may learn to resent it. Your horse can get sour from too much ground work. The horse is meant to be ridden and is a very purposeful animal. Your horse wants a job and purpose.

Body Reining: I prefer to think of “body reining” rather than “neck reining” because when I guide my horse I’m not using only the reins on the neck. Guiding involves my whole body (hands, shoulders, seat, legs) and my horse’s whole body (neck, shoulder, ribcage, hindquarters) working together to move smoothly in the right direction and at the right speed.

Importance of Three: Much of my program revolves around three’s — three seat positions, three leg positions, three steps in many of the exercises (three letters in my last name). I didn’t plan this, it just seems to come up often enough when working with horses that I thought I should mention it.

About Chris

chriscox — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:09:52 CDT

Chris Cox’ entire life has been influenced by his relationship with the horse. He moved with his ranching family from Florida when he wasn’t yet two-years-old, to an island off the coast of northeast Australia to raise cattle. During his time on the 100-square-mile Prince of Wales Island, and while he worked as a hand on numerous ranches on the mainland in the years that followed, the horse served as work partner, transportation, entertainment and even companionship for Cox.

“Being around horses has been as natural to me as breathing,” Cox says in his book, Ride the Journey.

While Australia shaped the young Cox, it was with an eye toward returning to the United States that he honed his horsemanship skills competing in Pony Club, camp drafting (similar to working cow horse), and working for large ranches. He started his first colt in his early teens and went on to excel in his horsemanship studies at Longreach Pastoral College. His dream was to find a way to make a living working with horses — preferably in the United States.

At eighteen, he took the first step to fulfilling that dream and headed back to America. Following some ranch work in Florida, Cox began training mustangs for the Bureau of Land Management. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s Cox took in horses to train and began to devise what has become his trademark program – a step-by-step progression of skills for all levels of horsemen to improve their horsemanship.

His program has proved to be immensely popular with people of all ages and skill levels. It requires no gimmicks or special equipment but rather commitments to understanding the horse, devoting time, self-examination and honesty about one’s own limitations.

With his Chris Cox Horsemanship television show on RFD TV, the nationwide Come Ride the Journey Tour stops and appearances at equine expos and events, Cox has touched the lives of many a horse enthusiast and shown them there’s a straight-forward, practical way to gain a better relationship with their horses. Those who saw him win back-to-back championships at the 2007 and 2008 Road to the Horse Colt Starting contests witnessed the effectiveness of his methods and his clear passion for horses.

Cox is not only a successful clinician; he trains and competes at the highest levels of cutting horse competition. At his ranch he often has over twenty horses in training even as he juggles his demanding clinic, touring and competition schedules.

At his Diamond Double C Ranch near Mineral Wells, Texas, Cox offers progressive six-day horsemanship clinics several times a year. And in 2008 he added nationwide three-day clinics to make it even easier for those throughout the country to get first-hand instruction directly from him.

Sample Character Profile

wetpaint — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:07:55 CDT

**Copy/paste the contents of this page template into
each of the character profile pages you start.**

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UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES

DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES

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wetpaint — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:07:55 CDT

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wetpaint — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:07:55 CDT

**Copy/paste the contents of this page template to start
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Show Times	Eastern	Central	Mountain	Pacific
Tuesday	1:30 pm	12:30 pm	11:30 am	10:30 am
Tuesday	11:30 pm	10:30 pm	9:30 pm	8:30 pm
Sunday	5:30 pm	4:30 pm	3:30 pm	2:30 pm

Chris Cox Horsemanship - Recently Updated Pages

TV Show Fan Site

Welcome to the Chris Cox Horsemanship wiki!

RFD-TV Episode Guide Index

2008 Episodes

Featured on the August 4, 2008 Episode of Chris' show is the inspiring story of Nadia and the children at the Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center. Chris even donated his retired demo horse Stinger to this amazing cause! (video by Spirit Horse Center)

Show Times Eastern Central Mountain Pacific Tuesday 1:30 pm 12:30 pm 11:30 am 10:30 am Tuesday 11:30 pm 10:30 pm 9:30 pm 8:30 pm Sunday 5:30 pm 4:30 pm 3:30 pm 2:30 pm

YouTube Videos

Past Shows

Training Philosophy 101

We've compiled here a few key concepts straight from Chris that are key to understanding his training program and his horsemanship philosophy - think of it as the Cliff Notes guide to Chris' teaching!

About Chris

Sample Character Profile

[Character Name] is played by [Cast Name]

CHARACTER CONNECTIONS

Sample Cast Profile

Actor Photo Page

[Actor Name] Photos

Show Times Eastern Central Mountain Pacific

Tuesday 1:30 pm 12:30 pm 11:30 am 10:30 am

Tuesday 11:30 pm 10:30 pm 9:30 pm 8:30 pm

Sunday 5:30 pm 4:30 pm 3:30 pm 2:30 pm