Whoa Podcast About Horses Horsemanship

Dr. Robert M. Miller Imprint Training & Horsemanship Dr. Robert Miller graduated from Colorado State University and settled down in Thousand Oaks, California where he founded Conejo Valley Veterinary Clinic.  After 31 years in practice, he retired.  Dr. Miller is widely known as an expert in ethology, the study of animal behavior. More than 30 years ago he noticed the effect of imprint training on newborn foals.  While he retired from veterinary practice 30 years ago, he is far from idle.  Colleges, equine conventions, and horse organizations have asked him to speak and share his knowledge.   Dr. Robert Miller has visited every continent giving lectures about animal behavior. Award Winning Knowledge While still going strong on the lecture circuit, at age 90 he has won too many awards to mention here.  He was the Western Horseman Magazine, Horseman of the Year in 2012, he's in the Western States Expo Hall of Fame, and was named Equine Continuing Educator of the Year in 2012 by Western Veterinary Conferenc

Downunder Horsemanship Professional Clinician Diego Gaona On this week's show, we talk to Downunder Horsemanship Professional Clinician Diego Gaona.  As many of you may know, I am a big fan of Downunder Horsemanship.  My foundation in horsemanship is based on the skills I learned from watching the dvds of Clinton Anderson.  As a member of the No Worries Club, I followed the progress of many of the students of the Clinton Anderson Academy and I remember the year Diego Gaona, Jeff Davis, and Luke Lundahl joined the Academy. The Academy could likely be compared to a horsemanship boot camp.  It's 70 weeks long and a big commitment to undertake.  Very few students make it to graduation.  Diego Gaona made it to the end of his Fundamental certification and decided he wanted more and became a Certified Professional Clinician.  Currently, I believe he is only one of five certified at the professional level. Diego Gaona also gives advice on improving your horsemanship based on his training. Our Endurance Riding Test W

John Makes an Appearance on the Varmints! Podcast The Varmints Podcast is hosted by Paul Csosmo and Donna Hume.  The Varmints Podcast "is an education/comedy podcast that's all about animals! And who better to teach you than two nerds named Paul and Donna? They aren't exactly animal experts. More like animal enthusiasts. Anyway, every week they do a whole bunch of research to educate themselves and you the listener on all things that creep, crawl, slither, fly, hop and swim on this planet one animal at a time." They invited me to guest host their episode on Horses.  Admittedly, I am not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to horses.  My sphere of knowledge is rather limited.  But, fellow podcasters have to stick together.   The Varmints Podcast is a fun show.  I hope you will check out some of their other episodes.

Basic Veterinary Needs of Your Horse We talk to Dr. John Tolley of Bakersfield Veterinary Hospital - Large Animal Division.  Dr. Tolley covers the basic veterinary needs of your horse.  As a horse owner, you know horses can be expensive.  If you know what to expect, you may be able to prevent unnecessary costs.  In this episode, Dr. Tolley covers vaccination protocols, worming protocols, feed and nutrition and a whole host of topics about horse-keeping.   If you own a horse you will want to listen to this episode.  We get down to brass tacks in some areas talking about prices for pre-purchase exams and lab tests. If you are thinking about getting a horse, learning about basic veterinary needs of your horse will eliminate surprises.  Learning your options about feed, worming and dental programs can ensure you enjoy your horse for a long time. Our EXCA Experience We also recap our experience we chronicled in a previous podcast about Extreme Cowboy Racing.  For being our first year competing, we made an impro

Road Trip To Nashville We take a little break from horses this week to share our trip with Nashville.  We experienced the sights, sounds, and music of Nashville.  On our first day, we met up with Lyft driver, musician, and carpenter, Bob Tyler, who suggested we go to Edley's Barbecue and if we were looking for some music to check out the 5 Spot. Thursday we checked out the Country Music Hall of Fame and lunch at Tootsie's Bar downtown. Afterward, we walked around downtown and over the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge and saw the Tenessee Titans football stadium.  Later, we had an awesome dinner at Rudie's Seafood and Sausage. We learned that Rudie's also makes a fantastic pie! Later that evening we had tickets to see the Gatlin Brothers and Ricky Skaggs at the old Ryman Theatre.  We even got to tour the backstage dressing rooms after the show. The intersection of Broadway and 4th is as crazy as Las Vegas.  There is live music at almost every bar and dive, and there are bars and dives everywhere.  We hung ou

Cowboy Bill Cummins and His Horse King Cowboy Bill Cummins grew up in post-depression era Ohio with his father and four brothers.  His mother died when he was 15.  He nearly lost his fingers and thumbs when he was nine.  Bill dreamed of one day becoming a singing cowboy in the same vein as Gene Autry and the wit and wisdom of Will Rogers. Bill worked with his family's horses on their farm and a local stable owner noticed he had a special knack working with the horses.  Although he was only 15, the stable owner hired Bill to manage his stable and run his tourist trail riding business during the summers of Bill's high school years.  One year a traveling horse stage show came to town.  Bill befriended the two main riders and trainers, Montana Joe and California Sam.  Meanwhile, the stable owner had a palomino stallion he thought would back a good stage performer. The scene was set when the two trainers worked with the young horseman and his palomino and the result was Smilin' Cowboy Bill Cummins and his horse

Casey Horg Bit and Spur Maker Casey Horg, Bakersfield bit and spur maker, spent a lot of time working on ranches with a lot of different horses.  And, he met a lot of knowledgeable cowhands, rode some good and not-so-good horses.  During some of the downtime as a cowboy, Casey learned a little about bit making.  As with many arts, Casey picked up pieces of knowledge here and there.  Slowly, he added to his knowledge and toolbox.  With each bit he made he learned a little more and got better at his craft.  Now, there is a waiting list for a Casey Horg Bit. Casey will display his silver works and bits as one of the vendors at the upcoming Early Californio Skills of the Rancho in Santa Maria, July 2017.  You can find out more about Casey Horg and the Early Californio Skills of the Rancho by clicking the links below. Links Casey Horg Early Californio Skills of the Rancho

Barbra Schulte Cowgirl Cutter Personal Coach I first met Barbra Schulte early in my horsemanship career.  While volunteering at Equine Affaire in Pomona, California, Barbra was giving a cow clinic.  It must have been around 2007 or 2008, and here was this soft-spoken woman talking about how to cut cows out of the herd.  Being "green as grass", I certainly did not know much about cutting, nor did I know many of the personalities in the horse.   Barbra began talking about the different cow personalities and how one would be better to cut than the other. Barbra talked about the different cow personalities and how one would cut easier than the other.  My head was on a swivel as I looked at the herd, then back at Barbra, back to the herd.  How could she tell them apart?  Her skills really impress me and by the end of the session, I had a slight understanding of herd dynamics. The Bobby Kerr Connection Almost 10 years go by and I get to interview the Mustang Man, Bobby Kerr.  Bobby tells this wonderful story abou

Keeping Early Californio Tradition Alive  There are a group of cowboys and horsemen that are trying to keep the traditions used on livestock and horses during the mission era of California, the early Californio traditions.  It's a slower way, but it's better for the horses and livestock.  Bruce Sandifer of the Californio Bridlehorse Association relayed a saying I thought summed it up nicely, "Do nothing today, that won't make tomorrow better". For the last five years, these cowboys get together to practice these early Californio traditions at an event called the Early Californio Skills of the Rancho.  This year the event will be held July 6-9, 2017 at the Elks Rodeo Grounds in Santa Maria, California. We talk to Bruce Sandifer and Elena Juarez about the event that is a great place for people to learn more about these early Californio traditions. Ranae and I hope to make it at least one day.  There are going to be some great vendors like Casey Horg Bit Maker, Greg Gomersall Saddlery, and a free concert by Mi

  Do you know what your horse's normal temperature is supposed to be?  How about his heart rate or respiration?  Do you know how to take your horse's pulse? In an emergency, this information can help your vet assess the situation much more quickly and save valuable time in getting your horse treatment.  This week we present a rebroadcast of a 2015 seminar we attended about emergency treatment.  We discovered there are many wives tales out there about how to dress a wound, what to do when you suspect colic or founder.  Dr. Jeff Hall of the Zoetis Corporation presents a comprehensive overview of how to handle many situations. The seminar was recorded in a banquet room - sorry for the background noise - but we think the information is important enough to warrant airing this show.   Get Free Helpful Horse Tips There is a "Join Our Email" list at the top of this page.  Signup.  Each week I'll send you something useful you can use to build a better relationship with your horse. Thanks! Contact Us We have well ove

Jeremy Dunn and the Broken Arrow Ranch Jeremy Dunn is a rancher, horse trainer, knife builder, reata braider, and has quite a few more skills developed from a life on the ranch.  And, he really enjoys backcountry camping and would like to teach more people how to access the wilderness with their horses. Many of you know I competed as a rookie in the Vaquero Heritage Trainers Challenge with a horse named Scratch.  One of the judges and organizers of that event was Jeremy Dunn.  Over the course of the competition, we became friends with Jeremy, his wife Brandie and their two children Sage and Steele.  The Dunns live on a remote ranch, the Broken Arrow, in Rosamond bordered on three sides by the mighty Tejon Ranch.  They raise cattle, chickens, a milk cow, have a garden and live the ranch life.  Jeremy trains outside horses and Brandie offers clinics on homemade cheese making. I learned a lot from Jeremy about horsemanship during the Trainers Challenge and even more afterward.  He impressed upon me the fact tha

Endurance Riding with Our Friends Paul and Dona Endurance Riding?  How did we get here?  I love following leads wherever they go.  It's not an admirable trait, I know, but I can't help it.  Keith Swenson had me envisioning myself riding a horse across the Mongolian Steppe in an episode a month ago.  Then, a listener suggested we interview Tim Finley about his experience in the Mongol Derby.  During that conversation, Tim told us how he got into endurance riding and what a great sport it was.  While we thought a hundred miles was way farther than we wanted to go in one stretch on a horse, Tim explained there were also "limited distance" and "beginner" rides. Next, Ranae and I were discussing the episodes and she suggested we talk to our friends, Dona and Paul Schilling, about their endurance riding experience.  What a great idea!  We knew Dona and Paul had been doing long rides for some time and would be an excellent source of information. So, we're going to take a break this week from the professional traine

Van Hargis Master Horseman Van Hargis is a master horseman who not only knows how to clearly communicate with horses but can also pass that knowledge on to other humans.  Yep, you guessed it, another Texan.  Van competed in the Road to the Horse competition in 2005 and 2006.  He does clinics across the country at many of the horse expos and fairs, and he holds clinics wherever anyone needs him. Van Hargis and I have something in common besides horses.  Van hosts the Ride Every Stride Podcast with his friend and fellow podcaster, Laura McClellan.  Laura hosts a podcast called The Productive Woman to complete the chain. Van has a couple of unique offerings that can definitely up your horsemanship.  His Top Hand program is inexpensive and easy-to-use.  If you're interested in finding out more about Van Hargis and the information he has to offer, check out VanHargis.com. Links on Heard the Show Van Hargis Website Facebook Van Hargis Ride Every Stride Podcast Video Van Hargis The Productive Woman Podcast with La

Mongol Derby Racer Tim Finley A few weeks ago I interviewed Keith Swenson of Stone Horse Expeditions, a horseback adventure company operating in Mongolia.  Keith talks about the wonders of Mongolia and how you see them on horseback.  It's a good show, you can listen here: Play Stone Horse Podcast.  I received several emails from people telling me how much they enjoyed hearing about Mongolia.  One listener and friend, John Zeliff, emailed to suggest I interview Tim Finley who competed in something called the Mongol Derby.  While I hadn't heard of Tim or the Derby, I headed to the interweb for a little research. The Derby Wow!  The Mongol Derby is the longest horse race in the world.  One thousand kilometers or 621 miles across Mongolia.  A group called Adventurists, who raise money to help environmental issues organizes the event and want to have fun doing it.  While about 40-50 riders start the race, only a little more than half finish.  They are riding Mongolian horses.  Each horse rides 25 miles.  Each rid

Austin Texas Vacation and Polocrosse Hey, everybody, Ranae retired from her 9-5 job and now we have a little more freedom.  The first trip was planned some time ago to Austin, Texas.  We heard how Texas was a great place for bar-b-que.  We also heard Austin was known for live music.  We wanted to see for ourselves. We learned the Lonestar Polocrosse Club was hosting a match in nearby Coupland, Texas about 40 minutes outside of Austin.  We have never seen a polocrosse match, but many of the participants use Australian Stock Horses and had met them at our Colorado Campdraft in 2013.  We got to see Kellee Campbell, Kiki Pantaze, and Paul Johnson for the first time in three years.  We also met some excellent players at the A level, Garret and Braxton Hamlin.  I took my recorder and got a few minutes of audio, but it was extremely windy. Then the rest of the trip was mostly eating, sightseeing, and walking.  We found a little comedy improv club called The Hideout and say a show.  We had dinner at the Roaring For

Horseman Clinician Warwick Schiller Growing up in Australia a young Warwick Schiller was hungry for horse news and studied Western Horseman magazine like he was cramming for a final.  He says that even today if you show him a cover from the 70's he can likely tell you one of the articles inside.  Yet he began his working career as a banker.  It was on a sabbatical from banking that Warwick came to America and found a job working for a reining trainer.  Working with a reining trainer gave Warwick the foundation he needed to become a clinician.  Now, Warwick Schiller travels the world giving clinics and demonstrations on his unique style of horsemanship. I really enjoy talking with Warwick.  He studies everything.  Philosophy, efficiency, psychology are just a few of the areas Warwick explores to learn more about horsemanship.  Warwick Schiller will be one of the speakers at the Best Horse Practices Summit in the fall of 2017.  Best Horse Practices explores the principles of Evidenced-based Horsemanship. Warwi

Stone Horse Mongolian Horseback Expeditions Do you have a bucket list?  Have you ever thought of taking a horseback expedition? How about a desire to travel to exotic places?  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride a Mongolian horse?  After all, the Mongols were one of the first horse cultures.   When I began doing this podcast I never dreamt it would go around the world. Through the internet, the show has downloads in over 80 different countries. It is amazing and, just between you and me, I hope some of those listeners aren't trying to learn English from me. When Keith Swenson emailed me from Mongolia wanting to talk about his horse expedition rides I was immediately captivated. I’m not sure what your picture of Mongolia is, but mine was a cold, dark, barren place I had seen in a “b” movie.   After talking with Keith and visiting his website and YouTube Channel I had a totally different picture.  I really needed to know more about his company, Stone Horse Expeditions.  Stone Horse has expedit

Tom Hagwood More Than Mustang Millionaire Most people know Tom Hagwood because he won three straight events in Fort Worth including the Mustang Million.  But, what many people may not know about Tom is how he came to his first BLM mustang.  It was out of necessity.  It was 2008 and the economy was in the dump.  People weren't paying to have their horses trained.  Tom Hagwood needed to work, but didn't have a horse.  He picked up a little mustang from the BLM.  After thirteen rides, he put the horse to work.   The horse not only impressed Tom, but he impressed others as well.  When one of Tom's friends suggested he enter a mustang competition, Tom scoffed.  But friends convinced him he was good enough to make some money at it and Tom gave it a try.  In a classic story of rags to riches, Tom Hagwood won the Mustang Million on a horse named Merv. I caught up with Tom at his ranch in Powell, Wyoming with his wife Arianne, and daughter Tommi Jean.  We talked about the secrets to winning a mustang competition, ho

Buck Strayhorn and the Bar Bar A Horsedrinker  Have you heard of the Bar Bar A Horsedrinker?  While it’s been a wet winter here, it’s been a terribly cold winter in many parts of the country.  Yes, we’ve had to deal with muddy stalls, but we haven’t had to deal with frozen water pipes or icy water troughs.  In rambling through the world wide web, I came across the Bar Bar A Horsedrinker and it got me to thinking how good we have it most of the time here in California.   The Bar Bar A Horsedrinker has a cool design that allows livestock to drink, then drains the water away.  The result is cooler water in the blazing hot summer months and no frozen tanks or water lines and warmer water in the winter months.  As the rest of the country starts to thaw out, I thought you might want to check this out.  I contacted the makers of the Bar Bar A Horsedrinker, who then connected me with Buck Strayhorn, horsemen, trainer, and spokesman for the company.  Buck was kind enough to talk with me from his home in Northern Utah

Carson James did NOT grow up owning his own horse.  He wanted to learn more about horsemanship and got on-the-job training on ranches from Oregon to Montana to Arizona.  It was there he got the knowledge of some of the least known, but most experienced horse trainers there are by working on those cattle ranches.  He also learned a lot from a book by Ray Hunt his parents gave him.  He read and re-read, Think Harmony with Horses over and over until he knew the main principles inside and out. In addition, Carson James spent many years working as a horse trainer in Florida in the winter focusing on performance horses.  Then, in the summertime, he worked on the big cattle outfits out west.  This gave him a unique opportunity to blend what he learned from the ranches with what he learned from the performance horse trainers.  Each group has a little different style and goal to training and, by alternating between the two, Carson James had a well-rounded education in horsemanship.