What Qualifies As A Legend

It seems the term "legend" can be applied to pretty much whatever artist, professional, campfire story, or spectacular performance, that has made an impact... real or imagined... on at least two people. There needs to be agreement. In this fast paced age of instant fulfillment, information resources, high speed networking, public relations, and a well timed tweet, it appears a legend can evolve much more quickly than in the past. I believe it should take longer than the time to make pop corn to be awarded the title of "legendary". However, even popcorn doesn't take nearly as long as it use to.

Within every aspect of our lives, no matter who you are or what you do, there is a legend connected to it's development. Our house can be designed by one, the car built by one, your business created by one, your current book written by one, your teaching received by one, your drink served by one, your sport played by one, the biggest fish caught by one, your local pool tournament won by one, the movie you went to directed by one, and the popcorn you ate grown by one.

In our world of horses, chances are yours was either bred by one, raised by one, sold to one, bought from one, trained by one, or looked at by one, or it's family was ridden by one in the past. You personally were either taught by one, were beat by one, beat one, or watched one. If not, go to YouTube, or Google horse legends and pick one out.  There is a high probability that you actually know one. Heck, your horse can even have a legends (real or imagined) name or initials as part of it's registered name. You may even have given him an injection of it.

I was raised in the horse business. Both my Mom and Dad have spent many long hours in the saddle, teaching and training. Fortunately the examples of horsemanship I saw on a daily basis as well as the always appropriate advice sunk in. I learned as much as possible from them, and when I showed an interest in learning from others, I was introduced to the best horsemen and women around. My parent's connections made it possible for me to have been taught by the who's who of the horse world. Lucky, huh?

As an early teenager I would spend part of my summers at a famous horse ranch and training facility just a couple hours north. I'd take my current horse project and go. This particular trainer also had a son who was the same age as me. Together we would seek out the secrets to training horses, the mystical connections that could be created as well as life changing advice on how to be the best, achieve something worthwhile, and find the path to equine enlightenment. Oh wait... that's how it was supposed to go. Remember we were young teenage boys! Get real.

Our duties on the ranch were simple. Get up early, feed the horses, clean the barns, fix the fence, bale the hay, mow the yard, saddle the horses, break the colts, catch the mares, doctor the horses, move the sand, set the posts, dig the hole, fill in the hole, dig the hole in the right place, and whatever else would keep us from getting into mischief. We also got to ride and learn some pretty valuable horse training secrets. Actually, I figure we discovered many of them. It turns out we were an integral part of many experiments. Some of them worked. It was there that I learned it was best to get your horse accustomed to a rope before actually roping something.

Our riding lessons were mostly geared around the intricacies of teaching horses to stop and turn. (Partly I think as a result of him getting tired of chasing us around). He would show us the proper use of legs, hands, positioning of each, and mostly the timing of the application or release. He was very particular about those things. "Feel the feet" or "It's all in the feet", or "*%**, __!#@^&, *##!!!* feet!" It's not that we were resisting the concept,  I'd like to think we were actually doing our part in the experiment. In every case, once our signals were correct, the results were inspiring.

It's a thrill for me to have Jack Brainard come to Hillsborough, NJ and Foxx Creek Farm to show us his views on training western horses and the stock horse program. Perhaps more importantly, he is coming to introduce the potentially explosive new sport of "Western Dressage" in its infancy. It's a circle of life for our favorite horses who have previously handed us their heart in a different arena. It's an elevating of our current prospects own awareness. It's a combining of two worlds. It's something new to learn.

Unfortunately to this point, the response to the clinic has been embarrassingly weak. I've heard Memorial weekend is tough. I've heard the dressage aloofs question its cowboy twist. I've heard the "off to a show" excuses. I've heard it's too expensive. Apparently advancing in knowledge has a price. Worst of all, I've heard some say that their trainers won't let them come. Actually all trainers should be there. Consider it continued education... I'm sure glad my doctor does it. I can promise you that if there were something that might benefit his program and increase his knowledge... Jack himself would be there. I'll be there as a student myself.

The clinic is split into two separate 2 day sessions. May 28, 29 are Stock Horse and Ranch Versatility. May 30, 31 are Western Dressage. Get your confirmation into Jeanne DeVries so this amazing event can take place. You will find her contact info as well as all clinic details within the post to the web site. Go to www.craigjohnsonreining.com now and sign up for the chance of a lifetime to learn from a true "Legend". Hurry, before it's too late.