True Grit Academy Foundation Program

True Grit Academy

Equine Education “Foundation” Program

The “True Grit” Academy “Foundation” program offers students four levels of equine education of Kozak Horsemanship.  Each level includes philosophy and methodology of Kozak Horsemanship that connects and advances to the next level in order to develop communication, confidence, trust, solid minds, and improved physical abilities of balance and coordination in the horse.  “True Grit” Academy students will possess a strong passion for horsemanship knowledge and enjoy the rewards of developing a willing understanding with the horse on the ground and under saddle.

The “Foundation” program includes the following educational levels for the student:

Level 1 — DISCOVER HORSEMANSHIP PHILOSOPHY & METHODOLOGY IN THE ROUND PEN

“True Grit” Academy students learn Russ Krachun’s signature methods of working in the round pen.  Students learn how to apply and learn the goals of each of the fifteen steps.  Students will develop their own physical abilities, improve their own mental abilities and also learn how to respond and develop their communication skills with the horse in the round pen.  The skills and lessons learned by the student are essential in developing understanding with the horse and educate how to develop willing responses that will be used throughout the following programs and levels of the “True Grit” Academy.

Methods:

  1. Teach your horse to go forward consistently in the left & right direction
  2. Extended touch
  3. Teach your horse to stop and face you from the left & right direction
  4. Ask your horse to turn inside from the left & right direction
  5. Ask your horse to turn outside from the left & right direction
  6. Ask your horse to turn inside and outside together
  7. Speed control and control fear in different speeds in the left & the right direction
  8. First physical touch with hands on both sides up to the withers
  9. Build confidence with lariat on both sides up to the withers
  10.  First pressure from the left and right direction
  11. Build confidence to the hind end with lariat from the left and right direction
  12. First pressure to hind end from the left and right direction
  13. Whole body confidence and trust building with your hands
  14. Teach your horse to lead and build confidence with flag and bull whip
  15. Teach the horse to move different body parts using human body language
Level 2 — IN-HAND COMMUNICATION

“True Grit” Academy students learn Russ Krachun’s philosophy and signature methods of in-hand communication while working on the ground with a horse.  Students will learn how to apply methods of how to communicate with the horse through human hands by using the horsemanship rope, body language and voice commands.  Students will learn how the previous lessons learned in level one “Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen” are transferred and connects to their in-hand communication with the horse.  Students will also develop their own physical abilities and confidence by improving their own balance, coordination, and communication with the horse on the ground.

Methods:

  1. Develop neck muscle memory of the horse by giving to the pressure – pressing down towards the ground with horse standing still
  2. Develop the horse’s neck muscle memory laterally from the left and right sides of the horse body with horse standing still
  3. Develop the horse neck muscle memory laterally with the horseman standing on the opposite side of the horse body from the left and right sides of the horse body with horse standing still
  4. Educate the horse to travel forward consistent from the left and right sides of the horse body
  5. Educate the horse to travel forward consistently from the left and right sides of the horse body
  6. Educate the horse to disengage the hind quarter in forward motion from the left and right sides of the horse body
  7. Educate the horse to disengage the hind quarters from the left and right sides of the horse body when standing still
  8. Educate the horse to travel forward consistent and consistently at the walk from the left and the right direction
  9. Educate the horse to travel forward consistent and consistently at the trot from the left and the right direction
  10. Educate the horse to travel forward consistent and consistently at the lope from the left and the right direction
  11. Educate the horse to give to the pressure at the walk, trot and lope and learn to stand still
  12. Educate the horse to change direction by giving to the pressure at the walk, trot and lope when the horseman is standing still in the middle of the arena
  13. Educate the horse to change direction by giving to the pressure from the left and the right sides at the walk, trot and lope when the horseman is travelling around the arena in different directions
  14. Educate the horse to stand still by disengaging the hind quarters
  15. Educate the horse to change direction at the walk, trot and lope by disengaging the hind quarters when the horseman is standing still in the middle of the arena
  16. Educate the horse to change direction at the walk, trot and lope by disengaging the hind quarters when the horseman is walking in different directions in the arena
  17. Educate the horse to stand still from the walk, trot and the canter by using the turn inside manoeuver
  18. Educate the horse to change direction from the left to the right, or from the right to the left at the walk, trot and lope by using turn inside manoeuver when the horseman is moving in the middle of the arena
  19. Educate the horse to change direction by using turn inside manoeuver at the walk, trot and lope when the horseman is travelling in different directions in the arena
  20. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions and stand still when the horseman is swinging the horsemanship rope away from the horse
  21. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions and stand still when the horseman is swinging the horsemanship rope around the horse’s head and front shoulders
  22. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions and stand still when the horseman is applying extended touch manoeuver on the horses back, hindquarters, front and hind legs, from the left and right sides of the horse body
  23. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions and stand still when the horseman is applying physical touch manoeuver with the horsemanship rope behind the horse hindquarters
  24. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions and stand still when the horseman is applying the horsemanship rope around the horses hindquarters and swinging the rope against the horses rib cage
  25. Educate the horse to change direction by giving to the pressure with the hindquarters and stand still
  26. Educate the horse to change direction by giving to the pressure with the hindquarters and continues to travel forward
  27. Educate the horse to travel forward at the walk and the trot and change direction in a straight line
  28. Educate the horse to travel backwards at the walk and the trot and change direction in a straight line
  29. Educate the horse to travel between cones in a straight line from the left and the right when the horseman is standing on the left or on the right side of the horses body at the walk and the trot
  30. Educate the horse to travel between cones in a straight line when the horseman is facing the horse and the horseman is travelling backwards between the cones at the walk and trot
  31. Educate the horse to travel between the cones in a straight line when the horseman is facing the horse with his back and is travelling forward between the cones, walk and trot
  32. Educate the horse to travel in a figure # 8 between the cones when the horseman is standing on the left or the right sides of the cones at a walk and a trot
  33. Educate the horse to travel in a figure # 8 between the cones and at the same time the horseman is changing directions himself from the left to the right and from the right to the left between the cones at the walk and the trot
  34. Educate the horse the stop by giving to the pressure and then come directly to the horseman by giving to the pressure by using the horsemanship rope at the walk and the trot
  35. Educate the horse to give to the pressure when the horse is travelling in a different direction in the arena and then come directly back to the horseman at the walk and the trot
  36. Educate the horse to travel forward and accept the extended touch manoeuver with the horsemanship rope at the walk and the trot from the left and the right sides of the horse body
  37. Develop confidence between the horse and the horseman when the horse is travelling forward and the horseman changes the distance between them
  38. Educate the horse to travel forward beside the horseman at the walk and the trot and the horse accepts the horseman’s touch around the horse body with his hands
  39. Educate the horse to stop from the walk, trot and canter in a straight line
  40. Educate the horse to develop confidence, balance and coordination from the left and right sides of the horses body at the back up
  41. Educate the horse to travel beside the horseman at the walk
  42. Educate the horse to travel beside the horseman at the trot
  43. Educate the horse to travel beside the horseman at the lope
  44. Educate the horse to travel beside the horseman, respect his space and change direction around the horseman at the walk and the trot
  45. Educate the horse to control emotions in the stall, paddock, or gates; to wait for the horseman and not run through the horseman’s safety space
  46. Educate the horse to wait and to control emotions when the horseman is taking the halter off, in the stall, paddock or in other environments
  47. Develop the horses balance and coordination in the front shoulders
  48. Develop the horses balance and coordination at different speeds
  49. Speed Control
Level 3 — CONFIDENCE, TRUST & SOLID MINDS

“True Grit” Academy students will learn Russ Krachun’s unconventional philosophy and methodology to develop confidence and trust and solid minds in the horse.  In this level, students will also develop their own confidence and learn how to control their own emotions in various situations and environments.  Methods and lessons in this level will educate the student the methodology of how to improve the horse mental and physical abilities through timing, repetition and periods of relaxation.  Students learn the importance of confident, trusting minds and how this methodology benefits both the handler and the horse in order to perform to the best of their abilities.

Methods:

  1. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with flag from the left and the right sides of the horse body (walk, trot, lope)
  2. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with flag in front of the horse body (standing still)
  3. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with flag from left and right sides of the body of the horse (standing still)
  4. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with flag from the horse’s hindquarters (standing still)
  5. Educate horse to control fear and emotions and build confidence with flag his front hind legs, rib cage, hind quarters (standing still)
  6. Develop horse confidence with extended touch with the flag from the left side of the horse body, front legs, hind legs, rib cage, and hindquarters
  7. Develop horse confidence with extended touch with the flag from the right side of the horse body, front legs, hind legs, rib cage, and hindquarters
  8. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions when travelling forward with noisy obstacles are travelling behind him, or when touching on top of his body (left and right sides at the walk, trot and lope)
  9. Educate the horse to travel over noisy obstacles at the walk, trot and lope in the left and the right directions
  10. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions when travelling forward, and to stop and stand still on top of noisy obstacles (walk, trot and lope)
  11. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions when travelling forward through loud sounds and noisy obstacles (walk, trot and lope)
  12. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions, develop confidence, and mental abilities, with the sounds of the gun and the bull whip
  13. Educate the horse to stand still and control fear and emotions, face the obstacle, when the obstacle is travelling towards him at different speeds
  14. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions when travelling through narrow spaces (walk, trot and lope)
  15. Educate the horse control fear and emotions and to stop and stand still between narrow spaces
  16. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions when travelling through narrow spaces with noisy sounds, and obstacles (walk, trot and lope)
  17. Develop confidence and trust in the horse mind and body through the horseman’s hands
  18. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with the horsemanship rope in front of the horse body and stand still
  19. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with the horsemanship rope on the left and the right sides of the horses body and stand still
  20. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with the horsemanship rope at the hindquarters and stand still
  21. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions when the horseman walks towards the horse in different speeds on both the left and right sides of the horses body and stand still
  22. Educate the horse control fear and emotions when the horseman is behind the horse with noisy sounds and moving obstacles when the horse is tied, standing still
  23. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions, develop confidence and stand still when bridling the horse on both the left and the right sides of his body
  24. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions and stand still when the horseman is saddling the horse with the saddle blanket from the left and the right sides of the horse body
  25. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions and stand still when the horseman is saddling the horse with the saddle on the left and the right sides of the horses body
  26. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with all of the horsemanship equipment (tack) by educating the horse to travel forward using the methods from level one “Discover Horsemanship Philosophy & Methodology in the Round Pen” with Step # 1 , 3 , 4, 5, & 6
  27. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions, develop confidence and stand still, when the horseman mounts the horse for the first time from the left and the right sides of his body.
  28. Educate the horse to control fear and emotions with the first ride under saddle with the horseman in both the left and right directions at the walk, trot and lope
Level 4 — ROUND PEN RIDING METHODOLOGY

“True Grit” Academy students learn Russ Krachun’s signature round pen methodology that educate balance and coordination under saddle.  Students will work directly with a horse under saddle under Russ Krachun’s guidance to learn the basics of educating muscle memory in the poll, neck, shoulder, rib cage and hindquarters.  Students will also learn how to educate the horse for basic riding manoeuvers that include travelling in a straight line, turn inside, turn outside, and stop at various speeds at the walk, trot and lope.  Round Pen Riding Methodology will prepare both the horse and the rider with balance, coordination and understanding and also prepares both the horse and the rider with the confidence and knowledge to safely and confidently ride in larger open areas.

Methods:

  1. Straight line -walk (left and right direction)
  2. Straight line -trot (left and right direction)
  3. Straight line -lope (left and right direction)
  4. Control hindquarters on the left side of the horse at a walk
  5. Control hindquarters on the right side of the horse at a walk
  6. Control hindquarters on the left side of the horse at a trot
  7. Control hindquarters on the right side of the horse at a trot
  8. Turn inside at the walk (left and right direction)
  9. Turn inside at the trot (left and right direction)
  10. Turn inside at the lope (left and right direction)
  11. Turn outside at the walk (left and right direction)
  12. Turn outside at the trot (left and right direction)
  13. Turn outside at the lope (left and right direction)
  14. Serpentines at the walk
  15. Serpentines at the trot

True Grit Academy Equine Education “Foundation” Program Agreement
(or download Equine Education “Foundation” Program Agreement in PDF format)

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Please submit your True Grit Academy Equine Education “Foundation” Program Agreement before booking your lesson.  Once you have received confirmation of your enrollment, you may book your lesson.

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Thank you very much for your interest in a True Grit Academy Equine Education “Foundation” Program!