September Newsletter

Subject: News from 20/20 Horsemanship Having trouble viewing this email? Click here You're receiving this email because of your relationship with 20/20 Horsemanship. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails. September 28, 2010 In This Issue Daylight Savings New Rules Available Openings Mini Camp! Monday, Oct. 11 2010 9am-12pm 1pm-4pm This will be a fun filled mini camp for current students only.  Register for the morning or afternoon session-or both! Activities include:  grooming, braiding and proper mane trimming, (with plenty of glitter of course!) tacking up, games on horseback, ground training techiques including jumping (with handler on the ground). Depending on group dynamics we will go on a mock trail ride and through an obstacle course. Students will learn how to walk their pony through the course before riding it. Cost:  $80 per camper per session If your child will be attending all day the cost is $145.  Snacks and drinks are included.  Quick Links 20/20 Horsemanship Homepage The Natural Horseman Blog Email Loretta Now FAQs page Calendar & Schedule Dear Loretta,   Looking back over the last 2 years I see how my students have learned and grown.  It is very rewarding for me to see them taking their horsemanship skills to the next level. I have also been looking at this business the same way.  What started as a small venture has turned into 30+ lessons and training each week. With a rather large waiting list.  And I'm still the only employee! :O)  You may be noticing some barn helpers around, and if YOU are a potential helper, please let me know!  There is always mucking to be done and tack to clean.  Some of my herd can't be ridden now and still need to be groomed and handled on the ground.  Learning opportunities abound! Stay tuned for information about my front jumping pasture turning into a bluestone ring, and (this is very exciting) the possibility of a covered arena and additional barn. I look forward to many happy trails this fall! Sincerely, Loretta Arey 20/20 Horsemanship Daylight Savings Time Will your lesson be affected? On Novembger 7, 2010 we will again change the clocks.  This will greatly limit the amount of daylight that we have to work with.  I am planning on giving lessons a few nights a week at Frying Pan Park in Herndon.   If YOUR lesson is at a time that daylight will affect, it please let me know if you are interested in going to Frying Pan.  I am offering this option to current students.  If openings remain available I will offer them to my waitiing list.  I currently have 20+ people interested in my program, so if you want to do this, please let  me know ASAP. I anticipate all openings will fill quickly. New Rules In order to comply with insurance regulations there are new rules in effect immediately. All students MUST wear boots or shoes with a heel to ride.  If they do not wear a heel the lesson will be conducted on the ground. Anyone entering the barn area must wear closed toe shoes.  NO sandals. Unfortunately we can no longer have dogs on the property.  If you enjoy bringing your dog, please leave him outside of the fenceline while you walk your child in. You are welcome to take the dog for a walk in the neighborhood if he remains on a leash. Helmets must be worn at all times.  Children will wear helmets upon entering the barn area and adults will wear them upon entering the arena. I need to have emergency medical information on file for  all students.  I will be alerting you if I do not have one on file for you. I need all parents to sign a release of liability for themselves.  Most of you enjoy coming into the barn and chatting for a few minutes.  This is a nice time to review how your child is doing.  However, this puts you at risk since you are in an area with horses.  Anyone coming in through the gate needs to have a release on file with me.  That means siblings, friends, nannies, etc....if it is easier, then I can walk your child to the gate and we can chat there. Upcoming Openings Sat., Oct. 2 @ 3pm Sun., Oct 3 @ 10:30am & 3:30pm These are available due to vacationing students.  They will go quickly, so if you'd lke a lesson then, please let me know ASAP. Thursdays @3pm    Mini Camp-register now! Monday, Oct. 11, 2010   9am-12pm 1pm-4pm This will be a fun filled mini camp for current students only.  Register for the morning or afternoon session-or both! Activities include:  grooming, braiding and proper mane trimming, (with plenty of glitter of course!) tacking up, games on horseback, ground training techiques including jumping (with handler on the ground). Depending on group dynamics we will go on a mock trail ride and through an obstacle course. Students will learn how to walk their pony through the course before riding it. Cost:  $80 per camper per session If your child will be attending all day the cost is $145.  Snacks and drinks are included.  About Us 20/20 Horsemanship is a family owned and operated private training and teaching center.  We have grown beyond our wildest dreams and want to thank each and every one of you.  We are pleased that we are meeting our goal of teaching more than riding, and even more so knowing there is such a huge demand for educated horseman.   Forward email This email was sent to loretta@2020horsemanship.com by loretta@2020horsemanship.com. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by 20/20 Horsemanship | 231 Seneca Rd. | P.O.Box 397 | Great Falls | VA | 22066

Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Listening to my horse

I took Scottie on a trail ride today.  We started with our usual routine of grooming, then ground work.  I got on him in my ring/front pasture. We walked around a bit and then headed out for the trail.  


I opted to take a well known favorite that would take about an hour with time to stop at the river.


After about 20 minutes he stopped.  Simply didn't move forward any more.  Now, he has done this before.  One time he actually cocked a leg. It was as if he was saying, hey, I just need a breather (and we were with a friend then.)  Being alone today, and he hasn't done much since my foot was broken all summer, I assumed it was a 'I really want my friends' kind of stop.  He did not try to turn, spin, or in any way attempt to head back. Those are all things a herd bound horse would do.  So, it did strike me as odd, but I was pretty sure that was the answer.  Onward I pushed, literally, and he gave nothing.   


Eventually we had a chat.  I explained to him that I would kick him if he wouldn't go and that I really did not want to do that.  So, I kicked.  And pushed.  And kicked.  Nothing.  So, I got down.  I figured I would walk him forward a bit, get back on, and once he realized that he had to move forward anyway, he'd be fine.


I found an appropriate sized log to stand on (he's 17.3h) and up I went.  Ok, here we go.  Nope.  He still wasn't moving.  While being hand walked he seemed fine.  Never stopped or even pulled or tugged on me.  Just willingly following me.  Hmmmm.....  I grabbed a stick and whacked him.  He moved about 3 steps and stopped.  I was stumped.  I was not going to haul with all my might on my sensitive friend.  I have a brain and know that is not a good idea.  So, I told him we'd just hang out there together for a while and think about this.  I told him I wanted to know what was going on and that I wanted to have fun with him.  We stood there for about 10 minutes.  Not once did he try to turn around.  All of a sudden a thought popped into my head. (This is typically how my intuition works.)  My thought sounded like Scottie and he was saying, " You said you wanted more warning  if something is wrong.  If you'd stop trying to make me move forward and pay attention and listen, you would know I am trying to tell you something. "  


I took a deep breath, asked him to turn around, and we walked home.  Quietly.  It was not a 'yeah she's letting me go home' walk like Shadow would've done.  It was just Scottie walking. 


For those of you reading this that do not know, about 1 1/2 years ago I was on a trail ride with Scottie and a friend when he suddenly, without any warning (or so it seemed) bucked and flung me into the air.  I was catapulted up and over, landing head first. Broke my ankle, which I am so grateful for because landing on my head scared the crap out of me.  After that we had many conversations about how and why this happened.  Turned out his back was very sore from a previous spill he took on a trail.  I asked him to make sure and tell me 'louder' next time he had a problem.  I asked him to make sure I understood so this never happened again.


I felt ashamed as we walked home.  Why did it take so long for me to figure out?  My first thoughts were of a negative nature.  That he was doing something wrong and I could not let him win by turning around.  I had tears in my eyes as I apologized to him.  I think at that moment he was feeling that humans are a bit slow.  I am sure there are many horsey folk who would say I did the wrong thing.  You know, I don't care.  I am safe.  He is too.  I'll get the chiropractor back out, and we'll go from there.  I'd rather be alive and wrong than dead or injured and right.



Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Training Methods

I am a NH trainer. I use a combination of methods, an array of things that work for the individual horse I am working on. The comment I want to make is directed at the backing discussions. When training a horse to do something, anything, he has to fgure out what you are asking. He will choose the wrong or incorrect response sometimes often, before finding the correct answer. When the correct response happens, the trainer rewards by releasing pressure. In this case the jiggling of the rope stops. Some learn it faster than others. I teach this to EVREY horse I ride or train. It is an invaluable tool. Sometimes you are just not close enough to pull the rope toward his chest to ask for a back up. Using this technique I can ask from anywhere. My horses are so light with it it just takes a little wiggle of the rope and back they go. So the only real crazy waving involved is usually the first time teaching them.







Do I think the big name trainers have gotten out of hand? Yes. I also they they brought to light a lot about horsemnanship that main stream folks were not aware of. Things they should have been aweare of, but weren't.






My 17.3h sensitive draft cross and I have a great relationship. We preactically read each others minds. One day going to a trail he spooked. I could feel the m oment that he thought, OMG I'm going to die and Loretta is asking me to move forward. Someone has to save my life and if it's not going to be her it's going to be me. Really, I felt him close me out. Know what I did? I got down. And we walked back and forth in front of the scary yellow do not enter tape for the next hour. He was side passing at a trot to try and not get close but keep his eye on it, right next to the road. But if he had freaked and pulled away, I'd be alive even if he got hit by a car. I've had many folks tell me I did the wrong thing. I will never be convicned of that. For that horse under tose circumstances, I did the right thing.






So I applaud those who realize not every way works with every horse. Just like our children. Each have unique qualities that I beleive should be taken into consideration while training.


Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Update

Stryker is looking much better. He loves the attention he gets at my friend's barn. Thanks Cara!




Astro will be living there for a while. He really needs work and since I am there all the time it will be easier to give him the time he needs.



Gemstone will move to my house. She HATES the ponies anyway



Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

September Newsletter

Subject: News from 20/20 Horsemanship Having trouble viewing this email? Click here You're receiving this email because of your relationship with 20/20 Horsemanship. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails. Sept. 2010 Newsletter In This Issue Upcoming Openings Meet Mellie Update on Stryker Quick Links 20/20 Horsemanship website The Natural Horseman Blog Junior Master Horseman -For kids! Take a horse safety quiz! Can you name the parts of the horse? September Book-Horses Never Lie, Mark Rashid Last month I focused on Sally Swift and Centered Riding.  Several  purchased the book and are benefiting from Ms. Swift's knowledge. This month I am spotlighting a trainer, Mark Rashid. Mr. Rashid is a talented and gifted writer.  You will enjoy any and all of his books. It is important to remember that as aspiring horsemen and women it is our responsibility to understand the horse in every capacity.  Everything we do  with the horse we are either teaching him, reinforcing what we've taught him, or unteaching him.  Every single moment is a training moment.  So even if you do not desire to become a horse trainer, it will benefit you as a rider and a horse person to understand horse training.  If you ever desire to become a horse owner it is a MUST.  That is one of the biggest mistakes horse owners make-not knowing enough about training.  Every owner is also a trainer simply by default.   Mark Rashid  Dear Loretta, I'm sure you are looking forward to fall as much as I am.  This was one hot summer!  We have several new students to welcome: Sophia Arianna Sloan Sarah Cindy Kaitlin And several more that have returned from vacation.  Looks like September will be a very busy month here. Sincerely, Loretta Arey 20/20 Horsemanship Upcoming Openings Sunday 9/5 @ 5pm Tuesday 9/7 @ 10am & 5pm Wednesday 9/8 @ 10am Thursday 9/9 @ 4 & 5:30pm If you have not yet confirmed a regular time for fall classes, please do so as soon as possbile.  I have at least a dozen new students coming on board and I'd like for you to get your desired day and time. Herd Update Meet Mellie Mellie is the newest addition to our herd.  She is an adorable Appaloosa pony mare.  She is 15 years old and about 13.3hh. She is the first one to greet us at the gate and is always very interested in the goings on at the barn.  I am enjoying working with her and getting to know her.  She is a fast learner and is quickly picking up the ground work I am teaching her.  I also am enjoying riding her.  She has a lovely trot and canter-once she is moving.  In fact I have been practicing a lot on her since I had so much down time with my broken foot.  I've been riding with no stirrups, no reins, posting with no stirrups and doing sets of sit trot 7 steps, post 7, stand 7.  I have to practice what I preach!  And it's been giving me lots of good ideas for my students....next up, getting her out on the trail. Update on Stryker In case you have not heard, Stryker has a new injury.  Just as I was about to start riding him at a walk, he tore a suspensory ligament in his left front leg.  He is on strict stall rest for the next several months.  He is currently living at the barn with the ring.  I can keep my eye on him since I am there more than I am at home now.  He seems to be dealing with it well, just like he did with his tendon.  He sure is a good sport.  I feel so sad for him.  In December it will be one year that he's spent in a stall. About Us Thank you to all my wonderful students.  I am thrilled to share with you my passion for all things horse.  Especially the importance of having a relationship that begins on the ground.  If there is anything you'd like to see in future newsletters, please let me know.  Forward email This email was sent to loretta@2020horsemanship.com by loretta@2020horsemanship.com. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by 20/20 Horsemanship | 231 Seneca Rd. | P.O.Box 397 | Great Falls | VA | 22066