Education-Dedication-Solutions

WELCOME TO “HORSEMANSHIP WITH TRAVIS”

FOLLOW ME

PHONE: (520) 686-2209

EMAIL: [email protected]



"Forever the dream is in the mind, realization in the hands."
-Louis L'Amour

My Services

Full-Time Training, Colt Starting, Problem Horses, Tune Ups

I focus on ground training and building a trust relationship with your horse before moving forward.

Freeze Branding Livestock

Horses or cattle – You must provide brand paperwork and proof of ownership of animal, ID, and your own brass iron. I use liquid nitrogen.

Horse Consignments

Put your horse in the care of an experienced trainer to market and ultimately sell the horse.

Single-Task Training

– Trailer Loading – Water Crossing – Bridge Crossing – Picking Up Hooves – Pull Backs – Many other single tasks that your horse might be having problems with.

Horsemanship and Riding Lessons

Ground training, riding lessons, roping, or simply working closer with your horse. One-on-one horsemanship or riding lessons “made to measure” for you and your horse’s needs.

Packing Education for Horses and Mules

I share experience and knowledge of best practices, theory, techniques and equipment for safely and efficiently packing mules and horses using the Decker or Sawbuck styles of pack saddles.

Clinics and Symposiums

One, two, three or four day clinics on various topics. Symposiums are 1-3 Hour demonstrations that folks can audit.

About

Headquartered southeastern Arizona, Elliston Equine Solutions is able to provide unique training opportunities and services.

Horses can be started from the ground up, or taken in for development, problem solving, or refreshers.  A trainer has a program or a method; every horse has to fit it… A horseman adjusts to fit every subtle difference that the horse offers.

Clients interested in advancing the bond with their animal or horsemanship lessons cannot find a more peaceful and rewarding experience than riding or having their horses worked, started or gaining knowledge with horsemanship lessons provided by Elliston Equine Solutions. Matter of fact, Elliston Equine Solutions is dedicated to students of the horse that he will come to your location. 

All breeds, disciplines, and levels of horsemanship are welcomed.  Clinics encompassing horsemanship, mounted defense, working stock, and much more can be tailored to a client’s needs and presented not just nationally, but worldwide as well.

Some breeds that we have experiance working with are as follows: American Paint Horse, Akhal-Teke, American Quarter Horse, Andalusian, Appaloosa, Arabian, Fresian, Forida Cracker, Gypsy Vanner, Kiger Mustang, Missouri Fox Trotter, Thoroghbred, Appendix, Mustang, Oldenburg, Tennessee Walking Horse, Mules, Donkeys, Grade and many more.

Start Your Horse's/Mule's Transformation Now With A Top Leading Horseman

THE TRAINERS

ABOUT ME

A Montana native with a western heritage and a proud military veteran, Travis Elliston has worked in the horse industry in a variety of roles – horse clinician both nationally and internationally (Germany/Taiwan), horse trainer, teacher of horsemanship, farrier, ranch hand, feedlot cowboy, working cowboy, movie background/body double actor (horse rider) and stable officer at Fort Benning (Ft. Moore), Georgia.  He was a coach of the United States Air Force Academy rodeo team, as well as a wrangler and animal caretaker at the United States Air Force Academy Equestrian Center.  Further, he has been a part of multiple local saddle, hunt, and riding clubs and a Merit Badge Counselor for Horsemanship and Animal Science with Boy Scouts of America (Scouting America).  Travis also worked as the trainer for B Troop, 4th Cavalry Regiment (Memorial) at Fort Huachuca.  Experienced as a Horse Marshal for the Tuscon Rodeo Parade and a Mounted Arizona Ranger. At times Travis has been a character witness or Expert Witness concerning the horse for court cases. Additionally, he is proud of his work as an Ambassador for the Remount Foundation, a service organization for equine-assisted learning for the military, veterans, law enforcement, emergency services, and their families.

Travis Elliston is a certified horse riding instructor with CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association), a Lyons Legacy certified and accredited horse trainer, and a certified packer by Bob Hoverson and the Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School.  He is certified in Greg Kersten’s OK Corral Series equine-assisted psychotherapy and equine-assisted learning.  In addition, Travis is a graduate of the Texas Horseshoeing School and Level I Athena / Horseboy Method I.  A graduate of the prestigious School of the Trooper at the U.S. Cavalry School. Travis holds certificates for the Equis First Aid USA courses in Basic Equine Health and Emergency First Aid and Advanced Techniques in Equine First Aid. He currently received the American Riding Instructor Association (ARIA) certification in level 1 Stable Management.

Belongs to the following Professional Memberships:

  • Californio Bridlehorse Association
  • Fort Huachuca Cavalry Association -Life Time Member
  • Certified Horsemanship Association
  • 11th Armored Cavalry Association – Life Time Member
  • Lyons Legacy
  • American Riding Instructors Association

 

Horseback rider or stunt rider in the following shows and films:

  • The Warrant Breaker’s Law
  • Far Haven
  • What Must Be Done (Short Film)
  • Last Dollar

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Gallery

Photos dating back through the years; students still with me today. The search for great horsemanship never ends!

Recommended Reading

"There are thee kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. the few who learn by observation. the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."- will rogers

I recommend reading any or all of the books below to increase your knowledge in the fields of horsemanship, horseback riding, horse training, farrier, veterinary, the history of the horse, horse psychology and much, much more with concerns to the horse. I read about 5 books a month. Very few make it to this list. You can be assured that if it is on this list, it is truly one of the best books in its class. Remember that books are to be used as an additional tool to your horsemanship tool box. Books are absolutely useless unless you practice. You can't learn it from just a book; it just doesn't work that way. Learn everything you can by books and then get out there and get dirty!

Horsemanship:

  • True Horsemanship Through Feel by Bill Dorrance & Leslie Desmond
  • Think Harmony With Horses by Ray Hunt
  • True Unity by Tom Dorrance
  • Peter Campbell Talks Horses, Willing Partners
  • Groundwork by Buck Brannaman
  • In the Words of a Reinsman: Transitioning your horse to a western bit by Pat Puckett
  • More Than a Horseman by Margaret Dorrance and John Saint Ryan
  • Ranch Horsemanship, Western Horseman by Curt Pate with Fran Devereux Smith
  • The Started Colt, Horsemanship as an Art by Bret Davis

Horsemanship Continued:

  • Vaquero Style Horsemanship by Ed Connell
  • Cow-Horse Confidence By Martin Black with Cynthia McFarland
  • Hackamore Reinsman by Ed Connell
  • Course 1 Freedom Course by Reis Ranch Universal Horsemanship
  • Course 2 Awareness Course by Reis Ranch Universal Horsemanship
  • Course 3 Movement Course by Reis Ranch Universal Horsemanship
  • Course 4 Horseman Course by Reis Ranch Universal Horsemanship
  • Horsemanship and Horsemastership, The Cavalry School, 1942

Horse Training:

  • Breaking and Training the Stock Horse by Charles O. Williamson
  • The Rider’s Guide to Real Collection by Lynn Palm with Stacy Pigott
  • Practical Western Training by Dave Jones
  • Lyons Legacy School of Horsemanship, Training Manual by Josh Lyons and Ian Kirkham
  • Mexican Horse Traing Methods and Traditions of Horsemanship by Diane Gadeway with Ricardo Galvez
  • Monte Foreman’s Horse-Training Science by Monte Foreman and Patrick Wyse
  • 101 Ranch Horse Tips by Patrick Hooks
  • The Language of Horsemanship by Dick Pieper with Cheryl Magoteaux Cody
  • Clinton Anderson’s Training on the Trail by Clinton Anderson with Jennifer Forsberg Meyer
  • Lyons On Horses with Sinclair Browning
  •  

Horse Training Continued:

  • Nature in Horsemanship by Mark Rashid
  • Considering the Horse by Mark Rashid
  • Life Lessons from a Ranch Horse by Mark Rashid
  • Finding the Missed Path, The Art of Restarting Horses by Mark Rashid
  • Whole Heart, Whole horse by Mark Rashid
  • Communication With Cues: The Rider’s Guide to Training and Problem Solving Part I with John Lyons’
  • Horseman’s Territory, How to Work Around the Western Saddle Horse…And More by Oscar W. Lindholm
  • A Horseman’s Journey by Richard Winters
  • From Rider to Horseman by Richard Winters
  • Clinton Anderson, Lessons Well Learned written with Melinda Kaitcer
  • Storey’s Guide to Training Horses by Heather Smith Thomas

Horse Training Continued:

  • Problem Solving by Marty Marten
  • Problem Solving Volume 2 by Marty Marten
  • Ranch-Horse Versatility by Mike Major with Fran Devereux Smith
  • Starting Colts with Mike Kevil
  • Ground Manners Short Course by Clinton Anderson with Jennifer Forsberg Meyer
  • From Foundation Forward Training Manual by Ken McNabb
  • 101 Ground Training Exercises by Cherry Hill
  • Mane Thoughts, Essay on Horsemanship by Tom Moates
  • 101 Trail Riding Tips by Dan Aadland
  • Horses Partners in Life by Jake Martenis
  • You Can Train Your Horse TO DO ANYTHING! On Target Training: Clicker Training and Beyond by Shawna and Vinton Karrasch
  • John Lyons Training Guide, Techniques For All Riding Disciplines

Horse Training Continued:

  • Ride Smart with Craig Cameron with Kathy Swan
  • Western Horsemanship with Richard Shrake
  • Natural Horse-Manship by Pat Parelli
  • Ride Smarter by Craig Cameron with Susan Morrison
  • The Modern Horseman’s Countdown To Broke with Sean Patrick
  • The Ultimate Horse Behavior and Training Book by Linda Tellington-Jones
  • Riding Manual, Teaching Manual for unbroke & Broke Horses by John Lyons
  • Troubleshooting! By John Lyons
  • The Horse Training Problem Solver by Jessica Jahiel
  • Things I Wish I Knew by John Lyons
  • Training and Riding with Cones and Poles by Sigrid Schope
  • Developing the Art of Equine Communication by C.L. “Lee” Anderson

California Style:

  • el Buckaroo by Ernest Morris
  • Vaquero Heritage by Ernest Morris
  • Lore of the California Vaquero by A.R. Rojas
  • Last of the Vaqueros by Arnold R. Rojas
  • The Vaquero by A.R. Rojas
  • California Vaquero by A.R. Rojas
  • California Stock Horse by Luis B. Ortega
  • The California Hackamore Horse by Jeff Sanders
  • The California Two Rein & Bridle  By Jeff Sanders
  • The California Spade bit Horse by Mino Spadacini
  • The California Spade bit Horse Part 2 by Mino Spadacini
  • The California Spade bit Horse Part 3 by Mino Spadacini
  • Vaqueros and Buckaroos by Arnold Rojas
  • The Legendary California Hackamore & Stock Horse by Bobby Ingersoll

Lesser Known (50,60,70,80,90s) Horse Training:

  • Breaking and Training Your Horse by Sheila Roughton, 1994
  • Out of the West, The New Horsemanship by Louis Taylor, 1964
  • How To Break And Train The Western Horse Edited by Bill Weikel, 1972
  • Training Tips for Western Riders by L.N. Sikes with Bob Gray, 1963
  • Basic Training of the Young Horse by Reiner Klimke, 1985
  • Colt Sense by Bob A. Carson, 1956
  • The Art of Western Riding by Bob Mayhew with John Birdsall 1989
  • Saddle Up! By Charles E. Ball 1970
  • Horses And Horsemanship by M.E. Ensminger PhD 1977

Equipment:

  • The Ring Bit by Donald Minzenmayer
  • Bits, Bitting, and Spanish Horses by A.R. Rojas
  • How to Make Bits & Spurs by Robert M. Hall
  • The Art of Hackamore Training by Al Dunning and Benny Guitron
  • California Hackamore by Louis B. Ortega
  • The Ultimate Book of Horse Bits by Emily Esterson
  • The Horseman’s Guide to Tack and Equipment by Cynthia McFarland
  • Bridles & Bits Volume II by Ed Connell
  • Mouths and Bits by Toni Webber
  • Trappings of the Great Basin Buckaroo by C.J. Hadley
  • A Bit of Information by Fran Devereux Smith
  • Bits by Louis Taylor

Performance:

  • Reining Completely Revised By Al Dunning, A Western Horseman Book
  • Fine Tuning Barrel Horses by Jessi Mead
  • Teaching Basic Jumping by Martin Diggle
  • Barrel Racing by Sharon Camarillo
  • Training and Riding the Cutting Horse by Dean Sage
  • Dressage The Cowboy Way by Eitan Beth-Halachmy & Jenni L. Grimmett, DVM
  • Preparing For A Dressage Test by David Trott & Penny Hillsdon
  • Team Roping With jake & Clay by Fran Deverwux Smith
  • The Tevis Cup to finish is to win by Marnye Langer
  • Training And Showing The Cutting Horse by Lynn Campion

How To Cowboy Craft:

  • Bunkhouse Built, A Guide to Making Your Own Cowboy Gear by Leif Videen
  • Knots, Hitches, and their Uses by John Sharp
  • Helpful Hints for Horsemen by Western Horseman
  • The Revised Horseman’s Scrapbook by Western Horseman
  • California Cowboy Inventions by Ernest Morris
  • Whips and Whipmaking by David W.Morgan
  • Equine Knots by Dan Aadland
  • How to Make Cowboy Horse Gear by Bruce Grant
  • Turk’s-Head Workbook by Tom Hall

Cowboy At Work:

  • Trail Dust and Saddle Leather by Jo Mora
  • The Cowboy At Work by Fay E. Ward
  • Cowboys & Buckaroos by Tim O’Byrne
  • So You Want to Be a Cowboy by Pat Puckett
  • Legendary Ranches, Western Horseman
  • Ranch Roping With Buck Brannaman and A.J. Mangum
  • The Cowboy Life, A Saddlebag Guide for Dudes, Tenderfeet, and Cowpunchers Everywhere by Michele Morris

Gaited Horses:

  • The Gaited Horse Bible by Brenda Imus
  • Easy-Gaited Horses by Lee Ziegler

Mules:

  • Diary of a Mule Skinner Guide to Training The Saddle Mule by Ron White
  • A Guide To Raising & Showing Mules by Meredith Hodges

Stockmanship:

  • Manual of Stockmanship by Steve Cote
  • The Cattle Health Handbook by Heather Smith Thomas

Exercise:

  • “Conditioning To Win” , Equine Research 1974
  • Equine Massage A Practical Guide by Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, LMT

Horse Information:

  • 96 Horse Breeds of North America by Judith Dutson
  • Horse Color Explained, A Breeder’s Perspective by Jeanette Gower
  • Equine Breeding Management by Edward L. Squires, PH.D.
  • The Horse Conformation Handbook by Heather Smith Thoas
  • Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage by Cherry Hill
  • Standards For Equestrian Programs, Certified Horsemanship Association
  • Horsemanship Composite Manual by Certified Horsemanship Association
  • Horse, A Guide to Selection, Care, and Equipment by J. Warren Evans
  • The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Horses by Sarah Montague and PJ Dempsey
  • Horsekeeping Almanac by Cherry Hill
  • Horses for Dummies by Audrey Pavia
  • You Bought Your First Horse, Now What? By J. Fisher, L. Gordon, K. Roberts

Horseshoeing/Farrier:

  • The Pinciples of Horseshoeing (P3) by Dr. Doug Butler and Jacob Butler
  • Well-Shod by Don Baskins
  • Bud Beaston’s The Master Farrier by Beaston
  • The “How-To” Horseshoeing Book Edited by Christy West
  • Understanding Equine Hoof Care by Heather Smith Thomas
  • Horse Hoof Care by Cherry Hill and Richard Klimesh
  • Horseshoeing and Hoof Care, A Western Horseman Book 1960
  • Better Basics, Better Horseshoeing by Chris Gregory
  • The Cavalry Horseshoer’s Technical Manual, War Department
  • Shoeing for Performance in the Sound and Lame Horse by Haydn Price & Rod Fisher

Horseshoeing/Farrier Continued:

  • The Complete Horseshoeing Guide by Robert F. Wiseman
  • Horse Owners Guide to Natural Hoof Care by Jaime Jackson
  • Elements of Farrier Science by D.M. Canfield
  • The Principles and Practice of Horse-Shoeing by Charles M. Hlomes, F.W.C.F. 1949
  • The Art & Science of Horseshoeing by R. Gordon Greeley
  • The Horseshoer, War Department Technical Manual No. 2-220

Magazines:

  • Western Horseman
  • Eclectic Horseman

Cowboy Lore:

  • Ranch Life And The Hunting Trail by Theodore Roosevelt
  • Last Buckaroo by Mackey Hedges
  • Shadow of the Wind by Mackey Hedges
  • Cowboys North and South by Will James
  • Trails Plowed Under by Charles M. Russell
  • Cowboys and Cattle Kings by C.L Sonnichsen
  • The Story of a Cowhorse by Luke D. Sweetman
  • Horses I Have Known by Will James
  • Wells Brothers by Andy Adams
  • Cow Country by Will James
  • The Drifting Cowboy by Will James
  • Shorty’s Yarns by Bruce Kiskaddon
  • Cowboy Ways on and About the E-4 on Chinook, Montana by Jame A. Halseth

Cowboy Lore Continued:

  • Beyond the Desert: Stories of the Dying Art of Cowboying
  • Born To The Land, An American Portrait by Brent Ashabranner
  • Cowboy The Illustrated History by Ricard W. Slatta, PhD
  • Before Barbed Wire by Mark H. Brown and W.R. Felton
  • The Cowboy by Bank Longmore & Ron Tyler
  • Way Out West by Charlie Seemann
  • Let The Cowboy Ride by Paul F. Starrs
  • This was Cattle Ranching Yesterday and Today by Virginia Paul
  • The Book of Cowboys by Holling C. Holling
  • The American Cowboy in Life and Legend by Bart McDowell
  • I See By Your Outfit, Historic Cowboy Gear Of The Northern Plains by Tom Lindmier & Steve Mount

Livestock Packing:

  • The Packer’s Field Manual Featuring The Decker Pack Saddle by Bob Hoverson
  • Horses, Hitches & Rocky Trails  “The Packers Bible” by Joe Back
  • Packing, A Guide to the Care, Training, and Use of Horses and Mules as Pack Animals by Northland Publishing
  • Horse Packing In Pictures by Francis W. Davis
  • Horse Packing, A Manual of Pack Transportation
  • Packin’ In On Mules and Horses by Smoke Elser and Bill Brown
  • Manual of Pack Transportation, Quartermaster Corps by Mr. H.W. Daly 1917

Riding:

  • Centered Riding by Sally Swift
  • Centered Riding 2 Further Exploration by Sally Swift
  • Getting the Most from Riding Lessons by Mike Smith
  • The Bit and the Reins by Gerhard Kapitzke
  • Horse Control – The Rider by Tom Roberts
  • The Equine Professional Manual, The Art of Teaching Riding by Certified Horsemanship Association

Equine Nutrition:

  • The Horse Nutrition Handbook by Melyni Worth, PhD
  • Horse Health & Nutrition For Dummies by Audrey Pavia
  • Raising & Feeding The Perfect Horse by John Lyons

 

Horse Psychology:

  • Understanding Horse Psychology, Editor Bill Weikel
  • What Your Horse Wants You to Know by Gincy Self Bucklin
  • How to Think Like a Horse by Cherry Hill
  • Horsewatching by Desmond Morris

Veterinary:

  • Understanding Lameness by Terry Swanson, DVM with Heidi Nyland
  • The Lame Horse-Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment by James R. Rooney
  • First Aid For My Horse by Anke Usbuldt
  • How to be Your Own Veterinarian (sometimes) by Ruth B. James, DVM
  • Horse Lameness, How to Determine and Treat Lameness and Unsoundness in Horses, First published 1911.
  • First Aid Hints for the Horse Owner, A Veterinary Note Book by LT. COL. W.E.Lyon
  • Animal Restraint for Veterinary Professionals by C.C Sheldon, Teresa Sonsthagen, & James A. Topel
  • Easy Health Care For Your Horse by Carin A. Smith, DVM

Cavalry:

  • War Horse, Mounting The Cavalry With America’s Finest Horses by Phil Livingston & Ed Roberts
  • Sound the Charge, The U.S. Cavalry in the American West, 1866-1916 by John P. Langellier
  • US Cavalryman 1865-90 by Martin Pegler
  • The Horse Soldier 1776-1943 by Randy Steffen

Classic/Historical:

  • About Horsemanship by Xenophon
  • Method of Equitation Based on New Principles by Francois Baucher
  • The Breaking of the Colt by J.H. Walsh
  • The Arab Horse by Spencer Borden, 1906
  • Atroclus AND PENELPE, A Chat in the Saddle by Theodore A. Dodge, U.S. Army 1886
  • Horses, Mules, and Ponies and How to Keep Them by Henry William Herbert, 1859
  • Prof. Beery’s Illustrated Course in Horse Training Book No. 2 Disposition and Subjection
  • Illustrated Horse Training by Captain M.H. Hayes, 1889
  • Breaking and Riding by James Fallis, 1902

NEED HELP?

ADDRESS:

 

Sierra Vista, AZ

PHONE:

(520) 686-2209

EMAIL:

[email protected]