Thomas Equestrian Services since 1987

Trick Horse Course

Luke is currently breaking in horses at Oberon full time until the 1st May 2010 after which he will commence work as the Stockman/Entertainer at The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach until October 2010.

I believe that If you ask a well broken in and educated horse to turn and face you, the horse should turn and face you. There shouldn't be an issue, an argument or a fight. I believe the same for countless other tasks that you ask your horse to do from loading onto a float, to side passing over to open a gate. The person should present the request in a way that the horse understands, the request should be presented to the horse politely and the horse should respond in a kind and understanding manner, knowing that it will be rewarded by a release of pressure or some other kind of reward for cooperating.

 

This is with the understanding that the horse and it's rider have a good, healthy working relationship. I believe that these usual requests are not too much to ask. Teaching your horse to load onto a float is no harder than teaching your horse to bow. Teaching your horse to lay down is no harder than teaching your horse to side pass across to open a gate. To teach the Spanish walk is really no harder than teaching the horse to pick up its left or right lead, so therefore, there is really no real reason why you can't ask your horse to do these things and have him respond in the same kind and understanding manner that he or she would for any other request.

The only problem you're faced with is that you may not know anyone who can teach you how.

Well, I might just be able to help you out there. Over the next few months I will be conducting a series of clinics in major centre's on the East Coast of Australia. At these clinics I will be teaching the techniques that are involved in trick horse training.

 

 

Some of the topics covered are as follows:

• Building the foundation for a better form of communication between you and your horse.
• Shaping behavior and recognising opportunities that present themselves.
• Creating the bow.
• Taking the bow to the lay down.
• Taking the lay down to a sitting position.
• How to ask your horse to smile.
• How to ask your horse to whinny on request.
• Increasing the value of your horse.
• Leading the horse by the forelock.
• Leading the horse backward by the tail.
• How to ask your horse to pick up your hat.
• How to ask your horse to stand on a pedestal.
• Free lunging, free jumping as well as teaching how I get horses to line up as seen in these photo's.

In my master classes I will be discussing and demonstrating how to teach piaffe, passarge and levarde as well as the Spanish walk.

The cost is $25 for fence sitters and $125 for participants per day.
For bookings and enquiries please contact Luke during business hours on 02 4454 3872 or ideally by email on info@horsetamer.com.au.

Participant + Complimentary Fence Sitter

Fence Sitter

If you don't want to wait until I'm in your area, you may be interested in one of my DVD's or perhaps in some private lessons here at Big Tree Farm.
Accommodation is available as well as stabling for your horse or you might like to use one of our horses.

Best of luck and I hope to see you
soon.
May the Horse be with you,
Luke

The Tale Of Two Horses

This is the tale of two horses Horse One and Horse Two. Horse One is a chestnut gelding 7 years old 14.2 hands high. He's good to catch, shoe and float, has a soft mouth and a kind disposition.

Horse One has been to lots of shows gymkhanas and pony club. He's won his fair share of ribbons but sadly his owner has out grown him and has moved on to a larger horse and now Horse One is going to waste in the paddock. His owners decide to sell him and place advertisements in the local paper and on the internet.
They think that he's worth somewhere between $3,000 to $4,000.

Horse Two looks almost identical to Horse One and 
has been to the same shows, gymkhanas and pony club as Horse One, is good to catch shoe and float as well and is also a kindly going little horse.
Sadly Horse Two's owner has out grown him and he's put on the market as well.
Now along come our prospective buyers, the Jones family who are looking for a new horse for their daughter who in turn has outgrown her pony and are looking for something bigger. They have bought along their daughters riding instructor to look at the horses that they're interested in to be sure they don't buy something that's not suitable.
The Jones's Look at Horse One and find him difficult to fault. He appears to be quiet in every sense of the word and willing to please. The instructor's suitably impressed and they tell Horse One's owner they seriously consider buying him but they want to look at few more horses first.

The Jones' then go and look at Horse Two who is also put through his paces and they're also very impressed with him. Horse Two's owner then gently taps Horse Two on the back of the leg, Horse Two bows most politely. The owner tightens the reins a little and Horse Two lays down. With a bit of a cluck Horse Two rises up into a sitting position. Horse Two's owner then removes the bridle from Horse Two and turns him loose in the arena, she points to a tractor tyre in the middle of the arena and clucks. Horse Two trots over to the tyre and places his front feet up on the tyre looking very proud of himself. 
"That's not all" say's Horse Two's owner and removing her hat she throws her hat in the general direction of Horse Two who picks up the hat in it's teeth and brings the hat back to the owner. After a few more tricks like spanish  walking, smiling, whinnieing on cue, which horse do you think the Jones's decide upon?