As many of you know, I just turned 65 and I'm glad to say it's truely, really, no big deal. I'm so excited about the things on my horizon, the horses to be shown, new places to go, new roads to travel and new people to meet - my life is all about the future!
Horse people always are looking to the future and I think this is so positive. How many people do you know that don't look to the future? Don't go into winter planning the next year, or the next season? So many people can't even see their future but, for horsemen it's only a show season away.
Being involved in a lifetime passion is one reason why I am so glad to be a horseman. A true horseman is dynamic, always changing, always growing, always preparing. Isn't that great?! What a wonderful life!! Happy birthday to me, and thank you all for your kind wishes! Many, many more to come and I look to a future filled with many more show seasons! Talk to you next week, JD
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Indebtedness
We all owe so much to great breeders and the great trainers that have gone before us. We also owe much to the farriers' skill and the veterinary science that has been developed in the past (and can you imagine what is yet to come? - wow!)
From my earliest memories as a serious horseman, I have watched and studied the horsemen I admired. I counted myself among the priveleged few to have this opportunity.
We recently lost a wonderful horsewoman, Dian Morris. Dian was not only a fine horseman but a lovely person. She was a credit to the industry.
We have many fine older horsemen that have so much to share and give. Their knowledge is temendous. I really urge all of you to find these living treasures and get to know them - some may live right near you, like Dian. Take the time to get to know then and by all means learn from them. We will not have them forever!
I love to get these men and women talking about the horses they knew and have trained, and shown. I like to hear all about their careers and equine experiences. I always come away with an increased appreciation for these horsemen who, so to speak, lighted the way for the rest of us! Talk to you next week, JD.
From my earliest memories as a serious horseman, I have watched and studied the horsemen I admired. I counted myself among the priveleged few to have this opportunity.
We recently lost a wonderful horsewoman, Dian Morris. Dian was not only a fine horseman but a lovely person. She was a credit to the industry.
We have many fine older horsemen that have so much to share and give. Their knowledge is temendous. I really urge all of you to find these living treasures and get to know them - some may live right near you, like Dian. Take the time to get to know then and by all means learn from them. We will not have them forever!
I love to get these men and women talking about the horses they knew and have trained, and shown. I like to hear all about their careers and equine experiences. I always come away with an increased appreciation for these horsemen who, so to speak, lighted the way for the rest of us! Talk to you next week, JD.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Back and Stop
All good trainers understand the relationship between the back up and stop and how those two separate maneuvers can help everything else. But many amateurs do not. Partly this is because they don't have a thorough understanding of either.
My intention here is not to tell you how to train but to discuss what makes a good stop and a good backup and why they are so inter-related and how they can help you with your overall program.
So, let's start with the stop. The stop should be soft, with the horse bending in the poll, relaxed in the jaw and finishing the stop balanced and soft in the knees and slightly round. I don't let my horses jam into anything, especially a stop. I personally like to see a horse have a moment to respond to the cue to stop. Quick stops are very hard on a horse. Take a beautiful long slide - that is not a quick stop.
Sometimes in Trail however, we have to do a very quick stop from a lope in a very short distance or a confined area. Over time these can cause a horse to stiffen into the stop if you don't work with them carefully. It may sound odd but to keep this from happening, I always do quick stops "slowly" giving the horse a second to react and balance but if they don't listen right away, that's a different matter and I'll correct them.
Now, about the back-up, it too should be soft and fluid, balanced and a little round. See, here's the similarity. If you have nice stop, chances are your back-up will be nice and vice versa. I like a back-up that has a definite cadence - no dragging of hooves or slushy movement. As my horses learn, I gradually add speed. Be warned that if you add speed too quickly, the back-up will lose cadence and softness. The back-up definitely helps the stop but the stop will help the back-up, a concept many seem to miss.
All this is based on a horse that not only "gives" to the bridle but is relaxed while doing these maneuvers. When you lift your hand, your horse should drop down into the bridle and lift his shoulder - ideal for stops or back-ups.
After a stop or a back-up, when done properly and nicely, your horse should be ready for a good transition into whatever gait you choose next. Hope this helps! See you next week, JD
My intention here is not to tell you how to train but to discuss what makes a good stop and a good backup and why they are so inter-related and how they can help you with your overall program.
So, let's start with the stop. The stop should be soft, with the horse bending in the poll, relaxed in the jaw and finishing the stop balanced and soft in the knees and slightly round. I don't let my horses jam into anything, especially a stop. I personally like to see a horse have a moment to respond to the cue to stop. Quick stops are very hard on a horse. Take a beautiful long slide - that is not a quick stop.
Sometimes in Trail however, we have to do a very quick stop from a lope in a very short distance or a confined area. Over time these can cause a horse to stiffen into the stop if you don't work with them carefully. It may sound odd but to keep this from happening, I always do quick stops "slowly" giving the horse a second to react and balance but if they don't listen right away, that's a different matter and I'll correct them.Now, about the back-up, it too should be soft and fluid, balanced and a little round. See, here's the similarity. If you have nice stop, chances are your back-up will be nice and vice versa. I like a back-up that has a definite cadence - no dragging of hooves or slushy movement. As my horses learn, I gradually add speed. Be warned that if you add speed too quickly, the back-up will lose cadence and softness. The back-up definitely helps the stop but the stop will help the back-up, a concept many seem to miss.
All this is based on a horse that not only "gives" to the bridle but is relaxed while doing these maneuvers. When you lift your hand, your horse should drop down into the bridle and lift his shoulder - ideal for stops or back-ups.
After a stop or a back-up, when done properly and nicely, your horse should be ready for a good transition into whatever gait you choose next. Hope this helps! See you next week, JD
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