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Jeffs Thoughts

Hi this is my place that my wonderful wife has given me to write about my personal feelings on training and the horse industry. 

    I want you to know that  I have always put a guarantee on my advice training and shoeing.   But you must tell me that your not happy on the first lesson.   I know from personal experience that one of the most frustrating problems in the horse industry is that people do not want to share information on success in training because of two reasons 1. They want to make money off of you and 2. They don't want you to beat them in competition.   This only tares down the success of riders and horses which shrinks the industry as a whole.   If we as horse people want horses to have homes we have to do two things 1. Give people a good safe experience in their horse activities and 2. When we train horses we should do such a good job the horse will be a good family horse one that everybody stands in line to own and  would never sell.  

    Now, I can't train every person or every horse but what I can do is give you advice on how to get success in your horse career as a amateur or as a professional.   As in either case you need to write down your goals next,  find someone who has accomplished these goals and then ask them for a lesson and to put you on the path that led to their success.   Let me tell a little story about some old horsemen and women. When I was about twenty my father sent me to work under one of the greatest master horse shoers in the country his name is Skip Bickford.  We traveled a four week circuit from Sacramento California to Kirkland Washington.  Every four weeks we would return to almost every major training barn on the I-5 corridor.  My father told me to keep my mouth shut and pretend like I did not know anything or else these big trainers would not let me see their bags of tricks.   He was right, one thing I learned was that almost every successful trainer always had a ground man.  These were old cowboys to old and broken to ride.  I just loved those guys.

    All of these training centers would  provide us with places to sleep.  We ate breakfast and dinner with the old timers which provided time to build relationships and ask questions at the right time.   I learned things you just can't buy and I acquired a love and respect for those great men who have given us many of the things the American horse industry has for us today.   I watched these men help many armatures and trainers go on to be world champions so, if you have the finances and can find one of these employ him or her.  You have made a smart choice.

   Now when choosing a trainer  you need one that has an actual program.  A starting place and an ending place.  Most trainers specialize in certain disciplines.  Western for example, is a horse that works in a western saddle, works quiet, and slow or a western show horse which begins showing in the arena  on the rail.  Judged at a walk, jog, and lope.  Stands quiet and backs readily.  These things do not come in a day but with many months of repetitive practice this is just the beginning for the horse.   If you are a beginner you should also be getting instruction on a different horse one that is older and very forgiving.   This is very important because the horse always advances to the level of the rider. In other words, if you have a lot of  experience then the horse should get better and advance.    If you  are  pretty good  we will see it in your horse and vice versa.

    Back to the beginner or green horse, you should be learning with your horse.   Hands on is not where you need to start.   Some people can not even brush a horse with out teaching them a bad habit or bad foundation.   A  foundation means a first response or experience.    At the trainers discretion you should not talk but instead just watch the routine and learn the correct pattern. 

    I have another little story, after apprenticing with Skip he felt bad that after two years I had not acquired any anvil or horse shoe making skill.   We were so busy shoeing that it was not feasible for me to learn.   I would have been to slow.  Skip could make a pair of shoes in three heats with nail holes and calks that fit the hoof with just one look.  That is fast!  So, he sent me to shoeing school.   The instructor Bill Miller asked me if I had any anvil experience and I said no.   But in just two weeks I could make a pair of shoes in three heats with nail holes and calks.   He told me he figured I lied but I didn't.   It is because I watched the correct way to make shoes enough times buy a master, that it was easy.  And of course, I love horses and had a strong desire to learn but I did not ask questions at the wrong time I just watched the master for two years and then practiced. 

   Now that I have presented my thoughts on respect of those who have shared our love of horses and made us   keepers of their knowledge, the  horse industry, and my thoughts on respect towards learning and teaching,  I would like to share what I believe to be a good program for a horse farms success.   If you have a breeding farm and you are only interested in the horses that show potential for being a champion you will be in need of finding homes for those that do not measure up.   This is where you are in need of a very good colt starting program.  Two things that will give you success. 1 Breeding for disposition  and  2. A good training program that starts at birth.   Handle them from the day they are born.  Once again this is not a job for a beginner but this is what helps a horse to understand that humans are a part of their life.   Even more than their own mother she is there for four to six months but humans the rest of their life.  There are many that end up going for meat just because they can't be handled. One thing that is important to know  is not so much how many times they are handled but how  the handler covers all the bases.  Being able gently rub all the areas of the body pick up the feet and lead the baby is bare knuckles minimum.    But again these are foundation habits that should be done by a seasoned handler or you may teach the baby to do things like rear, strike, kick, pull back, and run away.  These are taught by many people the first day and they do not realize it.   Other things that you can train your baby to do that will be very helpful is clipping, tying, loading, wearing a blanket,  and hauling in a horse trailer wearing a blanket.  

 

      Board and Training fees include:

        $650.00  a month.

    

        Boarding fee:

        $325.00 a month for full care and turnout.

        $200.00 a month for pasture board.

        Extra Costs Include:

        $35.00 for a trim (on the farm and in training)

        $75.00 for standard shoe job (on the farm and in training)

        $10.00 for worming

        $Price of vaccination for shots.

        Extras if desired:

        $75.00 for a body clip

        $125.00 a month for exercising and conditioning three days a week.

       

       

        We do provide training and lessons here on the farm or out on the trail.  We specialize in precision riding and and making great baby sitter horses. Jeff has spent most of his life working with horses with problems ranging form bad habits to fine tuning and polishing up horses for pleasure/trail riding or showing.  Jeff is one of the best Tennessee Walking Horse Trainers you will come across.  He is extremely knowledgeable about the breed and their gait.  His dad Lane Curry was one of the leading promoters of the Walking horse breed, a master judge, and helped write the TWHBEA rule book.  Jeff is a master ferrier which means he is qualified to correct all foot problems including club feet, founder ,laminitis etc.  plus qualified to shoe show horses of all breeds.  Jeff puts on Clinics for $400.00 a day plus expences.