I came to a startling conclusion a short while ago while I was driving home after riding Tori.

At the clinic with Kevin Pole, he suggested treating a horse who was spooking due to fear as if they were a scared child. You would take a scared child by the hand and let them know through your actions and words that there was nothing to be afraid of, that they were safe. You wouldn’t take that child by the hand and shake it, instilling more fear, so why would you yank on your horse’s reins, or spur him for being scared?

This approach worked wonders with Tori. Now when we near that “scary-end-of-the-arena-where-the-gate-is”, I simply pick up the inside rein until she gives to it softly. When she is giving softly at the poll and jaw, she is not acting afraid but is working with me. If her head still comes up, I also make contact with the outside rein and she usually will drop her head then. Sometimes I have to wait for her to come to me and then I can finally soften gently, telling her it is okay. However, if I INSIST she drop her head, through bumping her mouth or pulling harder, all I am serving to do is scare her more.

What I need to do is approach each ride differently. Rather than thinking, “Oh boy, I have to deal with Tori again”, I can remodel my thinking to “today I have another chance to build a confident horse through my calm and consistent approach”.

Photo credit: Chris Hassell

Sounds like a simple and subtle shift, but you’d be amazed at how much both how much difference it makes for the horse, and also how difficult it can be to make that shift!

I’m curious to hear from readers what their solutions have been to this type of problem - how have you remodelled your way of thinking to make things better for you and your horse? Have you been successful? How do you deal with the setbacks? Can you stick with it for long periods of time, and if so, what did you do to make it easier for you? Personally I find using short phrases works for me - phrases like “don’t take it personally”, “hold her hand”, and so on seem to defuse my building frustrations. I do wonder if other riders use similar techniques!

You can drop me a line at kristi@hiway16.com with your personal experience of changing your mental state regarding your riding.
‘Til next week,
~ Kristi :)

(Kristi has added the 2003 Events List)

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We bumped the Technique column this week top bring you some more current event information. The “Retraining a spoiled horse” series will continue next week.

These notes are hot off the presses from our Zone 7 Horse Council BC representative, Dianne Klick. Dianne works hard on our behalf, reporting to the HCBC meetings for our area, and reminding the lower mainland that we are busy equestrians up north here. She is also active on our behalf in arranging as many educational events as possible, recognizing that those opportunities for northern BC horse people are far and few between.

For those who were interested in the HCBC short course being held in Smithers on March 1 & 2, the cost has been set at $50 per day or $90 for both (less than anticipated!). Juniors only pay $40 per day. Also of note, regarding the New Teaching Methology, this is going to be mandatory for already Certified Coaches, as well coaching candidates and instructors.

Dianne writes:
HCBC presented a Hunter Horse Clinic for the BC North in Prince George Feb. 1 &2. Although the clinic was not well advertised, 20 people attended the Friday evening and Saturday presentation facilitated by Pam Arthur, international course designer. Being a show course designer, designing the course on paper and actually building the course fully filled the time allotted. Pam is an exceptional clinician and I suggest she be invited again to the north especially to cover the jumper courses.

On Sunday, Bobbie Reber presented a Hunter Judges Clinic. For seven hours, she taught us the responsibilities of being a judge, the mechanics of judging and showed videos to educate the eye. Bobbie is also an international judge and kept us laughing with the behind the scenes of the Hunter World.

Both clinicians are a credit to the Horse Industry and the weekend was very successful.

Thanks Dianne for the Zone Seven news!

------------------------------
Also on the subject of northern BC seminars, Terrace equestrians have expressed an interest in having an event put on in their area as well.

Tania Millen of Terrace writes:

HCBC Zone 7 is trying to bring in two people (one english / sport horses, one
western) on April 5 & 6 to each do a one day seminar on Conformation for Performance.

The english instructor will be Jeannette Coote - President of the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association and a Teacher at Olds College. She runs MJ Farms. She has been in the breeding and teaching business for many years . She has a similar personality to the famed Deb Bennett.

The western instructor will be Randy Heidebrecht, who is the Breeding Manager for Sapergia Stables. He is apparently very knowledgeable and the Sapergias have certainly been successful on the international scene. His teaching abilities are unknown, but he has written several articles in magazines about performance horses.

The cost is yet to be determined but would hopefully be approximately $50 per day.
Please respond ASAP to Tania at tmillen@morrowenv.com if you would attend, and state english or western. The seminars will run in Terrace (if the lecturers are available for these dates) provided the locals (that’s you!) are supportive.

Thanks Tania for raising awareness of these Zone Seven sponsored seminars for your local area!

If you have comments or suggestions along the way, please share with me at kristi@hiway16.com.

Submitted by Marty Cox
Secretary, Totem Saddle Club

Clear Round Days
Junior
1st Heather Stewart
2nd Amy Hayduk
3rd Rachel Muller

No Senior Awards

Participation Awards
Chelsea Chilibeck
Lindsey Kuemper
Sara Evans
Carrie Koopmans
Joey Muller
Kim Latimer

Fastest Times
Keyhole - Amy Hayduk & Terro
Polebending - Danita Petch & Shady
Ring Spearing - Lyn Lavoie & Gizmo
Flag Picking - Amy Hayduk & Terro
Figure 8 - Lyn Lavoie & Gizmo
Scurries - Danita Petch & Tabbu
Barrels - Lyn Lavoie & Gizmo

HIGH POINT HORSE & RIDER
Lyn Lavoie and Gizmo won both awards and had their names added to the perpetual High Point Horse trophy and the High Point Rider trophy.

BEST CROSS DRESSER (Highest points in both Gymkhana & Clear Rounds)
Amy Hayduk had her name placed on the new Best Cross Dresser trophy.

The Sportsmanship Awards were voted on at the Banquet and were awarded as follows:
Junior - Chelsea Chilibeck
Senior - Doug Clinkenbeard

There was lots of visiting among the dinner guests and everyone is getting ready for the new season.

Northern BC Horse is sponsored by local businesses who support equine sports in our area including:

• Baerental Ranch
• Burns Lake Building Supplies
• Hoskins Ford
• Northern Horse Supply
• Ridennoure Paint Horses
• The Tack Store

Do you have a horse or equipment to sell? Want to buy a horse or equipment? Check the Free Classified Ads.