⭑Presenter Bio Jack Curtis⭑
Jack Curtis blends horsemanship, classical dressage, and centered riding to create calm, confident partnerships. Known for making complex ideas clear and impactful, he helps riders unlock breakthroughs that deepen connection and transform both horse and human.
Together with his wife Paula, Jack co-founded The Art Of The Horseman Online Horse Fair. Since 1994, he has taught lessons, clinics, and demonstrations across the U.S.
His unique ability to articulate ideas has a profound impact on his students, creating lasting breakthroughs that bring calm, clarity, and confidence. Riders often say that what once felt confusing suddenly becomes possible, and challenges that seemed impossible turn into opportunities for growth.
Whether he’s refining a dressage movement, helping a ranch horse find confidence, or guiding a rider to rebuild trust with their partner, his focus remains the same: the relationship between horse and human.
“Every horse has something to teach us if we’re willing to listen,” Jack says. By helping riders align their energy, focus, and intentions, he not only refines technique but also deepens awareness, patience, and presence - skills that enrich every aspect of life, both in and out of the arena.
Because Of The Horse...
I met my wife who amazes me every day.
Because of the horse, we have a family and together we ride.
Because of the horse, I will always look for a better way.
Jack Curtis 2025 Presentations
DAY 1
★ Flowing With Your Horse: Calm, Forward, and Free
Riders often feel blocked by tension in their own body-tight shoulders, gripping legs, or bracing hands that leave the horse stiff and resistant. In this session, Jack shows you how to ride in balance and flow, freeing your horse’s natural swing and rhythm. You’ll discover how small adjustments in your seat, legs, and shoulders unlock softness, straightness, and forward energy without force. Learn how to let your horse’s motion guide your body so every stride feels connected, calm, and full of life.
★ Invisible Aids: Making Your Idea the Horse’s Idea
Every great ride begins with subtle communication that feels effortless to the horse. In this session, Jack shows how to use your seat, hips, and breath as “invisible aids” that guide transitions with ease. You’ll see how to plant the seed of movement so the horse believes the choice was theirs, creating calm and willing responses. From the walking swing to the rising trot to soft canter departs, Jack demonstrates how small shifts in rhythm and weight bring clarity without heavy hands or driving legs. Discover how to ride with flow, lighten your aids, and unlock smooth, natural transitions that last.
DAY 2
★ From Bend to Flexion: Unlocking Softness and Straightness
True balance comes when a horse learns to carry more weight behind, freeing the shoulders and softening through the body. In this session, Jack demonstrates how to use circles, turns on the forehand, and diagonal aids to develop both bend and flexion. You’ll see how simple shifts - like thinking of your legs as tuning forks or guiding the hindquarters as if steering a wheelbarrow - create clarity without force. As the horse begins to flex and sit, the forehand elevates, making straightness easier and more natural. These exercises give riders the tools to direct energy with softness, improve lateral work, and build a supple, responsive horse.
★ Coiling the Spring: Forward, Halt, and Flow
Powerful forward motion begins with a balanced backup. In this session, Jack demonstrates how to use the backup as a way to coil your horse’s energy - like drawing a bow - so transitions into walk, trot, or halt feel natural and effortless. You’ll learn how lifting your sternum and softening your body creates space for the horse to raise the forehand and engage from behind. With clear timing, soft releases, and the rhythm of ask–soften–ask, Jack shows how to unlock forward without brace, and halt without resistance. These exercises build lightness, clarity, and responsiveness, giving both horse and rider confidence in every stride.
★ How Little, How Soon: Finding Balance in Your Aids
Every rider wonders how firm to get with their horse - and Jack explains the answer through two guiding questions: How little does it take? and How soon should it happen? In this session, you’ll learn how to use these questions to balance lightness with responsiveness, so your horse stays tuned in without getting dull or tense. Jack demonstrates how to create softness through timing, feel, and visualization, showing that the same aids—inside leg forward, outside leg back - can mean different things depending on focus and intent. This approach helps riders avoid extremes, sharpen communication, and build a horse that feels for you with clarity, energy, and balance.
Where You Can Find Jack Curtis
