 A Non-Profit Organization PO Box 47 Zimmerman, MN 55398 (763) 856-3119 |
||||||||||||
The Challenge | The Trainers and Students | Event Information Friday, August 14 One benefit of being involved with MHARF's Trainer's Challenge is the great people I get to meet. For example, six year-old Taylor, nine year-old Makenna, and twelve year-old Mikaela came to visit and ride Tana last week. They returned today for another visit and today we even got Jeanine (mom of Taylor and Makenna) up on Tana also. Mikaela and Makenna have some riding experience and handled Tana like seasoned pros. Today wasn't Taylor's first time on a horse, but it was the first time she rode all by herself. Taylor did a great job with Tana. I was impressed with all the girls' natural riding abilities. Taylor plans to be famous one day, so if you bump into her at the Trainer's Challenge next weekend, be sure to ask for her autograph.
Saturday, August 8 For this update, I asked the folks who have interacted with Tana to send me some feedback about their experience with her. Here is their comments in their own words. Enjoy!
Sunday, August 2 Though not a timid or 'spooky' horse, Tana is cautious and prefers to have a little time to adjust to changes in her environment, new experiences, and new places - though she is 100% accepting of new people in any situation. I won't have the opportunity to haul Tana to any public events prior to the Trainer's Challenge, so August 22 will be a BIG day for Tana and I won't be surprised if she is a bit apprehensive and lacks the typical confidence that she normally displays. We have 3 weeks before the Challenge, if you are interested in adopting Tana , I strongly encourage you to visit her here on my farm to get a true sense of the horse Tana is. Tana has not had a single visitor or rider that has expressed anything short of sheer delight about their time with her. I will gladly bring Tana home with me after the event and keep her for a week and offer her adopter lessons prior to taking her home so you'll know exactly how she has been trained and what she is accustomed to and expects. There will be no fees for lessons or the one week of board as I just want to ensure Tana gets off to a great start in her new home. Tuesday, July 28 THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM TANA
I'm extremely grateful for being offered this opportunity to learn about and experience the TWH breed and even more grateful to have such an outstanding example of a TWH to be the one teaching me. My time with Tana so far has been more of an educational co-op between Tana and I then the typical "horse in training" experience. Tana has been very patient and forgiving with me as I fumble through new areas that are obviously quite natural for her. Thank you, Tana. Monday, July 20 I gave Phoenix his first two lessons at his home on his own horse. Tonight he came to my farm and Tana was put to work for 10 year old Phoenix's third riding lesson. Phoenix is a great student and Tana was a great lesson horse for him. When asked if he wanted his next lesson at home or at my place with Tana, Phoenix didn't hesitate in saying he wanted to come back and ride Tana again.
Sunday, July 5 Tana and I headed off to the park today. It was her first ride to the park bitted and her second solo trail ride. She started out a little hesitant but was soon into the swing of things. I still haven't convinced Tana water puddles aren't lethal but the 'princess' will get her her feet muddy now. We encountered other riders going in the opposite direction several times. On one meeting, Tana backed 20 feet so we could find a spot to move off the narrow trail. Tana stood quietly as the unfamiliar horses passed by. Tana would have preferred to turn around and follow the other horses, but proceeded when asked without any problems. Though not yet proficient and consistent , Tana is improving every day with her neck reining. Saturday, July 4 So far all training with Tana has been in a padded side pull. I've asked her for more speed at times to gage her reactions and to test her 'whoa' and her responsiveness at higher speeds. I have never before experienced a horse with so many gaits! But then again, I've never been on a TWH before Tana either. From a flat walk, to an amble, running walk, trot, broken pace, pace, correct canter, cross canter, canter on front and running walk on back, and several others that I'm not even sure what she's doing.... I never know quite what to expect from her when only asking for more speed. With bit training starting, I'll also be able to begin gait training soon. With Tana, it won't involve teaching her to perform any gaits but rather which gaits I WANT her to perform. I'll be focusing on walk, correct canter and the smoothest 4 beat gait she has. I certainly won't be allowing pace or trot. Tana has remained barefoot up to this point and has shown no indication of needing hoof protection. We went on a 4 1/2 hour ride last weekend over all types of footing, including heavily graveled road and Tana was just as sure footed when we got home as when we left. Nor did she show any signs of fatigue. Wednesday, 1 July Tana is ready and available for test rides on my farm. As a matter of fact, she has already been visited and rode by 4 people and 2 of them had no previous riding experience. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks Tana will progress to the point where I will be comfortable allowing people to take Tana on trail rides. I will be accompanying anyone taking Tana off my farm. If at all possible, I strongly urge anyone considering adoption to take the time to visit and spend time with any horse you are interested in prior to the Challenge Event Aug 22. Also, getting approved for adoption well in advance of August 22 will be a great help to the MHARF staff who will be very busy with final preparation in the days preceding the Challenge Event. Even if you haven't definitely decided to adopt, but are considering it, already being approved will be one thing less to concern yourself with while making your final decision. Monday, June 29 Mitchell sends along some new photos of Tana (aka Princess) during their lessons together!
Tuesday, June 23 Tana went out on her first entirely solo trail ride today and did great. She is still not 100% confident at all times in the closed wooded areas like she is in the open, but has done better on each ride. She still doesn't like mud or water, but is getting better with it. On today's ride ( her 4th trail ride) the only 'spook' came from me. A biker snuck up behind us. Tana didn't react but it did catch me off guard..... Tana enjoys getting sprayed down with the hose after hot rides now and enjoys a drink from the hose. I've also used electric clippers on her bridle path, legs, face, muzzle, and jowls, but we're still working on getting to her ears. Tana also trailer loads without any issues. I'll get some new pitcures soon. Wednesday, June 17 I received a copy of Tana's pedigree. My research does indicate Tana is very well bred. A Tennessee Goldust granddaughter ( sire) and Tennessee Goldust gr grddaughter (dam). Go Boy's Shadow( sire) and GLL's Carbon Copy ( dam) both appear in the 4th generation and are both World Grand Champions. Other "known" names present are Heir's Royal Drifter( 4th gen /dam) and Pride's Generator ( 3rd gen/ sire). I'd be happy to supply her full pedigree upon request to those familiar with TWH bloodlines. Sire is Generator's Myo Mr. Lad-JJ (987245/PA) and dam is Dusty's Ms. Zora JJ (19911056/BL) > Back to the Trainers and Students Sunday, June 14 Tana has an impatient side to her. She tends to express boredom while tied , in hand, or under saddle by 'pawing' the air with a front foot. Ignoring her or standing around doing nothing for too long, are reasons the 'princess' feels the need to express herself. She accepts correction for this behavior and it has greatly diminished, but it is such a strong natural expression for her, she still occasionally forgets it's unacceptable behavior. Tana has been carrying a bit while riding on the farm, but still using the side pull for actual riding. We rode with two neighbors over to the park today. Half way through the ride Tana and I split off and finished the ride solo. She went on high alert once we split off but soon calmed and we had a nice ride home. Tana did spook at cyclist that snuck up behind us. She saw the next cyclists coming, stood and watched them closely, but otherwise didn't react to them. Even though there was an entire week between Tana's first and second trail ride, there was noticeable improvement. Being that Tana had worked up a good sweat a couple of times during our 3 hour trail ride, I figured it was time to introduce Tana to the water hose. Initially, she was convinced the water and the hose were quite deadly. But in true Tana fashion, with a little patience and by proving to her it was harmless ( by first spraying myself with the hose), she was soon standing while I hosed her entire body down. She even took a drink from the hose before I turned it off to scrape her down. Sunday, June 7 Overall I was very pleased with Tana's maiden voyage out into the world. She gave no notice to the traffic buzzing by at 55 mph on the way to the park. Tana wasn't happy about Amigo's slower pace and decided she was just fine leading the way for most of the time on the trails. Tana did spook in place a couple of times (once, for a turkey hidden in the brush), but made no effort to turn away or bolt. It was obvious by her often high state of awareness that all of this was new to her, but she handled crossing fallen trees, detouring through heavy brush around fallen trees, riding narrow trails with brush and branches reaching out to touch her, steep muddy hills, and deer without a problem. However , she did seem to have a big mistrust of the 'dangerous' boulders we encountered at trail gates. We identified areas that need work, but nothing that a little more time and experience on the trails won't remedy quickly. > Back to the Trainers and Students Monday, June 1
Tana is currently being ridden in a western saddle and a padded side pull. She doesn't mind a relaxing bareback ride either. Tana is willing to go any speed I ask for including canter and has a nice whoa. Later, when she is better conditioned and comfortable on the trails ( which is where I will do much of her physical conditioning) I'll introduce Tana to bits and collection.
Tana and I will be headed out on her first 2-3 hour trail ride at Murphy-Hanrehan on June 6th with Amigo (the pretty little pinto Lorna adopted at the 2008 Trainer's Challenge) and Lorna, which will also include riding along a busy paved road, a busy parking lot, wildlife, hikers, dogs, and other horse and riders. I'll let you know how it goes. Monday, May 25
She has shown no aggression towards any of her herd mates, but is not an easy push over if any of them try to bully her. She seems to have a "can't we all just get along" attitude with horses and people alike. Tana is very bright and level headed. She tends to stop and look at new situations that are initially concerning to her ( which so far have been few and far between). She also learns new things very quickly and willingly.Tana does gait at liberty in the pasture and even stepped out in gait for a few strides on my second time in the saddle. Tana's mane and forelock have been cut short and her tail hair has some damage ( possibly a bad case of burrs ? ) But considering the thickness of the mane and tail she has, I'd be surprised if she doesn't grow out a magnificent mane and tail if left to grow. My focus for Tana's initial training will be geared towards Tana becoming a safe family/trail horse. I welcome any inquiries about Tana and also extend an invitation for anyone to come visit Tana or even come watch her training sessions. I'll get some pictures posted soon. > Back to the Trainers and Students
About Mitchell Carson: While growing up on an Appalachian hill farm, Mitchell received his first pony when he was five years old and was training horses for others by the time he was 14 years old. Very active in 4-H during his teenage years, he graduated high school at 17 and from there began a five year stint in the military followed by five more years working as a traveling contractor. Aside from regular training, Mitchell also enjoys working with and training horses in rehabilitation - horses that have been severely abused or mishandled. His full-time riding horse is an 11 year-old, 15 hand Paso Fino that started out as one of those rehabilitation projects seven years ago and just became one of those "permanent" projects.
|
||||||||||||
Copyright © 2000-2009 Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation, Zimmerman MN USA |
||||||||||||
Tana continues to progress with her training. I have managed to figure out some of the things I was doing wrong, and Tana is now progressing with her gait training keep in mind, this is my first experience with a Tennesee Walking Horse, so Tana is not the only one learning...). 
Folks, if you're looking for a sweet natured loving horse for you children, your Great Grandma, or even your equine challenged husband, you do not want to let this beautiful 5 yr old mare pass you by. Brains, body, beauty, kind, willing, and affectionate. Plus she is naturally gaited. What more could you ask for? 
Aside from the basics , we've been doing physical conditioning on the steep hills of our pastures, on the longe line and in the arena. Tana hasn't been enthusiastic about working hard after 5 years of a life of leisure, but never refuses. We've also ventured down the dirt road next to the farm, solo and with other horses, where she passes through an old style covered wood bridge. The slow moving traffic we've encountered hasn't seemed to effect her at all, even when loud trailers full of landscaping equipment go rattling by. 
Tana, ( the TWH formerly known as Princess) seems to catch everyone's attention. With her pretty head, strong stout body and soft kind eyes, it's easy to understand why. Though not a spoiled pet, Tana is very people oriented and never hesitates to seek out attention from people. Tana was slowly introduced into the main herd here.