Have you ever seen a guy rope a filly, start a colt, tell a story, teach a lesson, drink Earl Grey tea, and ponder the grit that hardship brings—all without removing a toothpick from the corner of his mouth? I have, twice.
This was my second year riding with Martin Black, co-author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship and one of the most insightful teachers I’ve ever met. His clinics are equal parts humbling and inspiring—a masterclass in not just riding but understanding horses on a deeper level.
Day 1: Roping Lessons and the Art of Timing
The first day of the clinic set the tone. While practicing roping, I missed 26 times in a row. With all the patience of a seasoned teacher, Martin watched, then calmly offered a single piece of advice: “Throw a little earlier.” That one tip changed everything. It was a reminder that sometimes the simplest feedback can be the ticket—if you’re willing to listen.
Photo credit: Martin Black Collection
Tik at Martin Black Clinic
Day 2: Tack Matters—Down to the Smallest Details
On day two, Martin’s attention to detail was on full display as he walked me through unrigging a western saddle. Eleven times he showed me how to properly slip the needle of the back cinch buckle through the ring of the front cinch buckle, then hang them neatly from a round piece of leather—whose name I still don’t know.
More importantly, he emphasized leaving the back cinch curved the correct direction, not twisted. That small nuance—one I’d never considered—made a world of difference in the saddle’s balance and the horse’s comfort.
Tik at Martin Black Clinic
Day 3: Stories That Teach
By the third day, Martin started to weave stories into the lessons. One tale stood out: the story of Gene Lewis, a kid who started as a talented bronc rider and went on to compete in jumpers after returning from WWII. “Some kids played baseball; we rode broncs,” Martin recalled.
Photo credit: Martin Black Collection
Gene’s approach to training was ahead of its time. He would arrive at a show with 30 horses, competing in both western and English classes. His versatility and openness to learn from different disciplines left a legacy that influenced riders like David O’Connor, who integrated techniques such as riderless jumping to help horses build confidence and think for themselves.
Photo credit: Martin Black Collection
Practical Wisdom: Weight Distribution
Before leaving, I asked Martin what I should focus on over the next two months. His answer was clear: “Weight distribution. It helps with turning, it helps with accelerating, it helps with the backup. You get out of their way.”
As always, his advice was deceptively simple but packed with meaning. Understanding and applying it would take time—and that was the point.
Martin’s Philosophy on Horsemanship
One of the things I admire most about Martin is his open-mindedness. “I have no prejudice in discipline because there is good horsemanship and bad horsemanship in every discipline,” he said, the toothpick still bobbing as he spoke.
What horsemanship truly is was left unsaid, but Martin’s teaching style—grounded in patience, precision, and respect for the horse—offered all the clarity needed.
Photo credit: Martin Black Collection
Some More of Martin’s Memorable Quotes
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“You got one chance to make a first impression. I rarely see anyone intentionally start a horse clockwise in a round pen, or start handling them in their right eye. People don’t realize how little it takes to make a left-sided horse. Lead ‘em, load ‘em, turn ‘em out—there are three experiences right there. And the bigger impression you make, the more lasting it is.”
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“Walk up with your hand already out. What you did was walk up at one mile an hour, then you raised your hand at four miles an hour.”
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“Sometimes I’ll scratch ‘em, and I want them to be like it was a month ago, and you never finished.”
Photo credit: Martin Black Collection
A Final Takeaway
On preparing a horse to lope under saddle for the first time, Martin shared this gem: “My target isn’t to get ‘em into the lope; it’s to get ‘em ready to feel like they’re ready to leave the trot. Then it’s their idea to lope. Just one or two strides.”
In those few sentences, Martin distilled the essence of good horsemanship: setting the horse up for success and allowing them to make the right choice.
What I learned from Martin’s clinic: the details matter, the stories teach, and the lessons linger long after the toothpick has been set aside.
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All of these learnings I have integrated into my course teachings on NOËLLE FLOYD Plus. If you’d like to learn more, click here.
Photo credit: Martin Black Collection
