This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.72 When I meet someone for the first time I like to form my own impressions, based on my own sense of the person. I really try not to let any preconceived notions other people might have about them influence me. I want the chance to get […]
Written by Jec Ballou The development of dressage horses falls more or less into two camps, with a lively debate dividing them over the proper foundation and training progression. For example, should a horse in the early work achieve precise and stable longitudinal balance prior to developing the motion of his gaits? Or, should the […]
Written by Linda Turner This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.71 Early Californios Skills of the Rancho held in Santa Ynez February 8th-10th was the realization of Bruce Sandifer’s dream to form an organization where the Californio traditions could be studied, taught, and kept alive. The non-profit Californio Bridlehorse Association (CBA) became that […]
Written by Chuck Stormes This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.69 About forty years ago I started hearing stories about Ray Hunt and his clinics. Usually, the account came from a wide-eyed cowboy who had witnessed twenty or thirty “colts” turned loose in a pen, saddled and ridden but with nothing on their […]
Written by Buster McLaury This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.69 I rarely saddle an older horse that is tied up, and I never saddle a young horse that is tied up. I think too much of my horses. Let’s give a little thought (Ray would be proud) to a scenario that could happen; […]
Written by Jeff Derby This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.68 In two previous articles I talked about the importance of being able to gain your horse’s attention, and building on that to where you can hold your horse’s attention, in order to get your horse in the habit of staying tuned in to […]
Written by Wendy Murdoch This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.64 “Jambo!” the soft musical voice of the Daniel floats through the tent flaps as hot coffee, tea and cookies arrive to wake us with the dawn. Dressed and ready to ride we make our way down to the mess tent where we […]
Written by Buster McLaury This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.55 Subscribe Today! When working with our horses, we should always be thinking about preparing them for what’s coming next – after a while, tomorrow, next week, next year. In doing so, we should keep things interesting for our horse, so he never […]
Written by Jeff Derby This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.49 In a previous article I stated that gaining our horse’s attention is the initial step to effective communication (EH #39). Building on that idea, I’d like to discuss the importance of developing the habit of waiting in our horse. A familiar analogy […]
Written by Joe Wolter In 1978 I took a job on a yearling ranch in Carmel Valley, Calif. My job consisted of taking care of about 600 head of yearlings during the winter. They also had about 18 head of horses to work with. When I took the job the previous manager was still living […]