FH&C

 

 

 Westside Quixote NP - an American Quarter Horse, was born in May 2006.  His father, SR Lawman, was a Reining and Working Cowhorse champion from the Doc Bar and Doc Olena lines.

Westie was backed in the autumn of 2008 by Eric Flachaire who trained with John and Josh Lyons, who are well-known for their gentle treatment of horses, trying to work with them rather than against them.  Westie calmly accepted saddle and rider without batting an eyelid.  I then left him through the winter to grow and develop before starting schooling earlier this year.

Unfortunately, in April, just before he was due to go for his first month’s schooling, Westie became “tyed up”, possibly due to being stung by an insect.  It was unusual because his diet was not rich – just a couple of handfuls of barley a day and ad lib hay.  

Finally, at the end of June, I took Westie over to Christophe Lambert at the Ranch du Coteau Blanc in Vauchretien in Dept 49.Here Westie was to start his first month's schooling. Christophe and his Father have been breeding Quarter Horse for over 20 years and have produced some excellent foals by their stallion Pueblo MC Jac Flash. Christophe, like Eric Flachaire, works quietly and patiently and will never try to force or push a horse too hard.

He is very well known in France for the excellent results he has with horses that he trains – and in the competitions that he has entered.

Westie progressed well during his first two weeks with Christophe.  He learned to move his hind legs underneath him, crossing over to properly engage his hind quarters.  Christophe takes one rein and brings the horse’s head around whilst making him move forward in a circle.  This is to encourage the front of the horse to remain straight and the hind legs to cross over underneath the body.  Thus the horse is unable to lean to the inside.  Both sides are worked evenly to discourage one side from working more strongly than the other.

During the third week, however, it became apparent that Westie was reluctant to progress with lateral work, and would only do it if given an extra push.  We decided that perhaps Westie had some sort of physical block and we asked a specialist in Shiatsu, Tamara Shukri, to have a look at him.  Shiatsu is a manual technique which is closely connected to acupuncture.  Tamara found a weakness in Westie’s right hip and in the area of the spine over the kidneys.  He was not very comfortable flexing his hind legs.  She also found a knot of muscle in his left shoulder.  By following meridians and using pressure on specific points, Tamara succeeded in releasing the tensions and by the end of the one and a half hour session, we had a much more relaxed horse.   Westie will have three or four days rest before starting work again.  The full effects of Tamara’s treatment will be felt in about 10 days’ time.  As Christophe is a very sensitive person who rides by ‘feel’, it will be interesting to see whether he sees a difference when he rides Westie next Monday.

Teaching a young horse to stand and tie quietly is another important part of   the training.