HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR HORSE?
I studied the art and science of riding and horse training with Paul Belasik, Rose Caslar, Karen Brown, Raul Arredondo, Jeff Moore, and Sus Kellog. I’ve helped horses become happier, calmer, more willing and fit, and better partners with their humans. Of course, the humans have to learn a lot, too. I’ve worked with many breeds of horses and humans with diverse goals for their riding. Each of my equine friends listed below developed physically and mentally; they all overcame their most prominent fears or hesitations. Best of all, each became a more willing, trusting partner for their humans and their humans became more knowledgeable, clear and fair.
Motek, a Haflinger, who was afraid of a person walking into his pasture, was backed but untrained.
Petey, a nervous Arabian with no bend and no brakes.
Beauty, a totally shut down Clydesdale who had been a premarin mare.
Kahlila, a small Arabian mare rescued from a kill lot, with no ground manners, no bend and no brakes.
Robin, a Quarter Horse Paint, out of shape, overweight and unwilling to relate to humans; a smart mare who knew a lot but refused to share her knowledge with her person.
Astra, a Thoroughbred mare picked up at auction with many medical problems, no bend and little experience moving to or responding to aids from her right side.
Blue, a small Quarter Horse with terrible ground manners and an attitude about working.
Opal, a Welsh pony who had only been asked to go forward and fast, a head set but no bend, and extreme fear of her ears and poll being touched.
If you’re interested, in talking with me about riding, handling, relationship, or training issues, please contact me. I have insurance.
MY HORSE STORY
I rode as a child. I was horse obsessed, reading everything I could get my hands on – drawing horses, dreaming horses, making believe I had horses, writing stories about horses. Then I became a performing artist and took a long break from my love of equines.
In 2005, I put my boots on again. I created the equine world of my dreams. After various and sundry riding experiences, I began training with Karen Brown. That was 2010 and I’ve been with her ever since; she is my trainer, equine advisor and friend. I work for her as one of her training assistants.
https://www.facebook.com/people/Centerline-Traininginc/100054645271433/?sk=photos
I half-leased several horses from Karen, then full-leased a haflinger who was almost completely untrained. He was my first solo horse training experience. Finally, I found Hatya (“wind” in the language of the Nimiipoo/Nez Perce tribe) or perhaps she found me. The Nimiipoo were famous for their spotted horses in the days before they were removed from their native territories in the northwest. They were the tribe that founded the Appaloosa breed.
PHOTO OF H AND HER HERD
nezperce.org
nps.gov/nepe/index.htm
Hatya and I have been partners since November 2013. Hatya is an extraordinary mare who was bred as part of the tribe’s program to return the Appaloosa breed to its foundation type. When I became Hatya’s human, she was 6 years old. Before I adopted her she had been ridden bareback with a halter and had been started by trainer, Sus Kellog. Under Karen’s guidance, we introduced Hatya to saddle, bridle, and all kinds of training. She is an exceptionally smart, independent mare who has taught me more than I could ever teach her. Hatya is trained in cross disciplines – working equitation, classical dressage, trail-riding, natural horsemanship, basic jumping and hanging out.
Here are the people, besides Karen Brown, who have helped me train Hatya and have contributed to my equine knowledge and expertise.
Sus Kellogg of Free Horse Farm.
Here are links to videos of Sus.
https://www.freehorsefarm.com/videos
Raul Arredondo. When he rides Hatya, she looks magical.
VIDEO OF HATYA WITH RAUL HERE.
Raul training someone else’s horse:
Raul riding a working equitation trial, speed round. The first round, ease of handling, is ridden with grace and control. Then comes the speed round!
MY EQUINE EDUCATION:
Short Course at the Pennsylvania Riding Academy with Paul Belasik and Rose Caslar
paulbelasik.com
Tom Curtin – clinics
tomcurtinhorsemanship.com
Sus Kellog – clinics
freehorsefarm.com
Jeff Moore – clinics
http://www.aletheiadressage.com/jeff-ashton-moore
Ross Jacobs – online student and email correspondent
https://www.goodhorsemanship.com.au
Marijke de Jong – Straightness Training – videos, articles.
https://www.straightnesstraining.com
Monty Roberts – online university, books
montyroberts.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
• “Dressage for the 21st Century,” by Paul Belasik
• “Riding Towards the Light” by Paul Belasik
• “Considering the Horse,” by Mark Rashid
• “The Man Who Listens to Horses,” by Monty Roberts
• “Centered Riding” by Sally Swift
• “An Introduction to the Tellington-Jones Equine Awareness Method,” by Linda Tellington-Jones and Ursula Bruns
• Early videos of Pat and Linda Parelli
• Videos, films of Buck Brannaman
Weeklong riding trips:
California: Wild Horse Sanctuary; Chief Joseph Trail Ride sponsored by the Appaloosa Club of America; Iceland: Riding Iceland; Israel: Sirin Riders; New Mexico – NM Horse Rescue: New Mexico – Double T Ranch; Wales: Transwales riding
Solo trailering trips with my horse, Hatya
ADD PHOTO HERE
Riding in Israel, May/June 2023:
ADD PHOTO HERE
In the Meditarrean:
Connecting with Hatya. It was her idea to step up onto the mounting block. She likes to stretch her back.
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