"True horsemen are never satisfied with their knowledge of horses, be it about training, health, behavior or management. They are constantly driven to learn more. They do so with open, inquisitive minds, studying other people, breeds, and events, and asking questions to broaden their know how.
Contrast that with the 'know it all'. You've met this type. He or she looks in the mirror and sees a horseman...but no one else does. This person is close minded (" my horse, breed is the best, the rest of you are idiots...") and quick to spout off about stuff he or she knows nothing about. This poseur fancies himself or herself a great rider too. Most of the time that's not true. The horse world is full of them.
The great horsemen I know are humble about the need to keep learning. They know what they don't know. And they have the respect of other horsemen as a result.
A true horseman demands respect from horses, he or she also respects the horse. When you both feel safe and have mutual respect you have developed trust and confidence. When you have both of those you have a relationship.
A true horseman puts the needs of the horse before their own.
A true horseman has 'feel'. The ability to think like a horse. Some think you have to be born with' feel'. I think feel for the most of us is born through desire. I've met a lot of people who lack 'feel'. What I think they really lack is the love, respect, drive for knowledge and discipline to get it. "
Written by: BOB AVILA
This is me with my friend, Menominee Wind at Midwest Horse Fair. I can not talk about my career without including this horse. His owners Dick and Dee Corning of Portage, WI have given me the honor and privilege to train, show, and now stand him at stud at my farm. We have put on many miles in a saddle and in a trailer chasing down his title of IBHA Supreme Champion. He has a long list of accomplishments which you can view at his website www.menomineepinesfarm.com
Who am I? striving to become a True Horseman.
I have a Bachelors in Animal Science with an emphasis in Equine Science from UW-River Falls. There I learned how to start colts, which placed a heavy emphasis on the philosophies of Ray Hunt. Ray Hunt visited River Falls not just once but twice during my 4 year stay at college. He came to do a week long Colt Starting and Horsemanship clinic both times. It was such an honor to have been able to spend so much time watching and learning from a legend. At River Falls, I also learned the fundamentals of Reining, Colt Starting and Retraining the ProblemHorse from Larry Kasten and the fundamentals of Dressage from Sheila Shields.
I participated in 3 internships as Assistant Trainer: the first was at Spring Valley Farms in Newton, NJ specializing in the All-Around Appaloosa horse, the next at Lantz Performance Horses near Flint, MI with Matt Lantz who specializes in Reining Horses and the third at Diamond B Ranch with the legendary trainer Jack Brainard of Aubery TX who also specializes in Reining Horses. After college I worked at Sanders Arabians with Keith Sanders as Assistant Trainer, training Arabians for Class A shows and trail/family horses.
My family and I currently own and operate a training facility near Brandon, WI where I start colts, retrain problem horses, give riding instruction and show at IBHA, APHA, and Foundation QH shows. My Clients and I have earned numerous awards at IBHA, APHA, WFQHA and WiFQHA breed shows as well as at IBHA World Show and WFQHA World Show. I have trained a wide variety of horse breeds for riding such as a Shire, Rocky Mountain horses, POA's, Saddlebreds, and Mustangs. In 2008, I partcipitated in the Midwest Mustang Challenge and have since become involved with the Trainer Incentive Program through the Mustang Heritage Foundation. We also stand at stud IBHA Supreme Champion Stallion, Menominee Wind.
Area of expertise? Creating the soft, supple, responsive horse
I am also the 4-H Horse Project Leader for the Brandon Tanagers and Alto All-Stars 4-H clubs. We have a little 2 day fair every August, it is unique in that it is always held on a Wednesday and Thursday.
Also coming up in May 2010, 4-H Trail Clinic for Green Lake County 4-H members. Showing the western horse in the Western Trail Class.
4-H Grant County Clinic June 13-14th 2009 --- June 13th will involve the Basic Fundamentals of Riding, Desensitize and Sensitized your Horse, English riding, Trailer Loading. June 14th will involve the Basic Fundamentals of Riding, Desensitizing and Sensitizing your Horse, Western Pleasure, Trail Maneuvers, and Trailer Loading.
"If a horse gets frightened, and you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, things could get ugly in a hurry. More people get hurt every year by broke, quiet horses than they do by wild horses because people take them for granted and take more risks around them. I always tell my Apprentices, “If you treat every horse like a wild mustang, you’ll never get hurt.” Get in the habit of practicing safety around all horses so that you’ll never get caught off guard. Many people will get into the habit of being lazy around their horse, where they won’t always stand at a 45-degree angle or keep their hand up by the horse’s eye as they desensitize him. Then one day their neighbor asks them to come over to work with a new horse they just got. So they’ll go and start throwing the leadrope at this new horse and wonder why he runs straight over the top of them. Never assume a horse is safe. Always make him prove it to you." --- Clinton Anderson
Ray Hunt has been a huge influence in my horse training career. Here are some Ray Hunt quotes from his book "Think harmony with horses" Excellent book.
"There's a prupose and meaning behind each thing you ask the horse to do"
"Make the wrong things difficult and the right things easy." Do not set your horse up to fail.
"If you are going to teach a horse something and have a good relationship, you don't make him learn it- you let him learn it." This one is so good!!
"The horse learns not to be particular if the rider is not particular."
"Think right down to the ground."
"Instead of a hard tightness, try to find a soft firmness."
"You don't pull on the horse; he pulls on you- there's a big difference." Huge difference!!
"Don't be afraid to expose your horse to something he hasn't quite been exposed to yet, but don't snow him under."
"The feet are in your hands." another good quote, this is so true!
"The right feel and timing bring you the balance." Feel, Timing and Balance are the 3 key ingredients to good riding.
"Get the feet soft and they'll be soft in the head." This is also very important. Also you can not train a horse that will not move their feet.
"THINK" Ray is so clever!
"Prepare ahead of time. Let them learn - let them work at it. Let your horse be a winner. Let your horse be proud." This one is huge too. Prepare your horse for the transition.
"Ride your horse with your whole body, not just with your arms and legs."
"Your arms and body are working in rhythm with his feet and legs."
"You are with him every stride."
"If you haven't got his attention you don't try to direct it." read this one again.
"You don't change; you just add on- work it in with what you're doing."
"Watch the gauges just like the indicators in the car- watch his ears- watch his eyes; they are good indicators." this does not mean stare at his head. Keep your eyes up, look where your going.
"Notice the smallest change and the slightest try and reward him." This is one we all need to work on! Be patient and look for his try.
"There's a difference between firm and hard- you may have to get firm but don't get hard with your arms and hands."
"You want your horse soft but not lazy." Life in your body puts life in his body. "Ride with life in your body."
"The rider should stay alive and stay alert." you can get dumped off of the well trained horse you trust with your life. Even the best horse can have a bad day.
"Let your idea become the horse's idea." your offering your idea to the horse and the horse does not question it, as if they thought of it themselves.
"You can not teach experience." I can tell you what I think it feels like but until you do it you will not understand it.
"If you're happy, your horse is more apt to be happy." read again and think this one over
"Your horse is not your slave- he's your partner."
"Admire the horse for the good things he does and just kinda ignore the wrong things. First thing you know, the good things will get better and the bad things will get less." another good quote, read this one at least ten times.
"He knows that you know and you know he knows." your horse has you figured out
"Adjust to fit the situation."
"You're not working on the horse, you're working on yourself."
"You've got to be one mind and one body." true harmony
This is me with my friend, Menominee Wind at Midwest Horse Fair. I can not talk about my career without including this horse. His owners Dick and Dee Corning of Portage, WI have given me the honor and privilege to train, show, and now stand him at stud at my farm. We have put on many miles in a saddle and in a trailer chasing down his title of IBHA Supreme Champion. He has a long list of accomplishments which you can view at his website 
I am also the 4-H Horse Project Leader for the Brandon Tanagers and Alto All-Stars 4-H clubs. We have a little 2 day fair every August, it is unique in that it is always held on a Wednesday and Thursday. 
4-H Grant County Clinic June 13-14th 2009 --- June 13th will involve the Basic Fundamentals of Riding, Desensitize and Sensitized your Horse, English riding, Trailer Loading. June 14th will involve the Basic Fundamentals of Riding, Desensitizing and Sensitizing your Horse, Western Pleasure, Trail Maneuvers, and Trailer Loading.
I am available for Ground Work Clinics and Horsemanship Clinics, contact me and we can discuss the possibilities.