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Question:
My question
relates to the Super Horse Clinics. What is unique about these
clinics and why are they called Super Horse Clinics? Ranch
versatility refers to an all-around horse so what is the difference?
Answer:
Imagine if your
horse could do a dressage test, go out quietly on the trail, work
with cows, do a flag run, walk in a parade or anything else you
could dream up. The goal of the Super Horse Clinics is to help you
develop a horse that can be extremely versatile, light and
responsive - no matter the situation.
The Super Horse
Challenge is a venue for men and women to demonstrate what they have
accomplished with their horses and to compete with other riders of
the same skill level. The difference between this competition and
other competitions is that you and your horse are being judged on
the quality of the performance, responsiveness and equitation, not
just speed.
For many years
I specialized in working with problem horses and I still have horses
brought to me that have issues however, in the last few years my
emphasis has changed a bit. I now work more with horses and riders
perfecting their performance and skill. While I still have horses
that come in for three to six months for issues or tune ups, I have
a group of owners that have chosen to stay with me and continue to
receive training and ride in classes. The result has been that over
the years using our foundation training, the trainers and I
discovered that the more educated a horse is, the more we can do
with that horse. When we get a horse pretty well trained or broke as
I like to say (not meaning broken in spirit but well educated), we
have found that we can build on our foundation training and teach
that horse to perform a variety of activities.
Our foundation
training is aimed at getting the horses quiet, relaxed and accepting
of different objects. We work with a variety of objects to de-spook
the horses so they will not over react to objects on the trail. For
15 years or so now I have been using blue plastic tarps to teach
horses to go over objects and through creeks. Tarps are versatile
and excellent objects to be draped over horses and for horses to
learn to go over and to drag. They crinkle and are noisy and
excellent for de-spooking. Later we started using a 36-inch ball to
get horses accustomed to pushing something and having something bump
against their sides and legs. Then we started to play soccer with
the ball here in the arena which was fun for all. The horses also
learn to drag a log and to carry a flag. I’ve worked with several
rodeo queens in the royalty programs where horses must carry a flag
and do pattern work. Pretty soon we started saying, look at the
super horse who can walk, trot and canter with a flag and then mount
a pedestal. The horses also had to be able to do reining patterns
and work with cows. Again we found that the more things we did with
the horses, the more we could do, including roping and even mounted
shooting.
We have a nice
groomed trail here at the ranch but we also have what we call an
extreme trail. The trail is steep and the horse must really learn to
climb and to slide down using their hind quarters. We teach the
horses to jump as you never know when you will be out on a trail and
need to get over an obstacle. Every horse can jump at least 24
inches and jumping is a great gymnastic exercise. We start by
trotting over poles and small logs and getting the horses to pay
attention. Then we tackle higher poles and larger logs. All these
exercises translate into better performance no matter the chosen
discipline.
So this is how
it all came about. We began to refer to these horses as super
horses. A super horse is able to do a variety of things. He is able
to go to a parade, he can work with cows, he can do a reining
pattern, he can perform in the arena and out on the trail. He
doesn’t have to be perfect at any of these activities but the main
criteria is that the horse is quiet, soft to the hands and obedient.
Another quality of the super horse is that he has what I like to
call business ears. He is paying attention to me and waiting to see
what I’m going to ask him to do next. For example, if we are doing a
hand gallop, he is relaxed with a loose rein and I am able to stop
without undue pressure on the bit. I look for a forward walk and a
nice extended walk. I want a nice trot and an extended trot as well
as a nice canter or lope, depending on the discipline.
This type of
performance requires that the horse be balanced and carry himself
properly. As owners and riders, we have to learn to ride more
correctly. The more educated the horse is the more important is the
rider’s equitation. The rider must have proper body, seat and leg
position.
I am not saying
that to get a super horse you have to have your horse in full time
training. We simply discovered that by working with horses over a
long period of time, they can continue to learn new and varied
skills. The Super Horse Clinics begin with the basic ground work and
build the skill level. They provide an opportunity to learn the
correct ways to teach your horse to do a variety of activities. Not
all can be super horses but it should be a goal for all horses.
We will be
doing additional super horse clinics next year and also super horse
challenges at some of the horse expos next year. Super horse
performance should be a goal for everyone. Rather than just limiting
you and your horse to one aspect of riding, expand your experience.
Expand your horse’s education, become a more responsive rider and
have a good time.
Charles Wilhelm
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