Beeman's Better Deal

Watch Yourself Work

Thanks to the students and boarders at Broken Wheel Ranch there is now a brand new mirror in the indoor arena - great for analyzing your position and seeing how your horse is moving.

2009-2010 Winter Workshop Series

Note: please click this update for the January schedule: UPDATE

The Goshen workshops went well when the weather held but it is getting harder and harder to be consistent with the shorter days and colder weather. I would like to start a training level group here at the ranch where it would be more comfortable and consistant for learning. I will set it up so that you would not have to transport your horse here. Each week you would learn a concept and go home and apply it to your own horses and situations. The following week we would review your experience and build on it. This way your winter

season can be a preparation of the spring riding season and that fury beast out in the pasture will be a partner who knows his job as opposed to a 1000lb package that needs to be unwraped and assembled!Cost would be $20.00 per session. The time can remain Friday at 4:30 or we can arrange another time that will accommodate the group. If you are interested in this program please, let me know and I will schedule the weekly sessions.

You will also find attached a class list for the 2010 WINTER HORSEMANSHIP COMPETITIONS. We have tentatively scheduled these for the 3rd Sunday of the month in January, February, and March. All classes will have cash payback. There will be a seasons end high point award for each class along with Grand and Reserve Champion Awards. Cost is $125.00 per competition and includes a hot lunch. Spectators are welcome. I encourage training level and beginning students to attend these competitions. It's a great learning experience, lots of fun, and the competitors love to be cheered along.

AND FINALLY! There will be a horsemanship workshop held Sunday morning October 25th. At this workshop we will go over the criteria included in this newsletter. We will also go over the HORSEMANSHIP COMPETITION class list and I will answer any questions there are about it. A full packet including diagrams, release forms, and entry forms will be available at that time. Please let me know if you plan to attend unmounted or with your horse.

Goshen Workshop

A torrential rain the morning of the second Goshen Workshop forced us to cancel. The first Goshen Workshop was well attended and everyone did a fine job with their horses. Let's hope for a dry day in July!

Deb finally gets the canter when she wants it!

Bud learns to take an interest in things.

 

Thanks to Rob we had a comfortable relaxed working environment.

GAMES FOR WINTER

I don't know about you, but I like to keep warm in the winter when I'm working my horses and when you are confined to a 60 x 120 indoor space that can become a challenge. There has been some interest in GAMES ON HORSEBACK so I decided to make it the theme of this winter workshop series.

Here Michael is practicing the Flag Race. He must keep his horse moving forward and soft to the left while he is reaching over to take the stick out of the bucket.

 Games are a great way to hone your horsemanship skills as the smoother your run, the faster your time. A smooth run requires you to prepare your horse for what you are about to do so you don't go too far past things or turn too soon. You also get to practice on your balance.

 

Here is some of what the folks had to say about GAMES ON HORSEBACK.

"I really enjoyed the winter games workshop today. For me it was especially interesting to note that the competition aspect of the drills changed the way I focus. It was fun to develop a relationship to the horse in which we were both part of a team. I could sense that Babe was attuned and responsive to the environment much more so than if we were just riding around the ring doing our walk, trot, canter. What fun!"   M.N.

"The workshop was a blast. I was surprised at the different challenges the games presented. The pony express relay presented a whole different challenge, as it was quite difficult to think about keeping pace with my partner, steering, and handing over the rope in the right place. It was a great way to work on some challenging skills while having a lot a fun!"   O.K.

 

Workshop Report: Roundpenning

Sunday's roundpen workshop was a great success. Everyone learned some basic skills, such as starting and stopping their horses, turns to the inside and outside, and transitions through the gaits.

  Here some participants warm up with a cup of coffee while Ms. Sassy watches and Margaret explains how to divide your horse into quarters for more effective communication.

 

 

The day was cold but hardly anyone noticed. Everyone got two opportunities to work their horse in the round pen and develop their skills.

It was interesting to see how each horse responded differently when first started yet all wound up calm and relaxed with a much better understanding of what was being asked of them. Participants were able to do all the exercises by the end of their second session. Everyone agreed this workshop was a keeper and one they would want to do again.

Workshop Report: Long Lining

Sunday's Long Lining workshop was successful in many ways. Not only did folks learn some new skills, they kept very warm in the 30 degree weather while walking in back of their horses. We learned how to handle both reins with the whip while keeping our horses moving forward. We practiced driving straight on, lateral yields, circles and changes of direction. By the time we finished up everyone was making smooth figure eights.

It was a great subject to cover and I am sure we will be doing another one!

Business Excellence Award

Margaret Beeman was delighted to receive this year's Business Excellence Special Recognition award by the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp.

Read more about the award in this article in the Poughkeepsie Journal: Rancher a Top Performer

The article includes video and photos.