THE HORSE GAZETTE bad side reins By Karen L. Brown © 2010


Coming soon...stop by or call Lynne or Johnnie for more information. Stop by for some excellent savings!


may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson


Monday - Friday: 10 am - 6 pm Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm Sunday: 12 Noon - 4 pm


Phone: 210-698-7802 Fax: 210-698-8370 Store Hours:


Located at IH-10 and Boerne Stage Road in the HEB Shopping Center Website: www.boernestagesaddlery.com


Specializing in helping people to build confidence and learn to have fun with their horse.


Let us put FUN back in your horse program! Stockdale, Texas


recently audited a natural horse- manship clinic. At one point during the clinic, my friend suggested that a particular horse could benefit from being placed in side reins. Flabbergasted by the horrified reactions of the instructor and participants, my friend later called to ask me, “Why do you natural people hate side reins so much?” I started out with a


simple explanation, then quick- ly realized it’s not a simple topic. As one’s understanding of horsemanship evolves, so does one’s appreciation for the art of horsemanship. Many of the tools used to get horses to perform require the knowledge of an artist in order to be used correctly and humanely. Those same tools, used by someone with lesser talent and experi- ence, frequently turn into quick- fix gadgets.


my friend, the response got long winded enough to have to write it down. It went something like this:


• Training • Lessons • Breeding


hate side reins any more than we hate dropped, flash, or figure 8 nosebands, draw reins, Vienna reins, tom thumb bits, argentine bits, mechanical hackamores, martingales, long shanked curbs, gag bits, tie downs, metal core bosals, wire wrapped bits . . . . well, I could go on, but you get the idea.


Dave, Susan or Nita Fuqua 830-996-1105 (Ranch) 210-218-4511 (Cell) Visit us at: www.Rainbow1Ranch.com “Oh now, we don’t As I started talking to A friend of mine “As to methods there


ciple of natural horsemanship is that gadgets produce results based on pain or force--not willingness and cooperation, and certainly not through un- derstanding defined as “the communication of a thought from one species to another”. They are used predominantly to achieve quick results, i.e. to short cut the proper classical training process. That, of course, is not the natural way. But it IS the way of the vast majority of the modern horse world. As a horseperson ex-


pands his understanding of the principles underlying training methods, the natural will under- stand that it is not the tool that produces the unnatural results, but rather, the method in which it is used. By this definition, any tool, even string halters, can be used to create pain or force and/ or without the requisite com- munication of a thought from one species to another--and thus results are “unnatural”. There is also a whole Pandora’s box of gadgets whose only means of “working” is by inflicting pain. This group of gadgets should be illegal.


to mean any result achieved without the comprehension of the horse. On the flip side, many traditional tools can be used quite naturally--it all depends upon the human. Having said that, some tools like string hal- ters, make it much easier to be natural and very difficult to be unnatural.


manship, specifically refers to the practice of communicating one’s desires to the horse in a way that is instinctively under- stood by the equine species. Instinctively--meaning the horse


Natural, in horse- We define unnatural A preeminant prin-


many, many training techniques make no effort to utilize the intelligence of the horse. From a natural standpoint, mental comprehension trumps physi- cal reaction every time. In truth, there is value


does not have to decipher gib- berish and translate it into some semblance of order from which he can derive meaning. The ob- jective (job, task, or maneuver) of a requested action (aid or cue) is apparent in the manner in which it is asked. Also consider that


Part 1 of 2


in some of the above listed tools. HOWEVER, there are precious few trainers in the world who understand how to use them properly, i.e. achieving the cooperation and willingness of the horse to move in a specific manner without causing any bracing or resistance to pressure anywhere throughout the body. The skills to use these tools are seldom taught or learned any- where these days. The number of amateurs using such tools with no understanding of the mechanics runs near 100%. For any pro or amateur read- ing this that does not fall into that category, consider yourself excluded. But if you’re going to challenge my stats, be prepared to explain the principles that dic- tate how you use your favorite tool.


sation got a bit long winded, so I’ll have to tell you the rest of the story next month. Look for Part Two in the July issue of Horse Gazette.


Karen Brown is a free-


lance writer and horse trainer who trains all breeds of horses, restarts problem horses, and provides instruction in natural horsemanship. Go to www.karen- brownonhorses.com for more information about this author.


successful 2010 Helotes cornyval PRCA Rodeo


By Ernestine Owings The name “Cornyval”


came from the fact that Helotes means maize or corn in Span- ish. The annual Helotes Cornyval does not get much publicity because it is held in the same time frame as Fiesta in San Antonio. The Cornyval has a


parade, food and merchandise booths, live music, a carnival, and a great PRCA rodeo. The May 1st


rodeo was profession-


Indoor Stalls - Outdoor Pens (30’x30’) - Covered Stalls with Runs - 150’x300’ Lighted Arena Dressage Arena - Jumping Area - Two Round Pens Two Hot Walkers - Full Care - Feeding Twice Daily Daily Turnout (Except Weekends) Lighted Wash Area Lighted BBQ & Picnic Area - 24-Hr Surveillance Riding Lessons - Horse Training


Located approx. 5 minutes from Loop 410 at 13901 Hwy 90 West - just outside San Antonio. Visit us at: www.t-slash-barranch.com.


ally run with the usual mut- ton bustin’, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. About 25 children and three calves were in the calf scramble. The three children that won took a yellow ribbon of the calf instead of catching the calf, putting a halter on, and getting it across a finish line.


The barren man,


Troy Leriwill, was also “The Wild Child”. He and two bull fighters offered interference to keep the bulls from hurting the bull riders. Troy Leriwell per- formed a dangerous comedy act with his motorcycle. The crowd cheered and laughed when he rode around the arena on his “bucking” cycle. The cycle would “buck him off” at each end of the arena and go in circles while he held on to the handle bar. Then, sud- denly, he rode up a ramp on to an equipment hauling enclosed trailer, and jumped the truck that pulled the trailer. The theme of the


rodeo was “Salute to the Mili- tary.” A very enjoyable part of the rodeo was the Catalina Cowgirls. This is an all female drill team riding Paint/Pinto horses. The founder of the


team is Sammy Catalina, Cir- cle Five Rodeo Company of Bryan, Texas. The girls were all dressed in red, white and blue, performing several drills throughout the rodeo. A high point of the


rodeo was when the Cata- lina Cowgirls rode in carrying American flags followed by an Army vehicle carrying Army personnel. The Catalina Cowgirls took positions in the center of the arena while a giant American flag was hoisted and the Army vehicle continued around the arena as the spectators all stood, with many saluting as the vehicle passed…a very heartwarming event.


The carnival and


booths stayed open about two hours after the rodeo and there were approximately 41 spon- sors of the event.


As I said this conver-


Call 210-677-0502


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