Where thehorsemanship begins
Breaking the Mold clinics give you the tools to grow with your horse through balance, communication, and understanding.
Groundwork first. Barrels second.
Before Paul makes a plan, he listens. Rider and horse both have a voice: what feels good, what doesn’t, where the struggle is. Then he watches you work.
Every clinic opens with a mandatory meeting, no horses, then Ground Zero work in the arena, where each horse and rider is evaluated through horsemanship drills. Only once the foundation is there do the barrels come out, and even then the turns are built one step at a time: approach, turning point, completion.
Everyone rides the same maneuvers, but each rider asks for something different, because every horse needs something different. As Paul puts it, a drill means nothing unless we ride our horse through it with intention.
- Individual attentionEvery horse and rider pairing, not the group average.
- A plan that belongs to youYou leave knowing what to work on, in what order, and why.
- Downloadable drillsClinic riders get access to the drill library to keep building at home.
- Lunch servedConversations and questions welcome. Some of the best teaching happens at the table.
The clinic day
Formats vary by stop. Most clinics run three days. Check the schedule or ask your host which one yours is.
Day One
Riders & hosts (no horses)
Evaluation drills (horse & rider)
Conversations & questions welcome
Continued (no barrels)
Day Two
Level 1–3 drills · Building the barrel turns (split reins only, working bit required)
Conversations & questions welcome
Split reins only, working bit required
Day Three
Riders & hosts (no horses) · Discuss days 1 & 2
Conversations & questions welcome
Split reins only, working bit required
Day One
Riders & hosts (no horses)
Evaluation drills (horse & rider)
Conversations & questions welcome
Continued (no barrels)
Day Two
Level 1–3 drills · Building the barrel turns (split reins only, working bit required)
Conversations & questions welcome
Split reins only, working bit required
B.I.T.S. · Ground Zero
Riders & hosts (no horses)
Start in the arena with Ground Zero horse & rider evaluation horsemanship drills. No barrels.
Conversations & questions welcome
Continued (no barrels)
What to bring, and what to leave home
These apply to every Ground Zero session. Paul needs to see your horse as it really carries itself.
- Working bit required. Bring the bit you school in.
- Split reins required. For Ground Zero work and all barrel drills.
- No competition bit. Leave the run-day hardware in the trailer.
- No tie-downs, martingales, etc.
- One horse for the whole clinic. No auditors.
Not sure whether your bit counts as a working bit? Ask when you register.
Ground Zero Horsemanship Clinic
Round pen session & fundamental basics.
B.I.T.S. is the Breaking the Mold program stripped to its foundation, built on the XX3 Ground Zero drills and methods. It follows the one-day format: a morning meeting, then evaluation and horsemanship drills through the afternoon. No barrels all day, on purpose.
The right clinic for a horse coming back from time off, a young horse, a rider rebuilding confidence, or anyone who knows the problem at the barrel is really a problem before it.
Other ways to ride with Paul
A Day with a Horseman
Limited to five or six riders. The day starts by listening to the rider and watching the horse, because the maneuvers tell a story: where the pair is strong, where they struggle, and what’s missing in their communication. No barrels. From there, Paul builds a plan for each team.
Ask about a Day with a Horseman →Living the Life of a Horseman
Five days inside Paul’s world: the thought process, the communication and the everyday practices behind living the life of a horseman. More than a clinic, and unlike anything Breaking the Mold has offered before. Dates, location and details are being finalized.
Common questions
How do I sign up for a clinic?
Use Secure Your Spot and choose your stop. The office and your host follow up with deposit details and the paperwork. You can also call the host listed on the schedule.
Is this only for barrel racers?
No. Ground Zero is pure horsemanship, and the fundamentals of balance, connection, collection, movability and forward motion carry into any discipline. Barrel riders see the most direct payoff when the drills move to the pattern.
What level do my horse and I need to be?
Beginners through seasoned competitors, young horses through veterans. Paul adapts to the pair in front of him, which is why every horse and rider is evaluated first.
Why do I have to commit to all three days?
Horses need time to absorb information, just as riders do. Day one is evaluation and discovery, day two is when it starts to make sense, and day three is when the breakthroughs happen.
How many riders are in a clinic?
Clinics are kept small, with one horse per rider for the whole clinic and no auditors, so everyone gets real time with Paul. Spots fill, so reserve early.
What happens after the clinic?
You leave with a step-by-step plan and access to the downloadable training drills so you can keep building your education long after the clinic ends.
Can I bring Paul to my area?
Yes. Hosts attend their own clinic free once it’s full and paid in full. See Host a Clinic.