Robert “TrailMeister” Eversole is an internationally recognized clinician, keynote speaker, riding instructor, and best-selling author of The ABCs of Trail Riding and Horse Camping, It’s a Cinch!, and Daily Wisdom from the Saddle. He is also the founder of TrailMeister.com, the largest directory of horse trails and horse camps in the United States.
For decades, Robert has been riding, camping, and packing horses and mules across North America. Along the way, he’s learned not just what works—but why it works—and he’s equally candid about the lessons learned the hard way. That hard-earned experience is the foundation of his teaching.
Through his TrailMeister clinics, Robert coaches riders of all experience levels to move beyond fear and uncertainty and into confident, capable partnership with their equines. His presentations are practical, engaging, and grounded in real-world scenarios—designed for people who want to ride farther, camp smarter, and come home safe.
Participants leave TrailMeister clinics with more than information. They leave with clarity, usable skills, and the confidence to pursue their own ambitions on the trail—whether that’s a quiet day ride or a multi-day horse-packing adventure.
When he’s not on the trail, Robert answers to two mules—Ruger and Cocoa.
An intensive, full-day, hands-on clinic based on the book It’s a Cinch
Most riders tighten a cinch and hope it’s doing its job.
When it isn’t—when saddles shift, horses get sore, or problems show up under load—many riders blame the horse or buy another piece of gear, without ever understanding what actually went wrong.
This full-day, hands-on clinic is designed to end that guessing.
Built around the progression in my book It’s a Cinch!, we’ll spend the day understanding how cinches work, building one correctly, and learning how to evaluate fit and performance once it’s on a horse. We’ll focus on load, pressure distribution, materials, width, length, and conformation—because those details determine whether a cinch supports the horse or creates problems.
We’ll start by breaking down why cinches succeed or fail, then move step-by-step through building a straight cinch from the ground up. Knots, cord paths, and tension all matter, and you’ll learn why they matter—so you’re not just following instructions, you’re making informed decisions.
This is not a demonstration.
Every participant builds a custom cinch during the clinic and leaves with it, along with the tools and knowledge needed to build more cinches on their own in the future. We’ll also cover fit, adjustment, troubleshooting, and how the same principles apply to additional builds and more advanced designs.
Enrollment is limited to 20 participants to allow for individual instruction and hands-on guidance throughout the day.
This clinic isn’t about making a project. It’s about understanding one of the most critical connections between horse and saddle—so you can evaluate your gear with confidence and stop guessing every time you tighten a cinch.
Cost & Details
All of my clinics are designed to be fun, hands-on, and educational — heavy on the fun!