Cari Swanson

The Farrier’s Admonishment by Mike Bromley

The horse is a beautiful creature
So proud and so bold
This we can see for ourselves
No need to be told

A beautiful creature
Right down past his knees
I look and behold!
What are these???

For his feet are contracted
Wry-footed, quarter-cracked
And bent
Without good feet
He’s not worth a cent

For to see a horse limp
Gives me grief untold
And if Someone’s at fault
I’ve been known to scold

Through sandy desert
And over rocky trail
A horse can’t do his best
If his feet they should fail

Though it’s been said before
I’ll say it once more
A horse can’t do his job well
If his feet are sore

A horse should be shod
With a sense of panache
If he is to run
A 300-yard dash

A horse should be shod
With a certain sense of style
If he is to carry his rider
For many a mile

The horse is a beautiful creature
Of fine symmetry and form
And so should be his feet
This should be the norm

It only makes sense
That his shoes be made neat
So that they only enhance
His already beautiful feet

So farriers please endeavor
To learn your craft well
If you don’t, you’ll cause
Many a horse living hell.

Mike Bromley, The Blacksmith Poet

Count Every Stride

You have heard it from many trainers-ride every stride.  This will eventually become automatic when you train yourself to count your strides.  One of my greatest teachers, Tony Mason, taught me to count the length and width of the arena.  He was adament about knowing the size of your arena and how to carve out space to work in when it was crowded with many horses.  I imagine he learned this years ago when he was trained by his Master in Europe, when riders had to navigate among dozens of horses in small arenas.  There was etiquette about how to pass one another and when to change direction.

If you learn to count the strides in your circles, you will eventually learn how to ride a perfect circle.  This is not as easy as you might expect.  I start all my students whether children or adults learning to count and it pays off quickly as they progress up the levels.

This image is of Ashley Cox riding Classy, winning the dressage test at Kent Horse Trials.  If you are interested in lessons or have any questions, contact cari@cariswanson.com.

Patience and Persistence

This photo demonstrates hours of training.  Justin is one of the most successful movie horses, starring in Black Beauty among many other films.  Now in his mid twenties, he is enjoying retirement, however, his ears still prick up for his trainer Rex  when he comes out to feed him each day.  You must always remember to be patient and take one step at a time when training your horse.  Remember to be very clear about what you are asking and reward your horse when he gives it to you.  After working your horse every day consistently you will see a remarkable change and improvement.  Generally horses have a good work ethic, enjoying their daily routine.  Spring is finally here and it is time to get back into your training routine.

Conditioning Your Horse

As Spring approaches, the show season is just around the corner.  Now is the time to consider a program to bring your horse to optimum condition considering your discipline of dressage, jumping or eventing.  It is critical to consider the age and amount of activity your horse has had in order to create an effective plan of conditioning.  Horses who are turned out need a shorter warm up than those standing in their stall or small paddock.  A progressive warm up allows time for the muscles to reach their optimal working temperature (during warm up the muscles rise by about 1 degree C) before increasing the excercise intensity.

After a warm up phase, move into the workout which pushes to horse just beyond his ability to build muscles and stamina.  It is important to work the trot and canter in an active rhythm, thus working the skeletal muscles hard enough to stimulate an increase in blood circulation.  The main objective is to achieve relaxation in all gaits.  Next should come the suppling excercises of lateral and bending movements.  Remember wet saddle blankets make good horses.

Finally, an important element of your conditioning is the warm down period.  This is a time to allow the horse to recover from the workout and helps him release muscular tension and possible soreness.  A walk on the long rein is a great finish to this workout.  Slowly build your horse back up to his optimal fitness, allowing several weeks to reach your goal.  Careful systematic training will help build solid muscles and a happy fit horse.

Westfield Whips

Westfield Whips have been designed with impeccable craftsmanship for over a century.  With perfect balance, action and flexibility, these whips never feel heavy in your hand.  All Westfield, whips are built on cores made to precise specifications to guarantee that they replicate the feel and performance standards of the original whalebone and rawhide whips which have never been surpassed in quality and feel.

“For me, the Westfield whips are the finest available in the world today.”-Bruce Davidson

Bruce is one of the finest and most accomplished equestrians of our time.  He is a two time Three-Day Event World Champion and a five-time Olympic veteran, holding two team gold and two team silver medals.  He is a two time World Champion, has won the Rolex Kentucky Three Day a record six times and is one of only two Americans to have won the Badminton Horse Trials.  He has been the US Combined Training Assoc.  “Rider of the Year” a record fourteen times.

“In my industry where every detail matters, I count on the handling precision of a Westfield whip to deliver a perfect performance.”-Rex Peterson

Rex has trained horses for film for over four decades, creating some of the most complex and exciting horse action sequences every filmed.  His credits include dozens of films including Black Beauty, Dreamer, Hidalgo, Runaway Bride, The Horse Whisperer and The Patriot.  His concern for the well being of horses has earned him the praise of humane organizations and animal advocates.

Westfield whips are well balanced, light in weight and of the highest quality.  I love these whips and so do my customers.”  –Olaf Nyby

Olaf Nyby of Norway is one of Europe’s top driving instructor and horse trainers.  His expertise includes pleasure and commercial driving and international competition in pairs; four-in-hand combined training and driving dressage disciplines.

The Westfield whip-dressage, straight lash (6 foot), Lunge line, and jumper bat are available at swansonpetersonproductions.com

Here Ryan uses his Tufflex Stock Whip (6 foot), and Diamond Weave Pro Lunge Whip from  Westfield  to cue Doc to perform many tricks and movements.The whips are an extention of his hands to guide his horse, who must never be afraid of the whips.

Side Hobbles that convert to Front Hobbles

These side hobbles are made out of a soft nylon diamond braid rope.  They can be used as shown laterally or converted as front hobbles.  They are a simple design easy to put on and take off.  Hobbles are used to teach a horse patience.  For the movie business, Rex has found that it is imperative that all of his horses are well mannered and can stand anywhere calmly for hours.  As a result of his experience, all of his horses are broke to the hobbles from day one.  This also teaches the horse not to fight if he is ever tangled up in wire, rope, nets or anything else.  They are availabe for $40/set directly from us.

Front Hobbles-another style-easy to use

Never Try This-Ryan Walking Through His Horses Hind Legs

The son of Rex Peterson learned a few things from his Dad, he can train a horse to do almost anything, including letting him walk through his horses legs.  This horse came to him as a Bronc, no cowboy in California could ride him, after 15 days he was gentle to ride.

To learn how to train your horse to be obedient and well schooled contact Swanson Peterson Productions to purchase a set of DVD’s to learn these training methods.

Learn to Put Your Horse’s Head Down for Easy Bridling and Handling

This uniquely designed tool, the Sugar String will help you teach your horse to put his head down whenever and where ever you ask him to.  Designed by Rex Peterson as an easy and humane way to teach a horse to drop his head and open his mouth for effortless bridling and clipping around the head.  Taken to an extreme, the Sugar String can help teach your horse to walk next to you with his nose at your ankles.  In the movie Dreamer, the horse had to walk next to Dakota Fanning, the kid and safely keep his distance.  He also learned to carry her backpack and nudge her gently along.  Everyone wants a well mannered horse, and this tool is ideal to train your horse to drop his head and become submissive to you on command.  Check it out on the following web site!

Swanson Peterson Productions

RJ Can Jump!

Rex Peterson demonstrates his skills training RJ to free jump a course.

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