A Baby Boomer Dreams of Arabian Horses - Rhythm's Story - The Plan

Part One of the Baby Boomer Series

Rhythm's Story starts here

After the intial problems with Rhythm refusing to get into the trailer, I really didn't get many calls about the Arabian horse's behavior. It appeared that once Brittany and Rich got a handle on drawing the line with this pushy horse that things were moving right along. I was only to learn later of some of the stunts that he pulled but evidently they felt that they had him figured out and were on the right track.

When they had first purchased the horse, the plan had been that Brittany would ride him three days a week and the young trainer would work him two. The young trainer would put the horse into the bridle when he was fitted up and ready for that step. For show season the following year, both would show the horse, the trainer in the open division and Brittany in the amateur.

Somewhere along this road, things went south. The trainer decided that she needed to have a contract signed and approximately $3000 to be involved with this horse. She didn't seem to care that this was the kind of horse that would make her a name as a trainer. She was more interested in the money regardless of whether the Baker's could afford it or not. So that was the end of the affiliation with the trainer.

While Brittany felt comfortable riding Rhythm on her own, this three day schedule was not what was best for the horse. The other problem was that Brittany had never put a horse into the full bridle before. Rhythm was clearly the kind of a horse that could easily be ruined by not understanding this process or his reactions to it. Brittany needed help.

For me, the Arabian trainer on the east coast that I was most impressed with was Tommy Garland. After two different clinics with the man (one in which he had actually worked with Rhythm) and a lot of study of his training DVD's, Tommy Garland and his CPR for horses was definitely my recommendation. I knew how Rhythm would respond to such work after his experience with Harvey Jacobs. http://risingrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/01/lesson-5-harvey-jacobs-arabian-horses.html

So Rich Baker got on the phone to make arrangements to take Rhythm and Brittany down to Garland's in Virginia. Because Tommy does the show for RFD-TV and also trains and shows horses, finding a time in his schedule that would work for Brittany to bring her horse down for for help took some doing.

Rich did get an appointment set up the first part of September (actually over the Labor Day weekend). Rich would drive the rig since Brittany doesn't haul the horse trailer. Rich and Brittany would stay for three days. That way Brittany would be able to get three lessons with Tommy and Brittany would be able to hang around the farm each day watching how the horses were worked. It would be like her own personal clinic.

In the meantime, Brittany continued to work the horse on her three days away from work. Rhythm was getting more fit and Brittany was getting an idea about all of his buttons. The only problem seemed to be that Rhythm would get off the trailer at the farm where she rode and scream his lungs out. The horse was convinced that he was there for mares and not work. Once she got on his back the horse would go to work. After he was ridden he would behave and act like a gelding, but those first minutes off the trailer were Rhythm being naughty!

The barn that Brittany hauls in to ride is a warmblood barn. Arabian horses are not usually of much interest to the people there but this particular Arabian was stirring up a lot of attention. Some thought he was crazy because he was naughty if taken down the barn ailse, but others were intrigued by the horse's charisma once he went to work.

Rich says in most of the time they've been bringing horses to this barn to ride, they've never gotten much attention. But every time they show up with Rhythm someone has to come to watch. It was soon clear to Rich how strong Rhythm's charisma really is..........

to be continued............

Tommy Garland's

The above picture of Rhythm was taken here on my farm. The significance of this picture is it is the one that brought Brittany and Rich Baker to us looking at Rhythm in the first place.




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