8/ MAY 2014 THE RIDER SUSAN DAHL’s MY SPIN:


was heavy sided. Which means the horse would not listen very well to my leg cues. I was train- ing him to be my next reining show horse. I was having trouble get-


series this past few weeks where Clinton Anderson has captured a wild horse and is starting it under saddle. The interesting comment he made at the start of the 2nd ride for the horse was how he dealt with the horse being too lazy. I had a gelding once that


By Susan Dahl. I’m watching a TV


Outback Adventure series on www.Downunderhorseman- ship.TV and RFD-TV explained how he dealt with a lazy horse.


ings often are. It’s like they spend every non-riding moment figuring out how to avoid mov- ing more than they absolutely have too. I’ll tell you what hap- pened to him in a minute. Clinton Anderson in his


my legs were killing me to get this horse to leg yield; I had to push, bump and kick so hard! My legs were so sore after I rode. I couldn’t do it anymore. It wasn’t any fun. It was getting so that I was reluctant to ride him. You know that feeling when you just can’t get your horse to go through an obstacle like water no matter how hard you try. No way. Not going. They won’t budge. This horse was lazy. Geld-


ting the horse to change leads. He would not yield his hind end every time when I asked him to. He would sometimes miss the lead change. Not good. I also had trouble getting him to maneuver around things like trees or move him around while riding in the open. I often would chase cattle with him for fun. I got to the point where


Is Your Horse Lazy? How to Tell


ton is explaining that he has to make some adjustments because Bundy is so lazy. Since Bundy is now no longer fearful and is quiet, he’s gotten too lazy. Clinton explained at


horse’s 2nd ride under saddle! Don’t we want them as ‘dead’ as we can get them so they don’t buck us off? Can a horse be too lazy when colt starting?


He’s starting under saddle a 10yr. old wild Brumby named Bundy. Where I want to draw your attention is the horse’s 1st and now 2nd ride under saddle. Imagine that?! The


a short time for the 1st ride and had to quit on him before the horse learned to quit on Clinton. (Not a desir- able trait at all!) Clin- ton comments that Bundy now needs grain to get more ener- gy. For the 2nd ride, Clin-


Yes they can. Clinton only rode him


the trot and lope rather than the walk. The walk is for a slight warm up, a reward and a cool down.


then I will spend more time at


him in a more open area to encourage going forward. If I have a lazy type horse


ing trouble getting FORWARD MOTION. (Which is OH so important for training.) Just like my problem with the reining gelding. So that is why he’s riding


the 27:31 min. mark, that Bundy is giving him a bit of a problem in that Clinton is hav-


reining gelding: He and I ended up being the 2003 Reining Canada Novice Horse Non-Pro Top 10. With this gelding, I had to end up using spurs since he was so dull sided and I have such a short and light leg.


excellent for kids and beginners. You just have to watch that the horse doesn’t severely discour- age the rider because it’s too much work or effort to get the horse to move with any effort. This is where I also encourage balanced riders to use spurs. I have an article about that on my website, if you’re interested. Clinton also started using spurs on Bundy as he comments on the 5th ride of the series. What happened to the


the horses with more ‘go’. It doesn’t hurt my legs. I had a few people comment that my legs look like skater’s legs because the thigh muscles are so developed. If you want strong thigh muscles, ride a lazy horse. Lazy, quiet horses are


type horses. That’s also why I prefer


I do the reverse for faster


you work too hard at getting your horse to go forward then you may need to... 1. get the horse moving out more in the open, 2. going a faster speed to put more energy in the horse, 3. use spurs if you’re balanced and 4. perhaps a change in feed is in order.


So if your horse is making


Putting my spin on laziness. Reinersue @KISS Reiners


About Susan Dahl


www.reinersuehorsemanship.co m or reinersue@hotmail.com .


Canadian Farriers’ Team Proud to Represent Their Country


advancement from our countrymen.” -Dan Corkery, Team Cana- da Member


April morning. A fleet of shoeing rigs driven by Canada’s best farriers from across the country make their way to Ancaster, Ontario for another annual (CFT) Canadian Farriers’ Team Trial. A row of 6 anvils stand proudly paint- ed with Canadian colours. Everyone is busy unload- ing and preparing for the two day grueling test of


“Advancement for our country


starts with It’s a cold and rainy letes,


women dedicate endless hours to the art of their craft. They spend months working in their shops and on the job forging hand- made shoes, burning through hundreds of feet of steel and perfecting their skills. But, why? The rea- son is for a chance to be a part of the Canadian Farri- ers’ Team. This honour doesn’t come easily and it


more glance at their striker and a final moment to men- tally prepare...this is for the Team. The horn sounds, the time starts and the work begins. Like Olympic ath- these men and


Susan Dahl, Certified Profes- sional horse trainer, writer, author & clinician. Owner of Foundation Reining Training Centre in Durham, ON. She spe- cializes in effective horseman- ship, western performance horse development and reining. She has trained and shown numer- ous ORHA/ NRHA champions. For more information on her training, bitting, clinics or resale horses, please contact her on Facebook,


her website:


Travis Buck 21, from Georgetown Ontario. Travis is also a returning member to the CFT.


Team Alternate AJ Mastalerz CJF, 21, from Kemptville Ontario


knowledge and skill. A group of farriers gather around one anvil as a hardy young man works and shapes a length of glowing steel, an ever ready striker on the end of a sledge assists him with the cre- ation. The sharp crackling of the coke forge in the background sounds all too familiar. Anticipation sets in as they take their place at their stations. They have enough time for one last check of their tools, one


Farriers’ Team has been selected. It is comprised of 5 talented members who


harbours much responsibil- ity as making the team isn’t where the journey ends. They go on to represent Canada against the world’s best farriers at some of the biggest competitions and equine events around the world. There is no better test for excellence than competing against the best the world has to offer. This year’s Canadian


sacrifice their own time and money (between work) for the wealth of knowl- edge and experience to be gained. Their objective is to establish their presence at various competitions throughout the year, such as the annual Rumble in the Bronx competition held in Brooklin, Ontario the first week of June, later on in 2015 at the World Horse Shoeing Classic in Ken- tucky and at the prestigious 35th Annual International Team Horse Shoeing Championships in Stoneleigh England this S e p t e m b e r 2 5 t h - 2 8 t h , 2014.


brought togeth- er competitive farriers from all over Canada to improve their skills and learn


standards and skill level of the Farriery industry here in Canada. “[The CFT]


has


Dan Corkery CJF, 28, from Ottawa. Another returning CFT member.


team is a great influence in raising


the The


together. And then those members are the ones [later] taking on appren- tices, teaching clinics and being asked to judge con- tests.” Says Canadian Competitive Farrier Soci- ety Vice President, Jack Ketel (former team mem- ber).


Canadian Competitive Far- rier Society and Canadian Farriers Team, Manager and farrier Russ Gaudet, would like to extend grati- tude to all the people,


On Behalf of the


organizations and compa- nies who have donated their time, money, work- manship and prizes thus far to this year’s Canada Cup Team Trials. We want to directly thank the follow- ing: Brad Davidson of Pro- fessional Farrier Supply, Luke Proulx, Mustad, Claude Lortie, Marecha- lerie Bromont, Christian Roy of AMFQ, Iain Ritchie of Western Farriers Associ- ation, Aaron Steeves, Ben Mangan, Eric Chretien,


Brunswick. This is Aaron’s second time on the team.


Philippe Turcotte CJF, 31, from St-Hyacinthe Quebec.


if you are interested in sponsorship opportuni- ties, please contact Team Manager Russ Gaudet 905-809-0468 or shoerruss@gmail.com


nity and the nation is of great importance to the CFT and its ongoing success. Russ would like to encourage this support through sponsorship. Investing in the CFT is an overall investment in Canada’s equine and farriery industry. For further information about the team, or


Doug and Arlene Buck, Chris Zizian, Craig Trnka, Georgio Bassoli, ICAR, Jon Atkinson Farrier Tools, Renegade Tools, Nigel Fennell of Foreman Tools, Bodnor Tools Manufacturing, Jim Poor of Flatland Forge, Neal Baggett, Paul Robinson, Rick Hall, Jim Keith, Pleasant Ridge Saddlery, Ancaster Fair Grounds, Circle Square Ranch and all past and present team members for your shoe board donation. Continued support from both the commu-


Team Captain Aaron Steeves, 31, from New


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