December Play Day 2010

                                                            
We had our first Play Day of the season this December 4th here at Watts Way Arena. The afternoon started off with some work on the ground. We worked with our horses around the dressage/trail obstacle arena that Jack had marked off in the big arena with cones and letters. The tasks that we did on the ground led into the Western Dressage Tests that we rode in the second half of the day.
 One of the obstacles was a bridge.We had to go over forwards and also back our horses onto and off of the bridge. Another task was to circle your horse through the barrels 3 times and then stop your horse midway over a pole first at a walk and then at a trot. These are just a few of the tasks which also included some lateral work down the arena.
 All of this prepared the riders and their horses for what they would do while riding the tests. Most of the riders had never ridden a test and they found it helpful and enlightening as well as a lot of fun. Yes there was a little confusion at first but most got the hang of it and are ready for more!
 The next Play Day is scheduled for January 8th. There will be a copy of the  future tests on the calendar link for each Play Day so if you want to get an idea of what we will be doing before that day it will be available but not all of it! It is supposed to be a little bit of a surprise. There will be more games along with the tests and ground work.
 Our goal with the Play Days is to give you a chance to practice practical riding skills you can use on the trail as well as using dressage to help you learn to  condition your horse properly. It is a way to have fun yet do something with purpose to help you and your horse focus. Jack is there to guide you and answer questions or offer assistance.It is not an in depth clinic set up for learning new skills but a place to practice and try out new things with a little competition to keep it lively.We are always open to ideas and suggestions so please feel free to email me with your thoughts. Hope to see you soon!

 

Trail ride at 7IL Ranch November 13-14th 2010

Jack held a trail riding clinic at  the beautiful 7IL ranch in Cat Spring, Texas last weekend. The students started out in the arena warming up and once Jack saw that they were prepared to ride out safely they headed out for the trail.It was a cool windy day and some of the horses were  anxious and frisky so Jack had them play some games like leap frog while trotting, follow the leader and the ribbon find . Playing games to get them settled consumed most of the day. The next day the horses were a lot more relaxed and ready to work on water crossing,cantering away from the herd and trotting back to the herd. They spent time helping the horses get used to riding up and down in the varied terrain. Five out of the group of seven were riding in dressage saddles and it was great to see them using their dressage horses out on the trail. 7IL is a great place to practice trail skills and Jack plans to have more clinics here in the future. Everyone had a good time and said they would like to do a beach ride next so we are planning for this February or early March and will have the information on the website calendar when the date is picked.

7IL resident piggy looking for food

This past weekend Jack and I went to audit a clinic put on by Jack Brainard. Jack is a legendary horseman who has some innovative ideas and although soon to be 90 years old he is still riding and teaching horsemanship. He has much wisdom and knowledge to offer. 

When we heard that he was founding the Western Dressage Association along with his friend renowned horseman Eitan Beth Halachmy we decided we had to go see what it was all about. 

Jack Lieser has been studying classical horsemanship under the instruction of 

Dr.Thomas Ritter for the past two years and has always used dressage along with his natural horsemanship methods. He has not found a discipline to compete in that he felt good about so hearing about the newly forming association we were excited to learn more. We think it is going to be BIG so we encourage you to become a member and help them launch a new and much needed discipline. Jack L is looking forward to the first show and when the date is announced we will let everyone know because he hopes to ride in it.

The clinic was inspiring and it was great to see the western riders mostly on Quarter Horses doing their first dressage tests judged by a licensed dressage judge. She was impressed with the riders and their horses and was very encouraging about western dressage.We met a lot of nice people and discovered that there are many riders that want to explore classical horsemanship but have not wanted to give up their western tack and stock horses. The future for western dressage is very promising and we are grateful we were able to see it in its debut.

For more information and membership go to www.westerndressageassociation.com

World Equestrian Games Kentucky 2010

Jack and Aaron talk to the crowd at WEG

Jack and his good friend Aaron England aaronengland.com did a demonstration at the World Equestrian Games to help promote the Nokota horse www.nokotahorse.org.
 They showed the horses four times in the two arenas at the Clinician's Coral in the Kentucky Horse Park.
The horses were owned by Margaret Odgers of Paris Kentucky. Aaron rode Billy Jack a Spanish Mustang and Jack rode Moonshine a blue roan Nokota. We were lucky to have Leo Kuntz co founder of the breed to join us on our adventures in Lexington.
We handed out fliers and talked about the Nokota's to everyone that would listen!

Lecture at Lexington Convention Center

Jack riding Nokota horse "Moonshine" at WEG

Aaron England,Leo Kuntz, Jack Lieser

Jack and Aaron in front of Rolex Arena

Kentucky is a beautiful place and driving into Lexington for the first time and seeing all the beautiful horse farms is an experience we will never forget. We were fortunate to stay at a really nice farm called Beacon Hill. Across the street was Gainesway  one of the most famous racing farms. We are grateful to everyone who helped us be a part of this wonderful and memorable trip to the Bluegrass.

Beacon Hill Farm

Lexington Walmart

Horse Books I Want to Share With You

I love to read. I have been looking at books about horses every since I was a little girl when having a horse was just a dream. I am going to list some of my favorites.


To start is the book Conquerors  The Roots of New World Horsemanship by Dr. Deb Bennett, Ph.D. 
This book is a history book that I could not put down.I have never looked at horses the same since reading this book and I think all horse lovers should read it. Dr. Deb Bennett is a brilliant woman. We went to one of her clinics and found that she is a walking encyclopedia of horse knowledge and history. This book will teach you many interesting things about the origins of horses and horse breeds. The history of riding, riding styles and tack and much more.


Next on the list is a true story by Mim Eichler Rivas , Beautiful Jim Key The Lost History of A Horse and A Man Who Changed the World.
This horse was said to have the I.Q. equivalent to a human sixth grader and could read, write, spell, tell time, do mathematics, cite biblical passages, sort mail and debate politics. He was world famous in his day and played a big part in the animal rights movement and Humane Society. Read this book! You will love it and love your horse even more after reading it.


My Horses My Teachers by Alois Podhajsky the former director of the Spanish Riding School. He tells of the horses that taught him over the years and it is very touching and funny at times, as well as educational.


Talking With Horses by Henry Blake
This Englishman tells tales of his horse training experiences and about horse language and telepathy. Very interesting,educational, and funny book.


School of Horsemanship by Francois Robichon de la Gueriniere
The theory's in this book provide the basis for all modern equitation and is probably the most important work on the subject ever written. I found it surprisingly easy to read even though it was published in 1729-31. A great book to go to if you need help understanding dressage terms and explanations. This is it. The drawings are beautiful and reading about horse care from a different time is so fascinating.
Of course I can't do most of these things and just because I read about them I don't  always understand but it gives you  a head start to read the masters! I read out loud to Jack and he gives me an explanation of what I am reading if it does not make sense.


Workbook from the Spanish School  by Charles Harris.
This is the account of a man who was accepted into the Spanish School during the time of Alois Podhajsky. He was a very unlikely candidate and that it happened at all is amazing. His story is  a great look into what it is was like to be at the school. He suffered from mental illness and at times the story is sad but in the end it turns out well and is inspiring. The drawings and notes he took while at the school are included.  I like to stare at them and try to understand but....well you really can see why horsemanship is an art! There is so much to learn.


The Revolution In Horsemanship by Robert M. Miller. D.V.M. and Rick Lamb
This is a great book that explains where and how the natural horsemanship movement began. 


Easy Gaited Horses by Lee Zieglar
I learned so much about gaited horses from this book. The explanations of how the different gaits feel and look are really helpful.My book is full of highlights, the pages are worn and stuffed with print outs of articles about ambling, pacing and gaited horses in history.


I will post more books in the future but these are a few of my all time favorites.
I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have.