Exciting New Changes at Catskill Horse

For our readership and advertisers alike, there is lots to be excited about this Spring at Catskill Horse.

While sadly Jeannette Spivak Moser-Orr has departed Catskill Horse as Copy Editor, we are very pleased to announce Kim Sanford has been promoted from one of our leading Contributing Writers to this post. I have already received new proofing on one of my own articles and am very grateful for the input and corrections!

We receive many compliments on Kim's articles and are very proud to have her on our team. No worries. Kim will still be writing as well as proof reading. We couldn't let that talent go to waste.

On other news we have had several writers waiting in the wings as it were, interested in coming on board as part of 'The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse," and please look for announcements of a new six writers -yes, count them six- joining up.

These writers will provide a super addition to our cadre of articles. From all walks of life and walks of horse life - these equestrians will bring a super new dynamic to the magazine.

Meantime we are also so pleased to welcome new advertisers Chrisomaso Production Co, a noted apparel manufacturer for the equestrienne,  and the regional USDF association ENYDTCA  to the magazine.

We look forward to providing lots of additional coverage for all our advertisers with the additional staff.

With FAT Tuesday around the corner ( Mardi Gras), we are in party mode here at Catskill Horse. So watch out. There are a lot of new things coming, and we are very proud to note our reach is extending well beyond the Catskill region. As far as MA, PA, NJ and OH and across the pond. So don't be fooled by our name. We live here. Work here. But our reach is far beyond the shores or state lines.

On the board are some interviews with high profile big name riders from both the U.S.A. and abroad, increased coverage of local events and lots of fresh new products from our advertisers.

So please check back often and don't forget, you can advertise your horse related biz for free on our Directory ( this will always be free), your events, your horses and equipment for sale.

Please visit us on facebook and give us a follow too - http://www.facebook.com/CatskillHorse . At inception our facebook profile picture was a newborn foal. As the publication is growing we figure we will update the photo. Given that facebook actually works and we can ( we have been having some trouble with that upload). Here is a look at the same foal as a yearling. As the publication grows so is she and one of the fun new things coming to Catskill Horse magazine is a video diary of how this foal develops and starts work under saddle - an insight into the workings of one of our advertisers.  Stay posted for more on this coming soon!

Beautiful Spirit. Beautiful White Horses...

Today. A dull snowy day. Another one. Warmer than before. But still wishing for a little inspiration.

You plow out the long driveway. Again. And you run about doing your errands. You hope the store in the small town of Stamford, New York has managed some fresh produce. And thanks to Matt, the greengrocer - ( can you tell I'm English yet??). they do. And then to the P.O. Box. Hello to all the wonderful staff there. So helpful all year around. A caring bunch. You pick up 'your' mail. Throw it in a "recycling happy"shopping bag, a $1 deal, what a bargain and now you realize you really have become properly 'green' trained in at least one area.

Harder drive home than going out. 1989 pick up slides about.  4WD employed. But you live on a hill. You know just when to punch it. You know your truck and you've lived on this peaceful Catskill south facing slope for more than 15 years now. What?? Yeah, that time thing has supersonic speed when you hit 40.

Leaping black labs greet you at the door. Promising to break the Pella glass screen. Bounding. Untrained ( well just a bit), but in your head at 15 months old they still count as puppies. Seriously, must make some time to train them with the new 'dog halter' you purchased a year ago that now resides in the all important 'kitchen drawer.'

Open the recycled bag - mail instead of groceries flood the homemade temporary island that has stood center of the kitchen for too long..ooh about 8 years. And out pops two big envelopes. One, from the wonderful folks at the IRS who still deign to supply small business with actual published/printed manuals on their craft. 2nd.......another big brown envelope. I open it enthusiastically. I recognize the name. Juliet Harrison. Equine photographer extraordinaire.

I open it hastily but carefully. My mom is also an artist of some repute and I have been well trained to handle all art with due diligence and reverence. Carefully I extricate the contents. A black and white ensemble of images in a tidy book of 'White Horses." An adjunct to exhibitions. A galley of Baroque. An essence of true feeling for the horse.

A composition from a different eye somewhere attuned to your own. Juliet Harrison. Horse-minder. The tiny moments. The things we notice as horse people and as keen horse trainers and artists. There is after all, so much art in the eye of the true horse person. We see the details. We notice the hollow above the horse's eye. The health statement that it makes. We notice every rivulet of sweat after work. Carefully examining where and why. Knowing that as a trainer this tells us if the horse is being trained correctly. By ourselves. Sometimes a tough pill to swallow when your beautiful mount expresses that you have rushed. You have hurried. You have pulled. You have pushed.  When you above all should have done neither. But let be. Trusted your horse to be responsible for himself. As you give the same as a parent to your children. Your prodigy. Your legacy.

The moment of a snowy, dull, 'I Can't Ride It's Too Cold,"day is broken into a thousand happy pieces as you turn each page. And remember. This is why I do this. This is why I love horses. This is why I share what I have learned in the many years.  Juliet's images have touched me. Juliet sees. Juliet shared.

And in the package I also find a beautiful postcard. It says ' Pay It Forward Gift.'

This is my best way of paying it forward. Take a moment. Take a look. A good look. And however professional a trainer, however many kudos or awards you have won. Whoever comes to you for instruction. Whatever horse of whatever breed. Whatever rider of whatever level or 'want to be" equestrian. Take a look. And remember to share what you know with an open spirit. Because above all, that is what every horse gives us everyday.

My heartfelt thanks to Juliet Harrison. She brings us light, spirit and heart. Embrace it.

Note: Want to see Juliet's wonderful work? Visit her gallery at Equis Art, 7516 North Broadway, Studio 5, Red Hook NY 12571 or online at http://www.Equisart.com

The Best Tool to Improve Your Riding Is?

Although it is cold and dull outside right now it really won't be long until Spring arrives. I always figure when the Patty's Day parade is over, we can look forward to seeing the green grass pop and start the arduous chore of grooming out those winter coats for the horses that did not get clipped out.

Willowview Hill Farm's Tiberio Lafite,  one of my husband's Grand Prix mounts is always happy to see Spring

My Grand Prix horse Charrington is always exuberant in the Spring. Luckily my husband is always up for the excitement of those first outdoor Spring rides. Working outside is always a great way to condition your horse, working gentle hills, interval canter/trot and videos taken outside are always more fun to watch.

I've usually already started the horses that have had a winter break back up before this, using the longe line to build their strength and top-lines up before I ride them on a daily basis. Even 2/3 times a week with side reins on the longe line will condition them quickly. Horses have great muscle memory.

Winter months are a good time to reflect on how we can best improve our education and riding skills before the new season arrives. With the flurry of activities of booking clinics, filing show entries, calling the vet in for vaccines and ordering new show gear and fresh saddle pads and tack, it is good to enjoy the anticipation of a better season than last year.

It goes without saying the best way to improve quickly is to have a regular lesson with a good trainer. If you are looking for a trainer there are lots advertised on the magazine here at Catskill Horse and differentiated in the Business Directory by discipline. Not everyone can manage to afford that, but it certainly better to work with someone even once a month than no-one at all. How to make the best of the time you spend in the saddle when your paying for the advice from the trainer? Have a video taken of your ride.

There is a lot more to taking a video than just point and shoot. Focus needs to be on the key points of the lesson so you can easily assimilate those ideas. Watching yourself go around endlessly NOT getting it diminishes your self confidence and serves no purpose. As a competitor and earnest practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), I am a big believer in all things positive. Having said that if the cinematographer can edit you down a video that captures your 'Ah-Ha' moments, of which there should be a few during any lesson if your trainer is worth their money, these moments will transfer to the other side of your brain if you watch them enough times. This is extremely beneficial for success with improvement. One of the many hats that I wear includes  professional video services ( & photography services) on a limited basis at any clinics/lessons I attend and this is how I always edit them. Sure, I might fancy the video up with fade ins/outs, wipes, etc. but the content is always succinct.

It should be mentioned that before you take a video it is important to ask your trainer/clinician for permission. It may not be O.K. with them to share their usually hard earned knowledge and education for free on You Tube or facebook or others sources. Think of it as protecting their business. If you are a graphic designer, and you design a fresh idea, you do not give it away for free to the entire world. So it is important to be respectful of their wishes ( on a sidebar here, the same reason you should not expect to audit a clinic for free). Many top level competitors that run a proper clinic circuit will not welcome home made video appearances but will be happy for the hosting video professional to take clinic video.

Northfield Farm, Otego NY Dressage Clinic December 2013 with Grand Prix trainer Paul Alvin-Smith working with Joyce Northrrup who is returning to riding after the birth of her son and working on some dressage basics. When you have had a time away from riding it is a great opportunity to start back up without bad habits and gives a fresh start.

At home riding without a professional trainer of course you can do as you wish, and having a friend with unlimited patience, stand and take a video of your ride bearing in mind the points above as to content can be very useful. If you are starting back up as Spring arrives, take your fuzzy beast in his first back to school workouts and see how things improve. Review the videos critically and with honesty. The first time you see yourself riding there will be instant shame, so expect that.

" I am sitting over my hands," "Riding Front to Back," " Not Sitting Properly," etc. etc.
But because you can see the obvious errors they will be the easiest to fix. Then you'll find yourself reaching a plateau of sorts without some extra help.

This could come from a trainer or self education through good DVDs and books. Again select your material carefully and focus on one thing at a time. And here I will give one of our first advertisers a plug - who just happen to have the largest online selection of quality horse books and DVDs with frank reviews too. Check out TheHorseStudio.com The International Equestrian Shop. Just as it is silly to run around auditing every clinic in creation and never riding in front of a good trainer because it is not the way to improve, running around watching every video and trainer method in creation is not helpful either. When a clinician is instructing the riding student in a clinic, it is not just about what they suggest the rider do but the timing of when they make the suggestion and the method of correction if the student doesn't 'get it'. You can learn a lot from following a series of DVDs that takes you on a diligent path from basics to advanced. And just because you are an advanced rider don't think there aren't a myriad of bad habits or wrongly learned riding faux pars that you can't now recognize and re-learn.

When you reach the advanced levels and train with a big name or Olympic trainer etc. you will always hear that you need to address basics. That is true for everyone. So don't be surprised when you look at a video of yourself and say, "Hey - I see what happened but don't know quite what I did wrong."

So use the dull days of winter to start up your education, get some videos of your work in the saddle and evaluate yourself with a keen eye.

Happy Riding!