Internationally renowned horse trainer Clinton Anderson is making a significant career shift, relocating his renowned ranch to Farmington to dedicate more time to training and showing performance horses. This move marks a new chapter for Anderson, who has established a global reputation for his distinct horsemanship methods.
Anderson, originally from Australia, gained widespread recognition through his television program “Downunder Horsemanship,” which aired on networks such as RFD-TV and Fox Sports Net, alongside his online platform DownunderHorsemanship.TV. He has also shared his expertise through clinics, tours, and a variety of educational materials, including study kits and a monthly subscription service called the No Worries Club. In 2018, Anderson made the deliberate decision to pivot his career focus towards the hands-on training and exhibition of performance horses. To facilitate this transition, he divided his expansive 250-acre ranch in Stephenville, Texas, into six parcels, successfully selling the entire property for $4 million in September.
After nearly three decades in the industry, Anderson expressed his readiness for a change, stating, “I have always wanted to train horses more than people so I decided to get back into it.” While he intends to continue his business operations, customers will still have access to training materials, the No Worries Club, and ongoing support. However, Anderson plans to reduce his touring schedule to approximately four events per year.
Anderson’s business offices are already established in Springdale, and the relocation of his horse training operations to a new 11-acre ranch just outside Farmington city limits is scheduled for December 10th. This private facility is designed to support intensive training, featuring a 28-stall barn, a fully indoor, insulated, and climate-controlled arena, as well as an obstacle course, cutting pens, and square pens. The expanded operation is expected to employ around eight individuals.
The decision to move to the Farmington area was influenced by Anderson’s desire to be closer to close friends. He was also drawn to the region’s cooler climate and its convenient proximity to major horse shows in Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. Anderson further noted the appeal of Northwest Arkansas’s clean environment, strong community, excellent schools, and abundant natural resources, including cattle and grass, which are ideal for training working-cow horses. He highlighted the area’s well-developed infrastructure, citing investments by major companies like Walmart and JB Hunt, which have resulted in services comparable to those found in Fort Worth, all within a 15-minute drive. “Arkansas is a very pretty state, it’s a great place to live,” Anderson remarked.
Anderson’s lifelong passion for horses began in his native Australia. As a child, he excelled in polocrosse, eventually earning a spot on a national team representing his state. During his teenage years, he completed a comprehensive apprenticeship under Gordon McKinlay, during which he trained over 600 horses, many of them wild mustangs from the Australian outback. Following his apprenticeship at age 17, Anderson honed his skills further by working with cutting and reining champion Ian Francis.
He moved to the United States in October 1997, where he officially launched Downunder Horsemanship and introduced his unique horsemanship method, founded on the principles of mutual respect and understanding between horse and rider. Anderson made history in 2001 as the first clinician to produce a television program dedicated to horse training, which initially aired on RFD-TV. This was followed by a half-hour version of “Downunder Horsemanship” on Fox Sports Net in 2011, and later that same year, he launched his own internet television site, DownunderHorsemanship.TV. In a remarkable achievement, Anderson became the first trainer to win the prestigious Road to the Horse competition twice in a row, securing victories in 2003 and 2005. This challenging event requires trainers to gently saddle, bridle, and ride an untouched horse in under three hours. In 2007, Anderson established the No Worries Club, creating a supportive community for horsemen who follow his training philosophy. The subscription-based website, noworriesclub.com, offers members access to training videos, publications, and networking opportunities with fellow enthusiasts.
