Our core purpose is to inspire the dreams of horsemen. Whether you enjoy riding your horse a few times a week, are a serious competitor, or fall somewhere in-between, we’re here to provide the instruction and inspiration to help you achieve your goals.
Downunder Horsemanship was founded by Clinton Anderson in 1998. The journey from being an unknown horse trainer in Australia to a renowned clinician was not easy, but Clinton’s dedication to learning horsemanship and his desire to help people have better partnerships with their horses has never wavered. Today, Clinton and the Downunder Horsemanship Method have helped thousands of horses and riders.
Born and raised in Australia, Clinton grew up with a love for horses. Although he lived in the city with his family, he looked forward to the weekends he got to spend on his grandparents’ farm, where his grandmother would give him rides on her beloved Thoroughbred mare. By the age of 12, Clinton was playing polocrosse and was eventually chosen for a national team representing his state.
When he was 13, he met the late Gordon McKinlay, a horseman and clinician who would change his life and ultimately set Clinton on his career path. After attending one of Gordon’s clinics, where he learned how to do the groundwork and riding exercises that now make up the basis of the Method, Clinton began a two-year apprenticeship with the revered horseman. Under Gordon’s expert guidance, Clinton started and trained over 600 horses, many of which were wild horses straight from the Outback.
Apprenticeship With Ian Francis
When he was 17, Clinton graduated Gordon’s apprenticeship and began working for Ian Francis, a three-time National Cutting Horse Association Futurity Champion and five-time National Reining Horse Association Futurity Champion. While the focus of Gordon’s program was on safety for horse and rider and starting colts, Clinton looked to Ian for his ability to get a horse soft and supple and ready to compete on a national level. Clinton worked steadily with Ian for a year and then used his knowledge and expertise to open his own training facility in Rockhampton, Queensland.
Clinton continued running his training barn and teaching clinics until coming to the United States in 1996 for a brief apprenticeship with Al Dunning, winner of multiple American Quarter Horse Association World Championships. Clinton then returned to Australia and his training horse business, where he won the first-go and placed third in the 1997 Australian National Reining Horse Association Futurity on his mare Mindy. Mindy later traveled to the United States with Clinton and played a key role in helping him establish Downunder Horsemanship. She quickly became an iconic horse in the industry.
Sharing the Method
In October of 1998, Clinton made the United States his home and officially launched Downunder Horsemanship and his renowned horsemanship method. The Method gives horsemen the knowledge they need to train their horses to be safe, consistent and willing partners. A step-by-step program, the Method has helped thousands of horses and owners form safe, enjoyable partnerships. Clinton began touring the country, instructing clinics and creating training videos and tools to make learning horsemanship as easy as possible for horse owners.
In 2007, Clinton created the No Worries Club, a community for horsemen who practice the Method. Through an extensive online training video library, a quarterly publication, a social network and nationwide events, Clinton inspires and educates his most loyal followers to help them accomplish their horsemanship dreams.
Through the Clinician Academy, Clinton trains and certifies horsemen to share the Method. Our Professional Clinicians and Method Ambassadors travel the world teaching clinics and private lessons in an effort to offer horse owners personalized help with their horses.
Today, Clinton continues to share his horsemanship knowledge and teach public events.
