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THE IBERICON ARTISTIC ACADEMY
Artistic Classical Dressage · Liberty Training · Freestyle Exhibition · Natural Horsemanship · Western Training · Trick Training · Long Lining
EXPERIENCE THE HORSE THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MASTERS
The IBERICON artistic ACADEMY
October 16–18, 2026
FREE TO THE PUBLIC!
The IBERICON Academy offers a rare and inspiring opportunity to learn directly from some of the most respected horsemen and horsewomen in the industry. Through an extraordinary series of interactive workshops, demonstrations, and discussions, visitors can explore a wide range of disciplines including Competitive Dressage, Artistic Classical Dressage, Working Equitation, Natural Horsemanship, Western Training, Exhibition and Trick Training, Liberty, Long-Lining Work, Saddle & Tack Fitting, and much more.
More than presentations, these are opportunities to engage with the masters themselves—ask questions, gain insights that might otherwise take years to discover, explore new perspectives, and deepen your understanding of the horse.
As a special feature, the Elite Breeder Showcase will introduce exceptional breeding programs, stallions, performance horses, and select sale prospects through a limited series of featured presentations.
Rarely does an event bring together such a diverse group of accomplished trainers and horsemen willing to share their knowledge in an open and interactive setting. Whether you are a lifelong horse enthusiast, a dedicated competitor, or simply eager to learn, the IBERICON Academy offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience the horse through the eyes of the masters—completely free to the public.
Learn from the Masters · Ask Questions · Be Inspired
Behind The Curtain.
KALEIDOSCOPE OF THE AIDS
FEEL. RESPOND. REBALANCE.
Every rider communicates through the aids—the hands, seat, legs, weight, balance and timing that quietly guide the horse.
But the aids are never static.
They continually change according to the movement, the horse's balance and the response the rider feels beneath them.
BRUNO GONZALEZ & SARAH MARTIN
At the IBERICON Artistic Academy, international Classical trainer Bruno Gonzalez joins Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Sarah Martin—a USDF Gold Medalist, USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level, USDF “L” Program Graduate with Distinction, and longtime faculty member of the USDF Instructor/Trainer Program.
Together, Bruno and Sarah will explore this constantly changing conversation between horse and rider—and how thoughtful, correctly timed aids create balance, responsiveness and harmony.
FEEL what the horse is doing.
RESPOND in the moment.
REBALANCE the horse.
FEEL. RESPOND. REBALANCE.
Come Behind the Curtain of Artistic Horsemanship and discover the knowledge behind extraordinary horses.
IBERICON ARTISTIC ACADEMY 2026
October 16–18
World Equestrian Center • Ocala, Florida
FREE ADMISSION
Behind The Curtain
FUNCTION FOLLOWS FORM
Discover the Gifts. Understand the Challenges.
Every horse has gifts. And every horse has challenges.
But before we can develop either, we have to learn to analyze the horse in front of us.
At the IBERICON Artistic Academy, accomplished trainer, clinician and USDF medalist Frances Carbonnel will help riders develop one of the most valuable skills in horsemanship—the ability to look at a horse's conformation and begin to understand how that form may influence balance, movement, natural ability and performance.
Using live horses, Frances will explore horizontal balance and conformation, helping participants recognize the individual qualities each horse brings to his training.
Because good horsemanship isn't about asking every horse to fit the same mold. It begins with recognizing what the individual horse gives us—and understanding how to develop those gifts while working thoughtfully with his challenges.
Discover the Gifts. Understand the Challenges.
Come Behind the Curtain of Artistic Horsemanship and learn to see the horse with a more educated eye.
IBERICON Artistic Academy 2026
October 16–18 • World Equestrian Center • Ocala, Florida
FREE ADMISSION
Behind The Curtain
LIBERTY: The INVISIBLE CONNECTION
How do you communicate with a horse when there are no reins... no lead line... only trust, communication, and an invisible connection?
Liberty is one of the most beautiful expressions of artistic horsemanship. What appears effortless is actually the result of countless hours devoted to building trust and understanding between horse and human.
Horses communicate naturally through body language, subtle movement, energy, and almost imperceptible signals within the herd. The journey to extraordinary horsemanship begins by learning how horses communicate, feel, and express themselves. Liberty trainers then transform that understanding into a shared way to communicate, creating the invisible connection that allows horse and human to work together in remarkable harmony.
At the IBERICON Artistic Academy, accomplished liberty trainers will take you behind the curtain to reveal the philosophy, principles, techniques, and artistry behind their work. Through demonstrations and discussion, you'll discover how they develop trust, establish clear communication, introduce vocal and physical cues, and create the willing partnership that makes extraordinary liberty performances possible.
Join us October 16–18, 2026, at the IBERICON Artistic Academy Arena, located in the covered arena directly behind Arena 5 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.
Step Behind the Curtain. Discover the Art
EVERY MEMORABLE FREESTYLE BEGINS WITH IMAGINATION.
Sometimes it's a piece of music. Sometimes it's a horse whose movement seems to dance. Sometimes it's simply the desire to create something beautiful together.
Creative expression through horsemanship is the journey of discovering how the unique gifts of your horse and the expression of your riding come together through movement, music, and artistic interpretation. It is where imagination, partnership, and years of thoughtful training become one.
At the IBERICON Artistic Academy, you'll step behind the curtain to explore the journey From Arena to Stage. Discover how music is selected, choreography is created, and horse and rider become partners in a performance that reflects their unique strengths, personality, and harmony.
Whether you aspire to create your own freestyle, bring more creativity to your riding, or simply want to dance with your horse, you'll leave inspired to discover new possibilities within your partnership.
Step Behind the Curtain. Discover the Art
GARROCHA. The Art of Precision & Connection
How do you train a horse to confidently work with a traditional 10- to 13-foot Spanish Garrocha pole while performing precise lateral work, balanced turns, collection, smooth transitions, and energetic canter departures—all while guiding the horse with only one hand?
It doesn’t begin with the pole.
Long before the Garrocha is ever introduced, the horse must develop confidence, responsiveness to subtle aids, balance, and the willingness to work in harmony with its rider. Only then can horse and rider begin learning the art of the Garrocha together.
At the IBERICON Artistic Academy, accomplished horsewoman and trainer Christine Drentwett of Asteri Equine will take you behind the curtain to reveal the philosophy, principles, techniques, and progressive training behind this centuries-old Spanish tradition. Discover how the Garrocha is introduced, how confidence is developed in both horse and rider, and how the subtle communication required for one-handed riding creates the harmony and responsiveness that make this remarkable discipline possible.
Whether you dream of riding the Garrocha yourself or simply want to better understand the principles behind developing a confident, responsive horse, you'll gain insights that can enrich your own horsemanship.
Step Behind the Curtain. Discover the Art.
CREATING A LEGACY: Inspiring the Next Generation
What does it mean to leave a legacy in horsemanship?
For accomplished trainer Marsha Hartford Sapp, it means more than developing successful horses. It means sharing the knowledge, experience and values of a lifetime with the horsemen and women who will carry them forward.
A USDF Gold Medalist and Diamond Achievement recipient, Marsha is known for her remarkable ability to recognize potential in horses others might overlook—including her celebrated Mustang, Cobra, who rose from the wild to become a national champion and Hall of Fame horse.
At the IBERICON Artistic Academy, Marsha will share the experience and philosophy behind CREATING A LEGACY — Inspiring the Next Generation.
Come Behind the Curtain of Artistic Horsemanship and learn from the horsemen and women who have devoted their lives to the art.
IBERICON Artistic Academy 2026
October 16–18 • World Equestrian Center • Ocala, Florida
FREE TO ATTEND
Behind The Curtain
BUILDING CONFIDENCE TOGETHER
BUILDING CONFIDENCE TOGETHER
From Understanding Comes Partnership.
Confidence isn't something we simply ask of a horse. It is something we build together.
Eighth-generation horse trainer Katharina “Gigi” Gasser has spent a lifetime learning to understand the horse in front of her. Drawing on her experience in Classical horsemanship, groundwork, long-lining, Garrocha, Liberty and performance, Gigi explores practical ways to develop confidence and create a stronger, more willing partnership.
Because when we begin to understand the horse, we can change the way we communicate with him. We can recognize what he needs from us, help him work through uncertainty, and give him the confidence to become a willing partner.
At the IBERICON Artistic Academy, Gigi will share the experience, observation and practical horsemanship behind building that confidence—helping riders discover that partnership isn't created by simply asking more of the horse, but by understanding him better.
From Understanding Comes Partnership.
Come Behind the Curtain of Artistic Horsemanship and discover the knowledge behind extraordinary horses.
IBERICON Artistic Academy 2026
October 16–18 • World Equestrian Center • Ocala, Florida
FREE ADMISSION
