There are many ways to teach a horse to drive, but the fastest and safest is to put the novice horse in between two seasoned driving horses who will tell him what to do. He will have no choice but to turn when the others turn, stop when they stop and move forward with them. They quickly learn the best choice is to get with the program. Tyler, Ryan, Rex and I drove across the valley in Tehachapi. Click here for more information on how to train your horse.
These snow storms are allowing me more time to create fun videos, here is a teaser to the new book, WHOA MEANS WHOA! which will be available April 1. Let me know what you think!
Remember the film Sylvester? This was a famous horse film from 1985 about a young girl who becomes a successful eventing athlete with her gray horse. Several horses trained by Rex Peterson played the role of Sylvester. Supertramp was the amazing show jumper seen here sailing over a very wide truck. He came from the show jumping world because he refused to jump in spite of his amazing talent. Rex re-schooled him for the film, helping him find his confidence again. This film inspired many young riders to compete in the world of eventing.
As you prepare for the eventing season, it is important that you study the new rules and be prepared for your competitions. Take this down time in the winter to read the new rules.
And go out and rent Sylvester if you have not seen it in a while to inspire you for the new season.
You can see how Cache Jr. is gaining more and more confidence walking the plank, he is very careful to put his feet on secure footing. This kind of extreme training takes hours of practice and patience….it is amazing what you can teach your horse if you take the time to explain to him what you want and give him the opportunity to learn to have the confidence.
Tony is coming to Windrock Farm in April. He is a 10 year old talented pony with a great personality and temperament. He is very smart and is very comfortable to ride.
Learn the new USEA dressage tests for eventing before the season begins. Practice at home and always train at a level above the one you plan to show. Be prepared. You will greatly improve your scores if you ride with confidence and determination. I highly recommend riding the test on several different horses to confirm that it is automatic in your head so that if you are distracted on the day by wind, unruly horses in the next arena or equipment failure, you will carry on like a pro. Study hard and have fun!
Click here for the link to an interesting article about the making of Avatar. They used real horses to create realistic movements for the six legged equines in the film. The director, James Cameron, was determined to create as accurate a rendition as possible. This is one of the most successful films every released. It contains an important message and is a must see if you have not already done so.
Harbor Mist affectionally known as T, has a pivotal scene in the new HBO film, Temple Grandin. Don’t worry if you missed the premiere, just check the schedule on HBO for listings. Claire Danes gives a stellar performance as Temple Grandin. The story of this remarkable woman is fascinating and a must see for anyone interested in the humane treatment of animals. Rex worked with T on the film for a pivotal scene where the horse called “Chestnut” is wild and fights everyone until Temple meets him. Later in the script “Chestnut” dies and Temple is very upset when she sees him lying under a tarp. You can see him rear, fight and play dead. T lies absolutely still, fooling everyone on the set. T was discovered on the racetrack where he won three races in his career. He was cast as the lead horse in Dreamer. T is a remarkable Hollywood horse who always delivers a solid and convincing performance.