A Day in the Life of an Arabian Horse Breeder - the Clinic

I got up early here to get my Arabian horses fed and a couple of stalls cleaned before I headed off for the clinic. My plan was to stay at the clinic for just a short time and then head home to be with Lindsay again. But when I called home to check in Lindsay had company on the way to visit so that meant I could stay longer.

I had seen Chuck Kraft speak at the Region 5 mini convention and could tell that what he taught was a lot like what I have learned working with Harvey Jacobs. I had only heard a small portion of his presentation back in January so I was looking forward to seeing what he did with an actual horse in hand.

I knew it probably wouldn't be an Arabian horse because it was a benefit clinic for Judy Mitton. She rides endurance and is a member of the Back Country Horsemen so the odds were the horses would come from that connection.

In case you're wondering if I think dealing with Arabian horses makes a difference, I certainly do. I've expressed some of my opinions on that subject in one of my earliest posts Are Arabian Horses Different from Other Horses?
In addition to the things I said there Arabian horses are also capable of thinking of two things at the same time so working with them to get their undivided attention can be more difficult than other horses. I can learn a lot more that is helpful in working with my Arabian horses by seeing how other Arabian horses are handled and how they react to the techniques used.

So imagine my delight when the first horse that came off the trailer turned out to be an Arabian horse. It was an 8 year old gelding who had gone to a trainer as a youngster. The horse had been sent home after only one week as too crazy to be trained. But then knowing that trainer, my thoughts are the Arabian horse was better off that he had been spared the so called methods of that particular trainer.

The horse came off the trailer looking like he hadn't been any place during his lifetime. He was wide eyed and snorting but looking like he was trying to pay attention to his owner. It was going to be interesting to see Chuck Kraft use his methods to get this horse ready to be started under saddle.

So whodda thunk when I got up this morning, I'd not only get a break from home for a few hours but I'd actually get to see not 1 but 2 Arabian horses getting worked in natural horsemanship. Lindsay had a friend come to visit and her sister came out for a while as well and I got most of the day to myself doing what I like best......horse stuff. I didn't get to ride but this was almost as good!

I know I'm going to make you all crazy by saying this but I'm going to pick this up tomorrow. By the time I got home from the clinic and got my evening chores done, I'm pretty sure I've not got enough left to do this subject justice. So I promise tomorrow I will tackle the Chuck Kraft clinic which just happens to be my first exposure to anyone trained Parelli.