July 2011 Update – We’ve Moved!

Posted on July 7, 2011 by

2011 has been a busy year of transition for us so far.  Firstly, we have moved and are settling in to our new location in northern Arizona.  Wildfires and dust storms notwithstanding, the climate here allows us the ability to offer clinics and workshops nearly year round, a factor that was pretty challenging in the Pacific Northwest.

 
Secondly, the website is getting a big makeover during the month of July, so please bear with us during the process.  We will be adding a couple of new features, including a search option to make it easier to access archived essays, a subscription sign-up, and a tip of the week.

 
Finally, after a long delay, we are excited to launch Take Home Trainer©, a lesson program geared for the working adult rider.  We recognize how challenging it can be to squeeze out money and time for regular lessons in addition to making time just to get in quality schooling practice on a weekly basis. Our new offering will help make the most of the time and resources you have, as well as eliminate the question of, “What do I work on today?” This custom plan will feature some mix & match options that allow the student to choose what works best for the needs of both horse and rider.

 
Have a good ride!

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Late News – TEDWomen Stream event in Seattle

Posted on December 6, 2010 by

How are women shaping the future? TED is answering that question, in cooperation with The Paley Center for Media, with an inaugural event, TEDWomen. The event, being held in Washington, D.C. on Dec 7-8, is being streamed.

An informal “drop-in and watch party” at ThinkSpace in Redmond, with facilities for up to 50 attendees.  Three dynamic women are lined up to lead conversation during the official stream breaks : on civic life, on compassion, and on authenticity.  Suzanne will be discussing  living authentically on Wednesday, December 8th in the afternoon.

Spots are still available – lunch and snacks provided.  Bring your friends along.  For registration, schedule, or more information on the TED talks, please visit: 
http://tedxseattle.com/2010/11/21/ted-women-seattle-stream/

This event is headed up by Kathy Gill, Masters of Communication, Digital Media who teaches  at the University of Washington and is a freelance writer often sought out as a subject expert on social media.

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A Guide for First-Time Horse Buyers

Posted on October 9, 2010 by

Many novice horse folks buy horses that are unsuitable for them and end up having a bad experience that commonly results in expense, injuries, and residual fear issues.  Why do people buy unsuitable horses?  In my experience, there are several reasons.  One of the key reasons is money.  In spite of the fact that someone has now decided they want to have their very own horse, they don’t have realistic ideas regarding the costs.  Another major factor is emotional attachment, often leading people to fall in love with a rescue horse, a wild mustang, a pretty color, or an untrained youngster.   Sadly, first-timers often fall victim to their own lack of knowledge or are targeted by horse dealer types just looking to make a buck.  In an effort to cut down on the number of unhappy partnerships resulting from such purchases, we’d like to offer some tips on avoiding trouble and successfully finding the horse that is right for you.

Before you log onto Dreamhorse.com and start making a list of prospects, take a few minutes to evaluate your reasons for horse ownership.  Owning a horse is a big time commitment, much more so than taking a weekly lesson or heading out on the trail each weekend.  If you ride three days a week or less, consider the option of leasing rather than buying.  Leasing gives you the opportunity to work with one horse consistently, ride several days a week, share a lesson horse, and engage in partial care of a horse without the burden of full responsibility.  Leasing is a great way to “test-drive” horse ownership without a long-term commitment and can also serve as an effective trial period for a potential purchase.  If after serious consideration you have decided that buying is the right option for you, then forge ahead and consider the following guidelines:

DO:

Educate yourself as much as possible prior to beginning your search:  Horses are costly, both in money and time.  Be realistic and have a plan.

Budget more money up front than you think you need:  Most people typically don’t set aside enough money initially and the “right horse” always costs more than you think it will.

Be open to the right horse:  Don’t limit yourself with regards to breed, sex, color, or age.  The right horse may not be exactly what you envision, but he will be the perfect horse for you nonetheless.  Be open to diverse prospects and don’t get stuck on that flashy palomino gelding.

Hire a trusted professional:   A professional can give you appropriate guidance and whittle down the prospects to horses that are suitable for your skills and temperament.  They will help immensely to assess potential horses and evaluate test rides.  Be appreciative of an instructor or trainer who volunteers their time and expertise for you – this service normally involves a fee.  If you can’t hire a professional, find a trusted friend who is a skilled horseman and ask them for help.

Invest in lessons:  Remember that only investing in training can be a waste unless you are trained along with your horse so that you are competent enough to maintain the training once the horse leaves the trainer and comes home.  A true horseman is always learning and horses are a lifetime classroom.

Show up early for your appointment:  Observe how the horse is caught and handled.  Is he being heavily lunged or ridden beforehand?  How is he behaving?

Tack up the horse yourself:  Horses are about connection.  Spend some time handling the horse and see how he responds to you.  This is also a good way to assess the horse’s ground manners and spot any potential behavior issues.

Ride the horse more than once if possible:  Horses respond differently in different environments.  See how the horse behaves inside an arena versus outside, and on the trail.

Ask for a medical history:  Good sellers have records of vaccinations, shoeing, major injuries, allergies and so forth.

Ask about the horse’s current work schedule:  Find out how often he’s being worked, what his typical routine involves, and what his fitness level is.

Get a vet check:  The depth of a vet check depends on the age, type, and work history of horse, but you should always have a vet check the horse out prior to purchase.  Take into consideration what you plan to do with the horse. Start with a general health exam and flexion test.  If you are planning on a sport career for your horse, then x-rays of major joints are a good idea.  Basic blood work is recommended for show horses or horses that have come from the racetrack.

THINGS TO AVOID:

Steer clear of ads offering the “free” horse or the bargain horse who “just needs a little tune-up”.  Although there are occasional gems, these horses are a largely a gamble and typically have behavioral issues or other problems aren’t visible up front.

Skip the “do-it yourself” approach.  Many people mistakenly believe that buying a young prospect horse and training it themselves will save them big bucks over spending money on that “expensive” trained horse that is ready to go.  Unfortunately, a frequent result is that people often get in over their heads and don’t seek help until the problems become so severe that the horse scares them.   At this point a lot of work is often needed to fix behavior issues and it costs additional money for retraining.  In the end, the sum total costs as much or more than that “expensive” trained horse you originally passed on.

Avoid making an emotional purchase:  Although it’s tough to say no to a horse you’ve fallen in love with, it’s best for first-timers to pass on horses with questionable soundness issues, untrained youngsters, rescue adoptions, or personality conflicts.

Don’t buy a horse based on the assumption that you’ll grow into him.  First-time owners frequently think they want more horse than they actually need and end up disappointed or frustrated because the amount of work the horse requires overshadows the enjoyment of riding him.  Buy the horse that is right for you right now.

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What is a Horseman?

Posted on September 20, 2010 by

I was recently involved in a discussion forum regarding the term horseman.  It’s an older term that at one time used to mean, in the simplest terms, that a person was particularly accomplished in their work with horses, or a “good hand”.

During the course of the discussion (which started on an entirely different topic) quite a lot of debate rose up around the term and what it means today, having been homogenized over the years and now tossed around at whim.

 Watching as everyone came out to comment, I was inspired to summarize my definition of a horseman, the one I use to teach my students.  One can substitute horsewoman or horseperson in order to be pc, but I’ve used the original term in my writing because to me it’s not gender specific, rather it defines a certain character and approach belonging to the person it’s applied to.

WHAT IS A HORSEMAN?

A horseman treats everyone with respect and always puts the horse first.

A horseman does not know it all and still seeks to learn.

A horseman partners with his horse.

A horseman is well-rounded.  He knows more than one discipline and is familiar with the multiple facets of horsemanship, including: groundwork, lunging, feeding programs, conditioning programs, grooming tools and strategies, preventing and treating injuries, fitting tack properly, basic veterinary care, basic foot care, safe horse handling on the ground, and how to trailer.

A horseman is a balanced rider who does not rely on special bits and/or gadgets to control the horse. 

A horseman understands the dynamics of the horse as a herd animal.  He is present in his body and responds to misbehavior or confusion on the part of the horse by seeking the information inherent in the behavior and using it to refine his communications.

A horseman listens to what his horse is telling him.  He may not always agree with him, but he still listens.

A horseman communicates effectively with his equine support team (veterinarian, farrier, massage or chiropractic practitioner, trainer, instructor).

A horseman knows the rules and courtesies of the trail and practices them.

A horseman cleans his equipment and keeps it in good working order.

A horseman leads by example.

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Rider Fitness – A Key Communication Component

Posted on August 28, 2010 by

Although good riding does not require that you weigh 125 lbs and have a perfect body, it does require a certain level of fitness, both physical and emotional.  It doesn’t matter if you’re trail riding on the weekends or following a heavy competition schedule, fitness is essential to keeping your body balanced and supple.  Be fair to your horse – a balanced body is easier for him to carry and allows a quicker response to that deer that just popped out of the trees or that stride adjustment before the big oxer.  Remember that breathing is a form of communication to your horse.  Humans tend to engage in short, shallow chest breathing when we are tired or frightened, which can send mixed messages to  our horses.   It’s difficult to focus in your lessons or progress to the next level if you are huffing and puffing after twenty minutes of trotting around.  Steady muscle control is required to carry your hands independent of your body while your neck, shoulders, arms and elbows remain flexible.  Good body control allows for more precise aids and clear communication with your horse, making both your jobs easier.

There are plenty of strength exercises that can be done at home and do not require a Bowflex gym.  A few examples are:  targeted exercises with a fitness ball (ball $30), yoga practice (yoga mat $25), and tai chi routines.   If you need visual inspiration, try some of the fitness programs available for Wii. Working on your cardio doesn’t necessarily mean endless repetition on the treadmill or twenty laps at the pool  (although both are good ways to build your stamina).  Weekend day hikes, walking with a friend at lunch, or simple deep water exercises will do as long as you stick with a routine.  Forms of yoga such as Bikram build your cardio as well as muscle strength and flexibility.

Emotional fitness is also equally important.  Horses live in the present moment and we need to accompany them there.  It’s important to be centered and present before attempting any work with your horse, whether on the ground or in the saddle.  One way to focus is to have a routine of some sort to help you the shift between “work mode” and “barn mode”.   A quick ten-minute technique that can transition your attention and energy before you engage with your horse is to perform a body scan.  This short exercise is a great way to check in with yourself and can be performed just about anywhere, including the barn parking lot.

Begin by standing with your feet shoulder width apart and your arms hanging loosely at your sides.  Bend your knees slightly and close your eyes.  Take a deep breath that originates in your belly and expands upward throughout your body, then exhale the breath as it reaches your collarbones.  Starting with your head and working downward through your body, literally breathe into each part of your body, sending that part oxygen and awareness.  As you work your way through the exercise, the goal is to notice what is going on and gather information without altering anything that you find.  Be aware that information comes in many forms; colors, shapes, song lyrics, words, pictures, poems, whatever.  Even old injuries sometimes contain new information for us, so don’t ignore or skip over them.  Try not to judge or question the form of the information you receive, just allow it to present itself to you in whatever way you experience it.  When you have reached your feet, remain as you are with your eyes still closed.  Go back to the part of your body that held the most sensation for you, the part that you noticed the most and focus your breath on it one more time.  Imagine oxygen circulating throughout that place, and then ask for a message.  As soon as you receive the message, open your eyes.  Briefly compare this moment to how you felt before the body scan.  You are now ready to go interact with your horse, who will appreciate your efforts to be on the same page with him.

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