Tom Curtin Quality Horsemanship

06/15/2024

• Softening a Horse by Going Through The Sides with Tom Curtin 19:51

Both Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt spoke about the idea of softening a horse through their sides. In this lesson Tom Curtin demonstrates how he asks a horse to engage and leave with their hind feet and without pulling down and in to round up and ask for softness. Starting with legs, feet and seat will help build a horse that engages without tension and brings a softness and harmony in your horse mentally.

https://eclectic-horseman.com/inside-the-horsemans-gazette/

Tom Curtin Quality Horsemanship

02/28/2024

We are fine in Southern Oklahoma, the fire is not anywhere close to us. Thank you everyone that has checked on us. Please say a prayer for the people, pets and livestock that are in its path, and pray for the firefighters safety.

02/26/2024

02/06/2024

What can I say about Poncho and Lefty? There name says it all! These two Registered Gypsy Vanners will steal your heart. We have owned Poncho and Lefty since 2020. They have made friends everywhere we have hauled them, while doing our horsemanship and stockmanship clinics. These are two very exceptional full brothers. Poncho and Lefty are ready to advance into whatever discipline you would like to take them. They drive really well and are very talented movers with smooth gaits. They have been riden, but never abused with hard riding. We have given them plenty of time for there bones to mature. They have that winning, kind, Gypsy personality, but they are handy enough to go show. I’m offering these two as a pair because they are extremely well matched. However, they are so nice as individuals I would consider letting them go separately. I could go on and on about this pair, but if you’re interested please give me a call. My phone number will be in the first comment. Tom and I offer a very limited number of horses, and if you know us, you realize what we do offer are very special. Please enjoy the video. Thank you for putting it together Kassidy Webster.

01/24/2024

https://youtu.be/7FfmUK9ilN0?si=sd7AEGHmOh4JII7v
The mighty Lil Hick. He stands 14.1, and weighs around 1100lbs. However, if you ask Hick he will say that he stands at least 15.2. He loves people, and getting attention. He will be the first one at the gate to greet you. Tom and I have hauled Hick all over the US doing our Horsemanship and Stockmanship clinics. He can go all day doing ranch work just happy doing a job, or he is happy being risen in the arena. We have used Hick on the ranch, dragging calves for branding, and at Ranch Roping Contest. His size has never made a difference. He makes up for his size with try. He’s really gentle, but quick on his feet. Hick is up for consideration to the right home. He will make someone a nice partner, if you want a big horse heart that is easy to mount. He can go in any direction; show ring, roping ring, or trail horse. He has never been lame in his life and is completely sound.
Please PM me if you are interested in Hick.

12/25/2023

Tom wants to say Merry Christmas to all our clinic sponsors, clinic participants, family, and friends. We are very blessed to have you in our circle. Thank you and Merry Christmas from the Big Horns!!

07/19/2023

My office this morning! Capturing some amazing horsemanship teaching with Tom Curtin. Stay tuned for future issues of The Horseman’s Gazette!

06/16/2023

Come and join us. We are close to town.

06/15/2023

C**t starting clinic has been moved!! It is now being held at Hepp’s indoor arena. We love the rain, but it would be nice if the arena could dry out at Tipperary ranch.

05/07/2023

Great clinic at the Bar W.

02/05/2023

I have some different color Mattes pads in stock, and for sale. All are square, large, and have correction shims.

02/05/2023

I have a few weeks that have opened up for Winter Camp.
February 20-24
March 13-17
April 3-7
Winter camp is a great learning experience, and we try to have as much fun as possible. We added the first week of April this year. If anyone will be interested in doing April or May in 2024 could you let me know. The weather is beautiful that time of year, so we are thinking about staying a little longer in Oklahoma.

01/18/2023

A week ago today I swung my saddle onto the back of a five-year-old quarter horse under the watchful eye of Tom Curtin.

The horse took a few concerned steps as my stirrup swung over his back. I looked up to see Tom’s grin under the brim of his hat and he said,

“You were thinking about saddling that horse, weren’t you?
You need to think about that horse while you saddle him.“

Last week I spent the week with Tom and his wife, Trina. I noticed a reoccurring lesson throughout the week.

The everyday activities I have done my whole life with horses took on a new meaning. “You were thinking about brushing that c**t, you need to think about that c**t while you brush him.” And, “you were thinking about bridling that mare, you need to think about that mare while you bridle her.”

Tom said, “No matter what you do, never forget that horse”.

So there I was, playing cowboy for a week, learning about c**t starting, riding young horses, checking cattle, but deep inside it all, learning how to be with a horse in a very intentional way.

It’s a sort of contract, you see. You’re not demanding that your horse give you their attention without an even exchange. Asking a horse to bring their attention to me now feels more like saying, “Remember I’m right here, thinking about you… In exchange can you think about me?”

The gift of Tom’s c**ts was that they already knew the feeling of being kept in mind, and they were good at telling me when I’d lost track of them. The calm that came over these horses when I thought of them as I went about my daily routines was just wonderful.

All it took was being mindful of their existence and attentive to their needs. We typically have some sort of goal with our horses that can provide a wonderful sense of purpose, but the goal is meaningless if we lose track of our partner in the process.

I hope in reading this you can be as inspired as I am. When you go out this week and do whatever you do with your horses, whether it be jumping fences, working cows, dancing in a dressage arena, chasing hounds, etc, see if you can go about your business with purpose, but never forget your horse.

~ Justin

📸 Erin Gilmore // Erin Gilmore Photography

08/16/2022

Rex Ranch private clinic. We did some c**t starting, some horsemanship and two days of branding. Nebraska is such a pretty state. We are so honored to help this fine group of cowboys.

08/16/2022

Custer, Montana horsemanship and ranch roping clinic. It was a great clinic. There was a fire the afternoon we arrived. By Saturday we had rain. We all enjoyed the coolness of the rain and absolutely no one complained. Thank you Bob Lile for hosting such a great clinic. We are talking about moving this clinic to the end of June for 2023.

05/18/2022

We had a great week and a wonderful clinic at the Bar W. Thank you Derek, CJ and Sage Wise for opening your home and ranch to us. It was so beautiful even if we did get wet a few days. Rain makes the grass grow and in essence make for beautiful green hillsides.

03/19/2022

"When a horse does something once, it can be an accident. A horse does something twice, there's a pattern to it. A horse does something three times it's a consistent pattern. If you don't like what he did, you better change what happened there." ~ Tom Curtin Tom Curtin Quality Horsemanship

02/18/2022

Feeling What A Horse Needs - Building a Foundation Part 8 with Tom Curtin Photos By Emily Kitching

Building softness is where a horse learns how to stay ahead of your legs and behind your hands, so you can ride both ends to the middle and begin shaping and forming that arc in your horse’s body.

Tom Curtin Quality Horsemanship

02/17/2022

Gearing up for day two of “Introducing a Young Horse to Roping.” Going to be a good time! Link on website for tickets. Even if you can’t join us live, you can gain exclusive access to the videos to watch anytime!

02/16/2022

Tom’s getting geared up for “Introducing a Young Horse to Roping” this evening. Even if you can’t join us live, a quick purchase on our website gives you access to live-streamed videos to watch anytime. Here we go!

02/09/2022

Good morning! Beginning on Wednesday, February 16th at 6 PM Central, you’re invited to join us for “Introducing a Young Horse to Roping.” In this three day live-streamed event, Tom will be working with a c**t getting ready for the roping pen, whether the rodeo arena or the branding trap. If you’re interested, tickets are available at the link below.

https://tomcurtinhorsemanship.com/shop/live-stream/upcoming/february-16-18-introducing-a-young-horse-to-roping/

February 16-18 – Introducing a Young Horse to Roping$50.00 Join us for our latest Facebook Livestream event! Introducing a Young Horse to Roping. You will learn how to get ready for any type of roping; pasture roping, team roping, ranch roping. Three nightly sessions at 6pm Central time. You must ...

02/07/2022

Hi Everyone,
Just a reminder to check out our new web site. We have several new clinics on the list. Check them out and ride with us if you can.

02/07/2022

I was asked today if this team, Buster and Mike, were coming along exceptionally well. The answer is yes they are. They are two really nice horses. Mike, a 4 year old, is a son of Once In A Blu Boon out of a Smart Little Lena mare. Buster, a 3 year old, is by Our Little Boons out of a Playgun mare. They are well breed and good minded. However, I'm going to take this moment to really brag on my husband. Tom Curtin has started c**ts that have gone on to show and place in the NCHA futurity and other major shows. He has placed and won in quite a few ranch ropings, on his young horses.Tom has fantastic feel with his body and his hands. Tom's horses have no doubt that he can help them get through any situation. So yes, these young horses are doing exceptionally well. They have a master at the lines. One who cares about them, feels for them, feels with them, and then they feel together

02/04/2022

Great morning here in Wilson, Oklahoma. Tom says driving his team in the snow was so much fun. I know some of you get tired of our snow fun, but we only get snow once a year.

01/08/2022

Everybody meet Poncho!!
He is going to be a lot of fun. On his third ride we rode across the creek and gathered the long horn steers.

12/04/2021

Hi Everyone. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Winter Camp is booking up fast. I have one week in March with a few spots available, and the first two weeks in April have some room also. If you interested please contact me soon. 406 839 4537

11/09/2021

We had a wonderful clinic this weekend in Hamilton Texas at the Crooked Creek Ranch. Thank you Karen Miller for putting this clinic together. We had a fabulous, fun, group of riders. Great cattle to work and beautiful weather.

11/06/2021

Day one of Tom's clinic in Hamilton, Texas. Beautiful facility and fun riders.

08/18/2021

"I'm waiting on him, but I'm not (just) doing nothing while I'm waiting." ~ Tom Curtin