Join us for a special groundwork clinic focusing on skills to develop trust, communication and obedience with your horse.
Through a blend of structured groundwork and natural horsemanship techniques, participants will build a strong foundation for effectively controlling their horse on the ground while enhancing the horse's ability to respond willingly and calmly to cues and various situations. 

Meet Your Clinician: Elizabeth Bays

Elizabeth Bays brings over 35 years of experience as a trainer, instructor, and clinician. She began her horsemanship journey at the age of fifteen, apprenticing under a John Lyons Certified Trainer to learn how to address issues like rearing and bucking . This began a ten-year training journey during which she completed the instructional programs of Parelli, Clinton Anderson, and Chris Cox while attending their clinics nationwide. 

By twenty-three, she launched her own training and lesson business, Elizabeth Bays Equestrian LLC,  and has since started and trained over 150 horses of various breeds and backgrounds. An ARIA Certified Instructor, Elizabeth has also attended clinics from top clinicians like Anne Kursinski, David and Karen O'Connor, and Yvonne Barteau. Elizabeth has also coached students to success at local and state levels in both Western and English disciplines. 

Now serving as Greenville University's Equestrian Director, Elizabeth draws from her extensive background to lead and mentor students in the Equestrian Program. Her focus on horsemanship, confidence-building and communication helps students grow not only as riders but as thoughtful and skilled horsemen and horsewomen.

 

What To Expect From The Clinic:

The clinic will be progressive with personalized coaching to help participants advance through the exercises. Come prepared to work, have fun, and be challenged! In the first section of the clinic,  participants will work through a series of training techniques and exercises to develop and enhance horsemanship skills for handling their horse on the ground. In the second section of the clinic, participants will be given a challenge so they can apply their skills and build a partnership with their horse to achieve success. 
 

Who Can Attend This Clinic:

Beginners, intermediate, and advanced horse owners. Ages 13 years of age and up.
Auditors are welcomed!

Clinic Requirements:

Rope halter 
15' training lead 
22'-25' training lead (optional but may be necessary if you have some control issues with your horse) 
Clinic participants will need to wear boots, no sandals or tennis shoes. Participants must wear pants, not shorts, during the clinic sessions. 
Gloves are recommended 
Participants need to bring their horse -horses will not be provided 

This Clinic Is Ideal For You: 

If you want your horse to be respectful, calm, willing, and confident on the ground
If you want your horse to self-load into the trailer or back calmly out of the trailer
If you want your horse to accept the farrier, vet, dentist, dewormer, saddle, bridle, blanket, fly spray, clippers
If you want your horse to stand quietly for mounting or dismounting
If you want your horse to handle obstacles with confidence 

Clinic Check-In, Hours, and Rules:

Participants can arrive by 12:30pm. Arriving prior to 12:30pm is not possible due to facility restrictions. 
Clinic Section I: 1:30-3:30pm 
Break: 3:30-4:00pm 
Clinic Section II: 4:00pm-6:00pm 

Please note that there are no stalls available at Kit Carson for overnight board or daily shelter. Horses will need to be tied to the trailer. Owners are responsible for their horse at all times. 

No stallions 

Horses must be halter-broke and broke to lead 

Clinic is limited to 8 participants and horses 

Auditors are welcome! ​​​​​​

For any questions or additional information, please contact Courtney Higgins at courtney.higgins@greenville.edu or (618) 703-1788