A picture is worth a 1,000 words, however, a group shot taken on the final day of the Training for Courage horse clinic meant a little more to Paul Dufresne.

For the B.C. horse clinician it was proof of the improvement that occurred in three days work at the Takhini Hot Springs, this past weekend.

"The proof is in the pudding," he said. "To take that picture with that many of those horses, to be that close, nobody showed any nasty behaviour.

Yesterday (Sunday) we would have almost been able to do it, but today was quite a bit different. On Saturday it would have been hopeless. All of them improved tremendously."

Dufresne has been a clinician for nearly 20 years and lives in Kelowna.

His clinics strive to help horses and their owners gain both confidence and knowledge that is needed to establish a trusting relationship.

Dufresne has taught all over North America and his training is aimed at riders ranging from those that are more competitive to ones that are entirely recreational.

The clinics focus on foundation training for the various skill sets.

The Whitehorse clinic devoted a lot of focus on leadership, teaching participants communication techniques with their horses that can be used to lead them effectively.

One of the key points to this communication is guiding them as simply as possible and recognizing that a horse mirrors its owners personality.

Another major focus is teaching people to control the emotions of the horse on cue to keep them from being an emotional basket case, Dufresne said.

He added this can be done physically by putting pressure on the rib cage, which makes a horse salivate, causing the release of endorphins, which causes them to relax.

The three day clinic was held in a fenced in area and had around 15 people take part.

On Tuesday, Dufresne held a more private clinic that included four individuals. The final day took the skills that were learned throughout the previous three days and applied them to the trails.

This was Dufresne's second time in the Yukon. Last May he came up for the first time and he plans on returning again next Spring.

"I had a good time in Whitehorse," he said. "I like the people here because they are dedicated enough to come. When I go to places in Alberta or places like Whitehorse it doesn't matter what the weather does, people come out."

Trish Pitzel was both an organizer and participant in the three-day clinic.

She said she noticed an improvement in her horse, Malibu, who is more anxious than most horses.

"In three days she changed incredibly," Pitzel said. "She's much more calm and relaxed and ready to learn."