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.
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