MARK RASHID

by RoseAnn Nemes

I just wanted to share with everyone my experience with this very special man.

First of all, go to our website Arabian Horse Rescue Network webpaqe at : http://www.ahrn.org/ and scroll down in the frames on the left to PHOENIX and look at the photos of this horse from one year ago. This is the horse Mark came to work with.

Phoenix has been through some hells that we cannot even imagine. There is much we do NOT know, but we what we do know is he was brought to a Southern CA feedlot by a couple of charros who said he no longer ran--meaning he had been used in horse tripping. His scars prove it.

Phoenix has been with me one year, and while he has come a long way--he comes up to people now quite willingly--he has a long way to go. He is not a project for just any trainer, and I was lost as to where to go with him. Mark was in town last weekend for an equine fair, and I contacted him through his manager. Fortunately, he was staying with people literally around the corner from where I live and so he came here to work with us.

First he just watched Phoenix interact with me and a few people. Then had me work with him in the round pen--unfortunately, I was nervous, and so was Phoenix--I made the mistake of inviting a few people, but probably shouldn't have.

Then Mark went in and worked with him--as I watched I learned the most important thing I needed to from him-and that is--even though I thought I was going slowly with him--I wasn't. This horse has so many mental hang-ups it requires a lot of just getting him used to being handled-by the time Mark was done he was able (and so was I) to hold Phoenix's ears in our hands. Sounds like a 'so what?" but it isn't.

Too Phoenix needs that Kind of handling but he also needs discipline. Fine line that is!

So I told Mark to give me some 'homework' and we will work with him when he comes back in November

The bottomline is that I am not an easily won disciple -- don't try to take every damned penny I have for sticks with string on them, or books and videos, or hundreds for clinics. And please don't try to convince me that you wrote the book and invented horse training.

But Mark's easy going soft ways were a joy not just for Phoenix, but for me who is determined to work with this horse and convince him that people are O.K. He has had so little kindness in his life.

I really liked Mark a lot, and suggest anyone who has the chance to see or work with him do so. I know I will 'depend' on him to get me through with Phoenix. Most trainers really wouldn't know where to begin with him.