As a horsewoman and a trainer of rite using the "old way," it's sometimes difficult for me, as well as some of you readers to have and keep an open mind when it comes to other training methods. Such was the case for me while attending a Dennis Brouse-- Partnership University, "Partnership Training" Clinic recently. Dennis Brouse presents his powerful world-renowned training methods through Partnership University's schools and clinics at various sites throughout the United States and abroad.
The clinic, which I was honored to be a part of, took me to the beautiful Black Hills of Nemo, South Dakota. Myself and nine other students, came from as far away as California, Nebraska, Arkansas, Florida, eastern South Dakota, Kansas and Georgia. All the students heard about the clinic on HorseCity.com and OLN/TV. We were treated to the historical, rustic "get away from it all" people and atmosphere that is the Nemo Guest Ranch. Located off Hwy 234 about 16 miles northwest of Rapid City, 18 miles south of Sturgis and Deadwood, and less than a hour north from Mt. Rushmore. From Custer's 1874 Expedition, the 143 acres that is the Nemo Guest Ranch (established in 1949) was originally part of the mining and logging camp of the 1890s, full of a rich history dating back to 1800s. It still has the original turn of the century General Store, and Old West Restaurant/Bar and has served as a must "drop in" for many guests and travelers. The guest ranch's wonderful location afforded us the chance to take sightseeing trips after each class.
The clinic's round pen training area was nestled in a small valley flanked visually by accentuated scenery. A creek was bursting with trout to one side and the high rugged, heavily timbered mountains of the Black Hills were on the other. It was a wonder any of us paid any attention in the training sessions. But pay attention we did! For we all came to the clinic for various personal reasons. Jodi Simons and Taphney Anderson, a mother and daughter team from South Dakota stated, "We came to overcome some problems of spookiness and high head set. And we have always wanted to learn to train our own horses." The spooky behavior seemed to be the group's main problem. But Doug and Lorna KinCannon from Arkansas, came to the clinic as total first time owners with major problems, one being confidence. Mr. Brouse told us that for most people, regardless of what specific problems they're having with their horse, he can usually attribute those problems to spookiness, which gives the horse some degree of cautiousness and prevents him from fully submitting to the owners control. The method used by Mr. Brouse is in no way similar to spirit breaking as I have been witness to or have seen in other clinics I have attended. It's more of a mutual compromise between horse and owner.
Everyday found us up before sunrise tending to the horses and being greeted by 'Raven' the ranch's playful 3-year-old Labrador. I arrived horseless and offered to lend a hand, so I was able to take notes and some candid photos. I was not just here to participate in the clinic but also to cover it for HorseCity.com and its users. The mornings were always cool, clear and crisp with the aroma of wood burning fires, country style breakfasts and lots of hot coffee in the air. By eight o'clock we all gathered at the round pen to begin the road to meeting the expectations we brought with us.
|
|
Scenery such as this, surrounding the round pen, competed for our attention during the week long seminar which featured Dennis Brouses' Partnership Training techniques.
|
Every night after our class, by a blazing bond fire while roasting hotdogs and marshmallow for 'S'mores', Dennis would join the group to discuss our agenda and explain what he expected from us and our horses. For the first three days ... despooking, standing while mounting and dismounting, leading, pull back, learning the signs of submission and lots of round penning were what we were to learn. The schedule was divided into morning and afternoon sessions, giving him the chance of offering individual attention. Dennis' easy non-intimidating, at times humorous, manner placed the students in a comfortable place adaptable to learning. This ease transferred to the comfort of the horses allowing them to submit quicker.
The horses were each lead separately into the round pen and given a couple of minutes to get settled in. Mr. Brouse would then enter the round pen, with a pocket full of pellets (this is the secret--a reward system) and began asking the horse to work the inner perimeter of the pen while explaining to the students to watch for the three signs of submission. These signs will indicate the horse is willing to listen, learn and be controlled.
Those three signs are; the inner ear turned in toward you (with this the inside eye follows), the licking or smacking of the lips and the lowering of the head. Like I mentioned, I arrived horseless and was given the opportunity to work a 3 year old gelding that hadn't had hands on him since he was gelded at a young age. 'Hoochy', as the horse was called, entered the pen ears pinned, head high, nostrils flared, snapping his legs to a nervous gait. Dennis entered the pen, told the horse to "relax" and within fifteen minutes had the horse submissively doing different paces, properly executing reverse directions, stopping, coming when asked, following and squaring up, all by means of an invisible line. By the end of the first session Hoochy, as well as all the others, were showing signs of being a different horse. Dennis' method, though one that old horseman and trainers tend to frown upon, attributes his success to patience, understanding communication and 'treats.' As one of those so called 'old horseman' who thought that giving treats, was spoiling or teaching the horse an annoying habit, I stood watching in complete and inexpressible awe. As Jodi Simons put it, "My daughter and I came here with high expectations. Dennis' method is amazing! It's so common sense. People won't believe the simplicity of the techniques." Karen Kay Fanning from Nebraska and Lynette Stand from Kansas were both continuously heard to say, "I didn't know a person could do all we have done in such a short time. We're all going home with virtually a new reborn horse in our trailers."
You'll see that by the end of clinic, we had amazed each other and ourselves with what we had accomplished. Dennis has a way of teaching that makes it fun and easy for the owner as well as the horse. He shares his method of using an 'invisible' lead rope, a finger or a specific body language or movement the horse totally understands. And when the horse does well, even if just a fraction, he is rewarded with the pellets. The amazing thing about this method is that by using feed as a reward, the horse doesn't form a habit of searching for 'treats'. This absence of habit was completely deduced by each one of us as we were treated to guided horseback excursion up into the mountain ridges of the Black Hills surrounding the Nemo Guest Ranch.
Photo Gallery of Nemo Ranch and it's beautiful surrounds! Click here!
Stay tuned for more about my trip and learning and training techniques learned in Nemo.
For more information on Dennis Brouse, his training method and videos... visit Dennis' Web site: www.partnershiptraining.com.
