competing Archives ⋆ Page 2 of 8 ⋆ The Whoa Podcast

Horse Show Preparation – An Amateurs View

August 20, 2019 by John Leave a Comment

Horse Show Preparation

What does it take to prepare for a horse show? We’re not sure. We’re amateurs at this. But, what we can tell you is how we prepared for our horse show.

Ranae and I work together. We each have our strengths. Ranae is better at seeing my mistakes while riding. She helps me with posture, where my hands are, and keeps me looking good while in the saddle. I’m good at helping her with the cues she gives Dusty. If she is clear and decisive with him, he works much better for her. We have an agreement that whatever we say to each other while practicing stays out on the trail.

Some people are great at horse shows. They read the rule book, talk to the judges, check their scorecard after every appearance. I wish sometimes I were more like that. Reading the rulebook is like reading a software license – it makes my hair hurt. Judges intimidate me. And, I always forget to go back and check my scorecard.

Horse Shows Are A Good way to Meet Friends

But, going to horse shows is a good way to meet friends and share good places to take our horses that don’t require filling out a horse show entry. Are you a horse show person? Do you like to compete? If you have any tips or tricks, share them on the show. I bet there are people out there that would love to hear your story.

Join Us on this Journey

We want you to be a part of the show. Tell us about your horse. Share your challenges, triumphs, or just everyday items that make horse ownership unique. Create an audio file using the memo app on your phone. Or, contact me and we’ll set up a time to talk by Skype or phone. Perhaps what you have to share can help someone in THEIR horse journey.

You are a big part of why we do this podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #153

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Horse Racing Fatalities We Talk with Journalist Natalie Voss

July 9, 2019 by John Leave a Comment

Horse Racing Fatalities – A Candid Conversation with Journalist Natalie Voss

If you listen to or watch the news, you have seen the stories about the horse racing fatalities at Santa Anita this year. The number reached 30. Some horses died on the practice track, while some of them died while racing. They write the stories leading us to believe there has been a spike in horse racing fatalities this year. The New York Times did a story pointing a finger at the new track owners. The article examined if the owner coerced trainers into racing horses before they were ready.

Earlier in the season as people looked for answers, an article in the Paulick Report, and racing magazine, journalist Natalie Voss looked into the possibility that the drug bisphosphonate was a factor.

Jeff Goertzen of the Southern California News Group wrote a good article explaining horse racing fatalities at Santa Anita (published in the Mercury News June 30. 2019)

Talk to an Expert

Natalie Voss has been a journalist in the equine industry for years. She is the features editor for the Paulick Report and also has bylines in Chronicle of the Horse, The Horse magazine, The Blood-Horse, Quarter Horse News, American Racehorse among others. She has won journalism awards for her writing in the racehorse industry. When I requested an interview, she was quick to respond. She speaks clearly in a language laypeople can understand. She has a love of horses and cares about her industry. Her insights into the horse racing fatalities were invaluable to producing this episode.

Join Us on this Journey

You are a big part of why we do this podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #150

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Get to the Horse Show Advice from Kim Kelly

June 18, 2019 by John 2 Comments

Show Your Horse – Advice from Kim Kelly

Whoa Podcast listeners are great! I asked you to share your experiences and you come through again and again. A few weeks back, I got an email from listener Kim Kelly. Kim had always wanted to enter a horse show, but fear and insecurity held her back. She kept chipping away at her goal, however, taking little steps and this year entered her first horse show. It was a challenge she overcame, and she has some tips for those with similar aspirations.

Tips from Kim

Find the right horse. Kim worked with the horse she had. The stress of training and conditioning revealed the horse had a navicular problem. In her search for another horse, Kim enlisted the help of her trainer. Together they found the right horse for Kim to take to her first horse show.

Get yourself in shape. Training takes physical effort from both horse and rider. By her own admission, Kim was 30 lbs. overweight. Over the winter to prepare for the show season, she shed those 30 lbs. making it easier for both her and her horse.

Go to a horse show. Before she competed, Kim went to two horse shows. She got the feel of the show arena, watched the competitors, and felt the energy generated at a horse show.

Know the rules. Kim read the rules for the classes she was competing in. This prevented her from making “silly” mistakes such as petting your horse during the competition. There are basic patterns she would see in the show pen and, by reading the rules, she could practice those patterns.

Give yourself plenty of time to fill out paperwork. Face it. We all hate to fill out paperwork. But, it has to be done to enter a horse show. Kim suggests getting your paperwork and membership applications in early. There is nothing like the panic of not knowing whether you are qualified to compete.

Ranch Horse Associations

To learn more about Ranch Horse Shows check out:

American Ranch Horse Association

To hear about our experience with Working Equitation Working Equitation Training

Join Us on this Journey

You are a big part of why we do this podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #147

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Adriane DeWolfe Horsewoman EXCA Racer

September 25, 2018 by John Leave a Comment

Adriane DeWolfe Horsewoman Extreme Cowboy Racer

Adriane DeWolfe and Toaster

We first met Adriane DeWolfe at a playday with fellow Downunder Horsemanship friends. it was great getting together with like-minded people to work on our collective horsemanship skills. Adriane was there with her horse Toaster, a mustang. Ranae had brought Dusty and I was working with Scratch. It was clear that Adriane was a serious horsewoman. She worked equally hard on both technique and philosophy. Toaster responded well. Later, we learned it was her first time out with Toaster.

While we continued to follow each other on Facebook, it would be some months before we saw Adriane DeWolfe again. Ranae and I thought we would try our hand at Extreme Cowboy Racing. There was a race being held about a 90-minute drive away at Shades of Gold Ranch. Adriane and Toaster were entered in the novice division. When they took the course we saw they had come a long way in a very short time.

Adriane kept challenging herself and her horsemanship to get better. It was always a smooth trail. There were many ups and downs. In 2018, she continued Extreme Cowboy Racing and qualified for the National Competition in Glen Rose, Texas. She and Toaster will compete in November of 2018.

On the course with Toaster.

Adriane DeWolfe bid and won Toaster at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center Wild Horse Training Facility auction. And, her journey to Glen Rose when she pulls into the arena for the EXCA National Finals, has been a long one. It’s an inspiration to all recreational horsemen and women. With a little dedication, a lot of hard work, and the love of a good horse, you can reach your goals.

Contact Us

We have well over 200 episodes up now and you can find them all for free on iTunes, with our Android App in the Amazon store, and now Stitcher, or wherever podcasts are distributed. Get the Stitcher app and tell us how it works. We are on Google Play too! You can also find every episode and more about the show at whoapodcast.com. Please take a moment and join our email list. Get in on the conversation with Facebook and Twitter and Instagram– just look for WhoaPodcast.

You are a big part of why we do this podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. You can email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #136

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Cowboy Dressage Clinic with Dave Ellis

February 13, 2018 by John 2 Comments

Cowboy Dressage Clinic with Dave Ellis

Cowboy Dressage, Western Dressage, and Working Equitation are all just a little bit different. Their goals are very similar: have your horse negotiate a course using basic horsemanship maneuvers. The scoring is based on your smoothness and accuracy in cueing your horse.

We had an opportunity to experience an “Introductory Cowboy Dressage” Clinic at a local stable here in Bakersfield, Rancho Rio Equestrian Center. The instructor is a 6-Star Certified Parelli instructor by the name of Dave Ellis. The clinic was limited to 10 horse and rider teams and Ranae and I had the opportunity to audit the clinic. We got to watch as Dave Ellis described the maneuvers then help the participants negotiate the course.

In between sessions, we had an opportunity to chat with Dave and get the history of Cowboy Dressage and its founder, Eitan Beth-Halachmy.

Links for Cowboy Dressage

Cowboy Dressage World website

Contact Us

We have well over 100 episodes up now and you can find them all for free on iTunes, with our Android App in the Amazon store, and now Stitcher, or wherever podcasts are distributed. Get the Stitcher app and tell us how it works. We are on Google Play too! You can also find every episode and more about the show at whoapodcast.com. Please take a moment and join our email list. Get in on the conversation with Facebook and Twitter and Instagram– just look for WhoaPodcast.

You are a big part of why we do this podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. You can email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #134

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