REPORT FROM Equitana!
www.silversand.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252%3Afirst-day-of-the-way-of-the-horse&catid=44%3Asilversand-news&Itemid=90The Way of the Horse Equitana 2010
The Way of the Horse
The Way of the Horse was introduced at Equitana in 2005 and a similar competition has also been run in the USA for a number of years. Some of the well-known names in horsemanship have taken part, and won, the event.
Guy McLean won the competition in 2005 and Dan James, from Double Dan Horsemanship, was the winner in 2008.
The Way of the Horse, according to the Equitana website, is the ‘ultimate challenge’. It says:
Incorporating both education and entertainment, this challenge is nothing short of the ultimate display of human ability.
It demonstrates for a trainer to interact with an unstarted/ unbroken horse on a level the average person can only imagine. Three contestants demonstrate their methods of connecting with an unbroken horse over two days. Each trainer has an opportunity to select a young unbroken horse and show the unique method they use to make a connection enabling trust, respect and amazing progress in what the horse is prepared to do for its trainer. It is judged based on how much progress each trainer achieves just in three sessions.
The Way of the Horse, proudly supported by Ariat, was initially introduced into the EQUITANA's programme in 2005. It has proved to be a highly successful and fascinating contest that not only showcases the different styles of horsemanship but also educate and entertain a large crowd of spectators.
Steve was accepted as a contestant for the Way of the Horse 2010 almost 12 months before the event. One of the organisers, Sandi Simons, came out to Blanchetown to watch him working with a young, unstarted filly and told him that he would be taking part.
Choosing the horse
On the Tuesday before the competition, Steve went with the other two contestants, Chad Brady and Adam Sutton, to choose the horses for The Way of the Horse. Steve said “I picked two brand numbers out of the hat and could choose between those two horses. Both horses were geldings, but I didn’t know much else about them. All the horses were 4 years old and had been running together on the stud, pretty much unhandled apart from being branded, gelded and wormed. I had to choose based on my own criteria. Two of the things I considered were whether the horse would be able to carry my weight and whether my saddle would fit!”
How did the horses get to Equitana?
The horses were herded onto a lorry at the stud and brought to Equitana on Saturday morning. They stayed in the lorry with feed and water until the start of the competition at 4pm. The arena had been set up with 3 round yards and as each horse was let out of the lorry, David Simons who was riding a horse in the arena, encouraged the horse to follow him into the allotted round yard. It was done in a sensitive and calm way and the horses had a few minutes to check out their surroundings.
What about the gear?
We watched over the edge of the stands as the gear was inspected before the event to make sure it was acceptable, girths and cinches studied and saddles checked.
Chad had masses of gear, balls, tarps, sticks, flags and a plastic ‘crush’ in case he wasn’t able to catch the horse. Adam had less gear, but his round yard was set out with a few poles so that when he was working with his horse, the horse had to go over the poles. Steve chose to keep it simple and had his halter and 45’ line to start with!
There were 3 judges sitting at the side of the arena, watching all the action including Ian Francis one of the great names in reining.
Sandi Simons was commentating and told us the names of the horses. Steve’s horse is called ‘Myth’ and we watched enthralled as these 3 ‘unhandled’ horses met their handlers for the first time.
What techniques did Steve use?
Steve worked much as he always does, with the needs of the horse uppermost in his mind. He used some approach and retreat to get the horse’s attention and the horse looked as though he was going to hook on. He changed his mind though, and Steve took out the 60’ line. He started to swing, the loop getting longer and longer, ready for the throw. He caught the horse around the neck with his first attempt! Phew!
With the rope around the horse’s neck, Steve was able to have more influence. Not as much as he would have perhaps if he had a halter on the horse, but he was working well. The horse accepted the energy of the rope over his head and didn’t run off or buck when the rope went around the far side and he felt it on his hind legs. Great information for Steve for later on.
Although they say these are ‘unhandled’ horses, they have been branded, gelded and wormed. Therefore most of their handling has been negative. This horse showed how he felt about that when Steve went to touch his face ready to put on the halter. Myth was not willing to accept Steve’s hand around his face at all.
Steve worked on that for a bit, got a positive response and took a break.
How were Chad and Adam doing?
Chad was able to get on his horse on the first day but Adam had trouble catching his horse in a similar way to Steve. He worked softly and sensitively in a way that wasn’t stressing the horse any more than necessary.
Time Out
Each contestant had to give the horse a 5 minute break and everyone decided to give the 5 minutes all in one go. Chad stopped when his horse had the saddle on. Adam found a place to quit for a while too – and Steve was working on having the horse accept his head being touched, so he stopped at a point where the horse had allowed him to touch his head.
Second Session
Steve continued to work on handling the head. The 5 minute break had given Steve time to think too – and when he went back into the round yard, there was still some difficulty but we saw Myth pull on Steve’s sleeve and then rest his head on Steve’s shoulder! They were lovely moments.
Working for tomorrow
Steve and Adam showed how they were working with the horse for tomorrow. These first few lessons are building the foundations for this horse’s future and they need to be solid – and good.
If the horse is resistant in some way (such as being touched on his head) and that resistance isn’t dealt with, it will stay in there. If it stays in there, then there’s a gap in the horse’s education and understanding. Like all foundations, if you miss out a bit here and a bit there at some stage, what you have built will fall apart!
These horses needed a friend today, someone they could turn to, literally, in their hour of need. Someone who could be trusted, someone who would keep them out of trouble, someone to follow, someone who understands where they’re coming from!
Feedback from the crowd
People went out of their way to come across to the booth and tell us how much they’d liked the way that both Adam and Steve handled the horses during the contest.
Day Two The Final
The horses were brought to the arena on the truck and let out, one at a time into the arena, which was set up in the same way as the day before, with 3 round yards. Steve was on the end, Adam in the centre and Chad at the furthest end away from the entrance.
Steve had been thinking about how best to help his horse and announced that he would start the horse for free if someone bought him today. Once the horse was ready to be caught, actually putting the halter on was really quick – the horse almost did it himself!
Adam and Steve were working alongside one another and going at about the same speed. Where Chad had been riding his horse yesterday, today it was Adam and Steve who were making headway, rather like the story of the hare and the tortoise!
Steve got the halter on and so did Adam. Steve put the saddle on and so did Adam. Adam got on and so did Steve!
We all enjoyed the lessons in horsemanship and learnt a lot from all 3 contestants. Sometimes it’s good to see what you don’t like as well as what you do like!
Horses were unsaddled and the contestants held their horses while the arena was changed around.
Instead of 3 round pens, they moved everything so that there was just one arena with all the obstacles in it.
The Obstacles
The arena was laid out with a range of obstacles which each contestant needed to negotiate. They had to say what they were attempting so that we all knew in advance.
Chad went first, the Adam and then Steve. Each contestant had 15 minutes to saddle the horse and attempt the tasks.
Saddle and bridle the horse
Pick up all four feet
Go over a low jump
Go over poles on the ground
Go over a tarp
Pull a bale of hay
Weave in and out of some cones
Steve was the last one to go into the arena. He took the opportunity to talk about what he was doing and why he was doing it. His horse was very calm and relaxed about most of the tasks and Steve was confident in his riding. The horse didn’t buck once!
He spoke about Adam too “Who’d like to have a horse started by Adam?” he asked and added “I would” as he put up his hand.
It was a tough one to call between Adam and Steve – they’d both done a great job. Steve’s horse was probably calmer and more relaxed, but Adam had covered more of the tasks.
In the end, Adam was chosen as the winner and congratulations go to him for doing a great job in a calm and caring manner.
After the event, Steve went back to the booth and was signing shirts, DVDs, caps – and even people’s bodies! “I’ve signed my name more times today than I have in my whole life” he said.
HorseRush TV filmed the whole event and will be visiting all the contestants to get their thoughts about the work they've done over the last couple of days. A woman from WA bought both Adam’s horse and Steve’s horse and will be bringing Myth to Blanchetown for starting in about 12 months time. She is delighted with the work that Steve’s done and likes his style.
As for Steve, he said “I’m delighted with the way things have gone and very pleased that Myth has a good home. He’s going to have a great life!”
