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Outside the Arena
Counter Canter With
Garry Stauber |
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The Evil Trainer |
by Garry Stauber |
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I teach many different levels of clients. But because of my experience with the overcoming fear clinics, I have many clients |
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who are a little fearful or anxious. The length of time they have been working with me usually determines the amount of anxiety they have. But I have several students who have overcome their fears and are doing wonderfully. Some are now cantering or loping in the arena and on the trail and some are even doing so bareback. Some have gone on to do parades, search and rescue, cutting, endurance and horse camping.
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Working with those who are trying to overcome their fear requires sensitivity, honesty, and choosing the correct words carefully. Though I have acquired some of these skills, I don't come by the latter easily. In fact, I have to fight back some pretty good jokes that come to mind with these clients.
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One of my clients has a great sense of humor and is progressing wonderfully. The last few weeks she has been learning to lope bareback and
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has even ridden with no hands while loping on the lunge line. Her confidence has soared as have her skills. |
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Lately with her, sarcasm has re-entered my vocabulary. Like when she said to me, "Can you ride him first? I want to make sure he has the hump out." I replied, "Are you nuts? I don't wanna get bucked off." After riding the horse I stopped him abruptly and said, "You'd better get on now, he is starting to act up." Of course, I cannot use these horrible jokes with everyone. But in some ways it is great to see how far this student and others have come.
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Like when a new horse arrives and a student says, "Oh, can I ride this horse? What's his name?" "Bucky," I usually reply. "But it's not a buckskin, why that name?" they ask. I reply, "Hmmm, I don't know. Why don't you ride it first?"
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My all-time favorite is when a client climbs on the horse and simultaneously asks, "Does this horse ever buck?" I say "No" quickly, until they sit firmly in the saddle. "Not unless the person is wearing pink," I say as I slowly look at the client. Then I gasp, "Oh, noooo... you're wearing pink!" |
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Of course these jokes are insensitive and juvenile. So it is probably good that I don't use them too much. Well, I gotta get the next horse ready for its client. Does this horse buck? No, not even. Well, she hasn't so far today.
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Read comments or post your own comments to this article at the bottom of this page. |
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Garry rode the length of California on horseback with a packhorse in 2003. The trip took 3 1/2 months and covered 1350 miles. Upon completion of this trip, Garry became a member of The Long Riders Guild. Now he is President of the Ohlone Riders Unit of the Backcountry Horsemen of California. He is a horse trainer and NARHA Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. As a member of the Wilderness Rider Program, Garry is a trained and certified instructor and spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service, National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Game Department and Backcountry Horsemen of California. He is an equestrian writer and has had over 100 articles published in 15 magazines. Garry is Chairman of the Board of The DreamPower Foundation, which provides equine therapy to children and adults with mental and emotional problems. In 2004, Garry retired from a 20 year career as an Executive in Silicon Valley. |
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Copyright © 2008 All rights reserved. The above article is the property of the Author and may not be duplicated or redistributed in any way without permission. |
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Reader comments for this article |
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Name: Kim Time: 2008-05-03 16:05:50
Comment: I have been looking for a trainer who works with adults who have lost their convidence in riding. Does Gary still give this type of lessons? If so, in what area? I live in Escalon, CA and would like information about locations that offer this type of training. Thank you.
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