Ask Cari

This famous stallion is in the pedigree of both Riviera and Rascalla, two of our

exceptional young horses at Windrock Farm.

photo credit:  Phyllis Burchett

I am training Ray Stevenson, the actor who rides in Jayne Mansfield’s Car, a new film written, directed and acted in by Billy Bob Thorton.  Ray learned in a few days how to steer and ride Mr. T for the the scene where he gallops across a sunflower field with his new love interest.  Ray was an excellent student and learned to ride balanced quickly after many exercises like this one where he moves his arm independently of his seat.

Every child’s dream Birthday Bash at Windrock Farm with an amazing show of the Hollywood horses by Rex and an opportunity for all of the kids to sit on the horse couch.  The parents have no idea how special and rare this is.  There was a bouncy castle for them to jump around in and delicious food catered by Pigs Can Fly.

Webster is an integral part of Windrock Farm and as you can see one of his specialties is hugging, come visit soon and meet the mascot of the farm.  Suzanne Clair Guard captured this image on a recent visit.

Spring riding with Flo and Vanessa at Windrock Farm.  The snow is finally gone and we are enjoying hacks across country watching the buds come alive.

RJ and Mr. T will be giving a demo at 2pm at the Meadow Horse Park in Doswell, VA as part of the 40th year Birthday Bash for the amazing Big Red, Secretariat.  Come visit the park and meet us in the stables, or at the arena.  Check for upcoming demos and clinics on our web site  Swanson Peterson Producions

We have been working on many different breeds of horses with a variety of issues to correct.  This walking horse was a champion in the show arena and is now a trail horse.  Because of his training for the class caused him to have flashbacks while mounting and moving off for the first few steps.

We have been working with Chiller to build his confidence to stand quietly and not panic in the first step off.  He is improving every day and is incredibly comfortable to ride.

Cari ~ “I just wanted to let you guys know that Arabel had a massage tonight and was so relaxed after today’s session that she actually fell asleep on the cross ties.  Arabel is usually grinding her teeth and pawing on the cross ties.  Wow ~ what a difference already in just one session. AMAZING!!” –Karen

This young TB mare was rescued from the killers, finding a new home in a luxurious barn in NY.  She had some baggage from her experience at the track and everyone was giving up on her with the exception of the one person who believed in her.  Karen called us as a last resort and after meeting this mare, we believe she was simply misunderstood.  A highly intelligent mare with outstanding bloodlines, she completely transformed after one session of desensitizing, we will continue to work with her and build her confidence so that her owner can enjoy safe fun rides in the near future.

We believe all horses benefit from this easy lesson in building confidence.  All of our horses, young or old, go through this important lesson as a foundation to their training.  .

Passion for horses led to birth of production company
2/13/2011 6:27 PM
By BEN BAUGH
Staff writer

It seems Cari Swanson and Rex Peterson were destined to become professional horsemen, and the confluence of circumstances, people and events brought them together.

The horsemen are in Aiken teaching at private barns and performing demonstrations at different locations in the area with horses that some may have seen on the big screen – RJ, who appeared in “Hidalgo,” and Mr. T, who was featured in Dreamer and “Secretariat.” The two formed Swanson Peterson Productions two years ago.

They met after the film “Hidalgo,” and RJ brought them together, said Swanson, who is based in Amenia, N.Y.

“It was a coincidence; one of my old roommates had worked with Rex on the movie ‘The Horse Whisperer,’” said Swanson, who grew up around horses. “Margaret (my roommate) kept on saying, ‘This guy is nuts about horses like you are.’ Horses were all I cared about. I was working in publishing in Manhattan; we shared a weekend house, but every weekend I came out to ride my horse. It was obviously a passion.”

Swanson dismissed the idea of meeting anyone involved with horses, and, years later when she was watching “Hidalgo” and she was looking for another horse, she saw Peterson’s name come up in the movie’s credits. Swanson contacted her old roommate to see if she had kept in touch with Peterson and still had his number, and she placed a call to the California-based horseman.

Through his trick and Roman riding, he eventually got to meet and work for one of the world’s legendary horse trainers, whose influence and universal respect as a horseman far exceeded his work in Hollywood, Glenn H. Randall Sr.

“He said, ‘Any friend of Margaret’s is a friend of mine. I suppose you could come out and meet him (RJ),’” said Swanson. “I talked to him for two years, and I convinced him to sell him to me.”

When Swanson realized RJ was so well-trained and a trick horse, she needed to have Peterson, who grew up in the ranch country of Nebraska, along with her when she was conducting clinics.

“He was helping me with my dressage, jumping and eventing riders and helping to solve problems, and it was at that time we decided to build a business,” said Swanson.

The horsemen conduct clinics nationwide and have a television show in production, “Taking the Reins with Rex and Cari,” said Swanson.

“The television show is about training horses, our methodologies, our training techniques but also teaching the owner, the rider and the trainer,” said Swanson, “We have a trailer; we’ve been shopping it around, and we’ve been getting a tremendous reception. We want to find a home for it.”

The horsemen place a great deal of emphasis on horsemanship, solving horses’ behavior and training issues and improving communication with their horses, teaching the people they work with rhythm, balance, confidence, getting them to understand what they’re doing and how to apply it, said Swanson.

Another training demonstration will be held around 3 p.m. tomorrow at Buckleigh Farms at Rt. 302, 4455 Wagener Road. A training lecture and slide show will also be held this evening from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Hunt Room at the Willcox.

To set up a training appointment with Peterson and Swanson, contact them via e-mail at cari@cariswanson.com. Training costs $100 an hour.

Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.

Arctic Bright settles into his new stable in California after a long drive from Lexington, Ky where we picked him up.  Arctic is a pure white TB, with pink skin and dark eyed.  He is charismatic, athletic and quite the character.  Here he is having breakfast in bed after the long drive.  For more information, read here.

Bred in Oregon by Darlene Knight, Arctic Bright is the first foal out of the Reign Road mare Mesa Queen. He hails from the family of 1975 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Foolish Pleasure.

<object

I greatly enjoy teaching kids to ride with confidence and trust in their mounts.  Here is a lesson over our obstacle course which helps them build their confidence and teaches them to deal with any situation.

contact marty@topcatfarms.com for directions and times for the Demo and Meet and Greet the Celebrity horses
there will also be a special pas de deux with Cari riding Bond, and Rex on RJ–not to be missed!

Click here to see RJ and Mr. T are on the morning news in CT where we were teaching a clinic this week.