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Everybody talks about wanting to change things and help and fix, but ultimately all you can do is fix yourself. And that's a lot. Because if you can fix yourself, it has a ripple effect.
~Bob Reiner, director
Our greatest enemies, the ones we must fight most often, are within.
~Thomas Paine, statesman
News & Updates
Spring is finally here full-time, and stalls are quickly filling with training horses. If you are interested in having a horse trained, developed, or started under saddle this year, please be sure to contact us as soon as possible to make a reservation.
We're closing in on the arrival of 'Baby King'... about 8 weeks to go and Nicole and baby are coming along great.
Horse for Sale:This is a horse that Patrick has worked with. If you are interested, the owner's contact information is in the description below the picture.
 A Natural Angel
Would make a nice youth huntseat horse. $3000/neg.
Call 724-423-4319 or email.
April/May
PHOTO UPDATES:
 Patrick & Nicole
~ Photo by Cheryl Winters
Patrick & friends
~ Photo by Kristen K
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Mastering Communication Conference 2010 Advertisers & Vendors:
Second Chance
Equine Assoc.
724-423-7175
Sage Saddlery
724-459-3871
Chad Hoover, Professional Farrier
724-972-8916
Tai Chi Cross Training for Equestrians
724-537-3610
Kristen Kalanavich Photography
724-388-5272
Apache Reed Iron Bars, APHA Stallion
724-316-0695/412-585-4750
PAHorsemall
724-791-1144
Equestrian's Choice Laundry
412-496-7789/724-388-4533
BP Insurance Inc.
724-328-2148 Ligonier
724-539-2730 Latrobe
724-235-2470 New Florence
Mountain Horse Saddlery& Gift Shop
724-593-8300
C.T. Slattery Concrete Construction Inc.
724-547-3364
Mountain Vista Stable
724-238-4117
Debbie Slattery
Howard Hanna Realty
724-832-2300
Horizon Stables
724-727-2919/724-882-1347
Barbara Ruffner
Equine/Canine Sports Massage Therapy
724-331-2259
TLC Equine Health
724-600-6126
Jill Mott, Pampered Chef
724-875-6735
Watkins
724-882-5246
*SPECIAL THANKS
to Downs & Associates for their creative help with the Conference Event Program.
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Stay Connected...
PKHorsemanship
Ride in a clinic or course
Send us an Email
Give us a good old fashioned phone call 724-859-8558
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to keep updated with news & events
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Hello ,
Spring is here and the weather in southwestern Pennsylvania is about as predictable as a pet rattlesnake. Just when you think you know what it's going to do, it makes a shift on you. If you don't like the weather around here during the spring... just wait an hour or so, and it's liable to change. More often than not, though, we've been having some beautiful warm days lately, and it's been great to get a lot of outside time on the horses in training. There's nothing better for a green colt or performance horse than real life experience on the trail or pushing cattle in the pasture. Speaking of pushing cattle, there's still time to sign on for the Beginner's Cow Working class, June 5-6. This is always a great clinic for introducing yourself and/or your horse to cattle for the first time, or for getting more experience and handle on your horse that's already been started on cattle. This class is a great confidence booster for any horse, even if you never plan to use your horse to handle cattle in a real
working environment. And if you'd like to learn more about handling cattle in a real working environment, Bob Sagely and I are still hoping to get enough interest to put on our Buckaroo Camp, June 18-20, where you'll learn to rope, handle, and 'mock brand' cattle, as well as get more working experience with your horse. This is surely the year to improve your cattle handling ability... in July, Buster McLaury will be putting on a Cow Working clinic for us at Double M Arena. Buster is a top hand, spending most of each year traveling the U.S. teaching clinics, and this is an educational experience you don't want to miss out on. ( Continue reading below for information on signing up for Buster's class). Along with the cattle classes this year, we're excited to be offering more Horsemanship 1 and even a Horsemanship 2 class. It's exciting to have students showing up to the clinics ready for more advanced horsemanship concepts and tasks. We've got lots of great clinics and courses on the calendar this year, be sure to check out the schedule and sign up for the dates you want while there's still spaces available. Welcome to the May enewsletter... Read on, and enjoy the journey! ~ Patrick |
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Horsemanship Tip for May
 Photo by Nicole King
Giving Up Physical Control to Gain Emotional Control
(In You & Your Horse!)
I see this common problem many times throughout the year at clinics and courses... riders that have trouble keeping their horses at a particular gait: They have to push them to keep cantering, but then they canter too fast. They have to hold them at a trot to keep them from cantering, but then they get off track from whatever task they were working on.They have to beg them so much to trot or canter that they lose control of their direction.The horse wants to be so fast at any gait that all they get done doing is the good ol' "one rein stop" to slow them down.The trouble here is simply that the riders are trying to control too much at one time, instead of focusing on individual pieces of their problem. At a recent Horsemanship 1 course, I gave the riders a task: Most of the riders would sit in various places in the arena, just parked with their horses while, two at a time, other riders would ask for a trot. That was all they needed to ask for, a trot. No particular direction or line of travel, just a trot. Otherwise, they just folded their arms or held onto their saddle.As they careened around the arena at the trot, their horses were almost dumbfounded that they weren't being micro-managed into the turns and away from the other horses. When the horses would break down to a walk, the riders would liven them up again. When they'd break into a canter, the riders would bend them just enough to get that trot back before letting them go again. After about 5 minutes of trotting around like pin-balls in an arcade, the horses started to develop some rhythm to their trot and would stay a reasonable distance from the other horses. After about ten minutes, when the riders sat deeper and asked for a stop, the horses were pleased to stop, and then 2 more riders would start the process all over again until eventually everyone got the chance to play 'pony pinball' in the arena.What the riders were doing was giving up the 'direction' side of control in order to develop gait control in their horses. This is more of an emotional thing for the horse, as he needs to learn to maintain that gait on his own, without the rider babysitting the whole time. The other riders and horses were a great tool for a horse that wanted to go too fast, as he had to navigate through the others. Likewise for the slow horse that wanted to stop and visit with the other horses... his rider wouldn't let him get too comfortable doing that and eventually he decided it wasn't worth the trouble to visit. All of the horses learned that it is much easier to focus on their own rider than anything else in the arena. All of the riders learned to give up a little bit of control and trust their horse, while at the same time being able to work on developing their Velcro seat.So the next time you get the chance to ride in an arena, empty or full or riders, just ask yourself to trot and see how well he maintains that without you doing much steering. Eventually, you'll be able to canter and not steer him. Expect him to maintain his own gait, and help him when he needs some assistance, otherwise leave him alone to handle himself. Once your horse will maintain his gait as a responsibility, then steering and guiding and going through other maneuvers will be so much easier for you, because your horse will understand his end of the bargain.Stay safe and enjoy the journey!
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Real People, Real Horses, Real Solutions
THE BEST SELF CONFIDENCE BOOSTING CLINIC EVER. AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY
TO GET YOUR VELCRO SET BACK FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST IT ALONG THE
WAY. MANY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME AND MY THREE YEAR OLD APPALOOSA,
BLUE, THAT HAVE MADE THE JOURNEY SO MUCH FUN. ALSO MADE SOME GREAT NEW
RIDING BUDDY'S. ~ JONI and BLUE
If Patrick has helped you and/or your horse overcome an obstacle or realize a dream, or if you have had a great experience at a horsemanship course or clinic, please email us for information on how you and your horse can be featured in an upcoming issue of our e-newsletter.
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Thank you, , for taking the time to read this this newsletter. We hope that you enjoyed your reading, and that you are able to take some insight and inspiration to the barn with you. Keep in touch, and feel free to contact us with any questions or requests you might have.
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Enjoy the Journey,
Patrick King Horsemanship
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