Whoa Podcast About Horses Horsemanship

Leadership Coach Danielle Aamodt As a leadership coach, Danielle Aamodt wants us to strive to be our best selves. Danielle's superpower is in translating study-driven leadership practices. She breaks down the principles of leadership so everyone understands their job. When people are working toward a common goal, teamwork is essential to success. By relating the team aspect to horses in a herd, she can illustrate how to best accomplish common goals. Danielle Aamodt uses her communication skills to share her knowledge by offering consulting and online courses on a wide range of leadership and communication. Topics include leadership, Balanced Team Culture, Conflict Resolution, sportsmanship, and the art of hiring the right person. Links for Danielle Aamodt Enso Equine Services Contact Danielle: Danielle@ensoequine.com   Join Us on this Journey We want you to be a part of the show. Tell us about your horse. Share your challenges, triumphs, or just everyday items that make horse ownership unique. Create an aud

The Importance of a New Veterinarian How important is a newly graduated veterinarian to an established practice?I worked as a animal care technician in the 1970s and was lucky to see a few new grads added to the practices I worked at. They always brought a new energy to the practice, not to mention new styles and techniques. The established doctors gave them the experience of working outside an academic environment in exchange for the latest in veterinary practice. It is a great deal for both sides. The Golden Triangle of people important to your horse’s welfare are your veterinarian, farrier, and trainer. It’s essential you choose each one of these with care and consideration. I look for an experienced and knowledgeable veterinarian. I also wanted someone who offers more than one line of treatment when available. Last, I want a vet who understands the age and value of our horses and how we use‌ them, and adjust treatment options to fit our specific needs. Veterinary knowledge and diagnostic technology are a

New Bakersfield College Rodeo Team Formed You'd think as big as an agricultural, beef-producing county as Kern is, there would be rodeos all the time. And, in reality, there are. We've got the Tehachapi Mountain Rodeo Association producing bull riding, youth, and PRCA rodeos. There's the Glenville Rodeo and the Sheriff's Posse Rodeo. We have a Bakersfield Youth Rodeo Club. But, with all that, there was no community college rodeo. That is until adjunct professor, Andrea Prise, formed the Bakersfield college Rodeo Team. If you've listened much to the podcast, you already know I am one of the least knowledgeable people when it comes to rodeo. But, I wanted to learn more, and I've attended many classes at Bakersfield College over the years (a story for another time). I tracked down Andrea and the Bakersfield College Rodeo Team President, Chloe Griffiths for a chat. We met in a study room at BC and had a great time talking rodeo. Andrea and Chloe told me that support for the rodeo team was impressive. She's getti

Gabrielle Diakon and Equestrian Yoga We last visited with Gabrielle Diakon, Gabby, nearly two years ago amid quarantine and COVID. Gabby is still doing yoga for equestrians and working with horses. Now, she is podcasting. Gabrielle Diakon's Rolling My Third Eye Podcast is available on all podcast platforms. Her show focuses on equestrian mindfulness and deals with fear, anxiety, and many other issues competitive horse riders deal with. But, Gabby has also widened the show to include mediation, yoga, and connection outside of the equestrian world. Her philosophies help people deal with the problems life throws their way. We chat about many topics in this episode. The importance of journaling and how it can help focus. We talk about the power of creative visualization. Gabby is very open and willingly shares stories of her life and experience. Gabby holds online Yoga for Equestrians every Wednesday night at 7 PM central. Links Heard in the Show GET HALF OFF YOUR FIRST YOGA SESSION HERE GMD Training Website Fa

Cristobal Scarpati Horsemanship Cristobal Scarpati and I met at the 2014 Horseman Reunion in Paso Robles. There, among some of the top colt-starters of the time Buster McLaury, Trevor Carter, Mary Kitzmiller, Clayton Edsel, and Buddy Uldrickson, was Cristobal's father, Oscar. I was new to horsemanship and colt-starting. Oscar walked into the round pen with no equipment and no shoes. How was this trainer going to start this colt? Over the next three days, Oscar had his colt gentled and ready to ride. This year, his son, Cristobal Scarpati, travels to the U.S. to host a few exclusive clinics showing Scarpati Horsemanship. Cristobal's philosophy extends beyond the horse and into all aspects of life. He comes to share his knowledge about horses and life in his clinics. Cristobal is also available for private lessons.He is only in this country for a short time. Take this opportunity to see his work. Links Heard in the Show Wild Horse Diaries - Amber McGee The Wild Hope Website Event Page for Cristobal Scarpati Teh

Building Rider Confidence   Samantha Shanks-Husbands knows the importance of rider confidence. Once a rider loses confidence, especially an older rider, it is extremely difficult to get it back. Samantha works with equestrians of all ages and skill levels. Her techniques help riders focus on what is important. Breathing is especially important in her program. Samantha feels that proper breathing can lead to a calmer horse as well as relax a nervous rider. Another technique she uses is creative visualization. Seeing the outcome of your ride in your mind's eye, before the ride even occurs, can improve a rider's confidence. Another key to building rider confidence, Samantha believes, is groundwork. Working with your horse from the ground allows you to get to know and build a bond with your horse. Samantha talks about not being in a hurry to get on your horse if you are not a confident rider. Two of the influences Samantha credits for her interest are Mark Rashid and Philippa Unwin   Links Heard on This Episode

Johanna Sheehe and Equine Law Johanna Sheehe has a lifelong passion for horses. Growing up on a farm, Johanna began riding around age 5. Her experience is in the English disciplines. For most of her life, she has been around Arabians, half Arabians, and national show horses. Recently, she has learned to jump horses. But Johanna also has a passion for equine law and blended the two together. Her Florida law firm, Sheehe & Associates, P.A. , has 45 years of experience in insurance litigation. The firm’s attorneys handle equine law, first- and third-party insurance claims, and insurance coverage issues for clients at every level of state and federal court. Attorney Johanna Sheehe is a litigator at the firm, with experience representing corporations, insurance companies, and homeowners. She is an excellent resource for sharing her expertise in equine law. Johanna has been a featured guest in regional and national webinars. She has articles and interviews in Daily Business Review, Risk & Insurance, and L

Horseman Domenico Sumonte Domenico Sumonte considers himself more of a horse-Man than a horse trainer. I'm lucky enough to have an arena at the End of The Road Ranch where I can work my horses. One trainer that works out of this barn is Domenico Sumonte. In between working our horses, Dom and I struck up a friendship. In our casual conversations, I quickly learned Dom has experienced an exciting life with horses. I wanted to learn more about his life and philosophy. Dom is a self-taught horseman. He builds a relationship with a horse first. One technique Dom uses is to get the horses out on the trail first. The ag fields around the ranch provide a great working area. There is farm equipment, trash, and other things that help him "sack out" his horse. Riding is an adventure for Dom. Dom has ridden horses on the ancient roads of Rome. He has ridden in the mountains of Chile. One of Dom's favorite rides was the Pacific Crest Trail between Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert. I really love these conversations with

Along for the Ride Symposium Recap On the last week of February 2022, we traveled to the South Point Casino for the Along for the Ride Symposium Andrea Fappani, Shawn Flarida, and Nick Dowers. The brainchild of Andrea Fappani, this first-time event, brought together the leading money winners in reining with the express purpose of sharing ideas about horse training. The symposium featured the colt starting technique of 2-time Road to the Horse Champion, Nick Dowers. Nick started two colts up to their first ride. Watching and asking questions were Andrea Fappani and Shawn Flarida. Spectators not only asked questions, they got to see and hear how these very experienced horsemen reacted to each other.   The three-day event comprised day-long sessions from 8am until 4 PM. There were a few special guests, such as Arron Moses, champion Western Pleasure trainer. We got to see horses of varying ages and what they expected at different stages of their training. Nick Dowers, who competes n the Cow Horse world, demonstr

Sandy Collier, Hall of Fame Horsewoman Sandy Collier has an amazing life with horses. She was the first woman to win the Snaffle Bit Futurity. Her peers have inducted her into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and the NRCHA Hall of Fame. Horse and Rider named her one of the Top 50 Riders of All-time in All Disciplines. In the last few years, she has judged at Road to the Horse and the Snaffle Bit Futurity. Along with cutting horse champion, Barbra Schulte, they team up offering clinics to improve horse show performance. It's fascinates me that someone as knowledgeable as Sandy is looking to learn more. When I mentioned the Along for the Ride Symposium in Las Vegas with Andrea Fappani, Nick Dowers, and Shawn Flarida, Sandy said she was attending. It is inspirational knowing that after decades of riding and teaching, Sandy Collier has a thirst for more knowledge.   Links Heard on The Show Sandy Collier's Website Be Unstoppable with Sandy Collier and Barbra Schulte Sandy Collier Facebook Page Along for the Ride Las Vega

Sami Hernandez Diamond Crest Stables Sami Hernandez is a longtime horsewoman, trainer, and horse show judge headquartered at her Diamond Crest Stables in Bakersfield. Along with her husband, George, they have a ton of horsemanship experience teaching people and training horses. I really enjoy talking to both of them. Perhaps I can get George on the show in the future. You’d like him. While they deal with horses working at a higher level, they also work with novice and intermediate horses and riders too. They are very easy to talk to. Sami invited me to her barn. I feel so at home with the dogs barking, chickens clucking, and horses nickering. At times you might even hear the rain pounding on the metal roof. We set a table up right there in the alleyway, put the mics and recorder up, and sat around talkin’ horses. I hope you enjoy it too. I wanted to learn more about horse shows and showmanship. My horse and I plan on participating in horse shows this year and Sami not only shows, she helps people show, AND s

Christmas Greetings 2021 I want to offer a Christmas Greeting for 2021. We had a pretty good year of shows. We began by talking with Dan Dauphin about bits. Dan has since begun his own podcast and is killing it with loads of great content. I hope you’ll check out his Adult Onset Horsemanship Podcast. We talked to my friend, Joanne Galbraith, who at 82 is still actively riding and full of stories growing up with horses. I really enjoy talking with some of the more - how to say it - riders in their golden years. People like Nancy McKnight who taught hundreds of children about horses through the Pony Club organization. And we visited Michelle Gilles, horsewoman and trainer, working to promote women and Horses. We explored new disciplines like Horseback Archery and competitive trail riding. My conversation with the owner of Billy Cook Saddle, Adam Trenk, about saddle making in today’s market had some great history about this respected company. We explored travel with Kate Pilcher and mounted drill teams with Dus

Globetrotting Horse Adventures With Kate Pilcher We could all use a little vacation. Wouldn’t a horseback adventure be great? Sometimes it seems the civilized world has taken a temporary leave of common sense. But over the last 18 months, if you have a horse, you know there is one sure place to escape, the saddle. Kate Pilcher found her happy place when she escaped to Kenya. It was such a life-changing experience; she wanted to share it with others. Then she found a great adventure ride in South America, another one in France, and Ireland. People were having horseback adventures around the globe. Kate put all these trips and more together and started a business called Globetrotting. She puts people and horseback adventures together. Kate tests every ride she offers on her website. Each posted adventure has most of the details you need to know to prepare for the trip. In the rides I looked at, I could see the breed of horse they trip used, the type of tack, the time in the saddle. Also, what riding ability, t

Dust n' Diamonds Mounted Drill Team Today, we are out at Rancho Rio Equestrian Center with the leaders of the local equestrian drill team, Dust n' Diamonds Mounted Drill Team. Shawna Pendley is the choreographer and drill master and Marilyn Morphis, “Mo”, is her eyes on the ground. On a side-note — we are outside the main arena before the drill team practice. There’s traffic, planes and even fire engines that tried to invade our interview. Trying to get good sound was definitely challenging. I handled the sound duties and enlisted, (more like drafted), Ranae for interview duties. The three women did an outstanding job. Dust n' Diamonds Mounted Drill Team has performed at rodeos, fairs, and special events for nearly 30 years. The team competes at the big drill team competition in Reno. If you’ve ever seen an equestrian drill team, you’re going to love this behind-the-scenes look at the Dust n' Diamonds Equestrian Drill Team. Could you hear how much Shawna & Mo love this team? Their energy is infectious. A

NRCHA Judge Bill Enk On a previous show, I talked to Patti Carter, Director of Judges for the AQHA. Today, I share an interview with Bill Enk, Director of Judges for the NRCHA. A lifelong horseman at 77, Bill has a wealth of experience in the horse show world. He’s judged horses almost all his life. He’s been a judge at the AQHA World Show many times and he judged the Road to the Horse. Even if you don’t show, what Bill has to say about horsemanship is important to anyone who rides.  It takes a lot of work and dedication to become and maintain a judges' certificate. It's somewhat of a thankless job. I think of all the times I came out of a competition. Sometimes I did well, sometimes not so good. At these times, the horse show judge wasn't always my favorite person. Bill Enk has been judging horses and riders for over 5 decades. You must be pretty good at judging to stay around that long. And, think of all the things he's seen in the show ring. Bill is a wealth of knowledge and experience. He has a lot to sha

AQHA Horse Show Judging with Patti Carter If there are no judges, there are no horse shows. The judge can make or break a horse show experience. Because they are essential to competition, I thought it would be good to talk with an experienced judge. Patti Carter is the Senior Director of Judges at the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Assn.). AQHA certifies over 800 judges and Patti oversees them all. She is in charge of educational programs, testing programs, and monitoring judges' performances. In this interview, Patti walks us through her experience growing up in a horse family and learning to judge horses. She tells us about her association with the AQHA, and her duties and responsibilities with horse show judging. As I compete in different Ranch Class shows, I'm impressed with the knowledge these judges possess. They not only know the rules, but they are very in tune with the horses and riders. Every judge I've come in contact with has been pleasant and informative when explaining the rules. The more horse s

Listener Stories and Paso Finos After listening to my podcast about the health issues I had with my Quarter Horse mare, Jessie, Vicky Gormanly emailed me to tell me about her Paso Fino, River. We talked about her search for the right horse. Vicky wanted a Paso Fino and, after a long search thought she had found the perfect horse for her. The mare came from a reputable stable, RY Farms. She had ridden the horse, then had her vetted. A friend helped her transport River to her new home at Happy Trails Farms in Danbury, CT.  On Vicky's first ride at the new stable, River showed up lame. This began an odyssey of vet visits and tough decisions. If you own a horse, you're going to have situations like this. Vicky was generous to tell us her story and how she came to make the choices she did. Thankfully, Vicky had a trusted friend at her barn, a reputable seller, and a good vet. Today, River and Vicky are happy trail riding the Connecticut/New York area. More About Paso Finos The story pique my interest in gaited ho

Competitive Trail Riding with North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) Are you looking for a little adventure? Give competitive trail riding a try. The North American Trail Ride Conference is a governing body over competitive trail riding (CTR). In this episode, I talk to Sarah Rinne, NATRC's Executive Director about the sport. Involved with the organization since 1988, Sarah is a wealth of knowledge. The NATRC sets rules and has guidelines for trail rides. Sanctioned NATRC rides judge riders on horsemanship and horse care. Their competitions place an emphasis on rider and horse safety. The conference establishes levels so riders can compete with others of similar ability. All horses, including mules, are eligible to take part in every ride. A competitive trail ride is not a speed event. Riders have to manage the course and speed to arrive at checkpoints within a certain time frame. Horses have mandatory breaks and veterinary checks to insure they are fit to continue. Riders can also expect to be judged

Equine Emergency Preparedness Equine emergency preparedness is so not a glamorous topic. And, it doesn't matter if you live in California with our fires and earthquakes (there was a 3.0 last night) or in the Midwest, or in a different country. Bad things will happen. No one wants to think about the disaster that may happen. No one wants to picture what will happen to their horse if they are unprepared. But as powerful as horses are, they can be extremely fragile in many situations. In past episodes, we've talked to veterinarians about medical emergencies. We talked to people at Large Animal Technical Rescue. On today's show, we talk to Julie Atwood about Equine Emergency Preparedness.   It's a good thing that people like Julie Atwood of the HalterProject.org are out there. Julie thinks of all the things that could go haywire and develops lists and strategies to lessen their impact. The Halter Project began in 2013 as a grassroots effort to help people better prepare for both disasters and emergencies. I took

Nancy McKnight and Pony Club Kelly McKnight emailed me to say his mother, Nancy, would be a delightful guest on the podcast. Nancy McKnight is 89 years old and spent much of her adult life helping children learn horses and horsemanship through her affiliation with the US Pony Club. The mission statement of the Pony Club is: The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. is an educational organization which builds the foundations of teamwork and sportsmanship through riding, mounted sports, care of horses and ponies, while developing and enhancing leadership, confidence, responsibility, and a sense of community in its youth and adult members. Nancy's father was a dealer in farm machinery. Farmers were trading in their horses for modern implements. Nancy's father would take the horses in trade, give them to Nancy and her sister to work with a while, then sell them. When Nancy had children of her own, she wanted them to share her love of horses. To fill in her horsemanship knowledge, Nancy turned to the United States Pon