Training
Currently Chris has over 31 years of riding experience and 24 years of those training. I do everything from just starting 4-5 year olds, to re-working older horses with behavioral problems, to riding already started horses that need a "tune-up" or "trail experience", to the ones that have seen abuse and neglect and just need someone with time, patience and understanding to teach them to trust again.
In Chris' own words...
*Training Philosophies:
My training philosophies are pretty simple, I just keep trying until I find what works. Some people think that there is only One Way to do
things when it comes to horses, or any animal for that matter. And I'd say that that is probably one of the biggest untruths and consequently mistakes
of training horses. I have read about, watched videos and been to clinics that cover many different training methods and I have found that the more I
learn the more I have in my mental library to call on when the need arises. For some things, a lot of knowledge and creativity is required, for instance
when you are dealing with an abused horse or a horse with a certain behavioral problem. For other things, like just starting out a young horse who has been
treated fairly and kindly and has been handled consistently from birth, there are some prescribed steps you can follow to achieve the results you are
looking for. I suppose if there is one "trick", it is only to know when to try something different.
*Training Methods:
The methods I use center mainly around those of Clinton Anderson along with a mixture of humane techniques
I have picked up over the last almost 3 decades, but it all boils down to the same basic
premise I guess. I try to "communicate" with the horses in a way that
they can understand. Sometimes that varies for each horse.
Some people might call this Horse Whispering, Natural Horsemanship or
some other faddish name but to me it is just instinct. I have been around
horses most of my life and
so I just do what makes sense to me, and most of the time it makes
sense to them too.
I have learned about the methods of many people including but not limited to Monty Roberts, Pat Parrelli, Clinton Anderson, Micheal Pariseau
and John Lyons as well as read a multitude of articles in publications
such as Equus, Horse and Rider, Practical Horseman,
Western Horseman, Arabian Horse World and Arabian Horse Times to
name but a few. There are also a wide variety of books and videos
of varying degrees of usefulness and accuracy which I have weeded thru and read.
*Chosen Disciplines:
For the most part I have chosen to ride in the western "style" altho I ride in a hornless endurance saddle and often ride two handed as one often does with youngsters. I usually get the horse started out under saddle in a more confined area such as a round pen, arena or even the pasture. But as soon as possible I try to move out onto the trail where the bulk of our riding is done. The reason I do this is based on some experiences I had a number of years ago.
It was about 4 years ago when I took the stallion I had raised out on the trail, it was his second year under saddle and from the time he was a weanling I had ponied him from my other riding horses thus exposing him to everything I could think of (including swimming in the bay), and while I had not taken him on the trails much, I had taken him about three times.
This ride was something a bit different though, than even what he had experienced, this was a Competitive Trail Ride...a 10 mile "fun" ride.
About a month later I took him on another "fun" ride, this one a 15 miler. After these two rides, I found that my horse was more responsive to leg aids,
paid more attention to where he put his feet, and most surprising of all he suddenly "knew" how to neck-rein. These are only a few of the immediate changes I noticed, but as time went on
I noticed that he was less apt to refuse just about anything, was willing to "try" to go anywhere I asked and in general was a fantastic all-around riding horse.
I truly do credit a lot of this to trail riding. I have noticed in the years since that when I can take the horses out on the trail, regardless of their age, level of training, or previous experiences
I have been able to mold them into quieter, sounder-minded, all-around safer mounts for riders of all ages. I will not say that there is no place for other disciplines and other ways of training,
I simply have found what works for me and for achieving the results I am looking for. Other results requires other methods, other disciplines. That is why there is room for all of us.
Fees and Contact Info:
My training program is not just a one person affair, it is a family venture, so there is always someone to start a new horse. If you are interested in having a horse started, tuned-up or if you have a problem horse (we specialize in problem horses), then you can contact us at Black Horse Farms
Our fee is $400/month including board with a two month minimum for unstarted horses and problem horses, unless otherwise negotiated.
