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FREE HHoorrssee RReevviieeww independent press Photo by Jamie Evans, Ames Plantation VOL. 29 • NO. 7 The Mid-South Equine Newsmagazine Since 1992 MARCH 2019 2. March, 2019 • ©Mid-South Horse Review • www.midsouthhorsereview.com ON THe C OVeR : tiffany genre with her black horse “dark knight” and Horse Review march 2019 pointer touch’s Adam’s County, owned by richard peterson and handled by randy Anderson, just before the breakaway Equus Charta, LLC ContentS • v ol . 29 • n o. 7 of the afternoon brace, tues. feb. 12 at the 2019 national Copyright 2019 The luck of the Irish horses & ponies to ya! Championship at Ames plantation. ( photo by Jamie Evans ) 6220 greenlee #4 p.o. Box 594 Arlington, tn 38002-0594 901-867-1755 PUBliSHeR & e DiTOR : Tom & Dr. Nancy Brannon STAFF : Andrea Gilbert WeBSiTe : www.midsouthhorsereview.com e- MAilS : midsouthhorsereview@ yahoo.com [email protected] Nancy Brannon photo Ryan Braddock (center) sets out with the three field trial judges (orange vests) Jessica Parsons at the Valentine’s Day af - on the Valentine’s afternoon brace at the National Championship. See page 28 ternoon brace at the National Champi - onship. (Nancy Brannon photo ) ARTiCleS & PHOTOS WelCOMeD: we welcome contributions features : from writers and horse people, Southern equine expo 12 but cannot guarantee Shrine CirCuS 13 publication or return of Mounted ArChery 22 manuscripts or photos. reproduction of editorial St Jude BArrel JAM 25 content, photographs or nAtionAl ChAMpionShip 28 advertising is strictly prohibited without written events • shows : permission of the publisher. dreSSAge 14 eDiTORiAl POliCY: hunterS /J uMperS 16 the opinions expressed in articles young riderS 19 do not necessarily reflect the Breeding 20 opinions or policy of the driving 21 Mid-South Horse Review . The St. Jude Barrel Jam attracted a multitude of barrel racers to the fundraiser expressions of differing opinions rACing 21 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. See p. 25. ( Nancy Brannon photo ) through letters or manuscript CowBoyS & C owgirlS 23 submissions are welcome. field triAlS 28 DeADliNe for APRil issue: MAR. 22 departments : Book nook 4 MSHR eNViRONMeNTAl STATeMeNT horSe heAlth CAre 8 the Mid-South Horse Review strives to trAining & p erforMAnCe 31 lighten our environmental footprint. we reuse, reener AStureS recycle, compost, and seek the most environ - g p 33 mentally friendly processes and materials for ClASSifiedS 35 our newsmagazine. printed on recycled con - ulletin oArd tent newsprint with soy ink and no binding, the B B 36-37 MShr is 100% recyclable. CAlendAr of eventS 38-39 our printer strives to be environmentally benign with recycling, using eco-friendly We greatly THANK all contributors printmaking inks and solvents, and no press - to this issue and to our advertisers who room voCs (volatile organic compounds). make this publication possible! Please patronize our advertisers and SUBSCRiPTiONS to the Roper at the Muddy River Classic, Feb. 8-10 in Memphis, TN. See p. 24 let them know that you appreciate their Mid-South Horse Review are (photo by Gary & Carol Cox ) support of the Mid-South Horse Review . available by first class mail for $35 annually. To subscribe, send payment to: PleASe liKe US ON FACeBOOK deadline : for April P.O. Box 594, Arlington TN AT THe MiD -S OUTH HORSe ReVieW 38002-0594 issue : MAR. 22 at 5 pM Phone: (901) 867-1755 FiND MUCH MORe ON FACeBOOK & OUR WeBSiTe : www.midsouthhorsereview.com www.midsouthhorsereview.com • ©Mid-South Horse Review • March, 2019 3. 4. March, 2019 • ©Mid-South Horse Review • www.midsouthhorsereview. com Book nook conditioning. “horses live and think in the Two Brains: moment.” As “a horse is given a stimulus (a cue), a neurological pathway is created, and when the correct response is produced One Aim repeatedly, the pathway becomes stronger. Review by Nancy Brannon the neurological process produces a sub - stance called myelin , which wraps itself it is apropos that the book reviewed in around the nerve that is delivering the our March issue is by an irishman – eric message and insulates it. the more the Smiley, with ellie hughes. A world class pathway is used, the more insulated it be - eventer, he was irish field event rider of comes, so the faster the message travels the year in 1982 and was selected for the down the pathway and, therefore, the irish team in 1985 for the european horse’s reflex becomes quicker.” Championships at Burghley. he has repre - in starting the young horse, “under - sented ireland at two european Champi - standing the horse’s natural instincts is onships, gaining team bronze medal on fundamental to the process,” he writes. each occasion. he has participated in three “By understanding these instincts, it is world equestrian games; has been on four aim is to improve the relationship between whirlwind” of devices through which we possible to avoid the behaviors you don’t olympic teams competing at Barcelona coach and rider and horse, and to commu - are bombarded with so much information, want to produce and nurture the ones that and Atlanta; and has been consistent and nicate with more clarity. By “coach,” he but it usually comes in the form of “sound are helpful. …the horse has a right to ex - regular participant at Burghley and Bad - means “whomever in your life provides bites,” through which we jump from topic pect that you will be consistent every time minton. he is an fei international Judge guidance and advises. …good horseman - to topic. using this method, we really you ask something of him. …horses are and director of the international eventing ship should be at the forefront of every - don’t get or retain much in-depth knowl - very receptive to praise, but they also forum. i write this to make manifest his body’s mind; it is the art of understanding edge of a topic, and it leads us to develop know when they have not performed well lifetime of successful experience with the horse, his welfare, and how you inter - a loss of (or short) attention span. to man - when the rider ‘growls’ or gives a sharp horses. But his eventing background and act and care for him.” age this information, we need “mind map - nudge of the leg aid. it is important to be interests notwithstanding, he writes this his specialist discipline of eventing re - ping,” he says, which is a “filing system” demonstrative at both ends of the scale so book for riders of any/all disciplines. early quires him to be “proficient in the training in our brain that “enables us to retrieve in - the horse is quite clear as to what consti - on he recounts his encounter with world and execution” of three riding disciplines: formation at the appropriate time, when tutes good and bad responses and behav - record-holding barrel racer nicole dressage, cross-country, and show jump - we need it.” in this section he includes a ior.” Aichele. “the encounter left me thinking ing. But the principles laid forth in this humorous sidebar about “gimmicky next, Smiley goes into a discussion of how much we have in common despite our book apply to all riding disciplines. his gadgets.” “partnership vs. dictatorship.” he defines disciplines seemingly being worlds book is “designed to help people learn Smiley writes: “education is a subject partnership as “when two individuals, apart…” how to process information, understand that fascinates me,” as it does me. i am a each fully understanding their role, work his aim is clear from the introduction, their horses, and be more self-sufficient in constant learner from a variety of sources. together” toward a common end result. and his book could be re-titled “Becoming their journey toward becoming [better ] Smiley draws some words of wisdom “the only reason that a horse joins your a thinking rider.” his goal is to help rid - horsemen and horsewomen.” from John Abbott, from his “Battling for partnership is his generosity of spirit…” ers figure out how to learn . the other goal his first chapter is a discussion of how the Soul of education” ( The NAMTA Jour - from this point Smiley explains how to is to clarify and simplify communication humans learn, which is quite different nal , 2015): “…the better educated people make this partnership work and the pro - – between rider and coach and between from how horses learn. here he offers are, the less they need to be told what to gressive training process of a series of rider and horse. “My life is spent watch - three methods, or mental techniques, for do…” in that vein, then, Smiley writes that steps that logically follow one another to ing horses and riders and how they inter - the input, retention, and retrieval of infor - “coaches need to explore the minds of build upon a secure foundation. he fol - act,” he writes.”it is important to mation, which includes the all important horse and rider, and find a way to enable lows with specific techniques and regimen understand how we learn, how horses “delete box” – to get rid of the huge vol - all parties to have a shared understanding.” for building this foundation. learn, and how information is imparted, re - ume of extraneous information we receive. Chapter four explains how horses learn, Chapter six offers advice on how to find tained, and retrieved in a useful way.” his here he delves into the “technological and his explanation reads a bit like operant (Continued on page 6 ) www.fergusthehorse.com www.midsouthhorsereview.com • ©Mid-South Horse Review • March, 2019 5. 6. March, 2019 • ©Mid-South Horse Review • www.midsouthhorsereview. com Two Brains One Aim (Cont. from p. 4 ) ing, competition psychology, and rider the appropriate horse partner and avoid the preparation.