Ask Cari

Last week I had the pleasure to view the new film “The First Saturday in May” about 6 Kentucky Derby hopefuls.  Here is the press release from the American Horse Council:

“With the Triple Crown races fast approaching, we wanted to make sure you know about a unique documentary film that will be shown in more than 20 theaters over the next few weeks.

The award-winning film is called “The First Saturday in May,” and it features a captivating, behind-the-scenes glimpse of six trainers and their horses as they take aim on the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Barbaro is one of those horses.

The film, produced by John and Brad Hennegan, has won numerous awards and rave reviews at film festivals throughout the country. It will open in 20 theaters Friday, April 18.

In a generous gesture to “give something back to the industry,” the Hennegan Brothers have decided to donate 25 percent of box office revenues to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the worldwide leader in equine research.

To see a short preview of the film or to get additional information, including an up-to-date list of theaters and starting dates, visit www.thefirstsaturdayinmay.com or http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/tfsim.asp .

And you may wonder what happens to all the horses who do not make the grade?  Here is an example of a TB bred for racing, the grandson of the uber race horse Secretariat, Mashantum failed miserably at the track, however he went on to qualify for the Atlanta Olympics in Three Day Eventing and then pursue a career in Dressage.

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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

The Horse will examine the powerful and continuing relationship between the horse and humans. The exhibition will explore the origins of the horse family, extending back over more than 50 million years; examine early interactions between horses and humans that led to horse domestication; and see how horses have, over time, changed warfare, trade, transportation, agriculture, sports, and many other facets of human life. The Horse showcases spectacular fossils and cultural objects from around the world—including many from the Museum’s extraordinary collections. This exhibition will include videos, computer interactives, hands-on activities, and touchable casts.

Horse saddle Sakha Republic of Russia (part of Siberia)

© AMNH / Denis Finnin

“The American Museum of Natural History has long focused its research and outreach efforts on the interactions between humans and the natural world, between science and society,” said Museum President Ellen V. Futter. “In keeping with that tradition, The Horse will celebrate this magnificent animal while presenting one of the most fascinating stories in the history of life on Earth—the close and complex relationship between horses and humans. The exhibition will show how the two species have influenced each other through the ages and explore the integral role the horse has played in the history of humanity and civilization.”

Celestial horse; bronze figurine China, Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.)

© AMNH / Denis Finnin

The Horse will showcase spectacular fossils and cultural objects from around the world-including many from the Museum’s extraordinary collections. Highlights include a diorama of horse evolution, the horse in art from the Paleolithic to the present, horse gear and armor from 15th-century Germany, and a horse-drawn fire engine from the 19th century. The exhibition also examines exciting new archaeological discoveries concerning the domestication of the horse and the role of horses in sport from early forms of fox hunting to modern polo, the Triple Crown, and the Olympics.

The Byerley Turk; hand-colored lithograph

Numerous interactive stations throughout the exhibition will invite visitors to measure their strength in horsepower; examine different gaits of a horse by looking through a zoetrope—a device that turns still images into moving ones—based on photos by famous 19th century photographer Eadweard Muybridge; and to learn about the latest developments in the study of horse biology and the role of the horse in modern society. Throughout the exhibition, visitors are introduced to unusual objects and asked to identify them, including such items as a Roman horse shoe, a stirrup, a bit ornament, and a whip used in buzkashi—a sport on horseback played in Central Asia.

RJ Masterbug’s breeding is Versatile… His sire VR MASTER BUG - RESERVE WORLD CHAMPION, Superior Halter Horse, Congress Champion, APHA Champion, World & Reserve World Champion Sire, Honor Roll Halter & Honor Roll Performance Sire.

VR Master Bug has his R.O.M. In Western Pleasure, and also has Reining Points His sire side includes MR ROBIN BOY Superior in Halter, H.U.S, Barrrel Racing, Heading, Healing, Reining, Steer Stopping, Western Pleasure and R.O.M in Calf Roping, PAINTED ROBIN JR, Superior Halter R O M Western Pleasure. Sky Bug Bingo ROM’s in Hunter Under Saddle, Barrel Racing, Cutting, Racing, Reining, Western Pleasure, & Superior in Halter, MR RED BAR R O M ’s in Hunter Under Saddle, Reining, Trail, & Superior’s in Halter, and Western Pleasure.

RJ Masterbug’s Dam Pretty Side Up Has SUPERIOR HALTER WITH 162 Halter points

11 TIMES GRAND CHAMPIOM

13 TIMES RESERVE CHAMPION

TWO TIMES TEXAS STATE CHAMPION HALTER MARE

SHE IS A CONGRESS CHAMPION PRODUCER .

DAMS SIRE Sonny Side Up is a Superior Halter horse with points in HUNTER AND PLEASURE.

contact cari@cariswanson.com for booking information

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

Although RJ is very particular about his footing, he romped around in the snow to show off his favorite trick, standing on his hind legs. He always lights up when a camera is around, always aware of where the camera is located.

RJ playing up for the camera, racing around in the snow showing us all his tricks, this image was captured by Kaitlyn Schultz.

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.”

This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland, huge snowflakes fell in thick clouds covering everything in a blanket of snow. The horses love playing in the drifts and look beautiful in the white fields.

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.

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.

A new western is being filmed in Sante Fe at the Ford Ranch several miles outside of Sante Fe. Rex Peterson is the head horse wrangler for this film starring Viggo Mortenson, Ed Harris and Jeremy Irons. This set was also used by 3:10 to Yuma and has been transformed by a hefty Art Direction budget to create the fictional town of Appaloosa. Rex is heading to Austin Texas for a week of filming and then back to Sante Fe for the final days before wrapping the picture.

Mini brings together the Guerra and Peyrlongue families for a gorgeous family portrait. Mini is a natural, posing perfectly for the photographer. Vanessa did not want to dismount.

Wikepedia gives us some valuable information on this beautiful weed that we trampled through today. All of the horses came home covered in the purple juice from the berry prompting us to research this unique plant. The plants juice has multiple uses including being a paint for the Indians to decorate their horses or as ink to write letters in the 1800’s.

The pokeweeds, also known as poke, pokebush, pokeberry, pokeroot, polk salad, polk sallet, inkberry or ombú, comprise the genus Phytolacca, perennial plants native to North America, South America, East Asia and New Zealand. Pokeweed contains phytolaccatoxin and phytolaccigenin, which are poisonous to mammals. However, the berries are eaten by birds, which are not affected by the toxin because the small seeds with incredibly hard outer shells remain intact in the digestive system and are eliminated whole.

Pokeweeds are herbs growing from 1 to 10 ft. tall. They have single alternate leaves, pointed at the end, with crinkled edges. The stems are often pink or red. The flowers are greenish-white, in long clusters at the ends of the stems. They develop into dark purple berries.

Phytolacca dioica, the ombú, grows as a tree on the pampas of South America and is one of the few providers of shade on the open grassland. It is a symbol of Argentina and gaucho culture.

In order to develop an independent seat, the rider must feel comfortable in the saddle and on the horse. All of my kids learn to perform “around the world” where they pivot in the saddle sitting on one side, backwards, the other side and finally front again. At first this is difficult and scary for them, but after learning how to remain balanced in the middle of the horse, the riders enjoy this excercise. Some even take it a step further by sitting behind the saddle as seen here. I would recommend a person stand at the head of the horse for the first effort as you never know if your horse will want to buck you off his rump. Obviously this pair could perform stunts as neither seems too concerned about this unusual way of riding.

Kathy Landman photographs RJ on a beautiful warm day in October at Windrock Farm. Kathy is a talented photographer who will capture the essence of you with your favorite dog or horse. Take advantage of this beautiful weather and call to schedule a photo shoot with Kathy, contact the Chisholm Gallery in Pine Plains, New York or visit www.chisholmgallery.com.

Eventing is a fun sport comprised of three phases– dressage, cross country and show jumping. Preparation is key to success and each team of horse/rider also needs a ground crew of support to assist in grooming, checking equipment, supplying water. Generally the support team consists of loyal parents, trainers and friends. Here is the crew for Joa and Kestrel, Cupid, Comet and Freja handled by the Mom, the most important element of support.

Twizzler is an 8 year old QH gelding who is perfect on the trails, hunter paces, is a kind easy keeper. He is wonderful by himself or in groups and is a beautiful horse to own.

Rolando is a 10 year old TB standing 16 hands tall. He is a perfect gentleman, elastic gaits, bold jumper, sound and easy to ride. This is a special horse looking for a new partner, he has hunter paced, played polo, hacked and understands basic dressage. Rolando is elegant and striking to watch. contact cari@cariswanson to try him.