10/ NOVEMBER 2020 THE RIDER When Do Horse Trainers Make Sense?


By Janice Wright CanteringOnThru I come across many horse


people who may want to think of themselves capable of handling and sorting problems with their horses (or others’ horses) only to have not moved forward, or worse, with disastrous results. Although I’ve studied equine be- haviour (Equine Guelph) I would


never claim to be an expert. Now, forty+ years in, with experience and comfort around horses, I was naive in the beginning. Heck, what was (and still is considered the norm) those undeniable younger kids who love and swoon at the mere mention of a horse, I was actually quite afraid of them! And then? Well, into my early twenties after a positive ex-


perience, I came to my senses. All through the years I’ve


been privy to many conversations around horses by just listening, visiting and observing. I am al- ways excited to meet up with - and introduce myself to - the horse.


However, as an equine pho-


tographer-videographer-writer, I tune into both horse and handler


personalities, as talk of “vices”, and the “unknown” that are so in- dividually remarkable


and


unique. My preference is to first step back and learn as much as possible about them before I dive in. So when I purchased my first horse, an older, stoic gelding, part-warmblood-part-TB (ok, lot’sa TB!) my life felt joy and fulfillment. I named him Calla- han. I wasn’t particularly a fiercely, brave rider. Ever. Did I ever feel I was worthy of a trainer for Cal, even during times when I felt I’d taken on too much horse? No. Not really. Enter a pivotal moment for


me - well, let’s call this my per- sonal inside view to “arrogance”. It’s called: “Stable manager can become trainer?” At a time when I was away, Cal had daily turn outs in the indoor arena while his stall was being mucked out. That was wonderful. I didn’t think badly about


Freelance coaching. Lessons at your farm.


I'll watch you and your horse working as a team, with some practical, do-able suggestions, based on equitation science.


I can provide a judge's perspective and a homework plan for your next ride!


Sharing the science of horse behaviour and learning.


Visit www.lindsaygriceridingcoach.com Secretary: Kit Bartle Kelly Lehman


Melanie Gray Shari Irwin


(519) 440-5941 (519) 807-2660 (519) 732-0263


how my horse was further han- dled, but the stable manager had glimpses of me struggle riding my somewhat, explosive steed. Unbeknownst to me during my time away, the opportunity arose; he surmised the “trainer in him would make things right!” And then, there was the day of “fight or flight.” Inclement weather. I was


riding through exercises in that same, indoor arena. It was quiet and the riding was pleasurable - until


the “trainer” abruptly


showed up. Of course!… likely hoping to see me gleefully ex- claim how different and more manageable things felt with my new found control? It was any- thing but. My horse lost concentra-


tion, fought me to escape, stiff- ened and bolted around the arena at a breakneck, speedy gallop. I vividly remember my body tens- ing as I tried to bring him back to me; the fear now rising in my fetal, whole being. It became so distressful for me - I considered (what would undoubtably be) - a dangerous dismount in flight. Thinking better of it, and within minutes of recalculating, my fear


2020 Judges Committee (519) 372-2527


turned body and mind into a calming (not really) wet noodle and I began to circle at the oppo- site end of the arena. Transition- ing slowly now, from the canter and finally!… relieved that Cal came back to a trot I could man- age. I recognized by the breath- ing he was not completely settled with this person. After I was safely back to a


walk my sight turned to the sheepish owner. Whatever he had done, and felt would make things right for me was the dealbreaker. Needless to say, within days I swiftly removed myself from that environment, my beloved horse in tow. Last year I was invited to a


world renowned trainer’s barn. I’m about to share another story - the one he shared with me - about a horrific incident and how it brought this particular horse to spend some time with him; a re- sult of how bad things happen to good people when misdirected. One day, a family’s four


year old gelded, small pony - cute as ever but always on high alert, slightly skittish - was being har- nessed and hitched to a small driving cart by someone who claimed to know what they were doing. As the owners stood by and before the tack was secured, the pony quickly bolted


heading


email: melaniegraylifecoach@gmail.com email: shari_irwin@hotmail.com email: maddavery@gmail.com email: drumbolady@hotmail.ca


Website: www.whao.org Celebrating 67 Years! 2020 Sr. Judges


Cally Jo Fritz 21 Taylor Blvd., Elliot Lake, ON P5A 3H5 H: (226) 289-8563, C: (519) 280-8169 Email: callygene@gmail.com


Melanie Gray 202011 Hwy 21, Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N7 (519) 372-2527, melaniegraylifecoach@gmail.com


Shari Irwin 166 Gleasons Corner Road, Castleton, ON K0K 1M0. (905) 349-1092, Cell (905) 440-5941 shari_irwin@hotmail.com


Jamie Kuhl 899 10th St. W., Owen Sound, ON N4K 3S3. H: (226) 909-1447. C: (647) 290-6093 jamie@archlines .ca


Kelly Lehman 895893 Oxford Rd. 3,, Drumbo, ON N0J 1G0


C: (519) 807-2660. E: maddavery@gmail.com Anne Marinacci 65 Swayze Court, Smithville, ON L0R 2A0 905-957-5619


Janet McClure 14156 Ten Mile Road R.R. #3, Ilderton, ON N0M 2A0 (519) 666-2482 janetmcclure1@gmail.com janetmcclure1@gmail.com


Tom Saul 574 Valentina St., Petrolia, ON N0N 1R0 (519) 882-0958 tbsaul@outlook.com


Megan Sheppard 38 Rye Road, South River, ON P0A 1X0 (705) 492-2565, Cell (705) 492-2565 megandallaire@gmail.com


Kris Simpson 711 Middletown Rd., RR #2, Waterdown, ON L8B 1P7 (519) 831-7922 richlandshowhorses@gmail.com


Don Stauffer 9626 Wellington Rd. 14, P.O. Box 16, Conn, ON N0G 1N0 (226) 258-9206, Cell (519) 604-8864


thestauffers48@gmail.com


Robyn Storey 6-120 Dudhope Ave., Cambridge, ON N1R 4T7 (519) 620-9015, Cell: (519) 841-3934, gatorrocks@hotmail.com


Brenda Thompson 284 Whitmore Dr., Waterloo, ON N2K 2N5 (519) 884-4050, Cell (519) 577-7320 bmctearnen@yahoo.ca


Mike Tucker 1581 Maple St. N., R.R. #4, Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0 (905) 892-5610, Cell (905) 984-1581 m.tucker@hotmail.ca


Jr. Judges


Dave Black 94 Concession 4 Road, Fisherville, ON N0A 1G0 C: 905 921 0359 Email: diamondbquarterhorses@gmail.com


Lorie Duff 7651 County Rd. 10, Vankleek Hill, ON K0B 1R0 H; 613 867-0776, C: 613 867 0776 Email: dufflorie@yahoo.com


Erin Fawcett 9 Strong Court, Brantford, ON N3R 7Y4 C: (519) 754-3526, H: (519) 753-0757 Email: efawcett78@hotmail.com


Erin O’Drowsky 253 James St. N., St. Mary’s, ON N4X 1A5 H: (519) 284-0684, C: (226) 377-0244 Email: eodrowsk@gmail.com


Inactive Judges John Ward


through the exit door in a panic. He was witnessed trav- eling as fast as he could


weaving


around the cars on their property, cart flopping along be- hind him barely missing (some clip- ping) each and every obstacle in his way, with one mission: to be set free of that cart.


The pony


was left fearful, the daughter who only wanted to explore by learning the art of driving was beside herself, and the cart was a mangled mess.


And that


was when the fam- ily, now angered and heart broken, had a big decision to make. To move for-


ward with their adult daughter’s goals they needed reasonable as- surance they’d done everything possible before allowing the horse to become her partner. The daughter had her heart set on ex- periencing the art of driving; she was no stranger to horses having competed in jumpers. Yet, having been diagnosed years earlier with EDS: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - an inherited disease that affects the connective tissues of the body, causing debilitating pain and attacking tendons, ligaments, loose joints and she easily bruised - the determination was still there, to explore options with this pony that they also loved so much. They took their farrier’s suggestion to enlist the help from an exceptional trainer he had heard about. Randy Bird,


a well


renowned horse trainer who re- sides on his farm in Ontario, has many stories to tell. As a fiercely, qualified horse trainer, it is sad to hear - even imagine - how many horses are misunderstood, treated harshly, labeled as unmanage- able, a jerk, beaten into submis- sion. When I finally got to meet this pony, and be able to video the steps in his progress as he be- came trusting, calmer and willing to have a fun job, I was over- whelmed. As one saying goes: “There


are no bad horses; just bad peo- ple.” In conclusion, I don’t be- lieve it’s as simple as a feeling we have or, evolved into training ex- perts just because we are deep into a horsey lifestyle. Quite the contrary; it’s very risky thinking. We become so compet- itive in the horse ownership in- dustry and no matter how small or large the ownership, our egos, the choices we make - only to be misguided by ourselves, or, a so- called expert - can be a costly misfortune. Hire a specialized trainer of


good recommendations and suc- cess stories that are proven to be the right choice for you. Horse ownership should always be a valued privilege. If you’d like to follow the


story and outcome, please visit my new YouTube channel for a two part series, go to: Can- teringOnThru JBWright / Django Training Process Django,Pt2


- Pt1,


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