It’s a shame about dressage. Or at least to me it is.
I always thought of it as such a “pure” thing; such a “beautiful thing; harmony in union.”
For me, Dressage was practiced by those who wanted “art with horses.”
It was for horsemen and women who wanted to take a horse to his maximum performance ability, suppleness, flexibility, balance and grace. It was a work of art between a rider and a horse, and that is all that it had to be.
It was, but it is no more.
Dressage: a noun, French, originally meaning “basic dressing.”
The basic dressing was applied to all horses and at all levels and that was the extent of it. It was done with any horse that a nobleman (and only noblemen could afford both the luxury of a horse and the time to develop its gaits, grace, balance, suppleness and flexibility) saw fit to ride.
The idea originally was not to compare horses, but to enjoy the development of a single horse’s unique talents.
One horse and one rider, being all they could be.
And that was the original goal.
Then disaster struck; dressage became a competition.
One of my most admired dressage authorities, Waldemar Seunig (he attended the French Cavalry School at Saumur and the Spanish Riding School at Vienna and from 1922 to 1930 was the Master of the Horse at the Court of King Alexander of Yugoslavia; he was the coach of the successful German Olympic Team.) says this about perfecting the art of dressage: “it is the practical, creative artist, the equestrian genius, who is fused with his horse into one unit, who makes its will his own, and who proves that there are no limits to art.”
Great thinking….and he could do it…and many in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s could do it……but by the 1900s competition had corrupted that simple idea of dressage for the sake of dressage.
Seunig was not only an equestrian competitor, he was a judge of international competition. He too was corrupted, and winning became more important than dressage.
But in the 1950s and 1960s, dressage was still defined as training, exhibition riding or horsemanship in which the horse is controlled in certain difficult steps and gaits by very light movements of the rider. The horse is to be relaxed and the performance is to appear “effortless.”
Light and gently and subtle were the key words for dressage riders such as Colonel Alois Podhajsky, Jessica Newberry and later Reiner Klimke, a world champion and winner of 6 gold medals in 5 Olympics (1964 to 1988)
When I see pictures of Podhajsky and Newberry riding, or I watch Klimke ride, I see a horse that is relaxed and appears to be performing effortlessly. I see a rider not strained or stesssed or rigid, but in a beautifully balanced position with a willing partner.
It’s a shame about dressage.
When I see upper level riders today, the art is gone.
Don’t misunderstand me. It is not that I am not in awe of the performances they achieve. They are getting more from their horses than the past masters did. (Of course, the horses they are riding have evolved along with training knowledge and techniques.)
What I see in today’s advanced level dressage are horses performing phenomenally; they are giving every ounce of effort they have to give. They are reaching new heights in suppleness and flexibility.
And they are unhappy, tense and showing the exertion needed to respond to their rider’s demands. Nothing about it appears “effortless.” It is not light or gentle or subtle.
I watched a video of a horse score the highest dressage score ever recorded.
The maneuvers were fantastic and the accomplishments of the horse should be applauded again and again.
But the horse hated every minute of that performance; the tail wringing and swishing and twirling and shaking, the ears back, the face knotted with tension.
It wasn’t the art I had hoped it would be…it was man forcing his will onto the horse in the name of competition.
Oh, for the original idea of any horse being helped to reach his potential, with no intention of ever comparing one horse to another.
It’s a shame about dressage.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sow's Ear Won't Make A Silk Purse
“You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”
My mother told me that years ago, and while I’ve tried on occasion (intentionally or unintentionally) to prove her wrong, my efforts always proved her right.
Every horse can do every movement of every exercise of every discipline!
That is a fact! While every horse can do everything, no horse does everything well…..proving, that if you want a silk purse, don’t start with a sow’s ear.
I’ve started with a lot of sow’s ears….for various reasons; bought her at an auction, she was cheap, she was pretty, needed another horse, looked athletic, was sure I could fix her problems.
But a sow’s ear is a sow’s ear; it is what it is.
Thank goodness; knowing that makes your horse choices so much easier.
What do you want? Do you want a silk purse, a race horse, a jumper, a dressage horse, a western pleasure horse, a roping horse, a trail horse, a driving horse, a hunter under saddle or a racking horse?
If you want a silk purse….start with silk.
If you want a race horse, start with one bred to be a race horse. If you want a western pleasure horse, start with one bred to be a western pleasure horse. Want a jumper? Start with a horse bred to be a jumper. You getting the idea.?
Today, there is a pedigree to suit every desire. Examine the pedigree. If the pedigree isn’t filled with the “discipline” you want to pursue, skip the horse. Keep looking until you find a horse with a pedigree that screams, “I’m bred to be the kind of silk purse you want.”
Okay, finding the right pedigree is a good start. Now you have to be sure the horse is “built to do the job.” It’s a funny thing about equine genetics (or genetics in general). Sire and dam don’t always reproduce their most desirable traits. And in some cases they don’t reproduce a foal with the conformation traits necessary to perform well at the discipline the sire and dam found so easy.
Start with “body type.” There is the draft horse, the sport horse, the endurance body type, the stock horse type, the hunter type, the dressage horse.
I don’t care what anyone says, or how many exceptions there are to disprove the rule: get the body type best suited to perform at the work and discipline you have in mind. If the pedigree says, “Yes,” and the body type says, “Yes” then you’re in excellent position to take the next step.
And the next step is “balance”. Balance is about the only conformation trait you’d like to see in any horse for any discipline. (The forehand, back and hindquarters are each just about 33 per cent of the total body.) After balance, you’ve got to start looking carefully at various proportions and angles—how long is the neck, how sloping the shoulder, how steep the croup, how short the cannons, how high the stifle, how low the hocks, how straight the hind leg, how are the front legs positioned, etc. etc.?
Looking at each part of the horse, you must determine how the conformation you see is going to affect the horse’s movement. Knowing how he’ll move, you can decide just how good his chances are of becoming the silk purse you seek.
Know this: start with the horse that has the best chance physically to be the kind of horse you want, and you’ve got about a 40 per cent chance of getting what you want.
Know this: the horse’s mind is going to control about 50 per cent of your success at getting a horse to perform at the level you want. A horse can have great conformation, great talent, great pedigree, but if he doesn’t have a great mind you’re going nowhere!
Know this: about 10 per cent of getting the silk purse you want so much is going to be in the training. Training is not rocket science, but it does take some knowledge and talent. The more of both, the better.
Just as you sought the silk for the purse, seek out a “purse maker”…not a “carpenter”. And if you are going to do it yourself, you better become an expert on silk purses.
Finally, hope for a freak. All champions are freaks; but that’s another story.
My mother told me that years ago, and while I’ve tried on occasion (intentionally or unintentionally) to prove her wrong, my efforts always proved her right.
Every horse can do every movement of every exercise of every discipline!
That is a fact! While every horse can do everything, no horse does everything well…..proving, that if you want a silk purse, don’t start with a sow’s ear.
I’ve started with a lot of sow’s ears….for various reasons; bought her at an auction, she was cheap, she was pretty, needed another horse, looked athletic, was sure I could fix her problems.
But a sow’s ear is a sow’s ear; it is what it is.
Thank goodness; knowing that makes your horse choices so much easier.
What do you want? Do you want a silk purse, a race horse, a jumper, a dressage horse, a western pleasure horse, a roping horse, a trail horse, a driving horse, a hunter under saddle or a racking horse?
If you want a silk purse….start with silk.
If you want a race horse, start with one bred to be a race horse. If you want a western pleasure horse, start with one bred to be a western pleasure horse. Want a jumper? Start with a horse bred to be a jumper. You getting the idea.?
Today, there is a pedigree to suit every desire. Examine the pedigree. If the pedigree isn’t filled with the “discipline” you want to pursue, skip the horse. Keep looking until you find a horse with a pedigree that screams, “I’m bred to be the kind of silk purse you want.”
Okay, finding the right pedigree is a good start. Now you have to be sure the horse is “built to do the job.” It’s a funny thing about equine genetics (or genetics in general). Sire and dam don’t always reproduce their most desirable traits. And in some cases they don’t reproduce a foal with the conformation traits necessary to perform well at the discipline the sire and dam found so easy.
Start with “body type.” There is the draft horse, the sport horse, the endurance body type, the stock horse type, the hunter type, the dressage horse.
I don’t care what anyone says, or how many exceptions there are to disprove the rule: get the body type best suited to perform at the work and discipline you have in mind. If the pedigree says, “Yes,” and the body type says, “Yes” then you’re in excellent position to take the next step.
And the next step is “balance”. Balance is about the only conformation trait you’d like to see in any horse for any discipline. (The forehand, back and hindquarters are each just about 33 per cent of the total body.) After balance, you’ve got to start looking carefully at various proportions and angles—how long is the neck, how sloping the shoulder, how steep the croup, how short the cannons, how high the stifle, how low the hocks, how straight the hind leg, how are the front legs positioned, etc. etc.?
Looking at each part of the horse, you must determine how the conformation you see is going to affect the horse’s movement. Knowing how he’ll move, you can decide just how good his chances are of becoming the silk purse you seek.
Know this: start with the horse that has the best chance physically to be the kind of horse you want, and you’ve got about a 40 per cent chance of getting what you want.
Know this: the horse’s mind is going to control about 50 per cent of your success at getting a horse to perform at the level you want. A horse can have great conformation, great talent, great pedigree, but if he doesn’t have a great mind you’re going nowhere!
Know this: about 10 per cent of getting the silk purse you want so much is going to be in the training. Training is not rocket science, but it does take some knowledge and talent. The more of both, the better.
Just as you sought the silk for the purse, seek out a “purse maker”…not a “carpenter”. And if you are going to do it yourself, you better become an expert on silk purses.
Finally, hope for a freak. All champions are freaks; but that’s another story.
Wadds reveals secrets of winning in Competitive Longe Line Course
World Champion “longe line” trainer Gord Wadds, reveals his winning system step-by-step in the newest www.HorseCoursesOnline.com course: Competitive Longe Line Training.
One of the fastest growing competitions in the horse show world, Competitive Longe Line combines the elements of a conformation class with the disciplined movement of rail performance. Wadds’ expertise at “picking them, training them, and presenting them” has earned him the title “King of the Longe Lines” around show pens all over the nation and in Canada.
Competitive Longe Line covers: Choosing the Prospect; Pre-school; The First Training Session; Following the Game Plan; Moving Out of the Round Pen; At the Show. Students work with Wadds one-on-one by e-mail and will get his expert opinion as to how they are progressing when they submit videos for review.
Wadds reveals some of his “special” techniques in the new course. “It’s all about showing off the horse’s grace and athleticism at the walk, jog and lope,” he says with a knowing grin. “There are some tips and tricks to making it happen.”
The course can be taken for full college credit as an elective in the Breyer State University Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies degree program, or it can be used for credit in earning a Professional Certification as a horse trainer or riding instructor in the Equine Studies Institute program. For complete details on both programs, visit www.horsecoursesonline.com
Wadds says some of the most important concepts for students to master are the “perfect circle”, “the inside track”, “the how and when of the reverse” and show time “grooming.” To see a course description and outline visit: www.horsecoursesonline.com/index/index_longe_line_description.html
Students may start the course at any time and work at their own pace, and while a “yearling” is preferred, they may use any horse while mastering the techniques being taught. The course provides an excellent foundation for any horse which will go on to rail performance.
One of the fastest growing competitions in the horse show world, Competitive Longe Line combines the elements of a conformation class with the disciplined movement of rail performance. Wadds’ expertise at “picking them, training them, and presenting them” has earned him the title “King of the Longe Lines” around show pens all over the nation and in Canada.
Competitive Longe Line covers: Choosing the Prospect; Pre-school; The First Training Session; Following the Game Plan; Moving Out of the Round Pen; At the Show. Students work with Wadds one-on-one by e-mail and will get his expert opinion as to how they are progressing when they submit videos for review.
Wadds reveals some of his “special” techniques in the new course. “It’s all about showing off the horse’s grace and athleticism at the walk, jog and lope,” he says with a knowing grin. “There are some tips and tricks to making it happen.”
The course can be taken for full college credit as an elective in the Breyer State University Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies degree program, or it can be used for credit in earning a Professional Certification as a horse trainer or riding instructor in the Equine Studies Institute program. For complete details on both programs, visit www.horsecoursesonline.com
Wadds says some of the most important concepts for students to master are the “perfect circle”, “the inside track”, “the how and when of the reverse” and show time “grooming.” To see a course description and outline visit: www.horsecoursesonline.com/index/index_longe_line_description.html
Students may start the course at any time and work at their own pace, and while a “yearling” is preferred, they may use any horse while mastering the techniques being taught. The course provides an excellent foundation for any horse which will go on to rail performance.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
New online course can rev-up dressage scores
No matter how good you are now, you can always add ways to Rev-up Your Dressage Scores.
Tammy Fifer, www.horsecoursesonline.com dressage instructor, gets down to the nitty gritty with you about what judges are looking for, how they score, problems that cost you points and how you can correct them. Then she gives you tips from some of the “tops” in the field on how to “rev-up” those scores.
Students work one-on-one with Fifer by e-mail, getting answers to questions and help on how to tackle individual problems that crop up from seemingly nowhere. Five lessons in the course each have quizzes and assignments to help the students master the techniques for improvement.
Students can take the course and be awarded a “Certificate of Achievement” or participate in the www.horsecoursesonline.com Professional Certificate program or the Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies degree program.
Rev-up Your Dressage Scores lessons include: What Judges Want to See; Placement in the Ring; “How-to” of Straightness; Movement of the Horse; Common Faults and Fixes, Plus Top Rider Tips.
Students can start the course at anytime, work at their own pace, and there are no completion deadlines. Fifer will critique videos sent in by students (http://www.horsecoursesonline.com/videos/forehand_turn.html) and explain how to improve the exercise. www.horsecoursesonline.com offers 28 equine study courses and is the world’s leading provider of online equine curriculum for colleges and universities.
Tammy Fifer, www.horsecoursesonline.com dressage instructor, gets down to the nitty gritty with you about what judges are looking for, how they score, problems that cost you points and how you can correct them. Then she gives you tips from some of the “tops” in the field on how to “rev-up” those scores.
Students work one-on-one with Fifer by e-mail, getting answers to questions and help on how to tackle individual problems that crop up from seemingly nowhere. Five lessons in the course each have quizzes and assignments to help the students master the techniques for improvement.
Students can take the course and be awarded a “Certificate of Achievement” or participate in the www.horsecoursesonline.com Professional Certificate program or the Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies degree program.
Rev-up Your Dressage Scores lessons include: What Judges Want to See; Placement in the Ring; “How-to” of Straightness; Movement of the Horse; Common Faults and Fixes, Plus Top Rider Tips.
Students can start the course at anytime, work at their own pace, and there are no completion deadlines. Fifer will critique videos sent in by students (http://www.horsecoursesonline.com/videos/forehand_turn.html) and explain how to improve the exercise. www.horsecoursesonline.com offers 28 equine study courses and is the world’s leading provider of online equine curriculum for colleges and universities.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Emergency Equine Rescue Course Available
Horses fall into wells, pools and canyons, get legs stuck in low tree branches and can be trapped in barn fires and trailer accidents. If there is a way for a horse to become entrapped or injured, he’ll find it.
So, knowing what to do and how to do it may just save your horse’s life!
The best chance a horse has for survival is when someone who understands large animal rescue is there to help. And that someone may just be you.
Equine Safety and Rescue is www.HorseCoursesOnline.com’s newest equine study course. Michelle S. Staples, a horse safety specialist and author of Save Your Horse!—A Horse Owner’s Guide to Large Animal Rescue is the instructor for the seven-lesson course designed for any horse lover interested in being prepared for equine emergencies and learning to remove a horse from a life-threatening accident.
Equine Safety and Rescue teaches basic skills needed to ensure a horse gets the best and safest help possible, and examines in detail the two most dangerous areas – transporting horses in trailers and barn fires. In addition, the student will learn the correct protocol for dealing with emergency responders, most of whom will not have experience handling horses.
“It’s amazing how few fire fighters and police officers actually know how to handle a horse,” says Staples, “let along how to handle one that is entrapped and in need of emergency rescue.”
In addition to understanding what large animal rescue is and is not, the student will be prepared to interact with local emergency responders in an emergency and help them establish safe horse handling protocol.
Other lessons include safety at the scene of an accident, getting the horse out of trouble, barn fire safety, trailering safety and how to tie emergency harness and halters.
“It is unfortunate for horses that too few horse lovers actually know rescue procedures,” says Staples. “Students of Equine Safety and Rescue not only may save their horse’s life, but they can be instrumental in helping emergency responders gain the training they need to become effective and safe horse “life savers.”
For complete information on the course, visit www.horsecoursesonline.com and click on the course title: Equine Safety and Rescue.
So, knowing what to do and how to do it may just save your horse’s life!
The best chance a horse has for survival is when someone who understands large animal rescue is there to help. And that someone may just be you.
Equine Safety and Rescue is www.HorseCoursesOnline.com’s newest equine study course. Michelle S. Staples, a horse safety specialist and author of Save Your Horse!—A Horse Owner’s Guide to Large Animal Rescue is the instructor for the seven-lesson course designed for any horse lover interested in being prepared for equine emergencies and learning to remove a horse from a life-threatening accident.
Equine Safety and Rescue teaches basic skills needed to ensure a horse gets the best and safest help possible, and examines in detail the two most dangerous areas – transporting horses in trailers and barn fires. In addition, the student will learn the correct protocol for dealing with emergency responders, most of whom will not have experience handling horses.
“It’s amazing how few fire fighters and police officers actually know how to handle a horse,” says Staples, “let along how to handle one that is entrapped and in need of emergency rescue.”
In addition to understanding what large animal rescue is and is not, the student will be prepared to interact with local emergency responders in an emergency and help them establish safe horse handling protocol.
Other lessons include safety at the scene of an accident, getting the horse out of trouble, barn fire safety, trailering safety and how to tie emergency harness and halters.
“It is unfortunate for horses that too few horse lovers actually know rescue procedures,” says Staples. “Students of Equine Safety and Rescue not only may save their horse’s life, but they can be instrumental in helping emergency responders gain the training they need to become effective and safe horse “life savers.”
For complete information on the course, visit www.horsecoursesonline.com and click on the course title: Equine Safety and Rescue.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Education Needs to Get Modern
The number one problem with our education system is that it is mandatory.
The idea of "no child left behind" is a major reason we don't get modern and improve our educational system, but continue to "dumb it down" to meet "traditional, old school" thinking.
Spending more money has never made our educational programs better, yet every year the government spends more and more, and the level of education goes down. We keep doing the same thing and expecting to get a different result.
We need to change traditional thought from "mandatory" education to "opportunity" education.
We need to spend less "forcing" education on those who will not accept it, and use the money to provide education to those who want it.
We need a system which says: every person, young and old, shall be given the opportunity to learn, to earn a high school diploma, to earn a college degree, or to take advanced studies.
We have thousands and thousands of very very smart young people. They need opportunity.
Any one who wants to go to school should have the opportunity...and we should spend money to see to it that that student gets the education he or she is willing to work to achieve. And let them choose what to study: There are at least 10 intelligences that we know of...communication skills and math are not the "only" measures of a person's abilities. Music is an intelligence, athletic ability is an intelligence, consider entrepenural and salesmanship skills. Give anyone who wants to follow his or her passion the opportunity...they don't need to know the multiplcation tables..they need to know where to find a calculator.
We have thousands and thousands of persons who don't want "schooling" and we should not be "forcing them into an educational system they don't want to be in".
If a kid doesn't want to go to school, get him or her out of the school. Eliminate the discipline problems, stop the learning disruptions caused by persons who don't want to be there. Allow teachers to work with the students who want to learn instead of spending a great portion of their time keeping students in the seats so the district can college average daily attendance funds.
And don't tell me we have to keep these students in school or they will be a burden on society...horse feathers...in most cases they'll end up being less of a burden because they'll find something they like to do and they'll do it...and very possible be extremely successful. If not, they won't be any more of a burden than they already are.
The idea of "no child left behind" is a major reason we don't get modern and improve our educational system, but continue to "dumb it down" to meet "traditional, old school" thinking.
Spending more money has never made our educational programs better, yet every year the government spends more and more, and the level of education goes down. We keep doing the same thing and expecting to get a different result.
We need to change traditional thought from "mandatory" education to "opportunity" education.
We need to spend less "forcing" education on those who will not accept it, and use the money to provide education to those who want it.
We need a system which says: every person, young and old, shall be given the opportunity to learn, to earn a high school diploma, to earn a college degree, or to take advanced studies.
We have thousands and thousands of very very smart young people. They need opportunity.
Any one who wants to go to school should have the opportunity...and we should spend money to see to it that that student gets the education he or she is willing to work to achieve. And let them choose what to study: There are at least 10 intelligences that we know of...communication skills and math are not the "only" measures of a person's abilities. Music is an intelligence, athletic ability is an intelligence, consider entrepenural and salesmanship skills. Give anyone who wants to follow his or her passion the opportunity...they don't need to know the multiplcation tables..they need to know where to find a calculator.
We have thousands and thousands of persons who don't want "schooling" and we should not be "forcing them into an educational system they don't want to be in".
If a kid doesn't want to go to school, get him or her out of the school. Eliminate the discipline problems, stop the learning disruptions caused by persons who don't want to be there. Allow teachers to work with the students who want to learn instead of spending a great portion of their time keeping students in the seats so the district can college average daily attendance funds.
And don't tell me we have to keep these students in school or they will be a burden on society...horse feathers...in most cases they'll end up being less of a burden because they'll find something they like to do and they'll do it...and very possible be extremely successful. If not, they won't be any more of a burden than they already are.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Do You Really Believe It"
If you believe some trainers’ claims they can sell you the secret to “tame and train” your horse in just six hours…..
If you believe the claim some trainers can cure 19 of your horse’s worst behavior problems in just 7 days….
If you think you can do with your horse what the horse expo clinicians are doing in their “show”…
If you think you can buy a secret “horse powder” which “cures” more diseases than any other known medicine…..then George Strait and I have some ocean front property in Arizona we’d love to sell you.
In fact if you believe one self-proclaimed trainer’s claim that he can teach you to train your horse not to “crib”, then we’ll throw in the Golden Gate Bridge free.
I can’t believe anyone would buy anything from these “magic bullet” sales pitches offered by people who haven’t proven they can train a horse to eat hay.
If they can teach you to train your horse to stop uncontrolled bucking, cribbing, biting and kicking in just six hours, or cure 19 of your horse’s worst problems in 7 days, why aren’t they so busy training horses that they don’t have time to waste your time?
Because they can’t!
They sell their “magic” to people who haven’t got a clue about horse behavior, health or training. Any horse lover with a horse that bites, kicks, engages in uncontrolled bucking and has 19 other behavior problems has more of a problem with herself than she has with her horse.
If you buy into any “instant” or miraculous” training of a horse, you need Bill Engvall to present you with one of his “signs.”
Horses’ responses are “instinct” or “habits made or in the making.”
You don’t train “instinct”, and it takes years to make the correct responses into habit. If you don’t believe that, why do you think “world champion horses” continue to be in training year after year?
All of the magic claims don’t surprise me now that I’ve had a chance to look over some survey results.
In an industry where “knowledge” is THE key factor, 75 per cent of those who consider themselves “professionals” have had no formal education relating to their “profession”.
This statistic doesn’t just apply to horse trainers…it applies, unfortunately, to riding instructors, stable managers, breeders and tack store sales personnel. Considering the survey report, it isn’t surprising that horse owners consistently report having “trouble finding a good trainer.” According to respondents, a “good trainer” is one who knows more about a horse than just training. A good trainer should know about nutrition, equipment, behavior modification, health and disease and stable management.
And respondents think a trainer that also gives lessons should have had some formal education in “how to teach.” The techniques of effective teaching don’t include standing in the center of the arena yelling, “Heels down, shoulder’s back.”
There is nothing wrong with the skills and talents of those who are winning at the highest levels of competition. Such horsemen and women are certainly professionals and they have the records to prove it. The problem is, there are so few of them.
Of the survey respondents, 75 per cent, including the professionals, want to have a horse business in one way or another, so they are trying to sell you something. Yet combined, 78 per cent of them have not participated in any kind of horse education program.
Eighty-two per cent of those who consider their horses a hobby have never participated in any kind of educational program involving horse health care, hoof care, equine nutrition, horse conformation or the legal aspects of owning a horse.
Before you buy, ask to see some education credentials…and if not education credentials then a proven record of success doing what he or she says he or she can do.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask; if you don’t stand up to the claims, you’ll fall for anything!
If you believe the claim some trainers can cure 19 of your horse’s worst behavior problems in just 7 days….
If you think you can do with your horse what the horse expo clinicians are doing in their “show”…
If you think you can buy a secret “horse powder” which “cures” more diseases than any other known medicine…..then George Strait and I have some ocean front property in Arizona we’d love to sell you.
In fact if you believe one self-proclaimed trainer’s claim that he can teach you to train your horse not to “crib”, then we’ll throw in the Golden Gate Bridge free.
I can’t believe anyone would buy anything from these “magic bullet” sales pitches offered by people who haven’t proven they can train a horse to eat hay.
If they can teach you to train your horse to stop uncontrolled bucking, cribbing, biting and kicking in just six hours, or cure 19 of your horse’s worst problems in 7 days, why aren’t they so busy training horses that they don’t have time to waste your time?
Because they can’t!
They sell their “magic” to people who haven’t got a clue about horse behavior, health or training. Any horse lover with a horse that bites, kicks, engages in uncontrolled bucking and has 19 other behavior problems has more of a problem with herself than she has with her horse.
If you buy into any “instant” or miraculous” training of a horse, you need Bill Engvall to present you with one of his “signs.”
Horses’ responses are “instinct” or “habits made or in the making.”
You don’t train “instinct”, and it takes years to make the correct responses into habit. If you don’t believe that, why do you think “world champion horses” continue to be in training year after year?
All of the magic claims don’t surprise me now that I’ve had a chance to look over some survey results.
In an industry where “knowledge” is THE key factor, 75 per cent of those who consider themselves “professionals” have had no formal education relating to their “profession”.
This statistic doesn’t just apply to horse trainers…it applies, unfortunately, to riding instructors, stable managers, breeders and tack store sales personnel. Considering the survey report, it isn’t surprising that horse owners consistently report having “trouble finding a good trainer.” According to respondents, a “good trainer” is one who knows more about a horse than just training. A good trainer should know about nutrition, equipment, behavior modification, health and disease and stable management.
And respondents think a trainer that also gives lessons should have had some formal education in “how to teach.” The techniques of effective teaching don’t include standing in the center of the arena yelling, “Heels down, shoulder’s back.”
There is nothing wrong with the skills and talents of those who are winning at the highest levels of competition. Such horsemen and women are certainly professionals and they have the records to prove it. The problem is, there are so few of them.
Of the survey respondents, 75 per cent, including the professionals, want to have a horse business in one way or another, so they are trying to sell you something. Yet combined, 78 per cent of them have not participated in any kind of horse education program.
Eighty-two per cent of those who consider their horses a hobby have never participated in any kind of educational program involving horse health care, hoof care, equine nutrition, horse conformation or the legal aspects of owning a horse.
Before you buy, ask to see some education credentials…and if not education credentials then a proven record of success doing what he or she says he or she can do.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask; if you don’t stand up to the claims, you’ll fall for anything!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Any Fly Control is Good!
Here’s a great tip for keeping flies out of your barn and out of stalls.
Drop four pennies in clear plastic bags half-filled with water. Seal the bags and hang them at barn entry ways and just outside stalls.
Flies may start to come into your barn, but they’ll turn around and leave.
I don’t know why, but some say the water and pennies create a “prism” effect which splashes light in hundreds of directions all at once. The light reflections are supposed to cause flies difficulty in seeing, which is a “danger” signal to them.
Drop four pennies in clear plastic bags half-filled with water. Seal the bags and hang them at barn entry ways and just outside stalls.
Flies may start to come into your barn, but they’ll turn around and leave.
I don’t know why, but some say the water and pennies create a “prism” effect which splashes light in hundreds of directions all at once. The light reflections are supposed to cause flies difficulty in seeing, which is a “danger” signal to them.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Faculty member to AQHA Board of Directors
HorseCoursesOnline.com faculty member, Cathy Hanson was elected to the American Quarter Horses Association’s Board of Directors at the breed association’s 2010 annual convention. AQHA is the world’s largest breed association, registering more than 100,000 new foals each year.
Hanson instructs Preparation for Competition and Showmanship in Hand for the online equine studies programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies or Professional Certification as a horse trainer or riding instructor. The trainer of world champion show pen trail horses, she is currently preparing a new course, Train a Trail Horse which will be available to students this fall.
Honored as AQHA’s 2007 Most Valuable Professional, she is a past president of the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association and currently serves as its Youth Advisor. An author and clinician, her training facility, Hanson Quarter Horses, is headquartered in San Juan Capistrano, California.
Hanson has been a member of the HorseCoursesOnline.com faculty since 2005. HorseCoursesOnline.com is the leading provider of online equine study curriculum for colleges and universities worldwide, serving more than 4,000 students. The online courses are self-paced and students are afforded the opportunity to work one-on-one with award winning instructors with proven records of success in the fields they teach.
Hanson instructs Preparation for Competition and Showmanship in Hand for the online equine studies programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies or Professional Certification as a horse trainer or riding instructor. The trainer of world champion show pen trail horses, she is currently preparing a new course, Train a Trail Horse which will be available to students this fall.
Honored as AQHA’s 2007 Most Valuable Professional, she is a past president of the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association and currently serves as its Youth Advisor. An author and clinician, her training facility, Hanson Quarter Horses, is headquartered in San Juan Capistrano, California.
Hanson has been a member of the HorseCoursesOnline.com faculty since 2005. HorseCoursesOnline.com is the leading provider of online equine study curriculum for colleges and universities worldwide, serving more than 4,000 students. The online courses are self-paced and students are afforded the opportunity to work one-on-one with award winning instructors with proven records of success in the fields they teach.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Speed Kills, Slow Down Your Training/Care
Speed kills.
It’s a common phrase among race horse trainers.
It can mean “rushing a horse’s training” causes injuries. It can mean a horse that runs too fast early in a race will have nothing left for the finish. It can mean too much speed by any horse is going to end in physical breakdown. And physical breakdown for a horse can mean the end of a career, a lifetime of lameness, euthanasia.
Speed kills.
Yet we exalt speed constantly.
We glorify the capture and “competition-training” of a horse in three days, praising the clinicians’ horsemanship skills, when in actuality they’ve done nothing but “flooded” the horse into submission. A horse can be subdued in three hours, yet all horses require a “lifetime” of training.
Farrier competitions are not about the balancing or understanding of the horse’s hoof, but about the speed with which a shoe can be shaped and tacked into place. Farrier competitions are about the speed of using tools, not about time and consideration for a healthy hoof.
When a horse is suffering joint problems or other aches and pains, there’s a rush to get the horse back into competition and we “hail the supplements” that allow us to continue a “speedy” destruction.
We know speed kills, so why don’t we slow down?
For most of mankind, life and the world are about faster, higher, stronger, longer.
When we’re young, everything is about speed. We can’t wait to get there, have this, enjoy that. We don’t want to do one thing at a time; we want to do 10 things at once.
We want to jump on our horses (bareback because we can’t take time to groom and saddle) and race to the far end of the property. We don’t have time to “stop and smell the roses” because we are too busy rushing to accomplish nothing.
When we start to get a little more serious about our horsemanship we start looking for all the short cuts to success.
Videos are going to show us how a horse can go from green to a championship, and it’s only going to take one hour and 20 minutes. (We seldom read about horsemanship, training and health care because reading is too slow, and everyone knows you can’t learn horsemanship from a book.)
We’re going to go to the weekend “expo” and see seven different clinicians each of which as the magic bullet, carrot stick, down-under wand, resistance free bridle, be good halter and clicker tricker.
Or we’re going to take private lessons and speed up our arrival at “expert” in riding and training. And if this instructor should fail in getting us to the top, then we can quickly change to someone else; there is never a shortage of speed merchants.
But there will come a time when you will know that speed kills.
And then you will no longer be impressed by speed.
Instead, you’ll be impressed by the art of horsemanship practiced over a lifetime.
You’ll be pleased by the fact no horse’s training is ever finished; there is no need to rush. You’re never going to complete the journey, so you can enjoy the ride.
Whatever you want to teach your horse, whatever you want to accomplish, it isn’t going to get done in a day, or a week or even a month. What you can teach, what you can accomplish today is a tiny bit more understanding by your horse. And that’s enough.
Slow down! Speed kills!
It’s a common phrase among race horse trainers.
It can mean “rushing a horse’s training” causes injuries. It can mean a horse that runs too fast early in a race will have nothing left for the finish. It can mean too much speed by any horse is going to end in physical breakdown. And physical breakdown for a horse can mean the end of a career, a lifetime of lameness, euthanasia.
Speed kills.
Yet we exalt speed constantly.
We glorify the capture and “competition-training” of a horse in three days, praising the clinicians’ horsemanship skills, when in actuality they’ve done nothing but “flooded” the horse into submission. A horse can be subdued in three hours, yet all horses require a “lifetime” of training.
Farrier competitions are not about the balancing or understanding of the horse’s hoof, but about the speed with which a shoe can be shaped and tacked into place. Farrier competitions are about the speed of using tools, not about time and consideration for a healthy hoof.
When a horse is suffering joint problems or other aches and pains, there’s a rush to get the horse back into competition and we “hail the supplements” that allow us to continue a “speedy” destruction.
We know speed kills, so why don’t we slow down?
For most of mankind, life and the world are about faster, higher, stronger, longer.
When we’re young, everything is about speed. We can’t wait to get there, have this, enjoy that. We don’t want to do one thing at a time; we want to do 10 things at once.
We want to jump on our horses (bareback because we can’t take time to groom and saddle) and race to the far end of the property. We don’t have time to “stop and smell the roses” because we are too busy rushing to accomplish nothing.
When we start to get a little more serious about our horsemanship we start looking for all the short cuts to success.
Videos are going to show us how a horse can go from green to a championship, and it’s only going to take one hour and 20 minutes. (We seldom read about horsemanship, training and health care because reading is too slow, and everyone knows you can’t learn horsemanship from a book.)
We’re going to go to the weekend “expo” and see seven different clinicians each of which as the magic bullet, carrot stick, down-under wand, resistance free bridle, be good halter and clicker tricker.
Or we’re going to take private lessons and speed up our arrival at “expert” in riding and training. And if this instructor should fail in getting us to the top, then we can quickly change to someone else; there is never a shortage of speed merchants.
But there will come a time when you will know that speed kills.
And then you will no longer be impressed by speed.
Instead, you’ll be impressed by the art of horsemanship practiced over a lifetime.
You’ll be pleased by the fact no horse’s training is ever finished; there is no need to rush. You’re never going to complete the journey, so you can enjoy the ride.
Whatever you want to teach your horse, whatever you want to accomplish, it isn’t going to get done in a day, or a week or even a month. What you can teach, what you can accomplish today is a tiny bit more understanding by your horse. And that’s enough.
Slow down! Speed kills!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Who's to Blame? We are, when we vote
545 PEOPLE
By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them...Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits. WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equate to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits...The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party.. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ. If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way. There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese
By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them...Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits. WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equate to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits...The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party.. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ. If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way. There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The first rule of training--no pain
The first rule of training: the horse has no pain.
Unschooled horses, for the most part, want to please. As a member of your herd, they want to be a part of the activity, they want to be accepted and they want your praise.
So anytime a young horse is showing any signs of aggravation, hesitation, or lack of desire to learn, start checking for signs of pain.
The first place to look is the mouth…with the young horse lots of changes are taking place. The edges of teeth may be getting sharp, new teeth are coming in, or “caps” may be retained. The bit you’ve chosen may not fit the horse’s mouth configuration…have you taken the measurements? (Learn about Bits, Saddle Fitting and Hoof Balance in the online course at www.horsecoursesonline.com)
Double check your saddle’s fit. Anything less than perfect and your young horse could be developing back pain. Saddles that don’t fit correctly are the number one cause of back pain, followed closely by poor riding habits. Lots of young horses haven’t reached their potential weight, so it’s common for tack and rider to weigh more than 20% of horse’s total weight. For example, a horse weighing 800 pounds should never carry more than a total weight of 160 pounds.
A horse doesn’t have to be lame to have sore feet, and sore feet will cause problems everywhere.
Feel the feet before you take your horse out of his stall. If the feet aren’t cold, you may have a problem. Take a good look at the shape of the foot, and examine the coronet band for any deviations.
Use hoof testers to determine if the horse’s soles are tender, or there is any heel discomfort. Trot the horse in a circle on pavement to determine if the outside or inside of a hoof is tender.
Using some basic techniques of equine massage, you can go over your horse’s body to find any areas of muscle soreness. (Equine Massage is another course you’ll find a www.horsecoursesonline.com )
If your horse has passed the “no pain” test, you’re on your way to a great training relationship.
Unschooled horses, for the most part, want to please. As a member of your herd, they want to be a part of the activity, they want to be accepted and they want your praise.
So anytime a young horse is showing any signs of aggravation, hesitation, or lack of desire to learn, start checking for signs of pain.
The first place to look is the mouth…with the young horse lots of changes are taking place. The edges of teeth may be getting sharp, new teeth are coming in, or “caps” may be retained. The bit you’ve chosen may not fit the horse’s mouth configuration…have you taken the measurements? (Learn about Bits, Saddle Fitting and Hoof Balance in the online course at www.horsecoursesonline.com)
Double check your saddle’s fit. Anything less than perfect and your young horse could be developing back pain. Saddles that don’t fit correctly are the number one cause of back pain, followed closely by poor riding habits. Lots of young horses haven’t reached their potential weight, so it’s common for tack and rider to weigh more than 20% of horse’s total weight. For example, a horse weighing 800 pounds should never carry more than a total weight of 160 pounds.
A horse doesn’t have to be lame to have sore feet, and sore feet will cause problems everywhere.
Feel the feet before you take your horse out of his stall. If the feet aren’t cold, you may have a problem. Take a good look at the shape of the foot, and examine the coronet band for any deviations.
Use hoof testers to determine if the horse’s soles are tender, or there is any heel discomfort. Trot the horse in a circle on pavement to determine if the outside or inside of a hoof is tender.
Using some basic techniques of equine massage, you can go over your horse’s body to find any areas of muscle soreness. (Equine Massage is another course you’ll find a www.horsecoursesonline.com )
If your horse has passed the “no pain” test, you’re on your way to a great training relationship.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Hear a Horse's Heart Beat, Gut Sounds
Do you know the sound of your horse’s heart beat and gut? And if you do, do you know what they mean in terms of his general health?
Most horse owners think they know a horse’s normal vital signs and how to identify them…but most don’t have a base line for their horse. Do you? For a free report on vital signs and to hear a horse’s heart beat and gut sounds, go to www.horsecoursesonline.com and click on “free report” in the left hand menu.
A full investigation of the meaning of gut sounds and heart rates is included in both the HorseCoursesOnline.com Stable Management and Equine Health and Disease Management courses.
HorseCoursesOnline.com serves more than 4,000 students in 27 countries, providing a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies from Breyer State University or Professional Horse Trainer or Riding Instructor certifications from the Equine Studies Institute.
Most horse owners think they know a horse’s normal vital signs and how to identify them…but most don’t have a base line for their horse. Do you? For a free report on vital signs and to hear a horse’s heart beat and gut sounds, go to www.horsecoursesonline.com and click on “free report” in the left hand menu.
A full investigation of the meaning of gut sounds and heart rates is included in both the HorseCoursesOnline.com Stable Management and Equine Health and Disease Management courses.
HorseCoursesOnline.com serves more than 4,000 students in 27 countries, providing a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies from Breyer State University or Professional Horse Trainer or Riding Instructor certifications from the Equine Studies Institute.
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