Gidion Getting Ready For a Drive Lesson
Gidion did well with his second driving lesson on Saturday. 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 A few 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...
Read MoreRiding Gidion to Speed up the Driving Training Process
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...
Read MoreMichaella Walker starts a Young Gypsy Vanner at Grand Oaks in Florida
Getting started again at the Grand Oaks has been a lot of fun. 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...
Read MoreSmitty, AKA Heiress Oro, At Innfields Training Center
Just an hour and a half from Grand Oaks, lies one of the race track hot spots in Florida, Tampa Downs. It’s surrounding area is dotted with training barns filled with young race horse preparing for their first race or young and old horses recovering from setbacks. Innfields Training Center happens to be one of these facilities. In this case it is a very important facility for a number of people, including myself, because this is where Ann and Terry Bastin’s race horse, Smitty (AKA Heiress Oro) is getting her elementary training for the race track. Smitty was born at Rock...
Read MoreDriving With Gloria Austin Founder of the Florida Carriage Museum
What an absolutely beautiful day we had driving throughout the property here at the Grand Oaks Resort. Gloria took us on a pleasure drive with a wonderful pair. 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...
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