THE HORSE GAZETTE trainer profile


Mark Doig in it for the long haul He came by it hon-


estly enough--the jumping that is. Mark Doig grew up around hunter/jumpers all his life. After all, his mother Frances started the riding pro- gram at St. Stephens School in Austin. So now, thirty years later, Mark continues training professionally. “It got into my blood,” he explains. Based out of Royal


Equus Farm in Taylor, just north of Austin, Mark travels throughout Central Texas giv- ing lessons, training, buying and selling and showing and offered his perspective on his livelihood.


He does not see


much has changed with the paradigm that those on a more limited budget end up dealing more with the horsemanship and daily care of their mounts. In the industry, though, he sees more warmbloods and warm- blood crosses as compared to more of the Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses prevail- ing in the past. Horses are bred more specifically for their speciality, he explained, yet mentioned that any ath- letic horse, no matter what his breeding, can excel at a sport. The hunters tend to be prettier, he noted. “In the hunters arena the goal is perfection,” he said. “You want to be able to pick up the canter, and without changing the pace, take off for the jumps at the exact same distance. It should look easy, effortless but it is actually very hard,” he said. A grand prix jumper can go up to 5.5 feet. International jumpers may go up to seven. Most shows we are familiar with have ranges


go from 2.5 - 5 foot tall jumps for the jumpers and 2.5 - 4 foot for hunters. Divisions run the gamut from open for professionals, to amateur adult to junior.


In his program, he charges $300 per month for


time, aiming to help the pair accomplish their goals. At this point in his career he can pick and choose who and what he deals with. Nowadays he no longer does young stallions, for instance. Many of the horses he has in training are


By Ingrid Edisen


Mark said there may be many reasons. He mentioned that should a horse continually need to be prodded mightily to go over jumps then it was time to stop jumping that animal. You may be able to bring him back, he said, but cautioned that much more examination needed to be done. Some of the reasons could be that the rider has made an error; the horse realizes it has reached its own limit; the animal may be hurting; or the horse figures it has been lied to too many times, that too many mistakes have been made and it has lost confidence in its rider. A horse that is asked


to jump large jumps has only so many jumps in him, Mark observed. With a stellar ani- mal, folks can extend the show life of that animal if they are conservative and careful with how they plan its career. “In your string you always want at least one very nice horse,” he said. In Europe only jumpers are campaigned; there is no “hunter” circuit per se like we have here in the U.S.


Any horse that is


partial training plus board or $600 per month plus board for those he has in his direct care. Outcalls are 60 for a private lesson plus the trip charge to private barns in the area. His lesson structure is tailored to what the horse and rider needs at that point in


already backed youngsters that are ready to start jumping so he installs basic flatwork, lead changes; starter jumps on the horse and then takes it to some shows for the client or sells the animal for the client. When asked why


a horse may refuse a jump,


jumping needs to be supple enough to do the job, Mark commented. “There is noth- ing wrong with ego. In a show you ride your best. The judging is objective. You may be riding against a $200,000 animal but if you have ridden your best you still may come in the ribbons. But it is not about the ribbons, he said, as if you ride your best you will be pleased with what you get. The thinking should not be ‘I’m the VERY best’ as there


will always be somebody bet- ter than you. But you need confidence in your ability to ride. There is always another show, another chance.” As a trainer and


teacher, he explained that one has to be part psycholo- gist. Should a rider be too cerebral and not as sentient in one’s riding, Mark scales his teaching to have the rider look for visual signs that the horse displays to understand the horse’s reactions. He may tell the rider to look at the ears; one ear back may mean the horse is feeling the rider’s leg. Or is the horse swishing his tail to indicate displeasure? “It is not all about


control,” Mark said. “You cannot dictate every step. You apply cues, sit there when the horse is doing what you want, then ask for a change. You apply aids to make the change and wait there. This is freedom to the horse.”


“And if your busi-


ness is in buying and selling of horses, you need to be able to teach universal cues that any potential buyer can use and apply and transfer to the horse.”


To contact Mark


Doig, visit Caledonia Hunt- ers and Jumpers on the web or call (512) 626-0559.


Training of American Saddlebred and English Pleasure Breeds


Lessons in Saddleseat Riding and Driving


Boarding for All Breeds & Disciplines Visiting Instructors / Trainers Welcome!


“Serving the Texas horse industry for over 50 years” 830-755-4903 E-mail: info@BeasomStable.com Boerne, Texas www.BeasomStable.com The horse gazette stable directory *Lighted


5 STAR STABLES & STORAGE, San Antonio, TX 210-688-7570, 6mi outside 1604 (Culebra/FM 471) Gated facility. Owners & Vet Tech onsite. Family Atmosphere. Open-air boat & RV Storage. (12/11)


ADAMS LAND & LIVESTOCK, San Antonio, TX. 210-414-6024. Secluded 700-acres adjacent to Government Canyon State Park, Picnic Area, State-of-the-Art Facilities, weekly roping seminars. (PM)


ALICE SCOTT BOARDING, TRAINING & LESSONS, Helotes, TX. 210-834-6005. 12x12 Stalls. Large Pasture Turnout, Auto Water, Indoor Stock, Private & Peaceful, Picnic Area, 2 mi from Horse Park


BEASOM STABLE, Boerne, TX. 830-755-4903. “Trainers Welcome!” Boarding/Training/Lessons. Arenas: indoor, dressage, outdoor w/roping chutes, hot/cold wash rack, 22-acres of trails. (pm) BOERNE STABLES, 25 Zoeller Lane, Boerne, TX. 210-326-5290. www.BoerneStable.com (6/11)


COUNTRY LANE STABLES, Cibolo, TX, 210-382-2406. 24 hr On-Site Care. Enclosed All-Weather Arena Stalls/Aisles w/Mats, Rubber/Sand Arena Footing, Family Facility, Feeding 2X Daily. (7/09) CRIMSON JEWEL STABLES, New Braunfels, TX. 210-445-7614.


24-hr On-Sitre Care, 1400 sq. ft. barn w/covered working area. Roundpen. Two outdoor arenas w/lights. Jumps & Roping Boxes. (pm)


DORINGCOURT STABLES & TRAINING FACILITY, Bulverde, TX. 210-392-9627. 24hr On-Site Care. Ind. Tack Rms, Trails, Picnic area, Instructors on site. All Disciplines. Visit us at Doringcourtstables.com


ESPERANZA FARMS, Helotes, TX. 210-695-2416, 22 Acres, 24hr On-Site Care, Concrete Stalls w/runs, Daily Turnout w/Free Choice Hay-let your horse be a horse! Specializing in teaching the beginner.


IN THE IRONS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Leon Springs, TX. 210-698-5270. 12x12 & 12x18 stalls, 24-hr on-site staff, viewing deck, 5 Hot/Cold Wash Racks, Fly Control, www.intheironsequestriancenter.com


KINSWOOD FARM, Boerne, TX. 830-336-4474. Large stalls. All day turn out. Sand dressage arena. English & Western riders welcome. (1/12)


MARCOS STABLES, NW San Antonio, TX. 210-698-2603. Beautiful, scenic and quiet. 24-hr on-site care, hot water wash rack, 3 arenas (H/J, Dressage and 1 covered) Family atmosphere. (pm)


PEGG BOARDING & TRAINING STABLE, NE San Antonio, TX. 210-494-9738. 24-hr On-Site Care, Friendly, Family Atmosphere, Peaceful Setting inside Loop 1604


QUAD J FARMS, South of San Antonio. 210-488-3647. Licensed Parelli instructor on-site. Family atmosphere, private, peaceful, trails, playground and more! (8/11)


RETAMA EQUESTRIAN CENTER, Selma, just off IH-35 & 1604 NE San Antonio, 210-313-0720. 24-hr On-Site Care, Covered Arena, Outdoor Areans, Turnouts, Trails, 7 Barns. Trainers Welcome (PP)


RUSSELL EQUESTRIAN CENTER, San Antonio, Texas. 210-698-3210. 24/7 On-Site Care, Family Atmosphere, Auto Fly Control, Dressage Arena, Jump Arena, Covered Arena, Hot/Cold Wash Rack


SISTERCREEK RANCH, Sisterdale, TX. 830-324-6525. Beautiful facility not just for boarding, but for an exceptional equine experience. Outdoor arena, covered round pen, miles of trails, cool creeks (pm)


TODD MARTIN PERFORMANCE HORSES, Boerne, TX. 830-249-7835. 24/7 On-site care, Family atmosphere. Covered Arena. Beautiful, Quite Setting a few minutes from downtown Boerne. (pm) TWIN PINE STABLES, New Braunfels, TX. 830-481-7643. Boarding and Training Facility. (12/11)


WHITE’S EQUESTRIAN CENTER, South Central San Antonio, 210-628-1777 or 210-394-9808 (Cell) Automatic Fly Control, Friendly Family Atmosphere


WRENWOOD STABLES, San Antonio, TX 210-372-0855. Located near the Rose Palace in Leon Springs. Personalized & prof. on site care, trails & dressage arena. Premier full care boarding facility (pm)


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ROCK-N-OAKS STABLES, New Braunfels, TX. 830-822-7075. New, 17-stall barn located on 25 oak-shaded acres. Full amenities, exemplary horse mgmt, welcoming family atmosphere. 24 hr. on-site care. Exp Trainer available (6/12) /


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WILD SUNDAY FARM, North San Antonio, Texas. 830-980-4201. Scenic setting, family atmosphere, 24-hr On-Site Care, In Field with 1/2-mile track, compartment hot walker, Specialize in Hunter/Jumper. (mo) /


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FULL-CARE SELF-CARE


PASTURE BOARD STALLS W/RUNS


DAILY TURNOUT ARENA(S)


COVERED ARENA ROUND PEN(S)


TRAILS LESSONS TRAINING ENGLISH WESTERN JUMPING


TRAILERING CLINICS


SHOWS


BREEDING SALES


FULL-CARE SELF-CARE


PASTURE BOARD STALLS W/RUNS


DAILY TURNOUT ARENA(S)


COVERED ARENA ROUND PEN(S)


TRAILS LESSONS


TRAINING ENGLISH


WESTERN JUMPING


TRAILERING CLINICS


SHOWS


BREEDING SALES


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