Aussie Stockman Guy McLean

Guy’s performances, the same as his horsemanship methods, have all been self-taught. Although he has always shown an interest in all of the disciplines and performers that he has witnessed, it has ultimately been the countless hours spent in the presence of a horse or in front of a crowd that has molded him. With his motto “Finding a Better Way” he is always open to something that might improve what he already has while always staying true to what has always worked.

Guy and his horses have achieved national acclaim in Australia over the past 15 years and his talented horses (especially Nugget) have had their names chanted in front of 20,000 people at Royal shows such as Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as Guy’s favorite, The Brisbane Ekka, where for the last nine years Guy and his team have performed in front of well over a million people. Guy has been acclaimed by his fans and Australian dignitaries alike as a National treasure and Living Legend and although this humble Australian still blushes at such remarks, it is the kind words and stories of inspiration that Guy evokes that keeps him in the frame of mind to succeed and continue to spread his message.

Now in a new stage, McLean and four of his own Australian bred ‘Quietway Performance horses’ (of which three are Nugget’s foals) have expanded to the international stage. At the moment they are based in Texas and will follow their dreams to perform worldwide.

Friday:

1:15-2:00 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)      
Riding from the Core: Understanding you ride with your body

2:45-3:30 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Learn to Ride Outside the Box: Using your imagination in horsemanship

Saturday:

9:30-11:15 a.m. (Coliseum)     
Starting the Young Horse-Part 1
           
1:00-2:00 p.m. (Livestock Center Lower Level Seminar Hall)
Q&A Session-Bring your questions for Guy.

4:45-5:45 p.m. (Coliseum)         
Demystifying the Flying Change

Sunday:

9:30-11:15 a.m. (Coliseum)   
Starting the Young Horse-Part 2

12:00-1:00 p.m. (Livestock Center Lower Level Seminar Hall)
Q&A Session-Bring your questions for Guy.

3:45-4:45 p.m. (Coliseum)   
Maximizing Your Horse’s Potential

Charles Wilhelm
“It’s Never, EVER, the Horse’s Fault”

Charles Wilhelm’s training methods reflect his belief that “It’s Never, Ever, the Horse’s Fault!” His relaxed, warm and amusing character has made him a great favorite at clinics and expositions. Clinic participants and observers take home practical and solid knowledge and are able to be successful with their own horses-seeing results right away. His motto, “Success Through Knowledge,” reflects his training philosophy that the human should learn right alongside
the horse.

Charles has been seen on RFD-TV and NAUHS. He has been featured in 2010 and 2011 in Horse Illustrated, the world’s largest equine magazine. Charles also writes monthly columns for Riding Magazine, Honest Horse, Horsemen’s News, and Northwest Rider. His book “Building Your Dream Horse” was published in 2005 and his book “Starting Baby Jaz” was released in 2006.

In addition to earlier clinics and appearances at Illinois Horse Fair and Equestrian Lifestyle Expo, Charles has performed and presented at Equine Affaire, Horse World Expo, Ride the West, Equine Experience, The Mane Event, Rocky Mountain Horse Expo, Midwest Horse Fair and Western States Horse Expo. He has been featured on national radio programs with Jim Campbell, Wayne Williams and Rick Lamb. He has been the headlining speaker at U.C. Davis Horse Days Symposium for many years, as well as winning the Trainer’s Challenge at the Mane Event in Canada. In 2010, Charles was the only clinician headliner at the Grand Nationals held at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.  

Charles’ training facility in Castro Valley, California is among the top equine educational institutions in northern California. The facility offers extensive hands-on learning programs for every level of horsemanship, from novice through trainer and top-level competitor. He specializes in working with beginning and returning women riders between the ages of 35 and 55, and his “Women's Horse Camp” is a favorite of clients. Charles Wilhelm Training focuses on performance training, including Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, and Ranch Versatility — in addition to clinics for horse people of all skill levels.

Friday:

2:00-2:45 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Bye, Bye Buddy-Hang on!  You think as you grab your reins.  Your riding partner just walked her horse away from yours, and the minute she passed out of sight, your horse became a raving maniac.  Now he’s snorting and dancing all over, carrying on as if he’d never been alone for a minute.  Charles will explain the equine anxieties that lead to buddy-sour behavior, and demonstrate how you can help solve your horse’s anxiety problem.

5:45-6:30 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Effective Riding-Getting the most out of your horse-seat, legs, hands and reins-and how to use them for better control and performance.

Saturday:

11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Gaining Confidence in the Canter-Taking the mystery out of the canter, learn how to feel confident in yourself and your horse.

2:00-3:00 p.m. (Livestock Center Lower Level Seminar Hall)
Why It’s Never, Ever the Horse’s Fault-The majority of problems Charles solves are the result of handler errors made in simple ignorance. Small problems, which could be solved quickly, if neglected become bigger ones more difficult to correct. Eventually someone is hurt. Learn how handlers unintentionally teach horses bad habits and how to correct them safely.

3:45-4:45 p.m. (Coliseum)
Reining 101-Where to start for reining-What you need for basics, how to get the spin, light and balanced stops and balanced collected circles.  Where to start the spin.

Sunday:

10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Performance Training for Every Horse and Why We Need It-When you train your horse for performance, it elevates the standards for both the horse and you as a rider. The horse becomes more responsive and in-tune with you, and the goals for performance keep you moving forward in your thoughts and training — even if you don't actually perform or compete.

1:00-2:00 p.m. (Livestock Center Lower Level Seminar Hall)
Equipment Doesn’t Train the Horse, You Do!-The use of the snaffle, bridle and hackamore, and when and why you use them.

2:45-3:45 p.m. (Coliseum)
Foundations in Trailering- It’s time for spring shows and trail rides, so…  Why be inconvenienced by a horse that is resistant to loading into the trailer?

Tracy Porter-Trainer/Entertainer

Since their humble beginnings, Tracy and her stallion Caz have been featured clinicians across the United States and Canada and have competed and won in various disciplines from Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Races to distance rides. It’s not unusual to find them involved in many equine disciplines proving that the only limits we have are those that we’ve placed on ourselves.

Tracy understands fear. After a life-changing accident with a stumbling horse resulted in two shattered vertebrae in her neck, she underwent successful experimental surgery. This put her in a position of relearning how to do many things she once took for granted…riding was one. Each time she fell, Caz patiently helped her get back in the saddle again. After two years of getting things back to normal, Caz was badly injured when a tornado tore through the farm. It became Tracy’s turn to bring her prized stallion through a year of medical treatments and rehabilitation. Even though every day was a challenge to get their lives back, they are back on the road together and here to show you why Caz is truly the little Paso Fino with the big heart.

Married to TJ Clibborn, Tracy and TJ train and conduct clinics at their facility, The Farm, in Milton, Wisconsin.

Friday:

4:15-5:00 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Understanding Bits and the Beginning Headset

Saturday:

1:30-2:45 p.m. (Coliseum)
Preparing for the Mustang Challenge-See the training progress of three Mustangs, picked up January 27, being readied for the Midwest Mustang Challenge in April.

5:00-6:00 p.m. (13 Arena)
Body Control: Suppleness- Four feet from nose to tail.

Sunday:

1:30-2:45 p.m. (Coliseum)
Ground Work Made Simple:  The basics.

Tim Austin: ABC Method of Horsemanship

ABC Horsemanship was developed by Bob Cunningham after more than 40 years of horse training. By “Always Being Consistent,” Cunningham learned that he could acquire a calmer horse in half the time it took other trainers. Tim Austin grew up working with horses in Decatur, Illinois, then joined Cunningham eight years ago. Together, Bob and Tim have made ABC Horsemanship into what it is today.

ABC works with horses and their owners to build a solid, long lasting relationship through trust, understanding and love.

Austin has been a headliner along with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Craig Cameron and Richard Winters. He has been a clinician for the past two years at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek clinic to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Austin also is a weekly regular on the Loos Trails and Tails radio show, with an average listening population of four million people from around the country.

Always Be Consistent are not just words to Austin. They are a way of life and the basis upon which ABC Horsemanship is built. ABC Horsemanship goes back to the basics, ensuring that each horse understands what its rider asks it to do in a kind, calm and clear way. This method never relies on fear or pain to force a horse into submitting to a request. With a step-by-step method, both horse and rider become confident in each other, and can maintain a safe, happy and lasting relationship.

Friday

5:00-5:45 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Real World Rescue-Tim Austin works with a rescue horse and explains what to expect and be aware of before rescuing your own horse.

Saturday

2:15-3:15 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
From Racing to Relaxing-Tim Austin shows you how to take a horse with a need for speed, whether from the race track or the barrel ring, and transform it into something manageable and fun.  It’s an inspiring transformation!

Sunday

1:30-3:00 p.m. (13 Arena)
Moooving Forward with Cattle Work-Tim Austin shows you how using cows can benefit every horse and explains the basics, as well as more advanced techniques to work a cow.

Terry Brown

Terry Brown owns and operates Terry Brown Show Horses in Springfield.  Terry’s program focuses on developing youth and amateur riders for all-around western events, and maintaining the complete show horse and rider.  The emphasis at Terry Brown Show Horses is to maximize the bond between horse and rider in a fun and enjoyable manner.  With more than twenty years of experience, Terry has helped his clients place in the Top Tens at the Paint World Show as well as All American Quarter Horse Congress, and produced numerous high-point winners and futurity champions. 

Terry is an American Paint Horse Association Professional Horseman, one of only 70 world-wide.  The program, established in 2009, was designed to seek out honest, upstanding equine professionals who pledge to encourage professionalism, integrity and fairness throughout the horse industry.

Saturday:

2:45-3:45 p.m. (Coliseum)
Developing the Modern Day Western Pleasure Horse

Sunday:

9:30-10:45 a.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Showmanship-The path to excellence.

David Davis-Cowboy
Dressage Preacher and
Trick Horse Trainer

Davis has won three world championships in reining. He has accumulated more than 80 performance points in AQHA and APHA competitions.

He enjoys teaching people how to interact with horses in ways that are safe and effective, resulting in positive experiences that lead to consistently excellent behavior. He uses exercises and maneuvers that are fun and easy to apply. Principles of his "Force Free Horse Training" methods will help anyone interested in horses, whether their goals include enjoying time with horses for pleasure or advanced levels of competition and difficult high schooled maneuvers.

Davis and his black and white overos have performed at such prestigious events as Free Style Reining at the Quarter Horse Congress, Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa World Championships, NRHA Futurity, Equitana USA, and many horse fairs.
 
Always willing to include ministry whenever possible, Davis can preach and sing on horseback or on foot, presenting the Gospel message. His music includes Christian Country Style music that he has written and recorded himself. He will conduct Cowboy Church Sunday morning at Illinois Horse Fair. He has done so in the past with large, receptive audiences.

Friday

3:30-4:15 p.m. (Livestock Center Arena)
Trick Horse Training

Saturday

3:30-5:00 p.m. (13 Arena)
Western Dressage Clinic demonstration rider

Sunday

8:30-9:15 a.m. (Coliseum)
Cowboy Church-Dave Davis’ inspiring non-denominational horseback music ministry.

3:00-4:30 p.m. (13 Arena)
Western Dressage Clinic demonstration rider

Jill McCrae, French Classical Dressage trainer

Jill McCrae received her riding master’s degree from Meredith Manor. She has apprenticed with and is the protégé of world-renowned trainer and author, Dominique Barbier. She has a well-rounded background that includes showing hunters and event horses as well as dressage horses. She owns and operates McCrae Farm in Grayslake, IL, which she established in 1987, where she teaches and trains French Classical Dressage. She enjoys performing for audiences with her two Lusitanos, Quebec dos Pinhais and Justo, having presented them in the Equine Village of the World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park.

McCrae is active with the Chicago Royal Equestrian Arts Foundation, striving to promote and preserve the centuries-old art of classical riding, a living art form passed from generation to generation. “If classical horsemanship falls into neglect for even one generation, it could be lost forever,” she contends.

Saturday

1:15-2:15 a.m. (Livestock Center Arena)

Sunday

12:30-1:30 p.m. (13 Arena)
Introduction to French Classical Dressage - Utilizing standards set in the 18th century by Francois Robichon de le Gueriniere, horses must be light and active, gaits pure and regular.  The Movements are given by-not forced from-the horse.

Laurie French-Treber — Hunt Seat/Jumping Trainer

Laurie French-Treber runs a multi-discipline horsemanship program, "Horsemanship, Naturally," where students are encouraged to learn many facets of what the horse industry has to offer. "I have always felt the need to teach good horsemanship in a way that applies to all disciplines and that allows students to find their own passion and interests in the horse industry."  

She feels that learning should be fun, safe, and simplified for both horse and rider. "Sometimes learning and trying something new can be quite intimidating! People and horses, need to feel safe to learn, and feel safe to make mistakes."   

Laurie is a certified riding instructor with the American Riding Instructor Association and is a Level 3 Parelli student. Laurie also was a United States Pony Club member in her youth. Laurie has taught numerous students to advance levels within several disciplines. Many of her students have been inspired to go on to become instructors, judges, trainers, breeders and program coordinators, as well as fill other positions in the horse industry.

Laurie conducts her horsemanship program through Timber Creek Stables, Equiventure Stables, and her own Looking Glass Farm. Laurie also is Director of the McLean County 4-H Horse program. 

Saturday

2:30-3:30 p.m. (13 Arena)

Sunday

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Getting Started in Hunt Seat and Jumping-Don’t let English riding and jumping intimidate you! Learn proper basic fundamentals to make "getting started" fun, safe and simple!