The Whoa Podcast

About Horses and Horsemanship

Listen to the Podcast NOW

Support the Show. Become a Patron!

Home » Groundwork » Page 2

Brandi Lyons Horses Horsemanship Life

by 1 Comment

Brandi Lyons Horses and Horsemanship

Brandi LyonsYou could say Brandi Lyons has been learning about horsemanship all her life. My wife had told be about John Lyons and what he could do with a horse nearly twenty years ago. I was unimpressed simply because I wasn’t into horses. When I began working with horses, I quickly found out that anyone who could get something consistent from a horse was impressive. When a listener, Leo Van Sistine, recommended I interview Brandi Lyons, I jumped at the chance.

Maria Liverett, organizer for Brandi Lyons

Maria Liverett

It all happened quickly because Brandi is one of several clinicians hosting a weekend of horsemanship. Now, a little note.  Even though this event was scheduled just 14 days from my interview with Brandi Lyons, there has been so much rain in California that the event had to be moved.  Maria Liverett has been busy helping to organize this event. Please visit this Facebook Event Site for the latest details.

Brandi Lyons knows how fear can limit your horsemanship goals. That’s one reason why she calls her website Lyons No Limits.  Brandi works in all disciplines. In this conversation, we talk about problems the average riders face and what they can do to improve their relationship with their horse.

We also get to hear from Brandi what it was like growing up with an icon of the natural horsemanship movement.

Links for Places Mentioned in this Episode

Lyons No Limits Horsemanship

Ria’s Ranch Home of Maria Liverett

Facebook Event Page for Lyons Event February 2017

Facebook Page of Ria’s Ranch

Email Maria Liverett

Get Free Helpful Horse Tips

There is a “Join Our Email” list at the top of this page.  Signup.  Each week I’ll send you something useful you can use to build a better relationship with your horse. Thanks!

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 let us know 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 – 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 #87

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Andy Johnson Horsemanship

by Leave a Comment

Andy Johnson Horsemanship

Andy JohnsonAndy Johnson lives in Missouri.  While operating a feedlot, he noticed the cows moved easier when he used low-stress cattle handling.  Andy could even use it while on horseback.  Once he had the cows working well, he started working with horses.  Andy Johnson quickly found out how much he didn’t know.  He signed up for a three-day clinic at Downunder Horsemanship in Texas.  At the end of the clinic, Clinton Anderson asked Andy if he would like to join his Academy of elite trainers.  Two years later Andy graduated from the Academy.

Unfortunately, life has twists and turns and Andy had to leave Downunder Horsemanship.  He’s hung out his horse training shingle at his ranch in Missouri with his wife Chrissy.  Andy Johnson travels the country giving clinics, hosts them at his ranch, and brings in outside horses to train.  It’s a family affair with Chrissy who is a CHA certified instructor.

Andy Johnson has a great story to tell.  He also has some wonderful horse training tips which he shares on this show.  I hope you will give it a listen.

Links Heard on this Episode

Andy Johnson Horsemanship Webpage

Facebook Group AJH Unlimited

Facebook Page Andy Johnson Horsemanship

A Request

Please do me a favor.  There is a join our email list at the top of this page.  Signup.  I promise not to bombard you with emails, but it helps tremendously and shows your support for the Whoa Podcast.  Thanks!

About Us

Welcome to the Whoa Podcast about Horses and Horsemanship.   My name is  John Harrer.  I began the podcast in 2012 because I wanted to learn more about horses and horsemanship.  Talking with great horseman and women about their lives with horses and the history of horsemanship is my passion.

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 let us know 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 – 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

I blog at TrainingJessie.blogspot.com  and if you want to know even more – and I can’t imagine why – it’s all at JohnHarrer.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #86

Routine Groundwork Session

by Leave a Comment

Groundwork

A lot of people have asked about groundwork.  What do we do?  How long do you work? Does it get boring?

All good questions.  I use groundwork to build my relationship with Scratch.  Being able to move him around on the ground builds respect. Groundwork also gives me confidence in a couple of ways.  First, I get to see how he moves.  Watching him move from the ground helps me see how he’s going to move under saddle.  Secondly, it’s a way of determining if he is paying attention.  Having him move off of my cues shows me he is paying attention.

The most difficult part of groundwork is deciding what to work on and in what order.  I try to place a few exercises that Scratch knows well at the beginning of the session.  Yielding the hindquarters and flexing work well for this.  These exercises are easy for him to do, he does them well, and he gets a reward (a kind word and a pet).  Then, I put in an exercise he knows but doesn’t like to do.  Backing up fits this category.  Scratch knows the backup, but it is a little more work and he can sometimes be resentful.  For an exercise of this type I try to get Scratch to do it off of a light cue and at the very first sign, I end the exercise.  So, if he backs up without resistance on the very first try, we are done with backing for the day.

groundworkOnce we’ve warmed up, I like to work on lunging.  Most of the time it is at the end of a lunge line.  What I work on here are transitions.   Getting Scratch to move from trot to walk, then walk to trot just off of my body language was a goal of one recent groundwork session.  Using my posture, upright with shoulders back to trot, relaxed and shoulders slumped for walk, Scratch was able to follow my cues.

Boredom

Usually, our sessions last no more than 30 minutes unless Scratch needs a little conditioning.  I try to vary the exercises enough so he doesn’t know what next.  And, I add a new exercise somewhere in the middle of the session to stimulate his brain.  The final exercise is something he does well and likes doing. For Scratch, that’s standing still while I swing the stick & string.  Scratch loves to stand still and watch me work for a change.

Have fun with your groundwork sessions!

Halfway to the VHTC

by Leave a Comment

Halfway to the VHTC

VHTC

 

We are 2 months in to the competition and Scratch is making progress.  It has not been without its ups and downs.  Get an update on Scratch’s progress and hear what happened at the Tehachapi Mountain Festival Parade.

We are working hard to make a decent showing at the event.  There are many very good trainers.  I hope if you are near the southern California area, you will consider stopping by and cheering us on.

What do you think of this?

Storytelling has always fascinated me.  History, particularly oral history, fascinates me too.  What better way to hear a story than from the person telling it?  While I know I’m not the best storyteller, I have an idea for another podcast (or transform this show into something else) and I would like your help.  There are many great old stories cowboys tell.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear them as a podcast?  A storytelling show takes a bit more effort than an interview show, however, and I wonder if there is anyone out there who would like to collaborate on such an adventure.  I explain the rough concept in this show.  If you are interested, I hope you contact me at john@whoapodcast.com.

Links on the show

Sponsors

Bakersfield Large Animal Hospital

Matt Sheridan Performance Horses

Supporters

Rancho Rio Stables

Sean McRoberts Horseshoeing

Joanne Galbraith

Downunder Horsemanship

Blog about Scratch

About Us

Welcome to the Whoa Podcast about Horses and Horsemanship.   I am your host  John Harrer.  Along with my wife, Ranae, each week on the show we talk about some aspect of owning a horse.  It could be feeding or supplementation.  It could be bits and bridles, tack, or cowboy boots.  We cover training problems, or competing in shows.  We talk to farriers and horse chiropractors.  We talk about movies, books and magazine articles.  And, we travel to places we think you would like to take your horse.   That’s what the Whoa Podcast is all about.

Contact Us

We have well over 90 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 let us know how it works.  It’s Free.  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 – 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

I blog at TrainingJessie.blogspot.com and I have a new blog about my Louisiana Leopard Catahoula puppy named Buster at BusterBrownDog.blogspot.com and if you want to know even more – and I can’t imagine why – it’s all at JohnHarrer.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #70

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Mary Kitzmiller Horsemanship

by 1 Comment

Catching Up with Mary Kitzmiller

Mary KitzmillerMary Kitzmiller has learned from some of the best trainers in the horse industry.  After getting a good foundation from a number of great trainers, she began to develop her own style of horsemanship.  Mary Kitzmiller started training and competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeovers and found the challenges of training mustangs really refined her horsemanship.  Mary competed in five Mustang Makeovers and in 2013 competed in the Mustang Million and came in 5th winning $50,000 making her the top women in earnings in the Mustang programs.

In 2013, 2014, and 2015 Mary Kitzmiller competed in the wild card division of Road to the Horse and place in the top three all three years.  She co-hosts a monthly segment on the Horse Radio Network.  Mary Kitzmiller is currently working on creating a comprehensive multi-media learning system and teaching clinics throughout the country.  Mary has taught or is scheduled to teach in Mexico, Poland, Netherlands, and Germany.  She is scheduled to participate in Considering the Horse Colt Starting Competition in Poland later this year.

Links MenMary Kitzmillertioned in This Episode

Mary Kitzmiller Horsemanship

Mary Kitzmiller Facebook

Extreme Mustang Makeovers

Road to the Horse

Horse Radio Network

About Us

Welcome to the Whoa Podcast about Horses and Horsemanship.   I am your host  John Harrer.  Along with my wife, Ranae, each week on the show we talk about some aspect of owning a horse.  It could be feeding or supplementation.  It could be bits and bridles, tack, or cowboy boots.  We cover training problems, or competing in shows.  We talk to farriers and horse chiropractors.  We talk about movies, books and magazine articles.  And, we travel to places we think you would like to take your horse.   That’s what the Whoa Podcast is all about.

Contact Us

We have well over 90 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 let us know how it works.  It’s Free.  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 – 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

I blog at TrainingJessie.blogspot.com and I have a new blog about my Louisiana Leopard Catahoula puppy named Buster at BusterBrownDog.blogspot.com and if you want to know even more – and I can’t imagine why – it’s all at JohnHarrer.com

Thanks for listening,

John & Ranae

Episode #064

 

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS