Dances With Horses Newsletters

Dances With Horses Inc. Newsletter

There is just something about spring that feels good. The days are getting longer and the weather, while unpredictable, is always inching out of darkness and cold in the direction of warmth and longer days. Our horses sure know what is coming and can feel quite frisky as they shed off their winter coats. One day or even hour of that day, it is winter with snow and freezing rain. The next brings sun and warm breezes. This can play havoc on horse’s psyches as they try to adjust to the sudden swings. And you will feel this if you are riding. So pay close attention to the weatherman and what your horses are telling you. Keeping your horses’ minds engaged on the task at hand gives them little time to get into trouble. The idle mind is the devil’s playground. A busy horse listening and feeling of you is a focused, happy horse that stays out of trouble! Bringing your horses back into work after winter must be done quite consciously since many horses have been idle for some months. Be fair about not pushing too hard too fast as your horses get back into shape. Walking and trotting uphill achieve fitness much faster than cantering. Have your horses’ feet taken care of and get the spring vaccinations, worming, etc out of the way sooner than later. And do not push a horse hard after worming and vaccinations. Taking time on the ground to establish your leadership is of utmost importance. A horse that respects our ground commands is more likely to do the same in the saddle. We culminate our program with a couple graceful exercises we call Ballet. These two maneuvers connect brains and feet in constructive use of energy while promoting the safety of the horse and rider. When the horse is right, he’ll invite the ride. And this is precisely what my 7 Step Safety System is all about. Control begets Confidence which leads to advanced Communication, hence the 3- C’s!

One of the procedures I’ve added to my clinics prior to riding is searching for back pain, which unfortunately occurs with too many horses. Simply running your index finger, supported by your thumb, down either side of the spine about 2” from the center or using a nickel on edge in the same spot, will predictably locate problem areas as the horse flinches or ducks out from that pain. And don’t sugar-coat it. Use enough pressure to find out. Circular massage and T-touch, Linda Tellington Jones healing techniques, can help sometimes in minutes, though many horses are in need of professional attention. A client recently advised that after dialoging with us about her horse acting out, it was discovered that the poor animal had five broken vertebrae in her neck so do not neglect the entire horse when analyzing problem areas.  Chiropractors, equine massage therapists, and dentists are thriving for very real reasons. Seek help if in doubt, but learn to locate problems. Horses – just like humans – can have pain appear in one area that actually originates from another.  As an example, improper foot care for the horse could ultimately show up in the back so be on the lookout for whole body soundness.   And if you’re considering an equine career, consider the above-mentioned professions. They pay well and are a wonderful compliment to training horses. In my opinion, the pad between the horse’s back and your saddle is the most important piece of equipment you need to own. Don’t skimp here. We use and recommend Supracor pads and Synergist saddles. These manufacturers truly care about your horse’s protection and comfort and yours as well. We can help you find the right saddle and pad and save your money in the process; just let us know your desires. Equine dentistry is paramount as well. Horses backing irrationally, rearing, and even going over backwards are sure signs of dental issues. Imagine a steel bit in your mouth with pointed teeth that are digging into your tongue or the side of your mouth? Learn to check your horse’s teeth on a regular basis or have them checked by a competent person. This is serious business.

We are now full-swing into our clinic season for 2009, beginning with a series of four clinics in Australia in late March and the first half of April. Australians are hungry for natural horsemanship and have a good number of excellent trainers educating horse people throughout the country. With Tim Chamberlain and Willem Koekemoer teaching our system, we have a good toe hold in that country.

Back in the USA, below are a list of upcoming clinics beginning with another 7-Day at White Stallion. These full weeks are really special with hands-on horses in the mornings. Afternoons we cover the endless topics that surround the equine. Nutrition, foot care, pain assessment and management, saddle fitting, vices, horse suitability, and exploring the nuances of varying horse disciplines are thoroughly dissected. Breakfast rides into the mystical Arizona desert and team penning are highlights for all.
Our next 7-Day Intensive will take place April 19-26, 2009. Don’t miss this opportunity to live your dream with horses and like-minded people.

• April 19-26 Intensive clinic at White Stallion Ranch,    Tucson, Arizona
• May 2-3 Gentle Solutions clinic at Moonraker Stables in Catlett, VA.
• May 9-10 Gentle Solutions clinic in Madisonville, PA
• May 16-17, 23-24, 30-31 are presently available clinic dates

 I’ll be working privately with individuals at my home ranch in Ashton, Idaho during the summer and fall.

If you have any interest in attending or helping organize a clinic, please contact Dances With Horses. All clinics will be posted at the schedule link at:

Clinics Schedule

Discover the Horse You Never Knew I am queried time after time for the name of my DVD that highlights my 7 Step Safety System. The title is “Discover the Horse You Never Knew” and it is a remarkably accurate description of this renowned work. Time after time viewers apply the simple exercises and are rewarded with dramatically more compliant, happy, willing horses. Most importantly, I’ve simplified the principals of natural horsemanship with this work and the entire collection as well. This DVD is a valuable asset to every single horse person’s library.   New Book- The Horses Who Touched My Heart   I’ve written a number of articles about the exceptional horses and circumstances that surrounded their lives and recovery. We’re in the final edit stages of creating a book of these heart-warming stories. Watch my site for the release of this newest work. Gift Certificates We are now offering gift certificates in any amount. This is a great chance to help your favorite horse person achieve their goals. They have the flexibility to choose the product that most fits their needs.   Video of Month Club For those just becoming familiar with my Gentle Solutions approach to communicating with these wonderful creatures, our Video of the Month Club is a sensible option. With 12 works and a book, you’ll receive a new work every month to absorb before the next one arrives. This is a fabulous way to learn the life-long journey called Horsemanship. Video of the Month Link   Bob Claymier’s “Complete Guide to Horse Breeding, Foaling and Foal Training”.   This 3 DVD set contains over four hours of information that the first time or inexperienced horse breeder will find essential before embarking on such an effort. Bob’s main purpose for the project was to add to the body of knowledge on the subject as it may be the most comprehensive set of information available from a layman’s viewpoint.  The secondary goal was to help owners be more responsible breeders because we often see mares that should not reproduce being bred to stallions that should have already been gelded.  Horses are too precious of an animal to produce one that may be unwanted or unloved. If you are considering breeding your mare, now is the time of year to have her thoroughly examined by your veterinarian to ensure she has no reproductive issues.  You will also have time to adjust her body condition either up or down before the spring breeding season.  You should also be evaluating various stallions and signing applicable contracts.  These are just a few of the topics covered in this highly acclaimed and informative package.  Bob’s DVD can be purchased through his website – www.desert-rose-arabians.com plus I am also offering it on my own website where it can be found under “Horse Training Packages”.       Forco Nutritional Supplement I’ve had fits keeping weight on Lakota Breeze, my 23 yr. Anglo/Arab. In May I began using Forco Nutritional in earnest, adding a couple scoops a day to Lakota’s feed. He was recently praised by a knowledgeable vet as in almost perfect condition! Forco enhances the bio flora in the horse’s digestive system, thereby making better use of the food. Stool size is reduced dramatically, indicating more efficient digestion. The site for more information on this cutting-edge product is: Forco Nutritional Supplement With a heavy heart, sadly Lakota’s time was up last month. We had 22 spectacular years as a team. In the last years of his life he carried handicapped kids, inexperienced riders, and me for one last ride into our favorite place on the planet in Yellowstone. That ride will always be unforgettable. That horse my inspiration. Telephone/Email Consulting Our accredited instructors have alternate horse-related talents. We list each instructor’s specific skills with a link to their own explanation. From there you may email or call them or if geography is on your side, make a physical appointment. These instructors have spent years acquiring this knowledge so will likely need to be remunerated for their time. Our goal is to share our knowledge at every level so horses and humans may reach their true potential. BE AS GENTLE AS POSSIBLE AND AS FIRM AS NECESSARY- TOM DORRANCE     JOHN SHARP PASSES AWAY One of my most inspiring mentors, John Sharp passed away in mid February. John pioneered using a bamboo pole to gentle wild horses many decades ago. I produced a great DVD with John on this subject and captured a rare interview as he shared his journey that began in his teens as he rode a freight train to Oregon from Oklahoma. John’s Pole Gentling method is easily the most humane and expedient approach to helping these wild creatures learn to cope with and understand humans. While John hasn’t actively trained horses for some time, his wisdom and legacy continue to spread throughout the globe. More about John can be learned from viewing Ryan Bell’s Blog in Western Horseman by going to – www.westernhorseman.com.   And speaking of John Sharp, his wisdom saved a life last year. John informed his attentive listeners years ago about flipping over onto your stomach in the event of a foot being caught in the stirrup in a run-away situation. Doing just that will release the foot. One of my clinic organizers was recently in that situation. Her horse slipped and went down. She went off to the side and couldn’t scramble fast enough to get her foot from the stirrup before the horse stood up and bolted from the fright of it all. She had remembered this tip from our clinic and it truly did save her life!   ACCREDITATION   As interest in natural horsemanship explodes worldwide, more and more horsemen are gravitating toward our program. Time and again the simplicity and predictable results of our 7 Steps prevails. While there are numerous programs to choose from, no one has made it more understandable. Those that master our program are suddenly empowered. They quickly become confidently assertive and strong leaders, which is exactly what their horses are craving. ACCREDITATION PROGRAM With dozens of trainers spanning the globe on the road to accreditation, our ranks are expanding. Our goal is to have 7-Step Safety Instructors in barns and stables worldwide. We invite you to explore this option. This is not complicated nor does it take years of tests, levels, and huge funds to master. We instill assertiveness in our instructors. They teach our proven logical set of exercises so that horses and riders can travel in confidence, instead of fear. This is about having a simple plan before riding that dramatically heightens horse/rider safety in the saddle. This is about turning safety into an artful dance called “Ballet in the Saddle” as the duo performs this graceful maneuver that uses the horse’s energy constructively while promoting again . . . safety. Achieving accreditation status is a whole lot more than mastering the system. I think of it as a pie divided into thirds. The first third is all about perfecting our 7 Step Safety System and being able to teach it to others. When you teach something, you’ve learned it twice. The second part of the equation is a general knowledge of horses, tack, nutrition and the almost endless details we all need to keep learning as horsemanship evolves. Competent riding is part of this section as well. You must ride reasonably well to be taken seriously. The third part is portraying a high level of professionalism. This all goes a long way in the credibility category.   We are presently designing a franchise program that will include a week at White Stallion Ranch as trainers perfect our safety system with endless horses. Once accredited, the trainer will have our support and format to conduct clinics and market our product line to their own following worldwide. We also recognize the importance of youth participation in any horse related activity as they are the future of the endeavor.  We would, therefore, like to invite representatives from youth groups or other younger riders who have a passion for horses to actively become involved in our 7SSS program. . Accreditation Certification Link:

Every week I receive requests for donations from horse rescue programs, trail improvement, and handicapped riding. We simply cannot help every one of these fine organizations, so have decided to create our own charitable fund. This will allow us to survey the requests and help the organizations that are really making a difference.

We invite your tax deductible donations as well as your requests for help. The organization must be a registered 501c-3 entity with a clear vision and strong management.

Thanks to all those kind souls who have helped our cause throughout the past year.

Please visit our charitable link at:

Charitable Donations

With spring being the essence of this newsletter, many owners are turning their thoughts to breeding their mares.  As someone who is actively involved in breeding programs and in helping others in the same area, I am always amazed at how cavalier many approach the subject.  If one were baking a cake, you wouldn’t purposely go to the store and buy anything but the freshest and best ingredients available.  Such is not always the case in the horse breeding world however as mares that should never reproduce are often bred to stallions that should have been gelded.  An owner must further ask themselves if they have the time, money, facilities and experience to start a project that will be years before the foal they produce is a mature riding companion.  One might be better off buying a weanling or yearling where they could still have the amazing experience of raising a young horse but would be able to pick the gender preferred and be able to tell something about its’ color, conformation and temperament – none of which are highly predictable when breeding from scratch and you can be further guaranteed that it will be an order of magnitude cheaper.  (Many of these topics are covered in my new DVD release which is discussed elsewhere in this newsletter.)  Bob Claymier.

Thanks to all those kind souls who have helped our cause throughout the past year.

Remember - Your success is our success

All the best from the whole gang at Dances With Horses. Safe Riding.

Frank Bell & Dances With Horses

Spring 2009

Upcoming Events

Private Consulting - Internationally

Frank Bell's complete 2009 schedule

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“Empower your self to empower your horse” Frank Bell

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