(January 2023) – The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) International Conference is scheduled for October 26th – 28th in Fort Collins, Colorado in conjunction with Colorado State University Equine Sciences Foothills Campus. This event is open to the public and participants get to ride in sessions on great school horses!
CHA is now accepting speaker applications for classroom style lectures, hands-on horse demos that take place in a round pen or small arena and riding sessions where participants ride on school horses provided by the conference site. Colorado State University’s Equine Sciences Program is providing quality jumping, horsemanship, trail, hunter, and western pleasure horses! Potential speakers are asked to submit the following information: the title and a brief overview of your presentation, type of session (classroom, round pen, arena), and a speaker bio. Deadline for submission is Friday, March 10, 2023. Please send speaker submissions and direct questions to Jacqueline Tiley, jtiley@cha.horse.
Here is a list of all the speakers and their bios from last year so you can see the type of topics that our attendees are interested in, which include riding instructors, barn managers and owners, and general horse enthusiasts – 2022 Conference Speakers
CHA Equine Professionals Change Lives Through Safe Experiences with Horses. The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the horse industry. CHA certifies riding instructors and barn managers, accredits equestrian facilities, publishes educational manuals, has an educational horsemanship streaming video channel, and hosts regional and international conferences. For more information on the largest certifying body of riding instructors and barn managers in North America, Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA.horse or call 859-259-3399. To find a certified equine professional or accredited equine facility near you, visit www.CHA.horse
Kathy began as chief executive officer of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) in August 2014. For the previous 15 years, she served as executive director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, WA. She grew the previously grassroots organization from a $280,000 annual operating budget to a professional $2.1 million organization. Kathy served as PATH Intl.’s board president in the 2010-2012 term, first joining the board of trustees in 2005. She has facilitated numerous workshops and presentations on board, staff, fundraising, and strategic planning and enjoys the opportunity to share her experience, as well as learn from others. Her dedication to the field of equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) spans more than 18 years with a passion that was ignited the moment she walked through the door at her first therapeutic riding center.
Developing or Re-developing Your Board: A Roadmap for Successful Board Recruitment and Engaging Your Board for Success
Friday at 3:15 p.m.; Hilton Salon 2
Finding new board members with experience and passion and engaging with them afterward is critical to an effective board. In this session, learn strategies to identify the type of board member you need, where and how to recruit, and how to assess an applicant’s potential for your organization. In addition, you will learn how to engage your board for the greatest organizational return on your investment. You will leave with a roadmap to developing/redeveloping a board and engagement tools for organizational success.
Jenny Beverage
Jenny is a lifelong rider who was able to join her passion for horses with her love of marketing innovative products. When a family acquaintance died due to a head injury while riding, she became passionate about helmet safety and has been part of Troxel helmets for 15 years developing the western helmet market. he brought over 15+ years’ experience with showing and training Morgan horses in hunt seat, over fences, dressage and western pleasure, as well as her marketing background to the company. She now competes for fun in Equine Trail Sports rides, team sorting, and rides to gather cattle. Jenny, her husband, and her three children have a commercial cattle ranch in Eastern Oregon and enjoy working together on it as a family. Currently, Jenny is the Brand Manager for Troxel Helmets and also works on various projects for Troxel’s parent company, Weaver Leather, LLC.
Helmet Focus Group
Friday at 7 p.m.; Dessert Round Tables; Hilton Salon 4 and 6
What do you love and hate about helmets? Troxel wants to hear your opinion and talk about what is missing in the market, what could be better, and to get your feedback on their products.
Dr. Jerry Black
Dr. Black is a 1971 graduate of the veterinary school at Colorado State University and is currently the Director of the Equine Reproduction Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences as well as the Director of Equine Sciences in the College of Agriculture Sciences. He is a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. He is the immediate past chairman of the board of trustees of the American Horse Council and a national director of the American Quarter Horse Association. Dr. Black has received the distinguished alumnus award from Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and is an American Association of Equine Practitioners Distinguished Life Member. Dr. Black and his wife, Melinda, show cutting horses and ride in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Welcome to Colorado – American Horse Council Economic Impact Study
Friday at 2 p.m.; Hilton Salons 4 and 6
During our annual meeting, find out more about Colorado and about the current issues facing our equine industry as a nation and what our involvement brings to the overall economic impact.
Dr. Jason Bruemmer
Dr. Bruemmer grew up in the Texas horse industry and has served the industry as a scientist, researcher, lecturer, and a horseman. He has been a cornerstone of the outreach program at Colorado State University, working with breeders, owners, and clients to increase their knowledge of equine reproduction and management. He was instrumental in developing a protocol to harvest epididymal sperm from deceased stallions, allowing the owner to preserve the valuable genetics for the future. Stallion behavior, physiology, and management are major fields of interest to him. His research in the cryopreservation of semen and membrane integrity continues to work for improvement in stallion semen extenders. Stallion behavior is an often overlooked component of reproductive management and fertility assessment. An avid horseman and polo player, Dr. Bruemmer still finds time to work with the CSU polo team and finds time for the occasional chukker himself.
How to Start Polo with Your Horses and Students
Saturday at 9 a.m.; Bill Pickett Arena
Come to this session to learn the basics of starting to teach polo to your students and horses.
Karen Burbank
Karen was born and raised in Massachusetts. Having grown up schooling in dressage, jumping, and competitive trail, her interests eventually led her to Colorado, where she earned a B.S. in Equine Studies from Colorado State University. As an undergrad, Karen became involved with CHA after attending a combined clinic.polo She became a CHA Master Instructor two years later. She has spoken at CHA regional and international conferences. Karen has managed two dressage facilities, wrangled at three guest ranches, been a small and large animal vet tech, and has taught countless lessons to aspiring equestrians. For the past seven years, Karen has been the head instructor, lesson program coordinator, and dude ranch vacation specialist for Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch in Loveland, CO.
The Perfect Match: The Art of Assigning Mounts for a Large Group Riding Program on Trail and in the Arena
Sunday at 1:30 p.m.; CSU Lecture Room
In a large group riding program with various experience levels, it is critical to match horses to the right riders. Instructors and trail guides are responsible for the safety of clients. Knowing your horses and gathering essential information from riders will help assign mounts. Through a series of detail-oriented examples and scenarios, in relation to both horse-and-rider information and evaluation, you will see how to effectively and efficiently make the perfect match. If you pay close attention to details, magic might happen, and horses and humans will benefit.
Jessie Butler
Jessie has been involved in the therapeutic riding industry for most of her life. In August 2011, after her freshman year at Montana State University (MSU), she was certified by PATH Intl. She then worked as a therapeutic riding instructor at Eagle Mount in Bozeman, MT, during school, and at Front Range Exceptional Equestrians in Fort Collins, CO, during summers. Jessie competed on MSU’s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team. Jessie graduated in 2014 with honors with a B.S. in Animal Science, Emphasis of Study, Equine Science. In February 2016, Jessie achieved her CHA Certification at Level 4 English/Jumping and Level 2 Western. Currently, Jessie is the Program Manager at Front Range Exceptional Equestrians and is a therapeutic riding instructor at Hearts and Horses in Loveland, CO. In addition, she has her own lesson program.
Disabilities in the Arena: Teaching Safety, Having Fun and Achieving Success
Saturday at 9 a.m.; Adam Atkinson Arena
Having a rider with a disability in your lessons can present challenges to both the instructor and student. This presentation will highlight some tips and practical ways to help all your students achieve success safely by using creativity and adaptations for equipment and teaching techniques.
Sherry Butler
Sherry has worked in the equine-assisted activity and therapy (EAAT) industry for more than 30 years. She graduated from Colorado State University (CSU) with a B.S. in Veterinary Science and then continued to earn her DVM from CSU three years later. After graduation, she provided veterinary care as a volunteer for program horses and then became a certified PATH Intl. therapeutic riding instructor. She currently serves on the board of the Front Range Exceptional Equestrians program, a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center in Fort Collins, CO. In addition, Sherry is an instructor in the Equine Sciences program at CSU where she teaches and advises students seeking careers in EAAT as an instructor or therapist. She is the chair of the PATH International Standards Task Force.
Disabilities in the Arena: Teaching Safety, Having Fun and Achieving Success
Saturday at 9 a.m.; Adam Atkinson Arena
Having a rider with a disability in your lessons can present challenges to both the instructor and student. This presentation will highlight some tips and practical ways to help all your students achieve success safely by using creativity and adaptations for equipment and teaching techniques.
Jennifer Cole
Jennifer is a professor of Equine Studies and coach of the Ranch Horse Team at Central Wyoming College. She and her husband raise and train Quarter Horses for use on the ranch, as well as for competition. Jennifer competes in reined cow horse, versatility ranch horse, and cutting.
Simple and Flying Lead Changes
Saturday at 3 p.m.; Bill Pickett Arena
Have you ever struggled with lead changes or with teaching lead changes? Ever wondered what type of body control you need a horse to have to prepare for lead changes? We will study lead change from the horse’s prospective and how we as riders can enhance our horse’s ability to correctly and easily change leads.
Dr. Bob Coleman
Dr. Coleman graduated from the University of Manitoba with a bachelor’s in Agriculture with a major in Animal Sciences and then a Master of Science in 1978. He worked in the Canadian feed industry as a nutritionist for two major feed companies. In 1980, he became the extension horse specialist for Alberta Agriculture and completed his PhD at the University of Alberta with a focus in Equine Nutrition. In 1998, Dr. Coleman became the University of Kentucky’s equine extension specialist. He also teaches in the Equine Science and Management program, advises undergraduate students, and served as the program’s director of undergraduate studies until May 2017. He has researched voluntary forage intake of horses and the use of rotational grazing practices to meet maintenance needs of adult horses. He has worked with University of Minnesota faculty to develop the Healthy Horse app, which helps owners to estimate their horse’s current and ideal body weight. He is currently CHA’s Vice President of New Initiatives and is a Site Visitor Trainer.
What is in That Bag of Feed?
Friday at 7 p.m.; Dessert Round Tables; Hilton Salon 4 and 6
This session is a discussion on reading the feed tag to make sure you buy what you need and then use what you buy in a proper fashion. Understanding the information on the tag can help horse owners make informed decisions.
Dr. Stephen Coleman
Dr. Coleman grew up in western Canada before moving to central Kentucky in 1998. He joined the CSU Department of Animal Sciences in 2015. He is now an assistant professor of equine genetics in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. Dr. Coleman received his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology, Master of Science in Veterinary Science, and his PhD in Veterinary Science from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Coleman’s work investigating equine gene structure contributed to the sequencing and characterization of the horse genome.
Equine Genetics: How to Breed for Certain Traits such as Performance and Color
Friday at 4:30 p.m.; Hilton Aggie Room
Why were American Pharoah and Justify successful when so many others had failed? Their triumphs were the product of the trainer’s and jockey’s hard work, luck, and genetics. Studying genetics tells us how fundamental genetic differences between horses influence performance, health, and disease. This session will discuss the application of genetic principles for improved understanding of important quantitative and qualitative traits in horses. Topics discussed will include phenotypic and genetic variation, how genes work together to produce a phenotype, and selection for genetic improvement.
Elizabeth Duffy
Elizabeth is the client development manager for Camp America, the largest provider of international staff for American summer camps. She recruits riding instructors for camps all over the country each year, ensuring their knowledge will be shared with thousands of kids who will improve their riding or discover their love of horses for the first time. She grew up riding in Connecticut, and then traveled and studied throughout Europe, South America, and Central America. Since joining Camp America in 2008, Elizabeth has spearheaded web design projects, organized recruitment events overseas for hundreds of camp professionals, and worked in conjunction with the Department of State to improve standards compliance for private sector exchange programs. Elizabeth resides in Georgia, where she enjoys lake life with her dogs, Sadie and Rowan, and her beloved horses, Smudge and Molly.
International Staff: Neigh-to-Z
Friday at 7 p.m.; Dessert Round Tables; Hilton Salon 4 and 6
This session will cover arious topics on the J-1 Summer Camp Counselor program and strategies for staff success and safety in an ever-changing regulatory environment.
Jennifer Eaton
Jennifer obtained her Massachusetts Instructors License in 1992. She has a bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology and has taught all types riders. She joined the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) in 2006 as a member coach. In her third year as a coach, she took a volunteer position as regional president and subsequently held a leadership role in her area until 2014 when she retired as zone chairperson. She is an IEA show steward and often travels outside New England. IEA hired Jennifer in 2009 in the membership office to help coaches and parents with member enrollment and management of their competitions. She has assisted IEA with growth and resource development leading to an expansion in membership, which exceeded 11,000 members in 2014. In 2012, Jennifer was promoted to membership marketing coordinator. Jennifer was given the 2014 Massachusetts Horseman’s Council “Person of the Year” award for her contributions to the development of youth equestrian opportunities in her area.
Strength and Balance Exercises for Riders of All Abilities
Sunday at 1:30 p.m.; Adams Atkinson Arena
This session will involve strength and balance exercises at all three gaits for both English and Western riders at any level. Come prepared to take some good ideas home with you and start doing them with your students right away.
Karen Fagan
Karen supports her horse habit by working as a licensed professional counselor in Aurora, CO. For the past 18 years, her busy practice, PsychedIN, has offered clients a “leg up” to improved mental health and stress management as Karen incorporates elements of both her knowledge of horses and clinical expertise in her practical, approachable style. Outside the office, Karen competes with her two daughters and their Arabian horses in endurance riding in the Mountain region. Karen combines her passions as a facilitator for “Horse Sense for Leaders,” a unique program utilized by organizations throughout the U.S. to promote leadership development. Karen has designed and presented workshops for mental health professionals as well as for the general public on anxiety and stress management. She has been highlighted as a guest expert on Marriage.com and her blog, “PsychedIN,” has followers around the globe.
Understanding and Supporting the Fearful Rider
Friday at 3:15 p.m.; Hilton Legends Room
“I’ve always wanted to learn to ride, but I’m afraid of horses…” “I had a bad wreck and now I’m afraid to get back on…” Do you ever want to say, “I am not a therapist!” Good news! You don’t have to be! This informational presentation will explain the mechanics of the fear response and give you strategies to help fearful riders overcome barriers to becoming a relaxed, willing partner with their horse. Participants will be able to understand the neuropsychological underpinnings of the fear response, be able to help riders understand and normalize their fears, develop strategies for helping a rider work through fearful moments and know when you’re in over your head, and what to do then.
Teddy Franke
Teddy is a horse trainer, riding instructor, and farrier from North Central Oregon where he manages a camp horse program. Teddy started with CHA as a student more than 25 years ago. He is now a Master Instructor and Assistance Clinic Instructor and holds certifications in Instructors for Riders with Disabilities, Pack/Trail, Equine Facility Management, and is a Site Visitor. Teddy has helped to lead horse programs in three states, been a regional director in both Regions 1 and 11, served on the board for the American Youth Horse Council, and operates a successful equine business. The CHA mission to “change lives through safe horse experiences” has been a part of Teddy’s life, and he hopes to continue those experiences for others. Visit frankeequine.com or check out the Live Equestrian YouTube channel.
Commercial Driver License – Do You Have to Comply?
Friday at 7 p.m.; Dessert Round Tables; Hilton Salon 4 and 6
Will horse owners need a CDL to haul in the future? What are the legal requirements for professionals? This discussion will seek to answer common questions about new laws concerning equine transportation in the U.S.
Nina Ekholm Fry
Nina Ekholm Fry, MSSc., CCTP, is the director of equine programs at the Institute for Human-Animal Connection and adjunct professor at University of Denver where she leads the Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate program. A former equestrian Special Olympics coach, Nina teaches equine behavior at Yavapai College in Arizona. She is a CHA Certified Instructor and holds a certificate in Equine Management from the Vocational College of Ostrobothnia. As a practitioner member of the International Society of Equitation Science (ISES), she is dedicated to ethical equitation, correct application of learning theory, and the understanding of equine cognition, behavior, and mental states as part of equine management, assessment, handling, and training. From 2015 to 2016, Nina served as the interim program director for the Equine Initiative at the Yavapai Humane Society in Arizona where she started an adoption-focused equine rehabilitation and re-training program and designed the YHS Equine Center. Nina consults on equine behavior and facility design nationally.
The Science of Equine Behavior and Learning – Practical Application for Riding Instruction
Sunday at 10:30 a.m.; CSU Lecture Room
Human-horse interactions have increasingly become a focus of scientific study, and with the emergence of groups such as the International Society of Equitation Science (ISES), scientifically-supported information about the horse’s experience in riding and interaction is more accessible than ever. Going beyond specific horsemanship methods and lingo, and avoiding the unintended consequences of humanizing the horse, principles emerging from research that inform ethical and effective interactions with horses will be discussed. This presentation contains scientifically supported information about how horses learn and think, with examples of practical application that help riding instructors reduce the occurrence of conflict between horse and rider and manage risk for all involved.
Julie Goodnight
Julie is a Master Clinician and the International Spokesperson for CHA and is known for her weekly RFD-TV show, Horse Master, and her no-nonsense training for riders of all disciplines. Her methods are grounded in natural horsemanship, classical riding, and understanding horse behavior. She teaches at clinics and expos everywhere and offers online education, how-to DVDs, and her own tack and training tools at JulieGoodnight.com.
Behavior and Training: Science-based Theories, What Works Best on Horses and Why
Saturday at 3 p.m.; Adams Atkinson Arena
Exploring science-based training theories, such as positive vs. negative reinforcement, stages of learning, desensitizing vs. sensitizing, and how horses learn.
Add Spice to Your Lessons with Pole Dancing! Teach Valuable Riding Skills Using Garrocha, a Traditional Equestrian Art of the Spanish Vaqueros
Sunday at 9 a.m.; Adams Atkinson Arena
Teach valuable riding skills using Garrocha, a traditional equestrian art of the Spanish vaqueros. An excellent teaching tool for riders of all ability levels—walk, trot and canter. Garrocha helps develops a rider’s balance, seat and leg aids, circles and serpentines, leg yielding, speed control, and teaches less reliance on the reins.
Fine Line Between Instructor and Trainer: Teaching Students on Privately Owned Horses Sunday at Noon; Bill Pickett Arena
Riding instructors train people to ride and horse trainers train horses to be ridden, right? But often the line gets blurred when students bring their own horses to lessons. Where is the line? How do you determine if it’s a horse training problem or a rider problem? Between feral horses, adopted horses, and an abundance of idle horses, there are many riding students mounted inappropriately. What is the riding instructor’s role?
Dr. Temple Grandin
Dr. Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and a pioneer in improving the handling and welfare of farm animals. Born in Boston, Dr. Grandin’s achievements are remarkable because she was an autistic child. At age two, she had no speech and all the signs of severe autism. Many hours of speech therapy and intensive teaching enabled Dr. Grandin to learn speech. As a teenager, life was hard due to constant teasing. Mentoring by her high school science teacher and her aunt on her ranch in Arizona motivated her to study and pursue a career as a scientist and livestock equipment designer. Dr. Grandin obtained her B.A. at Franklin Pierce College in 1970. In 1974, she was employed as livestock editor for the Arizona Farmer Ranchman and also worked for Corral Industries on equipment design. In 1975, she earned her M.S. in Animal Science at Arizona State University for her work on the behavior of cattle in different squeeze chutes. Dr. Grandin was awarded her PhD in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1989.
Keynote Speech – Animals Make Us Human
Sunday at 7 p.m. ; Hilton Salons 3, 4 and 6
Dr. Grandin will address how animals think and feel, visual thinking, avoiding fear memories and sensory bred thinking during this visual talk.
Laura Hamrin
Laura has a passion for teaching and riding. She started riding at three, competing at five, and then continued with eventing and classical dressage. She graduated from Morvan Park International Equestrian Institute and manages her family’s horse farm in North Georgia where she managed and trained competition and camp horses. Then she started working with special needs children and adults and fell in love with the therapeutic industry. Laura received her PATH Intl. instructor certification in 2007 and CHA Level 3 in Western and 4 in English certifications. Additionally, she is part of the clinic staff for Instructors for Riders with Disabilities (IRD) clinics and is currently working on completing her Clinic Instructor certification for IRD clinics. Laura is the equine director at Victory Therapy Center and a CHA State Representative for Texas.
Yielding the Haunches and the Shoulders
Saturday at 10:30 a.m.; Bill Pickett Arena
This session will discuss: breaking skill down step-by-step for the beginner; or, for the advanced rider, training/working with a young horse.
Dr. Tanja Hess
In 1990, Dr. Hess became a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine in Federal Fluminense University, Brazil. After working some years as a private practitioner, she received her Master of Science in Equine Clinics from Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and then her PhD in Equine Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. During that time, she received the Pratt Fellow honors from 2003 to 2005. Dr. Hess has spent more than 15 years working in veterinary medicine and equine nutrition research. In her personal time, Dr. Hess enjoys endurance riding.
Nutrition for the Active Older Lesson Horse
Saturday at 9 a.m.; CSU Lecture Room
Nutrition and feeding of the older horse can be similar to feeding adult horses. According to the National Research Council, requirements of old horses are no different than for active horses. However, if older horses are overweight, underweight, arthritic, or have teeth problems, feeding requirements are adjusted. According to a survey, the older horse population has increased due to better knowledge on dental care and feeding methods. Older horses can be as active as younger horses and be used for work, and in these cases, requirements are based on adult working horses.
Dr. Kathi Jogan
Dr. Jogan is a longtime equine industry professional who has managed, trained, and shown various horse breeds representing multiple disciplines. Currently on the faculty at the University of Arkansas, Dr. Jogan offers courses in equine science and engages students in internships in the U.S. and abroad. She has directed many fundraising and experiential events to promote her University’s Animal Science Department. Dr. Jogan is a member of the Equine Science Society, the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, and on the CHA Board.
Flip or Flop? Equine Safety Meets Barn Design
Friday at 3:15 p.m.; Hilton – Aggie Room
There are many things that we can do to make a barn horse-safe. Attend this session to learn tips and tricks to make your barn not only safe for your horse but labor-efficient—whether you are building a new barn or retrofitting an old barn.
Christie Schulte Kappert
Christie serves as program officer for Watershed Animal Fund’s equine initiative, The Right Horse, which seeks to make lasting, transformative improvements to equine welfare in the United States. Christie is a skilled program and marketing manager with experience assembling equine industry partners to collaborate on complex industry-wide issues. Prior to joining Arnall Family Foundation, she led marketing and partner development for the American Horse Council’s Time to Ride Initiative. Christie earned dual degrees in Equine Science and Business Administration from Colorado State University where she graduated manga cum laude. She has also received certificates in Strategic Planning and Meeting Facilitation Strategies from the University of Texas Governor’s Center for Management Development. In her spare time, she participates in stock horse events, having been a top-ten finalist in two Extreme Mustang Makeovers. She is the proud owner of two Mustangs and one burro, all adopted. Her and her husband raise a small herd of beef cattle and live outside Austin, TX.
The Right Horse Initiative
Saturday at 10:30 a.m.; CSU Lecture Room
The Right Horse Initiative is a collective of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together through collaboration, education, training, and public awareness on a national level to improve the lives of horses in transition and increase horse adoption in the United States. The Right Horse is proud to partner with CHA, in collaboration with Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center, to fill a dual goal of placing horses in transition in new occupations while providing quality horses to CHA instructors seeking safe, reliable horses for their horsemanship programs. The Right Horse Initiative is partnering with Colorado State University’s Temple Grandin Equine Center to pilot an expansion of the regional training center. This partnership will focus on training transition horses for placement in equine-assisted therapy, beginner horsemanship programs, or other placement opportunities.
Christy Landwehr
Christy, who is the CHA chief executive officer, has been active in the horse industry for over 35 years and competed in a multitude of breeds and disciplines. She is a CHA Master Level Instructor, Clinic Instructor, Site Accreditor, and Equine Facility Manager and has taught students in 4-H and Pony Club. She is past president of the American Youth Horse Council and a past board member for the Colorado Horse Council. She also founded the University of Colorado at Boulder Intercollegiate Horse Show Association equestrian team. Christy is an AQHA and APHA Professional Horseman. Christy recently joined the Colorado State University Equine Sciences Advisory Council and the American Veterinary Medical Association Equine Advisory Committee. She has used her undergraduate degree in public relations and speech communication from California State University Fullerton and a graduate degree in mass communication and journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder as the sponsorship and youth programs manager for the Arabian Horse Association, a trainer for Skill Path Seminars, and as the development director for The Urban Farm. Christy lives in Aurora, CO, with her husband, John; her two boys, Sean and Kyle; and her lesson horses, Sox and Chip.
Your CHA
Friday at 7 p.m. ; Dessert Round Tables; Hilton Salon 4 and 6
Visit this roundtable to find out about CHA member benefits you might not be using and what the future of the association looks like.
Diane Lesher
Diane, is president, of Equisure, Inc., located in Aurora, CO. Diane has been with Equsiure for 20 years. Equisure, an insurance agency, specializes in providing insurance to many animal associations, United States Equestrian, the United States Polo Association, the Arabian Horse Association, the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, the American Endurance Ride Conference, the American Kennel Club, and many more. Diane can be reached at diane@equisure-inc.com or 800-752-2472. Visit the website at www.equisure-inc.com.
Equine Insurance; Friday at 7 p.m.; Dessert Round Tables; Hilton Salon 4 and 6
Garret Leonard
Garret is the director of Harmony Equine Center, 1 168-acre center near Franktown, CO, provides relief from suffering, rehabilitation, and chances for new lives to abused and neglected horses seized by law enforcement agencies. Since its opening in 2012, Garret has overseen the center and 1,400+ horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules from throughout Colorado. Once the animals are restored to health by staff, several on-call veterinarians and farriers, and around 80 volunteers, they are offered for adoption to responsible new owners through an application and interview process. Currently, Harmony Equine Center works with 46 sheriff’s offices with Memorandums of Understanding or Partnership Agreements to house the horses as part of the impound. He is working with the American Association of Equine Practitioners on protocols for refeeding starved horses as well as assisting the ASPCA on evaluation, training, and placement of equines after rehabilitation.
Harmony Equine Center
Saturday at 1:30 p.m.; Bill Pickett Arena
The Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center™ is a private rehabilitation and adoption facility for abused and neglected horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules that have been removed from their owners by law enforcement authorities. It also serves as a central hub where horses from humane societies and rescue groups in the Midwest and southwestern United States can receive training and rehoming. In March of 2018, the Harmony began opening its doors to privately owned horses in need of rehoming. With over 1,100 horses placed over the past six years, find out how they work with adopters, train horses, and make a match. The Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center is a member of the Certified Horsemanship Association and received the highest marks in facility approval since CHA has been certifying facilities. Currently, the Harmony Equine Center, Colorado State University, and The Right Horse have partnered to find homes for these horses as possible lesson mounts. Come to this session to find out how Harmony accesses each horse that arrives on the ground and under saddle.
Lisa Lombardi
Lisa started as a wrangler at a summer camp that offered a performance drill team to campers. Lisa’s experience includes reining, jumping, dressage, trail riding, horse camping, mounted color guard, and mounted assistance unit with the American Quarter Horse Association and Appaloosa Horse Club. She has worked with Pam Prudler, one of the original CHA founders; Mike Boyle, then president of NRHA; Diana Thompson, equine acupressure expert and author of “Acupressure Point Charts for Horses;” and many others. Lisa earned a B.A. in English with an emphasis in education. She also enjoys writing equine articles for the Sonoma County Horse Journal. Lisa has been CHA Certified since 1990 and is currently CHA Clinic Staff as well as a Site Evaluator. Lisa teaches lessons on her nine horses and clients’ horses, as well as at an after-school and a summer camp program. Lisa puts on monthly play days, and her students compete in dressage and jumping. Lisa has also taught hands-on equine science courses at Santa Rosa Junior College. Lisa is also PATH Intl. certified and CIEP-ED certified.
Preventing Lesson Horse Burnout
Saturday at 1:30 p.m.; CSU Lecture Room
What are some techniques that can be used to promote longevity of lesson horses, and prevent burnout? It is indeed important to select appropriate horses to be used for lessons. However, after we purchase them and put the time and effort into preparing them to work as lesson horses, how do we keep them sound, safe, and willing to do their job long-term? Through interactive discussions and activities, the participants of this presentation will gain insights on how to prevent lesson horse burnout.
Shelly Mann
Shelley grew up riding hunters and jumpers in Michigan in a decidedly non-horsey family. Heading to Kentucky for college, she spent several years in academia teaching riding and horse care at the university level. Shelley has been with The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., for 16 years as the director of marketing and communications. She blends a creative side with a passion for horses, horse care, and rider safety in hopes of helping more individuals enjoy a life in and around the barn. In her spare time, Shelley still rides and shows hunter jumpers from her small farm outside of Lexington, KY, and often can be seen in the judge’s box at local horse shows around the country.
United States Pony Club Riding Centers Explained
Friday at 7 p.m.; Dessert Round Tables; Hilton Salon 4 and 6
Find the resources you need. USPC, the equine educational industry leader, provides access to exclusive instructional materials for ALL instructors, professors, teachers, and educators. Organized, easy-to-understand lesson plans and resources make teaching easier.
We will discuss: 1. Resources to teach unmounted equine topics with ready-to-use lesson plans for students and teachers. 2. Equine Curriculum, including an activity guide for instructors (with teaching tools, grading options, and progressive activities) plus student worksheets based on USPC’s Standards of Proficiency. 3. Pony Club IQ and webinars provides a collection of e-Learning technology for students to access relevant equine health and educational topics on their own.
Heidi Nyland Melocco
Heidi Nyland Melocco, MS, founded The Whole Picture, LLC, to help small businesses thrive online and in the media. She keeps up with social media trends and guides her clients to the top of the feeds. She has built social media accounts from zero to hundreds of thousands of followers. She helps to manage social media for top equine product companies—planning contests, videos, memes, and more. Her clients include horse trainers, equestrian fashion designers, tack manufacturers, leather craftsmen, natural feed and supplement companies, and more. Heidi uses her background in journalism and photography to present a professional and polished look that helps her clients stand out! Her photography and journalism are seen regularly in Horse & Rider, Horse Illustrated, and Young Rider magazines and has earned American Horse Publications and AIM Media Awards top honors. Heidi works in an industry she understands—she is a PATH Intl. certified instructor and cares for a registered APHA gelding named “Q” (who acts as her top equine model). Visit www.Whole-Picture.com.
Making Social Media Posts Mean the Most When You’re Short On Time
Friday at 4:30 p.m.; Hilton Salon 2
You know you need to keep up with social media—but what is most important to do and how do you make time to do it? We’ll talk about the kind of posts that you need to make, where to post, and how to post if you’re short on time. You’ll leave with tips to help you engage your audiences and get attention for your riding program. Video is king, and content matters! Learn how to get video online easily and create fun, engaging posts. Plus, learn my rules for posting: what not to say, how to use tags and hashtags to get noticed, and when you should and shouldn’t use apps to automate your posts.
Dale Myler
Dale and his brothers, Ron and Bob, are third generation horsemen and are three of the world’s leading bit designers. Dale’s extensive research into equine dentistry and physiology has evolved our understanding of not only the mechanics of bits but also how they can contribute to the communication between horse and rider. The unique Myler designs focus on mentally relaxing horses so the rider can achieve more effective communication. Known for his kind and thoughtful approach, Dale is motivated by a genuine desire to improve the relationship between horse and rider. He has done bitting clinics and seminars all over the U.S. and around the world for every level of rider and horse: Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Wales, England, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Poland, Switzerland, Brazil, and Austria. He speaks at expos and for many organizations, as well as conducting private clinics and seminars.
Bit Evasion: How to Recognize It and What the Cause Is
Sunday at 9 a.m.; CSU Lecture Room
This lecture will examine the behavioral signs of bit resistance, review the primary cause of resistance and how to address it. Through a PowerPoint presentation, the audience can clearly see examples of horses resisting the bit, followed by a counter example of how the horse changes after re-bitting.
How Changing a Horse’s Bit Can Change the Horse
Sunday at 3 p.m.; Adams Atkinson Arena
Changing a horse’s bit to correctly address bit resistance changes the pressure points that the rider uses to communicate with the horse. This session reviews how to successfully transition to a new bit, how the rider needs to adjust to that new communication, and how to recognize when a bit isn’t working for your horse.
NRHA Trainer Ryan Rushing
NRHA Professional Ryan Rushing owns Ryan Rushing Performance Horses, LLC, in Eaton, CO, with his wife, Amy. Operating out of Spicer Arena, the NRHA Professional specializes in training and showing aged event reining horses and coaching non pros as well as hosting clinics, sales, and lessons. With NRHA Lifetime Earnings in excess of $122,000, Rushing has earned top finishes in the NRHA Open Derby, the NRHA Open Futurity, and the National Reining Breeders Classic.
National Reining Horse Association Ride a Reiner
Saturday at Noon; Bill Pickett Arena
Take a spin on a trained reining horse for only $55. This fundraiser goes towards helping those in financial need attend a CHA Clinic.
Amy Obringer
Amy was the founder and director of Blue Waters Youth Ranch, a 501(c)3, dedicated to providing a free ranch experience to foster and adopted children in Washington State from 2009 to 2012. She has been a CHA Certified Instructor and active 4-H horse leader since 2009. Before raising four children, Amy actively competed in team penning, sorting, and barrel racing. She currently owns and operates CowboyCO LLC, a large boarding facility in Southern California and competes at local horse shows and gymkhanas with her children.
Barrel Racing For All Levels of RidersSunday at 3 p.m.; Bill Pickett Arena
Imagine three barrels set up in a cloverleaf pattern. This class will teach the “Sit, Lift, and Look” strategy of barrel racing. We will focus on how to set up your pocket before the barrel, the how and why behind slow practice, and drills to keep your horse turning well while remaining quiet and soft. Barrel horses do not need to be hot, and we will discuss how to avoid gate problems.
Margrit Parker
Attorney Margrit works with clients in all phases of business and career development, including equine professionals, and helps with various contracts, liability release forms, and sales, lease, and boarding agreements. Margrit enjoys representing equine clients in proactive business planning and management, litigation, defense of claims of malpractice and liability, appeals, and appearances before licensing boards. This native of California majored in Equine Science and Zoology at Colorado State University. Margrit co‐authors an annual case law survey on equine torts and insurance law for the American Bar Association, is a member and past‐chair of the American Bar Association’s Equine Law Subcommittee of the Animal Law Committee, and serves on the board of the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center. Margrit was named the Denver Bar Association’s 2014 Young Lawyer of the Year, and is a repeat Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star. For more about Margrit, visit www.linkedin.com/in/margritlentparker and http://childsmccune.com/staff/margrit-lent-parker.
Practicing Safety is Not Enough: The Importance of Pushing Paper—Contracts, Liability Releases, and Insurance
Saturday at 3 p.m.; CSU Lecture Room
The CHA mission is to change lives through safe experiences with horses. As an equine professional, one of your chief goals is maintaining a safe environment for your equine activities. You spend lots of time developing your teaching and horse training skills, building your horse health knowledge, and developing and marketing your business, but how much time have you spent preparing for when things go wrong, despite your best efforts? Dealing with contracts and insurance is an essential part of what you do. Ensuring that your contracts, releases, and insurance are appropriately in place protects you and your business and can allow you to identify ways to have safer and more positive experiences with your clients.
Beth Powers
Beth, of Bellefontaine, OH, is our current CHA President, a CHA Certified Instructor, and a CHA Certified Overnight Guide, as well as a Site Trainer and Visitor. She was the Equestrian Director for the Bar W Ranch at YMCA Camp Willson in Bellefontaine where she oversaw a herd of 50+ horses, a staff, and all of the lesson programs, trail rides, summer camps, and overnight events. Beth has shared her knowledge on teaching techniques and the process in which people learn different skills as a presenter at the CHA International Conference and at CHA regional conferences, the American Youth Horse Council Symposium, and at Equine Affaire in Ohio. She has also been the keynote at the Wisconsin State 4-H Conference and a Volunteer of the Year for CHA. Beth has been published in the American Camping Association magazine and Stable Management magazine. She is an American Quarter Horse Professional Horseman. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Miami University in Ohio.
CHA Annual Membership Meeting
Friday at 2 p.m.; Hilton Salons 4 and 6
Come and learn what your association is doing and how it can help you and how you can become more actively involved.
Developing an Educated Eye with Group Riding
Sunday at 10:30 a.m.; Adams Atkinson Arena
This presentation will involve audience participation. Here is a chance to develop an educated eye while observing riders demonstrate typical equitation faults (safely). We will learn skills to become a better instructors from each other. There will be something for every level of instructor for both western and English riders.
Tara Reimer
Tara has always been involved with horses. Tara and husband Derek own/operate Cloud 9 Ranch near Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, where she teaches western and English riding, vaulting, equine-assisted psychotherapy, group discovery, and therapeutic riding, as well as trains horses, judges shows, and gives clinics. She is a CHA Clinic Instructor and Region 2 Director. In 2013, CHA name Tara the Instructor of the Year, and in 2016 her horse Arnie was awarded School Horse of the Year! Tara is certified with EAGALA as the equine specialist on the team. She is president of the Canadian Western Horse Association and longtime exhibitor with AQHA. Through Equine Canada she is a western coach and general performance judge. Tara continues to show horses in many events, ranging from dressage to working cow horse. She is fascinated by the healing qualities that horses offer humans. Tara has presented at the CHA International Conferences in Kentucky and Tennessee as well as at Horse 3 in Brandon. Visit www.cloud9ranch.ca.
Transitions for All Gaits
Saturday at 10:30 a.m.; Adams Atkinson Arena
Improve the timing and smoothness of transitions between all gaits when you learn more about what changes your horse is making through its’ body and how you as the rider need to adjust. Become more aware of what your horse’s body should feel like and how you can help your horse through the transitions. The horse always does their best so if your transitions need improving, learn how to help your horse! Know your gaits and footfalls well before the lesson.
Tiare Santistevan
Tiare is an instructor in the Equine Sciences Program at Colorado State University. In her youth, her family raised Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in Kauai, HI. She received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education and a Master’s of Agriculture in Cooperative Extension Education from Colorado State University (CSU) and is a 2008 graduate of the Colorado Agriculture and Rural Leadership (CARL) program, a United States Hunter Jumper Association certified trainer, and a CHA Master Instructor in both English and western. Tiare joined the faculty at CSU in August 2001 and teaches Equine Event and Sales Management, Equine Management, Riding Instructor Training, Preparation for Equine Competition, and part of the Introduction to Equine Science class. Tiare is also the internship coordinator for the program, advisor to the English Riding Club, and is also the Key Academic Advisor for the program. In her spare time, Tiare can be found spending time with her family, riding her horses, playing soccer, or enjoying the Colorado mountains.
Visit Colorado State University Equine Sciences
Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Cavalettis and Pole Work at All Gaits for a Variety of Levels
Sunday at 9 a.m.; Bill Pickett Arena
Whether you want your students to jump or not, cavaletti and ground pole work is good for horses and riders to do to improve strength, rhythm, and timing.
Jumping Gymnastics
Sunday at 10:30 a.m.; Bill Pickett Arena
Jumping gymnastics is fun but can also be daunting to teach! Come to this session to learn how to set up different grids and the measurements for them and how to set your students and horses up for success as they go through them.
Tracy Schmidt
Media and Website Trends
Tracy received a BFA from the University of Kansas and has almost 30 years of experience working in: graphic design, visual communication, marketing, sales, publishing, web development, internet marketing, online business/reputation management, email marketing, social networking, and business development. Though Tracy has worked with a wide range of various industries, small and large corporations, local and international businesses (including Fortune 100’s), she is most passionate about her work within the horse industry with trainers, farms, breeders, exhibitors, horse-related businesses, organizations, and non-profits. She specializes in providing businesses with innovative solutions to stand out in today’s market online and through mainstream media. Tracy is also an adjunct professor, conducts workshops, lectures, and is currently a self-employed consultant, providing services in website and graphic design, sales, and marketing through SOL Design, Inc. Please visit http://SOLdesign.us.
Digital Media and Website Trends
Friday at 7 p.m.; Dessert Round Tables; Hilton Salon 4 and 6
Social networks, business directories, and media share sites boast more than 1.5 billion combined online “users.” These prospective customers turn to their electronic devices to use search engines, social media, mobile apps, and texting as ways to discover new companies, buy products, and find service providers. They get personal recommendations directly from their online “friends.” Let’s talk about the latest trends to market your business online, how to stand out from the competition, how to reach untapped customers, tricks on how to more effectively network online, managing your business reputation, and monetizing your website. Learn how to streamline your online marketing through digital media, email, text messaging and even through non-visual experiences, the BIGGEST new trend!
Ann Streett-Joslin
Ann is currently CHA’s document specialist, working to convert CHA paperwork for internet access. She does editing, layout, file organization, and user support of CHA’s hundreds of documents. Ann has been active with horses and the horse industry for more than 55 years. From the show ring, to 4-H, to guest ranches, to driving, training colts, all types of instruction, and program/facility management, Ann is well-versed in the business. She is a CHA Master Level Riding Instructor and Clinic Instructor for Standard, Riders with Disabilities, Equine Facility Management, and Driving, as well as a Site Visitor and a former member of both the CHA and PATH Boards of Directors. She currently manages Rancho Vista near Dolores, CO, where she and husband Dave enjoy trail riding in the surrounding mountains and canyons.
Creating and Using PDF Fillable Forms
Sunday at 3 p.m.; CSU Lecture Room
Documentation is a fundamental part of any instruction, boarding, or training program. Are you still hand-writing lesson notes or wondering what that email address really is on a registration form. This session will introduce using Adobe Acrobat to create and customize your forms for completion online. You will learn to improve the professionalism and readability of your forms by using the tools and commands for PDF fillable forms.
Cheryl West
Cheryl is a CHA Master Instructor and Clinician for English, western, therapeutic, and jumping, and a PATH Intl. therapeutic instructor and mentor. She travels nationally teaching The Connected Ride to all disciplines and developing instructors. She owns and operates West Equestrian Ranch in Sand Springs, OK, teaching lessons to over 60 riders a week at her ranch as well as teaching on Saturdays through the region. She often travels to certify instructors, mentor others, and teach clinics. She was the program manager for the American Therapeutic Center, with 70+ riders for five years. She encourages riders and people from all walks of life that upper-level equitation can be achieved no matter what discipline, horse, or income. Cheryl has organized and managed several shows, events, and been a part of many boards, served as president, and helped in various organizations. She is passionate about CHA, all types of dressage, and using bio-mechanics, rhythm, and feel to understand the horse’s language.
Exercises to Control and Improve the Posting Trot
Saturday at 1:30 p.m.; Adams Atkinson Arena
Posting is an important balance exersize that benefits both horse and rider. Learn different ways of posting to help you be more fluid in the movement and to allow the horse to help you work (not the other way around)! Learn why posting is important, history of the post, and how to to teach it from feel.
Wayne Williams
Wayne has a long background in radio and TV, as a disc jockey, newscaster, and behind the scenes in sales and production. He has ridden in parades from the Indianapolis 500 Parade to the Rose Bowl Parade, exhibited in open and Palomino shows, and most recently, he and wife Pat pay tribute to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on horseback with period costumes and silver saddles. He has become the “voice” of more than 20 top horse expos nationwide and in Canada and aids many in presenting entertainment on horseback and various equine acts. His latest accomplishment was as the “Equine Entertainment MC” at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY, at the 2018 Rose Parade Equestfest Producer/Director in Pasadena, and other events. Wayne enjoys trail riding and camping with Pat and being the “man behind the microphone.” He is the host of “Speaking of Horses” TV and radio. Visit www.speakingofhorses.com.
Speaking of Horses Radio and Online TV Show
Friday at 10 a.m.; Hilton Salon 3
Come and watch and even be on the live show telling others about CHA and the International Conference.
JoAnne Young
JoAnne has been teaching riding and training horses for over 54 years and is happy that she is still learning. She has studied with such wonderful instructors as Walter Zettl (dressage coach to Canadian event team when they won Bronze at the Los Angeles Olympics), Bertin Potter in Germany, Molly Sivewright (FEI judge and past chair of the Fellows of the British Horse Society), Carel Eijkenaar (FEI judge), Eddo Hoestra (FEI trainer) and Doris Halstead (physical therapist and author of “Releasing the Potential: Physical Therapy Modalities for Horse and Rider”). JoAnne is the author of the M.A. thesis, “Preparing students for riding instructor certification through college curricula.”
Connecting Your Seat to the Horse’s Feet
Sunday at 1:30 p.m.; Bill Pickett Arena
Learn how to teach riders how to feel for the right moment and the right place to apply their aids to properly influence the desired leg and hoof of the horse. Transitions, lengthening and shortening stride, correct bend, and lateral work all improve as the rider learns to connect his/her seat to the horse’s feet!
CHA President Peggy Adams has been on the CHA board for nine years and is a CHA Clinician. She previously taught and coached riding at her own farm, PLA HorsePlay, and worked for the Girl Scouts for 30 years in a variety of managerial positions.
CHA Annual Meeting – Holiday Inn – 2 p.m.
Tim Alderson
Tim isn’t from Texas, but he got there as fast as he could! Originally from Orange County, California, Tim’s equine enthusiasm eventually landed him in East Texas at Pine Cove Christian Camps, where he has served as the Head Wrangler for over 30 years. At Pine Cove, Tim oversees all aspects of 4 separate riding programs encompassing 120 horses and dozens of wranglers. A member of CHA since 1985, Tim is certified in English and Western, has served on the Board of Directors, hosted a CHA National Clinic and Conference, and was a recipient of CHA’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2009.
That’s a Great Idea! – Sharing tips, tricks and problem solving ideas – MTSU Teaching Arena – Saturday, 9 a.m.
Have you had to adapt your program because of your facilities (or lack thereof), your neighbors, your budget, staff, etc.? This session is designed to encourage participation—sharing tips and ideas in order to troubleshoot problems and enhance your program’s effectiveness. Tim has plenty of ideas, but wants to invite anyone to share the “how and whys” of what works for you. We will be using real horses and equipment, so bring your questions and ideas and let’s all learn from one another!
Kim Brown
Kim has more than 35 years of experience equine industry publishing and marketing. Currently she is the Associate Publisher/Editor of two brands for Active Interest Media (AIM) that are focused on business. EquiManagement is for equine veterinarians and Stable Management is for farm/stable owners and riding instructors. Kim’s background includes nearly 30 years at Blood-Horse Publications, the first 15 with The Blood-Horse magazine, ending up as a Contributing Editor, and the second 15 developing The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care as the Publisher/Editor. Kim retired from publishing to become Global Marketing Manager at Kentucky Equine Research, and while there lead the team that created award-winning newsletters and videos, launched a new content-driven educational website, and developed an e-commerce site. Kim then ran her own marketing/content development company for a short time before accepting a full-time position with AIM’s Equine Network. Kim and her musician husband, Ben, moved from Kentucky to Wyoming and are enjoying the outdoor life riding horses, camping, cycling, hiking, fishing, canoeing, and Kim’s favorite—rockhounding. Kim can be reached at KBrown@THINInc.com.
Luck is Where Preparation Meets Opportunity – Keynote – Thursday – 3 p.m.
Do you want more students? Do you want to teach at more facilities (or a specific facility) and just can’t seem to break the ice? Do you want to start camps or expand the ones you have but need a partner to make it happen? Then you need to learn how to recognize and take advantage of opportunities you might not even see that are in front of you today!
Anne Brzezicki
As the MTSU Director of the Equestrian Program, Brzezicki is the director of equine laboratory classes, and she coaches the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team at the Murfreesboro, TN, university. Brzezicki got her start as a hunt seat rider in Connecticut. As a second-year undergraduate at the University of Connecticut, she and the UConn Equestrian Team won the IHSA National Championship. She then coached the UConn Equestrian Team to the National Hunt Seat Championship in 1972. In addition to competing for IHSA, Brzezicki has competed in USEF and AQHA shows. She began the MTSU Equestrian Team in 1977, and she and Kenny Copenhaver introduced the western horsemanship divisions to IHSA that year. She would start another IHSA team, this time at Virginia Tech. She served a brief stint as Virginia Tech’s IHSA coach while she attended graduate school there, but she returned to coaching at MTSU in the 1980s. Over the years, Brzezicki has coached many youth, amateur, and IHSA national champions. In addition, her background also includes teaching at 4-H horse camps in Connecticut and Tennessee. In addition, Brzezicki has been an active member of the IHSA Board of Directors, AQHA, and a big supporter of 4-H. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from IHSA in 2003 and IHSA Regional Coach of the Year in 2004. Brzezicki is a CHA Master Instructor and as a CHA Assistant Clinic Instructor, she has recently begun hosting CHA Certification Clinics and thoroughly enjoys working with other teachers in an atmosphere of shared enthusiasm, knowledge, and techniques. In addition, she was honored by CHA when she was awarded the 2015 CHA Instructor of the Year Award.
Real Colors Personality Style Assessment for You, Your Students and Your Horses – Thursday – 5:30 – Holiday Inn
For just $20 come and take the Real Colors Personality test to see if you are Gold, Green, Blue, Orange or a combination of colors. This instrument can be helpful working with students, your family and friends and even your horses. Come and find out how and take the instrument home with you.
Jumping Exercises for Different Levels – MTSU Teaching Arena – Friday, 10:30 a.m.
Stephanie Cook
Stephanie grew up in New Jersey, riding and teaching students of all ages from the age of 10 until she went to college. After successfully riding for four years on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team at West Point, Stephanie graduated in 1987 from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree. She spent time in the military, law enforcement, and corporate careers, raising 5 children and earning an MBA along the way. In 2009, she realized that her passion for horses never left and returned to what she was meant to do; ride and train horses, and teach others how to ride! She opened Hill Country Riding Academy outside of San Antonio, TX where she has had tremendous success with children, adults, young horses, ‘problem’ horses, and everything in-between! In 2015, her horse, Texas Checkmate, won the Take 2 Thoroughbred National Jumper Championship and was also in the top 20 in the Take 2 National Hunter standings. She has trained horses for local and “A” USEF rated shows, has had riders qualify and compete at USEF Pony Finals and coaches the Trinity University IHSA and Hill Country Riding Academy IEA teams. She is an USHJA Certified Trainer and a CHA English and Western certified instructor.
The Different Jumping Releases – MTSU Teaching Arena – Friday, 9 – 10:15
Grab the mane? Crest Release? Following Arm? So many choices! Come to this session to learn what Stephanie has heard from top trainers such as Olympians George Morris, Anne Kursinski, Greg Best, Joe Meyer and Bernie Traurig over the past two years trying to develop the most effective, kind, and consistent way for riders to place their arms and hands over fences. There are times when “grabbing the mane” is certainly the best approach, however, this should not be the position as the rider develops a more secure core and true independence of seat, arms, and legs. “Wide hands”, driving reins, counting and gymnastics in the half seat, or two-point position, will be used to help riders develop a feel for balance, rhythm and following the horse’s mouth over the top of the fences in order to maintain constant contact. With whom, when, and how to practice techniques to develop the “following arm” (also known as the “automatic release”) will be outlined and discussed in depth.
David Dellin
David Dellin is the APHA Director of Judges. He is a multiple World and Congress champion trainer. He has judged multiple NSBA futurities and breed World Championship shows. He currently resides in Elmore City, OK, with his wife, Julie, and three children Gage, Lane, and McKenna.
HorseIQ – Miller Club – Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Prepare yourself for a one of a kind experience, giving you the same information that carded judges hear in their educational seminars. From cutting-edge video examples with easy to see graphics, to in-depth explanations of the science behind scoring systems and maneuver scores, this website has you covered. Judge runs in the “Judging Test of Knowledge” and compare your scores to the expert panel in each discipline. You also will have the ability to judge entire classes and compare your scores against the World Show judges that judged the classes live. Whether you are an exhibitor, professional or carded judge this is the place to hone your skills and gain the knowledge to be a success in the show pen.
Sandra Elder
Sandra is a CHA instructor and a Special Education teacher by trade, and a teacher of any child who wants to ride by passion. The thousands of children who have ridden through her lesson program are testament to how much difference one person can make in the lives of others. Her son John was an AQHYA national officer and daughter Sarah member of the AQHA Youth World Cup Team. They both have been World and Congress winners. Sandra’s service includes more than 38 years of being a 4-H Horse Project leader, 6 years of serving TN youth as TQHA Youth Director, and starting the very first IEA team in TN years, both hunter seat and western. Her students have won major awards at the TN State 4-H Horse Judging Contest, Public Speaking, Hippology, Horse Bowl and Demonstration Contests, TN State 4-H Horse Show, Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show, AQHA Youth World, and IEA Nationals. Her creative programs and selfless hours spent in the service of youth have helped her and husband Roger and their family earn the TN State 4-H Family award. Sandra has been honored with the AQHA Youth Leader of the Year Award, TQHA President’s Award, MTSU and UT Service awards and Maryville District Teacher of the Year as well as numerous other recognitions.
Exercises for Multiple Students at Different Levels – Miller Coliseum – Friday, 3 p.m.
When scheduling students for riding lessons, the ideal would be “like ability and like age” to ride together, but with busy families and multiple activities this can be impossible. An instructor must be able to plan lesson content that can be adapted for all abilities or skill levels, hunter or western, male or female, adult or child. This session will give you many exercises to take home and start teaching!
Tammi Gainer
Having grown up around horses, Tammi began her professional equestrian career in 1989 as a trail guide at a large ranch camp where she was first introduced to CHA and attended a Standard Instructor Certification Clinic in 1990. In the spring of 1995, Tammi joined the instructor staff at Pegasus Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Hartville, OH. While working at the Farm part-time and home schooling her three children, Tammi also spent much time working under several national trainers in both reining and dressage and achieved, in addition to her CHA Instructor certification, PATH Intl. instructor certification. In 2000, she achieved CHA Master Level Instructor and Standard clinic staff status and has since earned Clinic Instructor status in the IRD and Vaulting Coach programs as well. Tammi was promoted to Equestrian Director at Pegasus in 2005 where she now manages all aspects of the equestrian program that serves 250 plus students each week participating in areas such as horsemanship, riding, driving, vaulting, veterans, and youth-at-risk programs. Most recently Tammi has acquired her AQHA Professional Horseman status; an organization she is especially proud to be a part of. In September 2007 Tammi was elected to the CHA Board of Directors and asked to chair the Education & Training Committee & in 2011 was asked to take on the position of Board Secretary. In the fall of 2014, Tammi accepted the responsibility of board treasurer. At the 2011 Certified Horsemanship Association International Conference in Lexington, KY. Tammi was honored with the coveted “CHA Volunteer of the Year Award.”
How to Deal with Different Types of Clientele – Miller Club– Friday, 9 a.m.
Tara Gamble
Tara has been the Past President of CHA and of the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF), as well as Runner-Up Miss Rodeo Canada in 1998. She has served on the Equine Canada Board of Directors as a representative to recreation, and on the Strathcona County Economic Development and Advisory Committee as the agricultural representative. It has been an honor for Tara to receive both the CHA Clinic Instructor of the year (2006), and Volunteer of the year (2013) awards. She is a CHA Clinic Instructor, and a designated Professional Horseman with the American Quarter Horse Association and was appointed to the AQHA Youth Activities Committee in 2012. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from the University of Alberta. With over twenty three years of industry teaching experience and a background in both Western and English, Tara offers weekly riding lessons at her facility east of Ardrossan, Alberta. In addition, she judges various horsemanship competitions, presents seminars and instructs clinics. She has been fortunate to work with many equine professionals on the provincial, national and international levels which has greatly enriched her experiences.
Practical Applications for the Turn Back – Miller Coliseum – Friday, 9 a.m.
This session will explore how turn backs can help take your riding to the next level! An often overlooked or misunderstood maneuver, the turn back is a fundamental training exercise that can assist your horse in learning to use their hind end better to improve lightness and balance. Discover what a turn back is including variations of the traditional pattern and how they can help you achieve better stops, spins, correct leads and more!
Julie Goodnight
Julie is the popular RFD-TV host of Horse Master airing Monday and Saturday nights. Julie travels the USA sharing her no-nonsense horsemanship training with riders of all disciplines. Whether you ride English, Western, dressage or trail ride, Julie’s “Classic Skills for a Natural Ride” teaching helps you feel more confident in the saddle and helps you understand the “whys” of horsemanship. She loves continually learning and sharing horse behavior insights and she relates that knowledge to how you should interact with your horses. She’s experienced in dressage and jumping, racing, reining, cow horse, colt-starting, and wilderness riding. You’ve probably seen her articles in Horse & Rider, The Trail Rider and many other horse publications. Julie is honored to be the International Spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association and was named Equine Affaire’s Exceptional Equestrian Educator. Julie grew up on the hunter-jumper circuits in Florida, but is now at home in the west. She and her husband Rich Moorhead live in the mountains. Both love versatility ranch horse competitions and riding cow-horses.
It’s Time for the Classics! – Miller Coliseum – Friday at Noon
With the increasing popularity of Western Dressage, classical riding is enjoying a resurgence in both the English and Western worlds, and with riders young and old. We’ll delve into traditional techniques for teaching the classics, how to utilize the arena, teach your students to visualize lines, and how to apply the important tenets of classical riding in your lessons.
CHA Awards Banquet Keynote – Holiday Inn, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Universal Truths for Horse Professionals As long as there are people owning and riding horses, there will be horse professionals gritting their teeth and repeating the same truths we’ve said a thousand times. We’ll take a humorous look at the universal truths about horses and riding students that we’ve all come to know.
Randy Hensley
Randy began his career in hoof care as a conventional farrier over thirty years ago. In 2006, with the prompting of a client, Randy began to explore the benefits of barefoot rehabilitation. Certified by the American Hoof Association (AHA) in 2007, Randy has gone on to help hundreds of horses in over five states. He enjoys the journey of helping horses and their owners return to a healthy, sound lifestyle. Randy has also served as vice president of the AHA & has evaluated and mentored other professional farriers & is currently a field instructor for the Equine Sciences Academy. Aside from helping others, Randy also enjoys working cattle by horseback and building ranch horses.
The Hoof – MTSU Teaching Arena – Friday, 1:30 p.m.
Have you ever considered the hoof to be a living being? What’s going on in there & what is the outside of the hoof telling us? Explore the “tip of the iceberg “in hoof anatomy. Get up close and personal with our cadavers and add another tool to your ever developing tool box! *Helpful hints for those of you running a program that depend upon quality donated horses or for those of you who are just intrigued by feet!
Dr. Rhonda Hoffman
Rhonda is a professor and interim director of the Horse Science program at Middle Tennessee State University. She has been teaching horse owners, youth, college students, veterinarians and feed manufacturers about horse nutrition for 20 years. She received a B.S. degree from Truman State University in Missouri, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in equine nutrition from Virginia Tech. Dr. Hoffman earned board-certification as a Diplomate of the American College of Animal Nutrition in 2007. Rhonda views the board certification as a guarantee to herself and her students to remain current and be the best teacher possible. She has published over 80 scientific research and popular press articles, and she has been an invited speaker for over 100 national and international meetings, including conferences in England, Germany, Spain, and a keynote presentation in Brazil. Rhonda is constantly evaluating her approach to teaching, working hard to keep horse nutrition both interesting and applicable to horse owners and students. She was awarded the MTSU Outstanding Teacher Award, the university’s highest teaching recognition, in 2013. Her horse nutrition knowledge and practical experience helps to keep the MTSU school horses looking good and in their best form and usefulness.
Are School Horses Different than Performance Horses? Nutrition for our Teaching Partners – Club Lounge – Friday, 1:30 p.m.
We know proper nutrition cannot guarantee that a performance horse will win, but improper nutrition CAN guarantee a loss. Are school horses any different? This presentation will address common nutritional issues of various types of school horses and strategies for their optimal nutrition. Topics include weight management, aged horses, feed types and costs, supplements, and fuels for performance.
Teresa Kackert
Teresa has been CHA Clinic Instructor since 2003. She is an AQHA Professional Horseman and member of the Wrangler Extreme Team She is also Chris Irwin Natural Horsemanship ‘Double-Gold’ Certified and a Richard Shrake Resistance Free Riding Master Level Trainer/Instructor. Teresa is the creator of the ‘Soft Touch’ Training Program – Classical Equitation & Natural Horsemanship and has over 20 years professional experience as a rider, competitor, trainer, instructor, clinician and personal coach. She is founder of Great Horses of America, Consignment Horse Sales Company and Co-Founder of Pink Heart Pony Kids, Inc. Teresa specializes in: confidence building in both horse and rider, horse behavior modification, motivational personal coaching and skill enhancement for riders & horses of all levels and disciplines. www.GreatHorses.org.
Jumping Exercises for Different Levels – MTSU Teaching Arena – Friday, 10:30 a.m.
Danielle Koren
Danielle is a certified marketing specialist, multi-disciplinary project manager, business process analyst and photographer. She has joined Schleese Saddlery Service Ltd. in the position of Marketing Manager in January, 2016. Danielle has over 20 years of experience in planning and executing strategic initiatives through employments at organizations in the private and not-for-profit sector. In addition, she has over five years’ experience in designing and delivering marketing, branding and communications initiatives, and executing photo assignments through her own business. Danielle has a Management Master’s degree, has the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential and obtained the Certified Marketing Specialist™ designation. She has over 12 years over horseback riding experience.
Women, Are You Riding in a Saddle Made for a Man? – Miller Club – Friday, 10:30 a.m.
Riding shouldn’t hurt. The unspoken reality is many female riders suffer from pelvic discomfort, struggle with position (shoulder-hip- heel alignment), sit crooked, feel unbalanced in the saddle, and endure recurring back, hip and neck pain. These common issues are often the result of riding in a saddle made for a man. This session will include discussion, videos, power point, live demonstrations and exercises including:
Differences in female and male anatomy and pelvis relating to riding and the seat (pelvis, leg ratios, musculature, skeletal) showing the differences that dictate different saddle design for women
Saddles design for women and for men – what is the difference?
Gender correct saddles and back comfort for the horse
Improving effective use of aids in your lessons
Interchangeable male female ground seats
How to evaluate saddle fit to rider – diagnostic saddle fit checklist
Christy Landwehr
Christy Landwehr has been active in the horse industry for over 35 years. Hunter/jumper, dressage, native costume, side saddle, western pleasure, hunter pleasure, barrel racing, endurance riding and saddle seat equitation are just some of the disciplines Christy has competed in at the local, regional and national levels in multiple breeds. She has been teaching children and adults how to ride for over 25 years. Christy is not only the Chief Executive Officer, but also a Master Level Riding Instructor/Clinician, Equine Facility Manager/Clinician and Site Visitor Trainer for CHA and has taught students in 4-H and Pony Club. She is a Past President of the American Youth Horse Council and she also founded, competed on and coached the University of Colorado at Boulder Intercollegiate Horse Show Association equestrian team. Christy is an AQHA Professional Horseman and on the AQHA National Marketing Committee. Christy was recently appointed to the Colorado State University Equine Sciences Advisory Council. With an undergraduate degree in public relations/speech communication from California State University Fullerton and a graduate degree in mass communication/journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder, Christy has vast experience in marketing and business. She was the Sponsorship and Youth Programs Manager for the Arabian Horse Association, a trainer for Skill Path Seminars, a television news reporter for WB Channel2 in Denver and the Development Director for The Urban Farm that works with at-risk youth. Christy has spoken at numerous equine events throughout her career including: Arabian Horse Association Conventions, Back Country Horsemen National Convention, American Paint Horse Association Convention, Taking the Reins in WI, Equine Affaire in CA, OH and MA, American Hippotherapy Association Conferences, Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Conventions, Mane Event in Edmonton, AQHA Conventions, American Camp Association Conventions and many others.
Real Colors Personality Style Assessment for You, Your Students and Your Horses – Thursday – 5:30 – Holiday Inn
For just $20 come and take the Real Colors Personality test to see if you are Gold, Green, Blue, Orange or a combination of colors. This instrument can be helpful working with students, your family and friends and even your horses. Come and find out how and take the instrument home with you.
Dr. Tom Lenz
Dr. Lenz has been active for more than 40 years in the world of equine veterinary health. He has dedicated his life to educating others about animal welfare, often speaking to audiences in the equine, veterinary, and agriculture industries, as well as governmental groups. Dr. Lenz is a Past President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and was honored with the 2005 AAEP Distinguished Service Award and the AAEP Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He is also a past chair of the AAEP’s Welfare Committee. He is currently on welfare committees for the American Horse Council, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. He is a trustee of the American Horse Council (AHC), the past chair of the Unwanted Horse Coalition, and the current chair of the AHC’s Welfare Committee. He has also served the American Quarter Horse Association as an honorary Vice President, co-chair of the Research Committee, and a member of AQHA’s Nominations, Credentials, and Research Committee. His monthly column for the “American Quarter Horse Journal” and “Quarter Horse Racing Journal” has run for more than 20 years. Dr. Lenz graduated from the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1975. He earned Diplomate status in the American College of Theriogenologists in 1986 and an MS in Equine Reproduction from Texas A&M University in 1988. The University of Missouri honored Dr. Lenz as the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Alumnus of the Year in 1995 and as a distinguished alumni in 1997. He currently resides in Louisburg, Kansas.
This presentation will focus on lessons we learned in dealing with equine welfare issues and the Unwanted Horse situation. In the past, welfare issues were discussed and resolved within the horse community, but this was the first national issue where non-horse owners and animal activists, as well as state and local officials, were involved in the debate and resolutions discussion. The result was a change on how we communicate and address equine welfare issues.
Julie Little
Julie is the founder of Equine Office, which specializes in dedicated invoicing services for equine businesses. In dealing with barn owners, coaches and trainers, she has been exposed to the many different ways clients implement their procedural policies. Julie began her career as a software developer. She has lived and worked (and of course ridden!) throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. She subsequently started and operated a hunter/jumper riding school and training business of her own for many years. Bringing the best of both careers together, she developed specialized invoicing software which led to the founding of Equine Office. Julie holds bachelors degrees in English and Biology from the University of Toronto, and in Computer and Information Science from the University of Maryland. She experienced many different disciplines of riding growing up, but it was her passion for jumpers which led to years of training and showing on the ‘A’ circuit. Julie gives clinics and judges horse shows when time permits.
Business Solutions for Equine Professionals – Miller Club – Friday, 3 p.m.
Running a coaching business or riding school can be a stressful operation as you try to please everyone. Having solid procedures in place can help smooth those bumps and make everyone’s experience easier. In this workshop we will discuss solutions which businesses like yours have used successfully. Among the topics we will cover are how to handle make-up lessons, and how to best avoid late paying clients. We will consider the pros and cons of different types of lesson packages. We will examine the challenge of getting clients to financially commit to trailering and coaching plans for horse shows. With these and other related topics, you will benefit from other coaches’ experiences. You will be able take home ideas you can apply to make your particular business more efficient (and hopefully give you less headaches)!
Jim McDonald
Jim is a lifelong horseman and a lifelong learner. In the year 2000, he started a non-profit organization dedicated to horsemanship education. Part of its mission is to make the joy of a relationship with a horse available to people who would not ordinarily have that opportunity and that was the original motivation for founding the Graham Equestrian center (www.Grahameq.org). They work closely with anyone who wants to advance their horsemanship skills and knowledge. Jim has been the CHA Board Treasurer and an AQHA Professional Horseman.
Teaching Horsemanship Skills for Effective Communication with Horses – Miller Club – Friday, 9 a.m.
This classroom instruction is design to present effective skills for making your intent clear to the horse. The knowledge and skills based on behavioral science. Understanding prey animal psychology and operant conditioning will be the emphasis of this presentation.
Debi Metcalfe
Debi is a well-known speaker and clinician hailing from Shelby, NC where she heads Stolen Horse InternationalTM, the only group that has advocated for the victims of rural crime-particularly equine theft-since 1992. She and husband Harold started the organization after the theft of their own mare, Idaho (recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age 31). Because of this brutal experience, Debi found the power of networking and social media-and the moniker of ‘NetPosse’ was used to describe that network by the media. It stuck and became the website name. Today, the NetPosse rides the internet on several social media sites-not just Facebook. Committed horse people of all descriptions are encouraged to participate in the ALERT network, volunteer, and become partners and/or sponsors. All it takes is ONE person who sees that horse we are looking for and who makes that call. NetPosseTM-Bringing Horses Home.
Dealing with a Stolen Horse – Miller Club – Saturday, 10:30 a.m., TBA
Ride a Reiner – Miller Coliseum – Saturday at Noon
Andrew Fox – NRHA Professional
Andrew is the head trainer and ranch manager for Darling 888 Ranch, located in Princeton, Kentucky. Originally, from Newmarket, England Andrew began his career riding western pleasure, reined cow horses and horsemanship. He showed his first reining horse when he was 14 years old. He won a European championship title at the age of 15 and has had continued success since then. Andrew has a degree in Equine Science from Cambridge College of Agriculture. Since moving to the United States in early 2008, Andrew has lifetime earnings just under $70,000 and has won various titles including the Alabama, Kentucky, and Missouri Futurities. Andrew has also won the Nebraska Big Red Derby, earned multiple Top Ten NRHA world titles in three different categories and made the open NRHA Derby finals. As a coach, Andrew has enabled his group of non-pros to achieve their goals which include winners of multiple Circuit Championships, Saddle Series, NRHA Top Ten World Titles (non-pro; youth), affiliate finalists and countless first place plaques, buckles and trophies. Andrew also has helped NRHA with Rookie Days and continues to host clinics at the ranch for others to strengthen their reining skills.
Hayley Eberle – NRHA Manager of Marketing and Communication
Originally from Georgia, Hayley became involved with horses at a young age. Having competed in several equestrian disciplines from speed events to hunt seat classes, she became successful and desired to be involved in the equestrian industry. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Hayley earned a Bachelor’s degree in Horse Science with a Minor in Business Administration while competing in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association shows and on the horse judging team. To gain experience with event management and horse associations while still in college, she spent much of her free time working equestrian events such as American Stock Horse Association Shows and American Quarter Horse Association events. Hayley also received her AQHA Show Management certification in 2012. Since early 2013, Hayley has been employed with the National Reining Horse Association. She currently manages the Sire and Dam program, marketing of NRHA’s programs, communications to members, outside advertising, and alliances, all while fulfilling additional responsibilities, such as serving as staff liaison to three committees. Hayley also serves on the American Youth Horse Council Board of Directors as well as several committees for the organization. When she isn’t traveling to represent NRHA at events and conferences, she still works local equestrian events.
Learn exercises created by Centered Riding’s founder Sally Swift designed to assist riders in achieving better balance, improved stability and clearer communication with their horse.
Demystifying the Half Halt – MSTU Teaching Arena – Saturday, 3 p.m.
Learn what the half-halt is, how to apply, when to apply it and how to teach it. This session will include interactive exercises with humans, followed by mounted application.
Women, Are You Riding in a Saddle Made for a Man? – Miller Club – Friday, 10:30 a.m.
Riding shouldn’t hurt. The unspoken reality is many female riders suffer from pelvic discomfort, struggle with position (shoulder-hip-heel alignment), sit crooked, feel unbalanced in the saddle, and endure recurring back, hip and neck pain. These common issues are often the result of riding in a saddle made for a man. This session will include discussion, videos, PowerPoint, live demonstrations and exercises, including:
Differences in female and male anatomy and pelvis relating to riding and the seat (pelvis, leg ratios, musculature, skeletal) showing the differences that dictate different saddle design for women
Saddles design for women and for men – what is the difference?
Gender correct saddles and back comfort for the horse
Improving effective use of aids in your lessons
Interchangeable male female ground seats
How to evaluate saddle fit to rider – diagnostic saddle fit checklist
Tara Reimer
Tara has always been involved with horses whether training, driving, riding or showing. Tara and her husband, Derek, own/operate Cloud 9 Ranch near Steinbach, Manitoba where she spends most of her time teaching Western and English riding and vaulting lessons, facilitating equine assisted psychotherapy, group discovery and therapeutic riding as well as training horses, judging shows and giving clinics. She is a CHA Clinic Instructor and the CHA Region 2 Director. In 2013, she was the CHA Instructor of the Year! EAGALA certified, she is the Equine Specialist on her equine assisted psychotherapy team. She is also an AQHA Professional Horseman and longtime exhibitor. With Equestrian Canada she is a Western Coach and General Performance Judge. Tara continues to show horses herself and enjoys the challenge of preparing young horses for Futurities. Tara’s passion is teaching, humans and horses, to develop their talents. Tara was twice a guest instructor on the Florida based Horses in the Morning radio show with CHA and has presented at the CHA International Conference in Lexington, Kentucky and at Horse 3 in Brandon. www.cloud9ranch.ca
Effective Groundwork – Miller Coliseum – Saturday, 9 a.m.
Ground work to ‘check in’ makes for calmer, more productive time spent with your horse. Learn how the horse’s brain works so you can identify a lack of confidence, then see how I use a combination of ground work exercises to build the horse’s confidence and activities using equine assisted learning to build our student’s confidence. What does the horse need from you as the handler? Learn more about yourself and how to better communicate, to horses and people. Easy to apply techniques and audience participation.
Jochen Schleese
Former member of the German young rider’s Three Day Event Team, Jochen qualified for the European Championships in 1984, but had to retire his horse due to lameness, which abruptly ended his riding career. Years later, through research Jochen discovered his horse’s lameness was caused by damage to the scapular cartilage from an ill-fitting saddle. This was the catalyst for Jochen’s life-long mission to prevent saddle related damage for all horses. Jochen graduated from Passier in 1985 as the youngest Certified Master Saddler in Germany at the time. He came to Canada as the Official Saddler for the 1986 World Dressage Championships. Jochen registered the trade of saddlery in North America in 1990, and operates the only authorized training facility for this trade in Ontario. He established Saddlefit 4 LifeÒ (2006) as an independent organization to teach saddle fit evaluation and analyses, and certify professionals in equine and saddle ergonomics. Jochen lectures at the German Professional Trainers Association in Warendorf Germany, at veterinary conferences in Brazil and is a frequent clinician at trade shows and equine forums worldwide. Jochen is on the advisory board of the Equine Sciences Academy and an education partner with the Ontario Equestrian Federation.
Western Saddle Fit – MTSU Teaching Arena – Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
This interactive demonstration will discuss:
Fitting challenges of western saddles
Center of balance relative to breed and discipline
Correct Saddle Support Area on the horse’s back
The 9 Points of Saddle Fit (static) – principles illustrated on horse’s back
Dynamic Fit (in motion)
Use of saddle blankets- saddle pads
Evaluating saddle fit for western saddles – principles and demo
Interchangeable – male-female ground seats
Systems to achieve optimal fit as the horse changes and develops
Saddle Fit Considerations for Various Breeds – Miller Coliseum – Saturday, 3 p.m.
The number of different breeds and the use of horses have changed dramatically over the last 150 years. Veterinary and medical findings reveal incorrectly fitting saddles can cause pain and damage to the horse. Correct saddle fit facilitates optimum performance and promotes back health. In addition to age and conditioning discussion will include principles professionals need to consider related to conformational differences (back lengths, shoulder conformations, spine, withers) of various breeds which present unique saddle fitting requirements and potential challenges. The horse’s back remains a very sensitive area, despite goals of targeted selection and breeding. One saddle does not fit all.
Randi Thompson
Randi is the founder of the “Horse and Rider Awareness® Educational Programs” and ”How to Market Your Horse Business.” She has been in the horse industry for over 40 years and has been coaching professionals for 20+ years in horse-and-rider training, business and marketing. Randi has worked with many breeds of horses and styles of riding in her career and has produced national winners in the worlds of dressage, hunter/jumper, western pleasure, and flat-shod walking horses. Randi is a Master Instructor for the CHA (English, Jumping, Western) and is available to come to your location for clinics and instructor training. Randi also offers instructor programs with recognized judges for those who want to focus more on coaching or competing in Jumping or Dressage (Tryon, NC area). For more information on how Randi can make a difference for you, go to http://www.horseandriderawareness.com.
Teaching a rider a balanced riding position is an art. First we start with the basics… than what do you do? How can you take a rider to the next level in their training process? Now you can watch what happens as Randi shows use techniques that you can use to improve your more advanced students riding position and balance.
Carla Wennberg
Carla has been an AQHA judge for 30 years and an NSBA and NRHA for judge 27 years. She was the AQHA 2008 Professional Horsewoman of the Year and for over 25 years was the Instructor and Coach for University of Georgia, Colorado State University, and last ten years at St Andrews University in North Carolina. Carla has coached for the past 10 years, IHSA western for St Andrews University and this year tied for First at IHSA Nationals with Berry College in Georgia. Carla has judged 13 Open and Amateur World Championship shows for AQHA, 3 Youth World Championships for AQHA, 3 All American Quarter Horse Congress shows, and 2 European Championships in Germany. She is also a clinician and master instructor with CHA. Having already staffed a CHA Certification Standard clinic at St. Andrews. Carla loves competing her FEI level gelding and is just 2 scores away from a Silver USDF Medal.
Western Horsemanship Exercises – Miller Coliseum – Friday, 1:30 p.m.
We will start this session with a quick warm up for riders to have a balanced position and explain why it works! Balancing exercises in transitions and the many ways it works for both horse and rider will be examined. Then the steps of collection required in the exercise will be explained. Next, the steering exercises including first with squares and how it works for horses and riders and then controlling the shoulders of both the riders and the horses. We will also discuss the mental preparation required for the horsemanship rider and how it helps in all pattern work.
Dave Whitaker
Dr. Whitaker was the long-time Director of Horse Science at MTSU until 2014. Dave may be best known for his judging teams who won every major contest including Appaloosas, Paints, Morgans, the AQHA World three times, and the Congress five times. Dave was an AQHA Director and AQHA judge for more than 31 years. He has judged horse shows in eleven countries and forty-two states, including the AQHA World Show three times, the Youth World three times, the Select World and the Congress, and the Texas State 4-H Show, possibly his favorite, four times. He has done clinics in other countries as well, most notably New Zealand, where he was able to combine his knowledge and love of horses with two of his other animal passions on a huge sheep ranch…that also trains their own working stock dogs. He hosted summer youth horsemanship camps at MTSU for 30 years. Nationally, he served as Chair of AQHA’s Youth Committee and Research Committee which determines disposition of nearly half a million dollars a year in research funding for three years each, as well as serving on the International Committee and Nominations/Credentials Committee. For three years he was the sole non-veterinarian on the Board of the American Assoc. of Equine Practitioners, and currently serves on the AQHA Welfare Committee. A few of the numerous awards that he has won that are very meaningful to him include the TN State 4-H Family Award, Distinguished Alumni from the University of Tennessee, AQHA’s Merle Wood Humanitarian Award, and the National Honorary American Farmer degree from the national FFA convention. Dave and his wife Pat, an Extension educator in Consumer and Family Science, have three children and five grandchildren.
About Middle Tennessee State University Horse Science Program – Holiday Inn – Thursday, 2 p.m.
Barbara Wolke
Barbara is the Vice President of the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau. She joined the Convention & Visitors Bureau staff in 2003. She has 30 years of experience in sales and the hospitality industry. Barbara earned her designation as a Certified Hospitality Sales Professional from the Educational Institute with the American Hotel & Motel Association. She earned industry designations as a Travel Marketing Professional from the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College and as a Certified Tennessee Tourism Professional from the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable. Barbara is a native of Middle Tennessee and a 35 year resident of Rutherford County. She is an active member of the Tennessee Society of Association Executives, American Bus Association, Rutherford County and Tennessee Hospitality Associations, and the National Association of Sports Commissions. Barbara is a graduate of the Transit Citizen Leadership Academy, Dale Carnegie Course and the 2015 Leadership Rutherford program.
Welcome to Murfreesboro! – Holiday Inn – Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
Lisa Wysocky
Lisa is a registered level PATH International instructor and also holds certifications as a mentor, and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. In addition, she has been chosen as one of the country’s Top 50 riding instructors by ARIA. With a life balanced between books and horses, Lisa is an author, equine clinician, and motivational speaker who trains horses for and consults with therapeutic riding programs. Lisa graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in equine management. Early wins on the national Appaloosa horse show circuit took Lisa across North America, where she was asked to speak, or to write articles for national publications. Lisa’s passion for writing and speaking led to a second run at college where she studied communications and journalism. Lisa is the co-author of a number of books, including My Horse, My Partner: Teamwork on the Ground, which helps horse and human partners form amazing bonds using traditional ground training, natural horsemanship, and desensitization. Lisa combines her love of horses and country music in Horse Country: A Celebration of Country Music and the Love of Horses. This beautiful coffee table book features twenty-seven of the top stars of country music talking about how horses changed their life for the better. Lisa’s six-time award winning Cat Enright equestrian mystery series has recently been optioned for film and television. Lisa is the executive director of Colby’s Army, a therapeutic riding and life learning center, and has a clinic schedule that tales her nationwide. Learn more at http://www.lisawysocky.com.
Lesson horses are the backbone of any instructor’s barn, but the builds of some horses are better suited for one purpose or another. We all want our horses to stay in our programs for many years, but like people, the bodies of some horses wear out faster than others. Comparing the conformation of several lesson horses, Lisa takes the audience through the pros and cons of each horse as a long-term lesson prospect. From nose to tail, Lisa educates instructors on the best choices for their lesson program.
The Green Barn – Miller Club – Saturday, 9 a.m.
As we become more conscious of good environmental practices, those ideas must also extend to the barn. Many of us also have horses and/or riders with allergies, and those sensitivities can be reduced by using products that are less harsh. From innovative stall beddings, to recycling and repurposing, Lisa presents fun, affordable, and easy to implement eco-friendy solutions that benefit all. Some will even widen your reach within your local community and bring new people to your barn.
JoAnne Young
JoAnne has been teaching riding and training horses for over 40 years, and is happy that she is still learning. Every student and every horse bring fresh challenges that keep life interesting. She has been privileged and blessed beyond her wildest dreams to study with such wonderful instructors as Walter Zettl (dressage coach to Canadian event team when they won bronze at Los Angeles Olympics), Bertin Potter in Germany, Molly Sivewright (FEI judge and past chair of the Fellows of the British Horse Society), Carel Eijkenaar (FEI judge), Eddo Hoestra (F.E.I. Trainer) and Doris Halstead (Physical Therapist and author of “Releasing the Potential: Physical Therapy Modalities for Horse and Rider.” Jo-Anne is the author of the M.A. thesis: “Preparing students for riding instructor certification through college curricula.”
Lateral Movements for all Levels of Riders – Miller Coliseum – Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
“Lateral” means “sideways” or “all on one side”, but the skills and movements included in the term range from improving basic beginner steering to advanced level maneuvers. Riders in this workshop will work at their own level. Those new to lateral work will be introduced to the many basic uses and the required aids. Those further along in their riding education will work on refining their aids and timing as they use lateral work to improve the horse’s balance, responsiveness and range of motion.
Kim has more than 35 years of experience equine industry publishing and marketing. Currently she is the Associate Publisher/Editor of two brands for Active Interest Media (AIM) that are focused on business. EquiManagement is for equine veterinarians and Stable Management is for farm/stable owners and riding instructors. Kim’s background includes nearly 30 years at Blood-Horse Publications, the first 15 with The Blood-Horse magazine, ending up as a Contributing Editor, and the second 15 developing The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care as the Publisher/Editor. Kim retired from publishing to become Global Marketing Manager at Kentucky Equine Research, and while there lead the team that created award-winning newsletters and videos, launched a new content-driven educational website, and developed an e-commerce site. Kim then ran her own marketing/content development company for a short time before accepting a full-time position with AIM’s Equine Network. Kim and her musician husband, Ben, moved from Kentucky to Wyoming and are enjoying the outdoor life riding horses, camping, cycling, hiking, fishing, canoeing, and Kim’s favorite—rockhounding. Kim can be reached at KBrown@THINInc.com.
Luck is Where Preparation Meets Opportunity Keynote – Thursday – 3 p.m.
Fred Bruce
Fred won the CHA Distinguished Service Award in 2009. He is a Standard, Combined, Seasonal, Trail, Driving and Equine Facility Managers Clinic Instructor for CHA. He has been a part of CHA since 1981 and has been instrumental in starting and improving many CHA certification programs. Fred has been a contributing author for many of the CHA manuals and has served on the CHA Board of Directors. Fred currently lives in Holbrook, Arizona.
This session will prepare you to try out your hand at the Markel Trail Challenge and also to get your own knots around horses and packing better. Come for a hands-on and fun experience with ropes!
Packing – Trail Encampment – Friday at 3 p.m.
This session will involve learning how to pack a horse to go into the back country. Keeping your loads safe and balanced and what types of hitches to use.
Tara Gamble
Tara has been the Past President of the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) and of the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF), as well as the opportunity to represent Canada as Runner-Up Miss Rodeo Canada 1998. She has served on the Equine Canada Board of Directors as a representative to recreation, and on the Strathcona County Economic Development and Advisory Committee as the agricultural representative. It has been an honor for Tara to receive both the CHA Clinic Instructor of the year (2006), and Volunteer of the year (2013) awards.
She is a CHA Clinic Instructor, and a designated Professional Horseman with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and was appointed to the AQHA Youth Activities Committee in 2012, where she is able to contribute to her vision of helping the industry to work collaboratively to strengthen it. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from the University of Alberta.
With over twenty three years of industry teaching experience and a background in both western and english, Tara offers weekly riding lessons at her facility east of Ardrossan, Alberta. In addition, she judges various horsemanship competitions, presents seminars and instructs clinics. She has been fortunate to work with many equine professionals on the provincial, national and international levels which has greatly enriched her experiences.
Transitions to Improve Lightness – Indoor Arena – Friday at 10:30 a.m.
This session will focus on how the use of transitions can assist in creating a more responsive and lighter horse. Through a series of exercises you will see a progression of how both the rider and horse improve their responsiveness to the aids, and discuss the benefits of this. The ultimate goal is to achieve a true partnership; working in harmony to develop feel as a rider and in turn a more attentive, supple and lighter horse.
Julie Goodnight
Julie is the popular RFD-TV host of Horse Master airing Monday and Saturday nights. Julie travels the USA sharing her no-nonsense horsemanship training with riders of all disciplines. Whether you ride English, Western, dressage or trail ride, Julie’s “Classic Skills for a Natural Ride” teaching helps you feel more confident in the saddle and helps you understand the “whys” of horsemanship. She loves continually learning and sharing horse behavior insights and she relates that knowledge to how you should interact with your horses. She’s experienced in dressage and jumping, racing, reining, cow horse, colt-starting, and wilderness riding. You’ve probably seen her articles in Horse & Rider, The Trail Rider and many other horse publications. Julie is honored to be the International Spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association and was named Equine Affaire’s Exceptional Equestrian Educator. Julie grew up on the hunter-jumper circuits in Florida, but is now at home in the west. She and her husband Rich Moorhead live in the mountains. Both love versatility ranch horse competitions and riding cow-horses.
Working with Advanced Riders – Indoor Arena – Friday at 9 a.m. The Science of Cueing – Indoor Arena – Saturday at 9 a.m. Schooling the School Horse – East Pen – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Van Hargis
Van Hargis is known as one of today’s most versatile horsemen/clinicians. More than just a clinician who talks about horsemanship, Van is a true horseman whose clinic and seminar presentations are born out of real-world experience working with and learning from horses. Van started riding horses when he was only four years old and launched his career as a trainer at twelve when the wife of world-renowned saddle maker Billy Cook hired him to train her horse. He spent much of his youth in the saddle, working cattle at ranches around his Texas home. At the same time Van was honing his skills as a trainer and competitor, taking both his own and his clients’ horses into the show ring and the rodeo arena. Van and the horses he’s trained have excelled in show and rodeo events like ranch horse versatility (his specialty), western pleasure, trail classes, calf roping, team roping, and steer wrestling. Van’s practical experiences on the ranch and in competition, coupled with a dynamic speaking ability, have made him one of the most requested clinicians at equestrian facilities and events across the country. He moves easily across the “great divide” between the western and English riding worlds, and has worked successfully with horses from many disciplines, including both working ranch horses and show horses in western pleasure, hunter-jumper, and dressage. In horsemanship and in life, Van firmly believes there’s “nothing but the basics,” and that those basics are the same no matter what equestrian discipline appeals to you. Van uses each presentation he gives as an opportunity to share how the horse has helped him realize the important lessons in his life. He utilizes the arena and the horse to emphasize the most fundamental lesson: the need for a solid foundation, in horse training as well as everyday life. Van’s ability to use the horse to educate, motivate, inspire, and entertain will encourage you to take a long look at your life, your relationships, and your horsemanship.
Reduce Your Problems to the Ridiculous – Indoor Arena – Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Are You Focused on Success? – Keynote – Saturday at 7 p.m.
Craig Huffhines
Craig’s enthusiasm is contagious and his knowledge and passion for the agriculture and livestock industries is quickly recognizable. He graduated with a bachelor of science from Texas A&M University and received a master of science from Colorado State University. After college, he began working at the American Hereford Association where he was the director of feedlot and carcass programs and director of Certified Hereford Beef before he was elevated to executive vice president in 1997.
On April 1, Craig accepted the executive vice president’s position at the world’s largest equine breed organization – the American Quarter Horse Association. Craig brings 17 years of experience with him to the Association. He has recorded success in turning around a 30-year decline in registrations and beef breed popularity, balancing budgets during lean years, developing a new branded-beef enterprise, executing and revising governance structure to meet the demands of the 21st century and reinvigorating the interest among youth, while growing the Hereford Research and Youth foundations and managing the American Hereford Association staff.
Craig and his wife, Mary Jon, have recently relocated with their sons, Seth, Cole and Miles, to Amarillo, the home of AQHA’s international headquarters.
Welcome to Amarillo and AQHA – Thursday Reception – AQHA Hall of Famepen
Jim Jennings
Jim is the retired Executive Director of Publications for the American Quarter Horse Association. He worked full time for AQHA for 37 years prior to his retirement in 2008, following which he then served the Association as a consultant for another six years. He is the author of the award-winning book “Best Remudas” and of the book “They Still Ride Good Horses,” which was published this year in conjunction with AQHA’s 75th anniversary. He is a past president of American Horse Publications and of the Livestock Publications Council, has been inducted into the LPC Hall of Fame and was named an American Horse Publications Champion. Jim currently serves on the board of trustees for the Texas 4-H Development Foundation.
Jim and his wife, Mavis, live in Amarillo, and although retired, Jim continues to write for different publications. Currently he writes the scripts for the weekly television show “Somewhere West of Wall Street.”
History of Amarillo – AQHA Hall of Fame – Thursday Reception
Teresa Kackert
Teresa has been CHA Clinic Instructor since 2003. She is an AQHA Professional Horseman and member of the Wrangler Extreme Team She is also Chris Irwin Natural Horsemanship ‘Double-Gold’ Certified and a Richard Shrake Resistance Free Riding Master Level Trainer/Instructor. Teresa is the creator of the ‘Soft Touch’ Training Program – Classical Equitation & Natural Horsemanship and has over 20 years professional experience as a rider, competitor, trainer, instructor, clinician and personal coach. She is founder of Great Horses of America, Consignment Horse Sales Company and Co-Founder of Pink Heart Pony Kids, Inc. Teresa specializes in: confidence building in both horse and rider, horse behavior modification, motivational personal coaching and skill enhancement for riders & horses of all levels and disciplines. www.GreatHorses.org.
Jumping Exercises – Indoor Arena – Friday at 1:30 p.m.
This session will be great for those just starting to teach jumping as well as those that have been coaching this discipline for a while. Come and join us to see different flatwork exercises, ground pole drills and jumping gymnastics and courses to help your riders succeed.
How to Develop Feel in Riders – East Pen – Saturday at 9 a.m.
We all strive to achieve true feel when we ride! Now learn how to teach feel as well. Exercises will be presented at all three gaits for a variety of levels of riders in this session.
Stan Loewen
Stan won the CHA Clinic Staff of the Year Award in 2009. He is a lifetime member of CHA and has been involved since the 1970s. Stan has conducted Standard, Combined, Seasonal and Trail Clinics for CHA. He has put his heart and soul into CHA and has done over 70 clinics, so has certified at the very least over 500 riding instructors and trail guides. Stan has been on the CHA Board of Directors and very helpful in the creation of the Trail Program and the CHA Trail Guide Manual of which he is on the cover packing into the Bob Marshall wilderness.
Packing – Trail Encampment – Friday at 3 p.m.
This session will involve learning how to pack a horse to go into the back country. Keeping your loads safe and balanced and what types of hitches to use.
Come and eat some pastry for breakfast! Learn how to use a Dutch oven and what you can cook in it while packing out with your horses or in your own backyard!
Amanda Love
Amanda is the Horsemanship Director at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. She is the coach of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Team there and also teaches numerous classes. Amanda is currently on the CHA Board of Directors and is an active rider and does cross fit.
Jumping Exercises – Indoor Arena – Friday at 1:30 p.m.
This session will be great for those just starting to teach jumping as well as those that have been coaching this discipline for a while. Come and join us to see different flatwork exercises, ground pole drills and jumping gymnastics and courses to help your riders succeed.
Jordan Manfredi
Jordan Manfredi, MBA joins us from Purdue University Calumet, where she spent two years as a continuing lecturer in equine business management, marketing, promotion and sales within their School of Business. Currently, Jordan is the president of Big Red Advisory Group, an equine consulting group whose clients include Intrepid International, a global equine product distributor and Horse Tack Co., a leading e-commerce retailer. Furthermore, Jordan teaches equine business management at LIU-Post in Long Island, New York. Jordan, an avid hunter/jumper rider of 26 years has consulted for various national and international equine companies and has presented at several trade shows and conferences, including the United States Pony Club National Meeting and Hoosier Horse Expo.
Marketing that Works! – Classroom – Saturday 1:30 p.m.
Tired of marketing tactics that don’t produce ROI? Are you throwing away valuable marketing dollars? Are you looking to grow your business but not sure how? Well then, let’s go back to the basics to create a plan that works. This seminar will teach you how to: Outline and intimately understand your target market; develop a SWOT analysis that highlights your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats; create SMARTS goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely and Sustainable; measure success and ROI; and implement tried and true marketing tactics that won’t break the bank. We will also brainstorm marketing ideas and share success stories. Furthermore, you will be given the opportunity to start a marketing plan and to discuss one on one any marketing questions you may have.
Jim McDonald
Jim is a lifelong horseman and a lifelong learner. In the year 2000, he started a non-profit organization dedicated to horsemanship education. Part of its mission is to make the joy of a relationship with a horse available to people who would not ordinarily have that opportunity and that was the original motivation for founding the Graham Equestrian center (www.Grahameq.org). They work closely with anyone who wants to advance their horsemanship skills and knowledge. Jim is currently the CHA Board Treasurer and an AQHA Professional Horseman.
Horsemanship Through Principles of Behavioral Science and Learning Theory – Classroom – Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Ed Montana
From the polka dance halls of the Midwest with his father’s band at age 10, to the Alps of Europe singing songs about Texas and dang near every PRCA Rodeo in between, Ed is a busy man. Traveling with the original Coors Cowboy Band, Ed has been very lucky to have traveled all over the beautiful USA doing what he loves most… playing music.
Cowboy Welcome to Texas – Coors Cowboy Club – Thursday at 2 p.m.
Terry Myers
Terry is a leading trainer, teacher and national clinician, but above all he is a true horseman. Myers has trained stock and hunter horses for state, national and world competition. But he doesn’t just train the show horse. His training is for all horses regardless of the discipline. He incorporates work with both horse and rider to achieve balanced movements. His Ride-in-Sync® philosophy helps riders understand how body position affects horse performance. Through Myers’ 45 years of experience and work with thousands of horses and riders, he has developed coaching and demonstration methods which provides logical information that is easily understood and put to use. Consistent feedback from clinic attendees is confirmation that Terry’s training ideology and teaching style produces results.
How Shoulder Control Affects Performance – Indoor Arena – Friday at 3 p.m.
More than anything else, having your horse soft and square in their shoulders improves performance. A horse must be square in their shoulders in order to be able lift their back and drive with their hind end. If they are not square in their shoulders, the hind end has no place to go and they end up with their hocks out in their tail. Terry will show how the rider can lift and square the horse’s shoulders as part of softness and collection. With his instruction, this will be accomplished through rider body position and putting the horse into a correct frame. No matter what the discipline, shoulder control impacts performance.
National Cutting Horse Association
Come and ride a trained cutting horse on a flag with local professional trainers during this session. On May 1, 1946, the National Cutting Horse Association was formed by a group of cowboys and ranchers with the main goals of promoting cutting competition, standardizing contest rules, and preserving the cutting horse’s western heritage. NCHA held its first cutting in Dublin, Texas, in September 1946. The ensuing decades have afforded tremendous growth for the NCHA, and today, more than 2,200 shows are held annually with total prize money exceeding $36 million.
Following a 25-year career leading as a naval officer, Valerie dedicated her time to promoting the horse industry and sharing lessons learned. Her two award-winning novels, “Believing In Horses” and “Believing In Horses, Too,” highlight rescues, competition, equine-assisted therapies, military families, and the healing power of horses. Valerie blended education, advocacy, and inspiration into stories that also introduce readers to real-life organizations which have since gained recognition in the form of grants, fundraisers, publicity, new volunteers, and political acknowledgement. Valerie founded Veteran Writing Services, LLC, and is a charter member of the first National Women Veterans Speakers Bureau, being named one of the Top 101 Leadership Speakers in 2015. A Certified Horsemanship Association instructor in both English and Western, she rides and competes in the National Capital Adult Equestrian League, and serves as Secretary of the Maryland Horse Council. You can reach Valerie at http://BelievingInHorses.com/
Leading Beyond the Saddle – Classroom – Friday at 10:30 a.m.
You may be the most influential leader in your students’ lives. What lessons do you want to impart in the time you are with them? And how? You have a larger impact than you realize in the horse industry beyond your individual role at a barn, within a discipline, or in a lesson program — and communication is key. Come to this interactive session to discover ways to mentor, motivate, and lead our next generation of horse enthusiasts to help them achieve their goals.
John Pipkin
John is currently the Director of the Equine Industry Program and a Regents Professor of Animal Science at West Texas A&M University where his duties include coaching the Horse Judging Team, and overseeing the Equestrian and Stock Horse Teams, in addition to teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities. He has been an approved judge for over 20 years, and currently has judge’s cards with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), American Paint Horse Association (APHA), National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA), National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA), and World Conformation Horse Association (WCHA). He has judged over 400 total shows in 10 different countries and 33 states including 7 AQHA World, 4 APHA World, 3 International Championships, and other major AQHA, APHA, NRHA and NSBA shows. Pipkin’s judging teams have won 120 (99 at WTAMU) National or World Champion or Reserve Champion titles including the 2013 and 2014 AQHA Collegiate World and NRHA Championships; and Equestrian Teams under his program direction have won 41 National Champion or Reserve Champion titles, including the 2013 IHSA Western National Champion team. He has trained and shown professionally in Halter, Reining, Working Cow Horse, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, and Trail, as well as these and other classes as a youth exhibitor. He is a National Director for AQHA, currently serves on the AQHA and WCHA Judges Committees, and has served as Chair of the AQHA Show and Professional Horsemen Committee, and the AQHA Show Council. Dr. Pipkin has been awarded the Outstanding Young Professional Award by the Equine Science Society and the Texas 4-H Alumni Award. At WT, he has received the Magister Optimus award, the university’s highest faculty recognition. The Texas A&M University System awarded him the Teaching Excellence Award, and named him a Regents Professor.
West Texas A&M University Welcome – CHA Annual Meeting – Thursday
Sanna Roling
Sanna is a life member of CHA devoting her talents as a Level 3 English and Level 2 Western Instructor to horsemanship for people with disabilities and youth-at-risk. A past or present member of several committees including the Instructor Manual, Standards, and IRD, Sanna has devoted much of her CHA life to IRD and today runs Dream Catcher Stables, Inc in Houston, TX. A Special Olympics Equestrian Coach (1995 World Games Coach from Texas), Path Int’l Registered Instructor, Certified Texas Special Education and Math Teacher, Sanna also played an instrumental part in creating the Top Hands Horse Show (Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo) which was duplicated by Ft. Worth, TX (Chisolm Challenge) and Austin, TX (Golden Stirrup). In 26 years her athletes (298) have brought home 264 firsts, 282 seconds, 224 thirds, 188 fourths, 148 fifths 99 sixths, 151 honorable mentions.
Teaching Riders with Disabilities in a Recreational Riding Program – Classroom – Friday at 3 p.m.
Share in the abilities of people with autism, traumatic brain injury, Down Syndrome, complex traumatic stress disorder, Cerebral Palsy, paraplegia, amputation and hip replacement, visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental retardation, and anxiety disorder. Be part of a discussion including teaching strategies and challenges, reasons why these athletes chose the equestrian sport, and advantages gained.
Darla Ryder
Darla started at the age of eight with bareback and western riding and in her early twenties spent time overseas under the tillage of an instructor with the BHS (British Horse Society). Her career with horses has been varied in both breeds and disciplines. She has raised and shown Quarter, Arabian, Appaloosa, Miniatures and Gypsy Horses. Darla has successfully served as a trainer, facility/equine manager for a hunter/jumper barn, a cutting horse facility and as the Executive Director for a Therapeutic Riding Center. She currently schools horses for clients, teaches able bodied riders as well as riders with special needs and travels as a mentors for various equine programs. She has been with CHA since 1995 and is certified at the Master and Clinician level in Standard Certification, Instructors of Riders with Disabilities, Facilities Management and Vaulting Coach Certification. She is also a certified instructor with PATH. Darla has presented mounted and classroom presentation, clinics and workshops nationwide and was the first recipient in 2003 of the coveted “CHA Clinic Instructor of the Year.”
ABC’s of the Human/Horse Relationship – East Pen – Friday at 3 p.m.
This workshop is a must for anyone who owns or works with horses. With over fifty years of equine experience and the mentorship as a girl of a retired cavalryman, these techniques Darla shares, work! Using the knowledge of how horses communicate with each other it will teach you, how to communicate with a horse in his own language. Gaining this knowledge and adapting it in your ground handling techniques bring about a true partnership between human and horse. Confidence and trust on both sides! This method of handling and training makes for the perfect personal or school horse. A horse that willingly follows with the leader between the nose and shoulder on a loose lead, a horse that is quiet and willing, No special equipment is needed or used.
Jochen Schleese
Jochen documented over 34 years of his experience as German Certified Master Saddler and Saddle Ergonomist in his books ‘Suffering in Silence – The Saddle Fit Link to Physical and Psychological trauma in Horses’ (2013), ‘The Silent Killer’ (2012) and DVD ’Beyond the 9 Points of Saddle Fit’.
Saddle Fit Issue that Affect Comfort, Performance and Even Soundness – Classroom – Friday at 9 a.m. Identifying and Correcting Saddle Fit Issues to Horse and to Rider – East Pen – Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Tom Scrima
Tom serves as a board member of the American Competitive Trail Horse Association, a 501 c3 nonprofit. During his high school and college years Tom earned his tuition and spending money training horses and giving riding lessons. It wasn’t until meeting his future bride, while both were instructing at a summer camp, that he realized he really didn’t know much about riding so he took a back seat to her Intercollegiate Collegiate All American status and focused in on business during his later years at the University of Notre Dame. He then went on to obtain an Advanced Degree from DMAA in Direct Marketing.
How to Take Your Horse Business to the Next Level with Little to No Dollar Outlay- The Economics of Economical Marketing – Classroom – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
We have all heard that you have about 2 seconds to capture the reader or you are out of there! In the horse industry we are all so busy with our passion and jobs that that’s probably a generous estimate! In this session find out the true cost of “free” emailing, true cost of snail mail, if digital and hard print pay off, how do you survive with a virtually zero marketing budget, and find out how to sell the sizzle. We will also discuss stories of Ed Maher…the greatest marketing genius ever and founder of the DMAA…a man who tuned pennies to hundred dollar bills…from a wheel chair and will provide you with a summary of cost free approaches to let new customers know you are ready for them.
Dennis Sigler
Dennis is a Professor and Extension Horse Specialist in the Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University. Dr. Sigler received a B.S. degree from Abilene Christian University, a M.S. degree from Texas Tech and his Ph.D. degree from Texas A&M. From 1980 to 1989 he was the leader of the equine teaching and research program at Kansas State University. For the 15 years prior to joining the faculty at Texas A&M in 2006, Dr. Sigler was employed in the livestock feed industry as a nutritionist and sales director. He has done nutrition, formulation, sales and marketing work for a total of 6 different feed companies. In addition to extension education activities, Dr. Sigler conducts research and trains graduate students in the area of exercise science and nutrition. Specifically, he is interested in conditioning and management of the juvenile and mature athletic horse to maximize performance and enhance structural integrity. Other areas of interest include nutritional strategies to enhance performance and reduce musculo-skeletal injuries. Dr. Sigler has served as President of the Equine Science Society, has published numerous scientific and popular press articles and has served as an invited speaker at many national and state-wide meetings. He is a member of the American Society of Animal Science and the Equine Science Society. Dr. Sigler has a lifetime of practical horse experience. He has been an AQHA-approved judge for 33 years and has judged horse shows in nearly every state and in 5 foreign countries. He is also an accomplished horseman, having shown and trained horses for a variety of performance events, including cutting, reining and cow horse. He was a founding member and Past-President of the Stock Horse of Texas Association and the American Stock Horse Association. He currently serves on the Executive Board and is Immediate Past-President of the Texas Quarter Horse Association.
Energetics for the Performance Horse – Classroom – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Cheryl West
Cheryl is a Master CHA Instructor for English, Western, Therapeutic and Jumping, and a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship certified instructor and mentor. She specializes in infusing dressage and biomechanics into all riding disciplines and developing instructors. Owns and operates West Equestrian Ranch in Sand Springs Oklahoma, teaching lessons to over 60+ riders a week at her ranch as well as Stillwater, Broken Arrow, Edmond, Stigler and more. She often travels certifying instructors, mentoring and teaching clinics. Serves on the board for Great Plains Dressage Chapter, Oklahoma Dressage Chapter board, the CHA development for Instructors for Riders with Disabilities committee, and in process of helping other groups start up. She was the program manager for American Therapeutic Center, with 70+ riders, for 5 years. She strives to use to encourage riders and people from all walks of life that upper level equitation can be achieved no matter what discipline, horse or income.
Connected Riding – East Pen – Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Connected riding would focus on the rider and their ability to clearly communicate to the horse. Many times we spend a lot of energy trying to fix the horse, without realizing that what we do in the saddle, and how we ride affects much of their response. This includes fear and tension. We use biomechanics and connection to help us be more aware of our bodies.
Melanie Wilhelm
Melanie Wilhelm of Wilhelm Performance Horses is located in Nazareth, Texas. A NRHA Professional, Melanie has a current NRHA Lifetime Earnings of more than $34,400. Her accomplishments include many great accolades including a 2011 Open Derby finalist, 2012 NRHA Professional Horse Woman of the Year, and multiple AQHA World Show qualifications. From the round pen to the show pen, Wilhelm Performance Horses specializes in producing reining horses of the highest caliber as well as developing youth and non pro riders.
Getting Your Students Involved with Reining – Indoor Arena – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Melanie will teach you how to implement simple reining based exercises into your lesson program to keep your beginner students involved while giving them goals for success!
JoAnne Young
JoAnne has been teaching riding and training horses for over 40 years, and is happy that she is still learning. Every student and every horse bring fresh challenges that keep life interesting. She has been privileged and blessed beyond her wildest dreams to study with such wonderful instructors as Walter Zettl (dressage coach to Canadian event team when they won bronze at Los Angeles Olympics), Bertin Potter in Germany, Molly Sivewright (FEI judge and past chair of the Fellows of the British Horse Society), Carel Eijkenaar (FEI judge), Eddo Hoestra (F.E.I. Trainer) and Doris Halstead (Physical Therapist and author of “Releasing the Potential: Physical Therapy Modalities for Horse and Rider.” Jo-Anne is the author of the M.A. thesis: “Preparing students for riding instructor certification through college curricula.”
Lateral Work Defined – East Pen – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Dr. Bona received her post-graduate Doctor of Chiropractic in 1987 From Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, MO. Along with her office in Blue Bell, PA for humans, Dr. Pat has been certified in animal chiropractic by American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) since 1994. She is an avid equestrian and horse owner who started in 4-H. Her focus has always been on good posture which must start from the feet up to efficiently thrive under unyielding force of gravity; a basic yet powerful concept. As a result of Doctor Bona’s focus, she developed the Cross Fiber grooming technique in 1997 (Posture Prep Cross Fiber Grooming). A technique of daily grooming that empowers the horse owner as they help to improve the horse’s posture, performance and well-being, with a pre-ride evaluation and massage as they groom. All the while learning that “Posture is the Language of the Horse.”
Assess and Address the Horse’s Myofascial and Postural Imbalances – KHP Club Lounge – Saturday at 3 p.m.
For the past few years Dr. Bona has been seriously focusing on the evaluation of aberrant posture and biomechanics due to scars/scar tissue. Dents, dings, white hairs, areas of hair loss are areas of “healed” injuries with significant restriction that need to be released. All too often they are completely overlooked or thought of as a blemish. This lecture provides profound observations and tools for the novice horse owner to the performance veterinarian.
Shellie Carmoney
Shellie relocated to central Iowa in March of 2014 after she accepted the position of Equestrian Program Specialist at the Jester Park Equestrian Center in Granger. While much of her time is spent designing programs, organizing events and the professional development of instructors, staff and volunteers, Shellie also balances her time in the busy program. She facilitates the At-Risk Youth program, oversees the Department of Corrections stable hands, develops program and therapy horses and teaches multiple levels of students in the able body and therapeutic horsemanship programs. Her philosophy is teaching the “total horse” regardless of the discipline, ability or background of her students. Shellie lives in Johnston, Iowa with her sister, their crazy Maltise dog and her horse, Aragorn.
Come and watch while CHA Instructors battle it out to see who can teach a brand new rider the best! It is like the Mustang Make Over and other challenges that you see at Expos except with a CHA flair! May the Best Instructor Win!
Patti Colbert
Patti is a “hands-on” promoter for the horse industry. Experience in both private and non-profit equine business led Patti to a position as the Senior Director of the American Quarter Horse Association’s Foundation where she served until 2004. In 2006 Patti’s company began a management arrangement with the Mustang Heritage Foundation, funded in part through Bureau of Land Management grants. Colbert created and launched the Extreme Mustang Makeover events and other Mustang training programs which led to the adoption of more than 5,000 wild horses. Patti currently works with the American Horse Council’s Marketing Alliance, representing major equine breed, discipline and corporate organizations. Patti helped to create “Time to Ride” events and programs including the national “100 Day Horse Challenge” designed to provide incentives for stables, businesses and organizations to host events that connect newcomers to horses.
Generational Differences and How They Can Affect Your Riding Program
Bob Coleman Ph. D., PAS, Dip.ACAN
Dr. Coleman grew up in western Canada and has had a lifelong interest in horses. He is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture with a major in Animal Sciences and a Master’s of Science degree. After graduating, Coleman worked in the Canadian Feed Industry as a nutritionist for two major feed companies. In 1980, he moved to Alberta, Canada to be the Extension Horse Specialist for Alberta Agriculture. During his time in Alberta, he completed his Ph.D. with a focus in Equine Nutrition. Dr. Coleman then moved to the University of Kentucky as the Equine Extension Specialist. In addition to his Extension duties, Dr. Coleman teaches in the Equine Science and Management program and serves as the program’s Director of Undergraduate Studies. Dr. Coleman is a member of the AQHF research committee and is the current president of the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association. Professionally, Dr. Coleman is a member of the Equine Science Society where he serves as the executive director, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and the American Society of Animal Scientists as well as a board member for CHA.
Feed Costs – KHP Club Lounge – Friday at 3 p.m.
When managing any group of horses trying to control feed costs is always something that owners struggle with. When prices are low, and who can remember when that was, it is not such an issue but with the way hay and grain prices bounce around having some ideas on how to manage feeding programs to help control costs is always something worth talking about. It is not just about controlling feed intakes, but making sure the feeding programs for your horses meet their needs and do not break the bank. This presentation will discuss some ideas on maintaining costs while making sure your horses are receiving the feed they need. Krishona Martinson, PhD from the University of Minnesota, was also an author for this presentation.
Managing Your Horse’s Weight – KHP Club Lounge – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
For many horse owners knowing how much their horses weigh can be a great help in managing their feeding programs and administering medications. While some use an old equation that used heart girth and body length there is a newer equation that includes a few more measurements but may give a better indication of how much the horse weighs. In addition you can use some of the measurements to determine what your horse’s ideal weight should be. All in all horse owners can get an estimate of how much the horse weighs, what it should weigh and how are you doing. This all comes in an app for your smart phone. This presentation will look at is your horse fat? Well there is an app for that.
Kathy Findley
Kathy is a licensed judge for numerous national level judging cards. She has officiated at regional and national level breed shows. Kathy’s amateur and youth clients have achieved regional and national championships in numerous divisions including Halter, Showmanship, Equitation, Horsemanship, Hunter under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Trail, Sport Horse in Hand and Dressage. Serving as the chair of the WSHC (WI State Horse Council) Judges Committee, she has been instrumental in improving the Judging Standards. Kathy implemented the WSHC Judges – Evaluation Form and introduced the WSHC “Judge of the Year” Program. Ms. Findley is the author of WI’s First Judging & Showing Guidelines. She is a regular columnist for WI Judges Quarterly Update and has written numerous articles for other equestrian publications, including “Horse Sense”.
Here Comes the Judge! – KHP Club Lounge – Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Do you have what it takes to be a successful judge? What goes on in the mind of a horse show judge? Judging horse shows is much harder work than you might think. There are some very definite skills required. It is the judge’s opinion that sets our goals for the future. Join Kathy and learn what it takes to become a judge and what to expect.
Judging Hands On – Covered Arena Annex – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Have you ever wanted to be a “Judge” at a horse show? Join us ring side and you can participate in judging a class. We will score, evaluate and review the class and placings. You will need paper and a pen.
Tammi Gainer
Having grown up around horses, Tammi began her professional equine career in 1989 as a trail guide at a large ranch camp where she was first exposed to the world of equestrian vaulting and attended her first CHA Standard Instructor Certification Clinic. In the spring of 1995 Tammi joined the instructor staff at Pegasus Farm. While working at the Farm part-time and home schooling her three children, Tammi also spent much time working under several trainers in both reining and dressage and achieved PATH Intl. instructor certification. In 2000, she achieved CHA Master Level Instructor and clinic staff status and has since earned Clinic Instructor status in the Instructors of Riders with Disabilities (IRD) and Vaulting Coach programs as well. Since 1998 Tammi has been the head coach of the Pegasus Vaulting Club; an eighteen member recreational team that performs demonstrations and workshops at various venues throughout Ohio. In 2005 Tammi was promoted to Equestrian Director where she now manages all aspects of the equestrian program. Most recently Tammi has achieved Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning certification through PATH Intl and AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) Professional Horseman. In September 2007 Tammi was elected to the CHA Board of Directors and asked to chair the Education & Training Committee & in 2011 was asked to take on the position of Board Secretary. Tammi is the 2011 CHA Volunteer of the Year.
Teaching Tips for Working with Riders with Autism, ADD and ADHD – Marriott Hotel – Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
There are many recognized instructional methods used by schools that can be translated into the riding arena. This workshop will look at those methods of learning and discuss in detail how they can be used to teach horsemanship to students with Autism, ADD, & ADHD.
This workshop is for anyone interested in the sport of vaulting from the very beginning to competition. This workshop will be bringing to the “barrel” how vaulting can be incorporated into a wide variety of programs. We will be covering topics such as equipment needs & use, training the vaulting horse, & the vaulting student. This will be a hands-on workshop so come in your tennis shoes & stretchy pants!
Maureen Gallatin
Maureen is best known for providing practical and spiritual encouragement to horse lovers, equipping them to make a difference through a connection with horses. Her unique brand of wisdom, humor and horsemanship is inspirational, and her warmth puts people at ease. She’s the founder of Inspired by Horses, an equestrian-focused Christian leadership, consulting, and inspirational publishing project, and of Amazing Women Inspired by Horses, which celebrates horsewomen and the many ways they are making a difference in the world. Maureen is founder of the International Center for Equestrian Ministry and author of the devotional called, “An Extra Flake.” She divides her time between Lexington, KY and Tryon, NC.
Teaching from a Faith-Based Perspective without Being Preachy – Marriott Hotel Roundtable talk – Thursday at 2 p.m.
Lisa Harris
After graduating from Auburn University with a BS in Animal Science, Lisa received two degrees from the University of Kentucky: an MS in Vet Science, specializing in Equine Biomechanics and an MS in Physical Therapy. She has published an article on Equine Biomechanics in the Journal of Veterinary Science, and has presented in the US and Canada material from her MS Thesis. Lisa and her colleagues presented their MS PT Research Project comparing a human walking to sitting on a horse at the walk at the Ninth International Therapeutic Riding Congress in Denver in 1997. She currently practices physical therapy in an outpatient, private practice setting in Georgetown, Kentucky. She is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist and a PATH, Intl Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Lisa initiated and coordinates the PATH, Intl accredited hippotherapy program at Central Kentucky Riding for Hope which is partnered with Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital. She teaches a hippotherapy lab each year at the University of Kentucky. Lisa is a graduate ‘A’ pony clubber. She has Evented through the Intermediate Two Star Level and has coached young riders through Preliminary Level. Lisa is currently on the AHA, Inc. Board of Directors and holds the position of Education Chair. She served on the AHA Board of Directors in the past holding 7 roles as the Research Chair and the editor of HIPPOTHERAPY magazine.
American Hippotherapy Association (EAAT) Marriott Hotel Roundtable Talk – Thursday at 2 p.m.
KC Henry
KC Henry co-founded two therapeutic centers and also worked at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center where she was the first paid staff member of what was then a small all-volunteer program. During her 14 years at Fieldstone she moved from instructor to program director to Executive Director and under her leadership Fieldstone Farm completed a $4.5 million dollar campaign, built a state-of-the-art therapeutic riding facility, and developed a staff of 31 people that served 200 students with disabilities weekly. In 2006 she received the James Brady professional achievement award from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl). She is now owner/principal at Transitions Unlimited, a 12 year old, rapidly growing consulting firm for nonprofit businesses. KC works with a large variety of nonprofit programs both nationally and internationally (including Turkey and South Africa). She specializes in project development, board development, strategic planning and start-up programs. One of her primary clients is the Horses and Humans Research Foundation – research focused on equine assisted activities. KC is contracted as the foundation’s executive director.
What Science is Telling Us about Horses Impact on Humans – Club Lounge – Saturday at 9 a.m.
The Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) has been funding scientific investigation on the impact of horses on humans for 8 years now – the results of these studies are remarkable. The findings are showing us in scientific terms why, as Winston Churchill said, “Something about the outside of the horse is good for the inside of man.” HHRF has now funded scientific studies that measure the chemical changes of saliva when children who are abused or neglected participate in equine assisted activities. Why is that important? Not only could an increase in oxytocin, “the bonding hormone,” result in a feeling a wellbeing – it may coincide with relationship building to encourage children with attachment disorders to bond with their foster or adoptive care takers! Ability to bond changes lives. How about veterans with Post Traumatic Stress or Traumatic Brain Injuries? Anecdotal evidence is informing facilitators at more than 400 programs around the country that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology decreases after participation in these programs. Now we are scientifically measuring participant’s experience of PTSD symptoms as well the intervention’s impact on coping skills, emotional regulation and social engagement. The world will soon know what Winston Churchill and horse lovers have always known. The scientific validation of the positive impact of horses on humans may change everything.
Teresa Kackert
Teresa has been CHA Clinic Instructor since 2003. She is also Chris Irwin Natural Horsemanship Certified and a Richard Shrake Resistance Free Riding Master Level Trainer/Instructor. Teresa is the creator of the ‘Soft Touch’ Training Program – Classical Equitation & Natural Horsemanship and has over 20 years professional experience as a rider, competitor, trainer, instructor, clinician and personal coach. She is founder of Great Horses of America, Consignment Horse Sales Company and Co-Founder of Pink Heart Pony Kids, Inc. Teresa specializes in: confidence building in both horse and rider, horse behavior modification, motivational personal coaching and skill enhancement for riders & horses of all levels and disciplines. www.GreatHorses.org.
Jumping Exercises – Covered Arena – Saturday at 9 a.m.
This jumping session will encompass the different seats such as the full seat and 2-point. The next step will involve an explanation of each seat and the reason for a change of seat at the walk, trot and canter. Ground poles will follow which will prepare the riders to ride the lines to and from the jumps thru poles in the trot and canter. The x-rails will be introduced demonstrating trotting using the 2-point to jump when starting out and then using a full seat while riding the canter. The next steps will be the verticals and negotiating the start of a course.
How to Teach Many Riders of Different Levels the Same Exercise at the Same Time – Covered Arena – Friday at 1:30 p.m.
This session will show instructors how to teach a solid group lesson even if you have a variety of levels within one class. Specific exercises will be discussed so that you can go back to your barn and use them!
Come and watch while CHA Instructors battle it out to see who can teach a brand new rider the best! It is like the Mustang Make Over and other challenges that you see at Expos except with a CHA flair! May the Best Instructor Win!
Roxanne Lawrence
Roxanne is the current Executive Director of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and she is an initial founding member of that association. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, her equestrian experience started in the world of hunt seat riding. She spent several years as a trainer and instructor, and ultimately moved into horse show management with positions at The National Horse Show (Madison Square Garden), WEF, HITS, Capitol Challenge, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and many other notable events around the country. She is currently on the American Youth Horse Council Board of Directors. She went on to manage the Andrews School Equestrian Center for 10 years in the Cleveland, Ohio area where she currently resides.
How Can my Equine Business Get Involved with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association – Marriott Hotel Roundtable talk – Thursday at 2 p.m.
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association was founded in 2002. Just 10 years later, it boasts over 8,000 members who participate in two primary disciplines of Hunt Seat Equitation and Western Horsemanship/Reining. With its draw-based format, the IEA offers competitive opportunities to riders in grades 6-12 that may not own a horse, and it offers significant opportunities for growing your business and attracting new clientele to your lesson program. What are the benefits to your business and your clients? How do you get involved? Come to this session to learn all about the Interscholastic Equestrian Association.
Amanda Love
Amanda is the Horsemanship Director at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. She is the coach of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Team there and also teaches numerous classes. Amanda is currently on the CHA Board of Directors and is an active rider and does cross fit.
What is the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and How Can I Get Involved? – Marriott Hotel Roundtable Talk – Thursday at 2 p.m.
IHSA provides collegiate riders of all skills the opportunity to compete individually and as teams in equestrian competition. It was founded on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of his or her riding ability or financial status.
Simple Changes of Lead – Covered Arena – Friday at 3 p.m.
Come and learn how to get good lead changes with your students by doing these simple lead change exercises. Exercises that you can take home and start doing with your students right away will be explained.
Come and watch while CHA Instructors battle it out to see who can teach a brand new rider the best! It is like the Mustang Make Over and other challenges that you see at Expos except with a CHA flair! May the Best Instructor Win!
Jim McDonald
Jim is a lifelong horseman and a lifelong learner. In the year 2000, he started a non-profit organization dedicated to horsemanship education. Part of its mission is to make the joy of a relationship with a horse available to people who would not ordinarily have that opportunity and that was the original motivation for founding the Graham Equestrian center (www.Grahameq.org). They work closely with anyone who wants to advance their horsemanship skills and knowledge. Jim is currently the CHA Board Treasurer and an AQHA Professional Horseman.
Horse Training – What Every Horse Owner Should Know – Covered Arena Annex – Saturday at 9 a.m.
Understanding the principle of operant and instrumental conditioning as it applies to our interaction with the horse will greatly enhance the relationship we have with the horse. Understanding the popular phrases like, “Make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy”, and “reward the least little try” with an understanding of the scientific principles of behavior modification that will improve our understanding of how the horse learns. Your patience will expand which will lead to greater safety, effectiveness, and fun with our horses.
Jim McGarvey
Jim McGarvey is chairman of the 14,000 member Back Country Horsemen of America. The Back Country Horsemen, with chapters in 29 states are dedicated to “Keeping the Trails Open for All” on America’s public lands. Previously, Jim was cofounder and CEO of BenchMark Consulting International. His firm specialized in identifying and implementing world class best practices bank operations to major financial institutions on six continents. At age 28, Jim was instrumental in founding and being the Executive Director of Auction America Corporation. Auction America, one of whose important shareholders was Russ Jackson, is now part of the historical development of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions as seen on the Speed Channel. Jim graduated from Wright State University with a degree in Political Science.
About Back Country Horsemen of America – Marriott Hotel Round Table Talk – Thursday at 2 p.m.
Over 40 years ago, around a campfire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Northern Montana, the idea of the Back Country Horsemen of America was formed. That idea, then and now, is to keep the trails open for horses and mules and hikers – essentially, to keep the trails open for everyone. The BCHA accomplishes this thru boots and hooves on the ground: Trail Work, Education and Advocacy. The BCHA has nearly 14,000 members in 176 chapters across 29 states. In 2013, Back Country Horsemen volunteered over 372,000 hours of work devoted to keeping the trails open in our national forests, national parks and state lands. BCHA members conduct numerous packing and Leave No Trace clinics each year. The BCHA works with other outdoors organization such as The Wilderness Society to advocate with public lands managers and legislators to keep our trails open – for you.
Jill Montgomery
Jill Montgomery is a CHA certified English and Western Riding Instructor, and Equine Facility Manager. She owns and operates the Arroyo Ranch in Pueblo West, CO and is the CEO of JRAM Enterprises, Inc. an Equine Consulting Business. Working in the horse industry for more than 30 years, her experience spans activities as diverse as managing the U.S. Army’s Dude Ranch to serving as Executive Director for the American Youth Horse Council. A published author and equine welfare advocate, Montgomery works to keep equine activities accessible and enjoyable in America.
Expert Witnessing; A Look Inside the Courtroom – Marriott Hotel – Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
The last place most riding instructors would want to appear is a courtroom to testify about how an equine activity led to an accident. Your reason for being involved in a civil liability suit and how you feel about participating in it would vary greatly if you were the defendant, the plaintiff, or an expert witness being paid for your testimony and expert opinions. This session will focus on the role of expert witnesses and help participants understand how the people without law degrees in the courtroom contribute to the judge and jury’s decisions. This topic is important because the outcomes of these courts cases influence, for better and for worse, everyone’s accessibility and enjoyment of equine activities.
Darley Newman
Charismatic TV host and horsewoman Darley Newman travels the globe hosting and producing the Emmy-winning TV series “Equitrekking,” which takes viewers on active horseback riding adventures with local people and is broadcast on PBS and international networks in over 84 countries. She also hosts travel series on AOL, Scripps Networks’ ulive and is a contributing editor for Budget Travel magazine. With Equitrekking Darley combines her passion for horses and travel with her background in television production. Darley has worked with 48 Hours, CBS, FRONTLINE, has hosted Equitrekking segments on the Starz Networks Encore Channel, Ralph Lauren TV and reporting live news from the White House and Capitol Hill. Recently, Darley has led film crews on national and international shoots, riding with cowboys in the Canadian Rockies, interviewing HRH Princess Alia at the Royal Stables in Jordan, trekking through the world’s largest inland delta in Africa and beyond–– all to help educate and excite her dedicated fans. Darley has been honored with five Daytime Emmy Award nominations, alongside media moguls Ellen DeGeneres, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, received the North American Travel Journalist Award two years in a row and been honored with the Inspiring Woman Award from Women in Philanthropy and Leadership. An entrepreneur and published author, Darley created and oversees a variety of websites with resources for travelers interested in horseback riding around the world, including Equitrekking.com, EquitrekkingTravel.com and Top20Ranches.com.
Keynote – Equitrekking – Marriott Hotel – Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Love exploring a new place on horseback? Join equestrian travel expert Darley Newman, host of the Emmy-winning PBS TV series “Equitrekking,” for a video countdown of the top destinations you’ve got to add to your bucket list. Watch stunning behind the scenes video from global travels, as Darley tells you the best places to saddle up for all riding styles and levels, including helpful tips on how to make your dream trip come true. With personal stories of harrowing adventures from horseback riding in iconic US and international locations, including the desert in Jordan, rainforests and beaches in Costa Rica, national parks in the USA, volcanoes in Hawaii and beyond, you won’t want to miss this educational and exciting keynote.
National Reining Horse Association
What horseman doesn’t love to see a smooth stopping horse that can spin on a dime and rollback in his tracks after the slightest of cues? The National Reining Horse Association promotes the sport of Reining and these athletic and maneuverable athletes. From training DVDs and entry-level classes to local shows and the NRHA Professionals program, NRHA can improve your day in the saddle – whether you’re in the show pen or on the trail. Visit www.nrha.com to find out how you can have the slide of your life in the sport of Reining.
Sue has taught riding for over 40 years, as a volunteer 4-H leader, in the private industry as an instructor at Robinson Farms, as manager, instructor, and trainer at Overcup Oaks Quarter Horses and presently as Coordinator of Riding, Lecturer, and Equestrian Team coach for both Stock Seat and Hunt Seat at Murray State University. Sue is a member of Certified Horsemanship Association, AQHA’s Professional Horseman’s Association, the National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics and advisor of MSU Horseman’s Club. Sue has trained equestrians from local to national competitions.
Building Rider Strength and Fitness Through Exercise – Covered Arena – Friday at 4:30 p.m.
In our society today much attention is being focused on lack of physical fitness, this lack follows through into the horse industry. Although much emphasis is placed on having a horse in condition to perform, for a horse to achieve maximum performance the rider must also be physically fit. When a rider is in top physical condition they will be able to continuously supply the support for the horse to perform at the highest level. This conditioning or fitness can be attained and maintained through a set of exercises designed to work on balance and softness or relaxation of the joints. These must be achieved together as one complements the other when riding. Through predetermined exercises both on and off the horse, a rider, from beginner to advanced, can develop a body awareness or muscle memory that allows them to feel when they are in proper alignment with the horse’s center of gravity and be able to maintain that alignment. Whether you are riding Western or English, the correct body position to achieve balance and remain soft or relaxed through your seat and joints is the same. The body must be aligned; ear, shoulder hip heel. This same alignment is also used in other sports such as martial arts, golf, skiing, skating, or just walking. The set of exercises presented here work on balance and softness of the riders joints, as well as rider strength. These exercises work on the whole body or they can target specific areas where special effort is needed. Even the most timid riders benefit from exercise as they acquire balance and strength, and gain self-confidence as they move around on their horses back in various positions. Like all athletes, riders should warm up to prepare to ride, just as they warm up their horse. The use of an exercise routine, whatever discipline you ride will benefit both horse and rider. The one that will benefit most from a rider that can balance, stay relaxed, and have the endurance to support throughout the ride is the horse. A properly prepared and warmed up horse and rider become a team that can be comfortable on the trail or formidable in the arena.
Cheryl Rohnke Kronsberg
Cheryl grew up riding horses and started training professionally at the age of 16. She is now a CHA Master Instructor, CHA Clinic Instructor, CHA Region 10 Director and an AQHA Professional Horseman with over 35 years experience teaching riders and training horses of all levels. At her home, CRK Training Stable, Cheryl boards, trains and teaches riding. Her students range from complete beginners to upper level show riders. You can contact Cheryl at CRK Training Stable at www.crktrainingstable.com
Sideways – Teaching Side Pass and Pivot – Covered Arena Annex – Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Cheryl will be teaching about those ever elusive lateral movements-Side Passing & Pivoting. We will begin on the ground as is appropriate for weanlings or yearlings headed to the in-hand trail classes or any horse that needs a better handle on the ground. Then we will move to under saddle methods for safe, smooth and efficient movements that are helpful on the trail, in the arena or the show pen. Cheryl will also stress the best ways to teach these skills to riders new to the concepts.
Dale Rudin
Dale is certified with the Certified Horsemanship Association as a Western and English instructor. She has been training horses and teaching riders for over 30 years. She developed Unnatural Horsemanship®, a mindful approach to training and horsemanship that focuses on the instincts that drive a horse as a herd and prey animal. Each horse is seen as an individual with a unique personality, inherent abilities, and experiential history. She resolves problems related to behavior or performance by improving the horse’s physical and emotional well-being and enhancing relationship, communication, and understanding between horse and human. In addition to working with horses and their people, Dale shares her techniques and philosophies in articles and columns in Horse Illustrated magazine and on HorseChannel.com. She has also written for Young Rider, Paint Horse Journal, and Horses USA (now Your First Horse). Dale lives in Middle Tennessee and offers private instruction, clinics, and classes, helping all breeds of horses and levels of rider create successful partnerships and collaborative teams.
Come and watch while CHA Instructors battle it out to see who can teach a brand new rider the best! It is like the Mustang Make Over and other challenges that you see at Expos except with a CHA flair! May the Best Instructor Win!
Cindy Rullman
Cindy is a lifelong advocate for animals. She spent several years in the Thoroughbred industry working at Spendthrift Farm, Ashford Stud, and on the backstretch at Keeneland racetrack. Next she moved into the office and worked several years in advertising, public relations, and marketing for equine businesses, before spending six years in fundraising and public relations at the Lexington Humane Society. Later, she worked for eight years in public relations at the Kentucky Horse Park, where she launched the park’s first homeless horse adoption events and free gelding clinics, during which time she received the “Welfare Advocate of the Year” award from the Kentucky Horse Council. Most recently, Cindy joined the 1,000-member global staff of the Brooke – the largest international equine welfare organization in the world – as their only staff member in North America. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Kentucky Equine Humane Center and supports several animal protection organizations.
Juan Valdez Had a Donkey – Enhancing the Standard of Care for the World’s Most Important and Undervalued Worker – KHP Club Lounge – Friday at 9 a.m.
This is our 80th anniversary for the Brooke, so it’s a very big year for us. Last year we reached more than 1.1 million working equines in 11 developing countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Jordan, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Senegal). We provided veterinary care for the animals and a great deal of training for their owners in better animal husbandry practices. These people and their animals are the poorest of the poor, so everything that we teach and do is sustainable in these poverty-stricken countries. The people are utterly dependent upon their animals to provide a meagre living for their families, so as we reduce the suffering of the animals, we are also helping the owners and their families, who will have a healthier, happier animal who can continue to work for them.
Bennie Sargent
A lifelong resident of Georgetown, Kentucky, Bennie began his horse show career as a youth in 4-H and Quarter Horse competitions, graduating to the amateur ranks at the end of his youth eligibility. He soon decided to make horse training his life’s work, turned in his amateur card and set about building his business and his reputation as a professional trainer specializing in all-around horses. Bennie has been a successful trainer for more than 35 years. He has trained and shown horses to seven versatility championships, multiple AQHA championships, and numerous AQHA Honor Roll honors in several events, including halter, reining, working hunter, and trail. He has also guided customers, primarily youth and amateurs, to multiple AQHA, AQHYA, Congress, APHA, IBHA and PHBA championships. Bennie is also very involved in NRHA competition, having been an NRHA member for more than 30 years. Several of his non-pro and youth customers have ranked in the top 10 in the nation. He has had horses place at the Congress in the NRHA events as well as AQHA reining. A national AQHA director for the past twelve years, Bennie is active on the Professional Horsemen’s Committee. He is on the AQHA Show Council and the Drug and Tail Task Force. He has served on the World Show Task Force Committee and the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee for AQHA shows. In addition to being an AQHA judge for 17 years, Bennie holds cards in APHA, PHBA, IBHA and NSBA. Bennie, his wife Cheryllee and their daughter Sydney live in Paris, KY in the heart of Bluegrass Country. Sargent Quarter Horses has 40 stalls as well as indoor and outdoor arenas.
Riding Squares Instead of Circles – Covered Arena – Friday at 10:30 a.m.
We are often taught to ride circles, but what about squares? Great take home exercises for your students at all levels to be successful riding squares instead or as well as circles and becoming better horsemen by doing so.
Jochen Schleese
Jochen documented over 34 years of his experience as German Certified Master Saddler and Saddle Ergonomist in his books ‘Suffering in Silence – The Saddle Fit Link to Physical and Psychological trauma in Horses’ (2013), ‘The Silent Killer’ (2012) and DVD ’Beyond the 9 Points of Saddle Fit’.
Is your Horse Suffering in Silence? – Detailed Look at Saddle Fit – Covered Arena Annex – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Common serious effects of ill-fitting saddles include: chipped shoulder cartilage, sore back, behavioral issues, pain and lameness. Jochen shares insights and solutions to achieve optimal saddle fit.
Rider Issues and the Gender of Saddle Fit – Covered Arena – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Are you struggling with an ill-fitting saddle? Sore back, hips, knees, pelvic discomfort, feeling ‘pulled apart’, chair seat, struggling to maintain position, fighting the saddle, feeling ‘behind’ or ‘in front of’ the motion? Jochen explains these issues and shares solutions for the differing anatomy of women and men.
Tom Schell, D.V.M, CVCH
Tom is a private practicing equine veterinarian in North Carolina for the past 20 years, focusing currently on consultations regarding the impact and use of herbs and nutrition in managing chronic disorders in the horse. In 2006, Dr. Schell started Nouvelle Research, Inc., a private research organization dedicated to investigating the impact of chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction and the use of targeted herbs in the management of many chronic conditions in horses, pets and people. Out of this research, the Cur-OST line of all natural anti-inflammatory supplements was created, being put in use in horses worldwide for the past 8 years with tremendous success. In 2014, Dr. Schell started the Handi-Capp Equine Rehabilitation & Relocation program, putting to use the research he has gathered as well as Cur-OST product formulations to aid in the recovery of injured TB’s coming off of the racetrack with the goal of restoring soundness and enhancing the chances of relocation to a new home.
Chronic Inflammation and the Horse; Laminitis and Insulin Resistance – KHP Club Lounge – Friday at 4:30 p.m.
This lecture will help make connections with many current disease and lameness conditions in equines. Given our research over the past 8 years, we feel we have made huge strides in helping many horses to recovery from conditions once thought to be career ending or cost prohibitive for the owners to manage.
Mary Ann Simonds
Mary Ann has integrated her academic degrees in equine and human behavioral psychology and ecology with her equestrian background, working professionally for over 35 years in the horse industry. She grew up in California showing jumpers, and then attended the University of California and University of Wyoming to study the social ecology, behavior, and biology of wild horses. Realizing the need for higher education in our horse industry, Mary Ann founded the Whole Horses & Equestrian Science Institute in 1985 while brokering Sport Horses to bring more science of horses as a species into the horse world. Later, she received her master’s degree studying the interactions and relationships of horses and people helping to define the fields of Interspecies and Equestrian Psychology. She serves as scientific advisor for several equine non-profits and was an appointed member of the 1990 Federal Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. With one foot in the world of science and the other in the world of horses, Mary Ann acts a bridge and often is referred to as the “missing piece” for horsemen. She has developed a line of stress management and therapeutic products for horses including conducting research on magnetic field therapy and vibrational medicine in the late 1980s. A speaker, author, producer, equestrian, clinician, coach and horse lover, Mary Ann is passionate about educating others to better understand the real nature and culture of horses in an effort to limit stress in horses, ultimately improving performance and cooperation.
Presents an overview of the basic psychology with a little neural biology of horse and rider, and how to achieve better communication and deep connections. Exercises include body/mind techniques integrating such modalities as NLP, cognitive skills, brain waves shifts, visualizations, energy management breathing and heart coherence. The importance of thought and energy management of riders is stressed with respect to their relationship with their horse, and communication to bring about a positive relationship for various disciplines.
Ward Stutz
Ward is the current CHA President and the Senior Director of Breed Integrity for the American Quarter Horse Association. He is responsible for AQHA’s animal welfare initiatives, which include the steward program to ensure all animals at AQHA events are treated humanely and exhibitors are practicing sportsmanlike conduct. In addition, he assists with AQHA’s public policy initiatives. He is the staff liaison to AQHA’s Professional Horsemen’s Council. Ward received his B.S. degree from Colorado State University in agriculture industries management and a M.S. from Oklahoma State University in animal science. His horse industry experience includes: training, judging, showing, racing, packing and teaching. Ward has been involved with many industry associations including: American Horse Council, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Animal Welfare Council and serving as Past President of the American Youth Horse Council.
Welcoming Keynote Address – Marriott Hotel – Thursday at 1 p.m.
Mitzi Summers
Mitzi has been devoted to the welfare and safety of horses and their people for most of her life. The recipient of the CHA Instructor of the Year Award, Mitzi is also one of less than thirty Level IV Centered Riding Instructors in the world. Through her achievement of CHA Master Instructor and Clinician, and a Centered Riding Clinician, Mitzi has certified or updated hundreds of instructors so far in her career. She has taught and trained in many countries, including South Africa, New Zealand, and throughout Europe. Mitzi specializes in working in a very individualized basis with riders and their horses, teaching them to train their own horses in a non-abusive way. She is truly multi-talented, working with a rider in Ireland short-listed for the Olympics, to a rider who has fear issues and is afraid to trot. Horses who have been confused or traumatized are her specialty. Three of her mentors were Charles Grant, Vi Hopkins, and Sally Swift, all recipients of the USDF Hall of Fame Award. Mitzi will be interested in helping you and your horse no matter what level or discipline, she truly “Teaches the Beauty of Horses”.
Come and ride with Mitzi for only $55 with one other person and get some specialized attention in Centered Riding.
Long Lining and Double Lunging – Covered Arena Annex – Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Ground work with horses can be invaluable in the process of either preparing a young horse to be ridden, or in further developing suppleness and strength in an older horse. Mitzi will go through the step by step process involved in teaching a horse these skills so the horse remains calm and accepts the training without fear or stress. Ground work skills for a horse can be invaluable, but are frequently used incorrectly or misunderstood. There will be an opportunity for hands-on practice for some observers.
Western Dressage Defined – Covered Arena Annex – Saturday at 3 p.m.
Western dressage is rapidly becoming more popular for western riders who are looking for an activity that will improve their horses. The true test of schooling your horse should be that you are improving his balance, strength, suppleness, and encouraging a willing and calm disposition. Correct Western Dressage accomplishes this. Mitzi completed The Western Dressage Association of America’s Trainer’s Course this year in North America. The standards demonstrated and discussed were clearly for the benefit of the horse. Riders in this presentation will be assisted with the effectiveness of their equitation and aids to correctly develop the athleticism of their horses.
Jody Taylor
Jody rode his first horse at about 4 years old and then learned to rope before 10 and was entering some local shows and rodeos in Texas. Jody was involved in Texas High School Rodeo Association, roping and riding rough stock. His first job was at a stable just a couple of miles down the road named Cedarwood Farm. There he learned the daily activities and duties of a boarding stable, lesson program and the operation of a Horse Trial. Then he was employed at a large Arabian facility known as Bentwood Farms and rode with John Burris, out of Stephenville, Texas training horses. In his mid-thirties he started focusing more on horses and completed his rodeo career. Jody and his wife, Kim a trainer as well, purchased a horse property, Star T Ranch. Starting out they ran a cow/calf herd, horse boarding, riding lessons, training, and equine transportation facility. Eventually they narrowed this down and focused on just horse boarding, riding lessons, training and equine transportation. They provide English and Western riding lessons, specializing in Eventing, including Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country. They incorporate natural horsemanship into Eventing and Hunter Jumpers and are members of CHA, USEA, AreaV-Eventing, NTEA, NTHJC and AQHA. Kim and Jody are both certified instructors and care for 35 horses and have 50 students. Visit www.StarTRanchtx.net.
Jumping Exercises – Covered Arena – Saturday at 9 a.m.
This jumping session will encompass the different seats such as the full seat and 2-point. The next step will involve an explanation of each seat and the reason for a change of seat at the walk, trot and canter. Ground poles will follow which will prepare the riders to ride the lines to and from the jumps thru poles in the trot and canter. The x-rails will be introduced demonstrating trotting using the 2-point to jump when starting out and then using a full seat while riding the canter. The next steps will be the verticals and negotiating the start of a course.
Flying Lead Changes – Covered Arena – Saturday at 3 p.m.
This session will start going through and giving examples of all the steps that it takes to enable a horse and rider to accomplish lead changes. It will also include realistic time lines depending on the horse. It will show examples of simple lead changes and move into flying lead changes and discuss young and more refined horses. A demonstration on the process will be given starting with the steps going all the way to Tempe changes.
Mitchell L. Taylor, CJF, DipWCF
Mitch began his farrier training in 1975 and has been an AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier since 1982. Mitch has served as the President of the Registry of Professional Farrier Educators, as a member of the AFA Equine Research Committee, served on the AFA Board of Directors and served as Chairman of the AFA Education Committee. He also serves on the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit Shoeing and Hoof Care Committee. With a BS in Biology and Chemistry, Mitch did his post graduate work in Equine Physiology at the University of Kentucky. Currently, Mitch is the director of the Kentucky Horseshoeing School in Richmond, KY where he continues to pursue his interest in equine research by continually investigating equine anatomy and biomechanics and how that is affected through various shoeing modalities. Mitch has twice been awarded the AFA’s Educator of the Year award and is proud to count his many successful students Mitch is proud to count 6 members of the AFA US National Horseshoeing Team as well as students who have earned positions with various US equine teams, leading veterinary hospitals, university veterinary schools and have even shod Kentucky Derby winners.
Taking Great Care of the Lesson Horse – Marriott Hotel – Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
You will learn in this talk why it is so important to have regular, competent hoof care for your sport horse and the relationship of healthy feet, sound horses and good athletes.
An Overview of Good Hoof Care Including Basic Anatomy – KHP Club Lounge – Friday at 10:30 a.m.
In this talk you will learn the anatomy, dynamics and functions of the horses’ foot. You will learn the characteristics of a healthy foot, and how to identify the difference between healthy feet and those that are not. We will talk about the physiology of normal feet, and the variations of normalcy that we see within a population. You will learn the function of a horse shoe, the correct application and use of them, and how shoes can be helpful, in the right hands, with conformation, gaiting and therapeutic purposes.
Randi Thompson
Randi is the founder of the “Horse and Rider Awareness ® Educational Programs” and ”How to Market Your Horse Business.” She has been in the horse industry for over 3 decades and has been coaching professionals for 20+ years in horse and rider training, business and marketing. Randi has worked with many breeds of horses and styles of riding in her career and has produced national winners in the worlds of dressage, hunter/jumper, western pleasure, and flat shod walking horses. Randi has been featured as the keynote speaker at the largest equestrian trade shows in the US and will be presenting at the Mass. Equine Affaire this year. Randi is also a horse industry legal consultant and expert witness.
What Does It Really Mean to Ride From Your Seat and Legs? – Covered Arena Annex – Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Everyone talks about riding from your seat and legs, but what does that really mean? Now you can watch what happens as Randi takes riders through a process that shows them how to feel when a horse is “under their seat” and moving from their legs. This session includes keeping a horse straight, turns on the forehand, leg yielding and more. Would you like to have more advanced techniques that you can use in your riding or with your students? If so, this is a session that you will want to see.
United States Polo Association
Originally known as The Polo Association, the USPA was created in 1890 to govern polo handicaps, rules, and tournaments in America and Canada. Constantly growing and obtaining more members, the USPA has a multitude of programs designed to help American polo players improve their skills and compete in the “Game of Kings.”
Polo Demonstration and Lessons – Covered Arena – Friday at Noon
Come and learn more about the sport of polo and how to incorporate some of the exercises into your current riding program. Then hop on and play a mock game of polo!
United States Polo Association – Round Table Talk – Marriott Hotel – Thursday at 2 p.m.
Nathan Voris, DVM, MBA
Dr. Voris serves as a senior veterinarian on the Zoetis equine technical services team. Dr. Voris graduated from the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine and completed an internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Prior to joining Zoetis he was an equine veterinarian for 10 years in central Missouri.
While in practice, Dr. Voris earned his Master of Business Administration degree from William Woods University which equipped him to expand his role in practice. As a result, Dr. Voris drove the practice’s marketing and client education initiatives by utilizing technology to enhance practice productivity and client communications with primary focus on integrating the clinic’s website with multiple social networking platforms. Dr. Voris understands the demands of busy equine professionals and has balanced the management responsibilities of business communications and social media while performing veterinary duties in a progressive, equine clinical practice. His experiences have enabled him to assist equine veterinarians, small business owners and horsemen from across the country with practical strategies to develop and share content and tools to make the process of feeding the social media beast less burdensome.
Social Media Defined for the Horse Industry – KHP Club Lounge – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
You’re an expert at guiding your students and horses to the best that they can be. Sometimes, it’s a daunting task to work ‘on’ your business instead of just ‘in’ it, from a time standpoint since you’re busy teaching! Gain time tested and proven methods that help you develop your strategy to answer key questions about why clients should work with you and define your competitive advantage that reaches your specific target audience. Strategic Marketing Planning helps you focus your efforts on the right clients. Using Social Media effectively and providing the most efficient way is part of that plan. Get the right tools so your potential new clients hear your value message and recall the information. Solidify your existing clients so they recommend you. It is important that you are communicating to the right people, at the right time. You’ll come away with defining your competitive advantage, how to target client segments and how to save time and money using social media in a way that speaks to your strengths and engage your clients while building your own raving fan club.
Jan Weber
Jan currently co-owns and manages EVADI Farm, a 100 acre boarding facility with 30 stalls in Paris, KY. She was the Deputy Competition Director for Vaulting at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY and an invited member of the CHIO Aachen Vaulting Show Office team in 2013 and the European Vaulting Championships in 2015. She has served as a board member representing vaulting for the United States Equestrian Federation, the United States Equestrian Team, the American Youth Horse Council and the American Vaulting Association. She was a member of the original joint CHA/AVA Certification Committee in 2004. Her love of vaulting began in 1992 and she has focused on developing vaulting as an introductory equestrian sport and helping all equestrians understand the benefits of the sport as a supplemental riding program for existing programing.
American Vaulting Association – Marriott Round Table Talk – Thursday at 2 p.m.
Come and find out more about the AVA and how you can get vaulting started in your lesson program.
Mary Anna Wood
Mary Anna works for the Internal Revenue Service and in her free time competes in NATRC rides around the country. Her horse Elmer and she accumulated many miles and awards in NATRC during their career together. Mary Anna is a CHA Clinic Instructor in both Trail and English/Western.
North American Trail Ride Conference – Marriott Hotel Round Table Talk – Thursday at 2 p.m.
The North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) provides long distance competitive trail rides for riders of all equine breeds and from all disciplines. It promotes safety, sportsmanship, education and trail horse advocacy through qualified evaluation of horse and rider by veterinary and horsemanship judges, in a fun, responsible environment for the whole family.
Lisa Wysocky
Lisa is a registered level PATH International instructor and also holds certifications as a mentor, and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. In addition, she has been chosen as one of the country’s Top 50 riding instructors by ARIA. With a life balanced between books and horses, Lisa is an author, equine clinician, and motivational speaker who trains horses for and consults with therapeutic riding programs. Lisa graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in equine management, and then brought her ideas on success to the show ring. Early wins on the national Appaloosa horse show circuit took Lisa across North America, where she was asked to speak, or to write articles for national publications. Lisa’s passion for writing and speaking led to a second run at college where she studied communications and journalism. Lisa is the co-author of a number of books, including My Horse, My Partner: Teamwork on the Ground, which helps horse and human partners form amazing bonds using traditional ground training, natural horsemanship, and desensitization. Lisa combines her love of horses and country music in Horse Country: A Celebration of Country Music and the Love of Horses. This beautiful coffee table book features twenty-seven of the top stars of country music talking about how horses changed their life for the better. The publication of the four-time award winning equestrian mystery, The Opium Equation, marked Lisa’s debut fiction effort. The follow up, The Magnum Equation, takes place at an all-breed horse show. Both books were recently optioned for television. Learn more at http://www.lisawysocky.com
American Competitive Trail Horse Association – Marriott Hotel Round Table Talk – Thursday at 2 p.m.
Come and find out more about ACTHA and how you can get involved.
A Riding Lesson from the Horse’s Perspective – Covered Arena – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
What the horse sees, hears, tastes, and smells during your riding lesson, and how this information impacts your lesson. Lisa brings the audience through a typical riding lesson that incorporates both western trail obstacles and English equipment such as small jumps and cavaletti poles, and explains each step of the lesson from the horse’s point of view. From your body posture and facial expression; to the color, size, and placement of your arena equipment and obstacles; to the rider’s movements, this eye-opening session is a must-see for every instructor.
JoAnne Young
JoAnne has been teaching riding and training horses for over 40 years, and is happy that she is still learning. Every student and every horse bring fresh challenges that keep life interesting. She has been privileged and blessed beyond her wildest dreams to study with such wonderful instructors as Walter Zettl (dressage coach to Canadian event team when they won bronze at Los Angeles Olympics), Bertin Potter in Germany, Molly Sivewright (FEI judge and past chair of the Fellows of the British Horse Society), Carel Eijkenaar (FEI judge), Eddo Hoestra (FEI Trainer) and Doris Halstead (Physical Therapist and author of “Releasing the Potential: Physical Therapy Modalities for Horse and Rider.” Jo-Anne is the author of the M.A. thesis: “Preparing students for riding instructor certification through college curricula.”
Katherine teaches a straight forward set of exercises that aide in the development of a calm confident horse and rider. No matter the skill level or discipline, these steps remove fear and resistance, elevating trust, communication and bond. Understanding the importance of herd structure and leadership to enhance safety and promote growth. Learn why bad timing and poor releases lead to unhappy and ridged horses. Most of all, ‘become more than a passenger, become a partner’.
Partnership & Confidence Building – Structured Foundation
Saturday – 9 a.m. – ShowPlex Arena
Master a straight forward set of exercises that builds a solid structured foundation. “Connecting with the mind and the feet will follow.” Keep heightened safety in mind. Replace fear and build confidence no matter the level, discipline, breed or age. Earn a higher level of trust, communication and bonding. Develop advanced concise communication and a better understanding of horse psychology and mechanics, as you develop improved timing, finesse, balance and feel for a harmonious relationship.
Lynn Bliven
Lynn is a Resource Educator with Cornell University Cooperative Extension. She began her career working as a 4-H Agent and is currently working in Agricultural Economic Development; specializing in beginning farmer outreach, local food systems and livestock production. Lynn and husband Shawn operate a 52 acre farm in Rushford, NY raising grass-fed beef, lamb and poultry. A past board member of the Certified Horsemanship Association, Lynn is a certified Master Instructor and Clinic Staff Instructor.
Equine Forage Management Technique; There’s Gold in Those Fields
Thursday – 3:30 p.m. – Holiday Inn
Roundtable Discussions
With forage prices climbing, pasture management and hay evaluation are two topics equine facility managers need to be up-to-date on. Whether or not animals on the farm are for pleasure or part of the farm business, they are important to the operator. Pasture management and making or purchasing quality hay have direct impacts on animal health and wellbeing in addition to farm profitability. This session will cover the whys of managing pastures, how grazing affects plant growth, what influences plant nutrient content, composting manure, when to apply nutrients to fields and selection of the right hay to fit the individual needs of your horse herd.
Driving 101 and Preliminary Ground Driving
Saturday – 4 p.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
We will discuss the fundamentals of putting the horse before the cart. This step-by-step walk through will introduce participants to a safe and efficient way of driving a single harness horse. Topics to be covered include suitability, selecting harness & cart, getting the horse accustom to harness, pulling a load, along with other valuable advice for a safe and enjoyable experience driving your horse.
Josiah Brown
Josiah has traveled all over the country speaking, but he is no happier than when he is speaking in the horse industry which he loves. Josiah has owned a marketing and branding company in New York for 10 years and is the publisher of the new and forthcoming Western Dressage Magazine. Marketing and branding touches our lives every day. Josiah’s passion is to have fun while teaching businesses foundational concepts. Once you get a grasp of what is behind consumer’s habits and trust, you can make better decisions about how to attract customers to who you are.
How to Brand and Market Your Business Keynote
Thursday – 6 p.m. – Holiday Inn Ball Room
Josiah will have some fun and engage the audience in helping to bring a “Secret Marketing Formula” to the whole group. Marketing is nothing more than the study of common sense. This study can be broken down into tangible steps that will enable a potential customer to clearly recognize who you are.
Anne Brzezicki
Anne serves as Director of Equestrian Programs, and coaches the equestrian team at Middle Tennessee State University. Her background includes teaching at 4-H horse camps in CT and TN, competing in USEF, IHSA and AQHA shows, and coaching many youth, amateur, and Intercollegiate Horse Show Association national champions. She has recently begun hosting CHA certification clinics and thoroughly enjoys working with other teachers in an atmosphere of shared enthusiasm, knowledge and techniques.
Bending Exercises for Lateral Control
Friday – 1 p.m. – ShowPlex Arena
Help riders understand how to move the horse’s body parts and improve the flexibility of your school horses at the same time. Bending exercises help riders think about where and how to use their aids, and improve the horse’s response. Turns on the forehand and circles develop into lateral movements in an easy to follow progression.
Doug Emerson
Doug combined his expertise in small business strategy with his love of horses to create Profitable Horseman, a company dedicated to helping professional horsemen and horsewomen who are struggling with the business half of the horse business. With the help of 8 key strategies, Doug helps professionals focus on improving and shaping their businesses to create the businesses they have always wanted while maintaining a proper balance of work, rest and play. He has spoken at: American Morgan Horse Annual Convention, American Ranch Horse Annual Convention, USHJA Annual Convention, Kentucky Equine Network Association and has made numerous presentations and conducted workshops for horse organizations and clubs. Emerson writes a free electronic newsletter about the business of horses which is available for subscription at www.ProfitableHorseman.com. He has written articles for Cutting Horse Chatter, Illinois Horse Network and Perfect Horse Magazine. Doug and his wife Betsey are the parents of six children and live in Lockport, New York on a 28 acre horse farm.
Riding Lesson Program Profit Analysis
Thursday – 2 p.m. – Holiday Inn
In this session, learn how to analyze and build your current program for improving profitability and plan for growth.
How to Publish an Electronic Newsletter For Your Clients And Future Clients
Thursday – 3:30 p.m. – Holiday Inn Roundtable Discussions
A step-by-step approach to begin publishing a newsletter in less than 30 days will be discussed.
Understanding Horse Boarding Profitability and Its Contribution To Your Business
Friday – 10:30 a.m. – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
In this presentation, tips on boarding profitability improvements and how to measure the benefit of boarding to your program will be analyzed.
Jim Glunt
Jim has been involved with horses for over 40 years. In the past, he has led the horse operation at a resort hotel, directed a youth camp with an extensive horse program, and worked as a farrier. Prior to retiring he offered a wide variety of support services to group horseback riding programs through Jim Glunt Equine Services. These services also included staff selection, development and training; program planning and development; risk reviews; site planning; plus tack and saddle repair. He has been involved with CHA since 1980, serving on the CHA Board and Executive Committee. In addition to CHA events, Jim has led workshops for a variety of regional and national groups, including the Pennsylvania Equine Council, the American Camp Association – Keystone Section, the YMCA, as well as the Pennsylvania State University. He is a CHA certified riding instructor and site visitor trainer and has had articles published in both The Instructor and Camping Magazine. He resides in central Pennsylvania with his wife Jill.
Staff and Horse Selection
Thursday – 3:30 p.m. – Holiday Inn Roundtable Discussions
Critical points, considerations, sources and suggestions relative to these all-important program areas. Whether staff or horses — where do we find them? How do we qualify them? How do we keep them? What do we do when it is time for them to move on? We will discuss these and other topics.
Western Saddle Fit
Friday – 10:30 a.m. – Trail Encampment
An interactive workshop applying saddle fit principles for both horse and rider to group riding programs. It will include recommendations for saddles most suitable to group programs; fit for horse and rider; saddle rigging; seat measurement; and evaluating a used saddle. Various saddles and trees will be available as well as horses to demonstrate fitting principles.
Julie Goodnight
Julie is the popular RFD-TV host of Horse Master airing Monday and Saturday nights. Julie travels the USA sharing her no-nonsense horsemanship training with riders of all disciplines. Whether you ride English, Western, dressage or trail ride, Julie’s “Classic Skills for a Natural Ride” teaching helps you feel more confident in the saddle and helps you understand the “whys” of horsemanship. She loves continually learning and sharing horse behavior insights and she relates that knowledge to how you should interact with your horses. She’s experienced in dressage and jumping, racing, reining, cow horse, colt-starting, and wilderness riding. You’ve probably seen her articles in Horse & Rider, The Trail Rider and many other horse publications. Julie is honored to be the International Spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association and was named Equine Affaire’s Exceptional Equestrian Educator. Julie grew up on the hunter-jumper circuits in Florida, but is now at home in the west. She and her husband Rich Moorhead live in the mountains. Both love versatility ranch horse competitions and riding cow-horses.
Fun Unmounted Lessons to Improve Equitation
9 a.m. – Saturday – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
Balance, alignment, rhythm, using your aids—these are all skills that can easily be taught from the ground in fun and challenging exercises that anyone can do and that hone physical skills while giving the student a deeper understanding of theory.
All Skill Levels—All at Once
Saturday – Noon – ShowPlex Arena – Keynote
It’s not always about teaching to the lowest level of the group. What if you have to keep many different horses and riders challenged and learning in the same arena, all at the same time? One rider can barely control her horse, while another is competing at the highest level—this is what horsemanship clinicians do and it isn’t easy. Learn the tricks of rider/horse analysis, keeping riders challenged and teaching one skill at many different levels, all at the same time.
Leads, Departures and Lead Changes
Saturday – 4 p.m. – ShowPlex Arena
Ask an advanced rider what she wants to accomplish and chances are good that the response will be ‘flying lead changes.’ Learn how to teach leads and departures, deal with lead problems and check off the pre-requisite skills for flying lead changes.
Katie Gussenhofen
One of Katie’s earliest memories was going to a Grange supper, then being spirited away by her grandfather, still wearing her puffy little girl dress and patent leather shoes, to head to the pony auction. Thus began her love affaire with horses. In her twenties, Katie discovered ex-racehorses and eventing. 1996 found her as a spectator at Rolex where she met saddle maker, David Young. He turned a saddle upside down, cut it apart, and she was hooked. Katie then spent 10 years selling saddles for a major manufacturer and worked with Olympic riders in every discipline involving English saddles. She has reflocked saddles and currently balances all makes of saddles. Katie has also been trained in equine massage, mainly as it relates to biomechanics.
English Saddle Fit
Saturday – 9 a.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
This presentation will review the ten points of saddle fit and how saddle design affects rider position and impacts instructor effectiveness.
Susan E. Harris
Susan is an international clinician and equestrian author, artist, and educator, teaching Centered Riding, biomechanics and anatomy and horsemanship clinics to riders of all breeds and disciplines. Her unique demonstration, “Anatomy in Motion: The Visible Horse,” in which she paints the bones and muscles on a live horse, has been a popular attraction at equine expos and clinics around the world, from Australia and Japan to Europe. Susan is a Level IV (Advanced) Centered Riding clinician and has been honored as a Master Instructor by the American Riding Instructor Association. Susan Harris is the author/illustrator of Horse Gaits, Balance, and Movement, Grooming to Win, CHA Composite Manual of Horsemanship and the U.S. Pony Club Manuals of Horsemanship, and has produced Anatomy in Motion I: The Visible Horse and Anatomy in Motion II: The Visible Rider as DVDs. She has also illustrated books on equine biomechanics for Dr Hilary Clayton and Dr Gerd Heuschmann. Susan’s study of equine and human anatomy and movement, artist’s eye and experience as an instructor, trainer and judge, give her a unique perspective on horses, riders and how they move. You can visit Susan Harris online at www.anatomyinmotion.com.
How Horses Move: Understanding Equine Biomechanics and How It Relates to School Horses
Friday – 2:30 p.m. – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
Susan shows the basics of how horses move, good movement and damaging movement, and practical approaches to helping your horses move their best and stay sound and healthy in a lesson program.
Equine Anatomy Workshop
Saturday – Noon – Training Arena in Barn 9
A hands-on approach to equine anatomy: discuss the equine skeleton and muscular system, questions & answers, and help paint the Visible Horse.
Anatomy in Motion: The Visible Horse
Saturday – 2:30 p.m. – ShowPlex Arena
Come and watch the Visible Horse in motion and learn horse anatomy and how horses move.
Beyond “Heels Down”–What Do We Really Teach?
Saturday – 7 p.m. – Holiday Inn Ball Room
Come and join us for the CHA Annual Awards Banquet and hear Susan Harris do a keynote speech directed to riding instructors.
Kathie Hilsher
Kathie lives on a small hobby farm in Houghton, NY with her husband, two kids, and two horses. She currently teaches in the English department at Houghton College. She grew up riding at Houghton College Equestrian Center and there connected with CHA, took her first certification clinic when she turned 18, and followed with a second certification clinic at the age of 21 in hopes of being a clinic instructor. Since then she has taught lessons privately, worked several clinics, began judging, started volunteering at the Allegany County 4-H horse program, and taken on the task of teaching her kids responsible and safe horsemanship—the most important job of all.
Partnering with 4-H
Thursday – 3:30 p.m. – Holiday Inn Roundtable Discussions
Are the mission, vision, and objectives of CHA and the 4-H Horse program compatible? How can we partner together with 4-H as riding instructors to enhance the 4-H horse program in our own areas? How can the two organizations benefit from each other? We will use this round table discussion time to look for answers to these questions and begin brainstorming ways we can serve and partner to train up safer, more effective young horse people.
Teresa Kackert
Teresa has been CHA Clinic Instructor since 2003. She is also Chris Irwin Natural Horsemanship ‘Double-Gold’ Certified and a Richard Shrake Resistance Free Riding Master Level Trainer/Instructor. Teresa is the creator of the ‘Soft Touch’ Training Program – Classical Equitation & Natural Horsemanship and has over 20 years professional experience as a rider, competitor, trainer, instructor, clinician and personal coach. She is founder of Great Horses of America, Consignment Horse Sales company and Co-Founder of Pink Heart Pony Kids, Inc. Teresa specializes in: confidence building in both horse and rider, horse behavior modification, motivational personal coaching and skill enhancement for riders & horses of all levels and disciplines. www.GreatHorses.org.
‘Soft Touch’ Horsemanship Equine Communication Demystified
Thursday – 2 p.m. – Holiday Inn
Learn the subtleties of effectively communicating with your horse in every situation; applies to in hand and under saddle work. ‘Listen’ and ‘speak’ with your mind & body; verbal & nonverbal skills both you and your horse have and use at all times. Understand ‘what’ your horse is telling you and ‘what’ you are telling him. THEY ‘see’ and THEY ‘say’ it ALL! It is our job to ‘translate’.
Put into practice the communication techniques learned above in Part 1. Fine tune & apply your equine communication skills both verbal and nonverbal. Continue to develop your equine vocabulary and ‘translation’ expertise. What are you really ‘saying’ to him: with merely your physical presence or your natural riding aids—leg, hands, seat, voice. Does he hear me? Is he even listening! Does he understand me? Uh oh… ’do I understand him?’
Mike King
Mike is a managing Partner at Capri Insurance Ltd. and is responsible for the development and management of various equine insurance programs across Canada. As of today, over 50,000 equine industry participants are protected by Capri’s unique programs. Mike has been involved in the horse industry in one way or another since childhood. He has shown on the “A” circuit, judged horse shows, raised and trained horses for himself and clients and managed facilities which offered a variety of services to competitors and recreational riders alike. Mike is well known as the ‘Insurance Guy’ in the Canadian equine community. In addition to running the brokerage in Aurora, Ontario; Mike teaches a course on equine risk management at the University of Guelph and regularly publishes articles addressing insurance topics in various publications. Mike has over forty years of experience involved in the horse industry and twenty years in the equine insurance industry. His background provides unique insight and understanding of the life we lead and the risks we face with our equine partners – regardless of geography. Insurance for Horses & Their People – It’s what we do!
Risk Management
Saturday – 1 p.m. – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
The specialized insurance products that all people who own horses should understand. Liability and the equine professional / facility operator – they can’t sue me – can they?
Karolina LaBrecque
Karolina holds a Ph.D in Physical Rehabilitation and MS in Psychology. She has 20+ years of horse experience and 10+ in hippotherapy /therapeutic riding experience. Karolina holds PATH International and CHA certifications in USA and hippotherapy/ able body certifications in Poland. In her carrier as educator and mentor she introduced over 300 students to the field of EAAT. Besides involvement in the horse world she in an international speaker, life coach and psychology adjunct professor at the local collage. In her free time she teaches fencing and is involved in K-9 Search and Rescue Team.
Why Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) Work
Saturday – 10:30 a.m. – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
Directed at THR instructors, horseback riding instructors, hippotherapists, volunteers and parents this presentation is intended to broaden understanding of EAAT and show the science behind it. The scope of EAAT, biomechanics of horse movement, influence of horse on the rider, therapeutic qualities of the horse, the therapeutic process and current research in the field will be covered.
Roxanne Lawrence
Roxanne is the current Executive Director of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and she is an initial founding member of that association. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, her equestrian experience started in the world of hunt seat riding. She spent several years as a trainer and instructor, and ultimately moved into horse show management with positions at The National Horse Show (Madison Square Garden), WEF, HITS, Capitol Challenge, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and many other notable events around the country. She went on to manage the Andrews School Equestrian Center for 10 years in the Cleveland, Ohio area where she currently resides.
How Can my Equine Business Get Involved w/Interscholastic Equestrian Association
Thursday – 2 p.m. – Holiday Inn
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association was founded in 2002. Just 10 years later, it boasts over 8,000 members who participate in two primary disciplines of Hunt Seat Equitation and Western Horsemanship/Reining. With its draw-based format, the IEA offers competitive opportunities to riders in grades 6-12 that may not own a horse, and it offers significant opportunities for growing your business and attracting new clientele to your lesson program. What are the benefits to your business and your clients? How do you get involved? Come to this session to learn all about the Interscholastic Equestrian Association.
Amy Long-Mount DVM
Amy earned her BS in large animal science from Delaware Valley College and her DVM from Purdue University. Amy has special interest in equine dentistry and complementary medicine. In 2006 she completed the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society course in veterinary acupuncture and believes in using both traditional and alternative medicines to keep horses willing and able to perform their best. Amy and her husband also run a horse boarding business in Cuba, NY.
Equine Acupuncturist/Dentistry
Saturday – 2:30 p.m. – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
Horses by nature are very accommodating animals and most “bad” behaviors can be explained as the horse’s way of trying to ask (sometimes demand) help. As horse owners, riders and trainers it is our responsibility to hear what they are trying to tell us and help them find the right answer. Acupuncture and dentistry are two modalities that can be used to help us to help them. Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine and operates on the philosophy that bodily functions and athletic performance are dependent on the smooth flow of energy throughout the body. Any interference or interruption in that energy flow can disrupt normal function, leading to disease. By placing tiny needles at very specific locations we can stimulate the flow of energy and return the body to its properly balanced state. Equine Dentistry has made huge jumps forward over the last 15 years and is a necessity for safety, good health and maximum performance. Getting your horse’s teeth “floated” involves much more than rasping off sharp points with a file. Discussions on what it means to properly “balance” the equine mouth and how dental health impacts performance and quality of life.
Reba Martinez
Having grown up around horses, Reba barrel raced and competed in play days as a child. As a young adult, she worked as a pharmacy technician in hospitals at night and exercised race horses early in the morning. She went on to a professional career in the horse racing industry as a jockey for 8 years and licensed trainer for 10 years. She and her husband, Larry, founded Blue Streak Stables, a horsemanship camp that teaches girls 7 to 15 years old all about horses. They learn to care for horses and are taught the foundations of riding. As a CHA instructor for 10 years, Reba is very qualified and has imparted a love of horses in many girls.
Understanding New Technology in Treating Colic
Thursday – 3:30 p.m. – Holiday Inn Round Table Discussions
Through years of working with horses, particularly the older horses at the stables, Reba has seen her share of colic cases. She has appeared as a guest speaker at numerous events. She has a wonderful flair in teaching to help horse owners understand the digestive tract of horses, how each of these different types of colic affect the horse with signs and symptoms. Vital signs and assessments are important and how to achieve these before calling your vet. Through new technology, discovery of a revolutionary way for every horse owner to treat colic where in 30 minutes gut sounds return. It is 100% effective on impactions, light sand, spasm, gas colics and also treatment of diarrhea. Participants will learn how to recognize the early signs and symptoms of colic and how to effectively treat it quickly and easily. Learn about the equine digestive tract anatomy. Learn the cause, prevention and different types of colic and how it affects the digestive tract.
Dan McCarthy
Working with horses since he was 14, Dan’s thinking and therefore his training has evolved to a place of oneness with the horse. Through private lessons, group lessons and clinics, Dan makes this experience accessible to anyone who desires to have that kind of intimate connection with their horse. Dan is certified as a Richard Shrake Resistance Free TM Trainer and is committed to Bill Dorrance’s teachings: making the right thing obvious, setting things up for success, and working within the horse’s timeline. When not training or caring for his own herd at his home Little T Ranch in Hobart, NY, Dan provides his time and talents to help rehabilitate horses for adoption through Rosemary Farm Sanctuary in S. Kortright, NY.
Understanding the Timing of a Horse Through Music
Saturday – 10:30 a.m. – ShowPlex Arena
The magic of this program comes from you tapping in to the rhythmic nature of your horse. We accomplish this using music to explain the footfall and song to obtain the rhythmic harmony – an elegant dance – between you and your horse. The musical pulse is used to move the horse, rather than driving or pressure. Selected songs as well as spontaneous compositions are used to create the natural, rhythmic communication between you and your horse.
Valerie McCloskey
Valerie is the trainer and instructor at Whisper Wind and a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, awards she earned on horses that she trained herself. Valerie is working towards her Gold Medal and has competed at Intermediare with scores in the mid 60s. She has been riding since she was a child and has competed in Western, Huntseat and Dressage. Valerie has obtained accreditation and certification through CHA where she has earned her Master Instructor and ACI certifications. Valerie also coached an IHSA team for 5 years and brought them from 15 to 7th place in a very competitive region. She trains horses and riders of all levels, breeds and disciplines with emphasis on a correct foundation. Valerie is available for private, semi-private and group lessons.
Friday – 1 p.m. – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
This will be an unmounted session. In this session we will discuss the theory of and types of half halts and why and when you would use them. We will discuss the riders’ position and the importance of it in applying the half halts.
How to Ride and Teach the Counter Canter
Saturday – 1 p.m. – ShowPlex Arena
We will discuss and explore the steps and preparation leading up to the counter canter including being able to position the haunches and control the shoulders, as well as the theory behind why we do it and how to execute the counter canter.
Mark Munzert
Mark is a proud cowboy and equine author and story-teller that appreciates and promotes the traditional, value-centric, measured evolution and down to earth ways of life with horses. Comfortable in the classroom, ‘at home’ in the saddle, or around the campfire, his brand of info-tainment is thought provoking, tear inducing and laugh producing. Mark operates HorseSurrounds, a provider of indoor arenas and equine barns. You can reach him at www.cowpokescorral.com.
Cowboy Poetry
Saturday – CHA Awards Banquet – 7:00 p.m. – Holiday Inn Ball Room
Dale Myler
Dale and his brothers Ron and Bob are third generation horsemen, and are three of the world’s leading bit designers. Because of Dale’s extensive research into equine dentistry and equine physiology, the Mylers have been able to bring an added understanding of the connection between bitting and the equine mouth to their designs. Dale has done bitting clinics and seminars all over the US and in the following countries: Sweden, Wales, England, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland and Austria. In 2006, Dale was given the privilege of conducting a seminar at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
Bits and Bitting Practical
Friday – 10:30 a.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
During this arena demonstration, Dale will provide an overview of the bit selection process: identifying resistance and evaluating individual horses; introducing and transitioning the horse and rider to a new bit; and following up with an evaluation of the horse and further instruction for the rider. A basic knowledge of the Myler bitting philosophy as found in the Myler book, The Level Best for Your Horse, will be helpful but not required.
Ken Najorka
With over thirty years of horsemanship experience, Ken lives in Central Florida as an active reining instructor, but knows that good horsemanship and equitation are simply that, no matter the discipline. Ken’s experience as a coach and clinician reaches beyond the show pen. The work has taken him to many parts of the country and allowed him to work with a variety of individuals and horses. Ken is a CHA certified instructor and the Region 7 Director. He has worked as an instructor for Dennis Reis Universal Horsemanship that can be seen on RFD-TV. Najorka Performance Horses, LLC encompasses: starting horses, problem solving, and fine tuning the well trained horse. From the beginner to the show pen, Ken prides himself on building a better horse-rider partnership. From teaching basic horsemanship to working with various jurisdictions of mounted police in safety training, Ken blends his knowledge of reining horses and natural horsemanship to help fill communication gaps between all types of horses and riders. Ken is available to conduct seminars, demonstrations and lessons throughout the year. Quality horses are available for sale or lease. You can contact Ken at najorkaperformancehorse@gmail.com
Balance of Horse and Rider
Friday – 2:30 p.m. – ShowPlex Arena
Confidence, forward and balance – how important are they?
Jill Paxton
Having grown up attending horse shows with her mother when she was judging, Jill’s involvement with horses has been lifelong. Currently as the Director of Equestrian Studies and Equine Management for The University of Findlay, Jill supervises both their English and Western Programs. Jill’s daughter Shannon Paxton-Hannasch is the third generation showing horses. Horses out of Jill’s training program are APHA World, Paint Congress, Pinto World, and Buckskin Congress Champions. Jill retired multiple AHSA/USEF judging cards. She currently holds judging cards with POAC, APHA, ABRA, ApHC, PtHA, Iowa Ranch Horse Association, Iowa 4H, and Iowa Open shows.
Exercises to Prepare Your Students to Jump
Friday – 10:30 a.m. – ShowPlex Arena
This presentation will discuss how to strengthen your student’s foundation skills and position leading up to jumping. A variety of exercises will be introduced utilizing bounce lines and grid work to help develop the student’s eye and timing. Open discussion will be encouraged.
Stops on a Western Horse
Friday – 2:30 p.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
The topic of this presentation will present the steps leading up to stopping a western horse. Specifically focusing on the importance of transitions and that they are important throughout all disciplines. Additionally the progression for teaching a stop will be outlined using different modalities and discussing various learning styles. Open discussion will be invited.
Shellie Pilato
Currently the Equestrian Director for the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, Shellie began her professional riding career over 30 years ago starting colts and ponies in her father’s stable. Her background in various disciplines and areas of the equine industry were instrumental to forming her career with horses. Shellie designs and implements riding programs where the focus is on safe interaction with horses in a welcoming environment. Her passion is targeting and building solid beginner safe horses and helping instructors develop their skill, in and out of the arena. In her free time, Shellie serves on the CHA Board of Directors, works as Clinic Staff and continues to develop her own riding and training skills.
Teaching Techniques for Riding Instructors
Thursday – 3:30 p.m. – Holiday Inn Roundtable Discussions
This roundtable environment is an opportunity to explore the basic techniques of teaching and discuss creative ideas of reaching and engaging your students. Develop a better understanding of lesson planning and safe lesson set up, share what happens to be working for your program, or pick the brains of other professionals to help get your creative juices flowing. The topics to discuss could be endless and entertaining.
Putting the FUN Back Into Riding Fundamentals
Saturday – 2:30 p.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
Sometimes in our pursuit of riding, we often lose sight of the fact that at one time, riding was FUN. This class is a way to help put the FUN back into your Riding Fundamentals by exploring different topics and horsemanship through mounted games. Keep students engaged and learning. Bring school horses off of the rail get them thinking and tuned back into their rider. Help instructors regain creative & safe teaching methods and breathe life back into the riding program. Beth Powers and Shellie will discuss safe use & introduction of props, creative use of mounted games and will make available resources and lists of games known to help students reach their goals.
Friday – 9 a.m. – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
The IHA (International Horse Agility Club) was founded in the United Kingdom by Vanessa Bee, author of The Horse Agility Handbook and the newly released DVD -Horse Agility-The DVD. The club’s purpose is to promote a safe, fun and unique competition experience for humans and horses of various ages, levels, abilities and breeds. Horse Agility offers a venue for people who cannot or do not ride horses and have a desire to compete. It also serves as a way to keep older or rehabbing horses mentally, physically and emotionally engaged. It is an ideal activity for camps, lesson programs, therapeutic riding programs or simply anyone who wants to enjoy a new activity and improve the overall relationship they share with their horse. A slideshow will be used to share information about the sport of Horse Agility. It is done on the ground with a strong emphasis on good horsemanship, improving communication and achieving a mutually respectful partnership with the horse. The goal in agility is to progress to working the obstacles at liberty. In addition to developing a good set of skills on the ground the handler must be mindful and have a solid understanding of equine behavior. The goal is to achieve clear communication and the ability to move your horse through the use of body language, not through applying pressure. (No sticks, whips or flags allowed in competition). The only two rules for this sport are that it must be SAFE and it must be FUN-for You and Your Horse!
Horse Agility Training Starter Course
Saturday – 10:30 a.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
This presentation will begin with reviewing basic ground skills needed for agility and an introduction to some of the obstacles.
Beth Powers
Beth Powers has been a CHA instructor for over 20 years many of these including being a member of the CHA board of directors. She has an education degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She has presented topics at CHA International and Regional Conferences, American Youth Horse Council Symposium and at Equine Affaire Ohio. Beth was asked to be the Keynote speaker at the Wisconsin State 4-H conference and her topics included teaching techniques and the process in which people learn different skills. She holds a membership in AQHA and has received a Professional Horsemanship distinction. Beth is a CHA Site Trainer and Visitor and is currently serving as the CHA Vice President.
Putting the FUN Back Into Riding Fundamentals
Saturday – 2:30 p.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
Sometimes in our pursuit of riding, we often lose sight of the fact that at one time, riding was FUN. This class is a way to help put the FUN back into your Riding Fundamentals by exploring different topics and horsemanship through mounted games. Keep students engaged and learning. Bring school horses off of the rail get them thinking and tuned back into their rider. Help instructors regain creative & safe teaching methods and breathe life back into the riding program. Shellie Pilato and Beth will discuss safe use & introduction of props, creative use of mounted games and will make available resources and lists of games known to help students reach their goals.
Heather Sansom
Heather is a rider biomechanics and conditioning specialist. She is a certified elite Personal Trainer, Centered Riding® Instructor and Equine Canada Competition Coach. A lifelong rider, she has trained in Dressage at Level 4 and is proud of having done at least one barrel race in her life, taken polo lessons, and hunted with hounds. Heather’s personal cross-training program varies according to season to include activities for cardiovascular, strength, core and flexibility training. She hikes, and trains in martial arts and dance for overall conditioning and to improve rhythm and co-ordination. In a project management role with the Equine Canada, she was responsible for the development of the national equestrian coaching and riding curriculums and certifications. She is recognized for her innovation in remodeling the equestrian adaptation of the Long Term Athlete Development sport model. Heather owns Equifitt and you can find out more at www.equifitt.com.
Athletic Development of the Rider and Fitness Exercises
Saturday – 4 p.m. – Showplex Club House Seminar Room
National programs in all 67 major sports in Canada are aligned with the Canadian model for long-term athlete development (LTAD). For many sports, including equestrian, sport-specific models have been developed to create a coherent framework for designing programming that meets the needs of riders of all ability levels, from recreational and beginner riders, to elite performance. The model is based on sport science related to natural developmental phases and windows of opportunity for skill acquisition. The principles of each stage help riding instructors and coaches with more tools for ensuring their students get the best preparation possible for the next stage of their development. This workshop will provide an overview of the framework, how it is useful for equestrian instructors, and provide some opportunity for peer discussion and sharing. Fitness helps a rider with more accurate aids and less risk of injury regardless of whether the goal is pure enjoyment or high performance. Coaches and instructors that understand the basic elements of rider fitness are better able to help guide their students toward health and fitness choices which contribute to achievement of their riding goals. In some cases, the riding instructor may be that student’s most significant influence on health and fitness at that moment. This talk will provide an overview of rider fitness, touching on important muscle groups, movement patterns, considerations based on seasonal training plan, and common postural issues and compensating patterns.
Mitzi Summers
Mitzi has been an instructor and trainer for many years. She is the recipient of the 2010 CHA Instructor of the Year Award, a Level IV Centered Riding Instructor, and a judge for the A.J.A. Mitzi works with all disciplines and all breeds of horses, and specializes in “problem” horses, using only positive reinforcement in her methods to rehabilitate horses. Mitzi has certified hundreds of instructors for CHA, and also travels internationally to teach instructor and training workshops for Centered Riding and also for SUMMERS E.T. (Summers Equine Theory). This program has been developed to educate riders, trainers and instructors in the classical, non-abusive methods of working with horses that has been established for centuries. Mitzi has traveled to Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and throughout the United States sharing her years of expertise to make the lives of horses and their riders happier and more meaningful.
Centered Riding
Friday – 1 p.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
Using images, knowledge of the biomechanics of horse and rider, and how horses learn and understand, this session will be addressing each horse and rider combination as unique entities. The goal for the session is that each rider and horse will have improved in performance and understanding. The only way that we can communicate with our horses correctly is through our bodies and correct use of the natural aids. Weight incorrectly distributed, mixed signals, tension or stiffness in the body of the rider can all result in confusion and even apprehension in the horse. Centered Riding allows each rider to become familiar with how to use their bodies correctly when they ride. “Hands On” work is used when appropriate to better the understanding of each rider on how to communicate to the best of their ability with their horse. Mitzi will encourage the audience to come into the arena at times to learn first-hand some of the more common procedures and body work that are the most helpful with riders.
Jennifer Willey
Jennifer is a CHA master instructor and clinic staff with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and sales. She currently works in Minnesota.
Social Media and How to Harness It
Thursday – 3:30 p.m. – Holiday Inn Roundtable Discussions
Are you utilizing social media? If not, you should be! Social media such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is no longer a trend; it has become a valid marketing, communications and networking business tool that is free to use! This discussion will talk about some tips to navigating the technology, communicating with your fans and how to grow your business following.
Terry Williams
Terry is a 1984 graduate of Otterbein College in Ohio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Equine Science and Stable Management. Terry has been a Clinic Instructor with CHA since 1988, and a certified riding instructor with CHA since 1985, earning her ACI rating in 1986. Terry is also a Clinic Instructor for The Equine Facility Management Program, a certified Overnight guide, a Site Visitor, a past Region 4 Director, and currently a CHA Board of Directors Member. She has been on the Approved List of Ohio 4-H Judges since 1995. Terry has taught both in year round residential camps and privately. She currently specializes in teaching Problem Riders vs. Problem Horses. Terry graduated from nursing school in June 2009 and has been practicing as a registered nurse since then in a large hospital in northern Cincinnati. Previous to nursing school, Terry managed a large thoroughbred breeding and training farm for ten years. She resides with her family in Blanchester, Ohio.
Conformation Form to Function
Friday – 9 a.m. – Training Arena in Barn 9
When we look to buy a house we hire someone to see if it is structurally sound. When buying a horse it should be the same. Would you like to be able to predict what your horse’s potential lameness/unsoundness issues would be in the future? This is one reason we hire a vet for a pre-purchase exam. Yet, wouldn’t it be nice to wean out some of our prospects? Conformation does not have to be frightening or overwhelming. Attend this session and decide if you should place your horse in the halter class at the local show after you learn how to size up your competition. Yet, keep in mind that most horses have flaws and how we deal with these flaws helps us in the longevity of our horse’s career. Learn how to evaluate form to function of your prospects and choose the horse that will best meet your individual needs.
Jeff Wilson
“Starting young horses, reschooling problem horses, and putting people together with their own horses successfully are all pursuits that I have focused on.” With a thirty year professional career, Jeff furthered a love for all breeds of horses through the training and pursuit of natural horsemanship and dressage, a study which has naturally evolved into Western Dressage. Bringing the west coast explosion, Western Dressage, to the east coast has been Jeff’s mission and goal since its formal creation in 2010. Now, as a Western Dressage clinician, Jeff’s goal has been to help western people learn and teach their own horses the tools that have been developed through the centuries. Jeff has bred, raised, trained and shown his Morgans for almost 35 years. His bloodline, Black Willow Morgans, was featured at the World Equestrian Games where Jeff presented his two Morgan stallions.
Western Dressage Keynote
Friday – Noon – ShowPlex Arena
The western working horse has been the backbone of our country. Helping that horse be a better riding horse through the timeless principles of dressage is my mission statement. Bringing to the horse a longer useful life, bringing to the rider the highest level of horsemanship they desire.
JoAnne Young
JoAnne has been teaching riding and training horses for over 40 years, and is happy that she is still learning. Every student and every horse bring fresh challenges that keep life interesting. She has been privileged and blessed beyond her wildest dreams to study with such wonderful instructors as Walter Zettl (dressage coach to Canadian event team when they won bronze at Los Angeles Olympics), Bertin Potter in Germany, Molly Sivewright (FEI judge and past chair of the Fellows of the British Horse Society), Carel Eijkenaar (FEI judge), Eddo Hoestra (FEI Trainer) and Doris Halstead (Physical Therapist and author of “Releasing the Potential: Physical Therapy Modalities for Horse and Rider.”) Jo-Anne is the author of the M.A. thesis: “Preparing students for riding instructor certification through college curricula.”
Eventing Courses
Thursday – 3:30 p.m. – Holiday Inn Roundtable Discussions
Designing and building multi-level cross country obstacles; using available materials to construct sturdy, safe cross country jumps; preserving jumps for future seasons will all be discussed.
Born in Czechoslovakia in 1929, Walter was trained in Germany, working for many years under the esteemed Col. Aust, for whom he eventually became First Assistant in 1955. He received many honors through the years, including the German Federation’s Gold Riding Medal, for which he was the youngest ever recipient at the age of 21. He received his Reitlehrer certification after reaching the minimum age of 25. In 1981 he moved to Canada, where he continued his lifelong pursuit of teaching horses and riders, including coaching the Canadian Olympic Three-Day Event team in dressage for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He has written many articles for German and US publications (such as USDF Connections and Dressage Today in the US, St. George Dressage magazine in Germany, etc.) and has authored 3 books: Dressage in Harmony (also published in Germany), The Circle of Trust, and the newest, Ask Walter. His teachings and insights are also available in the DVD series “A Matter of Trust”.
Welcome to New York Keynote Address
Thursday – 1 p.m. – CHA Annual Meeting – Holiday Inn