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 Sunrise Farm

99 Windham Road • Pelham, New Hampshire 03076

603.635.7631 • sunrise_equine_farm@yahoo.com

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WINTER TRAINING PEP TALK with Mark

Well once again the warm weather has gone south for the winter and most of the professionals have also (gone to Florida) to train and compete. And once again those that are left ...have to deal with the foul weather... the cold, the ice and the snow.

We all know how much fun it is to go out and groom our horses while our toes are freezing on the isle floor (what fun!!!!). But keep brave my friends - all the intestinal fortitude has its rewards if we learn to work with the elements, and not work against them.

What can be learned by working in this cold, hand numbing weather???? Well... for one thing, we need to have a more accurate plan of what we are going to accomplish during our schooling! We can become focused on the planning of the schooling... and this is by far the most important aspect of a great trainers' schooling! The best trainers have a plan before they get on the horse; they mentally do there homework before mounting. The how's and the what if's in the questioning of the horses performance is automatic to a good trainer. But what if one has to do it themselves???

I always go back to my management training when I ask myself questions. The saying of "keep it simple stupid" is a great saying, and "do not pass go until you collect $200.00" are always great words to live by! Ask yourself, "is your training so simple that it always has to succeed?" Take the time and look at your horse's performance. Is your horse soft, calm and quite in all gates and all aspects of work? (oh... I love the Thoroughbreds... the best horse God ever made. Hot and fiery! I digress; sorry) OK, so what do I mean? Does your horse slow or come back to you when you use your slight squeeze release of your fingers? Do your transitions look effortless? Is your approach to the jump very calm and quite? Is your shoulder in a true three track? Does your horse perform the flying change softly and quietly?

Now we can fine tune our riding instead of forcing our horse's performance (I know everyone I have ever spoke to never does that). Ask yourself, then: Why does your horse have problems? The reason is because most people have rushed an aspect of the horses training. A hard mouth is because the half-halt was never properly taught. The horse's jaw was not educated to the softness of the hand. The key word is "EDUCATED"!!!!!! So do not just whine about the cold; be happy. It forces us to slow down for a moment. It forces us to really look at the education of our horse and perhaps... just perhaps... create a better working horse for us!

ride well and keep warm !

Mark Matyszyk

Owner - Trainer - Instructor

SUNRISE FARM

We'd love to hear what you think. Any comments, criticisms, suggestions, or praises are welcome at Sunrise_Equine_Farm@yahoo.com