THE HORSE GAZETTE training Serving Texans’ Hay Needs Since 1995 Horse Quality Coastal Hay


We strive to harvest our hay every 32 days with 400 lbs. of fertilizer to the acre, every cutting to keep the quality high. Tedding the hay allows faster drying to keep more protein rich leaves intact.


State of the art pivot system allows us to keep the quality high, with efficient use of natural resources. We have 1,000 acres of Coastal Bermuda... we farm year round.


When you need hay, we have it. We are capable of storing 40,000 bales in 4 weatherproof storage facilities.


Conveniently sized square bales. You can pick up hay from us, or we can deliver it to you. Devine, Texas Plum Creek QUARTER HORSES 5022 East FM 20, Lockhart, TX 78644 – Phone 512/398-4958


Web: www.plumcreek-quarter-horses.com – Call about other horses we have for sale. H O R S E S F O R S A L E


Visten, take a Bean Bag! - part 2 of 2 imagine a horse


By Sue De Laurentis & Allen Pogue, © Imagine A Horse 2010 To teach the Sit Up


we used a specially shaped pile of shavings that formed a burm or mound underneath his belly. From a lying position, his body would be supported in an approximation of the Sit UP when he extended his front legs. Next we began to ask him to raise his front end up just a few inches more each day by pushing with his front feet. We realized in a couple of days that he just didn’t have the front end strength or coordination to push up to the Sit from the Lay Down. His desire to try was obvious so rather than continue to practice a move that was so difficult for him we moved on to other exercises. About a month passed before we went back to the Sit Up…Ha, success on the first try! He remembered and gave us a perfect sit up. Dwell time (whether a few seconds or in this case a month) is often the key to unlocking resistance in trick training and in under saddle training. Time for a lesson to settle in a horse’s mind can be infinitely more im-


SUGS CAMEO PLUM


2002 Bay Mare-Under Saddle Docs Sug-Three Bars bred. Rope, cut,versatility prospect.


HINT OF GENTRY PLUM 2005 Deep Sorrel Stallion


SUNGLOW PLUM 2008 Palomino Mare


Docs Sug-Three Bars-King bred. King-Poco Tivio-Tiger Leo bred. Rope, barrels, breeding prospect.


Cow & speed events prospect.


A horse, Of Course By Don Blazer © 2010


portant than practice in persuit of perfection. Visten went on to


learn the Sit Down in just three additional days. On the first day, we were able to help him assume the Sit Down in approximately 15 minutes. He was compliant but so wobbly that it we had two assistants to help him support his weight on the bean bag from shifting sideways or sliding off onto the floor.


The secret to a good


landing is a good approach which is true of a horse backing to the bean bag. Visten quickly developed the self carriage to slowly back his body to the bean bag until his back legs were against it. From this posi- tion a slight tap on the gaskin and a little help in lifting his nose to help him tuck at the poll was all that was needed. When a horse is in the


Sit Down position, the pelvis is rotated under and the back legs are neatly folded and supported by the bean bag. So while the bag is a catchy looking prop it


also serves the purpose of sup- port and protects the horse’s hocks. Sitting is usually not a big deal to a horse when he realizes that it is a stable and comfortable position. Just like yoga for humans, extreme poses for horses yield extreme benefits in terms of flexibility, elasticity and strength. Visten still has an


extreme sway in his hind end at all gaits and his back legs cross the center line as he walks. We believe that these conditions will continue to diminish as he grows and matures. What- ever he lacks in coordination he makes up for with his deter- mination and gentle willingness to please and to keep learning. His confidence has grown so that I can hardly even imagine that he is that same scared and bumbling colt that would swing his head around to face back- wards in fear of being struck. For help in teach-


ing the Sit Up, Sit Down or any other moves that Visten is learning please email us at suesmonet@aol.com or visit www.imagineahorse.com.


walter, the indian warhorse They were painting


the barn red and white and it was not hard to see what Walter had done.


“Have you been both-


ering the painters, Walter?” I asked.


“Nope,” Walter, A TACOMA PLUM DOUBLE FOUR PLUM


2006 Sorrel Stallion - High Poco 2005 Brown Stallion - King-CJ Sugar- Tivio-King-Poco Bueno blood.


LADYLOVE PLUM Flashy 2007 Sorrel Mare Leo-Tiger Leo-Three Bars bloodlines. Cow & speed potential. King- Cut, rope, sort, breed prospect. Cow & speed event + breed prospect. King Hankins-Three Bars bred.


Horse, Of Course, said. “Then how did that


white circle of paint get around your eye? And how come you’ve got a red paintbrush imprint on your shoulder? And why all the other markings of paint?”


Solitaire Ranch and SR2


• Boarding & Training • Horsemanship Clinics • Customized Horse Vacations


• Wilderness Retreats in the Gila


National Forest, New Mexico


(830) 796-4764 www.KarenBrownOnHorses.com • Karen@KarenBrownOnHorses.com “I’m Cheyenne,” Wal-


ter said, turning his hindquarters toward me. In his tail he had a pigeon feather. “I wear the feather of the eagle,” he said. “Indian war pony,” he attempted to convince me. “You are not a Chey-


enne war pony,” I said, hope- fully closing the matter. “Che roke e ? ” he


asked. No, you’re not Chero-


kee, I said as a preface to my explanation. The American In- dian’s warhorse was most prob- ably a descendant of the Barb horses introduced into Spain by the invading Moors of the 8th


Century. Once in American


and in the hands of the Indians they developed a personality of their own. In addition, without grains, but always a constant regimen of work, they soon became a distinct breed—tough and rugged with plenty of endur-


ance and speed. He wasn’t a very


pretty horse, averaging about 14 hands and 700 pounds. He had a large head and a large barrel, heavy shoulders and hips, strong legs and small feet. “I must be Apache,”


Walter said. “I don’t think so,” I


replied. “But you were trained in somewhat the Indian fash- ion.


asked.


“How’s that?” Walter Until the horse fell


into the American Indian’s hands, all horses were trained on the world-wide theory of the time—domination; bigger spurs, nastier bits, bigger whips, greater restraints where the tools of the day.


The Indian reversed


the theory and tried something totally new—training the horse with kindness. The Indian had to approach the horse without frightening him. He slowly let the horse become familiar with him and with his bow, arrows, leather thong bit and blanket. When it came time to mount the horse, the Indian would gently put his elbow on the horse’s back and apply pressure for short periods of time. It may have taken weeks before the horse would let the rider mount, but that was okay with the In- dian.


Many horses were taken into a river or lake until


the water reached their shoul- ders—then the rider mounted. The horse might try to buck or jump, but the water kept him injury free, and after having his head under water a time or two, he quieted down nicely. “I ’m probably a


Blackfoot,” Walter said, look- ing at his hooves. “Can’t be,” I pointed


out. “Both of your hind feet are white.”


I told Wal ter the


American Indian got his horses sometime after 1650. And he didn’t just find them wandering about, lost, I explained. He stole them. (Horses are herd animals; they don’t just wander off by themselves.) Spanish re- cords dated 1659 report Apache raiders carried off 300 head of livestock including horses. Horses and Indians


seemed to possess a certain affinity for each other, I told Walter. The Indian didn’t feed treats, or grain, or curry and groom and shampoo his horse…. but he didn’t confine him either. He worked his horse, but he also gave him freedom to graze and play and be a horse. “I know, I know,” said


Walter. “I’m Pawnee!” “You’re going to be


the pawnee, alright,” I said. “And I’m going to be the pawn- 0R!”


Visit A Horse, Of


Course on the web at www. donblazer.com.


HORSE PROPERTY FOR LEASE 52.44 Acre Horse Ranch


Lease at left can include


Private and Group Instruction Available Weekly in Boerne/Fair Oaks area.


Contact Anne Stone at 830-755-5417 or Jackie Kelly at 210-667-7565


Clinics Nationwide by Arrangement. Call or email Mary Rose.


MARY ROSE, FBHS


Cell: 512-589-3796 • Home: 512-894-4536 Website: www.maryrosedressage.com


Page 10


Horse fenced - excellent grass. Use of ranch trails, arena, BBQ picnic area, 4-stall barn (concrete alley). Three 30’ x 40’ pipe pens. 9-acre pasture. 4-acre pasture. 36-acre pasture. Electric and Water paid. $2,200 per month (price negotiable)


Beautiful 1 bedroom, 1 bath house. 676 sq. ft. 2-car garage. Nice porch. $600 per month (price negotiable)


15 Acres for Lease


All pipe fenced. Excellent grass. Room for 4-6 horses. BBQ picnic area. Use of ranch arena and trails. Electric and water included. $575 per month. (price negotiable)


Both properties are located 5-minutes from downtown San Marcos, Texas.


Individual horse boarding also available (price negotiable) Contact David at 512-585-6413 or 512-357-9933


Visit us at: www.HorseGazette.com


Now Booking for Spring Crop!


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