THE HORSE GATHERING

by Rick W. Roll

I really enjoyed The Horse Gathering.   Here is my version of a clinic report.

I learned quite a bit and it confirmed some things I had been experimenting with, since I changed my approach and decided to think for myself.

I am trying to avoid that surface work thing that I had become trapped in earlier.  I especially enjoyed the give and take between Harry Whitney and Mark during their round  pen and riding sessions. The first big idea I picked up from those sessions is that there are  probably a lot of right ways to do things. Thank God for that.  I am beginning to think that the only ways that are

wrong are ones which ignore or discount the horse's predicament and feelings.  The other big idea I got  from their sessions is that, even though horses and people are different species, there are a lot of thing we have in common that effect our every day lives - fear, confusion, distraction and boredom with repetition.  We both want to feel good about ourselves and what we are doing.  From that common ground, I feel like I can make on-the-spot decisions and adjustments necessary to help my horses.  I will make more progress this way than I ever could have made by following rigid rules which allegedly lead to successful horsemanship.

I was particularly impressed with Dave Genadek's saddle fit classes.  This  is the second time I have seen him.  I ordered a saddle from him after the first visit.  After  seeing him a second time, I feel that I really understand saddle fit in a useful way.  The big idea I got from Dave was that it is not just saddle fit, it is bio-mechanics which influences saddle design, which influences riding technique, which influences the horses mental and physical state.  This message wasdelivered by every clinician.  It is really a big picture thing.  More on that below.

Dr. Deb Bennett is incredibly smart and fun to listen to.  A couple of her  discussion actually sent me to the dictionary so that I could figure out what she said.  I  found her bio-mechanics information to be real helpful when it was not too far over my head.  The big idea I got from her was confirmation of what I already suspected to be true.  Only through lack of understanding can one try to separate the physical horse from the spiritual (meaning mental and emotional and (?????) horse.  It is a mistake to try to do that. Also, I found her concept of the "Birdie" helps me evaluate whether my horse and I are in a position to focus on the task at hand or whether something else needs to be done first to get us both ready to learn from each other.  I found an important personal message in what Dr. Deb had to say.  Nothing will change, unless I am willing to change.

Jessica Jahiel was also very good and an especially nice person.  What I learned from her was that I may have learned a little about horses over the last 7 years, but I the people half of the riding equation.  I have since signed up for a Peggy Cummings clinic this coming November, because  Jessica will not be coming this way.  The big idea I got from her was that I need to work on myself to be a better rider to help my horse move with  more impulsion.  Time to kick me a little more and my horse a little less.

Stuart, the farrier,  was also very nice and very knowledgeable.  I have  apprenticed a little with a farrier here so I knew a little about that subject.  But, Stewart took us further with his cadaver horse legs and hooves.  It was really fascinating.  The big idea I  got from Stewart was that the hoof and leg structures are really a miracle of design and require special care.  With a better understanding of anatomy and the bio-mechanics of movement, I am now better able to evaluate how my horses are shod, thanks to Stuart, and I am going to ask for a few changes.

The chiropractic sessions were also helpful.  Those sessions helped me evaluate the folks who are local and claim to be able to do horse chiropractic.  One I will no longer do business with, based upon what I learned at THG.  The other, I will do business with and, in fact, he was here tonight to adjust a horse who has been real cranky, stiff to the right and unwilling to pick up his leads. Right after the adjustment of the thoracic area, the horse was much more flexible to the right.I talked to the Dr. about his method of adjustment and why he thought it helped the horse and was pleased to discover I understood a lot of what he said.  Thanks to Dr. Deb and Dr. Siemens and their horse skeletons.

Todd Williams gave the dental clinics.  After he was done, what was once a complete

mystery to me made pretty good sense.  I returned home to do a dental evaluation on all the horses in my barn.  I knew most would be ok, because they had recent dental work, but I confirmed that it was done well and I also checked a horse that had not had dental work done while at my place.  His dental condition seemed ok, so we called the chiropractor to evaluate him (see above).  There was a lot of great practical information presented.  The big idea I came away with was that I am competent to look and understand and know when dentistry is required.

The thing that capped it all off for me was the learning theory lectures by Vick Thomas.  It was pretty theoretical, but, in my opinion, a lot of it really applied just as much to how horses learn.I got a lot of big ideas  from Vick.  The biggest one was that horses and humans are probably react quite similarly to learning situations, both good and bad.  The same things that would make me ignore the lesson or dislike the teacher will probably make the horse feel the same way. Because I now believe my horses and I are similar in that respect, I have a firm basis to evaluatemy approach to horsemanship on a day-by-day and horse-by-horse basis.

The biggest idea that I came away with was that they were all talking about the same thing.  Each one was teaching a little piece of  what it takes to have a healthy and happy horse who is open to people and learning.  A healthy horse is a horse able to learn. Riding,chiropractic, shoeing, saddle fit,  bio-mechanics, ground work, and riding directlycontribute to a horse's physical health, mental health and ability to learn.  It is really all thesame thing.

Now, for me that is such a  big idea that I am still trying to wrap my brain around it. Those of you who were on the Horseman list when I was the administrator must be smiling and saying "I told you so", because I spent most of my time then trying to tell all of you that, if it wasn't a discussion of "technique" it was "off topic".  Boy, am I embarrassed now.

I hope to see all of you there next year.

Rick