Ken McNabb Horse Training Certification Program
The journey to become a Ken McNabb Certified Master Trainer
There are three levels in the Ken McNabb horse training certification program. They are Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Trainer. To become a Ken McNabb Certified Master Trainer, one must complete all three levels of training.
Ken McNabb Apprentice*
Participants in the apprenticeship program will complete fifteen days of training. You will work with three different horses ranging in training levels from well-started to well-broke. You will master the Ken McNabb method of training in areas such as round pen basics, advanced ground work and leading and lunging at liberty. You will work on basics to the bridle, understanding softness and flexion in your horse’s head, neck, shoulders, ribcage and hindquarters. You will master teaching your horse confidence on the trail in both a versatility trail course and the extreme trail course. We will cover riding with balance and feel, the art of using your hands, seat and legs to communicate with you horse. You will learn and develop incredible stops and lateral movement and begin the process of creating a finished horse. You will have classroom time in equine psychology and equine conformation, hoof care and basic at-home vet care. This program also includes hours and hours of beautiful riding on the ranch in both the trail and ranch settings. You will walk away from the apprenticeship program with the tools to understand your own horse like never before or to begin developing your own training business. This session is not tested, but is the foundation and introduction to Ken McNabb methods of horse training. Participants at this level will receive a participation certificate or plaque.
*This is the oldest, in-house 3-week apprenticeship program in the country
Ken McNabb Journeyman
This is a life changing experience that 100’s of trainers have used to launch their own business.
Participants in the Journeyman Trainer Program will complete a second segment of fifteen days of training. This session is tested with both a written and a practical or physical test. This 3-week program is designed to bring you closer to being a finished trainer than you have ever been. You are going to step up your game with the philosophy; if you want to ride finished horses then you have to ride your horses finished.
We will be covering advanced level maneuvers that will include everything from soft transitions, to collected stops and simple lead changes. From colt starting to a confident trail horse. You will gain a firm understanding of bits and how to decide when and where to use them. Saddle fit and padding will be covered at length.
When this program is over you will understand how to attain complete body control. You will be tested on the following: Your un-broke must be rideable outside of the round-pen at a walk, trot, and lope. Turn, stop, back and cross obstacles. Your 2 broke horses must stop fluidly on their hindquarters, turn a fluid 360 pivot, a fluid one handed side pass, simple lead changes and lope the haunches in. There is also a written test on theory and psychology. All aspects of the journeyman requirements must be met and pass the test in order to receive a plaque of completion. In the unlikely event that a student should fail the test they are allowed to study, practice and retest two more additional times at no extra cost.
Ken McNabb Master Trainer
The Master Certification Trainer Program may be completed within a maximum time of two years from the date of their Journeyman test. Participants in the Master Certification Trainer Program must have successfully completed the Journeyman level to be eligible. The Master Certification Trainer Program is designed to take the professional trainer to the next level. This program teaches a level of horsemanship that would normally take a lifetime to learn and opens the door to new adventures in horsemanship. You will master finish, understanding balance, and timing. Use collection to achieve balance and timing, and understand stride and how to control it. Once you have mastered these concepts, there is no stopping you in your horsemanship pursuits.
Some of the requirements for completion of the Master Trainer Program are: speed transitions, canter departures, correct, simple, and flying lead changes, rollbacks and spins, stops, one-handed riding, and loping a true side-pass/ half pass. After passing the written exam and physical test, you must also help teach two – 3 day clinics with Ken as an assistant trainer.
Trainers successfully completing this level can be added to the Ken McNabb Certified Master Trainer reference list and will be allowed to use Ken’s endorsement with prior approval.
In order to maintain the Ken McNabb Certified Master Trainer certification, you are required to ride in a 3-day clinic* with Ken at your convenience once every two years. ALL STUDENTS testing at the Master level must bring their own horses.