We Ride Sport and Trail Magazine December 2017 | Page 20

transition, or growth spurt, is

geared towards you. It is about a

training method, and it is about

bringing horsemanship (the kind

I practice) to you in a larger way.

Watch out for it in 2018. It

embodies not only what I have

been about all these years but it

speaks to who I am as a

horseman. It's called The

Complete Horse Method. But let

me set the backdrop for you first.

I love riding in the Catskill

Mountains. All of my trails that I

enjoy transform into another

world with the seasons. The

terrain totally gets a makeover.

Whether I am coaching someone

along one of these trails, or

schooling a horse along them, or

just enjoying my own personal

horses, riding without fences or

walls are moments I could never

do without—it is a total sensory

experience. There are few rules

to this kind of practice; the ride

becomes what we make it—just

my horse and me.

To empower other horse lovers,

and to pass along to them this

particular freedom in experience

is what I am focused on

accomplishing. It is why I love

what I do. With the many horsey

obstacles people face, the top

topic is safety. The reality for

many equestrians is how to be

able to get their horses better

schooled for rider safety, and

become more in tune with their

mount for safer riding. But that is

not ever the end goal for any

rider. The end goal is to create art;

expressing yourself on

horseback—the landscape

being the canvas, the harmony

and partnership between you

and your “Thunder Hoof” being

the very brush strokes that

define you. Isn’t that why we

endure the boatload of work and

expense that goes along with

keeping these massive

creatures? How to accomplish

this task is what horsemanship is

about.

In these moments of creative expression, of harmony and partnership, my horse doesn’t care what I look like, what I am wearing, or what saddle I am in (as long as it fits); he cares about how I am sitting. He doesn’t really care how long my whip is, the style of my boots, or even the type of bit I use, or don’t use; he cares about how I use them.

In our own personal horsemanship journey, it is important to remember that we all have a belief in our horse. A belief we want to share with someone. Everyone wants to share their passion with other like-minded people. You are a part of ____add your own place____ where you are free to share that passion.

Membership into a world of horsemanship is just a belief that, together, you and your horse can do something great. Harmony and partnership between you and your horse and rider being the essence of what you should build.

Dutchess, my new rescued mare, “met” up with Patriot over the summer. In spite of the fact that she thinks she’s a little wild weanling in a great big mare’s body (when it suits her). In spite of the fact that she’s got a fat-Morgan’s-health-drama diagnosis, it looks like Patriot will add another part to his resume since they are expecting a June foal.

Giddy-up and have a great holiday with your four-footed gift!

It is most definitely a one-sided dream, but Patriot is my dream horse. He’s my King of the Wind.

He does everything with gusto and yet is as gentle as a lamb. He is the answer to my question: What does the horse world mean to me?

I have been asking myself this question a lot recently. My journey with horses has lasted for over forty-five years and I am always pursuing toward the new...and so I ask this question often. My current

transition, or growth spurt, is geared towards you. It is about a training method, and it is about bringing horsemanship (the kind I practice) to you in a larger way. Watch out for it in 2018. It embodies not only what I have been about all these years but it speaks to who I am as a horseman. It's called The Complete Horse Method. But let me set the backdrop for you first.

I love riding in the Catskill Mountains. All of my trails that I enjoy transform into another world with the seasons. The terrain totally gets a makeover. Whether I am coaching someone along one of these trails, or schooling a horse along them, or just enjoying my own personal horses, riding without fences or walls are moments I could never do without—it is a total sensory experience. There are few rules to this kind of practice; the ride becomes what we make it—just my horse and me.

To empower other horse lovers, and to pass along to them this particular freedom in experience is what I am focused on accomplishing. It is why I love what I do. With the many horsey obstacles people face, the top topic is safety. The reality for many equestrians is how to be able to get their horses better schooled for rider safety, and become more in tune with their mount for safer riding. But that is not ever the end goal for any rider. The end goal is to create art; expressing yourself on horseback—the landscape being the canvas, the harmony and partnership between you and your “Thunder Hoof” being the very brush strokes that define you. Isn’t that why we endure the boatload of work and expense that goes along with keeping these massive creatures? How to accomplish this task is what horsemanship is about.

In these moments of creative expression, of harmony and partnership, my horse doesn’t care what I look like, what I am wearing, or what saddle I am in (as long as it fits); he cares about how I am sitting. He doesn’t really care how long my whip is, the style of my boots, or even the type of bit I use, or don’t use; he cares about how I use them.

In our own personal horsemanship journey, it is important to remember that we all have a belief in our horse. A belief we want to share with someone. Everyone wants to share their passion with other like-minded people. You are a part of ____add your own place____ where you are free to share that passion.

Membership into a world of horsemanship is just a belief that, together, you and your horse can do something great. Harmony and partnership between you and your horse and rider being the essence of what you should build.

Dutchess, my new rescued mare, “met” up with Patriot over the summer. In spite of the fact that she thinks she’s a little wild weanling in a great big mare’s body (when it suits her). In spite of the fact that she’s got a fat-Morgan’s-health-drama diagnosis, it looks like Patriot will add another part to his resume since they are expecting a June foal.

Giddy-up and have a great holiday with your four-footed gift!

He is the last in his line, a line of about five generations of my bloodline. I believe, found in this mare, were some genetics worthy of him. Horses are not super complicated, I kinda know what the horse world experience means to him. I also know what he gets out of his time spent with me…a darn good roll afterwards.

It is most definitely a one-sided dream, but Patriot is my dream horse. He’s my King of the Wind.

He does everything with gusto and yet is as gentle as a lamb. He is the answer to my question: What does the horse world mean to me?

I have been asking myself this question a lot recently. My journey with horses has lasted for over forty-five years and I am always pursuing toward the new...and so I ask this question often. My current transition, or growth spurt, is geared towards you. It is about a training method, and it is about bringing horsemanship (the kind I practice) to you in a larger way. Watch out for it in 2018. It embodies not only what I have been about all these years but it speaks to who I am as a horseman. It's called The Complete Horse Method. But let me set the backdrop for you first.

I love riding in the Catskill Mountains. All of my trails that I enjoy transform into another world with the seasons. The terrain totally gets a makeover. Whether I am coaching someone along one of these trails, or schooling a horse along them, or just enjoying my own personal horses, riding without fences or walls are moments I could never do without—it is a total sensory experience. There are few rules to this kind of practice; the ride becomes what we make it—just my horse and me.

To empower other horse lovers, and to pass along to them this particular freedom in experience is what I am focused on accomplishing. It is why I love what I do. With the many horsey obstacles people face, the top topic is safety. The reality for many equestrians is how to be able to get their horses better schooled for rider safety, and become more in tune with their mount for safer riding. But that is not ever the end goal for any rider. The end goal is to create art; expressing yourself on horseback—the landscape being the canvas, the harmony and partnership between you and your “Thunder Hoof” being the very brush strokes that define you. Isn’t that why we endure the boatload of work and expense that goes along with keeping these massive creatures? How to accomplish this task is what horsemanship is about.

In these moments of creative expression, of harmony and partnership, my horse doesn’t care what I look like, what I am wearing, or what saddle I am in (as long as it fits); he cares about how I am sitting. He doesn’t really care how long my whip is, the style of my boots, or even the type of bit I use, or don’t use; he cares about how I use them.

In our own personal horsemanship journey, it is important to remember that we all have a belief in our horse. A belief we want to share with someone. Everyone wants to share their passion with other like-minded people. You are a part of ____add your own place____ where you are free to share that passion.

Membership into a world of horsemanship is just a belief that, together, you and your horse can do something great. Harmony and partnership between you and your horse and rider being the essence of what you should build.

Dutchess, my new rescued mare, “met” up with Patriot over the summer. In spite of the fact that she thinks she’s a little wild weanling in a great big mare’s body (when it suits her). In spite of the fact that she’s got a fat-Morgan’s-health-drama diagnosis, it looks like Patriot will add another part to his resume since they are expecting a June foal.

Giddy-up and have a great holiday with your four-footed gift!

Rein Photography