Geis Equine

14/08/2024

RIP Doug Williamson. This guy was showing and training right up until the end. What a legend.

11/08/2024

What Your Trainer Wishes You Knew About Learning From Everyone!

Part of what makes this horse business exciting is the fact that there’s always something new to learn. And one of the best ways to learn is to work with an accomplished trainer who fits your style and goals. After getting themselves established as a customer, many people will continue to seek out information from the internet, books, and other trainers. There is nothing wrong with doing that, so if that’s you, keep it up! But, as you’ve probably noticed, information, tips, and entire training philosophies can sometimes conflict, leaving you unsure what to do or who to believe. Here are some things to consider if you want to minimize confusion while you learn. These tips will also help your long-term trainer feel less like pulling their hair out when talking to you. 😉

Preface: When you enter into a customer relationship with a trainer, you are essentially saying you would like to be a part of and follow their training program. If you don’t trust the trainer’s judgment and expertise enough to do that comfortably, you need to find a new trainer, for both of your sakes. If you do trust your trainer, then read on!

1. Let your trainer know about any lessons, clinics, or seminars you’re thinking of attending with a different trainer. Your trainer may have justified concerns if he thinks this could cause a setback in your progress or some other issue. And if your trainer is fine with you going, have a “debrief” session with her sometime afterward to go over what you learned. There may be some things that the new trainer didn’t catch in one day with you, possibly some confusing terminology, and other things that your long-term trainer would prefer you do for reasons only someone who really knows you and your horse would have.

2. Keep in mind that every trainer has a different program, with different tastes in equipment, drills, etc. If your long-term trainer has you riding in a certain bit and martingale combo, and the new trainer says to get rid of it, run this by your long term trainer before just assuming your long-term trainer doesn’t know what he’s talking about. If he’s any good, he has his reasons. And they just might make sense.

3. Minimize trainer hopping. Try to stick with one primary trainer for as long as possible- someone with a great reputation who has gotten real results. This is because good horse training requires a program, a step-by-step system that builds on itself. If you change things in the program by swapping them out for outside trainers’ steps, it might not make sense in the context of that particular program.

4. Every (good) trainer has an order of operations. Your long-term trainer might not be working on something right now with you that another trainer said was important to work on. That’s ok! Bring it up to your long-term trainer. It’s highly likely that she’s prioritizing your skill development in a very specific way, and you’ll get to that skill later on.

5. Recognize that all the books and Google search skills in the world can’t replace years of dedicated experience and educated perspective. Value your trainer as the expert he or she is.

Now, get out there and learn from everyone- in a smarter way!

28/07/2024

Since the Olympics are here, and equine sports are in the public eye again, the animal rights activists are out in full force. Complaints range from “they are using flash nosebands” to “riders have spurs on,” to full-fledged calls to ban horse events. So here’s a little rebuttal to those waving pitchforks at the screen from their couches.

About Horses’ Jobs:

When we domesticated the horse, we made a deal: “if you do a job for me, I’ll take care of you.” The care and the jobs have evolved through improved technology, education, and breeding. The horses in the Olympics (and any other high level horse event) have been selectively bred for generations to do those jobs. These horses by and large enjoy what they are doing. What happens when they don’t enjoy it? They quit trying in one way or another. No one can force an 1100 pound animal to do anything skilled! So when they quit trying, or just don’t have the ability, they go on to a different or lower level career.

About Show Horse Care:

The quality of care available to these horses is at an all time high. We have more sophisticated knowledge of nutrition, biomechanics, and vet medicine than ever before. And show horses, especially high level show horses, more often than not get the best of it all. How do I know? Two reasons: 1) I’ve been around and have experienced this. 2) It’s so competitive at the top that winners need every slight advantage available to them. They can’t outmaneuver other high performers if they aren’t feeling their best musculoskeletally, internally (ulcers, nutrition, etc), and psychologically.

About the Equipment:

Pressure does not equal pain. Most horse training is pressure-release based, where the horse learns based on where the release is. Horses do this to each other, as well. Someone can push me gently, and I’ll move over because I’ve learned that’s where I get away from the push. Someone can also can tap me, and I’ll look in the direction of the tap. There’s no pain, no trauma, and barely any discomfort involved in either scenario. Good training equipment is meant to help us put a bit of pressure on the horse when he does the wrong thing, and then the pressure goes away when the horse makes a good decision. If the horse is in pain caused by the device we’re using, the horse will act out and won’t learn or perform well. Training for horse shows self-selects for equipment that produces a calm, happy horse.

Equipment choices are sometimes just meant to give the rider a fighting chance at being heard by a massive, tough creature who can easily go off the rails mentally and physically. Often, the stronger the equipment, the duller the horse has been allowed to be, and the horse needs help paying attention. Notice: just because some equipment is on the stronger side (flash nosebands, double bridles, etc) does not mean that they cause pain. They just make it easier for the horse to do the right thing and harder to do the wrong thing. Some equipment- spurs and some bigger bits- are meant to refine cues. If I wear spurs on a horse, I can barely move my leg and the horse can feel it. On the other hand, if I’m riding a dull horse without spurs, I might have to engage in some blunt force trauma kicking in order for the horse to respond at all. In fact, I’ve had to get the most aggressive on horses that have never been ridden with spurs, because they’ve been conditioned to ignore that tiny annoyance on their back. Those horses are dangerous, because you are powerless to help diffuse their natural reactivity to life. In other words, that sucker can take off or throw its head down to buck, and because he doesn’t care about what you have to say, you can’t do one thing about it.

About Horse Injuries and Discomfort:

Horses participating in sports will sometimes get hurt. And so will horses out in the pasture. Or in a stall. Or on a trail ride. Anyone who has had horses for long knows the statistical likelihood of something going wrong is high. I’d rather have a horse in a carefully monitored training and care program so that we can prevent as many injuries as possible. I can’t tell you how many pasture pets I’ve seen with severe arthritis that got noticed too late to help much, because no one worked the horse enough to realize there was a developing problem. Ultimately, existence itself is a risk. There’s no way around it.

And as for discomfort in the arena like tail swishing and pinned ears, these things get penalized in almost every event. It benefits the trainer to get to the root of the problem, in order to prevent it from happening. Just in case, though, you’ve fallen for the animal rights sentiment that tail-swishers, bit-chewers, and ear-pinners are suffering, horses swish their tail at flies and aren’t necessarily in pain. Flies are just annoying. They chew on bits sometimes because they are busy minded and it relaxes them. And they pin their ears at each other all the time to communicate something. These things can mean pain, but it’s not necessarily so. And sometimes, just like in people, the horse has a habit that DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING.

In closing, animal rights activists are lacking a massive amount of education about this lifestyle. Show horses are typically bred, cared for, and trained by the most capable hands on earth. They live their lives catered to and pampered. So, in pushing their uneducated agenda, rabid activists are actually advocating for a decrease in quality of life for the horses themselves. It’s time to knock them back into their lane.

28/07/2024

Full size people are fine- quarter people are not.

03/07/2024

Do I know anyone hauling from around Sedalia to Pueblo this week or weekend? I’m not able to do it myself due to a healing setback and I need one of my horses to make that trip. We’ll pay. 😊

26/06/2024

Here’s the schedule for an NCHA show close by! I’ll be there cheering for friends, and plan to have a ton of fun despite not riding this time around.

21/05/2024

Wreck update number 3? 4? No idea. Due to my caring group of friends and family asking how things are going, here you go.

I’ve been out of the hospital since May 9th. We are living locally in my parents’ basement as it provides a better situation with caring for Wyatt, getting help, etc. Which, I’ve been told, is a pretty good excuse to be parent basement dwellers. I’m walking more, eating more, laughing more, and gaining slightly more energy.

But I’m not out of the woods, as we’re looking at 3-6 months worth of recovery. Pain management is getting somewhat easier, though I still have to be very careful how I move/sit/lie down. Every day is a little better, but the progress is so slow that it’s hard to appreciate it sometimes. Continuing prayers for physical and psychological healing are appreciated, as well as prayers for everyone still walking through this with me.

I’m immensely grateful to the people God has put in my life who have stepped up without hesitation to help us in some very uncomfortable ways. The same goes for the people sending cards, food, etc.

And lastly, there has been some misunderstanding about the accident floating around. People are being told that I was bucked off the horse. That’s not true. The horse flipped over backwards on top of me, then rolled off. So the true story is that THE HORSE FELL OFF OF ME. 💥🤌😂

25/04/2024

In case you didn’t hear, Sarah was in a horse accident last week. The horse reared and flipped over on top of Sarah, where the saddle horn hit her sternum and raked across her abdomen as the horse rolled backwards while trying to get up. Sarah has 4 broken ribs, pancreatitis due to trauma/bruising, and the artery to her left kidney was damaged, causing her to loose function of that kidney. Thankfully you only need one!

Sarah has been in the hospital for 8 days and counting, but is slowly on the mend.

Geis Equine will be out of commission until further notice. Sarah will do her best to answer text messages as she is able. If you need any immediate assistance and have questions regarding your horse, lesson refunds, etc. please contact Alex VanVelkinburgh at (303) 726-5578.

Her personal horses and dogs are covered.

She is not quite ready for visitors at this time.

Stay tuned for ways to help, as everything is taken care of while Sarah is in the hospital.

09/04/2024

My girl is home! Now begins the rehab. Fortunately, Jessie is one strong mare. ❤️

04/04/2024

Well Jr, looks like you’ve just won an all expense paid trip to Too Much Attention Island.

04/04/2024

I’m so grateful to everyone who prayed and reached out about Jessie. Here’s the update: She went in for colic surgery last night and had a displaced colon and twisted intestine. The surgery went well, and now the recovery process begins. She’s a fighter, so I have high hopes. ❤️ So many thanks to the surgical team at Littleton Equine, as well as Kale, the wonderful person who initially saw that things weren’t right with her.

04/04/2024

Headed to the hospital with my good mare. Prayers appreciated.

03/04/2024

Wanted: Saddler and loper! 🤠 This is a part time job, 2-3 days per week. Willing to teach some finer tuning skills, but the person needs to already know how to saddle and ride. I’m very team oriented and am not hard to work with at all. I actually tend to enjoy the people I’m around! That said, I’m not a babysitter either. So if you value participation trophies, need someone to constantly tell you you’re special to avoid depression, or the presence of differing opinions hurts your feelers, this won’t work out too well. 🤙 But if you’re reasonably functional and you’ve got your head more or less screwed on straight, we’ll get along swimmingly! Let me know if you know of a reliable person who might be interested!

31/03/2024

29/03/2024

27/03/2024

Rehoming this gorgeous 2012, 16-16.1 hand buckskin paint gelding for a client. Legend is a big, forward mover, so we’ve been playing around with some western dressage. He seems well suited to that. He’s comfortable on the trails and around cattle. Not a beginner horse by any stretch as he’ll test you, but he’s fun. Very low 5 figures. Here’s some video: https://youtu.be/ZTCzIStyHu4?si=McVbLSGXJqepGxkK

Contact me if interested!

18/03/2024

Here’s a little clip from the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo where we helped a horse work through fear of clapping and cheering. The crowd was a great assistant! I hopped on first and the owner got back on afterwards. I got on the darker palomino next. 🙃 That was a fun clinic.

Sound on if you want to hear it!

16/03/2024

We’ve dug out of our giant snow pile, and are headed to the Expo tomorrow!

“Help Your Horse Work Through Fear and Distractions” sessions are on Saturday at 3pm (The time changed) and Sunday at 11:30, both days in the Stadium arena.

This presentation will help riders gain the confidence and skills necessary to help their horses focus in new and challenging environments

15/03/2024

Just in case any of you were planning on plowing through the snow to attend my 10am Rocky Mountain Horse Expo clinic on neck reining, our snow situation is going to prevent it from happening. We have gotten nearly 3ft so far, and won’t be dug out in time. However, the Saturday at 2pm session, Working Through Fear and Distractions, is still a go at this point! Hope to see you Saturday in the Stadium arena! Rocky Mountain Horse Expo

14/03/2024

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟱% 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱.

📸 Carolyn Simancik Photography

12/03/2024

If you’re looking for a job in the area, check this one out! You couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work with!

04/03/2024

The Central Colorado Jackpot Cutting & Herd Work and NRCHA show had its ups and downs, but the highlights were a ☑️1st🥇 in the limited open hackamore, ☑️ a second in the limited open derby herdwork, and ☑️ generally hanging in there with the open guys in the rest of the derby! There is PLENTY (!!) to work on, but I’m so proud of my mare’s grit and determination. She’s something special.

So grateful to CCJC and Horse Show Pros for putting this thing on!

02/03/2024

Currently sitting tied for second in the limited open derby after herdwork day! 🤯 🤩 Today we’re going into the reining, so I’m hoping Jessie is ready to be more like a ballerina and less like a fighter jet. She’d rather get her pattern done in .05 seconds and go back to cow work. 😂

01/03/2024

Looking forward to getting Jessie shown in her second cowhorse show, and first in the hackamore! So grateful to Central Colorado Jackpot Cutting & Herd Work and Horse Show Pros for giving us another NRCHA show so close to home.

Online entry form can be found at:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/HorseShowPros/MarchDerbyHorseShow