The Whoa Podcast

About Horses and Horsemanship

Listen to the Podcast NOW

Support the Show. Become a Patron!

Home » horseback riding » Page 16

Evidence Based Horsemanship with Martin Black

by 2 Comments

Evidence Based Horsemanship with Martin Black

Episode #025Evidence Based Horsemanship

Evidence Based Horsemanship

Have you ever wondered if there was a good time to train on your horse?  If so, I think you will enjoy this podcast about Evidence Based Horsemanship.  At the recent Horseman’s Re-Union in Paso Robles, Ca,  I caught up with clinician and horse trainer Martin Black.  Martin has co-authored a book with on this subject with Dr. Stephen Peters.  While I have not read the book, other than the excerpts on Amazon, it is apparent that there are two aspects to this concept.  One is the scientific physiology the horse goes through in the training process.  I hope to get into the details of this with Dr. Peters in a future podcast.

Evidence Based HorsemanshipThe other side of the concept is the practical, hands-on, nuts and bolts of what’s happening in the training process from a highly experienced trainer – Martin Black.  Martin walks us through a couple of examples I witnessed on evidence based horsemanship that happened during the colt starting process.  He also goes into how this understanding of what the horse is going through while in learning mode, can help you achieve better results with your horse.  Evidence based horsemanship looks at the horse from a completely different angle.  When you learn the mechanics of the learning process, you can become more efficient with it.

Harris Stage Lines

Wandering around the Mid-State Fairgrounds checking out the vendors and exhibits, I came across Tommy Harris.  Tom owns Harris Stage Lines and owns a real stagecoach.  It’s beautiful!  He also has a chuck wagon.  Tommy talks to us about the history of the old west and what an important role these wagons played in our countries expansion.  You also get a little of the sounds of the cowboy cookout music going on right next to Tommy’s exhibit.Harris Stage Lines

 Contact us

Stay in touch.  It is easy.  Just put your name in the newsletter subscribe box at the top of the page.  As always, we are very interested to hear what you have to say about this episode.  You can email us at: john@whoapodcast.com And, if you have any comments or suggestions for future shows, please pass them along. Thanks for sharing these podcasts.  Our numbers are really growing and we owe it all to you, our loyal horse loving listener-ship.  You guys are the best!

Harris Stage LinesOur Android App On Amazon

Now listening to the show just got easier.  Help support the show.  Checkout our new Whoa Podcast Android App at the Amazon Store.

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ride for Cause Don Funke’s Ride For The West

by 1 Comment

Ride for Cause

Don Funke Riding4Creation

Episode #021ride for cause

The are many types of activists and activism.  I’ve always admired people who, believing in a cause, act on that belief.  On today’s show we talk to a man who will ride for a cause, Dr. Don Funke of Bozeman Montana. Don is preparing for a 1200 mile ride on horseback to bring awareness to environmental and social concerns affecting the west. Don feels quite passionate about his life in the west and calls this a pilgrimage he feels compelled to make. I won’t try and go into the motivations here for his ride.  It’s better you visit Don’s website Riding4Creation .org and see for yourself.  Don is planning on leaving from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Bozeman, Montana on the back of a horse.  On the show we’ll talk about the details it takes to ride for 1200 miles, his horses, and equipment, and how you can help if you like.  Don is planning on leaving from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Bozeman, Montana on the back of a horse.  He will be relying on the kindness of people along the trail as well as sharing his concerns about the American West.

My Parting Shot

And, we’ll have a childhood memory I share in my Ride Into The Sunset.  Most people tell the story of how great their first experience with horses happen to be.  Mine involved much grumbling, a little yelling, and near disaster.

Contact us

As always, we are very interested to hear what you have to say about this episode.  You can email us at: john@whoapodcast.com And, if you have any comments or suggestions for future shows, please pass them along.

Thanks for sharing these podcasts.  Our numbers are really growing and we owe it all to you, our loyal horse loving listener-ship.  You guys are the best!

 Our Android App On Amazon

It took us awhile, but we finally got it.  Now listening to the show just got easier.  Help support the show.  Checkout our new Whoa Podcast Android App at the Amazon Store.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Horsemanship Group – NorCal Downunder Brumbies

by 1 Comment

Horsemanship Group

NorCal Downunder Horsemanship Brumbies

horsemanship Group

Episode #020

On today’s show we find out how others are networking to learn more about horses and horsemanship by forming a horsemanship group. Two followers of the Downunder Horsemanship Method Michael Canfield and Laurie Frohn live in Northern California. They have a love of horses and an appreciation for horsemanship.  The result was naturally to form a horsemanship group.  The two knew if they connected with other like-minded horse owners their knowledge would grow much faster. Through the No Worries Club, offered by Downunder Horsemanship, they networked with other horse owners and formed a group called the Nor Cal Downunder Brumbies. This is a real go-getter horsemanship group.  The group  meets often whether it is just a practice day or a camp out.  They love to have fun and from what I understand, they love to eat too!

On Memorial Day Weekend the NorCal Downunder Brumbies are hosting a big horsemanship group outing at the Windemere Ranch in Paicines, CA.  I understand it is a beautiful ranch and was once the home of Doc Bar.  It sounds like a not only a fantastic value, but a lot of fun too!

In the fall they are organizing a symposium with many equine professionals.  They are hoping to draw professionals from a wide range of horse-related topics that go beyond just training.  The Brumbies will bring in experts in nutrition, tack, and farrier services.  It is happening in October at the Brookside Equestrian Park.

They host many get-togethers where the members work together as a group to improve their horsemanship techniques. I caught up with Laurie and Michael recently and we talked about how the group was formed and there plans for 2014.

War

Ride Off Into The Sunset

A new feature on the Whoa Podcast, my Ride Off Into the Sunset.  This week I tackle a movie review, in particular the Steven Spielberg World War I action feature War Horse.

I’ll give you my thoughts on it and let you know if I think it’s worth giving it a look.

  Contact us

As always, we are very interested to hear what you have to say about this episode.  You can email us at: john@whoapodcast.com And, if you have any comments or suggestions for future shows, please pass them along.

Thanks for sharing these podcasts.  Our numbers are really growing and we owe it all to you, our loyal horse loving listener-ship.  You guys are the best!

 Our Android App On Amazon

It took us awhile, but we finally got it.  Now listening to the show just got easier.  Help support the show.  Checkout our new Whoa Podcast Android App at the Amazon Store.
Written by John Harrer

Trail Ride January 2012

by Leave a Comment

Trail Ride – Kern River January 2012

trail ride

It was a beautiful January day in Bakersfield.  Ranae and I take the horses out to the Kern River and find some fun places to ride.  We look for all kinds of trail obstacles to work on different exercises.  We quite often play games with the different maneuvers.  For example, these pipes were just laying on the ground and we decided it would be fun to use them to work the horses.  I was able to get Jessie going at a trot.  This type of work teaches her to pick up her feet.  She also has to look where she is going.  More importantly, she need to listen to my direction to figure out where we are going next.  (Something that is quite difficult to do since I’m not always sure where I’m headed).  We also did a little work on our side-pass.  With pipes in front and behind, it is much easier to tell if Jessie is side passing straight.  

There were also some terrain changes.  Ranae takes Dusty up and around a few gullies.  This helps in a number of ways.  Once again, Dusty has to pay attention to his feet.  He has to pay attention to Ranae’s direction.  And, we also use it as a de-sensitizing exercise.  When Dusty comes up out of the gully he might scare a squirrel or bird.  Trees branches might be blowing in the background.  He is out of sight of his buddy.  He has to learn to stay calm and listen to Ranae for direction.

We hope you enjoyed our Trail Ride video.  Sometimes it is just fun to see where others trail ride.  We have a lot of great areas quite near our home.

For more of our videos, check out our YouTube Channel.  We hope you will subscribe.

Pre-Ride Checklist For Our Trail Ride

by Leave a Comment

 

Pre-Ride Check Listpre-ride checklist

Do you have a routine or pre-ride checklist before you get on your horse? C’mon, you don’t just walk out there and toss the saddle on, cinch up and go do you? Of course, you don’t.  For safety reasons it’s best to gauge the mood of your horse for the day.  On today’s show we tell you about the pre-ride checklist we follow and how it works for us! Like any creature there are going to be days when your horse feel better than others. You need to know where there head is at. It can give you a great insight to the type of ride you are going to have. It can also give you a heads up as to how much extra work you may have to do on the ride.

pre-ride checklistHere are some of the things we think are essential on every ride:

  • Cell Phone
  • Pepper Spray
  • Ricola mints
  • Pocket knife
  • Nail file
  • Hoof pick
  • Bandana

Then, John had the opportunity to work a “gather” just north of town.  It was our first experience with cows in an open area.  We had to work with other horses and climb some foothills to look for stray cattle.  It was a bit difficult for Jessie.  She was rather excited for the most part.  She wanted to be the first up every grade.  When I asked one of the hands how it might be best to handle that excitement, I got the “She’ll figure out how to conserve her energy”.  She really never did.  Maybe it’s one of those things you have to do over and over again.

Contact us

As always, we are very interested to hear what you have to say about this episode.  You can email us at: john@whoapodcast.com And, if you have any comments or suggestions for future shows, please pass them along.  By the way the phone number mentioned in this podcast is no longer viable.  If you would like to make a voice comment you may leave it at 661-368-5530.

Thanks for sharing these podcasts.  Our numbers are really growing and we owe it all to you, our loyal horse loving listener-ship.  You guys are the best!

 Our Android App On Amazon

It took us awhile, but we finally got it.  Now listening to the show just got easier.  Help support the show.  Checkout our new Whoa Podcast Android App at the Amazon Store.