RJ Can Jump!
Rex Peterson demonstrates his skills training RJ to free jump a course.
Archive for the "Training" Category
Notes from the USDF Convention in Denver last week
I just returned from 2 days of business meetings at the USDF Convention in Denver. I attended the Region 8 meetings where members updated everyone present about local and national news affecting us. The primary concern was of course the budget in light of the current economic climate. How do we continue to support our members, grow the membership, implement the budget fairly and effectively and remember to have fun.
I also attended all the open judges meetings where discussion was all about how to score consistently while developing a methodology that the riders and trainers can relate to and understand. The emphasis was on the riders score which is multiplied times 3 in an effort to encourage riders to learn to ride more effectively and correctly.
The collective scores are at the end of a dressage test, and consist of the gaits, submission, impulsion and rider. In the past each of these scores have been times 2, but with the added emphasis on the rider, now times three, the final results of a class can be altered significantly. Imagine two close scores and one rider receives at 8 (x3=24) vs. a rider who scores 6 (x3=18), those 6 points will dramatically affect the final score.
There was also discussion on judges learning to use the scale more completely rather than relying on 6 and 7’s, that is we need to give more 3 and 4’s when deserved and not be afraid to reward good riding and well executed movements with nine or a ten. Also, judges must remember that scores of 6 or less must receive comments using the glossary of terms, and care must be given that comments are observations rather than teaching. The Judges job is to reflect what they see to the rider and the final results should place the best horse/rider combination at the top of the leaderboard.
The highlight of the convention was meeting Robert Dover who graciously answered a variety of questions about his career. Although he rode many great horses in his illustrious career spanning several decades and many Olympics, his favorite was Kennedy, a small horse under 16 hands with a heart of gold and a mind who only thought forward no matter what. Robert also had us laughing about stories from each of the many Olympics and Champioships he rode in, speaking about how we must all keep the sport in perspective. After all he said, it is a silly to think we ride around a small rectangle perfecting these movements, but he agreed it is a high form of art when performed in harmony.
Although he has officially retired from the sport, Robert remains active on the International board of FEI as an important voice to guide the sport in a new direction away from the stacked deck of politics that has evolved.
I also introduced the new training series of DVD’s to many friends and colleagues from around the country with excellent input and ideas for future training sessions. Swanson Peterson Productions is working on a TV pilot which will be an opportunity to showcase the sport of Dressage and hopefully expand our sport in new directions.
Don’t forget to order your Rex Peterson training videos by Christmas (and receive free shipping) at http://www.swansonpetersonproductions.com
It’s time for some holiday shopping at Windrock Farm
It’s high season for Christmas and holiday shopping. During this holiday season Windrock Farm is offering the first three of Rex Peterson’s Horse Wisdom training videos. Through Christmas we’re offering a 20% discount if you buy two full sets of the video series—or more. Also, we are offering free shipping on all products through Christmas–unless you need your shipping expedited.
Visit www.swansonpetersonproductions.com to buy yours today. You can also place an order by calling Cari at 914.456.3155.
If you want to add a high quality burlap bag with RJ’s hoof print, call Cari to let her know.
Jim Breitinger, Windrock West–Arizona and California
A final note from the airport
The plane leaves shortly. I am beginning the journey home to the Sonoran Desert.
I had the priveledge of working with Rex, Cari and two horses today. One of the horses demonstrated a remarkable transformation under the capable tuteladge of Mr. Peterson. The large gelding has been girthy and recently he’s taken to occassionally bucking. This is nerve wracking on any horse, but especially so 17-plus hands up. There was no bucking today–Rex would have none of that. It is amazing to watch this man work his mastery over our equine friends.
Cheers to everyone in NY and vicinity . . . we’re boarding.
Regards,
Jim
When you have a problem with your horse(s), who are you going to call?
The film industry—aka Hollywood—is the home of the great, and sometimes not so great, story tellers of our times. Every day on the set represents a lot of money spent in an effort to capture some movie magic.
For that reason, working with animals on films is a risky, tricky, and increasingly high stakes business. Directors and producers don’t need to mess around with animals who can’t do their job. They have too much at stake. Rex Peterson has become the gold standard when it comes to horses in film. When Julia Roberts was portrayed galloping through the woods away from one of her weddings in “Runaway Bride,” she rode one of Rex’s horses (that is actually Julia on the horse). See Cari’s blog for many other examples of Rex’s film work, including of course the filming of “Hidalgo” with our own RJ, the star horse of that film.
Have you ever had a problem with your horse that you didn’t know how to handle? If you’ve ever had a horse we know the answer to that question and we are here with many new solutions—most of which are in fact very old and are passed down from generations that preceded ours.
This week and weekend in Massachusetts you will have the opportunity to meet the legendary Rex Peterson in the flesh at the Equine Affaire. Not only that, Swanson Peterson Productions is releasing a new series of training videos available on DVD. More details on that this week.
We look forward to seeing you at the Equine Affaire.
Jim Breitinger is an Arizona-based writer.
The importance of getting out
I am back at Windrock Farm for the first time since September of 2007. I am Cari’s brother. We grew up in Ohio. Cari was drawn to Europe and then New York. I was initially drawn to Washington, D.C. and then to the American West where I’ve spent most of my adult life (so far).
My times at Windrock Farm over the years have been wonderful antidotes to the grand Western landscapes of my adopted Western homes.
Hacking out: Cari on Bond and Jim on Cosmo.
Both of my sisters are accomplished riders—I am merely a competent one. I share their love of horses, though horses have not taken center stage in my life. Still, I’ve helped give many horses new leases on life by shepherding breakthroughs. My specialty seems to be young or inexperienced horses.
My current personal favorite horse here is Cosmo. I met him last year when he first arrived at Windrock Farm. At that time I don’t think he had spent much time hacking in the woods—he was a little flighty when I took him out on hacks. My training philosophies are not as advanced as Cari’s but I am in full agreement with the importance of taking a horse out on a hack as an integral part of their training regimen. Horses in our times spend too much time living confined lives in stalls, small paddocks, and riding arenas. Such living arrangements are unhealthy and create unbalanced horses. These arrangements are often the best we can do, so it is even more important to take horses out on trails every chance you get. If your horse is flighty in such situations, it is even more important that you patiently and persistently introduce them to the joys of riding out on trails.
Last year Cosmo showed great progress over the six or so weeks when I was riding him. When I got on this good looking chestnut upon my return a few days ago, he was a different horse from the green gelding who arrived here just over a year ago.
We headed out into some of my favorite country—New York’s Dutchess County. Our first ride out was just the two of us. It was late in the afternoon. I am living in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert right now, so even though it is unseasonably warm in New York, the short days, and relatively cold air immediately gave me a chill anticipating the coming Eastern winter. Cosmo and I rode through a light drizzle. We cut through the woods, over a perma-puddle (that would stop most over-stabled horses in their tracks). Cosmo and I proceeded by following the perimeters of our neighbor’s hayfields and ascended to the nearest and highest spot with a view of the nearby countryside.
It was a sight for sore eyes. Pockets of color clung to the trees, though most of this year’s foliage was already underfoot. The light was failing quickly but there was enough for me to see across the local valley with its irregular checkers of woods and fields. Cosmo felt sure and strong beneath me—his hooves pounding the soft November ground. The cool drizzle on my face reminded me I was out of the Sonoran Desert for the moment and oh so lucky to be astride such a magnificent creature.
Jim Breitinger is an Arizona-based writer. Visit his web site at www.utahredrock.com.
Lessons at Windrock Farm
I have been taking dressage lessons with Cari on and off over several years. Although I ride on my own and with trainers in other disciplines, I love to come back to Cari on a regular basis to take advantage of her keen eye, insightful critique, creative exercises, and diverse group of well-trained horses.
Cari always quickly finds the minor (and sometimes major!) irregularities in my body and posture that I was forgetting. She is very clear in pointing out how those problems are affecting the movement of the horse. She is rigorous and demanding, but maintains a sense of humor, making lessons invigorating and fun.
Cari has an amazingly broad repertoire of exercises and metaphors to draw upon, and I find she can always find a fresh way to explain what I am doing right and wrong. Sometimes it is that fresh explanation that makes all the difference in learning! Because of her own experience under a variety of instructors and in several disciplines, Cari has many different methods of teaching to draw upon. Lessons are never repetitive and dull. I can count on Cari to pull out a new and interesting challenge just when I need it!
The diversity of horses available for lessons is also helpful to me. Riding a horse with different movement and different “buttons” from my own horse is guaranteed to help me be more balanced, precise and deliberate as a rider. I value being able to learn from her schoolmasters, who are, after all, great teachers themselves.
-Ona Kiser
Sharon, CT
Rewards and Punishments
You must always be patient when training your horse. There will be moments when you must resort to punishment if there is obstinate resistance, however, when it is necessary, the rider must remain calm and firm. D’Endrody reminds us to smile or whistle prior to taking any disciplinary action to ensure that there is no anger in his mood. By simple means, he can very successfully control and check himself, and thus endow his measures with real educational value, which after all , it is the purpose of the punishment. You will then be justly rewarded with a happy horse who understands what you are asking him to do.
Stunning Hannovarian for Sale
9 year old imported Hannovarian gelding, 17 hands, a stunning horse, beautiful mover,easy to ride, a kind and generous personality, jumps around a hunter course in style, first level dressage, he loves to hack cross country, this horse has the potential to do more in every discipline, come try him and see for yourself what a lovely horse this is. Contact cari@cariswanson.com
Classy-Eventing Prospect
7 year old TB, 16 hands tall, very nice horse for eventing. Classy is an intelligent, (he learned to bow in one session) he is an uncomplicated, balanced and a bold jumper. He has a wonderful personality and is reasonably priced to a good home. call Cari at 914.456.3155 to come try him.