Tom Simmons clinic review

The Tom Simmons clinic at Woodland Stallion Station this past weekend was a big success. I am still digesting what I saw and heard, but I want to tell you that it was a wonderful clinic and well attended.

Tom worked with 10 different horses and ponies in various stages of training. One of the 10 was a three year old Morgan gelding owned by Ann Taylor who had no training except for halter and lead. Tom gave an hour long round pen session that was a great illustration of how easy a horse can learn the basics. These are the same basics that one needs at the high levels of any horse discipline. Tom's work with Rampart involved "herding up", gaining leadership and respect from the horse using a lunge line with a chain to prepare him for what would come next. Auditors were able to watch the horse being prepared to willingly accept wearing a bridle with a simple snaffle bit, a surcingle complete with crupper, side rein use to teach the horse to follow his head to the left and right. Tom then progressed to long lining and in hardly any time, Rampart showed the fundamentals of traveling on the correct bend and opening up his circle while on that bend. Tom taught Rampart to discern the difference between a halt and backing. This horse has a wonderful disposition and took to each step with no resistance and an openness to learn what was expected. Tom showed us that it is much easier to teach a horse that has had no incorrect handling than to have to undo previous bad habits. If anyone is looking for a nice minded Morgan gelding, with good body, to make their next driving horse, Rampart is for sale.

There were many illustrations throughout the weekend of where issues or advanced problems can be resolved simply by returning to working on the basics. This results in the resolution of problems such as counter bending, anxiety, and restriction of the horse's free movement. For the human, Tom worked in simplifying rein handling, creating expectation and intention. He showed how to drive your horse at home to train and refine communication working towards finish.

Tom stressed that horses do not want a "buddy" in our handling of them, they want a leader who will direct them and give the horse a sense of security and confidence.

Thanks to Ann Taylor for the wonderful facility that was perfect for winter even though the weekend was rain free. A few drivers went out on the roads to drive and practice what they learned. Shelley Chavoor was a great organizer and we had great food for lunches and dinner. It was so great to see old friends, hear stories from the past and meet new folk interested in driving. Tom had a wonderful time and we look forward to bringing him back to Woodland as well as Grass Valley to learn more from his over 50 years of horse knowledge. One last thing... Tom talked of wanting to write a book about training a horse "the old man's way". His thoughts are that age and experience makes for simplicity. He has become efficient and does what counts and is easy for the horse and himself. I hope he writes the book so we can have a view of his experience to help our own.

"Working from the bottom up vs. from the top down"

My friend and trainer says we are an "instant" generation. We expect fast results, love to shortcut long process in our quest to gain more time...for what? We talk fast, get our news in sound bites to pass on to others without involving the thought process necessary to test the truth. Cut to the chase! That's our motto! I am guilty as the next guy, but am learning that with horses, one has to slow down and think.

I was impressed, while doing some research on Albert Einstein, about something he said. He humbly said that he wasn't that much smarter about solving problems, he just spent more time thinking about them. It is a lengthy process to train a horse and it really never ends as we continue to improve or deteriorate our relationship with them every time we have any contact with them. It is the little things that matter to a horse. It is not how good we are to them ( in human terms ), but rather how good we are with them, by understanding what they need and providing their need for leadership, security and peace of mind.

This is why I maintain a view from the horse's perspective rather than from what is expected, by humans in the upper levels of playing a sport that involves horses. One does have to know all the rules and follow them to play the best game, but one should never forget where the horse is coming from in this quest to be the best in sport.

A Mother's Explanation of Why She Had Horses for Her Daughter

This is worth a read for anyone with a horse crazy child. I was one of these and can honestly say that horses gave me much of what I am today.

A Mother's Explanation of Why She Had Horses for Her Daughter …… Tracy Meisenbach

My daughter turned sixteen years old today; which is a milestone for most people. Besides looking at baby photos and childhood trinkets with her, I took time to reflect on the young woman my daughter had become and the choices she would face in the future.

As I looked at her I could see the athlete she was, and determined woman she would soon be. I started thinking about some of the girls we knew in our town who were already pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under the sun, drop- outs, drug addicts and on the fast track to no-where, seeking surface identities because they had no inner self-esteem. The parents of these same girls have asked me why I "waste" the money on horses so my daughter can ride. I'm told she will grow out of it, lose interest, discover boys and all kinds of things that try to pin the current generation's "slacker" label on my child. I don't think it will happen, I think she will love and have horses all her life.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has compassion. She knows that we must take special care of the very young and the very old. We must make sure those without voices to speak of their pain are still cared for.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned responsibility for others than herself. She learned that regardless of the weather you must still care for those you have the stewardship of. There are no "days off" just because you don't feel like being a horse owner that day. She learned that for every hour of fun you have there are days of hard slogging work you must do first.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned not to be afraid of getting dirty and that appearances don't matter to most of the breathing things in the world we live in. Horses do not care about designer clothes, jewelry, pretty hairdos or anything else we put on our bodies to try to impress others. What a horse cares about are your abilities to work within his natural world, he doesn't care if you're wearing $80.00 jeans while you do it. -

Because my daughter grew up with horses she learned about sex and how it can both enrich and complicate lives. She learned that it only takes one time to produce a baby, and the only way to ensure babies aren't produced is not to breed. She learned how babies are planned, made, born and, sadly, sometimes die before reaching their potential. She learned how sleepless nights and trying to out-smart a crafty old broodmare could result in getting to see, as non-horse owning people rarely do, the birth of a true miracle.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she understands the value of money. Every dollar can be translated into bales of hay, bags of feed or farrier visits. Purchasing non-necessities during lean times can mean the difference between feed and good care, or neglect and starvation. She has learned to judge the level of her care against the care she sees provided by others and to make sure her standards never lower, and only increase as her knowledge grows.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to learn on her own. She has had teachers that cannot speak, nor write, nor communicate beyond body language and reactions. She has had to learn to "read" her surroundings for both safe and unsafe objects, to look for hazards where others might only see a pretty meadow. She has learned to judge people as she judges horses. She looks beyond appearances and trappings to see what is within.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned sportsmanship to a high degree. Everyone that competes fairly is a winner. Trophies and ribbons may prove someone a winner, but they do not prove someone is a horseman. She has also learned that some people will do anything to win, regard-less of who it hurts. She knows that those who will cheat in the show ring will also cheat in every other aspect of their life and are not to be trusted.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has self-esteem and an engaging personality. She can talk to anyone she meets with confidence, because she has to express herself to her horse with more than words. She knows the satisfaction of controlling and teaching a 1000 pound animal that will yield willingly to her gentle touch and ignore the more forceful and inept handling of those stronger than she is. She holds herself with poise and professionalism in the company of those far older than herself.

Because my daughter grew up with horses she has learned to plan ahead. She knows that choices made today can effect what happens five years down the road. She knows that you cannot care for and protect your investments without savings to fall back on. She knows the value of land and buildings. And that caring for your vehicle can mean the difference between easy travel or being stranded on the side of the road with a four horse trailer on a hot day.

When I look at what she has learned and what it will help her become, I can honestly say that I haven't "wasted" a penny on providing her with horses. I only wish that all children had the same opportunities to learn these lessons from horses before setting out on the road to adulthood. 
Tracy Meisenbach

time to let go

For the last year I have known that I would have to let go of my very best horse friend and send him into another existence, one of his spirit in my mind and heart. My dear Morgan Lance had developed a cancer of the jaw that could not be stopped in its progression. At age 24, I did not want him to suffer invasive treatment, so I watched for signs of discomfort or difficulty knowing that the day would come when I would take responsibility and give him a good and peaceful end.

It has been one month since that warm and sunny day we laid him to sleep on a beautiful knoll at Noble Beasts Ranch. I want you to know that I feel a real contentment and happiness that his end was planned and choreographed so that it would be stress free and peaceful. I selected just the right veterinarian to quietly and expertly administer the overdose of anesthesia. Lance was quiet for the mild sedation prior to the overdose, and I got to tell him to trust me one more time and whisper my love for him. My vet knew exactly how to hold his head so that when he lost consciousness, his knees folded like he was going down for a roll. It was very soft and instant. It was a perfect ending for a perfect horse.

Saying goodbye is sad but a necessary part of caring for a much loved and deserving horse. It is part of the deal. Death is nothing to be afraid of because it is part of life. I am just happy I was able to make it a good end for my best horse friend.

Sir Lance-a-Lect
1985-2009

his hazel eye

his bright attitude

his huge nostrils open to life

his deep heart giving all

his thunderous neigh calling all to witness the glory that he is


photo taken by Sharon at CameraHorse.com
for more photos and story of Lance, see album "Lance The Wonder Horse" on homepage:
http://www.camerahorse.com

 

You don't know what you don't know

My husband quotes the phrase "You don't know what you don't know" and if you stop to think about it for a bit, it is true. I especially see examples of it when it comes to what many people think about horses. Everyone has preset ideas of what is "reality" shaped by their own experience. If they have not yet experienced something, how can they say they know about something, especially if it is something they are deeply immersed in, like horses. One can have had horses for many years and love them dearly not knowing much about how they think about us. We know how we think about them and use them to ride, drive and do sport type things with them. We imagine they love us and are our dear friends, but do we really see how they perceive us?

I think back just 15 short years when I got interested in learning how to drive my horse. I lucked out and found an excellent master of horsemanship who could teach me, so I made weekly trips to his stables and took driving lessons and spent the rest of the day observing his training of other horses. I could stay and watch but couldn't interrupt him in his work until his day was done or he pointed out things to me as he saw fit. For a very long time, I was puzzled at what I was observing but was just happy to be around like a quiet mouse watching and soaking up, unconsciously many things that became clear to me later. Sometimes I would get a bit impatient and irritated that I wasn't being taught what I thought I should be learning. "Just show me how to hold the reins, sit, and use the whip so I can get on with it. "

I had no experience of driving (except holding reins on experienced driving horses for a few minutes riding along with friends who drove). I had owned horses for several years and trail rode quite a bit, but I had no clue whatsoever what it was that I did not know about horses. I had loved them all my life, read every horse book I could find, hung around horses and horse people as much as they would allow.....but still, I didn't know what I didn't know.

I liken my enlightenment to a jigsaw puzzle with many pieces. What I knew from decades of loving and being interested in horses was bits and pieces of the puzzle making part of the picture.
It wasn't until I had the guide of a mentor who could help me fill in the parts that eluded me, did I begin to see the picture as a whole. It was the parts about how the horse thinks about us that made the puzzle have sense in the whole.

I see so many people trying to learn about sport from the top down rather from the bottom up. One has to start with a desire to understand how the horse they will be working with feels and thinks about them before any bond can take place to work together and progress.

That will be my next post: "Working from the bottom up vs. from the top down"

Tom Simmons Oct. 2008 clinic at Noble Beasts Ranch

Some of the photos taken by Sharon at:
http://www.camerahorse.com/
from last fall's clinic on Horsemanship given by Tom Simmons of North Carolina. We bring Tom out at least twice a year for ongoing work with longtime clients and new folk wanting to improve their understanding of horses. Auditing is just as valuable as participating with a horse as Tom explains, as he goes, what he and the horse are doing and thinking. What he explains to folks is very important and gives anyone listening and watching, some "light bulb" moments for them to better understand how horses think and act in our world.

Tom works with people as well as their horses so they can continue the learning process at home and get along with their own horses more smoothly. It doesn't matter what breed, discipline, or level one is in currently, Tom can improve your understanding.

My particular interest is carriage driving. I know how important it is for my safety, as well as my horse and others around me that my horse is mannered, looks to me for direction and is obedient to what I ask. I have learned from Tom what I need to do for me to be able have confidence and get what I ask from my horse. These things don't come from just wanting them. One has to be taught these things and I am glad I have such an experienced guide.

how deep does one go?

I wonder just how much one really cares about how a horse thinks about things. How important is it for a smooth relationship to consider how they think? I look around at how most people relate to their horses and I see a very one sided relationship....and it ain't on the horse's side.

People today are very much like people have always been and use horses for work, pleasure...whatever. They use them but don't get to really know or consider what makes a horse want to work for humans in a willing manner. Most folks just want to get right to the use of them without caring about the long, slow work to build a lifelong partner built on trust.

Horses are mainly used, not understood. I was disappointed recently to watch someone in the sport of Combined Driving "use" their horse to satisfy their own personal agenda for speed and glory. Instead of learning by building on speed with their horse, they pulled out all the stops and went as fast as they could shove the horse, costing them by rolling the carriage and thus ending their day's sport. They stood around looking embarrassed while others tended the horse that had been pulled off his feet by the overturned carriage. I think if they thought they could, they would have re-hooked and continued. I felt really bad for the horse as I could see how in future, this horse would probably fail, either mentally or physically.

This is the sad reality for many horses in sport. It is not admirable, to me, to see competitors come back with new horses year after year. Burn 'em up, then spit them out.