David Essary drove him from the race horse barn where Jane Howard’s three horses are located over to the Gypsy Vanner barn where he does most of his training.

Gidion had moment of fear, but David Essary worked him right through it all with his voice and educated hands.  After we got to his square pen we hooked him to adjoined tires and used a breast collar to teach him the feel of weight behind him.  It accomplishes more then just one thing but for now we are focusing in on him getting accustom to pulling.

David Essary is a master in his own right.  He comes highly recommended by Gloria Austin and is the only Gypsy Vanner driving trainer on the property.  This man differently has a way with these horses.  They absorb fast and come to him easily as he works them with his skilled hands and soothing voice.  I’m going as far as to say he’s the Tom Dorrance of  the driving world.  Few know of his gift and I’m so appreciative to have a chance to work with a man that has been doing this all his life with great success.

Looking forward to seeing Jane drive Gidion in the future.

Enjoy the video we found showing David Driving the superb Gypsy Vanner Stallion,  Starbuck, from The Gypsy Vanner Ranch

Riding a horse during the Driving Training Process

Using my horsemanship skills, in conjunction with the driving lessons Gidion is having three times a week, is helping SPEED UP the Driving Training process.  I am riding him on the off days.We are working on foundation building at this point.  He has a lot of work ahead of him in this area.  David Essary, renowned Driving Trainer,  seems to feel this is a good way to get him solid faster in an effective way for driving.  Our horsemanship methods mirror each other, in oh so many ways.   I’m working on getting rid of the bad habits he has acquire, and instead, instilling the good fundamentals of horsemanship to build a strong and reliable foundation.

The trainer that had him before I started working with him, evidently didn’t give him the time to connect the dots.  David seems to feel the same way I do.  There’s a lot of essential ingredient missing.  Gidion is smart horse.  He learns well and adapts fast.  There is no room for error with a horse like Gideon.  A bad thing will be remembered just as well as the good thing.  It’s simple.  Do it right the first time, then listen to the horse to see if he really got it.  End on a good note with something learned, THE RIGHT WAY.

Here’s some of my philosophy on developing your horsemanship skills.  Work on the foundation until the foundation is strong enough to carry the rest of the horse and the horses mind.  Connect the feet to the brain and then, and only then, work from the brain to feet in order to refine.

Training Philosophy

Anyone who has ever ridden a horse can attest to the frustration that comes from having a lack of harmony with your mount.  Remember, each time you ride, you are either training or un-training your horse.

Successfully building a strong foundation based on respect and teamwork.  This is the essence of  Michaella Walker Horsemanship.

I think anyone that attended the ALPHA MARE TOUR INVITATIONAL knows what I’m talking about when I refer to the pillars of the horse.

I started driving lessons with Gidion, a young Gypsy Vanner,

It is important to give horses time to think, chew on something new and make it theirs.  Most trainers don’t teach the art of contemplating.

A horse needs time just like we do.  It makes training so much more effective.  A horse needs to learn, the absence of pressure, means the choice for the day was right.  End on a good note.  These two boys had their AHA moments, and they carried over.  That’s all I can hope for.

In case you are interested Gidion is a young Gypsy Vanner . They are known for their movement and pleasant dispositions.  The Gypsy Vanner Breed is becoming quite popular here in the United States.

Members of the breed come in a palette  of colors but predominantly are of piebald coloring and have many draft characteristics, including heavy bone and flowing feathering on the lower legs. There is no  exact history of the Gypsy Cob. It is believed by some that the Gypsy Cobs are descended from a combination of Shires, Clydesdales, Friesians, and Dales Ponies with their origins in the Romany gypsy community of the United Kingdom.

They were used as riding mounts and also had the responsibility of pulling the Romani family wagons or “caravans” known as Vardos, which is a type of covered wagon that people sometimes lived in. They were also used as riding horses for children

Not only were the Romany’s  Gypsy Vanners  graceful and beautiful, their Vardos were a work of art.

Watch the quick Video below

Share any driving experiences you had with the large or small breeds of Horses in the comment section.

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The Alpha Mare Invitational was a great success.  Every participant came with an open mind to the ‘One Dot at a Time’ Program.   The Alpha Mare Tour is set up to teach people how to be listening horsemen and horsewomen.

We started with one of the horses that was disrespecting his owner by walking all over her.  This horse created the perfect beginning to a great day.  I was able to demonstrate how influencing the feet, one really does capture the mind and the spirit of the horse.  In less than 20 minutes, she was a different horse.  I handed her back to her owner, and they both did well throughout the entire clinic.

We continued with creating herd value through Kelly Ankney’s Express Yoga portion of the clinic.  We taught everyone how to fit this Express Yoga in for riding, and at the same time create a value by touching areas that the horses themselves cannot reach.  This portion has three specific benefits:  Keeping the horse fit for riding, making the ride more enjoyable, and increasing herd value (getting to the “Feel Good” place in the mind) between you and your horse, making you the most important member of the herd.  An additional benefit, which I have not mentioned previously is just as effective as influencing the feet to get to the mind:  it is influencing the body to get to the heart.

After the Express Yoga portion of the clinic we tied in my Unique Approach to Ground Work, which reinforces the stretches and body movement along with influencing the feet. This is the ultimate respect builder.  Everyone put the dots together beautifully so we broke for lunch.  Marlene’s famous recipe “Marlene’s Cowboy Beans” was a big surprise and a huge hit with everyone there, who all begged to get the recipe, which she provided later.

After lunch the New Alpha Mare Tour T-shirts and Hats went flying out of the boxes.  Our Michaella Walker Horsemanship Merchandise was a big hit thanks to Jenny Feuquay our Design Master.

We stayed on time, and the clinic was well organized because of my “Durable Multi-tasking Manager,” Lona Huffman.  She makes my job an absolute joy for me.  Everyone loves interfacing with her because of her warmth and easy approach, and, she can be a real hoot when needed.

The second half of the clinic was about taking what was learned on the ground and applying it in the saddle.  Kelly and I broke the class into two sections.  Starting with saddle fitting, we showed people what to look for and how to create the best scenario for the horse.  We put the saddle on the horses without blankets and talked about comfort, fit, withers, girths, and felt our way on the horses to appreciate a good, bad or mediocre fit.  Everyone learned a lot in this segment about saddle fit.

Next, one by one we put each participant in the saddle with a tether to me or Kelly on the ground.  Kelly and I helped each rider experience the disengagement of the rear end as we taught them how to ride balanced in the saddle.  Everyone’s confidence level grew and one by one they were handed there lead rope to ride their horse with.  That’s right,  NO REINS, just a lead rope.  And not tied on either side of the halter either.  Just a single rope that was either on the left or right side of the horse’s neck.  Ten people steered their horses around the arena without a mishap.  They went around each other, passed each other, met and stopped and talked as their confidence grew so did their horsemanship.

By the end of the day everyone was “one with their horse” and their horses truly believed the person on their back was their ALPHA MARE.

Testimonials:

Smitty was born at Rock Field Farm  in Greenwood, Indiana where she grew like a weed, got in to trouble when ever possible and flew like the wind on her four long legs.  At age two, Smitty and Izzy came to my farm, Michaella Walker’s Circle M Ranch for their preschool training.  I call this part of teaching ground manners, excepting a saddle, riding with a handle and learning to trust unconditionally, the making of horse.  These two fillies were attached at the hip when they arrived.  Izzy and Smitty had been pasture mates since they had been weened, making the job of separating them a grueling two weeks of nothing but nervous energy.

Later, rather then sooner, the two fillies settles in and started showing me their true potential.  They both showed high aptitudes for excepting the new and wanting to move to the next step into the unknown.  It was Smitty that excelled through the program with more durability then Izzy.  Izzy was younger then Smitty and the age difference apparently made a difference mentally and physically in her development along with her heredity.

Izzy and Smitty are the heirs to their own great lineage, which individually, entitles them to a great future on the race track.

After sixty days Smitty and Izzy went home, with a good start on them, that would carry through to the next level of training they would need to become the great race horses their Sire and Dames had been.  Smitty was shipped to the Innsfield Training Center in January where she is developing beautifully.  They are extremely pleased with my calm breaking methods that have made their job so much easier, and we, are all excited about the way she saves her energy and the beautiful smooth long strides she performs on the race track.

Steve Cahill, the the man in charge of overseeing the development of most of the horse in Smitty’s barn, took me through the process of the making of a race horse.  He is now the man that will take Smitty to her future on the track.

Izzy and Smitty are well on their way in becoming Champions and we are honored to be part of that development. For more information on how Michaella and Circle M Ranch can “Impress the Foundation” in you Pleasure or Performance Horse…

We met people along the way and enjoyed all the scenery and trails down the road and through the woods.  It was quite exciting at times.   Jane Howard and I got a first class driving experience as Gloria, a world renown pleasure driver, shared many stories that kept us entertained and laughing throughout the drive.  Her knowledge on carriages and her presentation on how to drive  was informative and interesting.

I am so fortunate to be friends with this wonderful woman.  I think Gloria and Jane really hit it off well.   Can’t wait to meet up with Gloria at her fireside get together on Sunday.

If you ever get the chance to visit Grand Oaks Resort, the Florida Carriage Museum is a must see.  The tour is stoked with history that is fun and educating and rests pleasantly in everyone’s  memory.

We will be heading out to a show tomorrow.  Looking forward to getting Tobi in the show ring.

I didn’t expect him to be this willing and intelligent.   Gidion will be coached in the right direction,  slowly and steady.  As he goes through these building blocks, one dot at a time, there is now question whether he will turn out to be a remarkable Gypsy Vanner.  I know he will.

Gidion reads every thread on my shirt.  He is a horse you do not want to make a mistake with because he will remember it.  He will remember the wrong thing just as well as he remembers the right thing.  This is important for anyone that has a very intelligent horse that absorbs quickly.  Get really good guidance so you end up with a solid horse not one with a neurosis.

With a horse like Gidion, it’s extremely important to qualify your herd value right away. Then make yourself  invaluable to him.  This is when you want the herd to be you and him.  The natural mind of the horse will show up, you just need to know what to do with it.  These are basic understandings that you will need to know to make your horse a true and respecting partner.

Influence the feet and you will influence the mind.  How simple can it get.  Not much.  Gain trust, be a leader and make yourself very important to your horse with out using treats.  Gentle touch is more important to a horse for bonding then a treat will ever be.

A Natural approach to Horsemanship will make a big difference in your relationship with your horse, people and other important relationships.

Making a big impression in a Soft Way is about allowing the horse to tell you, “I  got it”.  If a person puts too  much of his own mind in front of the horse by sticking to a man made plan or schedule, there will be draw backs and less results.

Mastering Horsemanship is learning to shoot straight in a consistent manner with the horse and taking him through the process at his absorption rate, one dot at a time,  will result in building  a dependable foundation. (making a big impression in a soft way)

If your horse is questioning, you then go back to basics, go back to the pillars (the four feet) and start back up to the brain.  Chris Cox told me a long time ago that a horseman is judged by the performance if his horse.  That has always stuck in my head, making me the horseman I am today.  I always start with a sound foundation before I reach for more from the horse.

Most important, I don’t want to fail him or confuse him.  Find the path that improves the quality of the relationship between you and  your horse, then move your horse forward with confidence and skill.

Eliminate fear, be honest and build on respect.  Be consistent with your aids and never lie to your horse. What I mean by that, is don’t try lots of different things that confuse your horse.  If you ask your horse to step back out of your space then don’t pull him back in so he’s on top of you, nudging and invading your space again.   That just leads to confusion and disrespect.

At some point when your fed up with him nudging, nibbling and blowing snot on your clothes your going to get mad and make him step away again.  In my clinics I’ve seen people lie to their horses like this eighteen times in a fifteen minute period.   Instead, when you ask him to step away, consistently keep him out there until you purposely ask him to do something else.  Be honest and stay honest in your asking, and the horse will begin to trust and see you as his “ALPHA MARE“.  The most valuable player in his herd.