Wordless Wednesday – Cross Country
101 Western Dressage Exercises
101 Western Dressage Exercises for Horse & Rider by Jec Aristotle Ballou and Stephanie Boyles is a very handy resource! Aside from the terms jog and lope, I far from feel this is a book that will benefit those only interested in Western riding! In fact, can I say that everyone who wants to improve their riding and communication with their horse should read this book?
These authors have put together an amazing assortment of short exercises for the beginner, intermediate and advanced rider to help them hone the responsiveness of their mount. The diagrams are clear and easy to follow, the instructions direct and the benefits detailed before each exercise – as well as some hints to the rider. They appear to me to be easy to follow, full of enriching information and inspiring action. Seriously, a great book!
If you’re someone who instructs or has a desire to teach others, the 101 exercises in this book will allow you to easily take a hold of one or two and use them to fill a riding lesson for students. They will learn many, many exercises that they can use to effectively make their horse lighter to their aids; able to work straight and have an awareness of where their horse’s feet are being placed.
To be able to carry out such exercises as a rider, you don’t need a myriad of props. The diagrams are explained in a 60 x 20 metre arena, but having cones set out with the usual dressage letters in the same dimension would work, too. Poles are suggested for some exercises.
101 Western Dressage Exercises provides chapters on softness, looseness, rider development, engagement, adjustability and a last chapter on ground work. This is followed by a glossary of terms that are consistently used in the book. The book does not explain how to carry out actions such as the turn on the forehand or haunches, but instead this is assumed knowledge and it makes use of such movements to bring about certain responses in the horse.
Being a NetGalley copy, I only had access to read it over a short period, so will now need to go buy myself a copy – I can see it will have many, many benefits to myself as a rider and help with guiding others, should I pursue the road of teaching horse riding once again.
Authors – Jec Aristotle Ballou and Stephanie Boyles
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18229886-101-western-dressage-exercises-for-horse-rider
Non Fiction – horse riding
In my library – Not yet! But I’m rapt to have had the opportunity to read it.
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.
“If training has not made a horse more beautiful, nobler in carriage, more attentive in his behavior, revealing pleasure in his own accomplishment…then he has not truly been schooled in dressage.” – Col. Handler
Friday Feature: Driving
This week’s letter is D. If you missed last week’s Friday Feature, take a look at Career Counselling (Equine).
Someone who has the skill of driving horses may be able to turn this into an income earner a few different ways. Perhaps it’s through providing carriage driving services to the public, selling horses that have been started under harness or maybe through charging a fee to start horses in harness or via racing horses as is done with trotting and pacing. I’m sure there are more options!
Someone who is interested in utilising their driving related skills to generate income may need to:
- Have the ability to start driving horses under the use of lunge lines
- Be involved in the carriage driving competition circuit to build up awareness of one’s skills and develop contacts
- Have horses trained in harness
- Have carriages that can be used with driving horses
- Gain a driving license to race
- Gain local council permission to run a carriage driving business on the streets
If you have an interest in working with horses in harness, but don’t yet have the skills to run your own business, consider:
- Contacting local businesses where you could gain work experience or employment
- Reading as much as you can on the subject
- Attending events that would put you in touch with those who are already established in the industry (sales, races, competitions)
For posts that relate to this area of work on Equus-Blog, take a look at:
- EFA Course Designing/Carriage Driving
- Feeling Driven
- Harness Driving
- Harness Your Potential
- Horse Carriage Business Possibilities
- In the Sulkey
“If one induces the horse to assume that carriage which it would adopt of its own accord when displaying its beauty, then one directs the horse to appear joyous and magnificent, proud and remarkable for having been ridden.” – Xenophon
Wordless Wednesday – Let’s Ride
Profile On: Chuck Bartok, Marketing Consultant
How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Currently Shirley and I are “horseless”. Health issues caused us to sell the ranch and facility and move into a “senior environment”. We are VERY active in the local horse community and since I am a life member of California State Horsemen’s Association (CSHA) and fomer State Vice-president, we still contribute when we can towards successful venues.
I allocate approximately 55 hours a week involved in the horse industry. It is nice to be “retired” from the 80+ hours for almost 40 years ~smile~. I used to announce 30 West Coast Shows a year, but cannot continue that pace, so I volunteer for a few selected Non-Profit Functions.
Shirley left her boarding business and had to downsize to miniatures because of her bone conditions and finally NO horse and now spend her time handcrafting Wood Yard and Home Decor, focusing on the Western and Horse Motifs. Even though we miss the smells and daily contact, our hearts and spirit are still with the horse.
Our youngest son has an excellent Cutting Horse Training facility in Texas and is carrying on our “legacy” of being close to the horse.
What is it exactly that you do?
Most of the clients in our Marketing and Business Consulting Company are in the manufacture and distribution of horse products, provide professional services, or are breeders and ranchers.
Chuck Bartok is a 50 year serial entrepreneur who focused his energy in Agriculture and Equine Businesses and Financial Services. Since a major health set back a few years ago, Chuck is now spending his time helping others grow their businesses and profits through the effective use of internet and social media marketing.
In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
Everyone’s definition of liveable is different. I believe my fees and compensation would allow most reasonable people to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. For the past several years it has averaged about $100/hour net after taxes.
There is a demand for experienced marketing consultants and coaches in all fields. There is a strong market in the horse industry, since so many NEW people are always venturing into the business side.
What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
Be familiar with the industry, preferably with hands-on experience. Understand the needs of your client’s customer base. I DO not advocate wasting time getting advanced degrees in marketing. Most programs are taught by those of little to NO experience and are too focused on structure rather than getting the job done.
I have guest lectured in some programs and was appalled at the lack of understanding of how to grow the whole person – so important in the success of any business, regardless the venue. Suggestions: team up with experience , learn to listen, create your own persona (there are thousands who will follow YOU) and be willing to take the time to GROW. Just like starting a colt, there is NO easy button.
Favourite horse memory?
My father taking me to the stables in Chicago and riding the Forest Preserves after he returned from WWII. That embedded my desire to become a horseman.
Future goals?
Continue to encourage and help build the horse businesses of others.
Best thing about your sport/profession?
Watching clients build the horse related businesses of THEIR dreams. Especially young trainers. Some of my “clients” have really exploded onto the Horse World over the past 20 years.
“Whoever said that money cannot buy happiness didn’t know where to buy a horse.” – Author unknown
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