I’ve been meaning to show you Hubby’s progress in Aachenbach reining, which is a German-origin system of holding and handling the driving reins of either a single horse, a pair, or more-in-hand. Hubby has taught himself by using a video for guidance, and he even made a rein board in the living room to practice on.
Holding reins in one of the Aachenbach positions. According to PURE Aachenbach, he is supposed to transfer both reins to his left hand and drive one-handed whenever he uses the whip with his right hand.
Aachenbach grip, another view…
The Driving Certificate, [a two-part video following the training guidelines of the Federation Equestre Nationale], is a set of very useful instructional videos all about how to drive horses and featuring the Aachenbach method. Hubby has gotten quite effective in his rein handling (reinsmanship) from studying these videos, and I can see it reflected in both horses’ continuing improvement in how they go. I haven’t tried to learn it yet myself, it looks pretty daunting to me to learn…
Using the reins in the Aachenbach method on the straight and curving right. There is a series of Aachenbach techniques for changing to one-handed reining when you want to pick up the whip, for making simple turns, for making tight U-turns etc.
Another view (when the camera looks over his shoulder) of using the reins in the Aachenbach style.
In driving a horse as well as when riding, the handler must develop what’s called SOFT hands, which means they are yielding with the horse’s movements so do not pull or bump on the bit in the horse’s mouth. Such roughness would irritate the horse and eventually cause him to start ignoring the bit signals altogether, called a HARD mouth on the horse.
A hard mouth is altogether the opposite of what you want the horse’s mouth to be like; once it has happened it is very difficult to undo, and the horse is much more difficult to control. You want him to be responsive to and accepting of the most subtle of signals given by your hands on the reins, which results in the most pleasure for you and comfort for the horse.
Here is Dad practicing with the rein board and modeling his new lap apron. The straw hat and apron are proper attire for coaching; the purpose of the apron is to keep the pants from getting soiled or oily from the reins. If he was really formal, he’d have a collared shirt, possibly a vest, dress slacks and jacket. He’s starting out slowly! The maroon polo and the colors in the apron will blend with the Eagle cart which is maroon, and the horses have maroon harness pads.
I have mentioned before, in my Driving horse pairs training, step-by-step, that when driving a pair you have less fine-tuned control over each individual horse because each rein in your hand is felt by BOTH horses. Thus individual training needs to be kept up and/or refreshed periodically by driving each horse of a pair singly. Driving them individually also builds their confidence for being out solo.
At the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, PA on Feb. 28, 2009.
by k9romana on youTube
that Tommy Turvey on his paint horses is amazing, I have seen him before…
and this garrocha stuff is really cool too… Starring Matt McLaughlin and Pecos (Andalusian Stallion)– also by k9romana
Video from the Theatre Equus show at the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, PA on Feb. 28, 2009.
Performers included:
Canadian Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team
Tommie Turvey (with Paint horses: Joker & Ace)
Contest of Knightly Skills
La Garrocha - Matt McLaughlin & Pecos (Andalusian Stallion)
Horses with Heart (Craig Cameron with blind horse: Chief)
Canadian Cowgirl Trick Riding
The Riding Instructor (Tommie Turvey & Paint horse Pokerjoe
The Six Horse Hitch
The Joust
Sing, Sing, Sing (Matt McLaughlin & Corral II Andalusian)
I Can Do Anything You Can Do (Craig Cameron & Jennie Jackson)
Northern Lights (Canadian Cowgirls)
Tribute to the USA (Tommie Turvey & Paint horse Joker)
Hello everyone – Horse Gal here! It’s been a long winter and now all we need here in New England is to get past all the mud and muck (the forbearer of Spring), and then we’ll finally be into horse season! Even though it has been a long cold winter, we had great amounts of snow this year which my niece Sheila and her new husband Jay, we were able to enjoy by doing one of their favorite things – snowshoe racing.
[NOTE: Photos in this post were provided by HorseGal's niece; I can only generally ID them with the name of the race.] Glen, showing Sheila at the start
Woodford, Sheila starting
Video of “Covered Bridge” race start… IT DOES look very strenuous!
Jay’s been snowshoe racing since 2003 and introduced Sheila to it in 2005 (both are avid outdoor athletes). They do 13 - 15 races during the winter months and the races are held all over New England including at my favorite place, Gunstock in Gilford, NH. These races have anywhere from 25-200 people and the terrain is on flats and hills and everything in between! The races are held no matter what the weather is and each race is 3-9 miles long. There was one 5-mile race where eight people got lost!
Savoy, Walt at the start
Savoy, Jay at the start
Savoy, Jay at the start
Sheila says when you’re racing 1 mile wearing snowshoes, it can feel like 2 miles. It’s a very exhausting sport… once you go even just 100 feet, you start to feel it burning in every part of your body. The key is to not go all out at the start…. go out slow, Jay says. These races have people of all ages, the oldest that Jay has seen is a 78 year old man.
Walter and Richard finish at HKK
Savoy, Sheila near the finish
Savoy, Jay & Casey
Jay actually had a race this year in which he broke a snowshoe during the race, but being the diehard he is, he finished the race with one snowshoe and one sneaker, sometimes walking, sometimes running. He says it was a little awkward! Moreover, he actually PASSED other racers on the course!
Kiln, pre-race run
Jay also does what he calls “sandshoeing.” Sandshoeing is the sand version of snowshoeing and as far as I can tell, Jay invented it! That’s right - he straps on a pair of snowshoes and off he goes to the beach. There are no races, just Jay and his snowshoes running along the sand! He just loves it. So, if you are on Cape Cod this summer and see someone running along the sand on the beach in snowshoes, chances are good that it’s Jay! I doubt you’ll see many other people wearing snowshoes on the beach!!
And taking a big turn from that subject…. I’m looking forward to writing new posts and taking new pictures about my horse experiences this upcoming horse season!! I’ve already got some dates to look after Connie’s beautiful Herd for her, so watch for new writings and pictures about that this season as well as my riding adventures this year!
Oh, I wanted to add here that I had another first… under Connie’s supervision, I got to “worm” Willy mare and her baby Glendale a couple of weeks ago! It was the first time I’ve ever done that and to be able to help keep Connie’s horses in the best possible health felt wonderful. It’s just something more I can add to my list of accomplishments… a rather small one I admit, and it’s not rocket science, but I’ve done it and loved doing it! The more I can do hands on, the better Horse Gal I’ll be, no matter how small the task. I’m looking forward to doing it again! [Ed. Note: As I've said before, it doesn't take much to get HG excited, where horses are involved!]
Happy Trails!! You’ll be hearing from me again very soon — My 2009 horse season is about to begin!
Woo hoo!!!!
Video mix of our 3 horses in very snowy New Hampshire winter…
…galloping (mostly) up to their barn for feeding. Our 3 horses are trained to come to a dinner bell when we ring it, and I video them running whenever I can. (This one runs 3 1/2 min. and it has nice violin music to listen to.)
Thanks to Mendelssohn: Allegro molto appassionato from his Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64.
YES YES YES!! At last a video of the type of natural horsemanship (GENTLING) stuff we did with both our guys starting right after they were born! I cannot emphasize enough how valuable this sort of handling/training is at the youngest age possible. Just LOOK how calm and tolerant this month-old filly already is! She respects and trusts the person and yields to gentle pressure– these lessons will stay with her all her life!
Natural Horsemanship and Foals by ponygirl72
BRAVO ponygirl72 at deerrunstables.com!! If I lived near Missouri, I would want to buy a horse from them!
I am working on a blog post about tips for barn management and general horsekeeping (coming soon)… but this device is worth a post all its own.
FENCEALERT– you just hang it from your electric fence wire and if your fence charger goes off, a bright red flashing light comes on to warn you.
If you have horses who are willing to test their fence wire sometimes, or other critters where a hot wire is necessary, this thing is really handy. It runs off its own battery, does not need a ground, and supposedly can be see from up to 1 mile away (maybe at night it could…). I put ours in line of sight from the window we most often look out of. You could put it anywhere; it will flash when low or intermittent voltages are detected. Our fence charger delivers a pulsing current and it works just fine with that.
Look for distributors in your area; the manufacturer is Speedrite by Tru-Test, ours came from Wellscroft Fence Systems in Harrisville, NH. Today Valley Vet has them for $19.95 and free freight… Please send 50 percent finder’s fee to us!
A convincing warning against fast or careless driving… SRT-4 accident, a video created by the fortunate survivor. Any young people reading should take special note of his message.
LOL, I myself was contacted by the Discovery Channel when they found my ski joring videos on youTube. They were inquiring about using some of my “footage” on the TV show; however, I am afraid my camera-taken video, even though the highest resolution that my little camera can make, was not good enough quality for broadcast because I have not yet heard back from them. Oh well– Easy come, easy go…
Click on ski joring at top right under MOST-VISITED for story and other posts…
THE CARRIAGE BARN THERAPY PROGRAM RECEIVES QUALITY OF LIFE GRANT FROM CHRISTOPHER & DANA REEVE FOUNDATION
Press Release
NEWTON, NH – (March 16, 2009) – Each year the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation awards grants to non-profit organizations that provide services to individuals living with paralysis. This year the Foundation is proud to announce The Carriage Barn Therapy Program as one of the 145 recipients, receiving $3,000 in aid.
The Carriage Barn Therapy Program will use the grant to help those living with paralysis become active members in everyday life. The Carriage Barn Therapy Program will use the grant funds to design a competitive carriage for spinal cord injured clients. Our hope is to provide a carriage prototype which can be replicated for competitors throughout the United States. Working in conjunction with local universities, students in engineering and occupational therapy will receive an internship stipend.
The Carriage Barn is very grateful for the Reeve Foundation award. The support and encouragement helps our clients know how much everyone supports their efforts to compete in carriage driving activities. Share the good news! Come to our Open House April 19th from 3pm to 5pm at The Carriage Barn. See carriages competing. Meeting the participants our tour our facility. Bring some good news to share!
“Conceived by the late Dana Reeve, the Quality of Life grants have helped non-profits throughout the world improve the lives of people living with paralysis,” said Peter T. Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Reeve Foundation. “The program also provides assistance for family members and caregivers, offering services such as counseling, support groups and educational conferences.”
The Quality of Life grants are awarded in 3 categories; Actively Achieving, Bridging Barriers and Caring and Coping. Each category is designed to promote active and fulfilling lives for those living with spinal cord injuries and other paralysis causing conditions. Individuals are encouraged to participate in sports, train for a job, operate specially-adapted computer technology, modify homes for wheelchair accessibility, access public transportation, participate in the arts, proactively maintain their health, and much more.
Since inception of the Quality of Life grants program in 1999, the Foundation has awarded more than 1,500 grants, totaling nearly $12 million. Some grants are funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recipients of these include non-profits that address the needs of people living with paralysis caused by spinal cord and other injuries, diseases and birth conditions, including (but not limited to) stroke, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and amyotrophic lateral scleroses (ALS).
“Ten years have passed since Dana Reeve created the Quality of Life program,” said Peter Wilderotter, “It is our hope that, in the years to come, we can continue to support programs that enable children and adults living with and affected by paralysis and their families the full range of activities that many of us take for granted.”
About the Reeve Foundation
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. For more information, and to review the entire list of Quality of Life grant recipients, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.
About The Carriage Barn Equestrian Center Equine Facilitated Therapy Programs
The Carriage Barn Equestrian Center Equine Facilitated Therapy programs seek to enhance physical, psychological, cognitive, and emotional healing and strengthening through equine activities. We believe that a quiet, natural, outdoor setting provides a serene learning environment. Horses can provide opportunities for a unique relationship that nurtures and empowers their human partners in a way that brings new insights, self-confidence, improves communications, and relaxation.
Therapeutic riding and carriage driving can also improve flexibility, balance, muscle strength, coordination, memory, sequencing, attention span, and self-awareness. Our programs use a team approach to help each participant maximize the benefits or their equine relationship. Participant, therapist, instructor, and horse are this team.
The Carriage Barn is a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NAHRA) Operating Center member and adheres to the standards of this association. Our facility includes outdoor paddocks and an indoor arena to conduct equine activities in a comfortable and safe environment.
The Carriage Barn Equestrian Center Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc. is a Not-For-Profit organization under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)3. For more information please visit our website at www.carriage-barn.com, email carriage-barn@comcast.net, or call 603-378-0140.
Media Contact:
Ann Miles
603-378-0140
carriage-barn@comcast.net
Oh well– Easy come, easy go…
