Presenter
Chris Ellsworth
Chris Ellsworth is a horsemanship instructor, trainer, and clinician known for his ability to help both horses and people overcome challenges others walk away from. With decades of experience ranging from colt starting to advanced cattle work, Chris has built a reputation for blending practical skill with clear communication, always rooted in respect for both horse and human.
What sets Chris apart is not only his technical knowledge, but his unwavering belief that no horse—and no human—is ever “too far gone” to learn and grow. He approaches each partnership with patience, persistence, and creativity. Using what he calls “horse logic” and the idea that it’s never about just the horse or just about the person, he tailors his approach to each partnership to meet horses and riders exactly where they are, and guides them toward lasting confidence and connection.
Chris’s teaching style emphasizes clarity, timing, and feel, but also compassion. He sees horsemanship not as a checklist of techniques, but as a lifelong practice of learning, using as tools awareness, empathy, and responsibility. He believes that this is what develops a deeper understanding and love of horses.
Driven by a genuine love for the work, Chris never gives up on anyone, equine or human. As a 2026 Art of the Horseman presenter, Chris brings not just knowledge, but a passion for helping others whether they have four legs or two.
Because of the Horse...
I know that learning never ends, that more understanding is always possible, and no partnership is beyond hope when we meet each other with patience, persistence and good intent.
2026 Presentations
Chris Ellsworth
DAY 1
★ Ground Poles Are Not What You Think: How Misunderstanding Their Real Purpose is Holding Your Horse Back
The real purpose of ground poles is often misunderstood. We concentrate on the physical side but overlook the emotional benefits of ground poles. In this video, you will learn how to set up, approach, and use ground poles and cavaletti to help a horse learn how to regulate his emotions as well as build himself up physically. Those two dimensions, the physical and the emotional, can be blended together to help your horse become all he can be. While I will demonstrate how to physically improve a horse’s topline, core strength, and proprioception, I’ll really be showing you how to improve his confidence, outlook, and emotional resilience.
DAY 2
★ Teaching Shadow: Getting Inside the Learning Mind of a Horse
We often try to teach horses things in a manner that leads to trouble later. We send the wrong information or we send the information in the wrong order. I’ll show you how I teach horses so that they can best learn, process, and store information. Hint: it’s not just repetition. Shadow is a green horse who’s a little hard in the mouth. Watch as we use two simple exercises, the turnaround and the turn on the forehand, to help him unlearn some old habits and replace them with new and better ones.
Get to know
Chris Ellsworth
