YRHA Hosts Jarvis Anderson Clinic
Author: Wendy Deans
Date published: May 4 2010
The Yellowstone Reining Horse Association hosted a clinic with NRHA Professional Trainer and YRHA Platinum level sponsor, Jarvis Anderson, on April 24 & 25. The clinic was held at Anderson Training Stables in Wilsall, Montana, with twelve riders attending. Jarvis split the group with six riders working in the morning and six in the afternoon to give more individual attention to each student.
Jarvis first asked each student their goals for 2010. Impressively, he never forgot each student's goals throughout the two-day clinic. He used NRHA pattern five as the base for the clinic working on the circles and turnarounds on Saturday and lead changes, run downs, stops and roll backs on Sunday. Before he began instructing, he had each student ride the part of the pattern they would be working on that day so that he could see a starting point with that rider and horse. Then he began instruction on those maneuvers.
Jarvis has a very clear building block approach to each reining maneuver. He explained each step, demonstrated each step and had each student practice the steps that built to the end result of a clean maneuver in front of the judge. After all this work, he sat in the judge's chair and had the student ride that part of pattern five again, critiquing the improvement and discussing what still needed work.
Jarvis specializes in futurity and derby horses. He also accepts a limited number of non pro riders and horses. He believes that in order to stay on top of the challenging sport of reining a trainer must continually be trying to better themselves and their program. Jarvis is always improving himself by seeking help from top contenders.
Jarvis has had success with many horses over the years, but the majority of his NRHA earnings have come from three stallions. Hercs Midnite Roost owned by Jim and Sharon Gelhaus of Brackett Creek Quarter Horses, Wilsall, Montana; Bay Shine owned by Steve and Robin Aller, Laurel, Montana; and Pretty Peppy Chec owned by Vicky King of Burly, Idaho. In 2008, Jarvis made the NRHA Futurity finals placing 13th in the Open and tied for 2nd in the Intermediate Open riding Pretty Peppy Chec. This added to his earnings enough that it also qualified him as a NRHA Top Twenty Rider in 2008. These are major accomplishments for a twenty-something trainer.
Jarvis operates his business out of Anderson Training Stables in Wilsall. He and his wife Stephanie, an accomplished non pro rider, have an adorable one-year-old daughter, Jocelyn. You can contact Jarvis and Stephanie at www.jarvis-anderson.com. Thanks so much to Jarvis for sharing his expertise and being a sponsor of the Yellowstone Reining Horse Association!
