Ask Cari

you can still see them on youtube, just visit RJ Masterbug with Rex Peterson at the Equine Affaire

Note that there are 2 parts to the presentation taken by a loyal fan.

Here is RJ warming up with Rex picking up a bag with his autograph on it.  If you would like a bag, send $15 to PO Box 1418, Millbrook, NY 12545 and you can have his hoof print.

Rex and RJ just finished their final demonstration to a pleased crowd. We have three hours remaining at this year’s Equine Affaire–an event that shouldn’t be missed for horse lovers.

The thing that stands out the most from our time here is the number of devoted fans of RJ because of the film “Hidalgo.” This stallion is truly a star. Men and women alike see him and melt. Stories abound of how people have seen the movie over and over and over. The fans know that more than one horse played Hidalgo and they know which horse Viggo Mortensen (the human star of the movie) bought. Rex spoke about why he kept RJ and how Cari pried RJ away from him, at least partly. It’s RJ’s larger than life personality that won Rex’s and Cari’s hearts as well the hearts of millions of devoted fans.

Rex at work at the Equine Affaire. It’s been a crazy day here. We’re tucked in a back corner  so we only have mobs of people part of the time. Tomorrow’s demonstration is at 1 PM at the Youth Pavillion in the Mallory Complex. See you tomorrow!

When Cari met Rex Peterson in 2005 she had no idea what she was in for. Last night at the Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Massachusetts, an artistic version of their relationship played out. Two riders captivated the crowd at the Eastern States Expo Coliseum with a performance titled “East meets West.”

A top dressage rider (representing Cari) took to the arena with the theme from “Chariots of Fire” playing. A Grand Prix dressage performance began . . . then the spotlight switched to rider number two. A cowboy galloped in to the song “Dueling Banjos.” The contrast between the controlled, refined, blue-blooded dressage performance, and the raucous high energy cowboy on his Quarter Horse couldn’t have been greater. Imagine Rex Peterson.

Back and forth it went, world class dressage with the grandiose, inspiring, and rareified music, and then world class Western riding to the down and dirty music from “Deliverance.” It was a duel of cultures, worlds apart, yet so very complimentary.

Last night’s act just might inspire Cari and Rex to do one of their own riding RJ and Bond. The performers last night were great, but our favorite resident of Dutchess County and the legendary horseman from southern California could do even better.

We’re enjoying our time at the Equine Affaire. We hope to see you but if you can’t make it, keep checking here for updates. Buy the first three in the Rex Peterson training video series today by clicking here.

Cari’s brother Jim Breitinger is an Arizona-based writer.

Rex greets his fans today at the Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Mass. Photo by Jim Breitinger.

Visit swansonpetersonproductions.com to learn more about the first set of training DVD’s available from Rex Peterson.  You also have the opportunity to meet Rex with one of his best Trick horses, RJ Masterbug at the Equine Affaire this week in W. Springfield Mass.  Rex Peterson Training DVD’s

Today is a busy day at Windrock Farm as we make final preparations for the Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Massachusetts and Rex’s arrival.

We are excited to launch the initial three videos in the new series–Rex Peterson’s Horse Wisdom: One Step Makes a Thousand.

Please send an email to any and all friends who may be going to the Equine Affaire and tell them to be sure and see Rex and RJ in action and stop by our booth. They can email us at cari@cariswanson.com or call me at 928.300.8010.

Cari’s brother Jim Breitinger is helping out during the Equine Affaire. He is an Arizona-based writer.

The film industry—aka Hollywood—is the home of the great, and sometimes not so great, story tellers of our times. Every day on the set represents a lot of money spent in an effort to capture some movie magic.

For that reason, working with animals on films is a risky, tricky, and increasingly high stakes business. Directors and producers don’t need to mess around with animals who can’t do their job. They have too much at stake. Rex Peterson has become the gold standard when it comes to horses in film. When Julia Roberts was portrayed galloping through the woods away from one of her weddings in “Runaway Bride,” she rode one of Rex’s horses (that is actually Julia on the horse). See Cari’s blog for many other examples of Rex’s film work, including of course the filming of “Hidalgo” with our own RJ, the star horse of that film.

Have you ever had a problem with your horse that you didn’t know how to handle? If you’ve ever had a horse we know the answer to that question and we are here with many new solutions—most of which are in fact very old and are passed down from generations that preceded ours.

This week and weekend in Massachusetts you will have the opportunity to meet the legendary Rex Peterson in the flesh at the Equine Affaire. Not only that, Swanson Peterson Productions is releasing a new series of training videos available on DVD. More details on that this week.

We look forward to seeing you at the Equine Affaire.

Jim Breitinger is an Arizona-based writer.

Mash. Photo by Lisa Houlgrave.

Jim Breitinger is an Arizona-based writer.