In “Preparation for Training to Ride”, Clem shows us some of the results of earlier training in “ground maneuvers”, then goes on to prepare the filly to be trained for riding. An elevated platform provides a way to put temporary loads of a leg or sitting on the filly’s back. Clem also uses the elevated platform to expose the horse to noise and motion coming from above eye level, as will be the case later in the show ring.

Clem is the trainer at Sunset Farms Saddlebreds.

In this segment, Trainer Clem Lee explains the “Basic Ground Maneuvers“, including going forward, turning, backing and maintaining a respectful distance between horse and handler.

Clem Lee is the trainer at Sunset Farms Saddlebreds.

We came across some training videos from Saddlebred trainer Clem Lee of Sunset Farms Saddlebreds (which you don’t find online very often – thanks Clem!)

In this segment, Clem explains the “One-Rein Stop“, a technique that stops and calms the young horse, at the same time creating a safe condition for mounting or dismounting.

by Brita Barlow-Johnson
Clinics have long been a popular tool for amateur owners and professionals alike to share ideas and learn from instructors that they may not always have easy access to. The past few years has given rise to more and more of these educational events in the Saddlebred world.

The Penn-Ohio Futurity has sponsored a clinic for three consecutive years. In 2007 they put on clinic with Mitch Clark who discussed starting and training a horse to rack, in 2006 Clem Lee was the featured speaker, and this year was the Bret and Suzi Day clinic.

The clinic was conducted on February 28^th at the lovely Champions Center at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Springfield Ohio. Due to a previous engagement, Suzi Day was not able to attend, but that did not put a damper on the day’s events. Prior to the clinic, there was an informal swap meet with about half a dozen tables set up outside the stabling area where people could buy and sell equipment while meeting to catch up on news.

At 12:00, the event kicked off with an informal workshop on tail sets in front of the stalls. This is a subject that perhaps could have gone on all day. Wendy Lewis began by demonstrating how to properly fit and adjust a tail set. Since there were several horses there to participate in the clinic, who were wearing sets, we had no shortage of subject matter. Bret Day chimed in with some very helpful experience. Before we knew it, our allotted time was up. I think the workshop could have gone on all day. There were many good questions which were well answered, and I learned a few new techniques as I am sure did everyone else.

The main clinic kicked off at 1:00. There were many auditors seated on the (rather cold) bleachers. The way the facility is set up, there isn’t a bad seat in the house, and it is easy to ask questions and see what is being demonstrated. Eight horses ranging from three year olds to veterans were brought out one at a time to work with Mr. Day. This year there was a nice mix of long lining and riding. Mr. Day demonstrated how to run the lines and adjust the side check and shared some personal experiences about over bitting and checking that we all learned from. He also brought some bridles from his Grey Ridge Stable, and passed them around as he explained how a to introduce a horse to a curb bit, and how the curb bit functions in the horse’s mouth.

Most of the horses present had only been in a double bridle for a short time. A nice young gaited colt had his curb bit swapped for one that had been brought for demonstration, and we could immediately see the results. Another horse was recently adopted from the Saddlebred Rescue program. There was some discussion about rehabbing a rescue horse, as well as starting an older horse back into the double bridle.
Participants who brought horses were Marcia Belcher, Wendy Lewis, Mary Waickman, Brenda Santenello, Colleen Martin, and Ray & Barbara Blanton.

Before we knew it the afternoon was up. I myself could have gone on listening to Bret Day for awhile longer. I enjoyed his overall philosophy that horse shows, while a highly competitive sport, are supposed to be fun. He also spoke about encouraging a horse to think highly of himself. After all, few humans do well in their work or lives if they do not have a high self esteem, and we should encourage this in our horses as well. He spoke of teaching a horse to respond to his bridle, rather than respecting his bridle. Mr. Day’s training principles do not revolve around dominating the horse, rather working with the horse and doing what we can to make them happy so they will perform for us.

At 4:00, those of us who were getting cold from the aluminum bleachers hurried to the warmth of the snack bar at the Champions Center, while the rest remained to speak one on one with Mr. Day, and to thank him for a wonderfully informative afternoon.

That evening at the same facility was the Ohio Stallion Auction, and many stayed for dinner and a piece of the amazing cake made by April Vercoe. The cake topper was modeled after Undulata’s Nutcracker. What a full day, and a great opportunity not only to learn from one of the best trainers in our industry, but also a great time to catch up with the happenings of the Ohio Saddlebred folks. Many thanks to the organizers Marcia Belcher, Wendy Lewis for another successful Penn-Ohio training clinic.

By Brita Barlow-Johnson

The phrase “Can be kept at home” is one I have pondered for many years.  With the Fall Tattersall’s sale coming up, that is probably a phrase many AOT will be looking for while they shop for a new horse.  But, what does it really mean?

I have always had a passion for Saddlebred show horses, and training.  I am a pretty decent rider, and I can “maintain” a wide range of horses.  There’s another word to ponder.  Maintain.  It rhymes with “train”, but I have found out the hard way that the meanings are totally different.  A lot of time, money and expertise go into both training and maintaining a show horse.  That is something a lot of people don’t bargain for when they take a show horse home.  There are very accomplished AOT who have been training and showing horses for years with great results.  There are people who are new to the Saddlebred who want a beautiful show horse to keep at home who may not realize what they are getting into.  Here is a realistic look at the challenges that face every Amateur Owner Trainer.

I am not fortunate enough to live in an area of the country where there are trainers within a decent driving distance.   I like to spend time with my horses, several times a week if possible.  I am also not fortunate enough to live within a decent driving distance of even a good boarding facility.  This means I have to pay for and maintain my own facility.  In the North East, to be seriously competitive, that will have to include an indoor riding area.  It takes a lot of time and money to maintain a facility.  I’m beginning to notice a theme here.  So here I am, virtually stranded in trail horse country, with a passion for show horses, a little time on my hands and an average disposable income.  Do I spend that time and money on a trainer, or try keeping my horse at home.  There are a few things to consider before you make that decision, mainly facilities, time, money and support services such as farrier and vet care. 

First, what facilities are available?  Will you be able to board the horse and will that boarding facility be Saddlebred friendly?  By this I mean will they agree to stable your horse full time, or is turnout required?  Will you be able to jog and long line etc?  Do you have facilities at home, and are the facilities suitable for training a show horse?  I have spent many years working horses on the shoulder of the road or in the fields.  Besides safety issues, fields and road shoulders are not always smooth and firm enough.  Or they are too hard. If you do not have a good work surface, you are going to have to become very close with your farrier, because you’re going to need him about every other week when those shoes start flying off.  At the very least you will need an outdoor arena or straightaway.  This will probably involve some earth moving, drainage, and ideally a safe and attractive fence.  You will also have to consider the cost and maintenance of the work surface itself whether it is dirt, sand or manufactured footing. You will need some sort of tractor and rake to maintain the surface, as well as the time and gas money.   In many climates, the outdoor arena works great, a couple of months out of the year.  Then it rains or snows making the arena unusable, and the days get shorter thus reducing the time available to work horses.    Even in early spring and late autumn, arena lights would be a huge help.  Now you are talking light poles and electric bills.  Or, you can head indoors.

Money and available space dictates that I cannot have a full sized indoor arena.  We built a 50 x 50 indoor round pen.  What a great help that is.  Not only can I train in there, but it gives me a safe and secure “play pen” for turn out all year round.  It is useful for bitting and long lining.  I can even ride in there, but I soon get tired of going in tight circles.  Additionally I also have to maintain the indoor footing.  Using the round pen for turnout means people will be tempted to throw hay in there which ruins the footing.  I spend at least an hour each week cleaning manure and hay out of the indoor arena, then raking the footing level and repairing any wet spots due to drainage issues around the barn.

But as you know, you can’t ride a horse every day, even if your schedule allows it.  The horse is going to get bored pretty quick toting you around 6 days a week. Horses benefit a great deal from jogging.  It builds up their hind quarters, gives their minds a rest, and is a wonderful conditioning tool.   You may need to buy a jog cart and harness, or a pleasure cart that can also be used to show in.    This is when the fields come in handy.  And, since you have already spent money on a tractor you need to get out in the field and at least mow a track for jogging.    Pretty soon you may find you are spending far more time riding the tractor than riding the horse.

Speaking of time, I am spending a whole lot of it at the barn.  Having a show horse at home is a much bigger commitment than having a riding horse that can be turned out in the pasture and ridden on weekends.  I like to turn my horses out, but a show horse can’t be a pasture ornament, at least not during show season.  We can all take a break in the winter, but in the spring when the show shoes and possibly the tail set go on, this horse will have to be kept in the majority of the time.  That equals more time cleaning stalls, grooming and exercising.  There just aren’t many horses who can stand in a stall 24 hours a day without getting into some mischief.  Even on days when I’m not planning to train, the horse needs to get out for some exercise. 

So on top of getting up at 6 am (Holidays and weekends too) to feed and clean stalls, I have to spend a minimum of half an hour a day getting the horse out.  Then I have to clean him up.  It seems like whenever I am pressed for time and I think I’ll just exercise him and throw him back in the stall, we end up with some behavioral issue and I have to work a little harder which equals getting him “sweat up”.  Well that just added to my grooming time.  If you plan on training during the winter months (in NY that’s October through May) you will probably have to body clip or spend hours every day cooling out and drying the horse.  Add heavy duty clippers and horse wardrobe to the ever mounting list of expenses. 

Speaking of horse blankets you will be doing almost as much horse laundry as your own laundry, at the Laundromat no less, unless you had the good sense to put a washer and dryer in the barn because there just aren’t many horse husbands (or horse wives for that matter) who want a hairy winter blanket or sweaty saddle pads in their washing machine every week.  There goes another hour or two each week plus about $10 in quarters.

I mentioned earlier about support services.  These include a very good farrier who will show up when called, a horse vet, possibly a chiropractor or massage therapist, and a good ground man.  I have a fairly good farrier who is therefore often too busy to swing by and replace a thrown shoe in a timely manner, but my vet, who I think secretly would prefer to be treating dairy cattle has the attitude of “if I don’t think it’s broke, don’t expect me to fix it” and has to be coaxed and pleaded with repeatedly to do things like Thyroid tests and hock injections.  The show horse world is getting more and more high tech every day, and some horses, particularly older AOT suitable horses, need a lot of maintenance to perform at a higher level.  It is a huge help to have support services who are up to date on the available options.

A good ground man is a tremendous help.  I am fortunate enough to have a mother and a sister who are very knowledgeable about training and showing.  They also help fill in with horse care and exercise making it possible for me to occasionally take a vacation.  And, we go shows together which provides grooming and hauling support.  I do envy people who are at a public barn with several Saddlebred friends available, but my family is also very capable.  If I cannot get any tips to help, they can at least take a good video so I can see for myself.  This training support is invaluable.  Riding lessons on your own horse, or a lesson horse are helpful for identifying and improving rider weaknesses.  Being able to ride different horses not only improves a rider’s form, but helps in teaching training techniques.  Before the advent of the internet, where there are often several people willing to share excellent advice, you really had to go and find some expert help when you got into a training predicament.  Now, it is often possible to find someone else who has struggled with the same issues, and some people are even willing to loan equipment to try.

One thing that is hard to replace is a nearly constant human presence in the barn.  During show season, I have often found it difficult to keep a horse in a tail set.  When you keep your horse at home, and you also have a career or the demands of a family, you are often unable to check the horse several times during the day and fix problems like a slipped tail set.

Choosing a horse to keep at home can also be a big challenge.  When I shop for an AOT horse, I am always very upfront about the fact I am potentially going to take the horse home and manage it by myself, and I always take the current trainer’s advice regarding whether this horse will be dangerous or merely a disappointment.  Some horses are particularly suited for this sort of situation.  If you find one, your AOT experience can be very rewarding and even easy.  When you are choosing a horse, make sure it is one that can be safely handled by one person.  Remember that you may often be alone in the barn, although I myself still never ride without someone nearby in case of emergency.  This cuts down on my potential training time even further.  Many older seasoned show horses need less riding and training techniques to keep them in top shape and show ring ready.  You can expect to pay a little more for one of these gems, particularly a five gaited horse, but there are suitable horses available in all price ranges.

The time involved in preparing a horse for show is very much limited by demands of a personal life.  Often, I feel that I am cutting corners on grooming or maintaining my facilities and equipment.  It is hard to resolve a training problem that has popped up during a session if you know you need to have the horse cooled out and put up in time to leave and meet another obligation.   If you are going to show several times a year, that is going to mean additional time from work and home.  Many people under estimate the commitment involved, and over estimate their dedication and talent becoming discouraged and ultimately giving up the hobby altogether.  Even if you do have the knowledge and commitment to be successful, the strain of managing a horse on your own can often take the enjoyment out of it.

On the other hand, despite the inherent challenges face by the Amateur Owner Trainer, many of us would not have it any other way.   There is a tremendous amount of fulfillment to be found in achieving excellence in your chosen sport.  When you have done that solely on your own, the rewards are even greater.  I myself have felt the pride and satisfaction of taking a green broke two year old and turning him into an educated and winning show horse.  Being involved in the training and conditioning gives you a wealth of experience and understanding that can greatly enhance the pleasure of owning your own horse.  It will also increase your desire for knowledge and help keep the hobby interesting.  If you have weighed all the challenges and sacrifices that you will have to make, and you have made an educated choice to keep your horse at home, then by all means, do so.

By Brita Barlow-Johnson

It is commonly said that the slow gait and the rack which are exhibited by the five gaited Saddlebred are “man made” gaits, but this term is misleading.  The horse must have the innate ability to perform the gaits.  (See my previous article “The Origins of The Gaited Horse in America”)  The only thing man made about them is refining the gaits for the show ring.  Some horses must first be forced out of their trot, but once they are made aware of the lateral gait, most Saddlebreds will take to it quite naturally.  If they don’t take to it, they may not be cut out to be five gaited horses and will find better use in one of the other divisions that do not require the slow gait and rack.

Some Saddlebreds are born “natural gaited”, while others are not built to make racking easy for them.  It is important to assess the colt’s conformation and natural abilities before attempting to gait them.  If they are too natural gaited, it is very possible that the trot will be lost completely, and the horse will only have a future as a racking horse or personal riding horse.  If the horse has too much hock action, or if he is very straight hocked, it will be very difficult for him to learn and perform the gaits properly.  There are some horses that are so strongly bred with trotting genetics that it is not possible to teach them to rack.
 

Brian Reimer works a 3 yr old at the slow gait. She is wearing a german martingale to begin to bring her nose down, but is still barefoot in the front and wearing keg shoes behind. She has rubber bell boots on the front to protect her heals. This filly is bred and owned by Equigene Corp. Photo courtesy Clem and Debbie Smetana

When evaluating a colt in the pasture, you want to see a horse that may have a bit of amble in his gait when he is shifting from the walk to a trot.  You also want to see a horse with a long low stride behind, or one that tracks up nicely under himself.  A horse with a very flat croup or one that trails his hocks behind him will find it very difficult to slide his hind legs under him in the smooth reaching motion of the rack.  On the other hand, if the horse is very short bodied, he may step up on his front heels.  Additionally, a horse that shows no speed will not be a successful finished horse as the goal for the rack is to show as much speed as possible without losing correct form.

The rack is a lateral gait which is best described as a broken up pace with two legs on each side hitting the ground in sequence.   Right hind-right front-left hind-left front.  The horse always has one or two feet on the ground.  The Slow Gait, when performed in its purest and most correct form should have 4 evenly spaced beats with no “pacey” motion.  The horse may have 3 feet on the ground at once, and only one in motion.  When the Slow Gait is accelerated to the rack, the horse will only have one foot on the ground, and the other three will be in motion.  A “Pacey” horse will have a noticeably lateral gait with the legs working in diagonal pairs.  An exceptional gaited horse will not show any lateral motion, racking in true “single foot” fashion.

A “natural gaited” horse will pick up the lateral gait very easily.  Care must be taken to never allow the horse to pace because once he learns this gait, he will resort to it whenever he gets tired or leg weary.  A horse with a very strong diagonal trot may be more difficult to break up at first, but in the end will make a truer racking horse because he will not have the tendency to pace.

As early as the 1600’s, horse trainers were force gaiting trotters trying to imitate the ambling gait of the Naragansett Pacers.  They used “trammels” which would be the same as pacing hobbles or cavaletti polls on the ground to off balance the horses and cause them to pick up a lateral gait.  This resulted only in pacing horses, because a horse must possess some single footing genetics in order to be trained to perform a four beat gait.  A Saddlebred, which possesses the natural inclination to rack, will be much easier to gait.

Back in the day when sophisticated training facilities and riding arenas were few and far between, colts were started on the roads, in the fields or out in the driveway.   Colts were gaited on a down hill slope to aid in lengthening the hind stride, but that is getting less common as training skills are refined.   Also, many early trainers would pull the front shoes and ride the colt on a rough surface making him tender footed.  This would shorten the stride in front, making the hind stride longer by comparison.

The hard surface of the road did have some advantages.  The colt and the trainer were more able to hear the rhythm of the foot falls.  Some trainers would even ride in the twilight when all other distractions were eliminated and the staccato hoof beats could be tuned to perfection.  It is interesting to note that some horses, even non gaited breeds, will occassionally try to mimic the gait they hear in their riding companions.  The sense of hearing can not be discounted as a training aid.  Wooden rattles are used on some horses to help develop rhythm.

Usually the gaiting takes place early in the colt’s life, but it is possible to gait an older finished horse.  The colt is green broke to ride and long line and perhaps to drive.  This training will have taught him to guide by reins, be accustomed to the rider’s weight and commands, and he will have gained strength in his back and legs.  Some trainers gait a colt before he is allowed to canter under saddle.  If a colt becomes confused by being asked new things, he may resort to a canter in hopes of pleasing his rider, and it is not possible to gait a colt from a canter.  Keeping the canter out of his repertoire only makes things easier for the trainer.

There are as many different ways to get the first steps of the rack as there are trainers.  There are many ways of describing it and the terms are misleading as well.  “Shaking their heads” and “Turning them upside down” are two popular descriptions.  A colt is always started in a snaffle bit and often with a running martingale adjusted very long.   Raising the head and shifting the horse’s weight to the rear will often unbalance them enough to cause them to amble or shuffle.  Some horses will have to have their heads raised so high that they will look very awkward and ugly as they are learning.  This is described as “Turning them upside down”.  As their training progresses, they are allowed to carry their heads in a more normal position.  It is hard for some people to believe that a horse traveling in such an awkward and disjointed way could be learning anything constructive, but it is just the first step in a long process.

If this is not enough, pulling first one rein and then the other, causing the horse to tip his head and weave down the rail will encourage the horse to try to catch his balance and change the cadence of his stride.  This is where the term “shaking the head” comes from.  Some trainers will pull the reins quite vigorously, but the horse’s mouth should never be handled roughly, and too much side to side motion will only encourage the horse to pace, not to pick up a four beat gait.   It has been said that “shaking their head” will only teach them one thing… to shake their head.  They may also happen to be forced off their feet into a rack, but you will also teach them to shake their heads which is not desirable in a finished horse.

Some colts will walk into a shuffling gait.  Others will need to trot into it, but this method may cause anxiety in a colt because he is being pushed along into something he doesn’t understand.  A colt that needs to be hustled along into a rack may not have the gameness and attitude necessary to make a good finished five gaited show horse.  Sometimes it may take many weeks or months of work before the first steps are taken, and patience is paramount.  The colt will be worked for only a few minutes each day with even small progress being highly praised so he is pleased and excited to have done it correctly.  A rack is a strenuous gait and the colt should only be allowed to continue for a few strides at first and then pulled up before he gets tired or confused and quits on his own.  Once the colt is shuffling on cue, it still may be many months before his gait resembles a true rack or is separated into a rack and a collected slow gait.  It will be even longer before the colt is asked for speed.

If possible, a colt is started barefoot.  This will reduce the chance of injury from the colt hitting his legs or stepping on his heals as well as giving the trainer the best idea of what the horses’ natural talents are.  Depending on whether the horse is too easy to rack, or finds it more difficult, shoeing changes can be made from there.   If the horse is very natural gaited, front shoes will be added.  If the colt is too strong in his trot, shoes will be put on the hind feet.  The object of adding weight is to slow down the leg to help in changing the cadence.  Adding a shoe and or weight to the hoof will cause the horse to pick his leg up higher, thereby increasing the time the hoof is in the air, and changing the timing of the stride.   If shoeing alone does not achieve the desired effects, then a light chain can be added.   Changing the angles of the hoof will also help to shorten or lengthen the stride.  Having a farrier with experience shoeing gaited horses can be a huge asset to a trainer.

Rider position also helps in getting the first racking steps.  The hands are held high and wide, making it easier to get the colts head up and tip the head from one side to another.  The colt can see the rider’s hands, and this in combination with not feeling the reins on the neck add to the cue to rack in the future helping the horse to understand and distinguish between the trot and the rack.  The rider may also push himself back in the saddle, and shift his weight in the stirrups from side to side as he steers the colt in the weaving pattern.  This will help to balance the stride.  Shifting the weight of the rider will cause the colt to step under himself on one side or the other to catch his balance.  These cues are used throughout the horse’s life to square up the rack and get the ultimate performance from a show horse.

A natural gaited horse will require a little more finesse in training and a different approach than a strong trotting horse.  The main goal of a trainer with a natural gaited horse is to teach the horse the difference between the trot and the rack and to take one or the other on cue instead of mixing them at will.  The horse must learn to “separate” his gaits.  If the horse has trouble picking up the trot, the rider must shift his weight forward or stand in the stirrups as if preparing to post to the trot.  The rider can steady himself by grasping some mane partway up the horse’s neck.  If this is done consistently, the horse will learn that if his neck is touched, or his mane pulled he should trot.

After a couple of months of basic training, the colt will be ready to progress to more difficult tasks such as maintaining the gait around a turn, gaining both speed and confidence, developing a collected slow gait, and learning to wear a double bridle.  See the upcoming article “Refining the Gaits” for more information regarding the gaited training of a Saddlebred.

Far-Sighted Thoughts from a Near-Sighted Horseman

This is from a presentation given by Bob Ruxer at the February 2008 ASHA Convention. Some of you may have seen it before, but I thought it was worth revisiting as we begin the new year.

Before we conclude today let’s give Barbara Molland a big round of applause for this wonderful panel she’s put together. Three weeks ago she called and asked me to participate and give my thoughts on where we’ve been and where we’re going as a breed – hence the title, ‘Far-sighted Thoughts from a Near-sighted Horseman.’ I told her I had no idea where we’re going. She said, “That’s perfect; they need to know that… and you have 15 minutes to tell them.” 

After reviewing my original draft, she wisely suggested changing my topic to ‘Short-sighted Thoughts from a Far-sighted Horseman.’ And I after I left everything on a plane two days in Dallas, she added ‘From a Forgetful Horseman.’ Then I put together what I could remember, and Jimmy Robertson reviewed it. He suggested changing the topic to ‘Alzheimer’s – The Early Stages.’ But this morning, after a good night’s sleep, I settled on an appropriate title… it’s now called, ‘I Can See Clearly.’

Please keep in mind what I have to say is just my opinion. I’m certain some of you will disagree with me, but I have tried my best to disguise these opinions as the pure and simple truth. So here we go…

Look around here. Isn’t it strange? The more things change, the more they seem to stay the same. Once again we’re talking about how to train, how to condition, become lighter, select the prospect, develop markets, increase breedings and registrations, change the rules we’re just going to change again in two years, and raise hell with Alan and the board for not promoting our breed enough. I’ve attended this convention for 40 years. We kick this around every year, but the bottom line is that we really haven’t seen any appreciable growth. In fact, some think we’re going the other way. 

I’m here to say we have a very pro-active board, and beginning with Jim Aikman all the way to Fred Sarver, we’ve had strong leadership… much of it through some very trying times. 

In our efforts to expand, we added transported semen years ago, and we just knew our numbers had to grow [as a result]. Tom Moore founded the UPHA so professionals could share ideas and raise the standards and talents of our trainers. Let me add that I believe we have a world of talent in our trainers today – just look at Anne [Judd], Joan [Lurie], Smith [Lilly], and Eitan [Beth Halachmy] here. Look how professional they look on a horse – smooth, polished, sitting right there in the middle of the saddle, quiet hands, none of this jerking and snatching. Why, if you didn’t know any better, you’d swear they were amateurs. That’s a compliment to you. And we continue our hope to grow and promote our breed. 

Here came the riding programs, the sweepstakes, the Classics, the Grand National, the big money classes for weanlings. We’ve sold horses for more bucks today than we could imagine years ago. And now we have western and hunter horses out there showing the public the great versatility of our breed. 

But the question remains… where’s that growth? We continue to come back here to Alan and the board and say, “We need more promotion.” 

Here’s what I believe: 

• Trainers today are better than ever.
• There are more knowledgeable breeders and owners than in the past.
• Stallions and mares are better today than years ago.
• The vets, farriers, nutrition, training conditions, headsets, and quality are all better.
• And the judging is [better] 

That’s what I believe. Now, let’s imagine… Alan here finally got fed up with all this clamoring for more promotion and quit. But wanting to give back to the Association, he reaches into his personal retirement fund and gives us – let’s say – two million bucks for promotion of our breed. Now we have the funds. Do you think we can significantly grow our numbers? I say no. Let me tell you why. And this [relates to] the changes I’ve seen over the years. 

Let’s first look at our product – our horse. No wait, let’s say it’s an automobile. We must manufacture it, advertise and promote to the public, and only abut 10-20% of them actually work. How long would we be in business? 

How many times have we attempted to train a Saddlebred and somewhere along the way we, or our trainer, utter those famous words, ‘It just doesn’t think right.’ I remember years ago wrestling with a two-year-old with Marty Mueller watching. He finally stopped me and asked me what I thought, knowing I was in big communication trouble with my colt. I volunteered that it just happened to be a dumb, bad-thinking horse. Then he asked me what I planned on doing about it, since I was supposedly the teacher. My solution of a much larger bit made his eyes turn red, so I suggested draw reins would no doubt be in order. That just made the rest of him turn red, and he suggested I try a different answer if I wanted a paycheck. I told him probably the best thing to do was put the horse back in his stall and try another one. Wait, I’ll be right back. Man oh man, that guy could cuss! 

He pounded into my head that the horse was just fine; it thought like a horse. I was the problem. I didn’t think like a horse. I was close though… jackass. And to me – just an opinion – our horse is trying to tell us something… and here’s what I’m hearing… 

We have horses in the public eye today that move like never before. Each year we see some incredible individuals, and we continue to raise the bar. And each year this wonderful breed meets that challenge. How tight can we turn the screws? 

Heck, the pleasure and park horses of today would be horses of history from the past. If CH Blackberry Delight had shown in the walk-trot stake of 1956, we’d have never heard of CH Valley View Supreme. That’s how far we’ve come. 

But in the process of raising the bar, I have a sneaking suspicion that we’re losing our horse… the horse we all want to promote. 

Horses today are entering training earlier than ever. By the spring of their two-year-old year – barely 24 months old – they’re doing incredible things… racking and trotting like aged horses, would up and carrying the mail. But what about their minds? 

I remember years ago, we’d send our CH Wing Commander horses to Frank Bradshaw, and we’d visit every four months or so to check on their progress. You didn’t see much of what you’d hope to see, just a horse pulling a big-wheel training cart. I asked one day when he was going to start gaiting them, and he said he already was. They weren’t even broke to ride, and I said, ‘How so?’ The lesson was he wanted them mannered, settled, and strong enough in the hindquarters to take the rigors of future training before he ever asked for that first racking or show step. I know what you’re thinking – CH Yorktown, CH Dow Jones, CH Sky Watch, Pluto – they racked their way into history as two-year-olds. They were also exceptions… and exceptional. 

Look at our horses today, trotting higher than ever. In fact so high, they have to pull themselves forward, rather than pushing from behind. We’re losing the engine, the backend we used to be famous for. But that’s okay. The public we want to promote to doesn’t see this, and it still looks pretty impressive. 

Let’s move on… whatever happened to that “Rock ’em back and slow gait?” – CH Denmark’s Daydream, CH Summer Melody, CH Belle Elegant, and CH Imperator. Once again, more often than not, they’re pulling themselves along, rather than shifting their weight back to the hindquarters, because the strength just isn’t there. Don Harris still makes his living on this gait and brings the house down. But you won’t see it on a horse that isn’t strong behind. What we do see today, too often in my eyes, is a slightly slower version of the rack. (Alan, don’t we have a poster that refers to the Saddlebred as the only 5-speed horse?) That’s okay, the public doesn’t really see this either. 

Let’s try the canter. Our equitation horses canter great. What can’t the others? Anyone here remember how CH My-My or CH Sky Watch – two superstars – cantered? My western and Thoroughbred friends like to quiz me why we canter our horses the way we do. I don’t have an answer, except maybe tradition. And I was as guilty as anyone. 

We’re getting these horses wound up, folks. Look at our pleasure horses. If a judge calls for a flat walk for more than 20 seconds, he’s criticized, because even the best ones have trouble coming back down to a true relaxed walk. That’s okay, the public really see this either. 

These are just some of the changes I’ve seen over the years. You hardly notice them over the past ten years, but over time, I can see them clearly. You know what? I still believe, and you believe, we have an exciting breed. 

That’s not the point. What we see is not what the public sees. Until we see what the public sees, all the promotion in the world won’t advance our cause. 

We’re now through performing our gaits to a standing-room-only audience and heading into the line-up with our wound-up horses… that is, if they’ll come into the line-up to be judged. How must that look to the public? Now we get off and pull the saddles and then try to get back on. That’s when the fun starts. Hey, I’ve been there, done that. A few years ago it was wisely suggested that we leave the saddles on, not so much to hide the Lordosis issue, but because some of our horses are so wound up – and you guessed it – it looks bad to the public as we try to step back aboard. 

Well, we’re almost through. We’re back aboard trying to find our stirrups and gather our reins as our horses smartly retire to the end of the ring. Whoops! There goes our eventual winner vaulting through the air and unseating its rider. Such excitement you sometimes don’t even see at NASCAR races. Now we proceed to give the viewing public our version of bumper cars at the carnival because our wound-up horses are fed up with all this and looking for the out-gate. When it opens, some, in fact, leave automatically and can’t even return for their ribbon. 

That’s what the public sees. 

Accidents are on the rise, to the point we devoted a session at the last UPHA convention on what to do when one occurs; not a word on what to do to keep them from happening. 

We have the product, friends; but all the promotion in the world won’t override what the public sees. What I’ve just described actually happened [last] year… on our three largest stages – Lexington, Louisville, and Kansas City. Our horses are talking to us. Are we listening? 

How much easier would their lives be if we taught them manners, if we taught them how to wait on us, how to relax between gaits, how to stand and be mounted with no one holding them? Hey, they’re already stopped. Why hold them? I wonder how that would look to a prospective buyer, our viewing public. 

I’m for stepping back and building a more complete, more dependable, safer, longer lasting, and even more exciting horse. It’s there if we want and are willing to make some adjustments. 

Let’s get together and polish our product, and when we finally have the horse as it needs to be – as it wants to be – let’s go out and give ‘em a show, the show the public needs to see. Then, and only then, will we have something to promote. I believe in our horse. I believe in our breed. And most of all, I believe in you. Food for thought…