 |
home » Denver » 2010 » special_events.php |  |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following artists are represented by Design Specialties (Katherina Kalman):
The Rocky Mountain Horse Expo is produced by the Colorado Horse Council, and takes place at the National Western Complex in Denver. For more information, visit www.RockyMountainHorseExpo.com or call (303) 292-4981. The RMHE thanks artist Susan Williams for her help in arranging for this show. For art inquiries, contact the artists individually through their websites. Arts & Crafts FairRocky Mountain Horse Expo New Beginnings Colt Starting with Jason Patrick
Enter trainer and competitor Jason Patrick, from Steamboat Springs, CO, who plans to cure this problem for a dozen or so raw recruits—two-year-olds without the first whisper of training—at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in Denver this March. “It’s daunting for most people to take on an unstarted young one,” Jason admits. “We hope this will improve the outcomes for these horses.” Working with several Front Range area rescue organizations, Jason and his crew from Whispering Willows Ranch will bring all the colts together for group and individual sessions in front of Expo audiences. “After we work with them for a few days,” Jason says, “we should have a good sense of who they are as horses.” Jason hopes the event will draw the attention of appropriate adopters who will continue to fit the colts up for useful careers. At the very least, the horses will return to their foster situations more easily handled and ready to learn. According to Jason, “There’s a certain period in a young horse’s life where learning comes most easily. We hope to catch that window in these horses’ lives.” It’s a win-win situation at the Expo: colts get a great new start and the audience will get lessons—hours of them—in colt handling from the seasoned Patrick and his ranch hands.
Jason hopes the audience will track the horses over the three days and see how much individualizing goes into the handling of each horse. “In some ways, we tailor the method to the colt,” he says. “If people see that, then they realize how much it’s up to them, working with horses, to read the horse and to be responsible for shaping the lesson to the horse. There aren’t any formulas for it—just feel.” And experience. Jason and his crew start about 200 horses at Whispering Willows Ranch every year, most of which go on to compete successfully, do solid ranch work, or become treasured recreational mounts. The “New Beginnings Colt Starting” will be held for several hours daily in the Stadium Arena, so visitors can get a realistic look at the slow and steady work that goes into giving a young horse a sensible and wise start. If things get a little bit Western—and why wouldn’t they, with 10-12 youngsters together in the arena?—then the event won’t just be informative. It won’t just be exciting. It will be fun! Meet the Whispering Willows Ranch Team: Jason Patrick: Jason is a ranch-raised Colorado cowboy who discovered natural horsemanship as a teenager working on ranches in northern California. Jason has professionally trained horses for the past 16 years and has developed his own style of horsemanship that has been noticed and appreciated by people across the country. Whether they were admired competing in ranch rodeos or Ranch Horse Versatility competitions, or completing everyday ranch work, Jason's horses have always spoken for themselves and thus Jason's reputation has grown. Jason has been featured on CMT, RFD-TV and numerous radio programs and in national publications, and is popular at horse expos and clinics throughout North America. Jason's specialty and what he is most known for is starting young horses. Jason has started approximately 2000 horses in his life and that is his true passion. Scott Whinfrey: Raised in suburban California, Scott was a cowboy without a horse until he was teenager. Knowing all he wanted to do was be a cowboy, Scott worked ranches in Oregon while attending college, then he set out on a world-wide adventure to learn horsemanship. Scott worked ranches in Australia, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, and at each new destination he left his tack home and did the work the way of the locals. Those experiences, combined with two years back in the US training world class reining and reined cow horses, have made Scott an excellent horseman and a great addition to the Whispering Willows Ranch training program. Scott specializes in reined cowhorse and Ranch Horse Versatility competitions; watch for him out on the road showing some nice young horses this summer. After long days of instruction and learning, Scott plays the guitar and sings cowboy songs to the delight of our clinic participants. Jason Burns: A ranch-raised cowboy who discovered the benefits of natural horsemanship, Jason used to train team roping horses, produce team roping events, play pickup man with Mexican fighting bulls, and chase cows all over the mesas of western Colorado. Now, by focusing on the horsemanship side of performance, Jason watches his times consistently getting faster, and he no longer needs tie-downs, correctional bits, or other “gadgets.” Jason's specialty is softening, calming, and balancing arena performance horses, which is not always an easy task. Jason has been traveling around competing in team roping all this summer on a horse ridden in a traditional hackamore. Vera Walliser: Raised in Switzerland, Vera came to the US to attend college. Growing up riding English gave Vera real natural balance and a nice seat on a horse. Vera has spent two summers working for Whispering Willows Ranch learning to train and ride horses “naturally” in the western way and is an extremely well rounded young trainer. Vera will be finishing college this year and wants to spend more time learning the art of horsemanship. An attractive young woman, Vera doesn’t fit the mold of what some of us think of as a horse trainer—she comes complete with tattoos, piercings and fluency in four languages. Tack Louthan: Tack is a young cowboy who is just learning the trade of training horses. Tack just finished a two-year college horse training program and is beginning to train his own young horses. Tack grew up being rough and rowdy on a large ranch and that background helps add to his natural feel for horses. Tack, who builds his own gear including his saddle, bridle, and reins, is really a nice young man with a little bit of a wild spirit, just like the horses he rides. advertisement
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reining freestyle champions will slide, spin and stop, and team penners will move cows with style and finesse. Vaulters will leap, dressage champions will dance, and draft horses will chase each other—and their sleds—in thundering gallops. Ardent for Appaloosas or avid for Arabians? Curious about Cobs? A fan of Fjords? The Mane Event includes an alphabet of breeds, disciplines and talents, showcasing horses at the top of their form.
The Rocky Mountain Horse Expo is pleased to announce the artists selected to be featured at “Equine Art in the Park,” an art show celebrating the spirit of the horse, to be featured at the Expo, March 12-14, in Denver. Those who enjoy their equine experience outside AND indoors won’t want to miss the impressive show and sale representing today’s finest contemporary artists. 
Within the crowded herds at many rescues are numerous young horses whose desirability is limited simply by their lack of training. Some have good potential for useful careers—they just need a “new beginning.” 
While the foundation principles are the same for training every horse, it’s important, according to Jason, to understand that each horse is unique and should be taught accordingly. “We’re fortunate in the Expo to have the advantage of time. This isn’t a competition, and there’s no clock,” Jason points out. “We can give each horse what it needs and at the pace it can accept it. Not all the horses might get ridden, but some will be ready to ride after very little work. It’s up to us to gauge what each horse is ready for.” .jpg&contenttype=jpeg "Brighton Feed & Saddlery")
 |
|
|
 |
