The View From My Saddle

Light Hands Horsemanship

2012-01-25T06:38:00.001-08:00

Sign up now, don't miss out on one of the top clinics of the year.

http://www.lighthandshorsemanship.com/reservations.htm

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T17:37:00.001-08:00

Struggling With Unity? This is For You.

2011-12-16T03:52:00.001-08:00

Discouraged? Remember what is truly important. Steve Jobs, Standford Address

2011-10-11T05:54:00.000-07:00

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away."

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma--which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Thanks to Standford University's YouTube Channel.

Note to reader of my blog: Your dreams haven't passed you by. Take the time to examine them, and your deepest heart. Only you can decide when you need to make a significant change in your life. Sometimes that means adaptation, or making peace with where you are, or making a significant change for the better. Find the courage in yourself to make choices. Not making a choice is not an option. JW

Toxic Weeds to Horses & Livestock

2011-08-17T06:06:00.000-07:00

http://pearlsnapsponderings.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/weedy-wednesday-toxic-weeds-to-horses/

Watch the video from Horse.com identifying common poisonous weeds. Click on above link.

TIME YOUR HORSE'S VACCINATIONS

2011-08-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

Timing your horse's vaccinations: Read article here: http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/time-your-horses-vaccinations-for-safer-results/?utm_source=eqs&utm_medium=nl&utm_campaign=eqs

What is the HSUS up to now?

2011-08-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

I encourage you to read the article at this link about the BLM and HSUS.

http://tntmagissues.tackntogs.com/tnt/11_TNT_08/tnt27_0811.pdf

View from

the Range

By Jesse R. Bussard

August 2011 ■ www.tackntogs.com 27

Jesse R. Bussard is a Pennsylvania cowgirl with a degree

from Pennsylvania State University in animal science.

Currently she is pursuing graduate studies in plant and soil

science at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. She

is an active advocate for agriculture through social media

and her personal blog, Pearl Snaps’ Ponderings (http://pearlsnapsponderings.

wordpress.com/).

Too good to be true?

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the

largest and richest animal rights organization in the

world, recently released a report to the U.S. Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program calling

for a revision of its standard operating procedures to make

mustang gathers more humane and provide more transparent

coverage of roundups.

Though most times proposals like this

sound all well and good to the general bystander,

more times than not animal rights

groups have an ulterior motive. What does

HSUS have hiding up its sleeve with this

one?

Currently the BLM manages an approximate

38,500 wild horses and burros on federal

rangelands covering 10 Western states.

BLM is responsible for not only management

of the range where the mustang herds

reside but also maintaining a sustainable

population of wild horses and burros. Currently

these populations of wild horses and

burros are at unsustainable levels on many

ranges and therefore require some form of population control.

If not controlled, populations could reach levels that

would not be able to be maintained on the current amounts

of rangeland available, leading to starvation, disease, and

increased environmental degradation from overgrazing of

rangelands.

In the report, HSUS calls for installation of real-time cameras

on helicopters, traps, corrals, and holding facilities to

allow BLM offi cials and others to be able to better directly

observe gatherings and also act as an evaluation tool to improving

existing operating procedures. These video cameras

would also increase transparency to the public by providing

remote live-streaming video available online. In addition

to improved transparency, HSUS would also like to see the

BLM establish basic minimum standards for conducting

gather operations.

I can agree with HSUS on its first two requests of BLM.

Both are reasonable suggestions and issues that BLM cur-

rently does need to address. Where I become skeptical is on

the third recommendation. HSUS strongly recommends that

BLM work in partnership with them to conduct their Capture,

Treat, and Release programs to inoculate the appropriate ratios

of mares in wild horse and burro herds at the most effective

time of the year, thereby optimizing to the greatest extent

possible the benefi ts of using the contraceptive

vaccine Porcine Zona Pellucida (PZP) as a method

of population control.

Here’s where things get real interesting (wait

for it)…the patent holder of the PZP vaccine is

none other than HSUS.

This all leads me to wonder if the true motive

and intent behind HSUS’s report to BLM is

none other than that of profit. One dose of PZP

can run as high as $500. To vaccinate just 20,000

horses would require a whopping $10 million of

taxpayer dollars. Is this really a wise use of our

money? Surely there are other alternatives for

population control that the BLM might consider

such as alternative contraceptives, predator

management, spaying, and/or gelding.

The last thing our government needs to be doing is funding

the lobbying efforts of an animal righs group.

Currently, the BLM is also reviewing another report of the

agency’s wild horse and burro program conducted by the National

Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (NAS/

NRC). NAS/NRC is a non-profit group that advises government

agencies on scientific issues. I would hope that BLM will take

all commentary and options into consideration and not jump

on the HSUS bandwagon just yet.

Sometime the offer really can be too good to be true.

LUSITANOS ON FOCUS

2011-07-23T09:52:00.001-07:00

A truly fabulous photo shoot, including some stills, of the elegant and powerful Lusitano horse.

Brent Graef on Energy, Intent, and FEEL

2011-06-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Glad to see there is so much interest in a discussion of "energy, intent, and feel". It's nice to know there are so many folks who are wanting to take their horsemanship to a deeper place.

Figuring out how to use your energy in a productive manner takes a lot of work. It's a very deep subject, and one that is hard to teach, because you can't see it. But you can feel it... and so can the horses.Learning how to channel your energy is difficult... but such an integral part of fine horsemanship.

Most people would say that I'm very good at using my energy.... with horses or people. (It's much easier for me with horses.)In my mind, I am merely beginning to scratch the surface.

To me, it's not about where I place my body when working on the ground, or which direction my toes are pointing. It's not about cues or release. It's not about claiming space that the horse occupies. When riding, it's not about where I look or what game I'm playing in my head.

It goes much deeper than that! Tom Dorrance talked about "horsemanship can be so deep that it's almost spiritual". I'm beginning to get a glimpse of what I think he meant by that.

I'm not "making" the horse do whatever I'm wanting him to do. I'm not really even "asking" the horse to do it.

"We" are doing it. I figure that as soon as I take the lead rope, we are one animal. As soon as I step into the stirrup, we are one animal. "We" are doing this together,

Just because a horse knows what you want him to do, doesn't mean he'll do it immediately. I like Bill Dorrance's words "I like to try to make the right thing OBVIOUS."I try to see if I'm blocking the horse, then get out of his way... open the door so he can find his way through more easily.

This is very difficult to put into words... especially in writing!Much easier to show in person. Sometimes at our Young Horse Class, we'll spend extra time trying to help folks understand working with energy after class at our home. You can't see it, but you can sure feel it... down the lead rope or the reins, or in the air. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of sensitivity.

"Intent" -- is much more than just "I'm going to get my horse to do this thing". Whether by thinking it in words or pictures, or by playing little games in your head. YES we need to be VERY clear in our mind what it is we are going to be doing with our horse... but it goes MUCH deeper than that!

"Feel" -- is much more than just the touch on the lead, reins, etc. It goes WAY deeper.

This horsemanship journey we are on is a very personal journey... it can go as deep as you want to take it. Or it can be as shallow as you want it to be. It's your journey.

I've had some glimpses of what can be, and am working toward getting there consistently. I try to open some of those doors to help folks see the possibilities. It takes a lot of work... a lot of inner peace... before you can really start.
Hopefully some of ya'll that are interested in going deeper will be at a clinic with me this summer. We can do some hands-on, and go to some much deeper conversations after class.

I'll be looking forward to it!

For the horse,

Brent Graef

BUCK Award winning movie at Sun Dance Festival

2011-06-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

Click on this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buck-The-Film/175055519187765?sk=app_173693799353052

to find out how to request your local theater's showing of the movie BUCK !

Fabulous movie for the whole family. It touches on more than horse training, but becoming a better person, a better parent and friend.

A Special Morgan Horse

2011-06-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

by Julie Williams

A Special Morgan Horse

There's a funny thing about endings--they set the stage for something new. Just when I thought I had nothing, I discovered the powerful magic of beginnings from a Morgan colt named Blackwatch Jubilee.

The not-so-funny thing was that my marriage had died. The death of a marriage can be sudden, like when there’s a car accident and your spouse is killed. Sometimes it comes on slowly, much as a long illness that eats away at life day by day until it fades away. The abrupt end of mine was shocking. My teenage sons and I were suddenly and utterly alone. No warning. No money. Nothing.

The only thing I knew to do was hope that God was in control of what I wasn’t, let extended family know what was happening, and try to pay attention to whatever opportunity presented itself each day.

There were a lot of good people in our lives. They made us their family and they made all the difference. But when I woke up in the middle of the night, alone with my own thoughts, it wasn’t so easy. I was scared and didn’t think I had a lot to offer anyone. I’d apprenticed under a horse trainer, and I was a Mom. I wasn’t afraid of hard work, but what had I proven so far--in a man’s world?

Sometimes I lay in bed at night, listening to hooves thumping on the wooden floor in the weathered red barn. Blackwatch was such a happy horse, he made everything easy. He liked to be with me. He was confident, whereas worry came natural to me. I wondered--if I borrowed his courage and can-do attitude, what might we accomplish?

As the seasons passed, the Morgan colt grew into his long legs. I often took him with me when I rode the roan mare. Blackwatch learned about manners, cattle, crossing water, a variety of terrain, and traffic. By three, his hardened muscles rippled under a glossy coat. His thick forelock tumbled over soft eyes that were always calm. When I left him in the corral and rode alone, I’d often return to find him staring at me as if to say I’m ready, when are you going to ride me?

Summertime brought longer days. By July, I sometimes saddled Blackwatch after work,and lunged him in the field near the sale barn. One evening the manager slowed his truck, rolled down the window and asked with a grin, “When are you going to get on that horse?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t have a fenced arena.”

“Bring him over Wednesday. We’ll start you in the pens. Sale days are once a week”, he replied, and then drove away.

I led my horse over on Tuesday and we put him in a pen of young steers to see how he handled himself. Blackwatch leaped into the middle, ears forward, quivering with delight.

The following morning was sale day. Talk about a man’s world, there were only two gals in the yards--pen riders on young colts. Several of the cattlemen came by to check out the new horse and rider. They’d heard about a stallion on the lot and they weren’t coming to welcome me. “What are you doing with a stud? You’re gonna get yourself killed riding that horse,” they grouched at me, then climbed the stairs to the catwalk and departed inside the cool auction house.

I had butterflies in my stomach but a wide grin on my face. The pen riders coached us. Blackwatch was a quick learner. We worked the sale one day a week, and later two, spending hours doing little more than go, stop, turn right and left. After the third week I thought we can do this!

The January Stock Show Sale was our biggest sale ever. It was a Colorado shirt sleeve weather day, clear and the ground was bare of snow. Ever-larger lots of cattle streamed off the auction floor. There was no time for breaks. Noon came and went. The boss finally delivered sack lunches and we ate from horseback, never pausing in stride as we followed the next lot of bawling steers. By dusk most of the other pen riders were aboard their third horse but I was still astride the little horse with the legendary heart of Justin Morgan. It was well after dark before I stood in my own barn, pulled the saddle and rubbed down my horse.

The following morning’s forecast was winter storm: high winds and snow. By the time we arrived the wind was fierce. I looked around for the other pen riders. They were all on foot. Their horses wouldn’t trailer load in the storm so were left behind. Wind never bothered Blackwatch and he tackled his job with admirable determination, doing the work of three.

From the very beginning with Blackwatch, it was a partnership. I could made choices and goals. Every day included beginnings and results. Blackwatch had uncommon good sense and he fearlessly took life as an adventure. Some said he was an old soul, born broke. I’m amazed at the things I did with that horse—bold and daring things that helped me grow.

I often rode at night, after work and family time. I’d ride down the gravel driveway and fade into deepening twilight. We trotted down field roads under the canopy of star, our moon shadows rippling against tall corn. We listened to the night sounds: traffic on distant highways, the lowing of cattle, the song of coyotes and answering farm dogs that rang through the night.
Twice a year we trailered into the Rockies to ride the trails, enjoying wildflowers and snowcapped vistas.

Blackwatch and I were so often on the same wave length. I remember the first time I rode him on land without fences. More than 800 acres of harvested wheat fields spread before us. He raised his head and stared, ears pricked in eagerness. May I run across that?, he seemed to ask. Enthusiasm quivered under his skin.

“Sure, go ahead,” I said aloud, then squeezed my legs. His relaxed loping stride reached out, lengthened, and soon we raced the wind with ease.

Blackwatch became an approved stallion with the American Warmblood Society and, bred to outside mares, sired many athletic foals. He was part of the Parade of Stallions at an area horse expo. He performed as respectfully for other riders as he did for me.

Miles of wet saddle blankets, plus Blackwatch's generous heart, created in us what Tom Dorrance called “true unity”. That horse carried me through all the ups and downs that life can bring. He was the perfect equine partner and took me where many men thought I shouldn't be.

It’s been a lot of years since we worked the sale barn. Recently I was told a story. The old timers were heard saying, “You remember that little black stud horse? He sure could get down and work cattle. Sure do miss that horse. Wish he was still here.”

Sometimes our most secret yearnings strain against our circumstances and then prevail. He was my once in a lifetime horse--a very special Morgan named Blackwatch Jubilee and he filled my life with partnership, comfort and endless possibilities.

(First published in 2011 at www.EqTrained.com. Copy and paste that link, sign in, and read more true life stories about horse-human relationships.)

Photo: First born son of BlackWatch Jubilee out of a Welsh mare.

YouTube interview on EHV-1 with Parelli's Veterinarian

2011-05-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/ParelliTube?feature=mhee#p/u/0/FXMo85-iAzw

Horses For Life Blog--Check them out!

2011-05-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Horses For Life blog yet? Check them out. Wonderful things can be found there--like the most recent piece on our involvement in the Art of the living horse, the losses we feel when we lose one, etc.
http://blog.horsesforlife.com/archives/366?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+HorsesForLifeBlog+(Horses+For+LIFE+Blog)

The Nakota Horse

2011-04-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

For more information on the Nakota Horse, search at this link: http://nokotahorse.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=16

The Nakota Horse

2011-04-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Interesting documentary editorial on the Nakota Horse.

There is a Nakota/Morgan gelding waiting to be rescued. For more information, contact www.Forevermorgans.org

"This little cute one is morgan/Nakota cross.
Nokota horses traditionally ranged in the Little Missouri Badlands of SW North Dakota, appearing in the late 19th century. The horses are believed to be descendents of the Sitting Bull ponies as well as horses which escaped or were released from the ranching industry
Look at that gorgeous face, he is calling to someone special. Be sure to watch his video, how quiet he is.
3-29-4 - Bay crossbred gelding reportedly according to note that came with him states he is Nakota/Morgan cross good broke and sound rides and drives. Did excellent during eval w/t/c.
Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df_ygTOZaKE

with English Saddle onhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xGUV8Dq6H0

$550.00

Tell Me About That Horse Project

2011-03-27T06:59:00.001-07:00

Check out http://www.tellmeaboutthathorse.com/

http://www.tellmeaboutthathorse.com/about_the_book.htm

and his blog: http://tellmeaboutthathorse.blogspot.com/

Personal Space: Pushing or Yielding?

2011-02-24T06:32:00.001-08:00

Personal Space: pushing or yielding?

Teleseminars With Karen Scholl

2011-02-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

Did you know that you can listen to audio programs from Karen Scholl?
Click on this link to learn more: http://www.karenscholl.com/education_teleseminars.html

The Ahhhh in Dressage

2010-11-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

Dressage as it could be! Hope you enjoy this link and article as much as I did. http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2010/11/03/uta-graf-and-stefan-schneider-kingdom-horse

Focus and Attention by Sherry Jarvis

2010-11-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

I see so many horses that are not paying the least bit of attention to their handler or rider. When you take a horse away from the comfort and safety of his natural surroundings, there are many things in the big wide world that can distract or attract him. His attention wanders to those other things. All horses are this way by nature, and green horses or horses that haven't been handled much or well are by far the worst. They HAVE to check this, that, and the next thing out in their environment. They need to be sure there's nothing that's going to come get them. They like to check and see if there is some other horses they'd like to be with, some grass or some other food they'd like to go eat, some manure to smell, or some wide open space they would like to go lounge in. These are the things that give pleasure to all horses.

A horse pays attention to what matters to him, and the direction of his desires. Are you more important to your horse, than anything else in the world, including such powerful draws as other horses, food, and piles of manure? At some point you have to get to where you rate higher in his mind than those piles of manure!!! Are you something that gives your horse pleasure? Or does he dread to see you coming unless you have a bucket of grain?

If your horse is easily distracted and doesn’t seem to want to stay with you it's time for you to start thinking about supporting your horse toward being more able to choose to be with you rather than anywhere else. When a horse learns to pay attention to the handler/rider he becomes able to focus on the handler/rider when requested for a few seconds at first then building to longer periods. Something magical happens when a horse begins to really pay attention. It is like something clicks over on the inside to where he begins to have a feeling of inner peace and confidence, rather than a feeling of anxiety. He actually stops trying to leave you all the time, and starts wanting to be with you.

We have all had the experience of being in a classroom at school. The teacher stands at the front of the room and expects all the students to pay attention to what he/she is saying. When people pay attention to a speaker they look at the speaker. But if, suddenly, there was gunfire out in the street, then everyone's head would turn because their attention would have been caught by the sound from outside. It is your power of observation to see where the horse’s attention is and how to get it back that allows you to train horses with effectiveness and without the need of painful physical force or coercive methods.

There is a law of the horse's life which says; wherever the horse’s attention goes, his body must also go. It causes a horse to experience great inner turmoil to have his body separated from his attention. The main cause of a horse’s body and attention being separated is the actions of people who do not even realize what is occurring. Some horse owners are not even aware when the horse has lost his attention they only see and are aware of the things the body is doing wrong. I challenge each of you to pay closer attention to where your horse’s attention is especially when he isn’t doing what you want him to do.

A common way to practice being more aware of where the attention of your horse is directed is to dramatically slow down your actions. If you will learn to be more present in each moment with the horse you will start to see things you never saw before. Learn to wait on the horse, and give him wait time. This doesn't mean you can't be present while working fast. Speed and intensity of focus can go hand in hand. Also worth considering is the subtle distinction between "working quickly" and "being in a hurry"

If your horse jumps around and this catches you by surprise, it is because you were not paying attention. This means you were not attentive to what the horse was paying attention to. It means you were not sufficiently focused to call upon him to remain focused upon his work, or what you wanted him to do. Your focus determines his focus. Your confidence and inner peace determines his confidence and inner peace. Your ability to "set the horse up" to go quietly depends entirely upon your ability to attend to the signs he gives you BEFORE he jumps around.

There are a million things that can potentially distract or spook a horse. You can never desensitize him to all the things he may encounter. Our mistake is in thinking that being distracted or being afraid is the horse's main problem. It is not his main problem. The external situation or objects are not what cause the horse to be distracted or concerned. It is the loss of his attention, the loss of his inner peace and confidence in himself and in us that is the problem. There is a buildup before this happens. The rider or handler's shortcoming lies in not being able to detect, or defuse, this buildup. We have to know what happens before what happens happens.

It is true that other animals, dead fish, flags, blowing paper, motorcycles, bicycles, rattling dry branches, loud noises, flowing water, high wind, other horses, and ten thousand other things all have the power to unsettle a horse. But they do not have the power to do that all the time. I am sure that all of you have noticed that sometimes the sign on the road doesn’t concern your horse in the least and he keeps his mind on his job. Then the next day the same road sign is associated with a buildup that leads to an explosion. Why is it that on the same trail ride some horses totally refuse to cross flowing water at the same stream that another horse will quietly cross?

The answer is that when a horse gets 100% OK on the inside, nothing bothers him, or at least he has learned how to deal with it. Some people believe this is impossible. But I believe it is possible you just have to work to find that ability with yourself. How do you help a horse become 100% OK on the inside so he is OK with everything on the outside? How do you help a horse learn to deal in a postive manner anything that is thrown at him? In order to do this you have to start with one particular thing or situation where you work through together successfully with the horse no matter how long or how much effort it takes. Then you go on to another success and another. After a time, it becomes second-nature, a habit that both you and your horse do all the time when something unexpected happens. Many of you have heard me say over and over that good horsemanship is a HABIT. And you have to be Ok with this stuff you are asking the horse to do too. Because until you are 100% OK with what you are bringing to the horse, they will never be 100% OK with you or the object. An example is a person who really wants to canter their horse but the moment the horse brings ups his energy to do it the person immediately says "Whoa" in his mind and also in his body, but especailly the reins. I call it the "Go but not really syndrome". I see it all the time.

Remember horses learn to be 100% OK from the release of pressure. To drive a horse into pressure destroys his confidence and causes the horse to develop distrust for you as a leader. I take the horse back away from the pressure area until we find that place where the horse is comfortable. Then once calm is fully restored, move back toward the pressure until we reach the slightest reaction point. Keep repeating the approach and retreat while holding the horse’s attention with you all the time. As soon as you feel or see the horse’s attention starting to leave you need to catch it before it leaves. If you catch it before it leaves it never does leave. This is why we need to ride every step and be present every moment with your horse. The earlier you try to capture the attention the less physical you will have to be to get it back. The goal is to become so subtle that it is invisible to those watching.

If we expect to be able to control our horse's attention, we had better be able to control our own first. If I am still focused on other things or if I have a case of ADD, is it fair to ask my horse to focus on something other than the grass beneath his feet or the next manure pile that he would like to smell?

PS: Our Friendly Warning: There is always some risk involved in horse training for both you and the horse. Horses can cause serious injury. Be sensible and don’t attempt anything that is outside your comfort level. Any information in this article or that we present through any of our programs are intended to illustrate how we apply our training techniques with success. However you are responsible for using this information wisely. If you don’t feel comfortable with your abilities or an exercise, don’t do it! Seek advice or assistance from a professional before attempting things beyond your skill or confidence level. Stay on the "high side of trouble". Keep it natural and above all KEEP IT SAFE!

Until Next Time,

Sherry Jarvis

Author of "Win Your Horse's Heart" (And Be a Better Horseman)

www.heartinyourhand.com

82507 465^th Ave. Burwell, NE 68823, Tel: 308-346-5663

Interview With Eitan and Debbie Beth-Halachmy

2010-10-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

You will be able to find further updates on Eitan’s activities on the new Western Dressage Association website www.WesternDressageAssociation.com Eitan is an Advisory Director with this new association. You can also find continued information on his Cowboy Dressage website. www.CowboyDressage.com

Going to WEG? Don't miss this:

2010-09-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

Check out:
http://www.internationalequestrianfestival.com

This is a separate event and only cost $5 for entry! It goes from 1-9 pm each day, with shopping, entertainment, seminars and clinicians. It's downtown--with air conditioning! Rides on a segway or a horse simulator are available. Julie Goodnight, Monty Roberts, Rex Peterson and JP Giacomini (and his stallion Istoso) will be there.

Join us WEG!

2010-09-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

I hope some of you will make it to WEG and we will get a chance to meet YOU at our booth (26/27, Equine Village).

On the Friday Oct 1st, I will be on at 5:00 in the "clinician arena" which is the square ring where they usually show the breed parade, if you know the Horse Park.

We will have several of our Lusitanos there. Orion is 5 yrs. old. We will also show his 1/2 brother Zafer (3) who will demonstrate the results of endotapping in hand and another 3 year old, Zidane who will be ridden by my assitant Cedar. He is a very nice young horse with about 120 rides. We will have a Quarter Horse stud with his cowboy rider and later in the Games, a GP jumper that has been transformed by the technique from a talented rebel into a very classy horse who goes like a decent dressage horse (though his true job is to jump the really big stuff). We had a GP dressage horse scheduled, but he got a bug and can't come. We'll also have another very talented huge Hanoverian which I have been working with between Nov and April, but he hurt himself in a paddock, so our Iberian horses it will be for the most part for me to ride an show.

See you there, please stop and say hello.

JP Giacomini
Baroque Farms USA
Kentucky

Join our yahoo group 1ArtofTraining to stay in touch.
+++++++

In answer to a question about self-carriage, I wrote the post below to a list (bragging as the proud breeders of the horses we are taking).

Preparation Notes:
The last few days, I have been doing work all over the farm rather than in the arena to get my young stallion Orion used to work in strange places in preparation for WEG. It will be the first time that he will go anywhere other than the farm he has grown on since he was 2.

I wanted to test his willingness to go everywhere as well as his balance and I worked him on a hill that is probably 20% slope in most places. We did all his work up and down and obliquely to the slope, including tempi on a circle, canter half-passes and pirouettes, figure 8 in rein back and passage circles. He can do all the canter work in balance without changing his very light contact or his speed (particularly the tempi). That is the beginning of decent self carriage. Today, he still sped up a little in the trot downhill but that maybe because he just got trimmed and his balance has changed.

Needless to say, we are hugely proud of him :). Shelley and I bred him, his mother and his grandmother and I trained his father and his grandfather which I imported one from France and one from Portugal.

Come and see him and his brothers at WEG in the Equine Village (or visit us at booth 26/27 right between the Visitors Center and the Museum, next to Pat Parelli - can't miss his huge booth :).

I will be there giving clinics everyday for the duration. The times are different everyday and are in the program. I am probably the only dressage clinician there from what I gathered (except maybe for Eitan Beth Halchmy who does "Cowboy Dressage").

I will also do 4 presentations of high school in-hand in Lexington at the IEF (Rupp Arena) after 8:00 PM with Istoso.

I promise to tell you what I get to see in the warm up arena, which is right by our arena, if I get allowed to escape my job at the booth... Will report when it is all over.

Take care, JP

Photo courtesy of Shelley Giacomini

Body Language--What's my horse reading: my thoughts or my body?

2010-09-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Julie asked if I would post this here. I re-wrote and added to it to
eliminate the comments I was replying to, so hopefully it makes sense
on it own.

In the course of a discussion on another list, someone commented that
they didn't agree with the concept of horses reading our "intent"
because in their opinion, it sounded as if it meant that horses were
reading our minds. Additionally, the argument was raised that one
could (purposely) fool a horse by thinking one thing, but displaying a
"cue" that a horse is already familiar with. I'm assuming that this
comment was to bolster the argument that horses don't read minds.

Well, maybe they are (reading minds), maybe they aren't, I don't know.
What I do know is, that if I form an intent, the thought itself
results in a change in my physical self. My horse reads this. It's not
telepathy...it's just an ability to observe, interpret, and respond to
minute changes in the demeanor of another being.

I like the word intent, because it indicates a conscious awareness of
the connection between a thought and the physiological manifestation
of that thought. I don't think that horses read minds....I think
rather that they are amazingly gifted observers and interpreters of
body language. The very best trainers know exactly how the horse is
interpreting their body language. They know that the formation of a
intention forms a physical reaction that a horse can read. By being
aware of the connection between intent and the physiological response
that results from it, one can choose to control the physical (outward)
response as subtly or overtly as the situation calls for. They have
mastered the display of their physiological responses. They know how/
when/where to direct energy, they know how much energy is needed or
exactly when to turn it all off. They are also incredibly consistent
in their actions so a horse learns to trust what a trainer is telling
them through the body language.

I've spent a lot of time paying close attention to what body language
I display, and trying to fine tune it. Tamarack is a great sounding
board for all of this. Especially at liberty, something as small as
adjusting the pitch of my shoulders in relation to him by an inch can
block or allow his movement as well as affect the quality of that
movement. What part of his body I look at matters (and he knows where
I'm looking), an arm slightly raised, a shoulder tipped lower than the
other, tensing the muscles in the back of my neck or across my
shoulders...hundreds of combinations, all form virtual sentences that
Tam can read and respond
to. And they are, for the most part, natural reactions that he
displayed, that I took note of and capitalized on. It all means as
much on the ground as it does in the saddle. It begins to LOOK like
the horse is reading your mind if you are very consistent in your
delivery. Your horse begins to respond almost before you ask. They see
or feel everything. By being very conscious of my own body language,
being as consistent as I can in thought and action, then I can observe
consistent responses in my horse and mentally catalogue it. I then
know if I do a certain thing, that Tam responds a particular way.

I never attempt to disguise intent, because that would create a muddy
picture or "muffled words" or otherwise cause a confusion in my horse.
Clarity is key. If I cannot remain focused and clear and in the moment
with my horse, then I do nothing instead. It's like trying to have a
discussion with someone who always mumbles....it's frustrating and
eventually you just give up listening because you can't really
understand them.

Since horses can read the smallest body language signals in us, I feel
it's important that we are aware of it ourselves. I think I've only
scratched the surface with what my horse is capable of understanding.
Discovering the potential in the subtlety of it all is fascinating.

Karen

Photos courtesy of http://www.heartinyourhand.com/ colt starting clinic.

Do You Know Your Horse's Footfall?

2010-09-14T10:49:00.001-07:00

The Silver Stallion

2010-07-31T08:36:00.001-07:00

2010-07-29T07:11:00.001-07:00

Lovely

2010-07-22T06:29:00.001-07:00

Featured Book

2010-07-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

Win Your Horse's Heart (Be a Better Horseman) by Sherry jarvis

Order Your Copy now!
http://heartinyourhand.com/

Review By Buffy: New Zealand

Before you read one more "how-to" book, it's absolutely necessary that you read Win Your Horse's Heart because if your whole way of THINKING about the human/equine relationship doesn't change, all the how-to books in the world aren't going to work for you. And once your perspective changes, everything else will fall into place and you'll be amazed how "easy" your training becomes. This book ought to be the bible given with every horse purchase.

Karen Scholl article on better trail riding

2010-07-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.karenscholl.com/docs/magazines/Natural%20Horse%20May-Jun%2009%20Article.PDF

The Dressage Is My Discipline, The Cowboy Is My Freedom

2010-07-18T07:33:00.000-07:00

Eitan on Santa Fe Renegade at

The World Equestrian Games

(Germany)

What a wonderful clinic today! Eitan has been in town (Parker, Colorado), and we audited. A bunch of our Equestrian Theater members were there too.

For those of you who don't know him, Eitan is the "Cowboy Dressage" trainer from California who is also an exhibition performer with his Morgan stallions. (http://www.cowboydressage.com/) His most famous horse, Holiday Compadre, is retired and stands at stud in Parker, CO, not ten minutes from our place. The owner of the ranch, Sunrise Morgans, is a most delightful and charming Morgan breeder, Ellen DiBella. She was the most gracious host, and made us feel so welcome.

We had an absolutely wonderful time. Ellen offered a "hospitality package" where she and her volunteers kept us content with water, coffee, and snacks, then offered a scrumptious lunch, organized a fascinating evening talk by her Equine Veterinarian Lad Squires, and then blessed us with a fabulous Italian themed dinner. Her home was so elegant and welcoming, with beautiful lush gardens, a shady patio, and of course, HORSES! It was one of the nicest horse related events!

But back to the main reason we were there... EITAN! Oh my... Here is this gentle, unassuming, humorous man with more than his share of horse magic. He calls himself a cowboy, and most of the students were in western garb with western tack. He begins the clinic talking about "lightness" and "using the shoulder-in to strengthen the hindquarters," and "shifting the weight to the hind end." I immediately knew we were in the right place!

He explained many of the same things I've learned from my own trainer, TJ, and from auditing TJ's rides with her trainer, Ralf Schmitzer. I felt my face break into a big grin when this "cowboy" started chatting about Classical Principles with the ease and familiarity you'd expect from a student of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Wait a minute.. oh yea--[has history there too]!

Almost every rider started off being told to LET GO OF THE REINS! He gently, and with great compassion and humor, found a hundred different ways to ask the riders to give up their pulling and sawing and over-controlling with the reins. It was not long at all before each rider found they actually had MORE control when they quit hanging onto their horse's faces and learned how to use their bodies, legs, and lateral movement to get through the resistance and finally to the work they really wanted. It was, LET GO AND RELAX THE HORSE FIRST, and then we'll get to the other work.

Among the thousands of details, there are two very valuable mega-truths I will take home from today. The first one is, timing is EVERYTHING! You can know exactly what to do, but if you don't have the timing right, you're not going to communicate with your horse correctly and get the behavior and the training you want. You have to know WHEN to ask and WHEN to release. Both are VITAL! The release is the harder [part] for most people to recognize, but without it, you just dull your horse and your training is going to suffer. We all HAVE to get the release timing down and correct and as natural as breathing.

Secondly, I really got deep into my stubborn brain that the way to change resistance in the horse is to make what you are asking easy for the horse to do, and what the horse thinks HE wants to do more difficult or more work for the horse. No fighting with your horse allowed. Just make sure that what you want is easy, and if the horses resists he has to work harder. What that harder action is changes with what you are asking and how the horse is demonstrating his resistance. But bottom line... JUST PULLING HARDER ON THE REINS IS NEVER THE ANSWER!

I really admire and respect this man as a true horseman. I don't care if he wears a cowboy hat or a black top hat and breeches... he gets it. He understands the horse's mind, he understands the biomechanics of the horse and the rider, and he is a very good communicator. He was never rude or abusive of either horse or rider, and made us all feel very comfortable. I am so glad we went.

You can check out this wonderful trainer at www.CowboyDressage.com. You can also listen to a The Wow Factor Radio interview with him at http://www.thewowfactorradio.com/

Warmly,
Kris

Color Genetics For Beginners

2010-07-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

Every horse has two of the BASIC color genes - red and black. A horse is either red-based or black-based. In addition it can have modifying genes like agouti, gray, dun, or creme.

Black based colors are black, bay, buckskin, brown, perlino.

Red based colors are palomino, chestnut , cremello.

Every horse will throw one gene from their basic color makeup.

Red Factor gene (really it is an Alelle which is a portion of a gene but for simplicity I'm going to call them genes) (chestnut) is written as a small e.

Black factor gene is written as a capital E.

For instance a chestnut is ee - meaning it will always throw the chestnut gene. That is why chestnut bred to chestnut always equals chestnut. The sire throws one e gene and the dam throws one e gene resulting in a ee foal.

A bay horse is E (the black gene) and the second gene can be the chestnut gene e. The black gene E is dominant and will always express itself over the red e gene. A bay horse has a 3rd gene, the agouti gene which is A . Agouti restricts the black to the points (ie legs, mane, tip of the ears etc) So a Bay horse can be Ee Aa (meaning it is neither homozygous for Black nor for Agouti). A bay horse can be homozygous for bay and would be EE AA and could only produce a bay.

A black horse has the E gene but NO agouti. A homozygous black horse would be EE aa. A black horse who could produce chestnut would be Ee aa, meaning it can pass on the e gene instead of the E gene.

Now we come to the dilutes (creme) which are written as CR. A dilute gene 'fades' the color of the horse.

A palomino is a chestnut with one creme gene. ee CR

A buckskin is a bay horse with a creme gene -- Ee Aa CR. In this case the horse could produce a palomino, a buckskin, a smoky black (remember black is dominant so it's not diluted but the horse will carry the creme gene) or bred to another creme carrying horse it could have a cremello or perlino.

The cremellos and perlinos are double dilutes meaning they have two creme genes CR CR and are homzygous for creme and will always pass it on. A cremello is a double dilute chestnut ee CR CR and a perlino is a double dilute bay horse which can have several combinations, ie Ee Aa CR CR or EE AA CR CR (homozygous black and homozygous agouti).

Merideth Sears - MeridethinWyoming

AFS Morgans @ http://www.afsmorgans.8m.com

http://howdidigetthisold.blogspot.com

Is Riding Still Fun? Are You Practicing FUNdamentals?

2010-06-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Question:
My favorite riding icon half passes across the YouTube screen and I dream of riding like that. I've poured over DVDs, riding theory books, studied my favorite mentors, and I'm trying SO HARD to improve. Things aren't going well though.

Reply:
I sometimes find myself wanting to point out that the majority of riders, while calling it classical dressage, are mostly going through motions---with limited success and plenty of frustration for themselves and their equine friend. Most riders would be better served spending their riding hours working on their own riding posture and allowing the "dressage" to take care of itself. Riders are too often seen doing pretzel contortions on their horses, and trying to micro-manage a list of do's and don'ts;they are making their horses crazy. Show me twenty-one riders trying to define or demonstrate decent self- carriage and I'll show you one rider who gets it. Sometimes I want to post "just go out and get on your horse and have a good time!" If your horse is happy you just might be doing something right---even by accident.

Correct rider posture and breath (is your horse breathing--relaxed, snorting, blowing, making happy sounds? are YOU breathing too?) are the basis for freedom of optimum movement.

As human critters we desire learning and perfections. The twist comes when we dissect and micromanage through our over-intellectualizations---and we cannot seem to resist these. We then swing from one extreme to another in our quest to understand and perform to our expectations.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the simplicity of horsemanship. The FUNdamentals should always maintain an element of FUN, otherwise the results will be lackluster. FUNdamentals and FUNctionality.

I am always reminded of Ivy, and wanting to ask "are you having as much fun as Ivy and her gelding? If not, why not?" (View her most recent journeys at: http://www.youtube.com/user/ivyschex#p/u/4/DZfWU9i3dtk )

Despite the strengths of the hallowed classical dressage exercises, sometimes riders sabotage the very thing they aim towards by narrowing their focus too much.

Mix up your horse time, your training time. Make a gymkhana course and trot from one point to another in a brisk cadence with a good halt. Look up, go to the next cone with clean departs and halts. Instead of drilling and trying SO HARD, try putting those hallowed principles into a more interesting format.

You get the drift.

Julie W.

More fun with horses?

Endotapping, What Is It?

2010-06-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Explore Endotapping as another tool for relaxation and training.
(Tapping has been used on human patients for a variety of problems. One area is EFFT for PTSD.)

You can learn more about Endotapping through the subscription site EquusAcademy.com and/or join the yahoo group 1ArtofTraining hosted by JP Giacomini.

Testimonials:
Prairie Pines

Andras Szieberth
Wellborn, Fl
http://www.prairiepinesfarm.com/

01/08/06

To whom it may concern:

I am the breeder, owner and trainer of the 1998 Chestnut Holsteiner (approved Belgian Warmblood and Rheniland-Pfalz-Saar) stallion Lotus T. He started his training in 2001 and by early 2002 I have taken him to horse shows in both dressage and jumping. He was very easy to train and some of my students also rode him successfully. I have sent Lotus T to participate in the 100-day stallion testing in August, 2002, which he successfully completed in 3rd place. During the final testing he exhibited some discomfort, rearing with some of the test riders, which was a very uncharacteristic behavior from him.

After he returned to my farm in Florida, he started exhibiting neurological symptoms - unable to lie down to roll, unable to lower his neck and graze, unable to pick his feet up. These symptoms got worse by the day. When I attempted to ride him, he would refuse to go forward, and upon encouragement, he would rear up violently, them back up and tremble.

I took him to several top veterinarians but the conventional western veterinary practitioners were unable to come to a diagnosis. After resting him for 9 months, putting him on tranquilizers, I resumed his training - with very limited success.

In February, 2005 Dr Judith Shoemaker, a veterinarian specializing in the treatment of neurological problems diagnosed Lotus T with a blunt trauma to the neck, withers and tail. After several treatments and extensive physical therapy, Lotus T started showing some improvement, but remained unrideable. Then, in August 2005, on the recommendation of Dr Shoemaker, I took Lotus T to a clinic given by J.P. Giacomini, with major reservations from my part. After two days of work-in-hand, on the lunge line and with long lines, as well as using some unconventional techniques, Mr. Giacomini put me back on Lotus T - and the horse was moving forward, uninhibited and showed no signs of disobedience, after almost 3 years of refusing to do anything at all. In the following months Lotus T showed steady signs of improvement, while being trained according to Mr. Giacomini’s methods.

In December 2005, another eastern practitioner, Charlie D’Oruso treated Lotus T and the result was a major decrease of Lotus T’s neurological symptoms. At this time I still wasn’t comfortable riding Lotus T in certain circumstances, e.g. riding him around other horses or outside the arena, so I asked and arranged for Mr. Giacomini’s help again. During the 3 day clinic, Lotus T improved leaps and bounds and I have been enjoying riding him in the arena, in company, on the trails and in every imaginable situation, with great success.

I firmly believe that Mr. Giacomini’s training methods, focusing on relaxation and on the improvement of the biomechanical function of the horse’s movement (in conjunction with the proper veterinary support) saved my stallion’s career as a sport horse

Sincerely,

Andras Szieberth

__________________________________________________________________

Mr. Giacomini,

While I was at Pine Knoll Farm, I had the opportunity to watch JP Giacomini do an Endo-Therapy™ session on a 10 year old Dutch Warmblood that showed a big, unexplained lameness going in both directions at the trot on the lunge line. He used different length of hand whips carrying a 1,5 inch foam ball at the end, which he has designed and calls Endosticks. He calls this procedure which he invented Endotapping™ and it is clearly a unique type of work.

I have only seen this done one time before when I observed JP handling one of his own Lusitano breeding stallions [during breeding procedures; maintaining relaxation, readiness and obedience utilizing the Endotapping process].
JP Endo-tapped™ the lame Dutch horse at the walk first and helped him to extend his stride quite visibly, first by stimulating the timing of his outside hind leg (tapping under the belly), then the outside foreleg (tapping under the chest). Both the reach of the shoulder and the over-step from the hind leg increased noticeably, though the length of step varied as the horse was going on a circle, not a straight line.

After that, he did ground exercises tapping the horse first on the shoulder (turning around the hind legs), then tapping on the thigh (turning around the forehand), followed by tapping on the barrel (moving sideways with a pronounced bend of the neck). He repeated the exercise lunging at the trot and insisted that the horse quit leaning into the turn, which appeared to make him go lame, by demanding a flexion of the neck. The horse started to move more and more soundly and trotted with his body upright and his neck bent to the inside without the help of any rein or martingale other than the lunge line attached to a regular nylon stable halter.

Intermittently with the work-in-hand, I helped JP do front leg stretches at different angles. I simply held the leg passively while JP tapped on different areas of the back and shoulders until he found a specific place that elicited the release of the leg’s tension. At that point, the horse stretched his leg several inches forward. He clearly reached further each time we repeated the exercise.

At the end of all this work (about 35 minutes), the horse appeared 95% to 100% sound at a brisk trot. No drugs, acupuncture or chiropractic adjustment got used during this session.

I consider what I saw to be quite an exceptional result in relation to the understanding of lameness I have gained from a 40 years practice dedicated to the care of sport- and race horses.

J. Baker, DVM

******************

Tapping™ method of JP Giacomini ~

By Dr Cindy Reynolds Ph.D

Senior Researcher (Biochemistry), Howard Hughes Institute of Medicine,

University of Washington, Dressage Rider & Certified Body Worker (Massage etc.)

"Research is to see what everybody else has seen and to think what nobody else has thought." Albert Szent-Gyorgi.

The difficulty in writing about this method is that there is so much to say about it and so many ways in which it is interesting and useful, yet it is basically so simple. It is a revolutionary method which bridges horse training and behavior modification with physical therapy and bodywork, which gives us humans a practical and elegant door to the connection between us AND the body and mind of the horse.

It is well known that relaxation at a deep level is an essential element of superb athletic performance. It is also well known that the relaxation response can be taught through conditioning. Entire subcultures of human endeavor exist as a result of the development of techniques for inducing relaxation in self and others . In the training and riding of horses, while there are many techniques and formats for training in many disciplines, across all disciplines relaxation and harmony remain elusive goals for many.

.

This lack of systematic relaxation produces tremendous problems for trainers, owners, and the horses themselves. Our ignorance of relaxation techniques in modern horse training and our lack of adequate time in most training programs to proceed through a hierarchy of training goals with a relaxed, supple horse cause many of the performance problems, injuries, frustrations, and disappointments in the horse-human relationship. The tension and apprehension experienced by many owners and riders blocks completely their hope of a full partnership with their horses.

In classical horsemanship during centuries past, at least in the idealized versions we hear of today, the possibility of supple relaxation in performance was enhanced by the depth of experience of both riders and horses. Traditions were rich; resources were great; lifetimes were spent learning the art of horsemanship; and young horses were handled in such a way as to ease them one step at a time (frequently with multiple handlers present) through the training situations which might provoke the flight response. Today, all too often, horse training is a one-person task, time is short, and competition demands are high on the hierarchy. It should not surprise us that the problems in our horse-person relationship parallel the problems in our families, our societies, and our world.

The western-oriented methods which have gained popularity with horse owners have spread awareness of the importance of relaxation outside of classical horsemanship. The goals of these methods have remained focused on the individual amateur horse owner, especially those relatively new to horse ownership, and while there is some detail in their protocols, they lack the benefits of the precise biomechanical awareness of more classical methods and are often costly and require extensive investment of time and energy. The art and science of Endo-Tapping™ arrive at a time when the horse world is badly in need of relaxation, suppleness, and harmony.

Equally important, the technique extends beyond relaxation into training techniques that, while derived from the most classical forms, are within the reach of everyone. It can influence virtually every phase of the horse-human interaction, whether used for relaxation itself, or for stimulating elements of the movement patterns of the horse from the ground or from the saddle. What can take a lifetime to learn to do from the saddle can be installed through Endo-Tapping™ in a few weeks' study by the amateur owner or the professional trainer. This technique cultivates systematic relaxation in the horse and informs the handler in ways which improve his finesse and awareness. .

As a research professional in biological sciences, a dressage rider, and a 30 year veteran of animal breeding, behavior and training, and human and equine bodywork, I have followed the development of the various (primarily Western style) horsemanship techniques with interest. I found parts worthwhile and usable, and other parts difficult to justify in terms of the kind of horse I work with, a larger horse with some physical issues and vulnerable hocks. Working on a small circle or even a large circle without being very correct about straightness and bend made me nervous. .

I find that the body of work associated with Endo-Tapping™ offers a simple approach to many of the same problems addressed by the various western horsemanship protocols and many more, up to the most difficult and elusive problems that challenge upper level dressage riders and trainers.

Because I am a researcher by training and instinct, a licensed massage practitioner for humans and horses, and have now spent some months working with this technique, I have considered possible mechanisms by which the Endo-Tapping™ method of Jean-Philippe Giacomini works. As a massage practitioner, it is striking to me how quickly the tapping works. I could use ordinary massage strokes on the same muscles for quite a period of time and still not get the rapidity and completeness of relaxation that comes from tapping! This suggests a reflexive response, and that is what I believe it is.

I believe tapping works through several concomitant effects on the body and mind of the horse; there are obvious possibilities related to the physiology of muscle and nerve which are part of the modern understanding of kinesiology and biomechanics and which might explain effects of Endo-Tapping™ on the relaxation state (and thus the mental focus and ability to learn) of the horse in its first level application, which is tapping at specific locations on muscles of locomotion and balance. Second level application of the tapping yields other effects, including muscle balancing, stretching, true bending, balancing and lengthening of stride, and ultimately self-carriage.

The technique itself can perhaps best be described as interactive “tapotement” (this is a French term for percussive massage, one of the classical strokes, used most commonly in American bodywork for invigorating muscle, but used very commonly in China and Europe for spot relaxation when the instrument used is of an appropriate size and shape). This “tapotement” is interactive in the sense that the firmness of the tapping is modified to adapt to the behavioral reaction of the horse, and so the mechanism varies to some extent as the horse goes through the stages of reaction to the tapping itself:

.

1) Noticing (which may include some avoidance behavior, confusion with the request of an aid, or resistance),

2) Ignoring (becoming still, attempting to outwait the tapping) and finally

3) Release, the stage we are interested in exploring as a function of its possible physiologic mechanisms.

As I mentioned above, the effectiveness and quickness of this “tapotement”, especially once the response has been conditioned, is striking. Ordinary massage techniques like “effleurage”, compression, cross-fiber friction, direct pressure, and the like, require more time, are effective over smaller areas (there is a distinct regional effect with Endo-Tapping™, perhaps because of the penetration of the vibration through to neighboring tissues, thus integrating the nervous system effects), and do not always result in the overall relaxation that this method yields, possibly as a result of endorphin release.

It is of interest that, during the period of ignoring the stimulus, the Endo-Tapping™ protocol calls for increasing the firmness of tapping, sometimes to a level that is very firm, in order to secure the release, and that horses vary enormously in their individual requirements for pressure of the touch and their rates of adaptation. Each part of the body varies with the individual horse as well, based on stored tension, body memory, and physical history. Old traumas, emotional residues from training techniques and devices, and positional memory all contribute, in all likelihood, to the response at each site that is tapped.

The first level application of tapping with each horse is simply to relax muscle and, with it, mind. How does this work? .

In the muscle itself, there are two anatomical elements well recognized in the science surrounding the physiology of muscle that probably contribute to the relaxation effect. The first is the muscle spindle cell, a specialized nerve-muscle hybrid, which is embedded at particular sites in muscle and which acts in extreme situations to protect the muscle from tearing: when the muscle and with it the spindle cell are stretched very suddenly beyond the neurological limit programmed by the body, the spindle cell communicates with the central nervous system to cause the muscle to contract suddenly, which in turn protects it from tearing. .

In human massage therapy, the muscle spindle cell can be manipulated manually by causing it to bunch, shortening the cells involved in sensing tension and communicating with the nervous system, and as a result the muscle relaxes whatever tension has developed through earlier stretching of the muscle spindle cell by trauma. In other words, the muscle spindle cell is "reset" to relaxation, causing the muscle cell to relax and return to optimal function.

The exact location of all the muscle spindle cells in each muscle is the subject of much research. Some mapping has been done to allow specific manipulation to effect change through this mechanism (refs). It is very likely that muscle spindle cells in the horse will be homologous, and it will be possible to clarify the role of these cells in “tapotement” in the horse.

So how might Endo-Tapping™ effect relaxation through action on the muscle spindle cell? Assuming a degree of abnormal contraction from mechanical stress, that is residual tension, in a muscle, “Tapotement”, quick and direct as it is, might pulse a bunching of the muscle spindle cell(s) adjacent to the site of tapping. The mechanical force of the tapping travels radially through tissue around the site of tapping, so it makes sense that those spindle cells oriented in a radial pattern there would experience a reduction in tension in their nerve fibers, and send a message to the central nervous system which would result in relaxation of the muscles served by those spindle cells.

The second anatomical element in muscle resides at the junction of the muscle itself and the tendon, which attaches every muscle to the bone which it acts upon to produce movement. This element is called the Golgi tendon organ, and its purpose is the opposite of the muscle spindle cell: when its intrinsic nerve fibers sense a sudden stretching, its communication with the central nervous system causes a relaxation of the muscle. The purpose of this nerve programming is to protect the muscle itself from pulling loose from the tendon, damaging the musculo-tendinous junction.

In its action upon this anatomical element, Endo-Tapping™ very likely supplies the pulse of sudden stretching of the Golgi tendon organ needed for relaxation of that particular muscle as it responds to protect its musculo-tendinous junction. And it is that very suddenness of the impulse from the tapping that probably makes it so effective, as no time is allowed for resistance or bracing as often happens during manual manipulation and training.

In addition to the clear possibility of two physiological mechanisms for local relaxation by “tapotement”, as I mentioned before, there is the gross appearance of an endorphin release during Endo-Tapping™. It would be very interesting to measure blood levels of endorphins, as well as heart rate and other indicators of relaxation as the “tapotement” proceeds.

One must ask, what is the full description of release, expressed as we see it in the application of this “tapotement” technique in the horse? What we see is a variety of signs of relaxation: full exhalation, softening of expression involving the small muscles around the eyes, nostrils, and ears, chewing and salivation, and lowering of the head. What we feel manually at the same time is overall softening of muscles associated with these obvious outward signs. The local effects mediated by the anatomical elements of the muscle are only part of the overall effect. Clearly the brain responds to some systemic effect as well.

The possibility is also there that something about the tapping, the close physical presence and the repetitive contact, "means" something to a horse that we can only speculate about. Over the eons, the horse's evolution has created a program for flight, and as a flip side of that a program for rest (relaxation) and play (relaxed performance, our training goal). Everything that happens in the horse's natural world fits into one of these categories. He is informed by the horses around him in the herd. Somehow, perhaps, this tapping may sum up to a feeling of safety in his limbic system.

There are many questions raised by these observations. How many ways can relaxation be quantified? By heart rate? By vaso-dilatation, or dilation of the pupil in the eye? By galvanic skin activity? Can the involvement of the muscle spindle cell and the Golgi tendon apparatus be demonstrated? Neuro-physiologic studies do address questions involving both the function and the anatomical mapping of these structures in animals. Can the release of endorphin, or other neuro-peptide, be demonstrated? Presumably, if it occurs, it can be demonstrated.

How many things can this tapping method be used for? Calming? Promoting healing? Preventing and treating colic? There is anecdotal evidence for all these. This is something which needs to be explored, understood more fully, refined, and made available for the benefit of the horses in our lives.

.

===================================

Saddle Fitting Information

2010-05-20T06:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.aboutthehorse.com/web/saddlefittingguide.shtml

BODY WORK FOR RIDERS

2010-03-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

Contribution by author Lynne.

As a Graduate BALIMO^TM Instructor, I have learned that the 10-2 (or
even just 11-1) position [pictured as 10 o’clock and 2 o'clock oR 11:00 and 1:00] of a person's toes when they are walking, without consciously thinking about their feet, is indicative of the relative strength of the muscle chain that either rotates the whole leg in or out (from the hip). The toes point in the direction of the muscle
group that is tighter and more contracted. The solution lies in
balancing the two groups by stretching one and strengthening the other.

One excellent series of exercises, pioneered by Pete Egoscue, is this:
1. Three-position toe raises. Raise up onto the forefoot, then lower to
the ground. Repeat 10 times in each position. First position is with
toes pointing straight ahead, Second position is with toes pointing
outward, Third position is with toes pointing inward.
2. Adductor squeezes: Lying on the floor with both knees bent so the
soles of the feet are flat on the floor, place a pillow betwen the knees
and squeeze the legs together. Do 3 sets of 20 repetitions.
3. Floor bridge: Holding a pillow between the knees, and beginning from
the "idle" position in #2, raise the back and buttocks up off the floor
so that weight is only on the feet and the shoulders. The raised trunk
should make a relatively straight line to the knees. Hold for one minute.
4. Abductor presses: Starting from position in #2, and using a belt or
strap around the legs just above the knees, press outward against its
resistance. Do 3 sets of 20 repetitions.
5. Floor bridge. Hold for one minute.
6. Pelvic rocking. To relax the lower back and reintegrate the muscls,
rock the pelvis while lying on the floor. This means alternately raising
and lower the pubis so that the pelvic"bowl" tips backward, and then
forward. Repeat, playing with speed (faster/slower) and range of motion
(full range/partial range in differing degrees) until the back is
feeling limber.

With daily use, these exercises will result in visible improvement
within 2 weeks, and vast improvement in six weeks. They will need to be
made a regular part of the exercise repertoire for the improvements to
hold.

Question by reader: My lower back is tight, and when I try to do some exercises that require core use, the back tries to do them instead. What can I do to improve that?

Answer: As for difficulty with tightness in your sacrum and lower lumbar spine, there are a LOT of different exercises you can do to help limber up that area. Two of my favorites are: 1.) Knee over and 2). Crawling three ways. (By the way, if these help you, you can pass them along too, crediting the BALIMO program and its originator, Dr. Eckart Meyners.)

#1:KNEE OVER. Beginning position: Lie on your back with one knee bent so that the foot is flat on the floor, while the other leg is straight. (Let's say left is bent and right is straight.) While keeping your shoulders flat on the floor*, take the left leg across the right leg and attempt to touch the floor on the right side of your body with your left knee. You will feel a resistance that will prevent you, but if you allow gravity to do its job over the course of 5-10 minutes, assisted slightly by the weight of you left hand on your left knee, pressing ever so lightly, you will find that the areas of resistance will "give" a bit. Often the stretch seems to come from the muscles alongside the spine, but there may also be some discomfort in the hip area. You can try raising your left (bent) knee more towards your armpit, or by opening the angle of the knee, lowering the knee more towards your right ankle, while maintaining the stretch. Find the place where you can get the left knee closest to the floor and "dwell" there until you feel some "give." Then you may try different positions of the knee, which will be addressing different attachment points of the tight muscle group. Repeat this daily and you will eventually be able to get your left knee and whole lower leg to lie flat on the floor beside your right leg.
*It is useful to have a second person hold your left shoulder flat to the ground, or you can maneuver so that you anchor your hand and/or wrist under some heavy object (the front apron of a couch or sofa works well). Alternatively you can hold on to a table leg. Experiment with doing this with your anchoring arm's elbow bent or straight to see which is most effective in keeping your shoulder flat on the floor.

#2. CRAWLING THREE WAYS. Beginning position: On "all fours" (hands and knees). a.) Crawl like a baby, but be SURE you are executing a diagonal "foot fall" pattern: left leg, right hand, right leg, left hand, repeat. If you find that you are crawling homolaterally (left leg, left hand, right leg, right hand) STOP and think about (plan) the correct movement pattern before you begin again. b.) Crawl on forearms and knees. The same admonition about diagonal movement applies, but instead of supporting yourself on your hands, you support yourself on your forearms, which will be flat on the floor. c.) Crawl "military low crawl" style, a.k.a. "alligator crawl." Flatten your chest to the floor, and keep it there as much as possible while you are crawling. AVOID lifting your buttocks into the air (imagine they will get "shot off"!). By raising one knee out to the side while rolling onto your opposite hip, and then reversing the process, and using the side of the foot of your bent leg to push off and propel yourself forward, you will make progress. Feel the working of your sacrum and lower lumbar spine. When you can do this with some ease and alacrity, get up and walk and note how much more limber your whole pelvis/lower back will feel.

Nadja King of Horses for Life has just invited me to write an educational article about these kinds of exercises and the ones I've already posted, and I've agreed. So you may see what I've just written here reappearing in the pages of her on-line magazine eventually.

Thanks for asking permission to forward my writings, and thanks for taking the time and trouble to write. I credit Dr. Pete Egoscue. I didn't invent these exercises; he did.

Yours for the horses~
Lynne

2010-02-23T17:38:00.000-08:00

Morgans performing at WEG 2010

2010-02-23T06:23:00.000-08:00

HELP NEEDED

Carole and her Dancing Morgans need YOUR help to go to Lexington, Ky to perform at the Alltech FEIWEGames. (They will be dancing for the attendees on
September 25 - 28, 2010.) As some of you know, Carole's trip to the FEI World Equestrian Games and all her expenses there are her responsibility. She has no corporate sponsors, and it is a hefty expense. However, wonderful Morgan supporters are helping her $5 at a time! If you would like to help, visit Carole's website. www.carts-carriages.com

WEG

2010-02-23T06:20:00.000-08:00

FOOTFALLS/Biomechanics of motion

2010-01-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

Great examples of footfalls on this video and others on YouTube.
Contact Eitan at www.cowboydressage.com for their video
Poetry In Motion

THE 5 HORSES WE MEET IN LIFE

2009-12-31T05:53:00.000-08:00

The 5 Horses We Meet In Life

1. The Intro Horse
We each came into horses in our own way, but it was always with a horse leading us. This might have been a friend's first pony, or perhaps it was a draft horse on a farm you once visited It might have been a real-life meeting, or an imaginary one.

2. The Experimental Horse
Once you had crossed the line between "Darn, they're big!" and "Wow! Can I try that?" you found yourself face-to-face with the horse that would suffer through your early attempts at figuring out the whole horse experience … wherever this horse came from, he probably didn't benefit from the encounter as much as you did…

3. The Connected Horse
The first horses we meet don't really connect with us, nor do we with them. Those are experiences in survival and tests of endurance. The Connected Horse is the first horse you truly bond with. This is the horse that sounds a chord that lives so deep in you that you might never have heard it otherwise…

4. The Challenger
Into each horse person's life, a little challenge must fall. You'll have read that one final training book, bought yourself a clicker and heading rope, and there you'll stand, arms crossed, assessing the situation as if you actually knew what the situation was. It might be difficult to believe, as you are flying down the aisle way on the losing end of a braided cotton line, but you actually need this horse in your life…

5. Your Deepest Heart
There will come a time when you will look at yourself with a cold, appraising eye, and you'll have to be honest about your continued ability to deal with The Challenger and other difficult horses. At that point, you'll seek out the horse that will be your soul mate forever… You'll have bought him the most comfortable, best fitting equipment… Maybe you'll still go to shows and ride – brilliantly or barely – in the Alzheimer's class. Maybe you'll just stay home. Whatever you do, one day you'll realize that after all the money you spent on animal communicators and trainers, you only had to stop and listen and you would have clearly heard your horse's thoughts and desires…

Happy New Year to one and all. I love you all, Sherry L. Ackerman

Greetings!

2009-12-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas
from our house to yours !

Poetry In Motion-Biomechanics DVD

2009-12-07T06:55:00.001-08:00

You can order a copy of the new dvd POETRY IN MOTION, a teaching dvd about footfall sequences and biomechanics. Contact Eitan thru www.cowboydressage.com

I Hung Up My Bridle Today--poetry corner

2009-11-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

I Hung up my Bridle Today
by Kris Garrett
11-11-09

Yesterday, for the first time, I was too tired to ride
Yesterday, for the first time, I was afraid I would be hurt if I was thrown
Yesterday, for the first time, I heard someone say my barn was too shabby
Yesterday, for the first time, I let someone tell me I was too pudgy to ride
Yesterday, for the first time, I realized I was old
Yesterday, for the first time, I had to face that I could no longer keep up
Yesterday, for the first time, I had to let go of my dreams
Yesterday, for the first time, I felt my heart break
Yesterday, for the first time, I turned my back on my friend
Yesterday, for the first time, I knew I was done

Today, for the last time, I felt warm, braided leather in my hands.
Today, for the last time, I ran my stirrups up so they wouldn't bang my mare's sides
Today, for the last time, I released the buckles on the girth and watched my girl sigh
Today, for the last time, I slowly dropped the bit so it wouldn't hit her teeth
Today, for the last time, I gave my mare a cookie to thank her for the ride
Today, for the last time, I buried my head in her soft, warm neck
Today, for the last time, I inhaled the sun and the dust in her long winter coat
Today, for the last time, I closed the gate and trudged to the muddy porch
Today, for the last time, I tracked hay and horse hair into my house
Today, for the last time, I pulled off my boots and felt the sting of warm blood returning to my cold toes

Today, for the first time, I cried after my ride
Today, for the first time, I felt my hands shake as I set the saddle on its rack
Today, for the first time, I hugged my young trainer a final goodbye
Today, for the first time, I waited for the new owner's trailer to arrive
Today, for the first time, I set my boots in a box to go to the Goodwill
Today, for the first time, I sighed at the wear on my riding gloves
Today, for the first time, I had no hay in my hair
Today, for the first time, I did not hear nickering when I opened my back door
Today, for the first time, I felt worse leaving the barn that I did when I entered
Today, for the first time, I had no one to check on before going to bed

Tomorrow, for the first time, I won't have to buy hay
Tomorrow, for the first time, I can stay in bed longer
Tomorrow, for the first time, I won't see the poop pile grow
Tomorrow, for the first time, I won't be able to fly on four legs
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will be sorry I listened
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will regret letting her go
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will be angry at God
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will be angry at myself
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will cry the day away
Tomorrow, for the first time, I will be glad to die

Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will awaken in tears
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will know I was wrong
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will defy all the judgement
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will ignore my old bones
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will return the buyer's check
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will bring my friend home
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will take my boots out of the box
Day after tomorrow, for the first time, I will be reborn

For the rest of my life, I will have a horse in my yard
For the rest of my life, I will ignore the cruel judging
For the rest of my life, I will watch the poop pile grow
For the rest of my life, I will have hay in my hair
For the rest of my life, I will track mud in my house
For the rest of my life, I will bury my face in her soft neck
For the rest of my life, I will let my soul fly
For the rest of my life, I will never be alone

Morgan horses: Dancing with Cows

2009-11-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

Eitan Beth-Halachmy riding Holiday Compadre in Wyoming.

Visit: www.cowboydressage.com and http://www.justhorsevideos.com

The Simple Truth of Life...

2009-10-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

Life is Hot Chocolate

View more presentations from syana.

Click your way through this slide show of life philosophy! Have a happy day, enjoying your hot chocolate.

The Morgan Horse

2009-10-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

(Click on the flag icon at the right to see as full screen.)

Shery Jesperson has outdone herself with this beautiful tribute to the Morgan horse. Many friends sent her photos to go along with her own collection. My contribution is the very last one. (Thanks also to G. Hoyt for his photo, used in this presentation also.) Enjoy!

Riding--Technique or Art?

2009-10-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

What makes riding so interesting and addictive is that it is a lot of things. It is a craft. It is an art. It is a sport. It is also a science. In some ways it is simply applied physics. It has parallels with the practice of medicine. It is a healing art in the sense of physical therapy. It is applied psychology. It also has an intuitive, psychic side that must not be underestimated. It has things in common with yoga, pilates, dance, and music. These different aspects draw different types of people, and in order to go to the top and fulfill one's potential, the rider has to try and become as competent as possible in all these areas. Nobody can possibly master them all, which is why especially the truly great riders always emphasize that it takes more than one lifetime to master dressage.

Focusing on one aspect to the exclusion of the others lets the rider fall short of his or her potential. Somebody who sees riding exclusively as a sport and wants nothing to do with the other aspects will always remain on the surface. Somebody who sees it only as an art and does not take the technical, craftsmanship side or the athletic side seriously, will be held back by these shortcomings. Someone who gets too wrapped up in the physics and technique and never develops feel and intuition, will not get very far, either, etc.

The best riders I have met all combined a fairly high competence level in most of these areas. They were all fit and athletic, highly intuitive, with an excellent understanding of psychology, biomechanics and conformation, and they had spent their entire lifetime practicing the craftsmanship side until it had become second nature, so that they were able to transcend technique and leave the text book path behind when necessary in order to find a practical solution to a problem through the application of intuition and artistic creativity.

Thomas Ritter
http://www.artisticdressage.com

Reata Rose Ranch blog

2009-10-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

Good morning from the blustery windswept plains of Nebraska's Sandhill country. A dustiing of snow on Saturday reminded us that summer is history and soon the ground will be frozen. (sigh)

Sherry Jesperson with mare Dolly at right:

There's a new blog you just might want to view! Shery Jesperson's photography and YouTube videos have graced my blog. She's from Wyoming's ranch country and renders her beloved land through digital film and crafted words. Mary Jane's Farm (http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/ ) has recently added her to their stable of writers.

Log onto: http://reataroseranch.blogspot.com/ for a visual treat!
Until later...

Julie

Trail Riding

2009-09-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

If you love trail riding, check out this site:
http://coloradotrailrider.com/
Plenty of good info' about Colorado trails, trail riding rules especially during hunting season, photos, and more.

They even have a video from an episode of Survivor Man of when he went into the Colorado Rockie for a 5 day pack horse trip.

Happy Riding,
Julie

2009-09-12T11:52:00.001-07:00

Drought of the spirit
delight, laughter, joy withered
dormant until spring

Jock's withers shudder
beneath my hands on the reins
gentle horse grazing.

****

Thank you to Sandra Williams for sharing her original poetry. She's a member of WritersParkyahoogroup, an educational internet group for writers. Written Sept. 2009

Riding the Range or 8 Second Techno-rides

2009-07-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

Back at the beginning of my blogging I posted photos from a California horse trainer friend who was adventuring a horseback, trailing cattle on a cattle drive. There are more photos and stories in the offering, waiting for me to share with you her "doings". In the meantime, she has a great webpage to share. If you feel handicapped by the demands of tech' duties, she might be just the ticket. Check out this link:
http://www.theresasheridan.com/email_marketing/email_marketing_campaign.html

Back at the ranch with S. Jesperson

2009-07-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

Reata Rose Artisan Made Jewelry

2009-07-22T17:09:00.001-07:00

MARES, The Heart & Soul

2009-07-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

MARES, The Heart & Soul
Photos by one of my favorite equine photographers---Wyoming's own Shery Jesperson.

Becoming A Wiser Horseman

2009-07-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

I loved this article! There are so many truths here, and if we take them to heart, we'll be better horseman, better humans. Please link to:

http://www.naturalsporthorse.com/articles.html#REMEMBERING

The View From Another Saddle

2009-07-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

Enjoy this photo display from one of Wyoming's wonderful photographers--Shery Jesperson.

Another Clinician I Recommend

2009-06-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let you know about a wonderful clinician who might be in your area this summer. This man blends many concepts from Parelli, Desmond, Hunt, and has a wonderful feel with a horse. You can view some video clips on his website. This notice is from their yahoogroup.
julie

Brent Graef started his summer clinic circuit a couple weeks ago and already has helped people and horses through difficulties with bucking, bolting, kicking, trailer loading, water crossing, catching, standing to be saddled/mounted, pushy horses, scared horses, and everywhere from very green colts, to high level show horses.The people he's worked with ranged from first time horse owners, to professional show people, to other horsemanship teachers, to full-time working ranch cowboys. For Brent, it's just another day at the office:-)Here's the rest of Brent's 2009 clinic schedule. Some changes have been made since earlier this year. Go to www.BrentGraef.com/schedule for more details and sign up info.
North Carolina June 16-17Maryland June 19-21Pensylvania June 22-24Ohio June 26-28Ohio July 3-6Michigan July 10-12Wisconsin July 17-19Iowa July 24-26Michigan Aug 14-16Texas Sept 13-18 (6 day class!)California Sept 25-27Rhode Island Oct 2-4Texas Oct 16-18California Oct 23-25Florida Nov 6-8California Nov 20-22
Be sure to sign up TODAY!
Kris Graefwww.BrentGraef.com

Upcoming JP Giacomini Clinic Schedules

2009-04-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

UPCOMING THREE CLASSICAL HORSEMANSHIP CLINICS !
Please join us for a Memorable Clniic with Classical Riding Master J.P. Giacomini:

1. April 23-25 in Grass Valley, CA
2. April 26-29 in Carmel Valley, CA
3. May 2-3,
(4 + 5 for Private Lessons) in Lakeview Terrace, CA

If you want to improve your riding and your horse's performance plus enhance the relationship bond with your horse - then these clinics are for YOU!

Riders of all levels are welcome, as are horses of all abilities and breeds. These clinics will also greatly benefit non-dressage riders and horses;

Western riders are welcome, too!

These clinics will focus on a classical approach to solving problems and advancing the horse and rider.

JP is a Successful, former Olympic Coach for Dressage and Eventing to riders from 5 different countries; He is also noted for his ability to teach Piaffe and Passage and for finding long-lasting solutions to previously unsolved problems.

Learn more about J.P. and access his BLOG at: http://www.BaroqueFarmsUSA.com/

Auditors are VERY welcome!

To get more information on the

1. April 23-25 Grass Valley Clinic CONTACT: Jane Sommers 530-268-9004 EMAIL: jaliscox@serpentinefarm.com

2. April 26-29 Carmel Valley Clinic CONTACT: Jessica Kent 831-659-6054 EMAIL: horses@holmanranch.com

3. May 2,3 (4+5) Lakeview Terrace Clinic CONTACT: Lisa Everett 805-630-6795FOR INFORMATION ON OTHER UPCOMING CLINICS CALL OR EMAIL: 859-236-1530 mailto:tmundi%40bellsouth.net You and your horse will be glad you came!! That's what everybody says!
__._,_.___

Young Girl's Poem

2009-04-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

My Silent Teacher
Lowers her head when I put on the bridle,
She is always going the extra mile.
Telling me what to do without speaking a word,
We unite like part of the herd.
No matter what my instructor thinks of my ride,
She always is holding her head down low filled with pride.
Grooming her coat until it glistens and it shines,
Taking care of her until she dies.
She never gets mad at me no matter the error,
Never over reacting to my fears and my terror.
My silent teacher shows me marvelous things,
Giving me gifts only magic could bring.
My little warrior never taking a break,
Teaching me to ride better as long as it takes!

S. Nelson (c) 2009
Shared with permission from author

Fool Proof That French Braid, the Iberian Horse Way

2009-04-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

Jenni has a great tip on making a fool proof, long wearing French Braid for your dressage horse. It doesn't come undone or look frayed. Be sure to access her photo link.

HI,

My trick to a non-bunching tight running braid (besides practice) is
braiding upside down (adding from the underside instead of the top
side). Basically, in a normal braid you cross over the outside hairs
on top, in a french or running braid you add hairs each time, in a
mane running braid you often only add them from the top side. In an
"upside down" braid, the outside "strands" are crossed over underneath
instead of over the top. I think this gives the braid a tidier
appearance. Maybe I can sucker Ben into a quickie youtube video next
time I braid someone

DONT show sheen or condition the mane prior to braiding for show, you
want it clean and combed but slightly tacky, products like "quick
braid" work well for occasional show use

example of a braid where hairs were added from the underside
http://www.jcandalusians.com/JC/horses/Espiritu/5-17-08morvernpark/vadastumirror.jpg

that picture was taken after the braid had been in all day, this was
his second class in the afternoon and he had been loose in his stall
between classes, it was bunching a little, re-braiding before each
class will give the nicest appearance, but this type of braid, done
right along the crest should stay in well.

Good luck, will let you know if I ever get a video up.
Jenni

Horse Training Blogs & Sites

2009-03-28T07:28:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for some great training blogs?

Dressage:

Check out Dr. Thomas Ritter's Artistic Dressage Blog at: http://www.artisticdressage.com/blog.html Dr. Ritter has some great articles and photos, willingly answering questions by readers.

JP Giacomini's---another master horseman graciously lent to us by France, runs an informative blog at:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-KILiWUA3d78SbNCgSTDRJbMwxQ--?cq=1

Lightness and Horsemanship Through Feel:

If you haven't visited Leslie Desmond's site recently, avail yourself of the many good articles and links on her site www.lesliedesmond.com
Leslie worked with Bill Dorrance to put into print his philosophies of unity with the horse through proper handling. title: Ture Horsemanship Through Feel.

New Biomechanics Video from Eitan

2009-03-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Cowboy Dressage
with Eitan Beth-Halachmy
"Poetry in Motion
Understanding the Horse From the Inside Out"

There are videos and then there are videos and I have seen hundreds of them, but none like this one. If you would like to ride a better horse, here is the place to start. Step by step with the best horseman I know. It's the best investment in the horse industry. You can't show me a video comparable.".... Jack Brainard "

Eitan has produced and narrated a new video that is a work of art, but, more important, a work of tremendous value to any rider. Beautifully illustrated with videography and animation, this video will help any serious rider, regardless of whether they are expert or relatively novice, to understand how they can get the most out of their mount".... Robert M Miller DVM

DVD Video $45.00
Plus Shipping & Handling

Run Time 40 minutes
Order thru:
http://www.cowboydressage.com/

Riding Lesson with JP Giacomini--Use of Legs, Roundness

2009-02-21T12:22:00.000-08:00

45 minute lesson with JP Giacomini in its entirety.

Use of legs, creating roundness.

Working Student Position Open--Ride & Learn With JP Giacomini

2009-02-17T07:34:00.000-08:00

One spot remains for working student/rider.
Visit our Stallions: http://www.BaroqueFarmsUSA.com tmundi@bellsouth.net 859-236-1530

Traditional Horsemanship Association & Competition

2009-01-23T18:01:00.000-08:00

(Click on the play button at lower left side of video screen)

TRADITIONAL HORSEMANSHIP ASSOCIATION & COMPETITION/CLINICS
Here is a short little video we finished that explains what this competition is about. As we 'speak', there is a clinic going on this weekend in California (and several private clinics next week), where people are learning all about this fun and exciting new way of competing - that your horse will love too! What's different about it, is that it's actually FAIR TO ALL BREEDS...what a concept, eh?
It will embrace vaquero, western, etc. Check out the video clip below if it isn't showing on the blog. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2769371775847135300&hl=en

The above preview---pre-competition clinic, then watch excerpts of the very first TM Manege, TM Versatilty, and TM Combined Trial Competition. Now being revived, this footage is from that first event in Portugal in 1996...Clinics being held all over the USA to learn this competition. Email for more info: tmundi@bellsouth.net

Take care, JP & Shelley Giacomini __._,_.___

WowFactorRadio.com Schedule

2009-01-21T07:16:00.001-08:00

_www.TheWowFactorRadio.com_ (http://www.thewowfactorradio.com/) Jerry Diaz: Dancing Horses January 21-28Charro de Corazon: Charro (pronounced Cha 'ro) is a skilledMexican horseman whose origins date back to the 17th century. Thecharro, who developed customs, dress, music and equestrian skillslater borrowed by the American cowboy, dress in traditional costumeand are skilled in horsemanship, bull riding, horse and steerroping and trick roping. Charro Gerardo 'Jerry' Diaz is a fourthgeneration charro, continuing the traditions that originated withhis great grandfather over 150 years ago. Jerry is recognizedaround the world for his expertise in horsemanship and dedicationto the Charro traditions. He is a director and lifetime member ofthe National Western Stock Show which features his productions, TheMexican Rodeo Extravaganza and the Evening of Dancing Horses. In2004 Jerry Diaz was inducted to the Texas Trail of Fame. Join usfor a fascinating insight into the heart and life of this amazingequestrian. _www.CharroJerryDiaz.com_ (http://www.charrojerrydiaz.com/) See Jerry and Staci Diaz perform at The Evening of Dancing Horses,January 21 & 22, The National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colorado!_www.NationalWestern.com_ (http://www.nationalwestern.com/) HORSECAPADES Sunday, January 25, 3:00 PM Westernaires Arena,JeffCo, Colorado _www.HORSECAPADES.com_ (http://www.horsecapades.com/)

Light Hands Horsemanship Clinic to Air on RFD-TV

2009-01-03T18:29:00.000-08:00

I wanted to let all of you know that the four horsemen, Dr. Robert Miller, Jon Ensign, Eitan Beth-Halachmy and Lester Buckley, of Light Hands Horsemanship will be on Rick Lamb's The Horse Show on RFD-TV on the dates January 20th and 25th, and again April 21st and 26th.

It is called "Profiles in Lightness." You can go on the RFD-TV website and see the scheduled times there. Tell your friends and tune in! (http://www.rfdtv.com/scheduleHD.asp?Timezone=) looks like Rick Lamb's THE HORSE SHOW is on Tues. 1:00 pm eastern and Sun 8:00 am eastern, if I read that right.

The 2009 clinic is coming up end of May: http://www.lighthandshorsemanship.com/
It is a great experience.

For those on the http://www.heartinyourhand.com/ group, we showed a video of Eitan riding (http://www.cowboydressage.com/) at the 2007 Christmas party.

To read an article on last year's clinic and view the videos, scroll to the right hand column, click on 2008, and click on July.

www.cowboydressage.com

Video taken by pyrgografix
April 21, 2008

How To Make Horse Christmas Tree Ornaments

2008-12-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was watching a video of a craft show and the hostess was making
ornaments. This would be so cool for our horses. She was doing them in sepia
(antique photos of grandma) or color of current things.

Here's what you do. Buy clear glass ball ornaments with removable top
hangers. Buy acetate (clear) that runs thru your printer. It needs to have
one rough side to it. Take a photo in your computer and copy it onto the
rough side of the acetate. You want the photo to fit on a 4" round circle.
How you test for size is to use a large ornament, cut a 4" circle in a piece
of paper. Set the ornament in the hole and if it JUST FITS, you know it's
the right size circle for the ornament.

Okay, After you have the photo on acetate cut out, roll/curl it and slide it
INTO the ornament. Use a knitting needle to position the photo upright
inside the ornament. Put the top back on, glue it in place if you decide to
put any glitter inside the ornament.

You can leave it as is, or you can drizzle glitter paint on the top of the
ornament like snow would look on a fence post, or add greenery or bow.
Her samples looked fabulous: scenery, church stained glass window, family
groups, etc.

Thought this might appeal to some of you crafters. Just think how great your
horses would look, or you could do this as a gift for another horse owner.

Have You Put Your Heart In Your Hand?

2008-11-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

Check out http://www.heartinyourhand.com/ for one of the best rising stars in natural horsemanship instruction. Sherry Jarvis, with her superb communication skills honed from years of elementary school teaching, shines when it comes to helping the rider understand the ins and outs of riding and training your horse. Her new book will be on the shelf Spring 2009.

"Sherry has a burning desire to share everything that has been made available to her with others, and to help people realize their dream with their horses in a natural way. When the natural horsemanship clinics started becoming popular in the 90’s Sherry discovered the holes in her foundation that had hindered her from taking her raw talent into a harmonious art form.

This newfound knowledge inspired her with a new determination and dedication to share the importance of a natural foundation, which will develop a relationship with your horse that will change your life. Sherry instructs students and shares her passion for mental, physical and emotional fitness for horsemen and their horses."
Contact Sherry and bring her to your area, or go to her.
Read Sherry's Blog at: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-n21TBKsifquRaPBREjVE

Equus TV

2008-08-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

EquusTV.com has made available, online, a series of videos about the 2007 IALHA National Horse Show on behalf of the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association.

See excerpts of some of the Riding Exhibitions ~ some of the Educational Clinics that were given, including a Conformation clinic, a Carriage Driving Clinic, a Halter Presentation Clinic and More! Significant people were interviewed and shared the thoughts you have probably never heard expressed including the Judges (Spanish, Brazilian, American) the Ringmaster, the Show Committee, Olympic Riders, Breeders....and Much More! This Behind the Scenes view of the Warmth, the Excitement and the Camraderie at Nationals is Infectious! You are sure to enjoy getting to know others who share your passion for these magnificent horses.

There are 20 videos so far, and more to be posted soon. Go to: http://www.equustv.com/IALHA.html

Hope you enjoy them! Share with your friends!

With warmest regards,

Shelley Giacomini

www.EquusTV.com

Photo gallery-Burwell Rodeo

2008-07-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

Nebraska's Biggest Outdoor Rodeo---Burwell, Nebraska 2008

In it's hayday, the Burwell Rodeo was THE place to be. It has a very large arena and vast stands, plus a racetrack around the arena. Hadley Barrett takes charge of the microphone every year, entertaining all with his deep commanding voice and sharp whit.

2008-07-26T10:03:00.001-07:00

The Versatility Horse

2008-07-20T10:29:00.001-07:00

"From the toughest cowboy to the savviest clinician to the trail rider that lives next door, every person I come in contact with...........and every horse.......... teaches me something and has plenty to offer, if I just listen.

I believe in giving a horse every opportunity to succeed. This can sometimes be a slow and tedious process, depending on the horse's previous handling. I am not the trainer that says they can give you a broke horse in 30 days. I will move at the pace the horse is comfortable with and no faster." Theresa Sheridan http://www.tsheridanenterprises.com/

Ride The Thunderhead

2008-07-17T07:49:00.001-07:00

Ride The Thunderhead

Oh, Daughter of the Wind,
Come and ride with me!
Mount the gathering ivory steam
And gallop across the sea.

Twist your hands in silken mane
That billows wild and free,
Dig your heels into the cloud,
Race the Thunderheads with me!

Gallop o’er the glistening sand
Where Timeless Essence leaves a print
And run abreast against the hills
Where fading light leaves autumn’s tint.

Ride the sunset-shaded pony,
Lay your face in silver mane,
Lift your hands into the sky and
Catch the drops of evening rain.

Ride upon the Winds of Change,
And sail o’er mountain ridges,
Gallop down throughout the valley
Stop to build the needed bridges.

Descend from midnight starry steed
When storm is finally spent,
And gather from the cleansing rain
The healings that the storm has lent.

Julie Williams (c)1994

Take Heart

2008-07-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Look up towards the mountains,
Get up off your knees,
Gallop through the valleys
Ride upon the breeze.

Lift your eyes up higher,
Onwards towards the heights--
Dawning moves towards mid-day
There are no more nights.

Fearlings keep us bound up
As we travel through this life,
Take courage in God's love--
It's strength wins over strife.

Julie Williams c 1994

Light Hands Horsemanship - The Rest of the Story

2008-07-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

TECHNICAL NOTE: EACH VIDEO HAS SOUND, BUT YOU NEED TO CLICK ON THE ICON TO THE RIGHT OF THE LONG BAR AND LIFT THE LITTLE LEVER UPWARDS, INCREASING THE SOUND VOLUME. AT PRESENT IT SEEMS TO BE TURNED TO OFF.

By Diane Garrow. First published on www.abovelevel.com Jun 14, 2008. Used with permission.

I have been waiting for permission to use the video clips that will accompany this piece, and getting everything at home ready for me to leave for the next horse show – the Gold Cup Regional.

Saturday morning started with cowboy coffee (including the grounds), biscuits and gravy, and breakfast burritos; all cooked over a campfire of Kingsford charcoal. The seminar started with a presentation by Dr. Robert Miller, DVM, talking about “Natural Horsemanship.” According to Dr. Miller, the natural horseman understands the behavioral psychology of the equine (including mules) and uses the instincts natural to Horses rather than the instincts natural to Man, to train horses. Understanding the horse’s psychology and instincts allows us to be light, rather than coercive, in our interactions with them. This does not refer only to light hands on the reins, although that is a part of it.

He demonstrated lightness with a video of Portuguese bull fighting, something that I had never heard of, although I have seen live bull fighting in Spain. Portuguese bull fighting is done from horseback and although I have never thought of myself as having a poetic nature, there is no other way to describe the movements of the horse and rider as they faced and avoided the bull. It was poetry in motion. This is something that I would love to see live as it is practiced in California where the bulls are not actually stabbed, killed, and dragged away as they are in Spain. In California, the bulls wear a cork saddle that receives the blows and the bulls are lead away after the fight.

During his presentation on Saturday, Dr. Miller listed ten characteristics of horses that he believes that we must understand in order to communicate effectively with our horses. On Sunday he added an eleventh. Dr. Miller’s 11 Essential Characteristics are:

1. Horses are prey animals that rely on flight for survival.
2. Horses are instinctively afraid of predatory behavior, but not of predators who are not behaving in a predatory manner.
3. Horses have the ability to move quickly, giving them a very fast reaction time.
4. Horses have an excellent memory with the ability to remember FOREVER what to run from and what not to run from.
5. Horses are fast learners – which can be both good and bad.
6. Horses are easily desensitized, provided the stimulus doesn’t cause pain. (Author’s note: make sure your clippers are sharp the first time you try to clip your horse.)
7. Horses are herd animals, but in the absence of other horses will bond to a surrogate.
8. Horses communicate with body language.
9. Horses live within a hierarchy, which is established and controlled by the movement of the horses’ feet.
10. Horses are very perceptive by means of sight, sound, smell, and touch.
11. Horses are fully developed neurologically at birth. (This is why imprinting works.)

Horses respond to operant conditioning (positive and negative reinforcement.) A stalking stance, a closed hand, and staring into the horse’s eyes are all predatory behaviors that will stimulate the flight response. Stroking in the direction the hair grows, (as opposed to patting the horse), a relaxed, passive stance, and avoiding eye contact, are all reassuring behaviors to a horse, which allow horses to learn.

On Sunday, Dr. Miller used videos to demonstrate the advantages of imprinting newborns. He also mentioned the two most common mistakes made with imprint training. The mistake of rushing the initial training is most commonly made by men, while the mistake of failing to perform the follow-up training is most commonly made by women. I obviously need to learn more about imprint training before I decide whether or not to try it.

After Dr. Miller’s presentation it was time for Jon Ensign to demonstrate starting a 2-year-old colt using natural horsemanship techniques. His objective was to take this Paint gelding that had not been imprinted at birth and had minimal handling since, and prepare him to be saddled and mounted. I was impressed by the fact that he did not guarantee that or even imply that he would be able to ride the colt by the time he was done. He said that he had no agenda and that it would all depend on the horse’s responses. (For me, the hardest part would be letting go of my agenda and goals.)

His tools were a rope halter and 12 ft. lead rope (no gloves,) his hands, a 3 ft. stick with an attached plastic flag, a grain bag half full of hay, and a lariat. He held the rope loosely, often simply hung over his arm. The horse was allowed to move all around the round pen while Jon worked to desensitize him to the flag, followed by the bag of hay, the lariat around his girth and flank areas, and finally the saddle blanket and saddle.

Tightening and loosening of the lariat around the girth and flank had 2 purposes. First was to desensitize him to cinching a girth. The second objective was to teach him to move forward when touched on the flank. Jon never forced himself on the colt and frequently reassured and calmed him by stroking him while looking down at the ground. If the colt tried to move away or turn his attention away from Jon, he was brought back with brief, firm tugs on the lead rope.

The bag of hay on a long rope was used to desensitize him to ropes around his legs, things dragging behind him, and things being thrown across his back. The colt was repeatedly exposed to stimuli and reassured for an hour and a half on both Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, the colt was successfully saddled and mounted and ridden with just a halter and the 12 ft. lead rope (still in the round pen.) Jon admitted that the horse still had some issues that he normally would have taken several more days to address before mounting, but felt that those issues could still be dealt with successfully in the future. (Maybe he had an agenda after all.) Also, if possible, he would have liked to spend some time working above the colt standing on a block or fence rail.

The next clinician was Lester Buckley from Hawaii. Lester rode two green broke horses, one a 5-year-old Lusitano gelding, and the other a 4-year-old Quarter horse mare. He demonstrated how to achieve and recognize mental and physical relaxation or suppleness in horses. It appeared to me as if this was achieved by riding the horse on a loose rein with his own body relaxed yet balanced which he called his “open door policy.” The horse’s relaxation is recognized by noting a deep exhalation with the lowering of his head and blowing of his lips. Changes of direction were made using a series of aids. First are the rider’s thoughts and intentions to go in a new direction, followed by the rider’s eyes and shift in weight, followed by the driving aids (legs,) then the rein aids, and finally auxiliary aids like voice commands as needed.

Lester demonstrated maintaining and changing the horse’s rhythm by following the rider’s internal metronome. (I’ve gotta get me one of those!) Changes in rhythm result in changes in length of stride and are transmitted to the horse by the rider’s seat, rather than with the reins. These concepts were demonstrated in both english and western tack on green broke horses that had not previously been handled or ridden by Lester, and he had complete control of both speed and direction, on a loose rein.
An interesting pearl that I picked up from Lester had to do with keeping his horse’s attention. Whenever one ear diverted away from straight up and forward, he used pressure from the opposite leg to bring the ear back. If that didn’t work, he would then lift the rein on the side opposite to the inattentive ear. This knowledge would be very helpful in making a good pass in front of the judge or a victory pass for the photographer.

Lester is very knowledgeable about the musculo-skeletal system of the horse and used that knowledge for the horse’s benefit. For example, the large, fleshy muscles along the sides of the neck are built for repetitive contraction and relaxation, as are the filet mignon muscles along the spine that lie under the saddle, while the tendons along the crest of the neck are built for sustained contraction. Therefore, it may be that undesirable behavior by the horse may be corrected simply by changing direction so that the muscles used for bending are allowed to relax.

Also, propulsion starts in the muscles under the saddle, which are strengthened by periodically removing your weight from them as when posting. The theory is that getting your weight off the muscles allows fresh blood to flow to the muscles, which aids the removal of the toxins, which cause discomfort to the horse. He also changes his stirrup length, both up and down, every few days to keep his horse’s muscles fresh.

Lester’s take home messages were, “Don’t try too hard,” by picking on the bad things that your horse does. Rather, work on making the good things better. And, “Faults or mistakes are not really faults.” They are opportunities to learn and improve, so don’t be too hard on either yourself or your horse.

Anne Judd, a long-time trainer and judge of both Morgans and Saddlebreds, presented the next demonstration. Anne demonstrated “the independent seat, ” showing that it is possible to ride with an independent seat and light hands, while riding equitation. For this she used an 18H, 16-year-old palomino Saddlebred from Wallen West Farms in Temeculah, CA and two young women riding saddle seat, hunt seat, and western. She showed that equitation is more than just sitting pretty, that it is riding your horse using your whole body so that you can have light hands. She had a very nice handout showing stick figures in the correct position for all three seats.

On Sunday, Anne took issue with Jon Ensign, who mounted his horse from the ground. Anne feels that it is easier on both the horse’s and the rider’s backs to use a mounting block. Of course, when your mount is 18H tall, a mounting block is not optional! Lester Buckley also used a mounting block, but I honestly don’t remember whether or not Eitan did.

The final presentation of each day was made by Eitan Beth-Halachemy on his Morgan Stallion, Santa Fe Renegade.
This is the same horse that he showed to a standing ovation of equestrians at the closing ceremonies of the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Auchen, Germany, which he claims was the fulfillment of a life-long dream and the epitome of his career.

Following a live demonstration of Cowboy Dressage to music, he went on to discuss, from horseback, first his philosophy of riding, and on the following day, how he does it. His statements included, “I ride in the moment” and “I balance myself every stride.” However, he also said that he is constantly riding the next step so as to prevent his horse from making a mistake. (I sure wish I was that good.)

I found his accent charming and easy to understand as he said things like, “I believe in bending,” and “Lift up first, then send forward,” and “To stop [your horse], stop riding.” Perhaps the key to his success with horses is as he says, not just knowing how, but knowing when, which I think is something that we must all figure out for ourselves, how to feel.

Eitan described three steps to asking for the walk. 1. Release the bit. 2. Lean forward. 3. Squeeze the ribcage up, to round the back. He also elaborated on stopping your horse. To “stop riding” means to stop leaning forward and to sit deep in the saddle.

Circles are made by keeping the horse’s spine aligned with the arc of the circle by first moving the horse forward and then into a circle with slight pressure from the inside leg against the ribcage, while driving the horse forward with the outside leg on the flank and shifting your weight to the outside cheek. He very humbly told us that there is considerable debate about how to circle, but that this is what works for him.

He went on to describe and demonstrate a clean canter departure and changes of lead. It all depends on knowing your horse’s footfalls and therefore, when to cue the canter. First, you lift and collect the horse, i.e., shorten its back. Then you cue the horse’s outside hind leg when it’s hoof leaves the ground, with the horse’s head barely tipped to the inside (you can just see the inside eye.) This is easier for the horse to do from a trot (two-beat gait) than from a walk (a four-beat gait.) Another attendee told me that she learned to recognize the horse’s footfalls in another clinic where the participants practiced being a horse using walking sticks to simulate having four legs. This is harder to do than you might think, but it does help to understand how the horse’s legs move during the canter.

All in all, the entire weekend was very worthwhile. I have only elaborated here the things that I picked up. You would probably learn something different, as I believe that you hear only what you are ready to learn. The clinicians were always available to answer questions during the breaks and meals, and were very friendly. Not at all intimidating. Plans are already underway for next year’s Light Hands Horsemanship Clinic in the same location.

I would encourage anyone to give it a go. Next time, I’m going to plan more time either before or after the clinic to do some sightseeing in the Santa Ynez Valley.

2008-07-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

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The View From My Saddle

Light Hands Horsemanship

Happy New Year

Struggling With Unity? This is For You.

Discouraged? Remember what is truly important. Steve Jobs, Standford Address

Toxic Weeds to Horses & Livestock

TIME YOUR HORSE'S VACCINATIONS

What is the HSUS up to now?

LUSITANOS ON FOCUS

Brent Graef on Energy, Intent, and FEEL

BUCK Award winning movie at Sun Dance Festival

A Special Morgan Horse

YouTube interview on EHV-1 with Parelli's Veterinarian

Horses For Life Blog--Check them out!

The Nakota Horse

The Nakota Horse

Tell Me About That Horse Project

Personal Space: Pushing or Yielding?

Teleseminars With Karen Scholl

The Ahhhh in Dressage

Focus and Attention by Sherry Jarvis

Interview With Eitan and Debbie Beth-Halachmy

Going to WEG? Don't miss this:

Join us WEG!

Body Language--What's my horse reading: my thoughts or my body?

Do You Know Your Horse's Footfall?

The Silver Stallion

Lovely

Featured Book

Karen Scholl article on better trail riding

The Dressage Is My Discipline, The Cowboy Is My Freedom

Color Genetics For Beginners

Is Riding Still Fun? Are You Practicing FUNdamentals?

Endotapping, What Is It?

Saddle Fitting Information

BODY WORK FOR RIDERS

Morgans performing at WEG 2010

WEG

FOOTFALLS/Biomechanics of motion

THE 5 HORSES WE MEET IN LIFE

More videos from Cowboy Dressage

Greetings!

Poetry In Motion-Biomechanics DVD

I Hung Up My Bridle Today--poetry corner

Morgan horses: Dancing with Cows

The Simple Truth of Life...

The Morgan Horse

Riding--Technique or Art?

Reata Rose Ranch blog

Trail Riding

Riding the Range or 8 Second Techno-rides

Back at the ranch with S. Jesperson

Reata Rose Artisan Made Jewelry

MARES, The Heart & Soul

Becoming A Wiser Horseman

The View From Another Saddle

Another Clinician I Recommend

Upcoming JP Giacomini Clinic Schedules

Young Girl's Poem

Fool Proof That French Braid, the Iberian Horse Way

Horse Training Blogs & Sites

New Biomechanics Video from Eitan

Riding Lesson with JP Giacomini--Use of Legs, Roundness

Working Student Position Open--Ride & Learn With JP Giacomini

Traditional Horsemanship Association & Competition

WowFactorRadio.com Schedule

Light Hands Horsemanship Clinic to Air on RFD-TV

How To Make Horse Christmas Tree Ornaments

Have You Put Your Heart In Your Hand?

Equus TV

Photo gallery-Burwell Rodeo

The Versatility Horse

Ride The Thunderhead

Take Heart

Light Hands Horsemanship - The Rest of the Story