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Who was your biggest influence?

6K views 41 replies 39 participants last post by  cowgirlnay 
#1 ·
I mean on a personal level, not big name clinic givers.....I mean influence when you think back on your life with horses, who really sticks out as being someone who really taught you a lot, someone you may have looked up to, maybe a mentor, a close friend, that sort of thing.

We have all been in the horse world varying lengths of time. I know many of you have been in it as long if not much longer than me. I have ben riding since age six pretty consistently with a few small breaks here and there, but got my first horse at age 8, and have always had at least one horse since then, though my ridimg time and focuses have changed over the years, I am 38 now.

Though I had been taking lessons for a couple of years when I met my influencial person, I had just gotten my first horse at age 8. The horse was totally unsuitable for me, my parents being the non horsey type, did not follow more experienced people's advice and I ended up with a horse that was in no way suitable for a child. In seeking help, we met my influencial person, I will call her Ann.

Ann lived on a small ranch and we just happened to drive by one day seeking a trainer to help with my horse problems. Even though she was not officially a trainer, and did not even really run a boarding facility, she allowed us to bring the horse over. She convinced my parents the horse was unsuitable and helped to find him a new, good home, for the same price my parents had paid for him. She then set about teaching me to really ride.

Though I had taken many lessons at a h/j type barn from the age of six, that had been put on hiatus when we moved to CA from the east coast. I had a good seat, hands, equitation, everything, but that was contingent on me riding a really good horse. If things went wrong, I was clueless how to handle it.

Ann took care of that. Her horse did too. She let me ride her own horse, a half Arab, half Andalusian, who was older, crafty, and taught me more than any horse to date. Under controlled conditons she taught me how to handle a horse that runs off with you, shies, rears, bucks, does not want to move, etc. etc. I got good, very good, at being the one in control. She eventually found me a horse that I could really have fun with and be safe on. A bomb proof older mare that I loved dearly.

We also became good friends, and she became friends with my parents. She taught me so much. She was in her early thirties at the time and had a gazillion horse magazines for me to pour over on rainy days, many stories of her days of showing as a child, and the things her father, a horseman had taught her. We were close for two years, and then, her marriage broke up, and she moved away.

We recently got back into contact again. It was good to hear how her life turned out, and I think she enjoyed hearing how mine turned out. Though I do not work with horses and went into nursing, they have always remained a part of my life. And though I have had many trainers, friends and experiences since then, nothing taught me as much as those two years with "Ann".

For those of you who are just getting into horses, you never know where a good influence is going to come from. You don't always have to shell out hundreds of dollars on a big name trainer and fancy equipment. You can learn more than you ever imagined from another experienced horse lover, a backyard arena, and a cranky, smart older horse who can give you a run for your money.
 
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#2 ·
My trainer. Shes no big name well known trainer and isn't someone who takes in horses or really teaches as a job but she took me under her wing. She has given me a horse when i had nothing to ride. She's helped me improve and even when i was ready to give up she was there encouraging. I see her as a mom she is definitely someone i look up to 100% . She has even offered to take me with her to texas when she moves.
 
#3 ·
My Grandfather. He was an Appy breeder for about 30 years starting in the 1920's before there ever was an ApHC. He was also an old fashioned horse trader, with both the good and bad connotations. He taught me a lot about breeding, training, and how to evaluate a horse by feeling its joints and tendons. Some of his training methods have been greatly improved upon over the years, but some of them were also very sound, and are sadly rapidly becoming forgotten in today's world of the quick-fix commercial trainers whose tight jeans seem to be their primary ASSet...
 
#4 ·
Leanne, Liz and Hilly. Liz taught me the importance of a good attitude in the horse world, and how to always look at the next horizon.

Hilly taught me how to be tough, how to be the leader, and how to put my foot down when i believe in something. she taught me the importance of organization in the barn, and soooo many tricks and tips for everyday horse care.

Leanne taught me everything i know about riding. She gave me my posture, my focus, and the knowledge of everything i know about movement and gait. She taught me about how my balance and posture effects my horses balance, collection, extension and form. she taught me how to be fair and determined when training. she taught me how to be honest with my horse, and myself. she taught me to own up to my mistakes, to never saddle up angry, but above all to ride from my heart, cause thats where horses should start.
 
#5 ·
Face we are far too alike.

My grandfather was also my most influential "trainer", I'm self taught for the most part, but he came down a few times when I was hitting road blocks. (An 11 year old training her 2 year old barely started first horse will run into those! LOL!)
In 92 he came down and taught me "make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard" by chasing me around the pasture with a 2X4 while I was trying to get her over her "I've decided not to move PERIOD phase". I remember it like it was yesterday. I also learned never to let him physically help me train again, the rest of our sessions were over the phone, he about killed both of us! But we cleared that obstacle pretty quickly!

We used to sit for hours in his living room pouring over classifieds, (he was a former horse trader/trainer Appys too) teaching me how to decipher ads. We went over his old photos and bloodlines and what he traded for what and how he made on this one or how this one was crazy, and then shed a few tears over a few too.

Once he swindled me out of three western saddles for $250 that were worth well over $2,500! I thought he was being sweet and giving me money, then going to patch them up. Nope, he traded em for work on a house he was building. That was a crude lesson!

So the greatest things I learned from him was to stick with it and get it done. Falling is not an option, and if you don't like a horse any longer there's always a sucker down the road that will take it... Last part I never attempted, but I know how to!
 
#6 ·
My Mom for sure, although if you see us at a horse show we are probably squabbling at each other... She has been riding for 40 + years and knows her stuff, not to mention, is a good rider. I look up to her experience and riding talent, she got me to where I am now in riding. My coach would be to busy to come to my H/J Shows, so it'd just be my mom & I.
She never forced me into horses, and was thrilled when I asked for riding lessons for my 5th B-Day, she has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on ponies, horses, equipment, horse shows, trucks, trailers, property, etc, when I was growing up. I am very hard on myself when it comes to riding, and my Mom has always been the one that lightens me up. I don't know what'd I would do with out her!

Also, my coach, Gina Allan-Belasik. She is an amazing lady, and coach of course. But I have always looked up to her "more then positive" attitude, her amazing riding and coaching talent. I hope to be as successful as her one day!
 
#7 ·
I've got two. My grandpa and my mom. Grandpa started the farm that I now own. I grew up running through these pastures. He taught me so much that I don't even know where to start. He taught me a lot of practical application type things as far as care, pasture management, stallion handling (was blessed to have had time with his own son of Poco Dell) and he also gave me a very critical eye to look at horses with. My mom taught me to be the rider & trainer I am today and the big reason I have super quiet hands, boy did she preach at me non stop on that front. She learned from Dale Wilkinson, Paul Schuh and a few other hall of famers. I was blessed to have met and rode with them a few times myself but was a youngin. What I wouldn't give to have that time now. I also have her to thank for instilling a strong competitive drive and desire to continue to better myself.

Oh a funny added thought, my grandpa also taught me the value of the upgrade. He stood back and allowed me to sell my pony when I was 7. Had a man at the farm looking at weanlings and he asked if my gpa knew of a good broke pony for sale. I piped in and said "You can buy my pony!" When he asked why I'd want to sell her if she was a good one, my response was "If I sell the pony my grandpa will get me a quarter horse." And he did, a mare straight off the King Ranch. We told my mom after the pony was loaded up and on the road. :lol: That mare was my heart horse and even though she's been gone for many, many years, I will never own another that could fill her shoes.
 
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#8 ·
My mother. She told me that I could do anything if I just put my mind to it and wanted it badly enough.
She also supported me 100% in buying the pony that was to be the one that turned me into a rider and not just a passenger. Everyone else thought we were nuts to even think about it and she gave me the confidence to prove them wrong.
 
#9 ·
Everyone has influenced me in one way or another.

But I think there are a few that stick out.

One is a cowhorse trainer I worked for, he taught me more in one year than most learn in several. He is a good cowboy, a good trainer/showman and could really get in a horses head and in mine to get something across. He is the one that told me that "anyone can learn the mechanics of training, but a good trainer knows how to get in the head." That really stuck with me. He wasn't meaning Parelli phsyco babble, but reading horses and knowing what will work and what won't.

A guy that I cowboyed for was a big influence, he taught me a lot about reading cattle and how making your horse work right makes for better cattle handling which in turn improved my roping. He is tough to work for but it came with a reputation that has afforded me great job opportunities and a pile of knowledge.

Also the very first guy I worked for and started colts as a teenager. He taught me a lot about old-fashioned methods that I still use.
 
#10 · (Edited)
My Dad, who used to tell me all sorts of reckless stories about his riding days... my favorite was one where he took the barn's stallion out for a trail ride and the horse almost bolted off a cliff. :shock: They were both humbled by the near-death experience, but my Dad still gave it to him afterwards for acting so darn stupid. :lol:

For my Bat Mitzvah (thirteenth birthday), my parents surprised me with a helmet, half-chaps, a dressage whip, a grooming set, a halter (I had just started once -a-week lessons). I thought it was the greatest gift of all time! Even though I didn't buy a horse until 11 years later, that gift validated my horse-crazy girlish dreams (ETA... we didn't have a lot of money growing up so I was rarely able to ride that consistently while I lived with my parents). I went on to take lessons, lease horses, compete on my college's riding team and eventually buy my boy Jax. Today I still ride with that dressage whip. :wink:
 
#11 · (Edited)
I have had two people teach me a lot about horses, different things from each. The biggest influence was my housemaster from boarding school. He was from Scotland, like my dad, and we got on pretty good because of that, I guess, but he was well into horses and used to go to the US to learn from Parelli directly. He also went and learned how to build saddles and did that on the side to his house master job. He would come out to my uncle’s cattle station and work horses and cattle with us from the time I was about 12 and I learned a hell of a lot from him then. Once I left school and went off ringing on cattle stations across northern Australia I kept learning from him, though mostly from up to and including 4, 5 and 6 hour long phone calls. He also taught me most of what I know about Saddlery and tack making.
Next would b my uncle. Brilliant cattleman and hell of a good horse breeder, I didn’t learn a lot of technique from him (with horses, everything I know about handling cattle that’s worth knowing I got from him though), but I did learn patience and how to give a horse space and not be on their back all the time (figuratively speaking) nagging them and pushing them all the time. That was one of the hardest and best lessons I ever learned. I also learned, and still learn, a lot of the tricks for dealing with the tough nuts to crack that a lot of natural-horse people would probably frown on.
 
#12 ·
My Aunt was my most influential horse person. She would put me up on horses when I was to little to get there myself. She barrel raced and ran a 17 sec run before that was ever heard of in our area. She taught me to stick with stuff even when it was getting really rough. She was very supportive and my hero. She was killed when their car was hit by a drunk driver.
 
#13 ·
honestly, the horses.

I have read, watched and learned from my BO, clinton anderson, parelli, buck brannaman, monty roberts and others. alot of the time I learn as as many things I dont like about their training methods as things I do. I pick out what works for me in my head, try it on an actuall horse, and then decide if its a method that works for me, that the horse understands.

So many horses have taught me important lessons.

my first horse was also the first horse I started under saddle. she was patient and kind, and taught me that each lesson must be taught thoroughly before moving on.

blue belle taught me that even if the horse was sweet and well mannered, unexpected things happen on green horses.

koko taught me that for some horses, unpredictableness cannot be trained out, but if you persevere long enough, you will win the battle(6 months before he truly understood standing to be mounted)

sunny taught me to be careful around even well manered studs.

the bay mare that broke my arm taught me that some horses are genuinely mean.

the aligator headed black mare showed me that some horses are devious, genuinely want to hurt you, and cannot really ever be completely fixed.

romeo taught me to pay closer attention to body language, to pay attention to how intense I was, to reward the small things, to never rush.

pickles has taught me what "born broke" really means, and that there really are completely honest horses.

there are so many others. We can read about the results of great trainers for our whole lives, but its the horses that are our real teachers.
 
#14 ·
^^ That's like the old saying about lions - 9 out of 10 of them will slink away from you...it's the 10th one you have to worry about...:rofl:
 
#15 ·
There have been many who influenced my long career with horses.
First there was the woman who jointly owned the riding school where I started. One of the few people that I would call a true Christian in that she would always look for the good and work on that whether it was a horse or a person.
Her business partner who taught me the tougher side of owning animals. His daughter who was a good instructor - tough but very good. I owe her a lot in that she gave me the chance to ride all the naughty animals that came in for re schooling. Also because I was the one who rode the naughty ones and without a horse of my own, she allowed me to compete for the Pony Club teams on her own competition horse.

A family friend, Geordie, who was a true Horse Whisperer.

Many other instructors who were tough but fair. I loved to discuss reasons with them and they were all good enough to answer and argue with!

I have never stopped learning, hope I never will and most of all, I hope that people I have taught and helped will say that I influenced them in a good way.
 
#16 ·
The first person who influenced my horse life the absolute most was, who I will call, J. He let me begin to ride when I was late 13 almost 14 years old for the first time (I had never ridden before) Although he was self taught, and now I know he isn't the best rider, he taught me what truly matters: To HAVE FUN and to keep your heels down! I gained so much confidence on that little 14.2 arabian mare, and I still ride her sometimes. She is a total babysitter, 24 years old, and never tries to mess up or get out of work. Shes easy to s low, easy to get going.. just perfect! (I am going to start riding her soon again to build up my confidence and have fun!)

I've had many trainers throughout my 10 month english career (Already 3, I stayed at the same barn too!) They all helped my riding, but the first, "H", was the best. She was stern but not mean and helped me understand why I was doing what I was being told to do, and she taught me to never give up on our dreams. She herself is an olympic hopeful, and her riding passion really showed through.
 
#17 ·
My sister, Jessica. I have three siblings, she was the only one who was ever there. My oldest sister never came up to Montana with us, and my brother moved out 5 years ago. My sister has been at college for two years, but she is still the one I look up to for everything. When she was here, I used to tell her things every day of what had happened. Now that I have a phone, I can still do that. Now I still have three more years of high school left at home, but my friends and my horses help keep me going through it.
 
#18 ·
My dad, he wasnt crazy expeirenced at the beginning of it all, but he bought me my first horse, he sat through all my lessons, came to every single show and dusted me off after every fall. I really hope once I graduate I can buy him a nice horse, because he deserves it.
There were a couple small named trainers I worked with, its amazing what can happen if someone truly believes in your ability :)
 
#19 ·
The horse person who influenced me the most was Capt. Heyer. He was a Dutch dressage master who came to America to escape the Nazis. He was internationally known before he came here (the trophy awarded in the world cup dressage is called the Heyer Cup), but there was very little competitive dressage in the USA at that time. As a result, he and his dressage horses performed with the Ringling Bros circus.

When I was six, and living in Sarasota Florida, I took riding lessons from him. He was VERY European....but had the most magical way of crawling into a horse's mind and totally understand them. He passed so much of that to me.

He also tolerated NO temper when riding a horse. Once, I was trying to get one of his huge horses to piaffe. I was too small to have enough leg and I just couldn't manage it. I got frustrated (as only a little kid could get away with....right?) and I smacked the horse with the dressage whip. BAD idea. He grabbed my leg, pulled me off the horse, left me laying in the sand as he walked the horse back to the stall. I had to apologize to the horse (symbolic, I know) before he would even consider letting me ride him again. I sure learned anger control and discipline from this man,

This is a horrible photo of him. It was at a charity ball and the horse was on a slick floor. As a result, he looked tense.



He taught more so much more than just horsemanship. He gave me life lessons.
 
#20 ·
My father, Wyman E. Bennett. A horseman who, 30+ years after his death, is still remembered by the Saddlebred people, and who now would be 106 years old.

He grew up riding horses, had a Plantation Walking Horse show barn, when that is what TWH were called, went and worked on King Ranch, the whys and hows of that I've never known, and wish I would have asked, and then went into training Saddlebreds. After a bad fall, where horse came down on both legs, breaking them, and he was told he would never walk again, he would sit in hot tub of water pressing down on his legs to straighten them so he could screaming from the pain. He walked, and with no limp.

He bought and started WC Mimi Genius, who was brought out under Sug Utz in the early 50's, and a few others too along that time period. He went into railroading, working up from fireman to become an Engineer, which back then? Was like an airplane pilot.

Welch Greenwell said that my dad was the best horseman he ever knew, and was including himself too.


Dale Pugh, who was one of the best Saddlebred trainers alive. Knew horses, and was something to be around.
 
#21 ·
Oh, I would also believe that you can learn something from EVERYBODY. Little tips, tricks, riding position help, how their riding affects the horse they're riding... Even what NOT to do!
 
#22 ·
My dad, he has taught me more about horses and horsemanship that I could ever hope to learn anywhere else. He has broke more horses that I can count and has this way of really getting into a horses head. That being said he also taught me about being humble and that you will never stop learning. My dad was a self taught cowboy, rode horses for a living for most of his life and could stick damn near anything but when I started taking english lessons he was always asking me about what I learned, and to teach him the things that I was learning. To think that somebody with his level of experience would ever learn anything from me is just amazing.
I have to say the favorite lesson I learned from my dad came not too long ago when we were out rounding up cattle "if you can't crack a beer can on its back, it ain't broke!"
 
#23 ·
My first pony, Shorty, actually taught me the most. He was a trickster, and I did not have a saddle, so did everything bareback. He would run under low limbs, lean your leg on a fence, and he went where HE wanted. But I learned how to overcome all this, and taught him to jump, and we would jump a barrel with 2 tires on top, just a 2x4 rail that he could have gone under, and he was only 12.1 H !!!

As far as people, Fran Dearing at Windy Knoll Farm, hands down. I took lessons from her in 1982, then came back in 1999, and we just picked up where we left off. She communicates riding without using all the "in vogue" terms, and actually celebrates horses outside the norm doing dressage. She NEVER limited anyone to "lower level"!!!I trained Appaloosas, Paints, Arabians with her, and she always encouraged me to make the most of THAT horse. Great woman.

Nancy
 
#24 ·
My 'second mother' Helen. I was fortunate enough to meet her at the ranch I board at randomly one night. I think she thought inwas someone else because she made some sarcastic remark to me but then i turned around to face her and realized i had never seen her before. I introduced myself and we soon found out that she and my mom knew each other from the church they went to. I was having problems with my former horse at the time my mom mustve told her because a couple weeks later i received a call from her saying she could help me.

At first, i was a little bit upset that she was calling me like this out of the blue and mad at my mom for mentioning my problems to her because i had only met her that one time. Anyways, long story short my mom convinced me to go out and meet with her at the ranch just to see what she could do.

Ever since then, she has helped me and taught me everything i know about horses. I eventually realized that horse wasnt the right horse for me and she did everything she could to help me find a new home for him and to get a horse that was perfect for me. She is one of my best friends and i view her as family now. I couldnt imagine my life without her and i really owe her.
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#25 ·
I just wanted to thank everyone so far who responded to this thread, and my query. It has been so inspiring to read all of your stories and see who has really made a difference in your lives.

As for horses being the best teachers, well of course they are :lol: I think we could start a whole other thread about horses that have influenced us over the years. If you guys are like me, you can still name almost every horse you have ever ridden, and many you never rode, just knew for one reason or another. I absolutely found my biggest influence's horse to be just as informative as she was.

Thanks again everyone, and anyone who has not shared yet, please keep 'em coming. Lots of fun to read about everyone!
 
#26 ·
The two biggest inspriations in my horsey life (aside from my horses lol) have been my mom and our trainer/BO. My mom got her horse after years of waiting (he was a rescue) and was injured twice severely by him when he bolted and freaked out. She never once gave up on him and when she got better bought my horse for me and still rode. Even though he was a pasture pet she always looked for a trainer who would take care of him and teach him some sanity! When we found our trainer she worked a miracle and took a horse who was scared of his shadow and made him into something that my mom could ride safely. My mom couldn't mount without dragging her leg over his rump due to her injuries so the trainer worked on letting him allow her to drag her foot over his rump and not be phased by it now that I've started him in dressage my mom climbs on and rides him like he's never done anything to hurt her in his life!
Our trainer has worked wonders and now that I work under her I'm still constantly impressed by her! She taught me how to drive a horse and cart, how to start a horse, longline one, and always puts the horse first! She was my riding instructor for a long time and always encourages me to do my best and to more importantly have fun! I love the way she treats the horses because she lets them be horses. When she starts them out she lets them decide what discipline to do and then goes from there. Somehow she knows when the horse is ready for something new and when it's time to stop the lessons for a while and just relax. I've learned so much from her that its inspired me to work hard with my horses (and the ones she needs worked! Lol) and to always remember that the competition or end result isn't what matters in the long run: that the road you've taken to get there is.
 
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