A little bit of this, and a little bit of that...

Hope everyone has had an enjoyable holiday and been as fortunate as I have, to spend some time with your families.

Here's a cute little video with the Budweiser Clydesdales.

It's update time:

EXTRA EXTRA!!!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!


NEW HORSE IN THE BARN!

Yes she has arrived and is doing exceptionally well. Well, except for the lack of NAME!
"Fluffy" as she has been called her entire life (if you can imagine-poor thing) arrived at London City Stables after a terrifying drive in white-out conditions from Michigan.
Originally owned and trained by Stacy and Jessie Westfall who remember her as a "very sweet mare that we let the kids ride - maybe a 70 or 71 horse" (I will explain this later), Fluffy is bred to rein. Her date of birth is March 6th, 2000, which means she's coming up to her 9th birthday January 1st.
For those of you who read that last paragraph and were WAY confused, allow me to explain breifly. A "70 or 71 horse" refers to what score the Westfalls guess that Fluffy would be capable of for a reining pattern. In a reining pattern, the base score is seventy. The pattern calls for 8 maneuvers, each one beign scored between -2 and +2. This means, that if you perform each maneuver correctly, without any penalties, you would leave the pen with the same score you went in, which would be a 70 (WAY harder than it sounds). Extra points are awarded for horses who perform a maneuver with notable quickness, authority, confidence, etc. The fact that the trainers claimed she is a 70 or 71 horse probably mean she doesn't have any major issues with any one maneuver and could complete a pattern with a score of 70, maybe even plus 1/2 here and there.
The birthday thing: each registered Quarter Horse has a set of papers that give full details about the horse, it's AQHA number, it's registered name, it's birth date etc. Since the show season overlaps with the breeding season, and since many classes are based on the age of the horse, there needed to be a cut-off for the birthdates. The AQHA considers every registered Quarter horse to be born Jan. 1st of the year they were born in, for show purposes. So, Fluffy was born in March of 2008, which means she will be 9 years old on January 1st, 2009. That is one of the advantages of breeding for an early birthdate. Imagine competing on a 2 or 3 yr old horse, who is actually 6 months or more, younger than the competition!
Back to Fluffy.
Registered Name: Smart Like Jac
Sire's Name: Sugar Bars Buckaroo
Dam's Name: Smart N Perfect
Markings: Star, strip and snip extending onto upper lip. no other markings.
Colour: Sorrel

The plan for Fluffy is to (FIND A NEW NAME) work on her feet a bit and see if we can correct some lameness issues she has been having, and to show her through the spring and start the transition into being a lesson horse.

I have decided to have a vote for the name of the horse and let the students decide. Nominations for names have been: Samson, Patriot, Ginger, Tinkerbell, Peanut, Sweet Pea, Snowflake and Honey.
So far, it looks like Sweet Pea is in the lead. If you haven't voted, please tell me your preference ASAP.Fluffy looks a little worn out from her long trailer ride from Michigan, the first time in the barn and arena - her new home!

New Programs for 2009?

Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me in 2008. It's been a pleasure and I hope to continue growing throughout 2009 to serve you better. It seems like such a long way I have come since I started on my own in the early summer - what a great group of supporters I have!
I would love to come up with some more in depth programs to commit to you. I am looking to find a facility that wil better suit our needs, and until such time I am hesitant to lock anyone into a contract of any sort. As a compromise, I have come up with the bundle prices that are up on the main website under "Coaching". I would encourage everyone to purachase a bundle and book with me your riding times with as much notice as possible. Since it's a "ONE MAN SHOW" for the most part right now, my time is limited. I would really appreciate the extra notice, and the ability to reserve that space just for you. Please note that I will be happy to reschedule any ride, with 24 hours notice. The full amount of the lesson will be forfeited if I have less than 24 hours notice, which will enable me to reschedule rides for other students.
I will be putting together some type of student information form and waiver which will help with my insurance and give me some better ways of keeping track of the best ways to get a hold of everyone, birth days, year-end receipts etc.
Thanks again for your patience and support while I get things running.

Topics for Workshops and Clinics

I will be putting together some Day programs with topics like: mane and tail braiding, tack cleaning, ground work, massage therapy etc. Please let me know if you are interested in any of the above. These programs are a great way to extend your exposure with the horses as well as your knowledge of the animals and the responsibilities of caring for them from day to day.

It's that time of year...

FOR THE NRHA FUTURITY IN OKLAHOMA!
(what did you think I was going to say?!?!?!)

What is it????
3-year-old horses ridden for first place prize money of $125,000 with a total purse and prizes totaling over $1.5 Million to exhibitors! More than 1,800 horses and 4,000 exhibitors competing in all classes, three special reining horse sales, an intercollegiate judging contest, and approximately 70,000 spectators. NRHA's finest million dollar event held in late fall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. If you are interested in learning more, click on the logo to get to the NRHA website. The website hosts livefeed to what's going on in the coliseum. Saturday night is the futurity finals, it's definitely worth watching!

A Wish for the Holidays

As a girl who wished for a horse every year at Christmas time (until I was finally was able to get one myself) I can relate to many of my young students wishes at this magical time of year.
Tara Houston would have fit right into this category of girls wishing and praying and dreaming of the day when they could have a horse of their very own, had I been privileged enough to be her riding coach as well.
Tara was diagnosed with a brain stem glioma in the summer of '02 at seven years of age. A terrible shock to her family and friends, and suddenly making every moment seem more precious than the last. It became the mission of her family and their support network of friends, neighbours, co-workers and relatives to make Tara's wish come true. The Make-A-Wish Foundation became involved and got to work on finding "horsey-contacts". That's where I came in. Through a close friend who volunteered for the foundation, I became a source for advice and an extra set of hands for when the horse was delivered.
"Buddy Boom" as Tara named him, arrived in September to a crew of people who had been working all day to get the fencing put up, a lean-to and all the little extras, right in the Houston's backyard.

I admit I was worried when the horse stepped off the trailer. Knowing the fragile physical state Tara was in, and the fragile emotional state everyone else was in, we NEEDED a quiet, gentle horse. Buddy seemed to be pushy and ignorant and refused to pick up his feet for me to check out. He pulled hard on the lead rope and became more and more worried. What would happen when this delicate 7 year old girl wanted to lead him? Or ride him? What would happen if she got attached to him but he just wasn't safe? What would happen if we need to get a different horse? Would there be enough time to find another horse?

Tara met Buddy that day and immediately began calling him Buddy Boom. Buddy Boom was a totally different horse than the Buddy I had been handling moments earlier. Buddy Boom was quiet and gentle, with a soft understanding look in his eye. He didn't pull on the lead rope, he followed Tara around like a puppy. It was like nothing I had ever seen, and have not seen since.
Their bond grew as Tara's condition worsened. Buddy Boom would lay with his head in Tara's lap while she stroked his hair and spoke to him. He would call to her each morning.
After fighting bravely for several months, Tara passed away in February of 2003, shortly before her 8th birthday.
It must be mentioned that with no previous medical conditions, at 17 years of age Buddy Boom also passed just days before Tara.

After what must have been truly devastating, the Houstons have kept Tara's memory vivid in our minds through a beautiful garden that mother Sheri, and father Scott maintain. Tara's favourite flowers were sunflowers, which also became the theme (along with her favourite colour-purple of course), of the foundation they started in Tara's name. The foundation helps to provide support for families like the Houstons with terminally or chronically ill children in their time of need. Over the years since Tara's wish, I have seen what the foundation has done for these families. I have met and spoken with them and realized what it meant to have the foundation backing them.

The Foundation's mandate is to assist families facing financial difficulties due to a child's life-threatening illness. The following are the expenses that the Foundation will provide financial assistance for:

• Travel to and from hospitals or medical facilities to receive treatment.
• Accommodation expenses while the child is receiving treatment at a facility that is outside the geographical area within 200 kilometres of the family's primary residence.
• Treatment not funded by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan or by private insurance held by the family.
• Assistive devices or specialized equipment required as part of the treatment, and not funded by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan or by private insurance held by the family.
• Funds to subsidize daily living expenses of both parents or the primary caregiver (in the case of single parent families) should they become unable to work because of caring for their child as a result of their illness. These funds may be used for mortgage payments, utilities and/or groceries.

This year, I am asking my students to help me in support of the foundation which is currently helping three families through this heart-breaking time in their lives.
Please visit the TARA BOOM HOUSTON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION.

Regular students will receive a gift certificate valid from Dec. 19th to Jan. 4th only. Any rides scheduled during this time will be discounted the $10 gift certificate as recognition and as a thank you for your support over the past few months. I am suggesting, for those interested in supporting the foundation, that they pay the full $40 rate, and the $10 from the gift certificate will go directly to the foundation.

Being involved in the Houston's story and getting to know Tara has enriched my life in ways I wouldn't have thought possible. A few years ago I was asked to write an article for a magazine about my experiences with horses and as a graduate of an equine college (you can read my article on my main website on the "About" page). In writing the article I discovered the most enriching experience I had to share was my experience with Tara. This is the main reason why I want to share this opportunity with my students. Although you will not have the pleasure of meeting Tara, being involved in your community and finding out what horses mean to others around you is a great privilege.

On behalf of myself, Tara's mom Sheri, dad Scott, and brother Josh

THANK YOU!

And hey, how 'bout we dedicate our rides over the holidays to Tara?

GIFT CERTIFICATES!

Don't sweat it, I've found the perfect gift for you!
I have put together some holiday gift certificates for anyone interested in purchasing a ride for friends, family, moms, daughters, dads, brothers, colleagues, you name it!
Gift certificates are available in any increment. Please contact me directly for more information, thanks!

Preparing for the cold weather!

It's official.
There's snow on the ground.
Water buckets have ice around the edges.
Horses are big and furry instead of smooth and silky.

It's time for longjohns and hotties!

I have purchased (though some advice from a student - Thanks Bev!) a great big pack of "Hotties" from Costco. If you haven't heard of Hotties, they make hand warmers and adhesive foot warmers for cold weather. The adhesive foot warmers work great for riding and being in the barn when you stick them right to your sock inside your boots. The hand warmers keep fingers warm, and usually you can get by with just one if you remember to switch them back and forth from hand to hand.

If you are interested in trying them, I will have them available for students for $2.00 each (to cover my costs).

Also, several places in London sell thermal underwear and cold weather gear. I have found great success in buying mine from Mountain Equipment Co-op (thanks to another student who does winter hiking and camping for this referral!). The store is located in Toronto, but you can order items online and I believe shipping is free until December 4th.

The thermal underwear, tops and bottoms are FANTASTIC. I don't know how I lived without them. When I was at the store, I was lucky enough to meet a sales representative who rides horses and knew exactly what I needed. I use the Polartec medium-heavy weight thermals. They have stood up to wear and tear for me and kept me warm when I'm standing in the arena in the middle of winter. I also purchased boot liners and glove liners which make a huge difference. This year I bought a helmet liner. I would recommend for most students to buy a helmet cover (available at Greenhawk). They are warmer and cover the helmet as well as your ears and cheeks. The liner I chose because when I ride I often ride hard enough that I sweat. The liner has a moisture wicking fabric over the skull, and warm fleecey patches for my ears.

The website is www.mec.ca if you are interested in exploring these suggestions further. Hope you find these helpful, and please remember the barn is always colder than you think it's going to be so DRESS WARMLY, riding isn't much fun when your fingers are frozen and you can't feel your feet.

The Great Debate: English Vs. Western

(Watch the Video too!)

I am frequently asked "What is the difference between western and english?" and "English riding is more difficult than western riding isn't it?" and "Why did you choose to ride western and not english?" My response is usually about the same. My belief is that whether you ride in an english or western saddle, it is HOW EFFECTIVELY you communicate with the horse that is the most important, and usually what becomes the most intriguing part of whatever "game" you choose to play with your horse. You could choose to play the jumping game, the reining game, the barrel racing game, the dressage game etc. etc etc. etc...

I believe that experience with both disciplines will prove beneficial to any rider. Having experience with both disciplines I will say that I very much enjoy both, but choose to teach and ride mostly western. The reason for this being quite simple. The western tack, training philosophies, and breeding in western horses make for, in my opinion, a safer bet for students (and myself). The tack provides more support for the rider should they become unbalanced. The training emphasizes stopping, backing and slowing on command more so than most english trainers. The most common breed for western riding is the Quarter Horse, known for it's levelheadedness. That being said, I do teach many dressage principles to my western students, and encourage them to ride in an english saddle to gain a more thorough understanding of the feel of the horse: something they can not develop as easily through the thick, heavy western saddle.

I disagree quite strongly with any coach or trainer who says "An english rider will have no problem switching to western, whereas a western rider will struggle to learn english". In my experience as a coach, and after observing countless fellow students at Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre attempt "the switcheroo", I find an excellent rider is still an excellent rider, and a poor rider is still a poor rider, no matter the discipline. Watch any english rider switch to western and you will see communication errors, watch any western rider switch to english and you will see communication errors. I encourage riders to experiment with both and not to become part of the rivalry that goes on between english and western riders. In most cases, if someone feels so strongly about one being far superior to the other, it is due to a lack of knowledge of the sport.


The article below explains some of the differences and the Video -------->CLICK HERE<--------- is a fun watch. Enjoy!

Western vs. English Riding

by Anita Howe

{return to "Articles"}

It’s more than just a costume…I’ve been to many horse shows over the years, and frequently show in both English as well as western classes. Occasionally even with the same horse. However, I strongly feel that it’s important that exhibitors understand and better determine how to show their horse to his best advantage. A horse’s way-of-going, as well as the rider’s participation is significantly different from English Pleasure to Western Pleasure riding. Granted there are many similarities in the two disciplines: a correct and willing cooperation of horse and rider being the overall goal. While many people are sincere advocates of one discipline or the other, they both have their challenges as well as accomplishments and I would never try to say one method is more accomplished than the other.

Western riding hales its history from the cowboy using his horse for ranch and range work. Western saddles need to carry not just the ranch hand, but his rope, rifle, bedroll, canteen, and anything else he may need for the entire day in the elements. Of necessity it evolved to be heavier and larger framed to spread the weight over a greater portion of the horse’s back as well as have larger fenders to protect the horse from friction of the various accoutrements hanging from the saddle. This heavier, bulkier saddle and fenders reduce the close contact feel of the rider’s legs and seat; and often necessitates the use of spurs to enforce the limited heel contact available. So what we end up with is a horse that must respond quickly to the one-handed neck rein, usually well before bit contact is achieved; as well as the slightest shift in the riders weight to anticipate a necessary change of direction. A horse whose head needs to be carried lower to better focus on hoof placement and trail obstacles: a working horse who knows its job of supporting the rider’s in his working environment.

Modern English disciplines, in my opinion, have evolved more from pleasure and sport riding in these later centuries, than from the aspect of a working horse. It has mostly focused on two objectives: to enhance the communication and harmony between horse and rider, and for performance riding in the show ring and racing circuits. The saddles and tack are lighter and less bulky. The rider strives to achieve and maintain communication through his/her seat and legs as well as light bit contact; to facilitate a synchronized effort between them and their horse. The horse willingly responds to these aids with greater collection, balance and lightness in his gaits and overall performance. His entire demeanor is geared more for performance than work, more focused on the rider and less toward possible obstacles underfoot.

So when we choose to show our horses we must evaluate which of these disciplines will showcase his talents the best. Does our horse work well on a loose rein, with minimal leg contact, a more relaxed and natural head carriage and does he respond quickly to little or no bit contact? He will most likely be judged better as a Western Pleasure horse. Does our horse carry himself with light collection, willingly engaging in light bit contact, and work well with us responding to our subtle seat and leg aids? Does he carry his head in a more elevated "look at me" demeanor while flowing forward in a natural impulsion? Then he will most likely show well in English Pleasure divisions.

You may have a horse that will do both, but please understand that to simply put western tack on a horse that needs active bit contact in order to maintain his carriage and balance or to gait correctly, defeats the objectives of the Western Pleasure horse. Or conversely, to put English tack on a horse that will not engage the bit and insists on a more relaxed head carriage undermines the performance objectives of English Pleasure riding. The demeanor and carriage of the horse, as well as the active participation of the rider are far greater influences of which disciplines a horse can, and should, show in. While most horses can be trained to make adjustments for both disciplines, exhibitors must realize that each horse will probably tie better in one division over the other depending on that horse’s strengths.

Article written by Anita Howe. Please visit http://www.howetheywalk.com/Western%20vs%20English.htm

Another video!

Another great video for you to watch with friends and family!

Turn on the volume, and click the picture to watch the video:

(Thanks to Teresa for sending this my way)