President:
Pat Mullins
President Elect:
Tara Gamble
Vice President:
Jessica Yankey
Immediate Past President:
Phil Peterson
Treasurer:
Peggy Adams
Secretary:
Lynn O’Brien
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CLASSIFIEDS: SUCCESS-CENTERED RIDING WORKSHOPS. Since 1986. Best for adults. Rapid self-improvement. 2 days-2 weeks. Scenic Springfield, Missouri. Private or small groups. PH: 888-242-6105 www.brindabellafarms.com BARN MANAGER – Warm Beach Christian Camp, Stanwood, W. Full-time w/benefits. Maintain facility, equipment and horses, and assist w/Horsemanship program. Full description and application at www.warmbeach.com CAMP BERACHAH MINISTRIES, Auburn, WA - Equestrian Facility Manager/Instructor: Full-time equestrian position available with benefits beginning August 27th, 2007. CHA Standard Instructor rating or potential required (Level 2) as well as organization and construction skills. Responsible for coordination of facility and equipment care as well as instruction of students in year-round lessons and camps. Camp Berachah is a Christian ministry with a stated goal of reaching others for Christ. For a full job description and application, please visit our web-site at www.campberachah.org
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CHA - The Leaders in
Horsemanship Safety.
The purpose of CHA is
to promote excellence in safety
and education throughout
the horse industry.
. . . . .
Teen Ranch Canada…
Celebrating 40 Years in Caledon, Ontario
:: By Lee Stevens
Teen Ranch is a non-profit Christian camp that was established in 1967, the same year that CHA was established. It is located in the beautiful hills of Caledon, Ontario. Mel Stevens, the founder and director helped to establish the first Teen Ranch in Australia in 1960 and from there others were begun in Indonesia, Scotland, Poland, France, Romania and in the future, possible sites in Siberia and the Philippines.
Teen Ranch began with eight campers enrolled in the western horsemanship program. Today, up to 90 riders each week attend in the English, Western or the Intensive Equestrian Program. The ranch also offers a high quality hockey program for 60 players and Adventure Extreme can accommodate 14 enthusiasts. Campers come from Canada, U.S., England, Bahamas, Switzerland, France and many more countries around the world. << read more Member Highlight >>
Enter the Stone School
Horse of the Year Contest
Entries due: August 1, 2007
Please turn in a 500 word essay about why the horse should win this honor, front and side photos of the horse in hand and any extra letters of support to CHA, 4037 Iron Works Parkway Suite 180 Lexington, KY 40511. Entries are only accepted complete and by mail. Winner to be announced at the CHA International Conference Awards Banquet in September. Immortalize Your Horse Into a Stone Model! For more information on Stone Horses products and activities visit www.stonehorses.com 
2006 Winner –
Domino’s Crescent Moon of Eagle Creek Equestrian Center in Griffin, Georgia
As riders, we seldom stop to consider or don’t understand that this wonderful, willing, giving horse experiences the world around it in a much different way than we do. Like us, however, the horse experiences the world through its “senses”. Like humans, the horse has the same five senses. As horsemen, we must remember that the horse’s senses are different from human senses in many ways. The five senses are sight, smell, taste, hearing; and feeling. << read more Teaching Techniques >>
Product Review
Review of Horse Schools, Third Edition
:: By Beth Powers
Are you looking to change careers or possibly start a new one in the horse industry? Well a great resource book is available to you. “Horse Schools, Third Edition” by Angelia Almos, published by Trafalgar Square Books is a comprehensive to guide to all types of training and education around the world.
CHA International Conference
The CHA International Conference this year is September 20 – 23, 2007 at the Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida. This five-star guest resort is a great place to take your entire family at an incredible price especially for CHA members! Some of the conference presenters and topics include: Mitzi Summers doing Techniques for the Tense Rider and Teaching Lateral Movements, Heidi Potter doing Balance and the Three Seats and the Power from Within, Scott Carter and the Trail Encampment and Kathy Findley doing Drill Team Riding and Horsemanship Patterns in your Lessons, Julie Goodnight with Straight Forward Horsemanship will be doing Show Strategy and Arena Presence and Specific Exercises for each Level of Rider, John Dalziel doing Jumping Gymnastics and Jumping Dressage, Ken Najorka doing Western Performance Patterns and Reining and The Florida Whips doing driving presentations.
The CHA Conference will also include mounted workshops, ground lessons and lectures from top instructors, trainers, veterinarians, leather craftsmen, saddle fitters and many others. There will be plenty to do in Orlando on your evening off including (click on name to visit website):
This year CHA is partnering with EquineU.com to deliver First Aid and CPR courses online and then your hands on at the conference on Sunday. Click here to sign up today!
Click here for the current full schedule of speakers.
The cut off date for these great package prices is August 31st. Click here today to register for the conference or call 800-399-0138. See you in Florida to get all your continuing education hours for the next three years, meet great friends and learn so much more about horses, your students and yourself.
Welcome to CHA’s newest edition –
editorial intern Tabatha Gullikson
Tabatha has always had a love for horses, even at a young age. She wanted model horses at every birthday and would beg for pony rides whenever she went to visit her grandpa. Tabatha fell into writing by accident when she joined her school newspaper in middle school and at the same time she became more involved with horses. Tabatha volunteered at a therapeutic riding center throughout her teen years and was a working student for a few stables. At the age of 13, Tabatha started writing for her town's newspaper as a paid freelancer covering youth and school news. She got to work at a top dressage and eventing barn as a senior in high school where she eventually became a private groom. Music is her other passion besides horses and writing and after graduating high school in 2005, Tabatha started to pursue a music degree at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She has been playing violin since she was 10 years old. She has since changed her major to print journalism and her goal is to write for a horse magazine or do public relations for a horse product company or breed association after she graduates.
Horse Media Group Partnership with CHA
The newest sponsor of CHA is Horse Media Group the publishers of Perfect Horse, Trail Rider, Spin to Win Rodeo, and Horse Journal. Every member of CHA will receive a free copy of Perfect Horse magazine every month beginning in October. Please share this complimentary copy with each of your clients. Each member will also be able to buy a subscription to the publisher’s other titles at a reduced rate. An added benefit is each member can advertise in a special section of Perfect Horse magazine at greatly reduced rates.
To find out more contact Horse Media Group at 303-661-9282.
To place an ad, contact Karen Dinnel, 303-661-9298 x203.
To order a subscription call Toll-Free at 1-800-829-2521 and refer to member number 67KCHA to take advantage of these special rates!
TEAM CHA Horse Connection
Reward Winners!
CONGRATULATIONS to the
2006 Top Five Winners:
- Maddie Mugnola of Canandaigua, NY
is 13 years old and got 318.5 hours
Maddie found out about the TEAM CHA Program through her riding instructor Wendy Schenkel and her mom Janna Mugnola. Maddie leases an Oldenberg 10-year-old gelding. She show jumps him and does English flat work and competes in open area shows. Maddie has been riding for seven years now. “I love the special bond I have with my horse,” says Maddie. “One day I want to own my own horse and keep competing and possibly even teach riding one day.”
To earn all of these points, Maddie went out to the barn more and did more chores such as cleaned stalls, watered and fed the horses and cleaned tack. Maddie also helped instructors with their chores and she took more lessons from her teacher and others including Pony Club instructors.
Maddie will be in 8th grade this fall at St. Mary’s. Basketball and hanging out with her friends are the other things she likes to do besides ride. Maddie is one of the only students at her school that does horseback riding.
- Emma Richardson of Brantford, Ontario Canada is 11 years old and earned 219.75 hours
- Evangeline Windmill of Coldstream, Ontario Canada is 15 years old and had 211.5 hours
- Hannah Singer of Stevens Point, WI is 12 years old and earned 197 hours
- Ben Johnston of Inzerary, Ontario Canada is 13 years old and got 188 hours
Remember, with your TEAM CHA youth membership, you are automatically enrolled in the Horse Connection Reward Program. This program is just for youth members and credits you for your work with horses and/or learning about them. You do not have to own your own horse to participate or even ride. Just have a love for them and want to know more about them! You will keep track of the hours you spend doing different horse-related activities and when you reach the milestone of 100 hours – you will earn a super prize! Email CHA or call 800-399-0138 to get your enrollment form today and start keeping track of your 2007 hours with learning about and being with horses!
CHA Mall
CHA has recently affiliated with Shop For Charity Day, Inc. (SFCD), a company whose purpose is to raise money for non-profit organizations. SFCD has provided CHA with a complimentary customized Mall which has 1,000+ stores offering millions of products and services. Their motto, which is now ours is, "If it can be bought, it can be bought on our Mall." But here is the best part. Up to 50% or more of every purchase comes right back to CHA at no additional cost to the buyer.
Think what an impact it would make if you shopped, and/or if you shared our Mall website with family and friends. As more and more people shop online and realize their shopping can make a difference -- the potential is impressive.
Will you help? We're asking you to shop on the CHA Mall. Whether you are buying books, going out to eat, paying for insurance, traveling, or buying clothes you can find what you are looking for. And every purchase really makes a difference!
Thank you for your support! Visit the CHA Mall today and start shopping to raise money for our association. Thank you!
In Sympathy
CATHY DAGGETT: Long time CHA member, Cathy (Catherine B.) Daggett, 71, died in May from injuries suffered when she was struck by a car in an accident. Cathy was an avid CHA supporter and a retired equestrian studies professor from Houghton College in New York. She also spoke at CHA International Conferences. She was well known in the northeast as a breeder of very high quality sport horses. Her special passion was hunters, and she produced many fine Thoroughbreds and Trakehner show hunters over the years. She was a graduate of Alfred University, with a degree in Fine Arts. She generously donated her time and expertise (and her wonderful sense of humor) first as a judge and clinician, then as a professor (for 10 years) to Houghton College. She also donated many facility improvements and expansions, and equipment to Houghton College Equestrian Center. Cathy was a great role model, and influenced many young people in the development of good character. She will be greatly missed.
STEPHEN BOWERS: 52, of Fort Collins, Colorado died unexpectedly in June of a brain aneurism. Steve was born in Thurmont, MD and raised on a horse and cattle farm. Steve moved to Colorado in the 1970s and built a business training horses with his brother. In 1982, he married his soul mate, Peggy Warner and together they built their home and life north of Fort Collins. Steve was the proud father of two children, Katie and Nathan Bowers. Steve was very well known in the horse industry and spent many a happy hour working with his horses. He trained all kinds of horses but was best known for his work with draft and driving horses - publishing two books and producing three videos on the subject. He enjoyed traveling the country and teaching clinics on horse training with his son. Steve was very active on the CHA Driving Committee and participating as a speaker at CHA International Conferences on driving and harnessing. Steve died doing what he loved, and he led a very blessed life.
CHA at the American Horse
Council Meeting in Washington, DC
CHA President Pat Mullins and Executive Director Christy Landwehr attended the American Horse Council’s 2007 National Issues Forum in Washington, DC. The event was a huge success, featuring dozens of respected speakers on important issues and opportunities to meet and mingle with federal legislators and regulators. More than 150 people gathered at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel from June 17 to 19, to participate in committee meetings, attend panels on different topics and socialize with other attendees and Congressional staffers. << read more AHC >>
“I'm very excited to be writing for
Certified Horsemanship Association
this summer,” says Tabatha. “There is nothing
better than getting to combine two of
my great passions; horses and writing.
Hopefully you will see my name in the
bylines of other equine publications
in the future.” - Tabatha Gullikson,
Editorial Intern
- Newest CHA Sponsor, HMG,
Publisher of "Perfect Horse"
Above, Maggie Mugnola, top winner!!!
Stephen Bowers
Sponsor Highlight
Benefits of the Cross-Under Bitless Bridle
:: By Dr. Robert Cook
I am proud that my company, The Bitless Bridle Inc. is sponsoring CHA. Our objectives are so compatible that the ‘marriage’ might have been made in horse heaven. For 57 years, I have been a veterinary surgeon and teacher, with a research focus on the horse’s head. Eight years ago, my research spawned a product and I became a salesman. I declare this conflict unashamedly as I know that I am doing more to help horses and riders now than at any previous time.
Before you assume that the product is snake-oil, please read an independent opinion from Dr. Jessica Jahiel’s newsletter archives that contains the quote, “By giving up the use of the bit, you don't sacrifice any control…” Click Here for More Info. See also her article “What is this new Bitless Bridle?”
<< read more Sponsor Highlight >>
Benefit to CHA Certified Instructors
A personal benefit of CHA membership now available with the new partnership is that CHA Certified Instructors can purchase the new bridle and the book ‘Metal in the Mouth’ at a 15% discount. Simply call toll free 866-235-0938 and quote your membership number. In this way, you can supplement your income while solving problems. Each bridle comes with a comprehensive manual. Technical support and advice is provided free of charge by phone or via email.
As a further benefit you are invited to download copyrighted articles and other handout material from the Bitless Bridle website and, with acknowledgment, use these items in your educational programs and publications. Once you have become an experienced user of the CBB and have studied ‘Metal in the Mouth’ and other scientific articles, even though you may still instruct on bitted bridles as well, you become eligible to apply for appointment as a Bitless Bridle Instructor and style yourself as such on your business literature. I look forward to working with you to advance safety and education in the horse industry.
About the Author: Dr. Robert Cook, FRCVS., PhD., Professor of Surgery Emeritus of Tufts University, Massachusetts, is a veterinarian who, for most of his career since graduating from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 1952, has been a faculty member of clinical departments at schools of veterinary medicine in the UK and USA. He is the author of two books for horsemen, Specifications for Speed in the Racehorse: The Airflow Factors, and Metal in the Mouth: The Abusive Effects of Bitted Bridles.
Bugs Be Gone!
As soon as summer comes, one of the most common questions I am asked is "what insect repellent do you use?” Well the answer is not that simple. Living in the mountains of Colorado we have nasty deer flies that bite....hard! For this situation, mountain trail rides, I mix one part household Pinesol with two parts mineral oil then cut the mixture with a little water. This I spray on the horses’ tail, legs and chest and have found this mixture to be the best on the nastiest flies. Not natural you say? If you have ever been bitten by deer flies, you'll use it until you find something "natural" that works. After the ride, I hose the horse down to prevent build up.
When needing an insect repellent around a wound or bandage I mix one tablespoon of tea tree oil in 3/4-1 cup of water and spray the area. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and natural insect repellent. This works great around ears (keep out of the eyes) and bandages as well. Speaking of ears, you know that white crusty stuff that forms in the ears during the summer? Mix one tablespoon of tea tree oil with four tablespoon's of liquefied Vaseline and stir well. Allow the mixture to harden and put a little bit in the ears every other day and it will clear up the condition in a month or so and act as a repellent as well. Be careful not to put too much in as it may drip into the ear canal when it is warmed.
NATURAL
FLY SPRAY RECIPES:
:: From Mary Brennan, DVM, author of Complete Holistic Care and Healing for Horses: The Owner's Veterinary Guide to Alternative Methods and Remedies.
Recipe #1
1/2 teaspoon oil of myrrh
2 cups water
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon of citronella oil
:: From the Dressage Today staff. (Many of the ingredients can be found at natural food stores.)
Recipe #2
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups cold (prepared) tea,
such as sage or chamomile tea
20 drops eucalyptus oil
20 drops citronella oil
10 drops lavender oil
10 drops tea tree oil
10 drops cedar oil
20 drops emulsifier,
such as polysorbate 20
Question:
I have been helping out a few local barns in my spare time by teaching a few riding lessons. The students I have been teaching are mostly beginners, Level 1-2. I have been attempting to get them to use snaffle bits instead of leverage bits such as Thom Thumbs and Kimberwickes to prevent safety issues because of the horse/rider combinations I am seeing. Several of the horses are young, semi-green, and high-headed in nature. Several of the riders have uneducated hands and tend to use their reins for balance.
What I am beginning to see are snaffle bits with curb straps and curb chains attached. Sometimes the straps are above the reins, so when they pull back the reins catch on the strap. Some of them are very tight, and some are extremely loose to the point of coming under the chin. When I asked why they use the straps, I found the overriding answer is just because other people do, but they don't know what purpose it serves. My approach to them was that, at the level of the rider, it is unnecessary, and if not correctly attached it becomes a safety issue. My experience with Western Riding tells me that the main reason for a strap is to keep the bit from being pulled through the horse's mouth if there is no cavesson and the horse tends to gape its mouth to evade the pressure of the bit. The barn has asked for a "Professional" opinion, so I am asking yours.
~ Susan Berger from Camp Hebron in Harrisburg, PA
Answer: << read answer to On The Rail >>
Click here for the current list of regional directors and contact them for information about upcoming regional conferences and other information.
Region 3 (MN, WI, W. Ontario, Upper MI, IA, IL)
November 11, 2007 in Franksville, Wisconsin. $25.00 includes lunch. Email Kathy Findley or call her at (262) 895-6978 to register today.
Chain it Right
As someone who used to do this, it makes me cringe when I see people run the chain on a chain shank through the bottom ring and clip it back on the chain creating a loop. If your horse puts his head down, he could get a hoof through the loop which would be a very dangerous situation. Clip the chain onto the bottom ring when you are not using it under or over the nose. ~
Tabatha Gullikson, WI
The Light is on, But No One is Home!
The barn manager where I teach has a terrible habit of leaving candles burning in her office and it drives me crazy! First, we all know that fire is a significant hazard in a barn and the consequences are dire. Secondly, what kind of example are you setting for your clients and students if you so blatantly disregard the fire danger for your own sense of pleasure? If it is okay to light a candle and leave it unattended in your office, why isn't it okay to smoke in the barn? In my book, the risk is not worth the gain and the example you set is potentially deadly. Please, use your candles at home and use good sense in the barn! ~
Cheryl Lee, CO
No Rubbing
It can be dangerous and annoying when people do not teach their horse to respect the handlers’ space. Do not let a horse rub their head on you after removing their bridle. You can give them a rub on your terms, but allowing them to rub on you shows a lack of respect. I have seen people knocked over when their horse head-butted them after removing the bridle. This can be especially dangerous with children. When handling your horse, do not allow them to come too close into your personal space unless you invite them in. If they get too close, ask your horse to back up or move over. Your horse will start to see you as the leader instead of someone they can literally walk all over.
~
Tabatha Gullikson, WI
TEACH
Tape It
Do your students ride with their hands way up in the air? Are you always telling them to “Put you’re your hands down!” Try this - tell them you will tape their hands to the horse’s neck. Now of course you would never really do this because it is not safe, but you could put a small piece on the top of the rider’s hand to remind them. I have seen instructors that after a week of working with the same students simply say “tape” to the students and the hands come right down. ~ Beth Powers
HERD
Get Them Caught!
There's nothing worse than being on a tight lesson schedule and not able to catch one of the lesson horses. Try walking up to the horse, advancing and then retreating. Avoid eye contact or confrontational body language. Acting like a predator will make the horse more likely to run away. If the horse is still hard to catch, try bringing a can of grain out to shake. The last thing I've tried that always works is to make the horse want to be caught. As the horse turns away from you use a lounge whip or your voice and aggressive body language to keep the horse moving away from you. Really make them move. They should be at least trotting. Try catching them again and if it does not work get their feet moving again. Keep repeating this until the horse figures out it is less work to be caught then to run around the field all day. ~
Tabatha Gullikson
TACK
Clean those Bits!
Most horse people hate cleaning tack as much as they hate cleaning stalls. Bits can be hard to keep clean, especially if grass or hay is dried on the bit. After each ride, try to wipe off any debris and slobber from the bit. It is easier to clean the bit when wet, rather than trying to scrub caked on grass and saliva. If you are pressed for time simply dip the bit part of your bridle in a nearby water bucket to remove most of the grime. When you want to really clean up and polish your bits, Listerine mouth wash is a miracle. The Listerine disinfects, polishes, easily removes caked on debris and makes the bit tastier for your horse. ~ Tabatha Gullikson
LINGO
Yielding
A term that is frequently used but seldom defined. This term refers to the horse giving to pressure, whether it is physical pressure or mental. We train horses to move away from pressure rather than move into it. For instance, when we put pressure from both legs on the horse, he moves forward and away from the pressure. When we put one leg on the horse, he turns and/or moves sideways, away from the pressure. But yielding can also be in response to your authority. A subordinate, respectful horse will move out of your space if you move into him, yielding to your authority and status in the herd. This is one of the major indications of subordinance. Yielding is important, whether the horse is yielding to your leg, giving to pressure on the bit, or to yielding your authority. If he is not yielding, chances are you have a problem! ~ Julie Goodnight
“Hanging High and Dry”
The Incident
Cheryl loved Sunday mornings at the barn. If she got there early enough, it was quiet and peaceful, no other boarders to bother her, no dogs and kids running crazy. Some of her best rides happened at this time and a Sunday morning ride was the highlight of her week.
As usual, Cheryl got her mare out, groomed and tack and decided to ride in the arena and do some specific schooling on some of the maneuvers she had been trying to learn. The barn was some distance from the owner’s house and the only other person around was the Charlie, who was in the back barn cleaning stalls. She virtually had the whole place to herself.
There was a little chill in the air this early in the morning so Cheryl was dressed in her favorite barn jacket, a fleece-lined, nylon shell zip-up. After a lovely ride, Cheryl sat on her horse, reflecting on the great things they were achieving. She was riding Western this morning and without thinking Cheryl dropped both feet from the stirrups and vaulted off her horse, as she was accustomed to in the English saddle.
As she swung her leg over the horse’s rump, she leaned forward, snagging the bottom of her jacket on the horn. By the time she realized what had happened, she was already hanging by her jacket from her 15.3 hand horse. Fortunately, Cheryl had done hours of ground work with her mare, so the horse stood perfectly still, even though having a human attached to her and hanging was a new and somewhat disconcerting feeling to the mare.
Cheryl hung for a few moments, with her toes barely able to touch the ground, but not enough to bear her weight. She immediately realized the dangerous predicament she was in and could visualize the outcome, should her mare decide to spook. First she tried to get enough contact with the ground to jump up and release herself; to no avail. Then she tried calling Charlie, yelling repeatedly as loudly as she could; again to no avail. Realizing that she was in an extremely dangerous and precarious position, Cheryl recognized that she was going to have to rescue herself; no one else was coming to her aid. Suddenly she missed the normal hustle and bustle of a regular day at the boarding barn.
Next, Cheryl spied an old bale of hay in the corner of the arena and she toyed with the idea of trying to get her horse to walk over to the hay bale so she could stand on it. But even though Cheryl had done plenty of groundwork with this horse and her manners were impeccable, she was reluctant to ask the mare to move, realizing that once movement began, she might not be able to control it. So she abandoned the hay bale as a possible means of escape.
Then it occurred to Cheryl that if she could unfasten the cinch, the saddle would slide off and release her jacket. She tried and tried to get this accomplished but since she had one hands on the reins to control the horse if she should try to move, and she was not willing to release that grip, she was unable to make any progress with the cinch.
Finally Cheryl realized that she had no way out and she knew that she couldn’t wait forever for someone to appear, sensing that the mare was starting to get impatient. With one last effort, knowing that it could make the difference in whether or not she lived to tell this tale, Cheryl made one last attempt to jump up and clear the jacket from the horn. Miraculously it worked and Cheryl’s’ feet hit the ground solid; she was once again free to stand on her own two feet and she had escaped a near-disaster.
For a list of upcoming CHA clinics by location and date,
click here.
©2007 All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue expressly forbidden without written permission of the publisher/editor: Certified Horsemanship Association, 4037 Iron Works Parkway Suite 180, Lexington, KY 40511, 859-259-3399.
The Instructor is published four times a year by the Certified Horsemanship Association, Lexington, KY (2 printed and 2 electronic issues). The Instructor accepts submissions of manuscripts, photographs and drawings or an exclusive basis. However, the publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Submission does not guarantee publication. Materials cannot be returned unless accompanied by a SASE. Products and advertising included in The Instructor do not constitute endorsement by CHA, its board of directors, the magazine or its staff or specific products or information provided by the manufacturers.
CHA MISSION: The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education throughout the horse industry. CHA serves leaders, instructors and riding program directors for youth associations, clubs, riding stables, camps, colleges and recreational programs with instructor and trail guide certification. CHA also publishes industry standards for group riding programs, accredits riding program facilities and provides the most comprehensive variety of program resources for instructional and recreational riding programs.