DRAFT HORSE EVENT, October 15-18, The Pavilion, MSU, Lansing

With over 1,200 draft horses from the U.S. and Canada, The Michigan Great Lakes International Draft Horse Show and Pull (MGLI) is the largest annual draft horse event in North America. MGLI’s annual mid-October 4-day event features some of the finest Belgians, Clydesdales, Shires, Percherons and Mules that have ever performed in an arena or in the field – anywhere! MGLI is the only event in the world to feature halter classes, hitching, plowing, pulling and riding for draft horse breeds and mules at the same time and location. These elegant and massive horses which weigh over a ton compete in single horse hitch through the entire range of eight-horse hitch classes.

These “big boys” will also demonstrate their raw power in the light and heavyweight pulling contests during which they pull a truck-mounted dynamometer, and during the “barnyard pull” teams test their horse power with a weighted sled.

VIDEOs from past events
more information: www.mgli.org

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9 Vehicles caravaned to Washington DC, Saturday, January 17th,
to carry Michigan Mounted Police Team to Parde
in Barack Obama's inauguration.

Journal Entries of Marilyn Graff of the Michigan Horse Council
Photos by Bob Clogg

"I never saw so many people as I did in Washington D.C. on January 20th, 2009, the day of Barack Obama’s inauguration!  People overwhelmed police at the street crossings. So driving in with our horse trailers was a real hazard. It’s a wonder some people weren’t hit, as they dodged between horse trailers, buses, vans and other vehicles…..and we had a police escort into town!

"It took us 15 hours from the time we left Charlotte, Michigan. We had a convoy of 10 vehicles, 2 horse transports (Lum Hughston Livestock Transport, McBain, MI….crewcab pickups with large gooseneck trailers), a suv and trailer from Eaton Co. Sheriff’s Department; a SUV and trailer from Muskegon Co. Sheriff’s Dept., a large van from Macomb Co. Sheriff’s Dept., and five VW vans, supplied by VW of Michigan, Auburn Hills, and a total of 32 people.

We were joined in DC by the two officers from the Toronto Metro Police Mounted Unit, as it was shorter for them to go directly to Washington, rather than come clear west to Charlotte and leave with the rest of the group. They had a dually pickup and gooseneck 2-horse trailer, all painted up with the Toronto Metro Police Mounted Division insignia and names! Roads were terrible going, snow-covered and very slippery, so travel was slow. We had the bad roads in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania…..and finally drove out of them in Maryland, about an hour out of DC.

"Horses were stabled at the Prince Georges Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, where all horses in the Inaugural Parade were stabled. (for info on this, visit their website:  www.showtimearena.com). Here we are getting ready early in the morning on the 20th.

Really neat being stabled with all the others, as we got to meet and see the other equestrian groups in the parade. This is located about 18 miles east of the capitol in DC. Then our group stayed in Dumfries, VA (south of Washington and about 38 miles from the equestrian center), but rooms were relatively reasonable so all could afford the trip. We actually stayed at a FBI training center, very secure, with a chain link fence and key-card gate!

"We had two horses with mild cases of colic, one at the equestrian center and one in the parade staging area. There were vets on call for the facility, and on site at the staging area. Both were treated promptly and recovered quickly, and both were able to be ridden in the parade.

"What I saw, since I was one of the ground crew, was all the equine units and the floats, which were staged in the same area………and people, people, people! Those riding in the parade actually saw the President and his wife…..and she smiled, waved, and blew a kiss to the group! Also, just before the viewing area, crowd control was handled by a group of Detroit police officers….and they clapped loudly for the Michigan group! (which was nice for them to be recognized by fellow Michigan officers!)

After everyone left the staging area, our three ground-crew members were transported by van to the horse dispersal area……and had a tour of DC in the process because so many streets were closed, and there were so many people everywhere! We saw the mall, with the big screens showing the parade…..and just solid people everywhere.

"Each member of the team wore the dress uniform of their mounted division, identifying them as Michigan law officers. They carried three flags, the US flag, the State of Michigan flag, and the Michigan Horse Council flag. Bob Clogg and Mike Foote, the side walkers throughout the parade for the group, for black jackets with a large Michigan Horse Council logo on the back….easily seen and read! And, they were introduced as being from Michigan.

"We were much more fortunate in leaving DC than many. On Monday night at the briefing they advised that there would be no police escort back to the equestrian facility, we were on our own! Our lead horse transport driver, Star Hughston, checked the maps and scouted routes….and was able to get us quickly out of DC and the crowds, and though it was a little round-about, we made very good time back to the equestrian center to unload and settle the horses for the night. Then back to the hotel to get some sleep and prepare to leave the following morning.

"Here’s a list of names of all the people involved.

"Mounted Drill Team Members (riders):  Eaton Co. Sheriff’s Department Mounted Unit:  Karen Hathon, commander, Sue Boyles, John Boyles, Lorenzo Veal II, Fran Rasool-Veal; Muskegon Co. Sheriff’s Dept. Mounted Unit:  Matt Kempf, John Spaans, Phillip Monroy, Laura Jean Johnston; Manistee Co. Sheriff’s Mounted Search and Rescue:  Renia Kuenzer, Kyle Kuenzer; Wendy Olson, Judy Hallan; Macomb Co. Sheriff’s Mounted Division:  Paula Keena (drill master), Leslie LaVerdiere, Tony Spiteri; Oakland Co. Sheriff’s Mounted Division: Larry Bireta; Augusta Township Mounted Patrol:  Connie Maynard, Sally Altenbernt; Bill Beach; Toronto  (Ont.) Metro Police Mounted Division:  Jeff Dale, Rob Graham.
Drivers and ground crew:  Horse transports:  Star Hughston; Nathan and Lori Grogan.  Others:  Gary Hathon, Denise Keller, Karen Monroe, Dr. Marilynn Denson, Ann Louise Budd (MHC), Bob Clogg (MHC), Mike Foote (MHC) and Marilyn Graff (MHC).

Written by Marilyn Graff of the Michigan Horse Council

The Team will be at the MHC Horse Expo, March 13, 14, 15, and MSU Livestock Pavilion, East Lansing. They will take turns at a stall in the Stallion Area, with a horse tacked as for the Parade, and will be there to tell about their experiences. The Team will also present a drill for the opening exhibition in the Saturday evening performance.

For more photos, visit the MHC site and also JustPlainCrazyRanch

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Sargeant Kennedy describes how to train a horse in police tactics such as getting close to fire and managing a crowd.

Sargeant Kennedy's biography

 

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MIHA Fall 2008 equestrian team RESULTS:

States run October 9-12 at Midland Fair grounds. To find your school, go to MIHA and click on “High School.” Michigan District Map

Interview with Chris Cook, Chairman of MIHA  Chairman Cook runs the day-to-day operations of the Association and he’s in his first year as coach of the Pinckney team, District 11.

Mr. Cook, can you give me an overview?
"Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association is a state-wide competitive program in various riding disciplines.  High schoolers in Districts all around the state compete each  September in 3 meets.  One team in each District at each level - A, B, C, D – goes on to Regionals and then each division sends 2 teams on to  represent one of 5 regions at States in Midland on October 9-12.  Chairman Cook says, “There’ll be about 40 teams at States.  We project about 450 horses.  And almost 400 riders.”

What’s the characteristic that leads a rider to succeed as a Michigan high school competitor in MIHA?
“You’ve got to be able to do it all, as a rider.  A rider has to be flexible. 

What are the sports a rider might compete in?
Western, saddleseat, hunt seat, jumping, reining, horsemanship. All classes in MIHA are judged on horsemanship and all riders will do a pattern and rail work.

What does a rider learn through MIHA?
It’s about broadening your horizons as a rider. The most important thing is that a new rider has to look at the whole picture – what can I do for the team to help. 

I have a rider this year on my team in Pinckney who tried some gymkhana games and did very well at it. She came out of hunter-jumpers and had a great time doing it.

What’s the profile of a winning team?
An A division teams have to be well-rounded.  Stronger in most areas, maybe a little weak here and there but really it has to be a strong team everywhere.

An A, C or D team or even B team can have a weak area and still be competitive.

How do you decide if you have an A team, or a B, C, or D team?
The Letter depends on the number of riders on your team.  An “A” division team has 10 or more.  A “B” division team has 10 or below.  A “C” has 5 or under.  A “D” has 2 or under.

How many teams will you have at States?
There’ll be about 40 teams at States.  We project about 400 horses.  And almost 300 riders.  Overall, there are about 3200 riders competing in the lower peninsula, coming from up north in Petoskey and south to the border with Ohio and Indiana.  The teams at Midland are coming from all over the state. For example, there’s Lowell from Region A.  Ludington will come from the west coast.  Milford’s returning.  Hartland’s returning.

Our numbers are down a little bit this year because of the changes in scheduling of sports.  For example, volley ball has been moved from a spring sport to a fall sport.  That took a lot of our riders right out.  When you lose 20 riders here or there, this hurts some teams at the Districts level.  They don’t have that much depth then.
 
Have you been affected by the weak economy?
No. Our numbers are down a little bit this year becuase of the changes in scheduling of sports. For example, volleyball has been moved from a winter sport to a fall sport. That took a lot of our riders right out. When you lose 20 riders here or there, this hurts some teams at the Districts level. They don't have that much depth then.

 What’s your background in horses, Mr. Cook?
I’ve owned horses my entire life.  I was in 4-h in high school.  I got out of horses for a few years and then I got back into it with Standardbred racehorses.  That was great fun. 
In the past, my daughter and I used to travel around the country when she showed in the Arab circuit.  These days, my daughter still shows a bit but I don’t ride or train.  That’s fine for me right now but in the future, I will get into showing halter horses.  I want to start with the young ones and bring them along gently.

What are some of the teams to watch this year?
In 2006, the States winner of the A Division was Milford.  Milford is a returning A team this year.  Hartland won the A Division in 2007, it’s first state championship ever.  They beat Milford 348-318.  Hartland returns this year, too. Hartland has a pretty well-rounded team.  Saddleseat, western and hunt seat are strong.  They have a good contingent of gymkhana riders. Interview by Tania Evans, Editor

 

 

 

Michigan Equestrian Teams Begin the Fall Competitive Season with September District Meets. Katelyn Coghlan from Saline rides Red around the barrels. She placed in several classes, including earning a first in jumping for her team in her school's first District meet of 2008. Teams compete in 3 events in their Districts. High scorers go on to Regionals and then on to States in October. Classes include western fitting and showing, saddle seat, hunt seat, equitation over fences, trail, flag races, cloverleaf race and more.
Click here for a Michigan District Map

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July 21, 08 Department of Natural Resources today warned canoeists, kayakers, tubers, and those fishing that the footbridge over the Pigeon River in Cheboygan County on the High Country Pathway in the Pigeon River Country State Forest has collapsed and is blocking the river.

“River users will need to portage around the collapsed bridge until the debris can be safely removed, or completely avoid this part of the river,” said Laurie Marzolo, DNR Pigeon River Country Unit Manager.

The DNR announced in June that the Pigeon River footbridge and the Black River footbridge on the High Country Pathway were both closed for repairs. The Pigeon River footbridge has a 7.5-mile temporary reroute in place. This detour takes trail users on Campsite Road, the north spur of the Shore-to-Shore Trail and on Tin Bridge Road. Camping at Pine Grove State Forest Campground is available using a one-mile connector.
The north spur of the Shore-to-Shore Trail is a hiking and horse trail.

The Black River footbridge has a 3.7-mile temporary reroute marked so pathway users can go around the bridge. This detour takes trail users on Tin Shanty Bridge and Sawdust Pile roads. The pathway and roadways will be posted with signs to assist users in following the detour.

The DNR continues to work to repair the bridges. For more information or questions regarding the status of the bridge repairs or about the High Country Pathway, contact the Pigeon River Country Forest Headquarters at (989) 983-4101.

Currently, the Black River footbridge remains closed and should be considered unsafe. Fording/crossing the rivers is not recommended, because the river currents can be strong at these locations.

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Thunder Valley Equestrian Trail Hosts National Trails Day Observance, June 7

Thunder Valley Equestrian Trail. Built as a cooperative effort by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and regional equestrian enthusiasts, the 11-mile trail system, located on state land in Marquette County, provides a beautiful wooded trail specifically designed to suit horses and riders.

The trail is located on the east end of County Road NA off County Road
553 in Sands Township in Marquette County.

Preceding the Opening at 1:00 is a work bee. Please help from 9:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday, June 7. Volunteers are asked to bring hand tools such as pruners, loppers, handsaws, hand rakes, gloves, bug repellent and a water bottle. Please don'tt bring horses to the work bee. Please b ring a dish to pass and utensils. Following completion of the trail work, a potluck tailgate lunch will be served. The trail will open around 1 p.m. on June 7 to horses and horseback riders. The trail will remain open for the rest of the season and there is no fee to ride the Thunder Valley system.

For more information, contact DNR Communications Representative Ann Wilson at the Marquette Operations Service Center at 906-228-6561.

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Casey Warner

News from Wenloch Farm  in Ann Arbor is thqt Casey Warner (granddaughter of  Dr.Gerald A. O'Connor & Margaret O'Connor) has just returned from the Great Lakes Cutting Championships Show at the MSU Pavillion.  This was Casey's first NCHA event. She showed in two youth events and the open Get 'R Done class; scoring a 65, 70,and 72. She placed 5th, 3rd, and 1st  in her events. .  Casey rode Wenloch Parody in all three events. Sired by Peppys Paloma and out of Para Doc, this mare is one her family raised. The mare is also a full sister to Casey's reining gelding Dr. Wenloch.  Casey took Dr.Wenloch to Columbus ,OH and  the AQHA regional event last summer where they placed third in the novice youth reining. (Editor's note: We don't normally run western as we are pretty ignorant in this category. But it was such a great photo! - shot by Cheri Cosrove of hoofnpawphotos.photoreflect.com.) Visit Great Lakes Cutting Horse Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stallion Sheik stands at LaRen Stud in Ocala, the only purebred Knabstrupper breeding farm in the U.S. The Knabstruppers were calvary mounts for the Danish officers ( easy to spot by the enemy); then circus horses; and now sporthorse prospects. Gentle, bright, keen, you will soon see their leopard spots across the pages of every equestrian magazine in the country. Raven Walters, inspired by a Knabstrupper her family owned as a child, has searched the world for the last of the pure lines. She owns one of only 16 mares worldwide that are pureblooded.

(According to my independent researcher, this breed was created by king Frederick of Denmark in 1562, initially with Andalusian and Napolitan blood stock. Later, Eastern and British half-bred stallions were added. - T.E., Editor)

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Sargeant Kennedy talks about training a horse for police work. more

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Try Team Penning
in Grass Lake -
every Sunday, at Triple C Ranch.

Timing starts at 1:00. Come as a participant or a spectator.
Beginners can enjoy patient cowboy-teachers and docile calves !
There's Team Roping, too, on Wed and Fri evenings.

Opportunities for beginners and advanced.
517-522-3454
13554 Sager road, Grass Lake

photo gallery : See our cowboy friend on the dun teach us how to cut and pen

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Sargeant Maureen Kennedy is a dedicated cop, an avid horse trainer and a longtime learner of all things about horses.  Always an officer with the Michigan State U Police, Mounted Division, Kennedy has also pursued dressage. She qualifed several times for USDF regional championships riding her multi-talented police horses.

Sargeant Kennedy rehabbing her own injured leg while riding Reverend Henry, 17.1h German Trakehner. They are getting ready for patrol duty.

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Sargeant Kennedy talks about training a horse for police work. more

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At one point, Kennedy was an undercover narc cop in Detroit but then she got the bug to completely give over her time to police work with horses. 

Kennedy has since put in thousands of pavement miles in Lansing and other places, riding horses to regulate everything from traffic at burned out lights to escorting politicians.  Her horse Reverend Henry’s first assignment was crowd control for the Lansing visit of then-President Clinton in l989.

Once Kennedy and her morgan Sarge helped the Tri-County Metro Police of East Lansing locate and eradicate a field of marijuana on MSU property in Delhi Township.

Describe your career as a police officer, Sargeant Kennedy.

"My career started and remains here at MSU. Twenty-one years of law enforcement.   My career included lots of opportunities as a patrol officer, mounted police officer, community policing specialist, and detective. I was patrol sergeant, canine handler - working with a dog that could detect explosives by smell. I have been a crime scene investigator. I've worked as a supervisor in patrol shift ,  emergency management, crime scene investigator team supervision (CSI’s), and an illicit drug team supervisor. I've had specialized training in hazardous materials while working on the illicit drug team special assignment. One particular investigation had me supporting Federal DEA office agents and State Police Concept teams in Detroit arrests.

Tell us about your horse training background.

"I have trained six horses for police service in 21 years of police service. And in my lifetime “trained to saddle” up  to 30 horses –including ponies. I did this as an amateur looking for the best learning opportunity. I think the way to learn to ride is to understand these herd animals and that starts from the ground up – and you develop a trust relationship.   

"As part of the mounted unit of MSU, I rode on patrol and for special events such as football games. I did this for 16 years. My specialized training came with with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the training academy in Ottawa, Canada.   I attended three Great Lakes Mounted Police training schools for mounted police service.  Inspector Pat Muscat of Detroit Mounted (retired) was one of the many talented and specialized instructors of this academy here in Michigan –as well as trainers of the RCMP.

"RCMP training isn't all jumping through hoops of fire. The basics are stressed. Dressage is considered the foundation of formal training at this school. Jumping and quadrilles (musical rides) are a part of the instruction. Dressage is the basis of maintaining physical fitness for the horse and it is also behind the military-derived movements of crowd control.

"At MSU where I’m based, we officers always go out shined up and polished whether we’re on highway patrol, performing dressage in competition or exhibiting traditional skills in quadrilles."

Sargeant Kennedy and Madagascar win the 2nd Level Dressage Championship at BOH

"I participated in dressage for over 15 years, with some time off for injury recovery.

Who have you trained under for dressage?

"I've been in clinics with top trainers and competitors such as Kelly Hayner, Robert van Wessum, Tom Valter, Besty Steiner, Roz Kinstler, Maryal Barnett, Major Andres Lindgren, Trcey Lert, Marina Genn, Michelle Gibson, Carole Lavell, Max Gahwyler, Betinna Drummond, Cathy Haddad. 

"I owe a great deal of my knowledge and skill to Kelly Hayner. Kelly is a generous, beautiful person and a friend for a lifetime. Kellyis a significant talent and an upcoming rider in this country. Through her I was able to be watch clinics given by Robert Dover, Stephan Peters, Kyra Kirkland, Harry Boldt, Alex Steiner, Charlotte Bredahl ... to name a few.

"I've not only learned a lot from Kelly in lessons, I've learned by auditing clinics in which she rode with great dressage coaches such as Klaus Balkenhaul. Also, I've spent counless hours ringside watching Kelly transform the average horse into a butterfly.

"Also, the MDA and the McPhail Center at MSU offer opportunities to clinic with the greats.

You have sometimes learned from modern soft-touch trainers such as Monty Roberts. 

"Yes, I was helping him when I was seriously hurt. I've spent a lot of time rehabilitating from knee injuries.

You trained several horses to compete at 2nd level in dressage , with Grand Prix level your personal competitive goa of the future.  Six of these same horses have become reliable, bomb proof, crowd containing police horses.

"I've had some very nice horses of various breeding.  Let's see, as my horse partner, there was: Reverent Henry, a Trakehner gelding; Sarge, a Morgan; Madagascar, a Trakehner; Carpe Diem, a thoroughbred-Morgan-Percheron cross; Gigi a Selle Francais; and Winzig, a throughbred-Percheron.

You rode these horses in perimeter patrol, crowd control and security support for presidential visits and debates at MSU for such people as President Clinton and candidates Bush and Cheney. What are you doing now in terms of riding and training horses?

"I have two new horses in training: Voglein, 3-year old thoroughbred-quarterhorse cross Voglein who arrived in July 2006 and 5-year old Van De Tango, a Contango mare. I'll be competing them in dressage.

"It has always been an honor and privilge to represent law enforcement. And it's a great honor to wear the Mounted Police uniform into the dressage ring in competition.My ultimate dresssage dram will be to wear the uniform of the Mounted Police while I perform the sophisticated, precise Grand Prix test."

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Tanya Grant Barber talks about the merits of the Andalusian and the special qualities of the older school horse more

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Sargeant Kennedy talks about training a horse for police work.

Q:  Give me some clues to the right temperament for a police horse.

There are two types:  the quiet, do anything, virtuous, volunteer horse and the confident, bold, “alpha” horse. A lot of this depends on who I’m selecting the mount for…  Age too…. is a factor. I rarely would consider a horse under the age of five years to train And  a five-year old would have to be a very special horse. Of course, a a temperament can be seen earlier than five and if this temperament is nurtered with work in law enforcement, that’s a real advantage.  Train them purposefully and without the “baggage” often brought with prior experiences. I mean other riders. Sometimes you get that phone call from a distressed owner with a rogue horse that has become unbearable to the owner. They want to get rid of it, they can't handle it. So you go and look at the horse. Often you find a horse with great potential for police work. Such a horse needs lots of sensory stimulation and is often bored to death with its current training regimen. Sometimes the horse is also burdened with a “noisey” rider … or bored to death because it’s not being ridden or put to work at all. So you can re-train them with tremendous success for police work.

Q:  What about the right physical type?
I had to do this many times, find the right type.   So,  first, I look for size - normally 16hands or more(although a smaller horse is not necessarily eliminated. It's also true that some departments have no size requirement. Also, color is a consideration – and sometimes a big one.  For example,  white is a difficult color for police work. However, if the temperament is right, then even a white horse will be considered.

Regarding conformation, in general, the most important conformation to consider is that the horse have straight legs, that it's upright in the neck and possesses three decent gaits.   You can't accept any obvious faults that might lead to eventual lameness. For example, the horse must have good hoofs. The angle and condition of the hoof is important. After all, no hoof is no horse. These animals will likely be on considerable amounts of pavement-hard surfaces so they must have hooves that can be shod and will hold a shoe.

For some departments looks is important.  The horse should be attractive and be an athlete (these animals will represent your police department-the pride of the organization).  Some retired show horses can be utilized for police work even with minor lameness issues as long as these can be mitigated. In the end, the age of a horse accepted will depend on the hours of service the horse will be used and type of police service expected.

 

 

 

 

You have a young horse now you’ve been working with for about 6 months or so.  You said you planned on making it a dressage horse.  What’s been happening with her?

You’re referring to Voglein.  She’s a 16 hands Thoroughbred cross.  She is very petite in frame and elegant - but she’s a smartypants.   While I was working this three-year old –just light exercise - on a longe line (30 meter circle-no smaller at this age), a friend took a large Teddybear and threw the Teddybear out onto the track.  Voglein trotted right up to it, “passaging” in trot stride.  She grabbed it into her mouth off the ground and flung it out off the track-without missing a beat.  This is the personality I look for, a horse you can take an umbrella and walk straight up to, which I did, flapping it open and closed.  Most horses would run - or at least sidestep in reaction. Voglein trotted straight to the interesting looking object and put her nose straight away onto the fabric-and then she tried to take a nip. Perfect! I thought.  And she did all of this without any type of training. She just trusted human companionship with her handler who is me and this trust is coupled with a bold character.

Q:  What are some of the subtle signs that indicate a horse with police work potential.

Subtle signs….. that’s interesting. Well, for example, I like a horse that may take its head and give you a push while you handle it. That tells me their trying to take charge, that they're willing to try.

The horse that I can drop a metal object to the floor nearby and simply looks at me from the cross ties or stall. So one that doesn’t bolt forward or jump in it’s skin. I can wave my hand around it’s head and there is no “flinching.”   I can give it’s rump a good solid pat and it’s not jumping out of it’s skin or raising it’s neck in tension with wide eyes flashing - or kicking at me. And some absolute “no, no’s” are the biter, kicker or the one that's being “mareish”, the stall protector or the territorial animal. All are no, no, no. Many police horses are required to be stalled and viewed by the public and any of these behaviors don’t send the right message….and can be difficult to monitor and are just not safe. The public is often uneducated about horses. A person might stick their fingers into stalls and put their faces right up to the horse. Another horse that's eliminated is one that that fights with resistance on a rope. If you pull on the reins from the ground or pull on a lead rope and they become frantic in resistance. Because people will grab  reins. People in a crowd will grab the horse's reins. In control situations the horse must tolerate this and listen to the rider. A horse can'te be “herd bound." The animal must listen to the rider and be able to be separated form the other mounts. Often it's easy to identify the herd bound horse if you just move a stablemate around or out of the barn for a moment, the tension is easily seen and this animal  will never make a good police mount.

Tell me some of the thought processes that go into choosing one method over another.  I imagine it’s very horse-specific?

Be respectful and careful in all that you present as stimulus for “training” in desensitization. Some horses do not mind gunfire while others will look for the first exit-at top speed. Some horses don’t mind plastic while others fear it tremendously. Some horses do not mind helicopters while others fear them. Some horses panic at the hot air balloons overhead…while others could care less.  

Q:  This is very interesting stuff.  How do you go about making a horse immune to a wild, maybe threatening situation, one that is blowing up around him?

Desensitizing training can be very extensive and detailed. right down to blowing plastic bags, making loud annoying noises such as gun fire. You have to expose the horse to it all but you do it using good common sense.  And then  expose the horse in pair with another in the “crowd areas" and into traffic. Horse shows are a great place for this, wherever there are trucks, trailers, traffic-pedestrians and vehicular, scooters, golf-carts, bicycles, umbrellas, banners, tractors and farm machinery, loud speakers, loud music, portable walkie-talkies - just  noise, noise, noise. Iindustrial parks or campuses are great, too, especially when there is not the busy activity of the day. Where quietly the horse can experience roadways, buildings, bridges, footpaths, parking lots with painted lines, sewer covers, manhole covers…any varying surface. Basically, your imagination is the limit for what you may encounter. Just go take a walk on a college campus or a busy park and see what you see. This is a good place to start when knowing what may be needed in the way of desensitizing a police horse for service.

Q:  Is this done in isolation, just you and the horse?

Importantly take the best police horse you have and let junior “the new guy’”  tag along… start with trail riding and then, after desensitizing, expose the horse to areas like horse shows and campuses (off busy hours)  and gradually build on the exposures. More is not better is the general rule here. Take these exposures on gradually and considerately. Nurter the relationship you are developing with the horse. Build the foundation of trust and you'll have success.

Q:  I was wondering about the hoop of fire, I’ve seen horses jump through a ring made of fire simply because the rider asked them to do it.  These were set up in arenas.  I’ve had some pretty gutsy horses but I don’t think any one of them would do that – it would appear to be crazy to them.

There are those horses companioned with a rider that share a relationship of confidence. Such a horse will “jump” through that hoop of fire…My point here… whether the horse is doing it out of domestication, human dominance, or a special relationship is SECONDARY to the most important issue which is to train with our horses to achieve that special relationship of respect and confidence. Set your sights on the hoop of fire with that in mind. Never reduce your horse to a domesticated, automated, human-dominated element of your life.  At that point, you’ve lost respect for your horse and your training will reflect that mentality.

Q:  Tell us some things about your own police horses.

The horses that I have had the honor of being partnered with - Sarge, Carpe Diem, Henry, Winzig, Francis, Madagascar, and Gigi -  all of them could have accomplished the task of jumping through the hoop of fire.  It wold be more easily achieved with Sarge, Carpe Diem, Winzig, Francis, and Madagascar. Now Henry and Gigi  - if they knew from my body language that  “this is important” then they would jump but not readily otherwise.  Horses know when it’s important.

Sarge and Henry knew when it was a football Saturday at Michigan State University.  Sarge liked all the carrots he got from his “fans.”  He readily trotted up the road for work. On the other hand, Henry was nervous and showed a bit of natural piaffe in the parking lot while I stepped aboard for duty. Until he got there and then he was fine.  Madagascar just liked to parade around and have people marvel at his beauty. He was such a character.  He was a pretty horse indeed.   Winzig was like a “line backer” on the football team. He wanted to knock people down. Winzig thought that was such a great idea!  When Winzig went through crowd control training he was rather surprised when I allowed him to “push” on humans and move them around. This was fun to him!  He was a big 17.1 hand Thoroughbred-Percheron cross.  He looked like an elegant warmblood - but he never missed a carrot either!

One of the best police horses I ever had was also an absolute bully. This wasSarge. He was arrogant and stubborn but he feared nothing. He wouldn't tolerate an inexperienced rider on his back – and look out if you put one there! He knew in an instant and that rider was going to get dumped. But in a crowd situation he led the troops like a true warrior. You had to command this horse not only from the saddle but also on the ground. if you handed his lead to an inexperienced handler, Sarge would just as soon start dragging them down the road until he intimidated them enough to let loose. Then he could run off and get some grass. He was smart and could be a bully to take advantage of the situation. You needed a light chain over Sarge’s nose to handle him from the ground for he learned with crowd control training that he could “push” people around… and so he did! He did unless he “respected” you as well as the chain. You didn't have to use the chain, just remind him it was there and that a person was in control. He needed a lot of reminding of that! - :  )   but he was my best partner!  What a formidable presence he made with his  neck and head held high as if to say, “What are you looking at? Give me your best….it wont be enough.”    Most people do not realize that these animals have very unique personalities like people. They’re very much individuals and the chemistry between them and their partner must be good and they must have confidence in each other.
Training for police work, an interview with Michigan Sargeant Maureen Kennedy
back to top of training interview
back to original interview about Maureen Kennedy

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New Options for competitive riders in Michigan:

1. Rumor: There's a new Detroit Jumper Club to base at the Fair Grounds in Detroit - more to come on this in November!

2. Racetrack dates are bought by Jerry Campbell: new track announced for south of Metro Airport!

3. Carol Grant wants a Midwest Dressage Circuit. And Horse Shows by the Bay considers adding weeks onto their 3-week summer show.

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The Search for America’s Next Equestrian Star: Dressage begins Friday, October 19 at 9:00 a.m. EST on the Fox Network.. This unique show consists of five hour-long episodes that will air sequentially at the same time every Friday through November 16, the show’s finale. J.J. Tate is a finalist on the program. She's based in Wisconson. The show, conceived by Robert Dover, full story

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wisconsin's J.J. Tate is one of the finalists.

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Henry Pfeiffer, 18, of Fox Meadow Farm in Temperance, Mi. wins the HOF Jr/AO at Horse Shows by the Bay III, August 1-5.

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Jen Pond earned her 5th completion trophy this July riding the Shore to Shore Trail across Michigan. Read her journal here

 

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The Daratony family constructed a 132-acre residential and equestrian community on Gregory about ½ mile from Zeeb in Webster Township.  About four months ago, Webster Township approved the last of the whole project.

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Erin Haas of Chelsea has always set her standards high

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How does a small horse farm owner end up being in the stallion breeding business. I asked Tracey Schork who has a small farm called Trailsend Stable in Ann Arbor Township - full story

 

 

 

 

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Chad Thelen - transforming farmland into habitat havens
Polaris Ranger in clover in Mecosta County

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JArea 8 Young EVENT Rider: Young Rider Katie Daratony rides Nero at Intermediate.
Jackie Smith interview about Young Riders

 

 

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ackie Smith discusseNew Vocations places 300 ex-racehorses in 2006 which makes it the leading placement program in U.S. One of their 3 offices is in Saline. full story

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Ann Arbor's Advanced Eventer Sue Moessner
1.shows us how to start a young horse
2. talks about her favorite teachers in Florida
3. trailers 7 horses to Ocala this winter full story

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Jon Costin talks about Grand Prix

Maryal Barnett explains the 2007 dressage rule changes
What's the biggest change in the tests?
full story...
Demo Rides of 2007 tests
full story...