THE HORSE GAZETTE
trainer profile
dan keen...the renaissance man
By Ingrid Edisen
Where Quality Service, and Customer Satisfaction are Always First
It’s really quite simple. he worked as a farrier for many speed and balance.
That seems to be Dan Keen’s folks who rode English. Over the For example, Dan
credo as a horse trainer. He has years they would complain about realized quite some
ridden all his life; been shoeing various issues and eventually time ago that if he
horses for a couple of decades some of them would ask him for could teach a heading
and now training horses fulltime his opinion or help. He found he horse to run sideways
for the past five years at his well had a knack for taking on some after roping the steer,
appointed facility in Round Top, horrendous projects and turning that might shave 2
tenths of a second off
JAMES LAWRENCE - OWNER
near La Grange--that’s roughly them around. He discovered it
halfway between Houston and was merely a matter of rebuild- of a score and help
Austin. Since high school, he’s ing the horse’s foundation. He produce a win. This
All Types of Trailers for your Hauling Needs
always had at least one outside acquired this knowledge from small refinement beat
horse under his tutelage. Now his experience with his Western out having the horse
he maintains ten client horses horses and professionally with
plus owns an additional ten or
Horse Trailers, and All-Purpose Utility Trailers
English horses over the years.
so. Last year he tied for second Once Dan began to see the value
Goosenecks or Flat Beds
(out of 200 contestants) in the of both types of riding--West-
Mustang Makeover held in Ft. ern and English--he eventually 78954; Call (979) 224-8543;
Worth. He displayed his mus- came to describe his training or email: dan@dankeenhorse-
tang project Troubadour, now a manship.com.
Portable Buildings
technique as “Wenglish”--a mar-
four year old. riage of the two types of riding.
Clients come to him Dan states, “Both worlds have Information about
all the time with soloquies their strengths and weaknesses Dan’s and philosophy can be
Ph. 830-997-9969 • Fax 830-997-6918
about how their horses’ but when merged these tech- found at http://www.dankeen-
Fredericksburg, Texas
personalities and antics have niques create the ideal balanced horsemanship.com/
5 Miles East of Fredericksburg on Hwy 290
shaped whatever challenges horse.” Balance is something
they are facing now. He lets Dan considers a lot. He gets
that go in one ear and out the in temperamental horses and
other. Of course he listens, teaches them to be calmer. Con-
but none of it sticks. Why? versely, with a lethargic mount,
Because he is sure that once he he teaches that horse how to run forward and then having to
starts working with the horse fire up when called upon by his stop, turn around, etc.
Horse Megga Store
he’ll find an animal with a rider. He’s looking to make the He receives into his
poor work ethic and in need of horses more of a thinking animal. barn various challenges. A top
preparation. That’s the starting “They are reactive enough,” jumper trainer consulted with
place. he explained. The core of his Dan because he was perplexed
Certainly if an animal training techniques are dressage by a talented jumper’s procliv-
has physical issues, for instance principles, he noted. The results ity to switch leads at the canter
a sore back or is lame, he makes have been successful for low for no apparent reason 3. In
sure issues such as those are not level to Grand Prix horses earn- the beginning of her stint at his
part of the package. But then ing him the name, “The Trainer’s barn, Dan first got the mare to
he gets to work on laying down Trainer” and “The Foundation supple up and then proceeded
the foundation for the horse. Guy” by various trainers and to diagnose the problem. What
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC...and much more than just a feed store!
That is critical. And he likes to colleagues. she was doing was using part
Take Lookout Road to the Retama Park Guard Station -  Retama Parkway, Selma, Texas
keep his horses physically and He uses acronyms to of her brain to rebel against
mentally fresh by exposing them describe some of his methods. the regimen of staying in what-
to a variety of disciplines. At There is the ATM (ask, tell, and ever true canter lead she needed
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his barn you would find cham- make--a three step process) and use to efficiently maneuver
pion hunter/jumper or dressage the CCS (confidence, control, through a course. Specifically,
Roping, Barrel, Pleasure, Trail & Children’s Saddles
mounts working cattle one day, submission). Each of these have she would see some buddy
going on a trail ride the next, components that build upon and horses in a nearby paddock and
rounding a jump course the weave within themselves in a as she approached that area, Fresh Coastal Hay & Alfalfa • Farrier Supplies & Shoes
day following that or perhaps non-abusive manner. Just about she’d swap leads in the rear and
working on dressage or reining any training issue with a horse begin cross cantering. It was if
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patterns. He wants a horse to can be remedied using these the back half of her brain was
be eager to go to work--hence principles. First you “Ask,” Dan saying, I’d really rather be over
the Renaissance approach to explained and cited examples there visiting my friends, Dan 210-651-8228
training. of lighter methods of aids. If explained. How he altered that Monday - Wednesday: 8am - 5pm
His goal? To produce the horse ignores that, then the was to teach her that she needed Thursday - Saturday: 8am - 6:45 pm • Closed Sundays
a horse that he is able to move rider must “Tell” the horse with to focus on him and the exercise
any body part at any time at any increased pressure. If that fails, or task at hand. And the way
speed. Starting babies is far the rider should “Make” the he did that was to picture an
easier, he explains, as they have horse respond by immediately imaginary boundary between
no previous history. In sixty increasing and holding the pres- their work area and the paddock
days he can lay down a good sure until the horse responds and where the barn buddies were
foundation on a youngster via then once again immediately hanging out. Then he’d allow
consistency; but to turn around release the pressure for an instant her to approach that imaginary
a horse that has vices--now that reward. boundary and perhaps work her
may take longer. He considers CCS also relies on the in several smaller circles going
though that his mission is how horse having the confidence in in different directions, but not
to train people to train horses. his job and in his rider. Handsy crossing the boundary. He’d
For that reason he’s also taken riders make insecure horses, Dan take her back to the middle
on apprentices. And he encour- explained. Riding with one’s ground, away from the favored www.tackshopofaustin.com
ages clients to come visit and body is best. Control is a mat- paddock area and let her relax,
take lessons on their own horses ter of refinement. Submission then begin anew. Usually after
while the animals are housed at comes after that whereby the about three days of this, a horse
his training barn. horse waits for the rider to tell realizes that it is more economi-
One stop shopping for the equestrian
On horses, he says, him what to do and performs cal for them to simply stay “on
“I’m here to ‘re-create’ them without fuss. At any speed, Dan task.” The jumper trainer-client
and find the missing pieces of wants the ability to move the rib was thrilled to receive back a
the puzzle in problem horses”. cage, hind quarters, shoulders, horse that quit switching gears
on your Christmas list!
head, neck. Recently he was willy nilly. It was as if Dan
Starting in 1987 he in Houston giving a clinic at- had erased that thought out of
started shoeing horses. Af- tended by dressage enthusiasts her mind.
Clothing and
ter four years he received his and showed the attendees how Simplicity also fuels
equipment for
professional farrier status and well he could maneuver a horse Dan’s answer when folks ask
kept on in that line of work for while going into a team roping him what kind of saddle he uses.
Equestrian Riders and
twenty-two years. Nowadays exercise. One audience mem- His answer--leather.
the horses they love!
he still shoes horses but only one ber was amazed because she
day a week and only for some realized that what he’d just done To reach Dan you can
favorite clients. Although his was execute five different dres- write to Dan and Kelley Keen,
background is Western riding, sage movements/requests at top 1838 FM 1291; Round Top, TX
We carry top brands like:
Full Care
Boarding
• Ariat
• Breyer
• RJ Classics
• GPA Helmets
• Grand Prix
• Tailored Sportsman
• Hdfields
• Beval
40 Acres of
Daily Pasture
• Vogel
Turnout
...and many more!
(830) 796-4764
305 Blackbuck Road - Bandera, TX 78003
www.KarenBrownOnHorses.com • Karen@KarenBrownOnHorses.com
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