Ask Cari

If you are looking for a new partner, this horse may be him. Ghost is a lovely imported Andalusian, classically trained and easy to ride. He has a wonderful temperament and personality. Come try him before someone else discovers he is here.

Photo by Esther-Grace Simson

Last weekend, Rex returned to Windrock Farm to teach a clinic on how to improve the communication with your horse. Rex worked with several young horses to improve the connection and balance, two horses were backed for the first time and two horses with spooking issues. He also tuned up his best stunt horse, RJ May 15-18 for another clinic, contact cari@cariswanson.com for availability.

In sixth-century B.C. Greece, Xenophon wrote the first riding manual, the classic Art of Horsemanship, in which he emphasized training the horse through kindness and reward. He recognized that training a horse required building a relationship with another being, whose integrity both physical and mental should be maintained throughout the process. This is demanding for both partners and must be achieved without losing the spirit of either.

The distinction between classical dressage and competition dressage has been the subject of a great of debate in recent years. A brief look into the 2,000-year history of equitation may help the reader put this question into perspective. Starting in the Middle Ages, horsemanship began to evolve from a purely practical and military pursuit into an art form for the entertainment and participation of the ruling classes in Europe. The first major publication on the subject of educated riding was Frederico Grisone’s Gli Ordini di Cavalcare, which appeared in 1550. Although the methods espoused by Grisone were brutal, his was the first expression of horsemanship over and above the traditional utilitarian role of transportation and war. The Italian Renaissance was characterized by vigorous intellectual, literary, and artistic growth, and the sixteenth century’s cultivated approach to horsemanship was an integral part of this movement. The Baroque period of the seventeenth century gave rise to the luxurious arts in which riding took its place alongside literature, painting, sculpture, and architecture.

The horses of the Baroque period were schooled for parades, exhibitions, and carousels held at the pleasure of the king and his court, and for the most part they were of predominantly Iberian breeding (Lusitano and Andalusian). This type of haute école (high-school) horsemanship reached its climax with the publication of Gueriniere’s book, Ecole de Cavalerie, in 1733, a book still used by the Cadre Noir of Saumur. With the French Revolution in 1789 came the decline of courtly riding, as the school at Versailles shifted its focus to military preparedness and to the education of cavalry troops, who were trained to fight rather than parade. The ideal officer’s charger had to be able to participate in the equestrian sports of the time, which were now hunting and steeplechasing, the basis for the combined-training tests of today. After court (or manège) riding lost the support of the royal courts, the venue for haute école riding moved to the European circus, a combination concert hall and riding hall that preserved the dignity of horsemanship.

Cavalry officers who were aware of the splendid equestrian traditions of the past opened the doors for François Baucher, a gifted circus rider and trainer, who managed to interest the French Army in his training methods. But by this time, the equestrian world had fundamentally changed. The 1800s brought a new pragmatic approach to riding with the concept of an “all-round horse.” It was at this time that Frederico Caprilli (1868-1907) advanced his training methods in which the rider’s forward seat was emphasized to allow the horse natural freedom in galloping and jumping. Nowadays, competitive dressage (or haute école riding) is done primarily for competition, dating from the 1912 Olympics, which focused, however, on testing the horse as an effective and obedient charger, not as an expression of art.

All thinking riders should be aware of this history and the evolution of horsemanship. On the one hand, the focus is on functionality, technical precision, and the rules of competition, but on the other, the rider’s goal is also to create beauty and art for the pleasure of the audience. Each approach has its place, but the pressures of modern competitive dressage tend to place an emphasis on technique, but all great riders know that must develop communication with their equine partners. They must strive for balance between the mastery of technical execution and the development of artistic expression. True harmony with the horse can be achieved when the rider balances the execution of a movement with the feeling of oneness with the animal. It is at that juncture that the horse and rider have transformed technique into art.

In searching for ordered movement, one risks producing some form of mechanization instead of maintaining the purity of the horse’s natural paces. Some horses, of course, have a naturally powerful and elastic way of going, whereas others will look more ordinary, but both types can be trained to improve their athleticism, thereby narrowing the gap in their performance. The aim of training must always be to make the horse look more beautiful.

Ten lucky kids can sign up for the Kids Clinic at Windrock Farm this summer,

bring your pony or horse or lease one of ours to learn how your horse thinks, how to ride in balance with confidence,

ride on trails, compete in monthly competitions at the farm for ribbons and prizes.

contact cari@cariswanson.com to sign up

Tonys’ Tips - From Tony Mason.

There is no Dressage without Geometry.  Start with the Straight line.  The first part of Balance is in the steady going forward without undue effort.   Over riding is the first problem and ninety percent of the difficulties are created by  “over work means lost balance”.  The scales of the riders Seat must be firm in their sitting and judgement as in the Scales of Justice.  Two evenly tuned, rounded antennae  Suddeness will often kill the Balance of the Straight Line as much as will, a misguided and  over confidant Hand.  The Balance and the Straight  Line are as brother and sister , as close friends or the happiest of Lovers.

contact cari@cariswanson.com for dates and times

Rex returns to Windrock Farm in the Spring to teach a clinic on how to control your horse better.    You will also see him work with one of his best trick horses, RJ, the star from the Disney classic film “Hidalgo”.

sign up early for a space in the Clinic, as it always fills up quickly.  $575 for 3 day clinic, 3 hour sessions per day.

Auditors are welcome at $30/half day

Stunning imported Irish Sport Horse, grandson of King of Diamonds, elastic supple movement, excels in dressage and jumping, super eventing prospect, talent to go advanced, a wonderful personality, easy to work with, you want him in your family

Cosmo was the star of the clinic last weekend demonstrating his super temperament and  athletic ability.  His eye catching movement was noticed by all.  Contact cari@cariswanson to schedule an appointment to try him.

Did you know that horses have around 56 vertebrae which form a supporting framework for the neck, back and tail? There are 7 cervical (neck), 18 thoracic (withers and saddle region), 6 lumbar (loin region), 5 sacral (croup region) and about 20 caudal (tail region) vertebrae. The degree of movement varies greatly in different regions.

Consider the degree of range of motion in flexion and extension of the following joints;

90 degrees the atlantaoccipital joint which is between the skull and the first cervical vertebrae

15-35 degrees in the remaining cervical vertabrae

10 degrees in the first interthoracic joint, just in front of the withers

1 degee in joint at withers

3-4 degrees in joints under the saddle

30 degrees of motion in lumbosacral joint, between the last lumbar vertebra and the fused sacral vertebrae

This image demonstrates RJ/Hidalgo rounding his back, activating his abdominal muscles as he extends his back extends. Studies prove that the movements between the vertabrae are created by the forces of locomotion and are controlled by the horse’s back muscles. Thus, the back muscles do not cause the spine to round and hollow, the forces of locomotion do. The back muscles control the amount of rounding and flexing.

These findings are fascinating, allowing us to better understand our horses ability to move while training. You can find more information from Hilary Clayton at her web site www.cvm.msu.edu/dressage

Over a dozen horses and riders turned out for an informative clinic at Oakendale on a beautiful February day.  The focus was on how to effectively communicate with your horse.  This photo is an example of how the riders learned to bend the neck of their horses while mounted.  Essentially a carrot stretch from the saddle, this is a wonderful way to demonstrate to the rider that the horse can bend and flex his neck.

Some of the problems we solved included control the haunches, keeping a respectable distance from the horse, placing the head down, maintaining the attention of the horse, and learning to read the horse’s body language.   Every horse improved after learning the new excercises.  In fact the horses were much calmer and attentive to their owner after the work.

Ruben has a unique way with all equines, horses, donkeys, mules and even zebras.  He has a talent to feel the animal and “read” his mind.  This is an innate ability which makes everything Ruben does around horses look easy but care should be taken to consider safety the number one priority at all times.  And remember, each horse is an individual so if one system is not working try another.

Talented 7 year old gelding, 16.1, kind easy to ride, also loves to jump, excellent event prospect or pony club horse.  Looking for a new partner to win many ribbons with.

When you are tense, let me teach you to relax. When you are short tempered, let me teach you to be patient. When you are short sighted, let me teach you to see. When you are quick to react, let me teach you to be thoughtful. When you are angry, let me teach you to be serene. When you feel superior, let me teach you to be respectful. When you are self absorbed, let me teach you to think of greater things. When you are arrogant, let me teach you humility. When you are lonely, let me be your companion. When you are tired, let me carry the load. When you need to learn, let me teach you. After all, I am your horse.

*And now, the REAL story……..*

(by Mary Green) When you are tense, let me teach you that there are lions in the woods, and we need to leave NOW. When you are short tempered, let me teach you how to slog around the pasture for an hour before you can catch me. When you are shortsighted, let me teach you to figure out where, exactly, in 40 acres I am hiding. When you are quick to react, let me teach you that herbivore’s kick MUCH faster than omnivores. When you are angry, let me teach you how well I can stand on my hind feet, because I don’t FEEL like cantering on my right lead today, that’s why. When you feel superior, let me teach you that, mostly, you are the maid service. When you are self-absorbed, let me teach you to PAY ATTENTION. I TOLD you about those lions in the woods. When you are arrogant, let me teach you what 1200 lbs of YAHOO-let’s-go suitably inspired event horse can do. When you are lonely, let me be your companion. Let’s do lunch. Also, breakfast and dinner. When you are tired, let me remind you of the 600 lbs of grain that needs to be unloaded. When you are feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of “Veterinary Services, additional”.

Is your horse telling you something?  One of the most important things for any horse owner to know is how to read his horse.  Each horse is an individual and will express himself differently.  Although there is the common language the horse speaks, there are always exceptions with each individual.Carrot stetches are very important to assess the suppleness and mood of your horse.  Here you see this mare reaching around in response to a massage on her belly, her head is lowered so she is calm and her ears are soft telling us she is receptive to hearing what her friend has to say.Many people spend hours observing horse behaviour in an effort to understand the dynamic between horses themselves and horses and humans.  As an owner it is critical to spend time on the ground with your horse as much as in the saddle.

This is an excellent book by Bill Dorrance and Leslie Desmond. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning how horses think and how to communicate with them in a productive way. A horse’s self preservation instinct in natural and my grandfather always said it was almost impossible to teach someone feel. Each horse is an individual and reacts to peoples energy, he said “beware of anyone who makes a generous kind horse angry”. Horses read people just as people read horses.Bill says “There is always a rightful place for a horse to exercise his concern for self-preservation. It is important to remember that this is the horse’s right. When it’s up to the horse, he won’t do what isn’t natural to him anyway, and of course, self-preserving actions are right at the top of the list of things that are natural to him.”Self preservation is his main job. And it’s your job to learn how to handle those situations when they come up, and to get back that better feel you had going with the horse before his instincts caused him to stop feeling of you. That way you can finish the other job you had to do, whatever it was, and when you put the horse up you’d both be feeling good again. And there’d be no need to mentiona anything that wasn’t the best about that horse.”

Recently one of our favorite horses travelled across the nation to move to Hidden Hills, California. Here she is in her new home with Alex, her new best friend.

With a change in environment, different food and a new time change, horses take some time to adjust. Beauty is not exception and upon arrival showed signs of ulcers. If there are any signs of ulcers they can easily be dealt with. I called Don Kapper, one of the top Equine Nutritionists has developed a product Ulcers. This is what he writes:

The Ulcer Formula must come into “contact” with the lesion to work, it is best fed at least 4 times/day for the first two weeks. After that, you can feed the recommended amount, according to her size, twice a day with her regular feed. To order Ulcer Formula and have it delivered please call “toll free” number: 877-235-2171, any questions about Equine Nutrition can be sent directly to Don at:dkapper@prognutrition.com

Also if there are any signs of hives it is important to have the vet take a blood profile to determine what is causing the irritation. This is very simple and will confirm what the allergies are from. A simple injection of steroids will eliminate the bumps in the short term, however if they resurface it is important to solve the problem from the inside.

Dunits Kickin Ace is a very special horse, he is a world champion reining horse from Medalho do Ouro Farm in Sao Roque Brasil. My good friend Ruben Morales works with this farm in South America. No matter what disipline you ride, the key to successful riding is the communication between rider and horse. Here is a perfect example of clear communication, notice the rider has no bridle! He is riding with his body which is what we should all aspire to.

George is an outstanding 9 yr old, 15.3 hand QH cross. George has evented BN, is schooling first level dressage, jumps 3′3″, has hunter paced and pony clubbed. a suitable for an adult amateur or young rider.He is easy to work around and bombproof. He trailers, clips and baths with ease. Georges owner has sadly decided to sell him. He can be a little lazy and she is just under 5ft tall and with his big build she doesn’t have enough leg to keep him going. We have found another horse so we are looking to find George a good home asap.

Riding is an inherently dangerous sport, thus if you spend enough hours in the saddle you know it is inevitable that you will hit the ground at some point. The important thing is to fall without getting hurt, or at least minimize the chances of injury by learning to tuck and roll. Never put your hand out to break the fall or you will end up breaking your arm. More importantly, spend hours learning the basics of balance, riding in rhythm with relaxation. With the correct education you will learn to identify dangerous situations and alter the course of action prior to disaster.

Here is an extraordinary video of a horse who back flips to dislodge his rider, in this case I would recommend not attempting to ride this horse until he learns to keep all 4 feet on the ground.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Du3496C7WwE

Outstanding Irish gelding, 16.2, kind, generous, super easy to ride, Silver has fox hunted, competed in the Jumpers, evented (potential for high levels), he has excellent dressage basics and is sadly for sale to the perfect home. He is currently in Aiken South Carolina, contact cari@cariswanson.com to schedule an appointment to try this classy horse.