Dunning’s unique expertise and compelling instruction was first introduced to HRTV in early March, a month after equestrian programming debuted on the network, when he unveiled “So You Want to be a Reiner.”

The latest instruction involving the legendary Dunning will feature accompaniment from the renowned Wylene Wilson, the 2009 winner of the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Fort Worth, TX, competing in five episodes to work a recently-rescued mustang into a gentler, more manageable partner.

Throughout each half-hour episode viewers will observe Dunning and Wilson work with the mustang, “Trooper,” as he fights, and then accepts, his new home, interacting with humans.

“Al Dunning’s reputation within the equestrian community is firmly established, and this programming further enhances and upgrades our equestrian content,” said Jim Bates, HRTV’s Executive Vice President and General Manager.

An Arizona-based horseman, Dunning has owned and operated his Almosta Ranch, a Quarter Horse training facility, in Scottsdale since 1970.  During his outstanding career, Dunning has earned a lengthy list of accomplishments.  Among the most noteworthy are being being American Quarter Horse Horseman of the Year in 1996, and being bestowed the Monty Roberts Equitarian Award in 2004.

An expert in all facets of Western events, Dunning and his students have accounted for 32 World and Reserve titles through the years in a wide-ranging variety of disciplines — Reining, Cutting, Working Cow Horse and Western Riding.

About HRTV

HRTV (www.hrtv.com) is a 24-hour, television-based multimedia network dedicated to the “Sport of Kings,” horseracing, featuring live racing action from many of the sport’s greatest racetracks. Passionate horse fans are also entertained and informed by HRTV’s award-winning documentaries, original programming, in-depth analysis and equestrian lifestyle programming.

The live stream of HRTV is available on a subscription basis at www.hrtvlive.com to high speed internet users worldwide. The HRTV television network is presently available via cable, telco video and satellite in 19 million US homes.

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The Early Bird Deadline is just a month away on August 31, 2010 for Full Conference Registration.

Click https://www.cha-ahse.org/store/cart.php?target=category&action=view&category_id=267 to register online and click http://www.cha-ahse.org/downloads/conference-registration-form-cha.pdf to print out a registration form.

Daniel Stewart with USET, Dale Myler with Myler Bits, Karen Murdock trick trainer, Julie Goodnight of Horse Master TV, JoAnne Young with Houghton College, Teresa Kackert with Great Horses and many other wonderful speakers will be there! Topics such as reining, equitation patterns, equine nutrition, pack and trail, trick training, Centered Riding®, equine dentistry, chiropractic and lameness and much more.

All participants can ride in sessions with these top instructors. Click here to see all speakers and sessions that will be at this educational event that is open to all horse enthusiasts http://www.cha-ahse.org/downloads/conference-schedule-cha.pdf . There are Day Rate options available for each day of the conference.  Media, contact Christy Landwehr if you want to attend.

Please donate an item for the Silent Auction – This fundraiser raises money for the CHA Scholarship Fund that helps new riding instructors attend CHA clinics and get certified based on their financial need. Please click here to send in an item today! http://www.cha-ahse.org/downloads/conference-silent-auction-pledge-cha.pdf

The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the horse industry. CHA certifies instructors, recreational vaulting coaches, barn managers, college coaches, drivers and trail guides; accredits equestrian facilities; publishes educational manuals and hosts regional and international conferences.

For more information on the Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA-ahse.org or call toll free 1-800-399-0138.  To find a certified riding instructor or accredited equine facility near you visit www.CHAinstructors.com

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An excellent value, each ticket will admit one person into the World Championship of Colt-Starting on February 25-27, 2011. Providing first come, first serve seating during the event, these tickets are limited.

“To our surprise and excitement, only 50 tickets are left for the 2011 Road to the Horse, and those tickets that are left are in the exclusive Road to the Horse Nation seating block. We just couldn’t let the doors close yet with so many fans still clamoring to get in, so we created more space by adding bleachers inside the coliseum. This will allow so many more people to attend, cheer for their favorite clinician and be immersed in natural horsemanship!” said Tootie Bland, owner and producer of Road to the Horse.

Road to the Horse fans have been given the opportunity to join the Road to the Horse Nation. Getting even closer to the action, Nation members have their own private website, www.roadtothehorsenation.com. Launched in mid July, the site offers articles, videos, pictures, fan forums and more! Nation members also have access to special seating sections within the coliseum.

For more information on the 2011 Road to the Horse or to buy your tickets, visit www.roadtothehorse.com.

Calling All Western Artists!

Do you use vibrant colors to depict the spirit of the horse? Have you always dreamed of getting your artwork into the hands of thousands of people?

If your answer is a resounding “Yes!”, Road to the Horse would like you to send us a sample of your work. If you’d like to create a special piece for Road to the Horse, showcasing all that embodies the World Championship of Colt-Starting and the 2011 Legends, even better!

Please send your sample artwork or Road to the Horse cover art submission along with a short bio and personal photo to shortie@roadtothehorse.com.

Road to the Horse

Road to the Horse, the World Championship of Colt-Starting is unlike any other event in the equine or entertainment industry. The three-day sold out event matches three of the country’s best horse trainers and clinicians of today against one another as they train unbroken colts to ride in just a few short hours in front of a packed live audience and television cameras.

By combining education, edge-of-your-seat suspense, entertainment and the love of the horse, Road to the Horse has been responsible for solidifying the position of today’s horsemanship heroes and launching the careers of tomorrow’s hottest new stars.

In the process, the event itself has become a catalyst for the advancement of natural horsemanship. Spectators are guaranteed not only to have a good time, but also to walk away with training knowledge that will improve their relationship with horses.

Road to the Horse is proud to partner with many outstanding companies across the equine industry including Road to the Horse presenting sponsor, Western Horseman and strategic partner AQHA along with Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Horses Magazine, Martin Saddlery, Gist Silversmiths, ABI Equine, Horsecity.com, WW Livestock, Callaway Farms Manufacturing, Extreme Mustang Makeover, Hoofbeats Magazine, Rockin J Horse Stalls and Flying D Enterprises. For sponsorship opportunities and more information on the 2011 Road to the Horse visit www.roadtothehorse.com or call 325-736-5000.

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AQHA inaugurated a title for racing’s champion trainer in 1985, and Schvaneveldt was the first and only winner through 1996. The AQHA Executive Committee, upon the recommendation of the AQHA Racing Council, yesterday approved naming the champion trainer award for the iconic horseman known and respected throughout the industry as “The King.”

“I couldn’t be happier about naming our award for Blane,” said AQHA Executive Committee member Johnny Trotter, who bred and raced champion One Famous Eagle. “Nobody has ever come close to doing what Blane did. He set records in stakes races that’ll never be broken. He did things with horses that I wouldn’t say nobody else could do – but I sure haven’t seen anybody do those things.”

“What Blane contributed to the industry is a lot bigger than what the numbers show,” Trotter continued. “You have to realize that when Blane was doing so many of those things and setting so many of those records, he was doing it when purses were so much smaller than they are today. There weren’t all these big, million dollar races, there weren’t tracks all over the country to race on. He was a great guy, a once-in-a-lifetime individual, and I am so blessed, so fortunate and so thankful to have gotten to meet him and become friends with him. There’s nobody who deserves our thanks and gratitude more than Blane. It’s an honor for AQHA to name the award for him.”

Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2001, Schvaneveldt between 1970 and his death on July 5 had sent out the winners of 5,186 races in 32,173 starts, his starters earning $55,322,155. Schvaneveldt toppled D. Wayne Lukas from the No. 1 spot in races won in 1976 and, the year after that, became the first conditioner to saddle the earners of more than $1 million in a single season.

He led the sport’s trainers in money won and earnings in 1977, and repeated those titles for the next eight years, becoming in 1980 the first trainer to break $2 million. He followed that two years later with the industry’s first $3 million year, and in 1984 set what until 2003 was the all-time single-season record of $3,531,572. Schvaneveldt won the richest race of his career in December 2008 when Tres Passes won the $1,954,250 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1).

Schvaneveldt developed champion and American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Town Policy; world champions Miss Thermolark, Dash For Speed, Refrigerator, Cash Rate, First Down Dash, Winalota Cash and Super Sound Charge; and 25 other champions.

In his own name, he bred the earners of more than $6.2 million. He also served on the AQHA Racing Committee and Racing Council, and now has two races in his name: the Blane Schvaneveldt Futurity at Wyoming Downs and the Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap (G3) at Los Alamitos.

Schvaneveldt was laid to rest on July 13 in Preston, Idaho. A memorial service was held July 19 at SeaCoast Grace Church in Cypress, California.

The Schvaneveldt family requests that memorial gifts be forwarded to the American Quarter Horse Foundation at P.O. Box 32111, Amarillo, TX 79120 and designated to the Hall of Fame Endowment. Contributions are being accumulated with a goal to place a recognition plaque in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. Gifts can also be made online at www.aqha.com/donatetoday.

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It’s a beautiful day outside and you saddle up with a bounce in your step.  Even your horse seems to be in good spirits and nickers as you make your way to the arena.  You throw your leg over the saddle and your mind goes blank.  What do you do today, the same old exercises again?   Your horse needs a good workout and so do you, but you can’t come up with a thing.  Now you’ve gone from bouncy to bored in a matter of minutes.

We’re here to help and put an end to your same old riding routine. We’ve outlined a real riding program straight from a top professional’s arsenal with several types of exercises that will keep you interested and your horse engaged.  Try the ones you think work best for you, or do them all.  They will reinforce the basics and tune the more advanced maneuvers your horse may need for its next class. You’ll get a good workout, too, and both you and horse will be ready for your next show.

Before you try these exercises at home, our expert Steve Heckaman advises that you have your trainer or an experienced friend watch you execute the maneuvers to assess the safety and correctness of each one. They work for green and senior horses when performed in the instructed manner. The difference in the horse’s age and ability level will determine the duration of each exercise.  Steve advises that riders, “Use their heads” and, when in doubt, ask for help from an experienced professional.

Before a horse is ridden it needs to be ready mentally and physically, and a horse’s work time is contingent upon whether it’s preparing for a show which may require more attention.  As a whole most horses require turnout or longing prior to being ridden. This helps keep their focus on their job.  The amount each one needs is an individual assessment and may need to be adjusted.

Heckaman advises riders against trying to maintain their horses at a peak performance level all of the time in order to prevent burnout. He likes to build to a peak, show, then bring his horses back to a more relaxed routine. The idea is to keep them physically conditioned, but give them some mental down time. He suggests grass turnout a few times week when the ground and weather are good to prevent injury a few hours before a ride.  He would say the amount of time should be somewhat judicious – three days – maybe Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after the weekend.  He finds that to be a good schedule when he’s not showing on the weekends. “This way the horses burn out their energy, are more receptive, and can focus before you get on.”

“If you get on and they’re fresh, you end up spending a lot of time battling mental energy,” says Steve.  Each horse in his program is different and gets different ride prep.  Some are saddled up and put on the walker or just tied to the fence. Others are put in the round pen to play.  His focus is pleasure, but says he finds this necessary for most disciplines. “With the good breeding we have, the horses don’t burn energy like they used to because they are better movers and it’s easier for them to move.  There is less wear and tear on their bodies so they expend less energy and they take a little more work to be ready to ride.” Steve prefers a horse that starts with a bit of energy because their legs are still crisp after they are mentally prepared.

Young horses make up the bulk of his program and Steve begins his rides with an analysis he performs from the feel of each horse’s back.  For him feel is comprised of what each horse looks at and what their mental and physical energy is like.  He’ll walk his horse at the start of each ride to keep his horses from anticipating and is always changing his routine in order to prevent his horses from knowing what comes next.  “From assumption comes anticipation,” says Steve.

Steve recommends a younger horse’s warm-up take approximately ten to fifteen minutes and a senior horse five to ten minutes.  “If it takes longer, we didn’t do a good job of assessing their energy level. It’s mental energy management. On a young horse that is uneducated, it takes longer to get them focused.”

After he’s warmed up and checked his mount’s focus, he’ll ask for a medium trot – not a jog or long trot.  Then he’ll ask his horse to bend off each rein both left and right to bring their focus to him and see how supple they are.  Depending on what he sees and feels at the medium trot and if the horse is soft and flexible, he will then arc them around his inside leg and work on bending in a serpentine within a circle.  Each horse is different in how they communicate and give willingly and lightly, but Steve has a standard he uses to assess each one. “Some may be more feely and others need a kick,” says Steve.  He quits each ride and exercise on a positive note in order to “build a spirit of cooperation and ride proactively not reactively.  If every time I ask a horse to do something and get the response I want, I’ll step up the degree of difficulty to avoid being mundane.”

The middle and bulk of Steve’s program centers on moving a horse’s body parts.  Rotating shoulders around hind quarters, pivots, forehand turns, and side passing are all done while making sure the horse stays soft in his hands and in their body.  Agility, flexibility, and responsiveness are all tuned.  “We work a lot of transitions as they showcase the level of training a horse has and their degree of brokenness.”  Loping serpentines, changing the horse’s body position, and working on balance are important as well.  Straight lines while positioning the horse square between the rider’s legs is another exercise Steve recommends.

“Riders are more savvy than they used to be ten or fifteen years ago and can feel when a horse has enough impulsion. Impulsion, or enough push from behind, gives a horse lift. That push is a necessary component of a horse being able to achieve lift.  Very seldom will you see a horse with a lot of lift in the shoulders with bad hocks and a horse should always be going forward with some lift.  Lift is a God-given talent and if a horse moves with its shoulders down, it’s very hard to pick them up.”  He adds that feeling lift is hard to teach.  When a horse moves with lift and its shoulders up, you can see it and it’s a quality he looks for in horses he trains and shows.  Lift is always encouraged, even while standing, Steve doesn’t want a horse to drop its shoulders.  If he takes a horse to the rail and stops and his horse walks forward shifting its weight on the forehand, he backs it up double the steps to shift its weight from the forehand back to the hind end.

It would be a beautiful thing if horses did everything we asked of them with suppleness and ease, but that’s not always the case.  It’s very rare that a horse doesn’t say “no” at some point in a ride, and there are degrees of that “no.”  For Steve, most of the times a horse refuses to execute a maneuver it will come out of the bridle and lose its frame. When a horse isn’t giving in to a request, he goes back to a previous step until he finds the part of the body that is lacking the responsiveness he is looking for.

A good guideline on time limits while performing Steve’s program is to spend fifteen to twenty minutes on harder exercises that require more exertion. Keep rides to around 45 minutes as much more than that will tap out the horse and rider’s mental and physical energy.  A rides finish depends on the goal and if a show is in the near future.  A good way to wrap up a training session is to take a horse to the rail to settle, take some deep breaths, and dismount.  Sometimes Steve will dismount on the right side and while he’ll change the order of exercises to keep a step ahead of a horse’s thought process, he is consistent in how he asks and rewards his horses.  “Horses respond to comfort and food and they are looking for both.  We don’t get off and take them right to the stall, untack and feed them.  Usually they are tied after a ride.  I will use food as a reward when there is big breakthrough.”

Steve may work on the rail for short distances, and seldom lopes an entire round in the arena.  He wants the rail to be a relaxing place and not become robotic.  The rail is always a comfort zone for his horse, but he will test them there for balance and other things the horse is working on and then go back to the middle.  Steve wants his horses to remain square and not to rely on the boundary of the rail. “Don’t over-school on the rail.  Western pleasure should be a reward, not a focus. People longe, get on and go right to the rail and put their hand down.  They will lose 10-15% of their form if they always practice showing.”

Heckaman says horse training is centered on trying to teach a horse to be balanced and be responsive to cue. “My job is to get horses broke so they can get to a platform and exhibit to their God-given ability.” He advises the average amateur to stay consistent and use the same maneuvers at shows that they do at home.  “At shows amateurs may get nervous and go down the wrong road because they radically change the way they’ve been practicing. Stay safe and stick to a reasonable time limit.  Look at how hard you’ve ridden and it’s preferable to ride twice a day rather than one really long time.”

To monitor your progress, it’s a good idea to videotape your rides. Steve videos his horses to see what their legs are doing and analyze how to improve and correct each horse’s issues. The exercises he has outlined can help movement, and he says certain things can change quicker than others.  He also says, “As trainers we are here to enhance a horse’s God-given talent and put that horse in a position to do its best.”

Now that you know what to do, challenge yourself with Steve’s program and shake up your old routine.  Remember to keep your rides consistent and within a reasonable time limit. Don’t try to work a horse that is fresh, and start with a walking warm-up.  Know when to quit and end on a good note, preferably with some quiet time on the rail.  For the middle part of your ride, alternate the exercises on different days to keep your horse guessing and yourself interested.  The program is a simple concept with a variety of ways to order and combine the exercises insuring consistency without monotony.

THE PROGRAM

Warm-up:  Walking on the rail (10-15 minutes for a junior horse/5-10 minutes for a senior horse)

For 20 to 25 minutes:

At a medium trot, serpentines bending both directions alternating legs and reins

(In any order)

Turns on the hind quarters and forehand, pivots, and side passing

Serpentines and straight lines at a lope

For 5 to 10 minutes:

Walk, stand, and dismount on the rail

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Chris Cox is no stranger to the viewers of RFD-TV.  His television series “Chris Cox Horsemanship” airs 3-times weekly on the popular network. With his no-nonsense practical methods, Chris Cox shows horse people how to get results.  Each week there is a special challenge, guest, or topic to help viewers become better horsemen, or women.

But this Live interactive format is unique.  Chris Cox was asked to be the featured guest of Equine Live, where there will be an interesting mix of useful information and insightful questions from an attentive national audience who will phone in and have their questions answered “live” on the air.

RFD-TV “LIVE” has revolutionized the ability for rural and agricultural viewers to communicate directly with select experts. RFD-TV “LIVE” has built a bridge to connect rural folks with these national topics like never before.”

Chris Cox one-hour special on RFD TV Equine Live will be broadcast at 10 pm Eastern/9 central on Thursday, July 29th. Viewers will be encouraged to call in with their questions for a personal opinion from Cox during the one-hour live show. The question and answer format will be moderated by 6 time world all around champion cowboy and Rodeo Hall of Fame honoree Larry Mahan.

Influenced in his early years in both English and Western traditions, Chris Cox has implemented a style and technique that can be applied universally between both horse worlds.  RFD-TV viewers of either discipline will enjoy Chris’ common sense, straightforward approach.

A two-time winner of the notorious “Road to the Horse” World Championship of colt starting competition, Chris earned back to back titles in 2007 and 2008.  He was judged the best against other noted horseman – Tommy Garland, Ken McNabb, Mike Kevil, Stacy Westfall, and Clinton Anderson.

Chris travels world wide spreading his message, hoping horsemen and women will come to understand and appreciate the horses in their lives, and shows us that with a little common sense and a mutual respect between horse and human, having a versatile and willing partner in your horse is an achievable goal.

Chris Cox provides demonstrations and clinics throughout the United States and the world, and performs several times a year at many events. You can also attend a seven-day, in-depth Horseman’s Course with Chris at his Outback Ranch located Mineral Wells, Texas. These courses are designed give horse enthusiasts a thorough, hands-on training experience that will last a lifetime.

About RFD TV.  According to Nielsen Media Research (2010), RFD-TV is the #1 Ad-Supported Cable Television Network for Adults 50+ in (VPVH) Audience Composition.  Additionally, RFD-TV proudly boasts a weekly audience of over 11.2 Million Adults 18+. (Nielsen Media Research, 2010).

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The Parellis were trying to put a bridle on the reluctant horse using their natural horsemanship technique. But angry spectators branded their actions “abusive” after the stallion was twitched and hobbled in the two-hour session.

Click here to read more…

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Where: Thurs. Aug 26, 2010, 6pm-10pm Halton Place, Halton Hills, ON

Join us as the masters trade hats and horses in support of equine research. See show jumpers barrel racing….jockeys show jumping….rodeo riders playing polo…..and that’s just the tip of the hat.

Hats will be flying during an evening of unparalleled entertainment as world class riders from show jumping, dressage, racing, polo, driving and barrel racing team up for the equine event of the season.

Eat, drink and cheer for your team from our ringside VIP tent while enjoying sumptuous gourmet cuisine, a complimentary bar and unbelievable silent auction items.

“What a fantastic event “– Ian Millar, Show Jumping’s ‘Captain Canada’

“A lot of fun for a good cause” – Sandy Hawley

“Absolutely knocked out by Equi-Challenge”- Guest

Tickets: $185pp     Contact:  Liz Shaughnessy  Email:  liz@lizshaughnessy.com Tel: (905) 880-8053

Patron & Corporate Tables: $3,000 (for 10) with tax receipts  Contact: Liz Shaughnessy  Email:  liz@lizshaughnessy.com Tel: (905) 880-8053 or

Meg Harris Email: megharris@sympatico.ca  Tel: (416) 400-9978

Silent Auction Donations: Contact: Dianne Acheson Email:  dianne@achesons.ca Tel: (519) 940-4719

For more information visit: www.equichallenge.ca

To benefit the new OVC Equine Sports Medicine & Reproduction Centre

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The new offerings of “Palm’s Partnership Training” will debut on HRTV at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, and the wide array of informative half-hour shows will continue weekly over the next several months.

While the shows premiere on Monday evenings, they will also re-air on Tuesdays and Sundays.

Palm’s primary goal is to educate horse enthusiasts, from the first-time owner to the avid competitor, on general horse race, horsemanship and under-saddle training.  In this series, Palm trains for her daily performance at the World Equestrian Games with another noted Dressage coach, Jane Savoie.

“HRTV shares in the excitement of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, for the first-time ever in the U.S.,” said Jim Bates, HRTV’s Executive Vice President and General Manager.  ”Lynn’s new series are welcome, helping build the interest in the viewing the Games, while offering our viewers another opportunity to learn from this champion Dressage trainer.”

“We received tremendous feedback from the initial ‘Palm Partnership Training’ series airing on HRTV,” said Palm.  ”We are delighted with the platform to share our excitement and learning experiences as I prepare for my demonstrations at the World Equestrian Games.”

A pioneer among women in the horse industry for the past four decades, and accomplished in many Equestrian disciplines, Palm has championed the “partnership” between the horse and rider.  Based in Florida, she has influenced thousands of horse enthusiasts with her unique, and effective, approach to training.

About HRTV

HRTV (www.hrtv.com) is a 24-hour, television-based multimedia network dedicated to the “Sport of Kings,” horseracing, featuring live racing action from many of the sport’s greatest racetracks.

Passionate horse fans are also entertained and informed by HRTV’saward-winning documentaries, original programming, in-depth analysis and equestrian lifestyle programming. The live stream of HRTV is available on a subscription basis at www.hrtvlive.com to high speed internet users worldwide.

The HRTV television network is presently available via cable, telco video and satellite in 19 million US homes.

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If you’ve shown your horse, you’ve probably had one of those moments we all dread, when something goes wrong and even the most carefully laid plan goes right out the window. Professional horsemen will tell you that mistakes come with the territory, but when you’re starting out in the show pen, mistakes equal embarrassment and we all hope to avoid that.  Learning how to refocus and move on after a snafu is the key to putting mistakes where they firmly belong: in the past.

Gretchen Mathes, owner of Powder Brook Farm in Harwington, CT, is a well respected coach, judge, trainer and AQHA World Champion competitor. When asked if she has made any mistakes in the show pen along the way, this AQHA Professional’s Choice 2008 Professional Horsewoman of the Year laughs and says, “I’ve made enough to fill the pages of The Equine Chronicle! We all make mistakes along the way.” She offers this advice to all competitors, “With mistakes, you’ve got to learn to let it go and continue to ride forward. By that I mean two things. First, you have to learn your pattern thoroughly ahead of time so you have a game plan. Second, if you make a mistake, get right back to your game plan and stick with it through the pattern. Don’t stop and try to school in the show pen, just keep going. So you might not win the class, that’s ok. Just don’t give up. You may get a third or a fourth place, but you will have shown that you can pick yourself up and finish the pattern and that’s something to be proud of.”

Mathes has the following advice, based on years of watching riders in the show pen, both as a judge and a coach, “Keep your eyes up and do not let yourself ride behind your horse. Think about it almost like driving a car. You can’t get anywhere if your eyes are down on the hood, but when your eyes are up and looking ahead, that’s when you can get somewhere. In riding, when your eyes are up and you’re looking forward, you ride better. Your posture improves and you are in control of every move. That’s riding forward.”

As a judge, Mathes often sees riders making the common mistake of rushing through a pattern which can often lead to unnecessary mistakes. She encourages people to relax and breathe when they are riding or even showing in hand so they can loosen up and stay focused on their pattern. She says, “If you make a conscious effort to slow your breathing and movement, you can relax and your horse will relax, too. A well ridden pattern is done with slow, deliberate thought and actions, not speed. Plan out your ride. Envision it like you want it to happen, and even if something goes wrong, keep going. After you finish, you and your trainer can discuss any errors and make a plan for appropriate schooling. Try to find the good things to focus on and make sure you go into the show pen working for your personal best with your horse and don’t just focus on winning. Always keep it positive.”

Click to Read Related Articles:

Showmanship Part 1- Mark Dunham – Preparing For The Show Ring

Showmanship Part 2 – Shannon McCulloch: Showing In Style

Showmanship Part 3 – with Brad Kearns

Gretchen Mathes – Living Her Dream

Talking Fashion – Trend of the Month

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