Elizabeth

Elizabeth Wood
photo by Phil West

Click here for more
TRAINING NOTES from Elizabeth

 

Ed Dabney clinic June 15 -16, 2007

Join us at Bits & Bytes Farm for a Natural Horsemanship clinic with Ed Dabney on June 15, 16, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Urbanissima and Allison Bennet believe in "Natural Horsemanship".

Urbanissima and Allison Bennet believe in "Natural Horsemanship".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robin Cannizzaro, DVM and holistic vet is well schooled in the advantanges of using Natural Horsemanship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robin and Alchemy bonding.

Robin and Alchemy bonding.

 

 

 

 

 

Robin and Alchemy at liberty.

Robin and Alchemy at liberty.

 

 

 

 

 

Ed Dabney clinic June 15 -16, 2007

Join us at Bits & Bytes Farm for a Natural Horsemanship clinic with Ed Dabney on June 15, 16, 2007

 

 

training notes from elizabeth

Our horses > training notes from elizabeth > May 24, 2007

Our training notes often show schooling at the farm but may also include cross country schoolings and trail rides away from the farm. Go back through our notes to see how we train our off-the-track Thoroughbreds and prepare them for new careers as sport horses.

Vicky Vicky Vicky and Robin Cannizzaro.

Natural Horsemanship can help with the transistion from race horse to sport horse.

When horses come off-the-track they do not know what to expect. Their only experience has been race training and racing. It is not uncommon for a horse to either be "hyped up" or really quiet when they first come home. The true personality of the horse will come later when he is no longer sore from racing and he has a full belly.

The more love and discipline you give the horse from the start, the more he will bond with you. The horse is nervous and scared like a kid at summer camp for the first time. He will look to you for comfort and support if you take charge. This is where understanding the principles of Natural Horsemanship will help with the ground work and teach him to respect your space.

We believe in doing lots of ground work at Bits & Bytes Farm --not because you can't ride the horse the day he comes off-the-track, but rather to gain the horse's trust and respect. This will be very valuable when mounted and the horse becomes scared or confused. You will have established yourself as the "herd leader" and he will look to you for confidence.

A Testimonial from multiple OTTB owner - Allison Bennett

Hi , E!
Thanks for the info, I am totally immersed in this natural horsemanship movement and have been using it for the last 6 yrs. I think that it's great that you're hosting this! We're real familiar with Ed Dabney up here. I think maybe he has worked with a neighbor of mine over here in Royston, a lady by the name of Del Wideman. She hosts and teaches these techniques at clinics frequently. I have brought 8 young horses along under saddle using these techniques, and so far, none of them have bucked , spooked, or done anything out of the way to give me any trouble. I also used some of them on Urbs to get her to try to deal with some of her "anxiety issues", it works like magic!

Keep pushing these programs (especially with the dressage crowd) because it really helps develop a better partnership in the end and doesn't take any longer than the "old methods" .

Urbs (Urbanissima) and Gens (General Shanray) are doing great and might decide to make Urbs a mommy this year!

I currently have several very nice Hanoverian crosses for sale, if you know anybody that might be looking!

Stay in touch! :)
AJB

Natural Horsemanship from Robin Cannizzaro, DVM

Robin Cannazzaro, DVM and her OTTB Vicky Vicky Vicky aka "Victory".
Robin Cannazzaro, DVM and her OTTB Vicky Vicky Vicky aka "Victory".

I first became interested in Natural Horsemanship when I heard of a clinic being held in my area. I am open minded and do not fit a specific description of horse discipline. I ride and compete in dressage. At the clinic I loved the idea of my horse respecting me and my space, and the light responsiveness. The presenter was on his horse with no bridle or halter. I really like that. He turned his horse loose with all of us in the arena and she gladly returned to him after a brief run around the arena.

Robin Cannazzaro, DVM and her OTTB Vicky Vicky Vicky aka "Victory".
Robin Cannazzaro, DVM and her OTTB Vicky Vicky Vicky aka "Victory".

I have always been the type of rider that performs my personal best with my partner, ribbons come second. I have always bonded with my horses and they are true partners to me. When I was showing hunter competitively as a child and young woman, people marveled at how calm and unspoiled I was. If my horse gave his best, I had a winning day, even if the ribbons did not show that.

Robin Cannazzaro, DVM and her horse Alchemy.
Robin Cannazzaro, DVM and her horse Alchemy.

Natural horsemanship is actually not very different than how I was fortunate enough to learn how to ride from Emerson Burr from the Fairfield County Hunt Club. He taught me turn to a stop. I do not think Natural Horsemanship occurred to him, he just had a tremendous ability to communicate safety and feel of your horse.

Robin and Alchemy bonding.

I did not need to learn Natural Horsemanship with Alchemy (my Oldenburg gelding), he had no issues that demanded fixing. I was interested in knowing what more I might do to communicate and bond with him. I can now ride him bareback with just a string around his neck or nothing at all. All because he respects me and is bonded with me enough to allow me to do this.

Robin and Alchemy at liberty.

When I purchased Vicky, aka Victory and Vicky Vicky Vicky, I knew the first thing I was going to do was ground work and Natural Horsemanship.
She had no boundaries, she was pushy, had little use for me in general, had no reason to trust humans. She was high, reactive, spooky. For the first week of her training I spent a lot of time rubbing on her, desensitizing her to the stick (carrot stick), and moving her out of my space.
I next worked on yielding her hindquarters. This helps to disengage their hindquarters, they cannot kick you, you can stop them if you take the power away from the hindend. Vicky was resistant at first but gradually worked together with me after some struggles.
Depending upon the temperament of the TB you purchase will depend how cooperative they can be. Vicky is an alpha mare, so she was less willing and had had bad experiences at the track. All horses will come around if you give them the chance, be patient, and have fun. Vicky took about one week to do groundwork sufficient enough for me to get on her.

Patience cannot be emphasized enough and keep changing your exercises to keep things interesting for them and always finish on a good note. The last thing we do is what they remember when you get them again to play. Smile a lot, that helps you relax and release hormones that sensitive horses will pick up to release tension both in yourself and your horse. I did this a lot with Vicky, even laughed at her silliness, she laughed back!

Natural horsemanship is something I begin every ride with to help supple my horses, help them build and begin in the proper frame of mind, and help build their confidence. I will not get on the horse until I know that I have all my steering, stopping, moving sideways forwards and backwards intact. If not, I will not be able to respond if an emergency arises. I open gates and close them behind me on all my horses, while mounted. I require they stand still when mounting and dismounting for as long as I say so.

They come to me in the field, Alchemy even comes across the field to me, Vicky thinks about it, and does come some of the time and is no problem to go to in the field. She has come so far in her willingness to give me whatever I ask. I credit Natural Horsemanship in my ability to be competitively showing in Training level and qualifying for regional championships in just one short year off the track. I have been riding now for well over 30 years and horses teach me new and fun things every day. Let them teach you how to laugh at yourself and take life with a lot more fun! A horse that is bonded with you through Natural Horsemanship is a horse that will give more than any other training method, no matter what your discipline.

Horses do not have to do anything for us, they are bigger, more powerful, cunning, and dangerous. The danger is by their mere size and it is important to understand their language, speak their language, smile, laugh, have fun and appreciate all that they do for us. They are partners that lifelong will give all they can for us even if they are sore, stiff, or uncomfortable. I am always impressed with how much they give to us and I appreciate them, love them, rub on them (you cannot do this enough), and smile at them every day.

Happy Natural horsemanship and bonding.

Robin L. Cannizzaro D.V.M., C.V.A.
Wholistic Veterinary Care
www.wholisticvetcare.com


Would you like a Web site for your business? That's how we make our living!
Click here for more information.
© 2005 Copyright Bits & Bytes Farm /Egeland Wood & Zuber, Inc.