Summer 2013 CHROME

L if e a s U n iq u e a s th e H o r se

™

Summer 2013

Volume 1 Number 1 FC-Cover.indd 1

AMERICAN PAINT HORSE ASSOCIATION | SUMMER 2013

6/14/13 11:44 AM

IFC-Double_D_Ranchwear_fp.indd 1

6/11/13 11:30 AM

GHG_Chrome_full page4.qxd

5/25/2013

2:25 PM

Page 1

Prayer for the Buffalo by Steve Atkinson Oil • 50” x 32”

Reagan by Andy Thomas Oil • 40” x 30”

Desert Wash and Rabbit Brush by Kathryn Stats Oil • 18” x 24”

GREENHOUSE GALLERY

OF

FINE ART

S A N A N TO N I O, T E X A S • ( 8 8 8 ) 4 0 7 - 5 0 5 7 • G R E E N H O U S E G A L L E RY. U S

001-GreenHouseGallery_fp.indd 1

6/11/13 11:36 AM

002-RockiGorman_fp.indd 2

6/11/13 5:48 PM

FEATURES

44

Hi-Yo Silver!

A merican Paint Horses star alongside Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in Disney’s The Lone Ranger.

54

Best All-Around

W ith Resistol for more than 50 years, iconic Western hat designer Bob Posey knows what the cowboy wants.

64

The Natural

M eet Pat Parelli, the man behind the Natural Horsemanship empire.

82

A Rugged Old World

L ocated in horse-country Florida, the French-inspired home of Lynn Palm and Cyril Pittion-Rossillon is both comfortable and charming.

On the Range Resistol has long been known as the manufacturer of the hat for the “working cowboy.”

003-004-TOC.indd 3

6/14/13 2:29 PM

DEPARTMENTS

9

33

73

111

Spirit

Attitude

Place

Culture

9 Colorful Characters

33 At Home

73 The Rural Life

111 Listen To This

41 Equestrienne Beauty

78 Territory

120 On The Walls

With an unmatched work ethic and a will of steel, Colorado farrier Dennis Clymer is the epitome of the American West.

23 Keepin’ It Fresh

CHROME equine advisor Kalley Krickeberg helps get your young horse’s elementary skills in shape before he is saddled.

29 To the Dogs

You don’t need a PhD in animal behavior to comprehend canines.

CHROME canine advisor Hilton Butler offers advice on how to better understand your dog.

Learn how to decorate your Western-themed abode with feng shui to find balance and enhance life energy.

CHROME beauty advisor and APHA member Tami Dobbs offers tips on protecting your skin when outdoors with your horse this summer.

Amid the hustle and bustle of L.A. is Burbank Rancho, a tiny oasis for horse lovers.

Fearing a slump with their second album, The Band Perry explores new frontiers with Pioneer.

Artist Lyndon Gaither brings vibrancy to otherwise sepiatone Western paintings.

80 No Fences

Johi Kokjohn-Wagner remembers childhood lessons learned from a little black-and-white tobiano.

Journey

97

106

108

Explore Italy’s Tuscan countryside and vineyards from horseback.

Don’t let pesky flies take a bite out of your trail-riding adventures this summer.

Dude ranches provide a unique opportunity for a family vacation or reunion.

Wanderlust

Have Horse, Will Travel

Giddy Up

On the Cover

128

Photo courtesy of Disney & Jerry Bruckheimer Inc.

Although the men in Billy Smith’s life taught him to fight and when to duck, it was the women who taught him to behave.

Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as the masked man in Disney’s movie The Lone Ranger.

003-004-TOC.indd 4

Sackful of squash? Truckload of tomatoes? Utilize your garden’s overflowing produce with these three recipes.

Home Place

6/13/13 2:28 PM

005-AndersonBean_fp.indd 5

6/11/13 2:28 PM

Life as U n iq u e a s t h e H o rs e

Volume 1, No.1

Chief Revenue Officer Bruce Anderson EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Tonya Ratliff-Garrison

Writer-at-Large Abigail Boatwright

Features Writer Johi Kokjohn-Wagner Editorial Assistant Michaela Stephens Copy Editor Jennifer Hancock

Contributing Writers Jess Morton Anna Walters Columnists Hilton Butler, canine Kalley Krickeberg, equine Tami Dobbs, beauty

Chief Photographer Rick Hublein Contributing Photographer Deahna Brockman ADVERTISING

“A Lot Like Heaven”

Publisher Michael Austry Advertising Director Jackie Caillouet Sales Consultant DD DeLeo Sales Assistant Anthony Bennett

ART/PRODUCTION

Creative Director Art Vasquez

Design Director Brian Rawlings

Production Manager Patricia Hellam

Art Directors Kevin Davis Jody Johnson Kelly Wise

Digital Imaging Director Dave Clowers

Website/Interactive Art Director Brock Springer BUSINESS Marketing & Promotion Director Amy Stapleton Business Development Director Kalyn Sanders

Accounting Manager Gail Comer Website mychromelife.com Established 2013

“When Horse Whispering Gets Loud”

Published By American Paint Horse Association Billy Smith, Executive Director How to reacH us International Headquarters 2800 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137 Mail: P.O. Box 961023, Fort Worth, TX 76161 Phone: 817.834.2742 Fax: 817.222.8466 Advertising MJA Inc.: 214.252.9971 maustry@sbcglobal.net • jcaillouet@sbcglobal.net Rossi Advertising: 719.661.8793 Deleo101@comcast.net Editorial Press Releases, Letters to the Editor, Freelance Inquiries tonyag@apha.com

“Straight From The Well” Limited Edition Prints from $125

@ Tim Cox Fine Art

006-CHROME MAST.indd 1

CHROME™ Summer 2013, VOL. 1, NO. 1 (ISSN 2329-3985) is published quarterly by the American Paint Horse Association, 2800 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137, as a service to its members. APHA allocates $6 of each member’s annual membership dues toward the magazine subscription. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to CHROME, APHA MemberCare, P.O. Box 961023, Fort Worth, TX 76161. Members can change their address by calling APHA MemberCare at (817) 222-6423. The request must be received six weeks before the date of publication for the next issue to be delivered to a new address. Periodical postage paid at Fort Worth, TX, and additional offices. Copyright © 2013 by the American Paint Horse Association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication, including the cover, may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, in part or in whole, without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.

CHROME assumes no responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited material. Contributing authors agree to indemnify and protect the publisher from claims or actions regarding plagiarism. Any material to be returned should be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. CHROME reserves the right to accept or reject, at our discretion, any advertisement.

CHROME is neither responsible for the statements of any advertiser nor the value or authenticity of items advertised within the publication. CHROME has applied for a new U.S. Trademark through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

6/14/13 11:53 AM

Love your gloves like you love your horse Noble Equine ® Perfect Fit Glove Available in 5 colors

FREE SOCKS! S!!

$12.99 VALUEE

Get a FREE pair of The Best Dang Boot Sock™ or Over The Calf Peddies™ * with any Noblee Equine Equuine ® PURCHASE OVER $35 at the APHA General Store online or at the APHA Youth World Show.*

*Offer valid on purchases made at the APHA General Store from 3/1/13 to 9/30/13, while supplies last. For full details, visit www.nobleequine.com.

APHA is a proud dealer of Noble Equine products. Shop store.APHA.com

007-NobleEquine_fp.indd 7

6/11/13 2:32 PM

RR2002L

RR2009L

RR2007L

HECK yEaH! 008-TonyLama_fp.indd 8

6/11/13 2:36 PM

{SPIRIT} Colorful Character

Being a cowboy is not about how many cows you have, it’s about the code you live by.

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 9

6/11/13 4:53 PM

{SPIRIT} Colorful Character

A Cowboy’s Life With an unmatched work ethic, and a will of steel, farrier Dennis Clymer’s is the epitome of the American West.

Story by Johi Kokjohn-Wagner Photos by Deahna Brockman

“I

came out from under a rock up there on that hill. I was walking upright with a full set of teeth,” the cowboy says with an ornery twinkle in his blue eyes.

The truth is Dennis Clymer was born in 1944 near Loveland, Colorado, to Cole and Mary Clymer. However, one thing is certain—this cowboy is as authentic as they come.

The rugged, Wrangler-clad man slaps the rusted metal pipe of the sturdy fence.

“I built it to hold elephants. On all the places I ever worked cattle there were always old rattle trap fences. If I’m gonna build something, I’m gonna build it to hold up.”

Hardly resembling elephants, two thigh-high ponies, “Falcor” and “Little Bit,” peek through the rails of the well-built corral. However, “Buster,” their

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 10

bovine neighbor does resemble a bison. The titanic red bull eyes the lean figures standing by the fence and grunts aggressively, like a bull elk in the rut.

“He wants his back scratched,” Dennis says, plucking a curry comb from the bed of his Chevy and slipping through the railing to brush his enormous pal.

“I bottle fed him as a calf. He’s practically a dog,” Dennis’ wife, Cheri, laughs.

There’s an ease and quiet confidence to ranch folk – one that Dennis and Cheri exemplify. Cowboys hold an unspoken tie to honor. Through hard work and true grit, they learn to pay respect to life with humility.

“They earn the right to learn,” says Dennis’ friend, Mike Amicarella, aka “Big Mike.” “Being a cowboy is not about how many cows you have – it’s the code you live by. To me, that is what Dennis represents.”

6/11/13 4:53 PM

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 11

6/11/13 4:54 PM

012-CowgirlTuff_fp.indd 12

6/11/13 11:58 AM

Rodeo Drive Dennis grew up in the rolling, sagebrush-covered foothills of Larimer County. His family managed a herd of Hereford-Simmental cross cattle on a couple of hundred acres. At the end of a typical day, the school bus would deposit the Clymer boys a mile from their house. Dennis and his younger brother Gary would catch the milk cow and their dad’s “ole broncy horse” and ride them down the long, rutted, and sometimes muddy, lane. Whoever got the milk cow usually had the better end of the deal, as the horse, “Blaze,” often tossed his passenger into the dirt.

Those boyhood attempts at mastering that rank horse were partly responsible for Dennis’ career in rodeo. At the tender age of 15, Dennis participated in his first junior rodeo in the rough stock events of bareback and bull riding.

When asked about his rodeo success, Dennis humbly admits, “I got bucked off a lot of times.”

Still, that didn’t stop the determined young man. He practiced riding broncs with his buddy Fred Smith, whose dad was a rancher and pickup man at local rodeos. He often brought home horses from the sale barn, providing the young men with an assortment of stock on which to hone their cowboy skills.

They’d also ride cows and “anything that would buck.”

Dennis moved on to high school rodeo, experiencing success riding a circuit through Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas called the Western Slope Rodeo Association. In the late 1960s, he also won earnings in the Rodeo Cowboys Association, which is today known as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

However, the multi-talented cowboy quit the RCA after breaking his right leg, which ended up hindering his rodeo career. He hung up his batwing chaps until the early 1980s, when he rejoined the rodeo scene as a bronc rider in the Old Timers Rodeo.

“That’s the rodeo for old farts,” Dennis says.

In his youth, Tom Adams would often rodeo with his longtime friend Dennis.

“He was always a helluva hand,” Tom recalls. “He’s a man’s man … as well

as a ladies’ man.”

When asked about their shared rodeo experiences, Adams chuckles.

“I’ve got several good stories,” he says. “His business card could have said that old quote: ‘I’m a lover, a fighter, a wild horse rider, and a pretty fair windmill fixer, too.’”

Rodeoing, however, didn’t always pay the bills, and in 1964 Dennis took a summer job with the U.S. Forest Service, where he captured the respect and awe of an 8-year-old Mike Amicarella.

“Dennis was sitting out in front of the bunkhouse on a railing, reading a paperback book,” Mike recalls. “He was wearing his hat, his giant quads stuck through his jeans, and he had just taken a dip of snuff. As he was putting his Copenhagen away, I approached him in the same way a stray dog approaches a house. ‘What’s that taste like?’ I asked. He described it to me. ‘Can I taste it?’ I asked. Dennis said, ‘Nope, you’re too little.’

“When I was about 40 years old, we reconnected. He offered me a dip of his Copenhagen. That was when I knew that I had grown up,” Big Mike adds with a laugh.

But what impressed a young Mike more was the presence of Dennis himself.

“He has the posture of a man. It’s not a chest-out thing but a great physical fitness of someone who is comfortable.”

Longtime livery stable client Jessica Kokjohn agrees.

“There is a certain way that Dennis wears his clothes that draws attention from men and women alike. Even now, at close to 70, he could be in an ad for Wrangler jeans – not the Brett Favre kind you get at Wal-Mart, but the real 13MWZ kind the rodeo cowboys wear.”

Dennis’ handsome authentic Western physical presence is noteworthy. He is often compared to Robert Duvall’s Lonesome Dove character, Gus. In fact, in Big Mike’s household, no one can bare to watch the episode where Gus is killed.

“The movie just isn’t worth watching without that character,” Big Mike says.

There is simply an allure to a rodeo cowboy that cannot be denied.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 13

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 13

6/12/13 1:58 PM

Cowboy Sweetheart In 1966, the charming cowboy entered the El Dorado Mexican Restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado, with a buddy and met a pretty blonde named Cheri.

As Dennis tells the story, “It was hot and I told the bartender that I wanted something cold and full of gin. The bartender pointed at a blonde and said, ‘Have you met Cheri?’”

Cheri’s version, though, is that the two handsome cowboys were on the prowl for dates to the rodeo dance.

“They saw my friend and me at a table and asked us to join them. We accepted the invitation. He got lucky, he got me,” the quick-witted woman adds with a laugh.

The couple married in 1968 and moved to Estes Park, Colorado, where they lived for seven years. Dennis shod horses for many of the area’s livery stables and worked as a carpenter in the slow season while Cheri waited tables. In

1970, the couple welcomed their first child, a son they named Clint, and four years later, their daughter Mindy.

Dennis and Cheri then spent the next 20 years in a farmhouse on about 30 irrigated acres west of Loveland. There they raised their children along with 25 black baldies. In a time-honored tradition, the couple brought up Clint and Mindy to “learn to do things with their hands.”

“Dennis is a good role model,” Tom says. “He would never ask anything of his kids that he wouldn’t do himself.”

“We have a kind of family motto. We embrace the pain. There’s no time for wienies!” Clint says with a laugh.

A farrier today like his father, Clint adds, “My dad used to tell me that every day is an adventure in this business and he was right. My dad was and still is my hero.”

“It was hot and I told the bartender that I wanted something cold and full of gin. The bartender pointed at a blonde and said, ‘Have you met Cheri?’”

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 14

6/11/13 4:54 PM

Home All Their Own

“The beer bill for our friends was as big as Cheri’s muscles from hand peeling the logs...”

When 40 acres of land inside a privately owned ranch came up for sale in 1994, Dennis and Cheri recognized a golden opportunity. They sold their cattle, keeping only “Valentine” and “Mama Cow” to lay the foundation of their new herd.

The new ranch was perfect; save one detail it lacked a house. The couple decided they would build a log home on the property. However, while most people would buy floor plans and a kit, this determined pair instead designed their own.

Selecting and cutting trees from a mountainside for the new home, Dennis traded shoeing for a stand of lodgepole pines grown at a ranch near Allenspark, Colorado. The cowboy thinned, skidded and loaded the logs, then hauled them 40 miles down the mountain canyon to his property.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 15

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 15

6/12/13 1:59 PM

-ChrisOwen_fp.indd 16

6/11/13 11:53 AM

He deposited the cut trees at the building site for his dedicated wife to remove the bark using an old-fashioned drawknife.

With occasional weekend help from friends, the couple started this process around Christmas 1994 and finished the house enough to move into by the following March.

“The beer bill for our friends was as big as Cheri’s muscles from hand peeling the logs,” Dennis says.

During the initial home-building process, the couple lived in an authentic teepee for “65 days, 12 hours and seven minutes,” according to Cheri.

Needless to say, the teepee living created some interesting memories for the couple.

“There was a faulty teepee pole,” Dennis recalls. “The poles are supposed

to be smooth, but this one had a notch in it, which caused water to drip on Cheri’s face while she slept.”

Of course, an unexpected rain bath in the night was unacceptable, even for Dennis’ patient, hearty wife.

“I just bought her a brand new tarp,” Dennis recalls. “You can’t love a woman more than that!”

In 1996, the couple finished their custom-built, chinked, hand-hewed log home.

Dennis and Cheri’s home is a masterpiece created with humble hearts, nimble hands and exceptional skill. Like everything else Dennis touches, their home was done right with a sense of accomplishment, and the only water running on Cheri today comes from the faucet of their cast iron claw foot tub.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 17

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 17

6/12/13 1:59 PM

Manure Happens

Last year, while feeding hay to the cattle, Cheri was driving their tan Chevy truck, pulling a flatbed hay trailer with Dennis perched on the edge. The blue heeler, Amos, was also on board. The dog, excited to have a trailer companion, jumped on Dennis and started licking his face. While removing the tongue-bath assailant, Dennis’ foot slipped under the wheel of the trailer and flipped him off the flatbed, which in turn rolled over his left leg.

This busy man’s life does not come without many memorable moments.

around his ankle. Then he let me take him to the hospital.”

The tough, obstinate cowboy walked into the hospital.

“Why are you here today?” a nurse asked.

“I think I broke my ankle,” Dennis replied.

“I don’t think that nurse believed me,” Dennis recalls, “because when I got out of x-ray she seemed surprised to see that my ankle was broken. She said to me, ‘You really did break your ankle!’ and I said, ‘I kinda figured I did.’”

“I broke an arm riding a bucking horse in Gillette, Wyoming,” Dennis says.

“Now I’ve broken both hind legs and one front leg.”

“Yeah, the next time he lips off, I’ll back over him, too!” Cheri jokes, laughing with Dennis.

Cowboy Tough

“Dennis leaves a pretty big footprint for a man who isn’t trying to leave any footprint.”

“I looked back and saw Dennis on the ground on his hands and knees and thought, ‘What is he doing?’” Cheri says. “Then I realized I had run over him with the trailer.”

Cheri immediately stopped the truck and sprinted back to her husband. By the time she reached Dennis, he was already struggling to get himself into a standing position.

“I told him that I was taking him to the hospital,” Cheri says. “Dennis refused. Then he popped his hip back into place and told me to take him to the house. He cleaned himself up, shaved, changed his clothes, and laced into a pair of boots. He then wrapped an Ace bandage over the tightly laced boots

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 18

Dennis is no stranger to backbreaking labor, and has either earned or built everything in his life. No matter what task is at hand, he always finishes the job.

Having learned the horseshoeing trade at the young age of 16, Dennis has spent the majority of his 55 years as a farrier folded in half, under the bodies of massive animals. He still shoes today at age 69.

“My work hasn’t changed much through the years,” the winsome cowboy says of horseshoeing. “The tools have changed a little. They’re more sophisticated, but basically the same.”

Since Dennis started shoeing horses in 1959, his constant dedication to the job goes beyond most. This cowboy has an iron will and “a pain tolerance that goes to 12,” according to Clint.

“He’s always worked hard and is about as tough as they come. I’ve seen him shoe horses with a broken arm and a broken leg.”

Dennis’ hands are his tools of the trade, but his steel will and unmatched work ethic is what makes him such a standup man. He embodies strength and perseverance from years of hard labor. He represents love, support and guidance, a caring husband, a father of two, a grandfather of four and a friend of many. His relentless, calloused hands enabled his skills as a carpenter, a farrier and a craftsman. This eternally young cowboy is quick to help a friend in need or to offer a hug to a pretty “gall.” His smile is infectious, his wit is razor sharp and his character is true. He is seemingly the last of a dying breed.

“Dennis has been an inspiration to anyone who has ever met him,” Tom adds. “He has a helluva work ethic. He’s the epitome of the slogan ‘cowboy up.’ They must have been thinking about Dennis when they coined that phrase.”

“I would tell my kids about Dennis,” Big Mike says. “He is my example of toughness, never complaining, persevering … I told them about the time he broke his leg bareback riding on a weekend and showed up to work the next Monday. He never said a thing about it. He just did his work.

“When my son, a CSU football player, pointed out one day that Dennis was physically a lot smaller than he was in my stories I said, ‘What he misses in stature, he makes up for in character.’ And my son completely agreed. Dennis leaves a pretty big footprint for a man who isn’t trying to leave any footprint.”

6/11/13 4:55 PM

Summer 2013 CHROME | 19

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 19

6/12/13 1:59 PM

“My buddy used to say, ‘You think you can do that?’ and I would say, ‘I hate like hell to think I couldn’t.’”

The Real Deal “I’m out of touch with society, “Dennis says.

“I don’t have a cell phone. To turn off Cheri’s computer, I yank the cord out of the wall. I don’t go to Starbucks because coffee shouldn’t have skim milk and sweet stuff. It should be bitter and black.”

When asked if Dennis has a favorite saying or quote that has helped him get through challenges, he responds, “My buddy used to say, ‘You think you can do that?’ and I would say, ‘I hate like hell to think I couldn’t.’”

Dennis is a true master craftsman. He takes his trade of horseshoeing and elevates it to an art form. He is firm, yet gentle with the animals, has a keen eye for balancing a hoof, and a kind heart that makes him “shoe” a little girl’s favorite stick horse. He is as genuine as they come: self-made, proud, authentic, tough and gritty. He’s a living, breathing piece of our American Western heritage. He’s the real deal. And with some things—like cowboying, horseshoeing and Dennis Clymer—change isn’t necessary. They are simply done right the first time.

When asked how much longer he plans on working horses’ feet, Clymer grins flirtatiously and states, “Until the horn falls off my anvil or I can’t pick it up anymore.”

20 | CHROME Summer 2013

009-020-Colorful_Character.indd 20

6/12/13 2:29 PM

-Barranada Shirts_fp.indd 21

6/11/13 11:42 AM

-MeikleFineArt_fp.indd 22

6/11/13 11:13 AM

KEEPIN’ IT FRESH

{SPIRIT}

Pre-Saddle Training Get a young horse’s elementary skills in shape on the ground.

Story by Kalley Krickeberg Photography by Sara Johnson

D

O YOU HAVE A HORSE THAT HAS A REACTION OR A FEEL SOMEWHERE IN HIM THAT ISN’T AS LIGHT AS YOU’D LIKE? Thankfully—with some elementary pre-saddle training skills—it’s never too late to make a good first impression on your horse and improve the feel, lightness and understanding you have with one another.

I’m a big fan of simple. I believe the simpler I can make things for my horses, the simpler it will be for me because they will solve the puzzles I present to them faster and with less stress or miscommunication.

One of the reasons older horses are so solid is simply the number of reps they have in doing a certain activity. With a young horse, if you can get these reps in early, without stressing their body, you’ll be well on your way to a solid horse sooner. With a horse that has some age, you might find that some of the reps aren’t resulting in a constructive outcome or are not maybe as light or refined as you’d like.

In either circumstance, I personally find a great benefit to giving a horse an education in some elementary pre-saddle training skills on the ground.

Pre-Saddle Training Purpose

The two main reasons I undertake pre-saddle training with a horse are first to develop his maturity and comfort in his environment, and secondly—but most importantly—to teach him what an appropriate response to pressure is.

I’ve worked with predominantly young horses over the last 20 years, and one of the most vital lessons I’ve learned from those horses is the importance of giving them structure. To give them structure, you need to know your structure first. What are you mentally “grading” your horse on? If you don’t know, he probably doesn’t either.

By virtue of going through the process of learning pre-saddle training skills, the horse gets more accustomed to responding to pressure of any kind. In time, he learns his reward for a correct response to pressure is directly correlated to where his feet are. This basic understanding makes all communication with a horse simpler. Not only can they move their hindquarters or forequarters but they can move a specific foot in a specific direction in a specific time you have in mind. That leads to precision!

Summer 2013 CHROME | 23

023-027-Kalley Krickeberg.indd 23

6/13/13 3:04 PM

PHASES OF INTENSITY You do not need to go through all four phases. Only go through the phases until you get an appropriate response and then release immediately.

Your Phases of Intensity

Remember when your mom would tell you to use your inside voice? That was distinctly different from your outside voice, wasn’t it? Think of having distinct phases of asking with your horse. Think about asking your horse the question in your “library voice” first with a pre-cue from your rein, leg or lead rope.

An essential aspect of developing a light, responsive horse on the ground and under saddle is an ability to offer clear and defined phases. I use four phases:

SUGGEST | ASK | TELL | PROMISE

1

2

Suggest—For phase one, add a feel to the rope to encourage Primer to give.

Ask—For phase two, add a little more feel or pressure to the rope.

3 Tell—Primer is bracing against the feel put on the lariat.

It is important to just wait at this point for the appropriate response and let the horse figure out the answer.

For example, if your horse is on a 12-foot rope and halter and you would like to ask him to back up. Using a combination of body language and your tools (in this case, the rope in your hand), your phases would be like this: 1. SUGGEST: Hold rope in hand and wiggle finger. (“I suggest you start backing.”)

2, ASK: Hold rope in hand, intensify energy and wiggle your wrist. (“I am asking you to start backing.”)

3. TELL: Hold rope in hand, further intensify energy and wiggle your arm at the elbow. (“I am telling you to start backing.”)

4. PROMISE: Hold rope in hand, further intensify energy and move your entire arm at the shoulder. (“I promise that you’ll find this uncomfortable enough that you start backing.”)

An important note here is if your horse responds to the first phase (Suggest), do NOT continue upping your phases. Remember, you only need to increase your phases until you get a response. Pressure motivates, but release teaches.

If you keep asking “louder” your horse will never get lighter to your cues.

If you do need to increase your phases, be sure to give your horse enough time to understand and react before increasing. Don’t use phases one through three in five seconds and then jump up to phase four; you need to be fair to your horse and give him time to understand the request.

Finally, remember that upping your phases doesn’t mean that you’re being unfair. You’re being progressive and giving your horse the responsibility to respond. You aren’t getting mad or being mean—you’re simply saying, “You know, if I were you, I would move.”

I want my horses to like me, but obedience is essential—without it, I can’t ensure my safety around an animal that is much larger than I am.

I want my horses to like me, but obedience is essential—without it, I can’t ensure my safety around an animal that is much larger than I am.

Holding vs. Pulling

4

5

Promise—Primer has some brace, but is moving toward the right answer.

Success! Primer gives appropriate response to steady pressure asking for lightness. Release at this stage and let the horse know they’ve done well with a touch or a “good boy.”

023-027-Kalley Krickeberg.indd 24

This is an important distinction to make, particularly when your horse is still learning to wear and understand the halter.

Say you’ve sent your horse out on a circle, but now you want to change direction. You want to use body language, step in front of his driveline and put steady pressure, or a “feel,” on the rope. You don’t want to try to drag him in.

If he doesn’t respond initially, methodically increase your phases as necessary.

If he still doesn’t respond, put yourself in a power position (feet shoulderwidth apart, knees slightly bent, both hands on the rope) and apply steady pressure to the rope. This is the key difference between holding and pulling.

By holding the rope, you apply continuous pressure, and you allow your horse a release the moment he moves. Plus—and this is always important—if he moves suddenly, you are in a balanced and steady position.

6/14/13 1:14 PM

It’s important to keep your learning environment consistent, particularly when you’re working with a young or inexperienced horse.

Create Ideal Environment

It’s important to keep your learning environment consistent, particularly when you’re working with a young or inexperienced horse. Use the same pasture, the same arena, or the same round pen. Use the same obstacles and keep them in the same places.

Once your horse is familiar with his environment, he will be able to focus more intently on you. If his environment changes everyday, he will be distracted and pull his attention away from what you’re teaching him.

It is important that a horse not learn to run through pressure. Here, Kalley has had to move up to the next phase but still makes sure she is in a power position so Primer cannot unbalance her.

pressure

Meet Primer

“Primer” (One Gun Shiner) is a 4-year-old Paint gelding with no prior ground skill experience. He’s already won some money in reining, but he’s also frustrated his trainers along the way. Talented and described as “one of the smartest horses,” he’s not consistent about responding to bit pressure and has learned some inappropriate responses, like bracing and throwing his head.

All in all, though, he is a well-trained and good-minded individual who really wants to be in the right spot.

The more ways I can apply a feel for a horse to follow, the quicker we will get to the soft and light feel that is always my ultimate destination. I’ll be tackling Primer’s issues from the ground because it’s a more indirect way for him to learn how to not be afraid and not be confused. Because it’s “virgin” ground, it’s a place I can show him what I expect without as many of his established patterns getting in the way.

Of his elementary skills, his reaction to the porcupine-type pressure—yielding to steady pressure, or a feel applied with a rein, rope or leg—needs the most work (see sidebar). Instead of yielding, he braces. This is where I will focus the bulk of my attention.

brace

When Kalley uses Ask for Primer to move out into a circle, the response from Primer is “brace.” The correct answer would be for Primer to put his nose over the snap and follow the feel Kalley is putting on the rope.

Response to Steady Pressure

As a prey animal, a horse’s natural instinct is to push through pressure rather than release away from it, so Primer’s learned responses to brace come naturally. To work on jostling apart this negative pattern, I’ll start with forequarter and hindquarter yields.

To achieve these yields, I gently press my hand on the forequarter or hindquarter and direct my energy forward. If the horse doesn’t respond, I methodically increase my phases until he moves. Remember, this is steady pressure—to up my phases, I simply apply more weight to my hand. I don’t poke-poke-poke at the horse; that’s not steady pressure.

In Primer’s case, I move quickly on to lateral flexion, where his brace can be addressed in a very simple “walk before you run” manner.

The key to improving a horse’s confidence is releasing when they soften, not when they get worried. You’re looking for signs of comfort: a change in expression, licking and chewing, and so on. Remember, pressure motivates but release teaches.

If I ask him to yield off a circle, or change directions, he’ll exhibit some brace. So a combination of these elementary skills will be his homework for the coming weeks while we work on him responding to a light feel.

ask

A good example of an Ask and an obedient and light response.

succeed

For Kalley, it’s important that her horses learn if she asks something of them they can succeed at it. This builds try.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 25

023-027-Kalley Krickeberg.indd 25

6/13/13 3:05 PM

026-Farnam_fp.indd 26

6/14/13 12:05 PM

Looking Forward

My goal for Primer is to strengthen his mind and build his confidence and precision as a young athlete. Soon, he’ll change his mode of operating, and these skills will build try into him.

As we develop this understanding, I will be careful to push him to the edge of his understanding of pressure, but never over the cliff by giving him a puzzle that is so complex he can’t win it. I always want my horses to hit the “easy button” and say, “Wow, that’s all you wanted?

That’s easy, no problem!”

Kalley Krickeberg Kalley Krickeberg is a master horse developer, presenter and horsewoman who grew up in a small town in northern Illinois with LOTS of horses, cattle, dogs and a few key humans. Kalley trained polo horses until she was 22 but today balances her time as a horse developer, presenter at live events and DVD productions and product designer. Any given day might find her working with multiple horses at liberty, or schooling her own horses in preparation for reining competition.

One of Kalley’s favorite subjects is young horse development, and she has concentrated a lot of her time on developing techniques and testing concepts that make it easier for horses to solve complex puzzles with a balance of obedience and heart.

Primer’s homework for the coming weeks will be a combination of learning “elementary skills” while responding to a light feel.

Pre-Saddle Skills Elementary Skills The basic understandings are skills that can be built upon.

Friendly—Teaching a horse to accept you and your tools without any fear.

• Grooming.

• Applying fly spray.

• Rope swinging.

• Flag with a plastic bag on the end for irregular movement.

• Stick and string.

Porcupine—Teaching a horse to yield to and from steady pressure.

• Put head down when pressed on the poll.

• Have good lateral flexion.

• Be led into a trot.

• Pick his feet up when asked with a rope.

• Yield from pressure of a rope around his hindquarters to follow the feel and spin slowly to face you again.

Driving—Teaching a horse to yield from rhythmic pressure. You don’t actually touch the horse; you drive the air around him.

• Yielding hindquarters & forequarters.

• Moving backwards.

• Falling Leaf, which are half circles and change of direction.

Yo-Yo—Teaches horse to go straight forward and straight back from you.

• Straight forward and straight back, with precision and the horse giving you two eyes.

Circle—Teaches horse to go on a circle without constant micromanagement.

• With slack in the rope, with you standing in one spot, not rotating to follow their movement.

• Being able to do this while traveling.

Sideways—Teaches horse to be comfortable in lateral movements.

• Along a fence.

Kalley is also the host of the weekly web series The Real Dog and Pony Show, which can be found at www.realdogandponyshow.com.

Learn more: www.kalleygirl.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/kalleykrickeberg

I like all of my horses to be adept at these skills from the end of a 22-foot long line.

Squeeze—Teaches comfort and obedience in tight places – like passing through a gate or getting into a wash rack.

• Between you and the fence.

Compound Skills These are combinations of two or more elementary skills.

• Navigating Obstacles • Loading in the Trailer • Wearing a Bareback Pad or Saddle

Utility Skills These are skills that help a horse to navigate life in a human world.

• Veterinary Prep • Farrier Prep • Bathing • Tying

FOR YOUNG HORSES Complete all of the skills before undertaking the colt start and you’ll effectively spread your horse’s learning over two distinct time periods.

You’ll get a jump start with your horse because these ground skills can be taught before the horse is mature enough to ride.

FOR OLDER HORSES Use these skills as a mental checklist of where you might need some more work. You will focus primarily on the problem areas, but can also use the checklist to feel out a new horse, or one you are returning to work after time off.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 27

023-027-Kalley Krickeberg.indd 27

6/13/13 3:05 PM

Enroll today to receive your discount!*

when your pet’s health is on the line, all the fancy bowls in the world won’t keep him healthy. VPI® will.

From routine shots to unexpected emergencies, VPI Pet Insurance helps you provide the best care possible for your pet. VPI — healthy pet, happy owner.

American Paint Horse Association members receive a discount at PetsVPI.com or call 1.877.PETS-VPI *Rate discount applies to medical plan only.

Insurance plans are offered and administered by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and DVM Insurance Agency in all other states. Underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Brea, CA, an A.M. Best A rated company (2012); National Casualty Company (all other states), Madison, WI, an A.M. Best A+ rated company (2012). ©2013 Veterinary Pet Insurance Company. Nationwide Insurance is a service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. 13GRP2359

028-VPI_fp.indd 28

6/11/13 2:47 PM

TO THE DOGS

{SPIRIT}

Dog

Psychology 101 Story by Hilton Butler Photography by Candace Dobson

You don’t need a PhD in animal behavior to better understand and train your canine.

D

og training is not rocket science. Humans and canines have coexisted for more than 10,000 years in a mutually beneficial relationship. So, just as you do not need to understand how an internal combustion engine works to drive a car, you do not have to know all of the intricate details of dog psychology to train your dog.

The understanding of a few basic concepts on how the animal brain works can get you past many of the obstacles you might encounter while teaching your dog.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 29

029-030-HiltonButler.indd 29

6/12/13 2:11 PM

The Animal Brain

An animal brain is an animal brain whether it’s human, dog, cat, horse, etc. We all work the same on a basic level.

When any mammal is born, the brain is pre-programmed for the essentials of life—the urge to eat and drink, the ability to breathe—the subconscious brain controls all of these things automatically.

However, when it comes to dog training, we work with the conscious brain, which at birth is a clean slate much like a blank vinyl record and is developed over time based on “habit loops.”

There are three pieces to a habit loop: The trigger is the beginning of a habit loop, and it can be visual, auditory, olfactory and kinesthetic, coming from internal or external sources.

The second piece is behavior, which is the action performed as a result of the trigger.

The final part of the habit loop is reinforcement. This can be positive or negative and drives the behavior action associated with the trigger.

For example, if you are driving and you see a police car on the side of the road, how many of us step on the brakes whether you are over the speed limit or not? Almost everyone!

This is a perfect example of a habit loop because the visual trigger of a police car causes the behavior of stepping on the brake and is then reinforced with a positive reward of not receiving a citation.

Habit loops can be created or broken based on experience or training.

Getting back to the vinyl record analogy, every time a habit loop is completed it is like making one pass over the record. That one pass makes a groove—a scratch if you will—but the more times the loop is completed, the deeper the groove gets. With a shallow groove in the record, just barely bumping the player causes it to skip. However, the deeper the groove gets, the harder it is for a bump to knock it out of the groove. With one deep groove, no matter how hard the player is bumped, the needle will stay in the same groove.

An example is if you smoke one cigarette, it’s not really a big deal to stop because it’s a one-time behavior

that has created a shallow groove.

However, if you have smoked hundreds or thousands of cigarettes over a 30-year span, it is much more difficult because you have created a very deep groove.

This works on all behaviors—good and bad—and once that groove is very deep, the habit becomes automatic or no longer requires conscious thought. It becomes subconscious.

Tying your shoe is a great example of a developed subconscious behavior. Once you have learned to tie your shoe and have done it hundreds of times over and over, it can be done easily even in the dark, while a person is speaking to you or even while watching TV.

Dog World

How do we use this to create, modify or destroy a behavior?

Many behaviors a dog exhibits come from natural instinct. Let’s look at a specific example of an unwanted behavior displayed by many dogs: jumping up. Do you ever wonder why dogs do this?

When two dogs meet, they do the same thing almost every—time, they meet nose-to-nose and then they check out the other end. This is because dogs identify each other by scent, and the most “scent” comes from those two areas of the body.

You have to understand in “Dog World,” every living thing falls into one of three categories: pack, prey or threat. Dogs do not see us as human; we are just big, smart dogs, or pack.

So when a dog enters another dog’s territory, they have a need to identify the new dog. In Dog World, you can have two Collies that look identical but the Collies identify each other by smell.

Now you understand why your dog jumps up to greet you when you come home from work. He visually sees you as “Mom” or “Dad” but in Dog World he also needs to further identify you by scent to ensure you are not another “pack member” who looks the same. The dog needs to identify you, but your mouth and nose are way up there. The end result is the dog jumping up to recognize your scent.

Fido jumps up, and what do we do?

Push him down, squeeze his paws, knee him in the chest or maybe turn

away. The next day, we walk in from work, and gosh darn it he jumps up again. Why? We corrected him, right? Why doesn’t he learn? Dog psychology.

Think of the record player. Trigger—you come home. Behavior— jumps up to identify you. Reinforcement? That’s the issue on this one. He is getting positive reinforcement by identification of a pack member and negative reinforcement by whatever correction is applied.

Hilton Butler

A New Groove

Getting back to the record player analogy, the trigger happens that causes the needle to drop on to the record player. Where does it go? Into the already created behavior groove that has been done day after day for who knows how long. Then we give the record player a bump—our correction—which causes the needle to jump out of that groove. Where does the needle go? It falls back into the same groove because there is only one groove.

This is where humans make some of our biggest mistakes in dealing with our animals. We normally do not have an issue correcting an unwanted behavior, but we never give them another option. Instead, you must start a new behavior groove, and teach the dog what it is you want instead of the unwanted behavior.

The next time the dog jumps up, continue to correct him but don’t stop there. Give him a “SIT” command. When he sits, kneel down, bringing your face close to his, and give him a good scratch on the ears.

You get a win/win situation. The dog gets what he needs—identification— and you get what you need by not being pummeled.

It will only take a few times of repeating this action to get the new behavior groove deep enough to take over the old behavior groove.

Dog training is by far not rocket science when you are armed with a little canine psychology. It’s just time to stop “NO”ing your dog and start knowing him!

Hilton Butler knows the meaning of the phrase Man’s Best Friend. He served alongside his U.S. Air Force K9 partner in Iraq immediately following 9/11, and there were times when Hilton’s dog was his most trusted friend.

Although Hilton’s military days are over, his expertise and understanding of the connection between humans and dogs still play a major role in his life. A police officer, husband, and father of seven in Frisco, Texas, Hilton and his wife, Christine, run a business training dogs with the skills Hilton learned in the military. While Hilton’s military experience set the stage for his expertise as a trainer and provides access to a side of the dog world few ever see or even know exist, his passion is giving shelter dogs a second chance and matching service dogs to people in need.

Online Extras Discover more about Hilton and his dog training advice at : mychromelife.com/spirit or on his website at hiltonbutler.com.

30 | CHROME Summer 2013

029-030-HiltonButler.indd 30

6/12/13 2:11 PM

031-DangChicks_fp.indd 31

6/11/13 3:11 PM

032-CimarronRiverCo_fp.indd 32

6/11/13 12:22 PM

{ATTITUDE} At Home

Photography: Fotosearch

Just because your home looks as if you hired the Cartwrights

033-039-FengShui1.indd 33

or Ewings as your interior designers doesn’t mean you can’t add harmony to it by utilizing the ancient Chinese art of feng shui.

6/12/13 5:58 PM

{attitude} at home

Cowboy Zen Decorate a Western-themed home with feng shui to find balance and enhance life energy.

By Anna Walters

Photography: Fotosearch

In English, feng shui translates to wind-water, and it is the practice of arranging your environment so that positive energy, or “chi,” flows gently and smoothly through your home. The philosophy is that “your whole life is mapped out in your physical space,” according to certified feng shui practitioner Linda Ellson, who is based in the Niagara region of New York.

“Imagine lush trees and meandering pathways that lead to a serene lake, and sitting on a bench to take it all in,” Linda said.

Nature’s innate power and influence is represented in feng shui and placed throughout the home in different sectors. Feng shui displays vibrancy just like a Paint Horse’s diverse markings—and it can add a bounty of color to your life.

“Paint Horse aficionados are already tapped in to the rhythm of nature, and feng shui is a wonderful extension that can benefit an equine lifestyle,” Linda added.

The key building blocks of feng shui are the five elements: earth, fire, metal, water and wood. These are the types of energy that bring balance within a home. The Pa Qua, an eight-sided map, is used to interpret feng shui sectors in a room or space. It is a great resource to utilize when organizing your physical space, Linda says.

“Don’t let clutter hold you back and create a void,” she said. “The universe wants you to open up.”

Here are some of Linda’s suggestions on using feng shui in your home.

033-039-FengShui1.indd 34

6/13/13 12:22 PM

Relationships

• A balance of the feminine (yin) and the masculine (yang) blossoms relationships. It represents a shared equality in a partnership and is achieved by displaying items in pairs such as matching bedside tables and lamps in a bedroom.

• Pairings can also be used to attract relationships.

Add a second dishtowel to your kitchen rack or place two throw pillows on your leather loveseat.

• A queen bed is considered ideal in the bedroom because a king bed is cavernous. It is almost too big, as if you are separate from your partner. The queen size bed is considered to be just right. You also want to have a commanding view of your space, so your bed shouldn’t be aligned with your bedroom door.

• For quiet rejuvenation, keep your bedroom dark at night and close your window treatments to create an intimate cocoon.

• Rose quartz crystal, a semi-precious stone, can be worn or carried to attract love and romance.

If you love yourself and are compassionate, you are more open to attracting a relationship.

Wealth

• To attract wealth, spice up a southeast area in your home with all shades and varieties of the color green.

• Place a bamboo or jade plant on a rectangular desk or table in the southeast area of your home. They are both considered lucky or “money” plants.

• Hang photographs or artwork that displays flowers or leafy woodlands.

• Display wooden picture frames with family photographs or store your financial statements in a wooden filing cabinet.

PHOTOGRAPHY: FOTOSEARCH

Maverick Fine Western Wear

Summer 2013 CHROME | 35

033-039-FengShui1.indd 35

6/13/13 12:24 PM

Living Room

• Don’t overcrowd your room with furniture, and always position your main couch against a solid wall.

• A television shouldn’t be the living room’s “great altar” or the first thing you see when walking into the room. This also influences great conversation.

• Display a bookshelf with your favorite books in the northeast or framed photographs of beautiful places across the globe that you have journeyed to. Your favorite items are visually stimulating and share your story.

• Tie a lasso rope around curtain rods in the east area of the home. The style not only emits a Western appeal, it also attracts longevity.

Feng Shui To learn how to interpret the eight feng shui sectors and its five elements, go online to:

www.mychromelife.com/attitude Photography: Fotosearch

• Multi-seating should form a circle or half-moon so that everyone who is seated is in eyeshot and can communicate with one another.

36 | CHROME Summer 2013

033-039-FengShui1.indd 36

6/12/13 5:59 PM

Massoud is tough as nails and glamorous to boot.

Really?

Yes, Ma’am!

(It’s really a Massoud.)

5

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

Tough? Your best saddle won’t last longer! And as for glamour, see for yourself. What’s more, this is a look you won’t see anywhere else. It’s got a frontier feel reinterpreted for today’s sensibility, and a style that’s truly all its own.

The handcrafting is 100% American. And as always, Massoud means genuine value. With hand-tooled leathers, the look of antique velvet, handmade patched pillows, and more quality touches that are the brand’s hallmarks.

So have a seat and sit a spell. When the trail leads to Massoud, you’re gonna feel right at home.

www.massoudfurniture.com

To locate a dealer or design professional near you contact us at 800-762-2797 or go to our website: www.massoudfurniture.com

037-MassoudFurniture_fp.indd 37

6/11/13 12:15 PM

033-039-FengShui1.indd 38

6/12/13 5:59 PM

Photography: Fotosearch

Photography: Fotosearch

Kitchen

• Let natural light infuse and energize your kitchen space, open the blinds or drapes during daylight hours.

• Two everyday appliances—the stove and fridge—should be separated because they’re conflicting elements. A spider plant placed on the fridge can serve as a cascade and it is a wood element which allows energy to flow positively in the kitchen (the wood element feeds the fire element).

• Place a healthy plant on a kitchen table or counter.

• Display decorative pottery, such as a bright green vase. It can be used in a northeast or southwest kitchen that needs the earth element. Pottery is made of clay and represents earth. The color green is also a wood color, which is always the main element in any kitchen.

Horse Symbol

• The horse is a powerful animal in feng shui symbolizing success. The “proud horse,” with his head raised, should be displayed in the south area of the home.

• Number patterns are also significant in feng shui. A painting of nine horses can be placed over a mantle. The number nine signifies wholeness and luck and is placed in the south area of the home, the painting of nine horses enhances the area.

• Use embellished china that displays an image of a horse in the background.

The china plates can be placed in a northeast or southwest dining room where the earth element is needed. The china, an earth element, and a horse in the background both support the element.

• Display a metal sculpture of a horse in the northwest area of the home or use a metal picture frame to show off your Paint Horse. This attracts influential guides and creativity. Gold is also considered to be the color of success and is the metal element. You can use it in the west or northwest to add brightness—like gold candlestick holders—along with adding images of your horse.

Photography: Fotosearch

Photography: Fotosearch

• The fire element, such as a painted red door in the south can attract a positive reputation.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 39

033-039-FengShui1.indd 39

6/12/13 5:59 PM

040-LubriSyn-HA_fp.indd 40

6/11/13 12:08 PM

EQUESTRIAN BEAUTY

Under

Sun the

Don’t forget your skin when riding your horse under the summer sky.

By Tami Dobbs with Abigail Boatwright

{ATTITUDE}

At this time of the year, many Paint Horse owners are spending much of their time outside. Although you might not consider protecting your skin as you would at the beach or pool, the summer sun’s rays can be just as harmful when you are riding or working around your horse.

The Real Danger Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in his or her lifetime.

Ninety percent of skin cancers are associated with UV radiation from the sun, and one person dies of melanoma every hour.

There are three types of skin cancers to be aware of: • Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequent form of skin cancer. It often looks like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps or scars.

• Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer. Its appearance can be scaly red patches, open sores, elevated growths with a central depression and/ or warts. This type of cancer might crust or bleed, and the growth is most common in ar-

eas frequently exposed to the sun, such as the rim of the ear, lower lip, face, bald scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs. Often the skin in these areas reveals telltale signs of sun damage like wrinkling, change in pigmentation and loss of elasticity.

• Melanoma is the most dangerous and deadliest form of skin cancer. Melanomas often resemble moles, and some even develop from moles. Most appear as black or brown but can also be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white.

Anyone who has had sun exposure should have yearly exams with a dermatologist. Signs to look for on your skin include a suspicious lesion that is bleeding, scabbing or new as well as moles that have changed in color, shape or size.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 41

041-043-Equestrian Beauty.indd 41

6/13/13 10:03 AM

62% of horses have stomach ulcers.

1

I’m not the type to cross my fingers.

Kari Kemper, Western Pleasure and ULCERGARD user since 2005.

The simple truth is that every horse is at risk for stomach ulcers. Including

yours. It’s time to reduce the risk with

ULCERGARD® (omeprazole). It’s the only medicine approved by the FDA to prevent equine stomach ulcers.*

Take action at ulcergard.com. * When administered for 8 or 28 days, ULCERGARD is proven to effectively prevent stomach ulcers in horses exposed to stressful conditions.

1

Data on file at Merial. 2008 Merial Scoping Program Results.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: ULCERGARD can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 pounds. The effectiveness of ULCERGARD in the prevention of gastric ulcers in foals and weanlings has not been evaluated. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined.

042-Merial_fp.indd 42

®ULCERGARD is a registered trademark of Merial Limited. ©2012 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. EQUIUGD1126-C (07/12)

6/11/13 12:06 PM

Tanning Beds

I know it’s not something every horseperson

does, but I want to address tanning beds.

Tanning beds are extremely dangerous, even in moderation. In fact, the FDA has increased the classification of the risk tanning beds pose to consumers—their link to skin cancer has surpassed the link between smoking and lung cancer. A study recently stated that tanning

Protect to Prevent

So how can you protect yourself from harmful UV rays?

When I ride outside, I put on a product called Colorescience on my face. It is SPF 50 loose powder. I wear sunglasses and a hat, and I also slather on SPF 50 sunscreen on my arms.

Even on shady and cloudy days, you need to wear sunscreen. The clouds actually magnify UV rays and can burn your skin more easily. So it is essential to always apply sunscreen when you are headed outdoors.

However, to be most effective, sunscreen should contain an SPF rating of at least 45 or 50. Anything over 50 shows no increased protection. For maximum effectiveness, you need to reapply your sunscreen every hour. In my experience, aerosol sprays are not as effective. Lotions or creams are

beds increased risk of melanoma by 75 percent in people under age 35. Melanoma is the fast-

the best types of sunscreen.

Always apply sunscreen before you go outside, and reapply every hour. The time between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. are the sun’s peak hours, and UV protection is a must.

Also, when riding outdoors, I strongly advise wearing sunglasses. They are crucial to help protect your eyes. I also recommend drinking plenty of fluids such as water and Gatorade to keep the body hydrated and skin healthy.

So, to recap, wear sunscreen of at least SPF 45, long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat when you are outside. Reapply sunscreen every hour.

Protect your eyes with sunglasses. Hydrate.

An have your skin checked annually by a dermatologist.

Happy riding!

est growing cancer in the world.

Tami Dobbs

APHA member Tami Dobbs FNP-C is a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in general dermatology. Focusing on all patients, from infants to the elderly, she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin rashes, acne, psoriasis and mole exams.

Tami also performs many cosmetic procedures,

Have your skin checked annually by a dermatologist.

For information on skin cancer and protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, check out these websites:

such as laser hair removal and photofacials, Botox and filler injections. She has been an author of a national professional publication and served as a clinical preceptor for several nurse practitioner students. She received her

skincancer.org cancer.org/skincancer cdc.gov/cancer/skin coolibar.com colorescience.com Illustration of Skin Cancer Growth

undergraduate degree from Texas Women’s University in Dallas and graduated with honors from the family nurse practitioner program at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. In Tami’s spare time, she shows American Paint Horses while also assisting her 8-year-old son, Tanner, in AjPHA events.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 43

041-043-Equestrian Beauty.indd 43

6/13/13 10:06 AM

American Paint Horses star alongside Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in Disney’s “The Lone Ranger.”

By Tonya Ratliff-Garrison Photos provided by Peter Mountain ©Disney Enterprises Inc. and Jerry Bruckheimer Inc.

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 44

6/12/13 2:27 PM

There were rumors that sustained us … stories of a man born in the desert.

A ghost some said. Some said flesh and blood.

A masked man.

A lone ranger.

F

or many baby boomers, watching The Lone Ranger wasn’t about the masked man or even Tonto— it was always about the horses.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 45

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 45

6/12/13 2:01 PM

The 1950 TV series with Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels was a favorite of many school-age children, and when the sound of Gioachino Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” signaled the start of the show, it was the sight of Silver galloping at top speed that held the attention of every viewer.

“A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty hi yo, Silver! The Lone Ranger.”

Sure, the shows always had a good story where the Lone Ranger, along with his faithful companion Tonto, thwarted evildoers while leading the fight for law and order in the early West. But for many young viewers, it was the solid-white Silver and the tobiano Scout that were the true attraction.

Disney grasped this passion for the four-legged stars, and when the studio’s rendition of the masked hero’s story comes out in movie theaters on July 3, viewers will see Silver playing a more vital role.

So return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear … The Lone Ranger rides again!

It was a good day for tracking outlaws. The sky was blue and cloudless and the desert floor dry. As Dan, John and the other rangers galloped toward the foothills of a distant canyon, the horses’ pounding hooves kicked up dust and dirt.

Astride his horse, John shifted in the saddle. Adjusting the brim of his hat, he noticed there was a huge white horse pacing the group. As they entered the trees at the base of the canyon, the horse kept up, moving in and out of the sparse vegetation.

Following his brother’s gaze, Dan saw the animal, too.

He pulled up beside John.

“Indians call that your spirit horse,” he explained. “Ready to carry you to the other side.”

John rolled his eyes. “You can’t scare me with your ghost stories anymore.” As he spoke, a beam of sun hit a silver Comanche totem Dan was wearing around his neck. “Since when did you start wearing Indian jewelry?”

“Since my kid brother became a lawyer,” Dan answered.

“World needs lawyers same as it does rangers,” John pointed out.

“Reckon son,” his brother replied. Then, with a smirk,

he added, “Nice hat, by the way. They didn’t have a bigger one?”

This isn’t your grandfather’s Lone Ranger.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed

by Gore Verbinski—the same team that brought us the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise— The Lone Ranger story is told through the eyes of Tonto, played by Pirates’ veteran Johnny Depp.

“I always responded to that relationship between Tonto and the Lone Ranger, and with this film I wanted to try something different,” Gore told the audience at a special Disney questionand-answer event on April 17. Also in attendance were Jerry, Johnny and Armie Hammer, who dons the mask.

“It’s still all there—the silver bullet, the white horse, the hat, the mask and the code—but I just think we’re doing something a little different by telling it from Tonto’s perspective. We’ve all heard the story, but you’ve never heard it from the guy who was there to witness it.”

“Not to take anything away from the great Jay Silverheels, but as a kid, when I watched the show, I just didn’t understand why Tonto was the sidekick,” added Johnny, who is part Cherokee and Creek Indian. “I felt a little unnerved by it, and in my own way, I wanted to show Tonto not only as a proud warrior,w but also as a man outside, just a bit outside.”

Keeping this idea top of mind, Johnny created a Tonto unlike any other seen before. Inspired by a Kirby Sattler painting, “I Am Crow,” Johnny’s Tonto has a face covered in white paint with four black lines running from his forehead to his jaw line.

46 | CHROME Summer 2013

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 46

6/12/13 2:01 PM

“When I looked at the face of this warrior, I thought, ‘That’s it,’” Johnny told Entertainment Weekly. “The stripes down the face and across the eyes ... it seemed to me like you could almost see the separate sections of the individual. There’s this very wise quarter, a very tortured and hurt section, an angry and rageful section, and a very understanding and unique side. I saw these parts, almost like dissecting a brain, these slivers of the individual. That makeup inspired me.”

A crow in the painting is another vital part of Tonto’s persona.

“It looked to me like it was sitting on top of his head,” Johnny said of the painting. “I thought, ‘Tonto’s got a bird on his head.’ It’s his spirit guide in a way. It’s dead to others, but it’s not dead to him. It’s very much alive.”

Although Johnny’s Tonto strays from the traditional Hollywood rendition, audiences will find Armie’s John Reid recognizable. His white hat is a Stetson, his black mask made from his dead brother’s leather vest, and his lawman’s scarf adds flair and color to the look.

John’s clothing, however, is a far cry from the polyester jumpsuit made famous by Clayton Moore. The movie’s costume designer Penny Rose instead came up with a three-piece suit that is more fitting of a lawyer turned lawman.

“His suit is beautifully cut, well-fitting,” Penny told EW. “It’s Armani-esque.”

And to complete the look, where would the Lone Ranger be without his trusty steed Silver?

John woke with a start. His heart was pounding and his head felt fuzzy. He began to get to his feet but fell back down, dizzy. When he was finally able to stand, he found himself on a ledge, thousands of feet in the air.

John stepped back until he was pressed up against the rock wall. Seeing a path, he slowly began to make his way down.

head, trying to clear his vision. “Why are you talking to that horse!” He asked when he could see again.

It took him a while, but finally he got to the bottom of the path. The first thing he saw was a clearing, and in the middle of the clearing stood Tonto, talking to a large white horse. Cautiously, John approached him. Looking down, he noticed a gun lying among a pile of assorted items. He inched forward, his hand outstretched …

John signed. Tonto made no sense at all. “Why am I covered in dirt?”

“If you’re going to sneak up on an Indian, best do it downwind,” the Comanche said, startling John.

Acting quickly, John snatched up the gun. Another wave of dizziness washed over him and he shook his

“My grandfather spoke of a time when animals could speak,” Tonto answered, his back still turned to John.

“When you get them alone, some still do. I cannot decide if this one is stupid, or just pretending.”

“Because I buried you,” Tonto said as though that were obvious.

Buried him? “Then … why am I alive?”

Finally, Tonto turned. He moved slowly toward John.

“The horse says you’re a Spirit Walker. A man who has been to the other side and returned and, therefore, cannot be killed in battle ...”

Tonto’s voice trailed off as he lifted John’s hand and poured birdseed into it. “But he’s just a horse.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 47

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 47

6/12/13 2:01 PM

Although five white horses—three of which are registered American Paint Horses—depict the Lone Ranger’s famous horse, about 90 percent of the role fell to one in particular who already answered to the name of “Silver.”

“Silver has a big role in the movie,” Clay Lilley, the movie’s boss wrangler, told Chrome. “Jerry Bruckheimer told me, ‘Hey, this horse is going to be the movie.’ And I really think he will be. He’s quite the horse. He has a lot of heart and a lot of personality. He’s a real actor.”

And Clay didn’t have to go far to find such a talented horse.

“He’s my dad’s horse,” Clay said, adding that although the gelding is registered with the American Paint Horse Association, he doesn’t know the registered name.

“My dad, Jack, is like 85 years old and he misplaced the horse’s papers before transferring him,” he said with a laugh.

Around 9 years old, Clay estimates, Silver had to be taught how to do many of the stunts and other out-of-the-ordinary antics the role required. That duty fell to head horse trainer Bobby Lovgren, who has done such films as War Horse and Seabiscuit.

“I’d done some work with him a few years before we started The Lone Ranger, so we had a little bit of training on him when we went in,” Bobby said of Silver. “We were actually very, very lucky to get him because the other horses had never been on a film at all and he really did a wonderful job for us.”

“A vision said a great warrior and Spirit Walker would help me on my quest,” Tonto said as he reached into a saddlebag. “I would have preferred someone else. Your brother, for instance. He would have been good. But who am I to question the Great Father?”

“All I know is a man killed my brother,” John said angrily.

“I’ll see him hang for it.”

Tonto nodded. He had expected John to say something like that. “Then you will need this.” He held out a silver bullet.

“A bullet?” John said, taking the small item in his hand.

“A silver bullet?”

“Silver made him what he is,” Tonto answered. “And so it will return him to the earth.”

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 48

6/12/13 2:02 PM

Tonto threw the piece of leather at his feet. Reaching down, John saw it was a piece of his brother’s vest. Two bullet holes, ringed in blood, pierced the dark brown leather. While they had been talking, Tonto had fashioned the mask.

“Eyes cut by the bullets that killed him,” Tonto said. “From the great beyond, he will protect you … and the ones you love.”

And there is the other Paint Horse.

Although not used often in the film, three sorreland-white tobianos portrayed Tonto’s mount, Scout.

“We had two Scouts most of the time, but sometimes if we had big chase sequences, we would have another one there,” Bobby said. “But most of the time there was just two because Scout’s part in the film was quite a bit smaller than Silver’s role.”

And with a patterned horse like Scout, it was easier to have fewer Paints for the part.

“We got really, really close with the pattern and with a little bit of paint, which is a show cattle paint that’s tolerable to horses, we would touch the horses up and make them pretty close to each other,” Clay said.

Although Scout might not have a standout role, he’s a horse Johnny Depp will not soon forget.

While filming in Monument Valley, Arizona, Scout either went around or jumped a sagebrush bush, causing Johnny, who was riding without stirrups, to fall beneath the horse.

“The most difficult thing is staying alive when you’re on a horse that is moving at a high speed and you realize suddenly you’re under it,” Johnny recalled for the Disney Q&A audience in April. “All you see are the striations of muscle in his enormous body, and all you can think about is how close those hooves are.”

However, Scout was able to avoid trampling Johnny, who only suffered minor injuries from his fall.

“The horse did save my life, I must say,” Johnny said, giving credit to the Paint Horse temperament.

“When we go and pick our horses, they have to be so people-friendly,” Bobby said. “Although we put so much training into them, it’s really finding the right horses with the right nature that will take care of the actors. You never know what might happen, and anything can happen, I don’t care how well you ride or if you don’t ride at all. That’s why we pick the horses we do.”

“You want me to wear a mask?”

John asked, holding up the leather.

Tonto nodded. “The men you seek think you are dead, Kemosabe.

Better to stay that way.”

For a moment, John said nothing.

This was not what he had imagined when he had agreed to come home. But he also couldn’t imagine letting his brother’s death go unpunished. Finally, he spoke. “If we ride together, it’s to bring these men to justice in a court of law.

We ride for justice.”

Picking up John’s hat, Tonto knocked a crease in it. Then he held it out, as if it were a contract.

“Justice is what I seek, Kemosabe.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 49

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 49

6/12/13 2:02 PM

Even though good-minded horses were a must on the set, the actors did take time to prepare themselves for their time in the saddle.

“I was familiar with horseback riding,” Armie said at the Disney Q&A event, “but there was a fun process called ‘Cowboy Bootcamp’ where they basically took all of the actors, stuck us on a working horse ranch out in New Mexico and told us, ‘We’re going to beat the city outta ya.’ And they did, or tried to anyway.”

Johnny’s role didn’t call for him to be on horseback as often as Armie, who in his off time can be found riding his 17-hand retired military color guard horse on his family ranch near San Antonio.

“He was really good with the horses,” Bobby said. “He got along with whatever they did, and he never picked on the horse nor said the horse doesn’t want to do this, doesn’t want to do that. He would always say, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ He was very easy. He was just one of the guys.”

“Armie turned out to be a really, really great horseman,” Clay said. “He really took it to heart and he probably did about 75 percent of the riding sequences and stunts.”

Armie has a lot of admiration and respect for Bobby and Clay as well as the many other wranglers on the film. At the Disney Q&A, he even praised the horses’ acting abilities.

“They always hit their marks,” he said with a laugh. “There’s a scene where Tonto and I are buried up to our necks in sand and a full cavalry battalion gallops past us with hooves landing right next to our ears and the ground was rumbling all around us. They were some of the best riders and well-trained horses I’ve ever worked with.”

Weaving slightly, Tonto made his way out of Red’s place, only to find himself on a side porch.

In front of him stood the Lone Ranger’s spirit horse. As Tonto watched, the beautiful creature leaned down and picked up a bottle of beer in his teeth. Then, just as Tonto had done moments before, the horse tilted his big head back and drank deeply.

“Nature is indeed out of balance,” Tonto muttered under his breath.

Tonto could hear the sound of the mob growing closer. Turning back to the white horse, Tonto grabbed its reins and clucked. “We go,” Tonto commanded. The horse didn’t move. Tonto pulled on the reins harder. Still the horse did not budge.

“Stubborn beast!”

Although packed with heart-pounding scenes, The Lone Ranger is in a way a “dysfunctional buddy comedy” as well.

“It’s two guys who start literally and figuratively handcuffed together who end up on the same mission with completely different world views,” Gore said at the Disney Q&A. “They sort of rub off on one another but they have plenty of disagreements.”

Much like Gore’s Pirates series, the movie has humor scattered throughout it, much of it coming from Johnny’s Tonto. However, Silver also provides some comic relief and might even end up stealing the film at times.

“Oh, I really do believe this horse is going to make the movie,” Clay said with a laugh. “They haven’t shown a lot in the trailers but you will be surprised the things we accomplished with him.”

Some of what has been seen in the film’s four trailers shows Silver wearing the Lone Ranger’s hat while standing on a tree limb and pawing the Texas Rangers badge on a partially buried John. He also had to learn to gently brush scorpions off Armie’s head and drink from a beer bottle.

“Silver plays a magical role in the movie,” Jerry said at the Disney Q&A. “It is something I think audiences are going to love when they see him.”

The Silver owned by Clay’s father had a personality that fit right into the movie, making it easy for him to perform many of the antics Gore desired the horse to have in the movie.

“He has a lot of facial expressions and that’s not something you can train,” he said. “When we first took on the project, the director spoke to us about how important it was for the horse to have a personality. It’s such a nice bonus with this horse, and it really seems like in a lot of the scenes where there was personal dialog between Silver and Johnny, Silver actually shows interest. The director just loved it, and said a lot of the horse’s expressions show up well on camera.”

It’s those kind of mannerisms that will make Silver a star.

“He’s a horse that really likes a lot of attention,” he said. “He’s quite the ham, and quite the actor himself. He’ll get full of himself every once in a while, and when he gets around the actors, he just acts like he’s got to have the bigger part.”

“YA!” Kicking his horse forward, the Lone Ranger began to gallop along the rooftops, gaining on the departing trains.

He looked over his shoulder, gauging the distance between the roof

and the iron beast. He gulped. It wasn’t exactly close, but he was running out of rooftop!

Taking a deep breath, he tugged on the reins and gave the white horse a mighty kick. The horse leaped,

50 | CHROME Summer 2013

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 50

6/12/13 2:02 PM

flying through the air. They hovered for a moment, the Lone Ranger’s heart in his throat. And then with a clatter of hooves on steel, they landed on the Jupiter’s roof.

A moment later, they passed the last building. The Lone Ranger let out a sigh of relief. That had been a little too close for comfort.

There are many amazing action scenes in The Lone Ranger, and Bobby was responsible for training the horses playing Silver to do the ones required of them.

“They were taught to do several things I can’t tell you about before the movie comes out, but you’ll be surprised and say, ‘How in the world?’” Clay

said. “And it’s not a lot of CGI. It’s the real horse doing a lot of these things.”

Keeping it as real as possible was Gore’s aim.

“We tried to put people on trains, on horses, under horses, in the dirt, you know, and rarely relied on green screen,” he said at the Disney Q&A. “Certain places we had to but we tried to make it feel like it really occurred.”

One of the toughest stunts was a scene where Silver and the Lone Ranger are chasing a train by running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop across a string of buildings.

To accomplish this feat a string of large shipping containers were placed behind a façade of the town of Purgatory, Colorado.

“Well, the horse runs on top of the capitol building and rears, goes down and then chases the train,” Clay said. “With him jumping from container to container—which were probably some 20 feet in the air and about 16 feet wide—it looks as if he’s jumping from building to building and then onto the train.”

Bobby took it slow and used a lot of repetition to train one of Silver’s extras, a white Thoroughbred that is an accomplished jumper, to perform the stunt.

“All of that stuff is just so much about confidence—if you’re confident in the horse, then he’s confident in you.

We just didn’t make a big deal of it,” he said.

Armie did a lot of his own stunts in the movie and practically begged to be allowed to do this one as well.

“He kept asking us, ‘Hey, can I do it? Can I do it?’”

Clay said with a laugh. “We had to tell him, ‘No, you’re a big star on this movie. If something happens to you then we can’t do the movie.’ We did let him do the one on Silver running through the interior of the train where there’s a shootout.”

“I’ve been riding since I was 6 but I’ve never ridden a horse through a moving train,” Armie said at the Disney Q&A. “That was quite the adventure.”

Up on the roof of the Jupiter, the Lone Ranger dodged and weaved as Cavendish continued to pepper him with gunfire from several cars away.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Constitution. Suddenly, it appeared to rise higher.

That was strange.

As the Lone Ranger looked ahead, his eyes grew wide. The Constitution wasn’t getting higher. The Jupiter was getting lower! They were heading right into a tunnel. And on horseback, he would never clear it.

On his car, the Lone Ranger kicked his horse forward—racing toward the oncoming tunnel.

Seventy-five feet. Fifty feet. The Lone Ranger kept spurring his horse faster. He was never going to make it.

Filming The Lone Ranger was not only an adventure but also a grueling experience.

“There’s one point where we were in Monument Valley in Arizona, and it was probably 115, 120 degrees. We’d just had three weeks of all day, every day on a horse—like 12 to 14 hours on a horse,” Armie told Vanity Fair in a vf.com interview. “It’s hot. You’re getting rashes in the worst of places. It was a chore, and then you feel for the cowboy because you realize it was really hard for those guys.”

For more than 140 days, the crew trekked across five states, dealing with Mother Nature, uncooperative props and park regulations.

“It rained, it snowed, and it was 125 degrees.

And we’re still getting the dust out of our ears,” Gore said at the Disney Q&A. “It’s been the hardest film I’ve ever been on. It was absolutely nuts.”

At one location, the crew was told no motorized vehicles were allowed to transport them to the area they needed to film.

“We go, ‘What do we do with all of our equipment?’” Armie recalled at the Disney Q&A. “‘You have to carry it all.’ So you would have guys carrying camera dollies that weigh 1,500 pounds—eight guys carrying it over the crest of a mountain. These are the kind of experiences you can’t get working on any other movie.”

Clay has been a wrangler on many movie and television productions, including most recently Cowboys & Aliens, and says there are always “bumps in the road you have to hurdle.”

“We worked really hard for almost a year in a lot of locations,” he said. “We are very proud of the product, and this is one of the biggest movies I’ve ever done, so I was quite humbled, especially with the people I was around. It made you want to come to work every day and do the job. It made it really worth the whole big effort.”

Jerry agrees.

“It’s an enormous movie. It’s a gigantic film,” he told the Disney Q&A audience. “We built trains and we trekked those trains over five states. And we Summer 2013 CHROME | 51

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 51

6/12/13 2:10 PM

had an enormous cast of actors and a huge company behind the cameras. We dealt with winds up to 70 miles an hour, rain, snow and wildfires. But during all of this, we’re creating huge scenes with galloping horses, great battles and the building of the transcontinental railroad.

“It was a long journey but a wonderful journey.”

As the sun began to set on the horizon, the two men road on, bickering back and forth. Finally, the masked ranger had, had enough. As he kicked his horse, the big animal reared up. “Hi-yo, Silver—away!” he cried before taking off, the horse’s hooves kicking up a trail of dust.

Behind him, Tonto patted his bird and then began to follow. Whatever happened next, it was going to be an interesting adventure.

But is Disney willing to take such a journey again?

Originally slated for a December 2012 release, The Lone Ranger was stopped in August 2011 during preproduction when the proposed budget of $250 million was deemed too high. Estimates were lowered to around $215 million and filming began in mid-February 2012.

“Pirates was cancelled three times,” Jerry told Entertainment Weekly. “The budget the studio would like and the budget that actually comes back from the filmmakers never coincide, so somehow you have to meet in the middle.”

So it’s obvious Jerry’s been down this road before, and if The Lone Ranger sees the same success Pirates of the Caribbean did in 2003, then it’s a real

possibility the masked man could ride again. But would the same actors return?

“It’d be fun and I’d be open for it,” Armie said at a 2013 CinemaCon press conference in April. “It was one of the more difficult but fun experiences I’ve ever had in my life. If they call, I’ll come.”

Both Clay and Bobby guarantee Silver will be back.

“I really hope there’s a sequel,” Bobby said. “For me, it’s just a really nice movie you can take all of the kids to and everyone will enjoy watching it. I think it’s really going to be a great film.”

Jerry would love to produce another Lone Ranger movie but even if that doesn’t happen, he’s happy audiences will be able to enjoy this one.

“I had such a good time growing up in the theater watching great movies,” Jerry said at the Disney Q&A. “I wanted to bring that to the next generation, be part of that magic on the big screen and work with such talented people. I love entertaining people, and that is why I make movies like The Lone Ranger.”

READ THE STORY

Online Extras Watch The Lone Ranger movie trailers and read excerpts from the Paint Horse Journal stories on Arctic Bright White, an extra for Silver, and Scoutin The Country, one of the tobianos used to portray Scout. check out this website:

www.mychromelife.com

The excerpts used for this story are from the Disney Press book, The Lone Ranger, which is based on the screenplay by Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and adapted by Elizabeth Rudnick. Priced at $5.99, the book can be purchased online and at stores in the young teen section. Electronic versions are also available for the Kindle, Nook and iBook.

52 | CHROME Summer 2013

044-052-LoneRanger.indd 52

6/12/13 2:15 PM

Shop the special APHA Gist Silversmiths Collection at store.apha.com or call 877-460-6275 053-Gist_fp.indd 53

6/11/13 12:03 PM

Best All-Around Bob posey is america’s most iconic designer of western headwear. he’s been shaping trends for over 40 years.

R

eaching into his shirt pocket, Bob Posey pulls out a short wooden ruler and places it against the crown of the cowboy hat. With a slight nod of his head, he moves the ruler to the edge of the brim.

“This looks good,” he says as he hands the black hat to the woman standing at his desk. “Get it boxed up and off to him today if you can.”

The hat is for George Strait, and Bob knows exactly what the countrymusic star likes because for almost 30 years he’s designed Resistol Hat’s

George Strait line.

“The greatest thing for Resistol is that since 1985 we’ve been affiliated with George Strait; that’s huge, huge,” the 75-year-old says. “And the best thing about his hats are they look good on everybody.”

That can’t be said of most off-the-shelf Western hats but Bob can because for more than 50 years he’s witnessed the rise and fall of more Western hat trends than any other designer in the industry today.

Story by Tonya Ratliff-Garrison Photos by Rick Hublein

-Bob_Posey.indd 54

6/12/13 9:38 AM

-Bob_Posey.indd 55

6/11/13 4:28 PM

-Bob_Posey.indd 56

6/11/13 4:28 PM

All Dressed Up

Although Resistol has long been known as the manufacturer of the hat for the “working cowboy,” it was in the beginning a maker of dress hats.

Founder Harry Rolnick decided in 1925 that tastes in dress hats were changing toward narrower, turned-up brims. So he took some overstocked homburgs, built new hat blocks, and began experimenting in a basement shop in downtown Dallas. Two years later, Ed Byer invested in the talented young hatmaker after being impressed by Harry’s professionalism, fashion flair and commitment to quality. With $100,000 in capital, the Byer-Rolnick Co. was formed.

By 1930, Harry had hit on the idea of making his hats sweat-proof with an interior leather headband that would allow for expansion and resist confining contact. His goal was to make a hat that would rest atop a head with a maximum of cool and comfort—an attractive idea in the days before air conditioning.

The name Resistol was chosen to emphasize the hat’s resistance to sweat, and the company began touting it as “the most comfortable hat ever made” and “the first self-conforming hat.”

The advertisements helped increase sales, and the hats were soon must-haves.

Even businessman Henry Ford and actor Humphrey Bogart claimed Resistol as their preferred brand of hat.

Training Ground

that spawned the hippie movement and psychedelic crusaders like Hunter S. Thompson, Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead.

“I worked at one store in San Francisco that was a trip,” Bob recalls. “People that came in from the Post Street entrance and the people who came in from the Market Street entrance—they were all very unusual cats.”

Dressed daily in a suit and hat, Bob was a target for the hippies as he walked to work each day.

“I always argued with the hippies in San Francisco,” Bob says with a laugh.

“They all thought they were being ‘individuals,’ and that’s where I’d get in my argument with them. They’d tell me, ‘You’re wearing a uniform.’ And I’d go, ‘You’re not, right?’ And they’d go, ‘Nope.’ I’d go, ‘Let’s see, a T-shirt and you have your smokes rolled up in your sleeve and you have blue jeans with an American flag patch on the back pocket—left or right—and you’re wearing huaraches from Mexico. That’s not a uniform?’”

With the city becoming more and more a haven for drug abusers, freeloaders and derelicts, Bob jumped at Resistol’s offer to work in Garland, Texas, shortly after San Francisco’s infamous Summer of Love.

The Western Front

In 1935, the Texas-based Byer-Rolnick decided it was time to go head to head with Missouri’s legendary Western hat manufacturer Stetson.

John Batterson Stetson created the ingenious “Boss of the Plains” hat in 1865. It’s tall crown let the head breathe while the wide brim kept the sun off the face, neck and shoulders. Its construction out of fur felt also made it waterproof.

Although the “Boss of the Plains” was pricey compared to other hats of the time, it was exactly what the Wild West needed because no other hat provided as much protection from the elements. The Stetson hat quickly became a must-have, even though most cowboys could afford only one.

Then in the early 1900s, Western movies began to increase sales of Stetson’s Western hats, and that popularity didn’t escape the attention of Harry and Ed. In the beginning, Western hats were only about 15 percent of Resistol’s business, but Harry soon worked his marketing magic convincing iconic actors John Wayne, Gene Autry and Henry Fonda to wear the Resistol brand of Western hat.

With big name support, a “made in Texas” label and the same unique innovations as the dress hats, it wasn’t long before Resistol became the mostrespected name in Western headwear.

By 1938, Byer-Rolnick had outgrown their Dallas facilities and moved their headquarters to a newly completed factory on a 50-acre cotton field in nearby Garland. A few years later, the company purchased a fur-cutting plant and built a rough-body plant in Longview, Texas, making ByerRolnick the first and only manufacturer to operate the entire felt hat-making process.

Today, by controlling all phases of production, the company is able to obtain maximum quality and better product flow, thereby producing one of the most consistent and finest hats known worldwide.

“Even though I went to art school, the best training I had was in retail.”

When Bob joined Resistol in 1962 it was not as a Western hat designer but as a salesman of men’s dress hats in downtown San Francisco.

“Even though I went to art school, the best training I had was in retail,” Bob says. “You really learn a lot about how people think and such. It is a good base for following trends and knowing what the consumer wants.”

Bob credits three people for teaching him everything he knows about hats: Harry Rolnick, Ken Jewell and John Milano.

“They were the best people we had in the company, and they gave me great training,” he says.

To sell its dress hats, Resistol leased space in some of the finest upscale stores in the United States, and then placed someone like Bob in each store to market the merchandise to businessmen. But in 1962, the dress hat industry wasn’t what it once was.

“Some business guys still wore hats but some businesses stopped insisting their male employees wear hats because they were losing good employees,” Bob says. “I would have guys come in and say in a way you knew they weren’t happy, ‘I need to get a hat because the company says I have to get one and I have to pay for it.’ To myself I’d go, ‘Well, this is going to be nice.’ Can you imagine waiting on someone like that?”

Growing up in the San Francisco area, Bob always had a love for the West and cowboy culture. So when he could, he’d still put on a Western hat, especially when heading to the Cow Palace for a rodeo.

However, his hometown was fast becoming a city Bob no longer recognized. In the 1960s, San Francisco was experiencing a liberal societal change

Summer 2013 CHROME | 57

054-063-Bob_Posey.indd 57

6/12/13 2:15 PM

Look for the APHA Carhartt Collection online this fall at store.apha.com

058-Carhartt_fp.indd 58

6/11/13 3:13 PM

By Design

Clothing manufacturer Koret of California purchased Byer-Rolnick in 1968, the same year Bob relocated to Texas.

Dress hats were still Bob’s job but instead of selling he was now designing them.

“I was making standard dress hats and we had a Western guy here named Al Gould who happened to be a good buddy of mine and a great inspiration for me,” Bob says. “I would watch what he did, and then we’d go out to have a few pints where we’d talk about hats a lot until we had a few, and then it would switch. He was terrific.”

While fewer and fewer dress hats were sold, Western sales were healthy, which had a lot to do with the working cowboy still in need of a hat and the popularity of Western television shows like Gunsmoke and Bonanza. It wasn’t long before Bob was designing cowboy hats, and it was his sales experience that he called upon for ideas.

“I’ve always tried to listen to the sales force because they are the ones out in the trenches,” he said. “They’ve been on the road for many years, and they get such tremendous feedback. Collectively between the president and the national sales manager, they filter down what the guys say to us. It’s great.”

And when it comes to design, Bob doesn’t just consider the head the hat will go on but also how it will impact the person wearing it both physically and mentally.

Western stores and look at his products,” Bob says. “Well, one time they went into a store and they saw a hat of George’s I’d named the ‘Nashville.’ Erv called, ‘Bob, George and I were in wherever and did you name a hat the Nashville?’

There is no lying. I said, ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘George isn’t happy with that.’”

And there’s a good reason George didn’t like the name.

“When George went to Nashville in his youth they said, ‘Ditch the hat.’

Luckily for us, he said, ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ He came back to Texas and had a smashing career.”

So Bob apologized to Erv for the blunder.

“I told him, ‘It’s in the catalog and will have that name in print, but starting in a couple of days, every hat that goes out of this factory will have a new name—a name George will be happy with.’”

The X-Factor

All of Resistol’s fur felt hat bodies are manufactured at their facility in Longview, Texas. [View a video of the more than 200 processes it takes to create a Resistol fur felt hat at mychromelife.com.]

Fur felt hats are chiefly made of rabbit fur while some hare fur is used to make better hats, and is often mixed with rabbit fur to produce hats in various medium price grades. Beaver, the finest fur, and nutria is used in the best hats, and muskrat also supplies raw materials for hat making.

Felt is made from the downy belly-fur and not the long, coarse hair most call fur. Only this belly-fur has the barb-like projections on the surface that are needed to lock the fibers together to make a strong felt. Long hairs are pulled out or sheared off. The remaining under-fur is chemically treated to raise the microscopic barbs for better felting.

“There’s the old story of the belly fur that it is better if you get the animal during snow season,” Bob says.

“I’ve been told that for years and I think the reason why this is true is when there is no snow, the belly fur collects all of the stuff the animal is running over and it gets scraped up and the hairs get split.”

Felt can also come from wool and blended wool with fur. However, hats made from these felts are almost always at the lower end of the spectrum of the Western hat. The fur felts are the next best quality and the best is 100 percent fur felt, which is what Resistol uses most for its hats.

“Then that goes on up to the top fur felts where you might find some mixed with cashmere or vicuna and other exotics,” Bob says.

But even if the fur felt is made from 100 percent beaver, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will produce a great hat.

“The potential of it being a great hat is there, but if not enough work has been done on it in the backshop as they build the body out of the fur, or if they do too much work, or skip something, then it can be messed up,” Bob says. “The way a fur is handled and processed is so important in the quality of a hat.”

The X-factor of Western hats has been bandied about the industry for many years, and Resistol has revised how they grade their hats.

“We just used to call it 4X, 5X and 6X, but now we’re not only putting how

“I would tell a person to not stand up by the mirror and look at the hat on, but to stand further back and see how it is with your shoulders, your height and your build—the whole thing.

“I would tell a person to not stand up by the mirror and look at the hat on, but to stand further back and see how it is with your shoulders, your height and your build—the whole thing. That’s the true example because when you wear a hat you want it to be functional with the weather but you also want it to look nice and represent what you want to look like.”

But Bob’s job is not just designing the hat, he also has to name it.

“One of the toughest things is naming the hats properly, and I always struggle coming up with new names for hats because we’ve used all of the great ones,” he says.

For dress hats, he used to look in the Yellow Pages under bars but for Western hat names, Bob uses Western novels, movies, ranches, country songs and whatever else he can find on the Internet.

Ensuring a name doesn’t have other connotations is a challenge and Bob often uses Urban Dictionary to vet words. However, a hat’s name did get him in a bit of trouble one time.

“Sometimes, George Strait and his manager Erv Woolsey would go into

Summer 2013 CHROME | 59

054-063-Bob_Posey.indd 59

6/12/13 2:16 PM

060-Purina_fp.indd 60

6/11/13 3:22 PM

Resistol Hats To watch a video on how Resistol hats are made, go online to: www.mychromelife.com

many Xs on the hat, we’re also saying like 100 percent fur felt so the consumer can know it’s fur felt,” Bob says. “When we’d get up to the higher ones, we’d put 40X beaver, 100X beaver because there was beaver in those. But we’ve realigned it and readjusted the whole thing because we want the consumer to know it’s a 100 percent fur felt hat. That’s a good thing, and I’m glad we did that, because other people were using various numbers at various levels and they weren’t 100 percent fur.”

Trends & Fads

Westerns have always bolstered the demand for cowboy hats. But in 1980, a phenomenon hit the Western industry like none before, or ever since.

When John Travolta and Debra Winger twostepped onto the silver screen in Urban Cowboy, retailers and manufacturers were blindsided by the immediate demand for anything Western. The super fad created a $5 billion industry overnight with makers old and new trying to capitalize on it.

“It was the first fashion trend of that magnitude we had ever experienced,” Bob says.

“We’d had others but not that magnitude, and what made Urban Cowboy different is how many non-Western hat wearers all of a sudden wanted a Western hat.”

Resistol was on double shifts trying to keep up with a demand that had the company manufacturing almost 1 million hats in a 12-month period. Finding enough materials—especially the furs for felt—was difficult. And Bob was busy designing for a trend he hadn’t seen coming.

“The crowns were tall and the brims were wide,” he recalls. “At one point, during the Urban Cowboy craze, everyone was copying what I was doing. The vendors told me they were all asking, ‘What’s Bob Posey doing?’ I think some of them shared information even though they promised they wouldn’t. But if it got them more business, oh well. For me, that was a nice compliment.”

Then as fast as the trend turned the light on in the Western apparel industry, it went dark. The fad lastied for only about a year.

“It was the hey day and almost the demise of a lot of people, and some companies,” Bob says.

Resistol survived but many retailers and manufacturers didn’t. No one had expected it to last forever, but few anticipated its quick death. Three trends caused many to suffer. First, retailers overbought, which prompted manufacturers to invest in new plants and left them stuck with unrealistic inventories. Then the national economy soured, and finally the fad died.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 61

054-063-Bob_Posey.indd 61

6/12/13 2:16 PM

Western Hat Etiquette J.B. Blocker of The Lone Star Reporter offers these traditional rules when wearing a cowboy hat. (With the exception of tipping their hat to another woman, women should always follow the same rules as men when it comes to Western hats.)

Removal

• Any hat should be removed during a prayer or when the national anthem of any country is played. Hold the hat in your right hand, over your heart.

• Always remove your hat when being introduced to a lady.

• Always remove your hat in a sanctuary, a courtroom, or when you enter a private room or office. (Think of it as being allowed into someone’s private sanctuary.)

• It is generally considered polite to remove a hat in a private home, unless other people are wearing their hats.

• It is proper to leave your hat on in commercial and public buildings, unless it’s one stated above.

• Wearing a cowboy hat to a public theatre or movie is fine but it should be removed if it blocks anyone’s view of the entertainment.

Tipping

• Cowboys tip their hats to ladies when they are outdoors.

• Men never tipped their hats to other men in the Old West.

It was akin to calling them a woman. A nod was a common greeting when not shaking hands.

• The brim-up method is normally done by grasping the front of the brim with the thumb and two fingers and raising the brim slightly while giving an acknowledging nod.

• The tilt forward method is to grasp the front top of the crown, lift slightly, and tilt the brim forward as you politely nod.

Handling

• Never, ever handle another person’s hat with or without permission—unless it is to catch a runaway from a gust of wind.

• If you do handle someone else’s hat, do not pick it up by the brim. That is only for tipping. You don’t want to be the one who puts a bend in someone’s brim. Instead, grasp gently on the creased crown with one hand and the inside of the crown with the other.

• Never set a cowboy hat down flat on its brim. Either hang it or set it upside down on the crown.

• Never remove the hat from a wearer’s head without permission, which you will never get. Fights have been started because of this discourtesy.

• When adjusting your hat, never tug it by the brim. Grasp it with two or three fingers by the crown.

• Never put your hat on a bed. It’s bad luck.

“VINTAGE HAT BOX” Circa 1950s

054-063-Bob_Posey.indd 62

“It was a wonderful thing while it lasted, but when it died, an enormous number of one particular hat body was left,” Bob says. “I don’t remember the exact figure, but it was enormous. And it took us years to sell those off, and not at the same price, but at reduced prices.”

Bob’s theory is the industry wasn’t prepared to manage such an intense fad.

“My personal opinion is that the Western business has always been kind of steady, and when it ballooned up like that, we really didn’t know the history of the Hula Hoop or the Neru jacket,” he says. “We were used to fashion trends, but nothing like this one. I personally thought it would last a little longer, but it just stopped overnight.”

Resistol has never experienced such a monster trend like Urban Cowboy again.

“I don’t think we’ll ever see another Urban Cowboy but there was a real increase during the time when Garth Brooks was big in the 1990s,” Bob says.

“It was similar to Urban Cowboy, where the non-Western hat wearer was buying Western hats again, but just not in the same quantity as before.”

Changing Times

Resistol changed hands again in 1979 when Levi Strauss & Co. purchased Koret. Although Resistol had survived the Urban Cowboy craze, Levi Strauss’ focus and resources was on apparel and not hats.

Then in 1985, Irving Joel added the struggling Resistol to Hat Brands. Two years later, he acquired Resistol’s biggest competitor, Stetson. The company that invented the cowboy hat never really recovered from the slump after Urban Cowboy and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 1986.

In 1992, Arena Brands was formed and the company picked up Hat Brands, adding Resistol and Stetson to its Charlie 1 Horse Western fashion line and Dobbs dress hats. The hat division was renamed RHE Hatco.

Finally, in 2009, Pro Equine Group purchased RHE Hatco.

“Today, I’m designing mostly older generational stuff, and we still sell plenty of it,” Bob says. “But the younger buyers still lead the trends, and we need them sold on the brand because every time a hearse goes by there’s a possibility it’s one of our life-long Resistol guys.”

That’s where 32-year-old Western hat designer Kaci Riggs comes in.

Kaci joined HatCo in 2004 as Bob’s assistant, and the pair worked on Charlie 1 Horse hat styles in their spare time.

“She’s phenomenal,” Bob says of his former protégé who is now his boss as the vice president of product development. “She’s a team roper, a competitor who’s out there, and she has a super fashion sense. She’s just great for what is needed currently. She’ll continue taking the company forward for a long, long time!”

In 1973, Bob met a young ad man from Oklahoma who coined the phrase “Resistol: best allaround.” It’s anchored the company’s marketing efforts across five decades and the two have been great friends ever since.

6/14/13 12:34 PM

“High Sierra” Created Late 1960s

“Dance Hall Dandy” Created Late 1970s

Strait Talk

Resistol has had its share of celebrity Western hat lines ranging from Larry Mahan to Garth Brooks to Ty Murray. But none have been as successful as the George Strait collection.

“I’ve always been amazed because George appeals across the board ... from the youngest to the oldest,” Bob says. “Where I think some entertainers appeal to maybe this or that, he appeals to everyone. He’s terrific.”

George doesn’t give any suggestions or advice for the design of his hats but Bob hears from Erv occasionally.

“He will call me and say, ‘Bob, you think you could put a brown hat in George’s line,’ or something like that. I’ll go, ‘It will be done tomorrow. I can’t do it today.’”

It’s Hatco President Stan Redding and National Sales Manager Ricky Bolin who give the most valuable input on George’s hat.

“Sometimes, I put a band around a hat and between Stan and Ricky they’ll look at it and go, ‘It’s nice, but it is not George.’ And even some of the hats we have in the line are probably marginal George. In other words, he wouldn’t wear it, but we sell the deuce out of ’em.”

The partnership between Resistol and George has been a good one, and it’s not unusual for George to show up at a Resistol event to sign autographs and promote his hats like he did a few years ago at the Denver Western Market.

“I was there when he checked in to get his badge at the front door, and he was wearing a ball cap instead of one of his Western hats,” Bob recalls. “The young lady, who was busy but very nice, takes his credit card and hands him his badge. She wasn’t rude to him but she wasn’t really paying attention either.

“George walks off, and I ask the girl, ‘How did that feel?’ And she goes, ‘What?’ I go, ‘You checked in George Strait.’ She goes, ‘What?! Oh my God!’ “I swear if he had his Western hat on, she would have recognized him.”

“Lil’ Big ’Un”

Created Early 1990s

With a 5-inch brim and 7-inch the crown, the Lil’ Big ’Un was just an inch smaller in both areas than The Big ’Un, which was created in the 1980s.

“We had one guy in the company who was strong enough to stretch the bodies out on The Big ’Un and work with it,” Bob recalls. “He was huge, and when he left the company we moved to the Lil’ Big ’Un.”

“The Gates”

Created 2012 From the George Strait Collection

The Touch of Mink In the 1970s, Resistol pioneered blending exotic furs like mink and ermine into hat bodies. Handcrafted by the company’s master hatters, these “best of the very best” Western hats were marketed with custom leather cases.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 63

054-063-Bob_Posey.indd 63

6/12/13 2:16 PM

The Natural Meet Pat Parelli, the man behind the Natural Horsemanship empire.

By Abigail Boatwright

Encircled by a packed grandstand of more than 2,500 spectators, a teenage girl tentatively leads her flashy black tobiano toward the man wearing chinks and a cowboy hat in the center of the arena. The horse seems calm, but after the man and teenage girl spend a few minutes talking, the horse barges into the girl’s space. Instructed to lead the horse through a series of obstacles, the girl is unable to coax her horse to obey. With a dose of humor, the man known as Pat Parelli begins to put the girl at ease and work with the pair.

It’s not just horse training—it’s also human training. How did Pat Parelli become the clinician and founder of Parelli Natural Horsemanship?

He started by learning from the best.

064-070-Feature_Pat_Parelli_May_13.indd 64

6/12/13 3:16 PM

064-070-Feature_Pat_Parelli_May_13.indd 65

6/12/13 3:17 PM

Horse Mecca

RAISE your hand if you love horses Pat opening his clinic at the 2012 APHA World Championship Show.

064-070-Feature_Pat_Parelli_May_13.indd 66

Born and raised around the Bay Area of Northern California, Pat has always loved horses.

Though his parents, Jack and Doris, didn’t ride, a young Pat was not without horsemen in his life.

He lived down the street from a mustang trainer, saw the formation of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity practically in his backyard and rubbed elbows with trainers of top-caliber jumpers, rodeo horses and horse show mounts.

“I was in the mecca of the horse world in the ’50s, ’60s and early ’70s,” Pat recalled. “It would be like growing up in Weatherford [Texas] today.”

Starting with 4-H and FFA, Pat became active in the ranching community. Having owned a horse from age 9, Pat began working on a 500,000-acre ranch when he was 12. By the time he turned 17, Pat was competing in professional rodeos.

Pat sought help from horse trainer John Hawkins to improve his understanding of animal behavior early on, and to avoid getting hurt in the bucking chute at rodeos.

“Johnny Hawkins taught me to settle a bucking horse down,” Pat said. “I went 14 years and never had a broken bone.”

Becoming a Sponge Hoping to become a horse trainer when his rodeo days were done, Pat knew he needed guidance to make the switch. Pat says when his ambition got ahead of his knowledge in his early 20s, he lucked out by spending five years as a pupil of Troy Henry, a master horseman from Clovis, California. Troy opened Pat’s eyes to a new way of looking at the horse’s mental and emotional processes.

“With Troy, I realized I didn’t even know what I didn’t know,” Pat said. “That’s when I really just started studying.”

Troy taught Pat the difference between being a horse trainer and becoming a horseman. Pat says he developed his eight principles that form the foundation of the Pat Method from concepts Troy taught him.

“I’ve been teaching the principles I learned from Troy for 30 years,” Pat said.

Pat says he gained a sense of open-mindedness from time spent sharing knowledge with Tony Ernst, an Australian horseman and seventh-degree black belt. The kung fu master taught Pat breathing techniques, among other principles.

“Many people, by the time they are 25, think they know it all and they become close-minded, but I learned from Tony that I can study a philosophy of life that is about never-ending self-improvement,” Pat said. “I still believe that today.”

The Mule Living in Clovis, California, during the 1970s, Pat’s neighbors included well-known reined cow horse trainers Les Vogt, Greg Ward and John Murphy. Pat was riding bucking horses but found it hard to differentiate himself. So he came up with the idea to do something really different.

“I figured if I can train a mule, I’ll prove to everyone how good I am,” Pat said. “So I got a mule named Rosie. She was 4 years old and had never been touched except for being ridden in an Indian rodeo once. She about killed me.”

Aiming to prove that he could train a mule, and therefore, pretty much any equine, Pat stuck with Rosie. He not only forged a partnership with the mule, he trained her to perform advanced maneuvers.

“I got her changing leads, I got her to do sliding stops and I took her to Bishop Mule Days and won a world championship on her,” Pat said.

Becoming entrenched in the mule showing community, Pat once visited a small show with Rosie. Unfortunately, a belligerent drunk marred the show experience. After the offender was subdued, a group of mule enthusiasts pondered how the situation would have been handled if their mule show had an association behind it. Pat thought about the possibility, and a few weeks later, he met with fellow mule lovers Ray and Jackie Winters to discuss the creation of an organization. Together, they formed the American Mule Association in 1976. With 135 initial members, Pat was elected the first president of the association and served on the board of directors for seven years.

“The association grew from 300 members to 3,000 in two years,” Pat said. “I ended up being the King of Mules for a while.”

Training more than 300 mules in his lifetime, as well as zebras and even a zorse (half zebra, half horse), Pat said he gleaned valuable lessons from the animals that translated to horse training and his work with people.

“I learned that you must treat a mule like you treat a horse,” Pat said. “You have to get their heart before you get their head, and you have to get both of those before you get the body. I learned the virtue of patience in all things. Mules are just like horses, but more so.”

6/14/13 1:17 PM

Natural Horsemanship

Trainer of People

Working with mules gave Pat some notoriety.

He competed in a demonstration class dubbed “The Wild Bunch” at the 1978 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity with a mule, earning a third-place finish for his bridleless reined cow horse performance.

“That night really started to launch me,” Pat said. “People wanted to hear what I had to say after that.”

After another bridleless demonstration with his mule at a show in Fresno, California, Pat had a fortuitous meeting at the concession stand. He’d watched legendary horsemen Ray Hunt perform what Pat said was “still the best colt-starting demonstration I’ve ever seen anybody do—period.”

During a break, a crowd lined up for some snacks.

“I went to grab a hot dog, and I met Ray Hunt and his wife, Tom Dorrance and his wife, and Ronnie Willis and his wife,” Pat said. “I met all three of these greats at one time. I told them I was moving from Clovis to Clements, California, and I asked Ray if I could sponsor a clinic of his at my new property.”

Ray agreed. After making that connection, Pat gained several new mentors he worked with regularly in those forerunners of the natural horsemanship movement.

“As busy as Ray Hunt was with his schedule, I would host him once a year,” Pat said, “and I would go to four or five of his clinics a year if I could. He influenced how I put my clinics together.”

Hunt’s work with cattle helped Pat create his “Wow With Cows” course to influence cattle naturally, and in turn, train cow horses.

“I learned from Tom Dorrance how to be natural with horses,” Pat said. “How to be natural with everything and everybody. That’s me. I’m going to do what I can do, and if people like it, they like it. If not, it’s OK. But a lot of people like it.”

Working with Ronnie Mills three times a week for several years, Pat says he was privileged to learn from these legends.

“I had three of the greatest horsemen teaching me,” Pat said. “I just lapped up everything they sent my way.”

The teen listens carefully as Pat tells her to tap her horse with her “wand” –also known as a whip. It takes several minutes, but soon she’s telling her horse to move forward without pulling on him, and he’s respecting her leadership.

“Leadership has got to be benevolent,” Pat says. “It’s got to use an attitude of justice.”

Pat’s move to Clements in the early 1980s came at a bad time. The day after Pat went into escrow to pay for the property, his young son, Caton, ended up in the hospital in a coma. While Pat took time off from his business for a month to be at the hospital, he lost the majority of his horse training clients. During a record rainy year, and without a covered arena, Pat was unable to drum up new customers. Pat says he nearly lost his ranch.

Hoping to find new business, Pat spoke with a veterinarian friend in Southern California about piggybacking his training sessions with the vet’s farm calls. His friend agreed and Pat found a willing audience ensnared in troubled relationships with their horses along the way.

“I’d work with a client for three hours at a time, and I told them if they got friends to join them, they’d get a discount,” Pat said. “Pretty soon, I had people following me from farm to farm all day. Next thing you know, there was sometimes 100 people showing up to watch. Horse after horse, person after person—horses that didn’t like shots, horses that didn’t want to load in a trailer, a horse that would buck with the saddle, a horse that hadn’t been ridden, a horse you couldn’t catch, a horse that kicks the horseshoer. Whatever people needed.”

Leadership has got to be benevolent... it’s got to use an attitude of justice.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 67

064-070-Feature_Pat_Parelli_May_13.indd 67

6/14/13 1:20 PM

It May Be t u B e d i s t u Hot O The Furs At

e y a K s i Morr r! e t t o H n e v E e Ar 3060 N. Stemmons Freeway Dallas, TX 75247

214-631-0804 555 E. Basse Road #104 San Antonio, TX 78209

210-820-FURS(3877)

068-MorrisKayeFurs_fp.indd 68

6/11/13 3:28 PM

Pat and his wife Linda Parelli.

“I realized I wanted to help humans so they can help horses.”

With this increased following, Pat reevaluated his career path to include the owners of the horses he trained. Helping humans understand their horses appealed to Pat’s fascination with the psychology behind knowledge, and it’s helped him work with a disabled Caton throughout his son’s life.

“I’m really interested in how people learn, and how I can inspire them to learn,” Pat said. “I want to find ways I can inspire, empower and educate people. Over the last 30 years with my son, it’s been a really interesting thing—a fascinating thing—for me to figure out how to help him help himself.”

Together with his wife Linda, Pat has elevated his training program into a system that horse enthusiasts can implement for themselves.

“I realized I wanted to help humans so they can help horses,” Pat said. “Next thing you know, I’ve saved my ranch and started making a living out of it. Now we’ve built it into a business that’s turned into a brand. We’ve got a program that’s helping people worldwide.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 69

064-070-Feature_Pat_Parelli_May_13.indd 69

6/12/13 3:17 PM

Natural Performance After working with her Paint and Pat throughout the seminar at Will Rogers Equestrian Center, the teenage girl confidently leads her horse over a tarp, bounces a giant medicine ball on his back and loads the gelding into a horse trailer with ease. She’s grinning from ear to ear, and the audience cheers.

Pat’s methods are used all over the world, and his television programs are aired on RDF-TV. Parelli Natural Horsemanship provides DVDs and equipment to implement the methods Pat’s developed into a program. Working from their two locations in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and Ocala, Florida, the Parelli Educational Institute is the host of up to 150 horses at each facility for two-week, four-week and 12-week training programs.

Pat says his main goal is to provide a great foundation for humans to have a knowledge base and skill base about horses and horsemanship.

“Our business is to help these people get started, be safe, to have fun and to help them with the

After a little advice from Pat, this horse’s young handler was able to get him to walk on a tarp and go over a set of barrels.

The biggest thing is to keep it natural. fascination of learning about horses,” Pat said.

When asked about future plans, Pat says he has a lot he wants to accomplish. His recently formed nonprofit called the Parelli Educational Institute focuses on four areas: scholarship, youth therapeutic riding and equine welfare.

Pat’s never-ending goal is always self-improvement. He says he now wants to take his principles and apply them to specialized disciplines.

“I want to give myself the personal challenge of taking my concepts and applying them to performance,” Pat said. “I want to work with the Western performance world, starting with my son.”

Today, Caton excels in reining and reined cow horse events, as demonstrated at that same seminar in Fort Worth. Demonstrating his skill, Caton guided his mount through reining patterns with ease.

“I really feel if horses get a great foundation, they’ll be better at what they do when they specialize, and if that event doesn’t work out, they might be good at something else,” Pat said. “This would also help with a horse’s longevity.”

In the end, Pat stresses, his life boils down to the basic principles he lives by and teaches.

“The biggest thing is to keep it natural,” Pat said. “That’s the big key. Keep everything natural for yourself and your horse.”

Pat and his son Caton Ryder Parelli.

70 | CHROME Summer 2013

064-070-Feature_Pat_Parelli_May_13.indd 70

6/12/13 3:18 PM

071-Hart_fp.indd 71

6/11/13 5:03 PM

072-Ferrini_fp.indd 72

6/13/13 6:51 PM

{PLACE} Bountiful Harvest

Sackful of Squash?

Truckload of Tomatoes?

Utilize your overflowing produce

Photography: Fotosearch

with these three recipes.

073-077-Rural_Life1.indd 73

6/12/13 5:53 PM

{place} the rural life

Bountiful Harvest

W

hether you’ve got tomato plants

all your lettuce crops. Here to help, we’ve col-

in containers or you’re a regular

lected three recipes that call for a boatload

Ol’ MacDonald with a sprawling veg-

of produce. Perfect for that overload of fruits

gie patch, summertime can bring a plethora of

or veggies, they’re easy to make and family

produce to your home. Many times it ripens all

meal-approved. Make this the season where you

at once, and your family may get sick of eat-

don’t throw away uneaten fruits and vegeta-

ing nothing but salads while you try to use up

bles—eat them up!

Photography: Fotosearch

By Abigail Boatwright

74 | CHROME Summer 2013

073-077-Rural_Life1.indd 74

6/12/13 5:53 PM

Keeping yo ur Produce Fr esh Longer While produce should

be picked at pe eaten soon afte ak ripeness an r harvesting, T d exas Agrilife E Specialist Jenn xtension a Anding said produce is gene tasting and reta rally the best ins the most nu tritional value after picking. Si 2-3 days nce this is not always possible consider cannin , you might g your produc e. A great reso ning and other urce for canforms of food preservation is nchfb.uga.edu.

Other methods to promote fres hness include: Control mo isture. Andin g ad vises against w produce before ashing storing it beca use excess moi ages bacteria to sture encourgrow. If your pr oduce is really can wash and dirty, you dry it very wel l be fo re storing it.

Store whole produce. C utting produce requires refriger for storage ation, which no t all items need whole. when kept Use perfora ted b

ags. Refrige rated produce from airflow, an benefits d produce shou ld be drawers. placed in crispe r Keep room temp

erature pro Produce not st duce in the ored in the refr dark. igerator does be cool, dry spot st in between 50 an a dark, d 70 degrees.

For more info rmation abou t specific prod storage, dow uce item nload a free pd f pamphlet from agrilifebookstore. org/publ

ications_details.cf m?whichpublicatio n=1902.

Photography: Fotosearch

Recipes

073-077-Rural_Life1.indd 75

6/12/13 5:54 PM

For Zucchini Skin Ribbons

Zucchini Basil Soup Recipe courtesy Gourmet magazine

This is a wonderful recipe to use up all those pounds of zucchini from your garden, and a great way to prune that overgrown basil plant. Deliciously creamy without added cream, it is excellent hot or chilled and for extra flavor, try substituting chicken broth for water. The ribbons of blanched zucchini skin add a nice texture, but can be skipped in a pinch.

Servings: 4-6 | Total time: 45 minutes

Super Juice One of the easiest ways to utilize large amounts of extra produce is by making juice. Healthy, portable and fairly quick to make, juices can incorporate a variety of nutrients in a pleasing concoction.

All you really need is an electric juicer. If you’ve got some bruised or discolored produce, this is a great recipe to throw them in.

Add and subtract ingredients from this recipe depending on what you have on hand, but you’ll want to have at least one item from each basic group: Sweet: beets, carrots, apples, pears, etc Greens: celery, lettuce, kale, etc Herbs or spices: ginger, parsley, mint, cilantro, etc

Ingredients 2 pounds zucchini, trimmed and cut crosswise into thirds 3/4 cup chopped onion 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1/4 cup olive oil 4 cups water, divided (or 3 cups broth, 1 cup water divided) 1/3 cup packed basil leaves

Julienne skin (only) from half of zucchini with a mandoline-type slicer; toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt and drain in a sieve until wilted, at least 20 minutes.

Bring one cup water to a boil in a small saucepan and blanch julienned zucchini 1 minute. Drain in a sieve set over a bowl (use liquid to thin soup if necessary). Set aside.

Soup Coarsely chop remaining zucchini.

Cook onion and garlic in oil in a 3- to 4-quarts heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add chopped zucchini and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.

Add 3 cups water or broth and simmer, partially covered, until tender, about 15 minutes.

Purée soup with basil in 2 batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids). Alternatively, add basil to saucepan and use an immersion blender.

Season soup with salt and pepper. Serve in shallow bowls with julienned zucchini mounded on top.

Servings: 3-4 | Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

073-077-Rural_Life1.indd 76

6/12/13 5:54 PM

Photography: Fotosearch

Follow your juicer’s instructions, but after washing and preparing your produce, slowly add pieces to your juicer.

Serve immediately. You can also chill for a short time, but be sure to drink up the same day.

Photography: Fotosearch

2 red beets peeled and chopped into chunks 4 carrots, chopped into chunks 2 cucumbers, chopped into chinks 4 handfuls of greens such as kale, chard, lettuce, woody stems removed 1 small piece of ginger about a quarter inch long; if you’re a fan of ginger, you can add more to taste 2 golden or red apples, seeded and quartered 4 stalks of celery, halved

Fresh Tomato Sauce Recipe inspiration from Smitten Kitchen. smittenkitchen.com

Sometimes with an abundance of tomatoes, you end up left with very ripe, bruised and just plain ugly tomatoes. No one wants to eat those sad and unloved ‘maters… until now. This fresh tomato sauce recipe actually calls for bruised tomatoes, so you’re in luck! The sauce can be modified to suit your tastes, so get cooking and try adding your favorite seasonings. If you don’t like something included in this recipe— don’t include it. We won’t tell. Also, the easiest way to get these tomatoes ready to be cooked is by using a food mill on the fine setting to get rid of the skin and seeds, saving you the first two steps of the recipe.

If you don’t have one, you’ll be fine, but it takes a bit longer. Definitely remove those seeds to eliminate a bitterness you may find unpleasant.

Servings: about eight, or four cups of sauce Total time: 90 minutes

Ingredients 4 pounds ripe and bruised tomatoes such as roma or your regular garden variety ¼ cup olive oil 2-3 cloves of garlic ½ a medium carrot ½ stalk of celery ½ teaspoon salt, or more to taste, Slivers of a few fresh basil leaves

Photography: Fotosearch

Photography: Fotosearch

Directions Bring a pot of water to boil.

Cut a small X on each tomato.

Blanch the tomatoes in the boiling water for 10 to 30 seconds and either rinse them under cold water or shock them in an ice bath.

You should be able to peel the skins off easily now. If you have a stubborn ‘mater, throw it back in the water for a few seconds until the skin loosens up. Discard the skins.

If you have plum tomatoes, halve each lengthwise. If you have other varieties of tomato, quarter them.

Squeeze the seeds out over a strainer and a bowl and reserve the juices. You can discard the seeds.

You’ll be mashing the tomatoes with a potato masher in your saucepan later.

Finely chop your onion and mince the carrot, celery and garlic. If you prefer to grate your carrots, feel free. You can also pulse all four ingredients in a food processor to form a paste.

Heat olive oil in a large pot on medium heat.

Cook your onions, carrots, celery and garlic for about 10 minutes, until they start to soften and change color.

Add tomatoes to the pot and bring the mixture to a simmer, lowering the temperature to mediumlow. This is a great time to break out the potato masher and smash up your tomatoes. Allow the

sauce to cook about 30-45 minutes If you find your sauce to be too thick, try adding some of the reserved tomato juice as needed.

If you feel your sauce is too lumpy, try using an immersion blender to smooth it into the desired texture.

Season with salt to taste.

Scatter with fresh basil before serving.

You can also try adding red pepper flakes or a splash o red wine to the mixture. For a more fullbodied taste, you can add a tablespoon or so of tomato paste. Alternatively, you can skip the extra veggies and just cook tomatoes with salt, olive oil and melted butter.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 77

073-077-Rural_Life1.indd 77

6/12/13 5:54 PM

{place} territory

Burbank Rancho Amid the hustle and bustle of L.A. is this tiny oasis for horse lovers.

I

n the heart of Los Angeles lies a surprising hotspot of equestrian activity.

Nicknamed Burbank Rancho, the Rancho Equestrian District has perhaps the most famous collection of neighbors in Burbank, California.

Nestled near the studio lots of Disney and Warner Brothers, the district consists of about 785 singlefamily houses, 180 condominiums and townhomes and 250 horses.

The district’s main thoroughfare Riverside Drive is lined with sycamore and oak trees, some of which are more than 70 years old. It is quite common to see people on horseback riding along the drive’s designated horse lanes.

Of historical note, the Rancho was the home to

078-079-Territory.indd 78

TV star “Mr. Ed,” the talking horse of the early 1960s show of the same name. Other notable former Rancho residents included Ava Gardner, Ronald Reagan and Tab Hunter. Bette Davis lived in the adjoining Glendale Rancho area.

Burbank Rancho is known especially for its parks and open space, including the centrally located Mountain View Park, Johnny Carson Park, Bette Davis Park and the neighborhood’s beloved Polliwog, which extends along Disney’s animation building and is used by area residents to exercise their horses.

The Rancho is also home to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, which is renowned for its services provided to area horse enthusiasts as much as

the spectacular equine shows regularly held at the 75-acre facility.

The center exists primarily as a premier training stable and exhibition facility alongside the historic Griffith Park. Most notable on the grounds is the luxurious Equidome—an impressive 3,500 seat indoor arena located in the heart of the Equestrian Center. This deluxe facility was built in 1982 and remains the largest covered equine arena in the nation to date. It was developed to be flexible as a full-service facility created to cater to even the most imaginative events. The complex is completed by two adjacent exhibition arenas designed with rings of adobe stone walls and flanked by the landscaped polo and hunt fields.

Photography: Burbank tourism, Fotosearch, Los angeles equestrian center

By Michaela Stephens

6/12/13 2:34 PM

Photography: Burbank tourism, Fotosearch, Los angeles equestrian center

The Los Angeles Equestrian Center is home to a vast array of patrons and features a multitude of barns that house a variety of trainers and horse breeds within them, making it one of the most diverse stables in the country.

From typical local and breed shows of every variety to celebrations like the annual Fiesta of the Spanish Horse—a show held to raise funds for cancer research—the Los Angeles Equestrian Center makes good use of its stunning facilities. The complex is also the site for many charity events throughout the year such as William Shatner’s Hollywood Reining Charity Event in April. At the end of each year, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses presents Equestfest, a pre-parade display by the equestrians

participating in the Rose Parade, at the Equidome.

Gracious enough to allow visitors to rent horses for the best view of the famous Hollywood sign or the famous Greek Theater along the park’s 55 miles of trails, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center’s onsite livery stable draws many guests to the complex each year.

With a world-class arena, an abundance of trails and residences that can also house a horse, some might call Burbank an equestrian paradise within a busy metropolis.

For information about this beautiful hotspot in Los Angeles, please visit: www.la-equestriancenter.com www.calamigosequestrian.com laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithpk/horseback.htm www.ranchorealestate.com/equestrian-district.html Burbank.com

Summer 2013 CHROME | 79

078-079-Territory.indd 79

6/12/13 2:34 PM

{place} NO FENCES

Little Joe Story and Illsutration by Johi Kokjohn-Wagner

A

s a pig-tailed child, I was obsessed with horses.

I learned all the equestrian colors and breeds even before I knew how to tie my shoes. Perhaps this was because my parents were in the horse business.

My folks owned and operated livery stables, thus supplying about 110 head of horses to the general public for guided trail rides through the Rockies. Every one of those dude horses had a name, customized tack, and devotion from each member of my family.

Horses were not only our business, they were our passion.

My natural inclination was always toward the “fancy” color breeds. I admired palominos, buckskins and blue roans, but the Paints were my chosen favorite.

We had a handful of colorful Paint horses in our livery string. There were sorrel-and-white overos,

bay-and-white toveros and black-and-white tobianos. To my young eyes, each one was more beautiful than the next.

Oh, how I longed to ride a magnificent blackand-white painted horse. It was my dream horse, especially if I adorned him in one of those blackand-silver parade saddles, polished to a high sheen and glinting in the sun. I would coordinate my shirt to his saddle pad and don a black hat over my white-blond locks to match his hair coat.

To emphasize my love of Paints, I talked incessantly about them to anyone who would listen.

I told my best friend, my grandmother and my sister about my imagined perfect Paint Horse. I scoured books about horses, searching for photos and artist’s renditions of Paints. I drew pictures of painted steeds running free under the purpleand-gold hues of the setting sun. I pointed out Paints in pastures, magazines and movies, loudly professing my love.

Finally, the time had arrived. My sister and I had outgrown our ponies, Golden Glow and Whiskers. My parents were searching for a pair of “starter horses” for each of us and found two of what they called “pony-horses.”

My sister received a 55-inch, 14-year-old, quick black gaming pony by the name of Jet. I was gifted with a 52-inch, 20-year-old, sweet and shaggy, black-and-white pony named Little Joe. He was the most beautiful horse I had ever laid eyes upon.

I immediately loved him with every fiber of my 7-year-old being.

Little Joe and I became fast friends.

He was quiet, even-tempered, reliable and not too tall—a wonderful starter horse for a shy, yet determined young girl. We went everywhere

80 | CHROME Summer 2013

080-081-LittleJoe.indd 80

6/12/13 2:18 PM

together; always close behind my sister and Jet. In fact, Little Joe never went anywhere without following Jet. We rode behind my sister and her black pony so often that the image of her long braids hanging down her back and his full black tail are ingrained in my mind.

It was on Little Joe that I learned how to sit a trot and a canter.

It was on Little Joe that a helpful summertime employee showed me how to properly hold reins and position my legs. It was on Little Joe that I felt what it was like to let a horse go into a full gallop.

It was on Little Joe that I lost my balance and fell off head first into a bush. It was on Little Joe that I gained horsemanship skill and confidence. He never bucked with me and didn’t seem to have a mean bone in his body. He was indeed, the perfect little “Paint” for me.

One day, my dad came home from the sale barn with a gift for Little Joe and me. My heart raced when he handed me a shiny red-vinyl headstall with a red plume feather affixed between the ears.

I was overjoyed. It wasn’t a gleaming black-andsilver parade saddle; it was even BETTER!

080-081-LittleJoe.indd 81

I was so proud to ride my fancy little horse with that bridle. I used it for parades, trail rides and any time I jumped on him bareback in the pen. With me in my matching red shirt, we were quite the vision. I didn’t even notice that the vinyl was cracked and the feather was completely moth-eaten.

While the little black-and-white horse was always kind to me, he did not always extend that courtesy to other people, specifically men.

There was a rear-mount-gone-awry situation with a male wrangler at the livery stable that included an impressive display of bucking. However, Joe would let me mount him any way, any time I tried.

Another time, Joe was at the far end of a muddy pen when my dad caught him to bring him up to the barn. Not wanting to walk back through the mud, my 6-foot tall dad decided to hitch a ride on my gentle steed to the gate. Little Joe was not tolerant of having a grown man on his back.

Not one bit. The tiny spotted horse furiously kicked and bucked until my dad “dismounted” (on his head).

On the other hand, my mom would feed hay in that same muddy lot, and often she would use Little Joe’s back to carry the hay bales to the bunk.

He was always sweet and cooperative with her

and the heavy hay.

As kids tend to do, I kept growing and Little Joe stayed the same size. It was bittersweet when I then moved on to my first official Paint Horse.

I registered my new colt as Joes Velvet Whisker, as a tribute to my faithful former equine partner. I then retired the red bridle to a peg on the tackroom wall, where it still hangs.

Little Joe lived out the rest of his years as a Girl Scout Camp horse, and then moved on to another little pig-tailed girl who needed a pony to teach her.

Johi Kokjohn-Wagner Johi Kokjohn-Wagner is a writer, illustrator, photographer, stay-at-home mom and horsewoman. She was raised on an Iowa horse ranch, where she was worked like a beefy man. Somehow, in the midst of lifting hay, scooping manure and mudding up boots, she developed a love of books, art, fashion and design.

Johi currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her husband, their two sons, two naughty dogs, two adorable ponies and one smelly cat.

6/12/13 2:19 PM

Ediorial and Photography by Abigail Boatwright

Located in horse-country Florida, the French-style home of Lynn Palm and Cyril Pittion-Rossillon is both comfortable and charming.

L

ined on both sides with lush green, fenced equine paddocks the roads through Ocala, Florida, are hedged with horse farm after horse farm after horse farm. Home to more than 1,200 horse properties, it’s understandable why the Central Florida town is designated as the “Horse Capital of the World.”

Arriving at Fox Grove Farms, one is treated to an oasis of Spanish moss-covered live oaks, a manicured lawn and beautiful landscaping that leads to a decidedly European-style home. A jump course and grassy dressage arena in the front yard differentiates the facility from the nearby Thoroughbred farms. Preceded by a trio of friendly Labradors, Lynn Palm and her husband Cyril Pittion-Rossillon took time to give a behind-the-scenes look of their Ocala residence.

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 82

6/13/13 4:14 PM

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 83

6/13/13 4:15 PM

The Equine Chateau

“Our overall plan was for the property and the farm to be a place of education and entertainment— and horses, horses and horses.”

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 84

Lynn is arguably one of the most recognizable trainers in the world. The pioneer female trainer became famous in the stock horse world for her work with the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inductee Rugged Lark, a bay Quarter Horse who excelled in both Western and English events and was shown at the 1996 Olympics. Lynn also trained the late stallion’s son, Rugged Painted Lark, the bay tobiano stallion immortalized by photographer David Stoecklein on the cover of the coffee table book The American Paint Horse.

Lynn, along with her husband, dressage master Cyril, operate Palm Partnership Training from two locations: Royal Palm Ranch in Ironwood, Michigan, and Fox Grove Farms in Ocala, Florida.

While the Michigan location is larger, its winters can be harsh. The Florida facility is ideal for year-round instruction, and the couple has designed it with the comfort of students in mind.

Lynn and Cyril purchased the 38-acre property in 1998 with a small ranchstyle home on it. “We made plans to have the main lodge entertainmentready,” Lynn said. “Our overall plan was for the property and the farm to be a place of education and entertainment—and horses, horses and horses.”

In homage to Cyril’s French heritage and Lynn’s love of the French countryside, the couple built a larger, more modern home in that style.

“I took photos in France for inspiration,” Lynn said. “The roof is slate looking. The chimneys, archways and colors are French-country style.”

6/13/13 4:15 PM

World Travelers’ Decor

Many of the furniture pieces in the home are either antiques inherited by Cyril, purchased by the couple in France and shipped to Florida, or commissioned in the United States to complement those items. Just inside the home’s entrance, beside a sideboard where a ceramic fox perches, Lynn displays a brocade-upholstered chair.

“This chair has original tapestry, and we brought it from France,” Lynn said. “It’s 17th century, and let me tell you, if it had been a pair, I would have bought both.”

In the nearby formal living room, is a small desk and chair the couple purchased in France, placed beside comfortably stuffed sofas and loveseats. Walking to the end of the room, Lynn unfastens the French doors to open up a view of the screened-in pool and patio area.

Next to the living room is a bright and spacious kitchen, with granite countertops perfectly designed for entertaining.

The French Chair

“It’s 17 th century, and let me tell you, if it had been a pair, I would have bought both.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 85

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 85

6/13/13 4:15 PM

Lynn and Cyril designed their kitchen for entertaining. The buffet-style granite countertops serve a crowd with ease.

“If you do any entertaining, you know most of it is in the kitchen,” Lynn said. “So we have this kitchen, but it also serves us well when we do big meals when riders come in. That’s why we’ve got a buffet-style countertop. Everyone eats either in here or out by the pool.”

Placed beside the breakfast area’s patio doors is a weathered farmhouse-style table. Lynn’s mother Betty is seated with her longhaired Dachshund, drinking coffee and reading a newspaper before picking up her knitting needles. Betty lives with the couple, and Lynn says this table is her mom’s favorite spot in the house.

Purchased in Sarasota, a town south of Ocala on the Gulf Coast, the table was actually assembled in the United Kingdom out of 100-yearold reclaimed wood from European estates.

Lynn says they have several pieces from the same company throughout the house, contributing an old-world feel to their home.

“I like everything natural [stained],” Lynn said. “I love this table. For me, this is very French.”

Floridian Hospitality

A screened-in pool area is de rigueur in balmy Florida. Intended to keep out leaves and debris as well as insects, the large screened patio is furnished for comfort, with padded chairs and tables surrounding the beautifully landscaped pool and hot tub. Music plays from speakers placed throughout the patio.

Behind the pool are turnout paddocks and a drive that leads to the stables, covered arena and round pen. Thoroughbreds look out over the fence, while Rugged Painted Lark kicks up his heels in the round pen.

Flanking the right side of the main house are guest quarters, which face the pool. Originally, the property was shared with another couple, Cyril says. Hailing from Switzerland, Heidi and Walter Burkhalter built the house for when they visited Florida. The two couples were close friends and Heidi is co-owner of Rugged Painted Lark. Cyril fondly recalls their times together and says they will always cherish those memories.

Lynn’s mother Betty lives with the couple, and this British reclaimed wood table is her favorite spot.

86 | CHROME Summer 2013

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 86

6/13/13 4:15 PM

Fox Grove’s screened-in pool offers a pleasant outdoor experience for eating and relaxing.

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 87

6/13/13 4:16 PM

Designed by Cyril to remind him of Great Britain, Fox Grove Inn is an English-style pub inside the Main House.

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 88

6/13/13 4:23 PM

A Bit of Britain

Back inside the main house through another pool-facing entrance is the couple’s favorite room, the Red Fox Inn, an English-style pub. Having spent time in Great Britain, Cyril designed the space to remind him of his time there.

“The beams on the ceiling are dark and I used hunter green, blues and maroon in here,” Cyril said. “It feels very British to me.”

The couple’s Labradors wander into the room, hoping for a treat. Lynn introduces the dogs: Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and Hudson.

“They’re English Labs, and I love Sherlock Holmes,” Cyril said. “In the Sherlock Holmes stories, Mrs. Hudson was the tenant of Sherlock

Holmes and Dr. Watson. Any Lab we ever get, we’re going to name them after a character from Sherlock Holmes.”

An aged wardrobe against one wall has a storied history.

“That piece is from a very old farm cabin,” Cyril said. “It’s 350 years old. It’s been in my family for generations. It’s very unique, and was brought from France.”

“It was a ladies’ hat closet,” Lynn added. “We’ve had some good times in this room.”

The pub also opens onto the home’s front patio, where slate tile connects the door to the main front door. Honeysuckle curls around the stone arches, and a wood bench is positioned for guests to observe the jumping course.

Inherited from Cyril’s family and displayed in the pub, this former hat cabinet is 350 years old.

The Front

Porch

Visitors seated on the porch can access the front door and pub with a view of the jumps course in the front yard.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 89

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 89

6/13/13 4:24 PM

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 90

6/13/13 4:25 PM

The Red

Fox

Just inside the home’s entrance, a ceramic fox, the symbol for Fox Grove Farms, perches on a sideboard.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 91

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 91

6/13/13 4:43 PM

A photo of Lynn’s last ride on Rugged Lark is displayed in her office.

Sentimental Pieces

Across from the antique chair in the entrance hall is a large painting of Lynn with her favorite equine partner Rugged Lark, painted by an Ocala artist named Debbie Fitzgerald. The stallion is also immortalized in framed photographs on the walls of Lynn’s office, along with a herd of Breyer model horses based on Rugged Lark and other horses Lynn has trained including Rugged Painted Lark.

The office on the first floor takes up two rooms—one for Palm Partnership Director Marie-Frances Davis and a larger space for Lynn. A custom Phil Harris saddle sits in one corner. A French-imported table dominates the center of the room. Nestled among the Breyer model horses are world championship and AQHA Superhorse trophies from competitions over the years. Framed magazine articles about Lynn and her horses also adorn the walls.

“That magazine cover was the last performance of Rugged Lark,” Lynn said. “This photo was from my last ride on him, too.”

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 92

The room adjacent to the office holds a glassed-in wall display of more than a hundred miniature figurines. Upon closer inspection, each piece is a variation of a soldier from a different regiment of Napoleon’s army—authentic to the tiniest detail and completely unique. Cyril is proud of his collection because his aunt made all of the figurines.

“My aunt started making these a long time ago as a hobby,” Cyril said. “She was so good at it that she started getting some orders. Pretty soon she became the world’s leading authority on Napoleonic figurines and these uniforms. She got so many orders that my uncle, an engineer, quit his job to help with her business full-time.”

Cyril says his aunt advised museums and enthusiasts from all over the world about Napoleon’s army uniforms because of her research and attention to detail.

“These pieces are a pride of mine, and I’m glad to have inherited them from my father,” Cyril said.

6/13/13 4:24 PM

Cyril displays saddles from the couple’s company Alliance in his office.

Holding up a particular figurine of a soldier mounted on a horse, Cyril shared the story behind its acquisition. He learned that the pieces are sold at places such as Waterloo in Belgium. Visiting the site with Lynn and some friends, Cyril discovered his aunt’s figurines for sale in a gift shop near the monument. He purchased one, and says it’s his favorite of the collection.

Walking through the kitchen, Lynn and Cyril stop to look at a photo of the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur, a monument in Paris.

“Cyril asked me to marry him there,” Lynn said of the photo. “We were touring around the tower. I loved it. I love that area—Montmartre—with the painters.”

In a hallway on the way to a set of stairs that lead to the second floor, Cyril points out photos of chateaus from the Loire Valley in France. The riding instructor earned his riding master degree from the French National HorseRiding School of Saumur, located not far from the photographed castles.

One, Chateau de Chenonceau, is Lynn’s favorite. Cyril’s brother lives near

another, at Chantilly.

Other artwork from Italy’s Tuscany reminds the couple of dear friends who live in Siena, and another painting is of bridges in Venice.

“I love paintings,” Cyril said. “And these are of places that speak to me.”

Upstairs in Cyril’s office is a rack of the couple’s Alliance English saddles, and placed beside his desk is another of Cyril’s prized possessions—a linen chair passed down from his grandparents.

“This chair is from 1764,” Cyril said. “It’s absolutely original. I love heirlooms from my family. Those are the things that will never be sold.”

“I love heirlooms from my family.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 93

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 93

6/13/13 4:24 PM

The

Vacation

Destinantion

“ We’re going into our second phase of building this as a vacation resort destination,”

With the tour complete, Cyril excuses himself to his next riding lesson, and Lynn heads out to capture Rugged Painted Lark for his “close up.” Later, they’ll be forging collaborations with equine associates and hosting a dinner with riding friends. With a facility designed for practicality and comfort, the couple often entertains guests and students.

“We’re going into our second phase of building this as a vacation resort destination,” Lynn said. “There are a lot of unique attractions close by, and there’s so much emphasis on equestrian here. Florida has so much to offer.”

94 | CHROME Summer 2013

082-094-Feature_Lynn_Palm_May6.indd 94

6/13/13 4:24 PM

095-SherwinWilliams_fp.indd 95

6/11/13 3:57 PM

096-TwisterTrailer_fp.indd 96

6/11/13 3:59 PM

{JOURNEY} WANDERLUST

097-104-Wanderlust.indd 97

6/12/13 4:15 PM

{journey} wanderlust

By Jess Morton

097-104-Wanderlust.indd 98

6/14/13 12:20 PM

Photography: Fotosearch, jess morton

Experience Italy’s Tuscan countryside from horseback, riding through the vineyards and colorful landscapes of the Chianti region.

Photography: Fotosearch, jess morton

A Ride to Remember

Photography: Fotosearch, jess morton

Photography: Fotosearch, jess morton

“I

think this will be a day that I will remember for the rest of my life,” Rikard Sipinen softly declared after a day of riding an American Paint Horse through a portion of Italy’s Chianti region.

It had been 15 years since the Swedish man had previously been on a horse when his father took him out galloping through the fields near their hometown of Nykvarh. Dogs began chasing the horses, and the last thing Rikard remembered was flying off his testy mount, fainting, and then waking to a dog noisily slobbering over his face.

“My sister was furious,” he laughed. “She said it was our fault, and that we were irresponsible.”

Now, with the horses put away for the evening, Rikard sits on a wooden bench watching a dramatic sunset outside the stables. Slightly sunburned, contentedly tired and smelling nicely of horse, Rikard says the day has been especially memorable because of the bond developed with his horse.

“We were a team,” he said. “I felt what soldiers must have felt for their mounts at the end of a long campaign—we got through it together.”

Rikard’s horse, “Apache,” was a kind and steady mount for a rider who lacked experience and technique. Yet, the horse also gave a great satisfaction to the rider; carrying him down steep descents and letting him enjoy long canters without ever feeling a loss of control.

It took a holiday in Tuscany, Italy, with his sister, Helen, and niece Linnea Henreiksson, as well as the novelty of a Western saddle and a Paint Horse, to get Rikard riding again: And, he’s already planning his next trip on horseback.

Linnea Henreiksson, Helen Sipinen and Rikkard Sipinen

“I think this will be a day that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 99

097-104-Wanderlust.indd 99

6/12/13 3:54 PM

Writer Jess Morton and Castellare stallion Cat N Diamonds (Lucky)

100 | CHROME Summer 2013

097-104-Wanderlust.indd 100

6/12/13 3:54 PM

Photography: Fotosearch

May is a beautiful time to visit the ancient Chianti of Tuscany region with the regenerative power of spring is apparent everywhere. As the sun warms the earth, flowers bloom and there is a sense of renewal and new life all around.

Riding trails meander through Castellare di Tonda, an ancient farm of more than 900 acres that dates back to the renaissance period when owned by the Strozzis, a noble Florence family of bankers. Today, the farm produces three varieties of wine, and operates as a base for riders looking to get off the beaten track. This area was abandoned in the 1950s, when centuries of tenant farming (mezzadria) ended with a mass exodus of farming families for the cities. This mass emigration left the area under populated and its pristine scenery remains unspoiled allowing for hours and hours of spectacular horse riding in every direction.

Surrounded by forests, silver olive groves and miles of vineyards, the surrounding landscape is a paradise for trail riders, and Stefano Scotti, the owner of the estate and an avid horseman, takes special care to keep the trails well maintained. Besides being a base for riders looking to escape into the Tuscan countryside, the estate is also home to Stefano’s breeding operation of Paint and Quarter Horses for both competition and. The breeding station has three stallions including the 2003 sorrel solid Paint stallion Cat N Diamonds, who is by Like A Diamond and out of Playin Lika Cat.

Photography: Fotosearch, CHRISTIANE SLAWIK

Gloriously Tuscan

Photography: Fotosearch

Photography: Fotosearch, CHRISTIANE SLAWIK

Riding trails meander through Castellare di Tonda, an ancient farm of more than 900 acres that dates back to the Renaissance period.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 101

097-104-Wanderlust.indd 101

6/12/13 3:54 PM

Morning Glory The foundations of the castle have stood for at least 2,500 years and date back to the Etruscan period. The trails the group is riding have seen centuries of travelers, merchants and soldiers. Under the castle is the original road made of cut white stone, which dates back to Roman times. This peaceful section of the trail is lined with ancient cypress trees, which shade the horses from the midday sun as they carefully pick their way down the hill where Castelfalfi stands.

The unique sound of horse shoes on the cobbled stones, surrounded by the rich smell of pine and wildflowers, is representative of a time gone by, and gloriously Tuscan.

Here the countryside becomes wilder with long dirt roads cutting into the patchwork of colored fields. As the group rides up a hillside to an ancient ruin, shoot six large wild boar, cinghiale, shoot out of the brush in front of the horses. One after another, they sprint down toward the shaded woods below, tails swinging madly behind them. A few moments later, seven young cinghiale run out onto the road to catch up with the adults.

The group’s reliable Paint Horses simply watch the animals in awe.

Cinghiale in Tuscany have great cultural significance. Growing up to 400 pounds, the wild boars were once considered by men on foot carrying spears and following packs of hounds. The dogs were trained to capture the boar until the hunter could get close enough to spear it. Today, the hunt of cinghiale is still popular during the winter season, though nowadays the dogs are used only to flush the game. The wild boar is then finished off with a rifle.

097-104-Wanderlust.indd 102

Photography: Fotosearch

a satanic symbol during medieval times due to their tusks and dark appearance. For hundreds of years, they were hunted

6/12/13 3:55 PM

Photography: Fotosearch, JESS MORTON

Leaving the stables shortly after breakfast, the group rides down Tufo sand trails to the Castelfalfi Nature Reserve and then up to the estate’s vineyards.

Tuscany is famous for art, culture, food and, of course, wine. Here, in the heart of Chianti, vineyards are everywhere. Splendidly lush and green, they contrast sharply with the red Tufo sand covering the ground. Around each massive vineyard is a well-maintained Tufo trail that allows the group to canter and gallop. The horses know this area well, and with noses tucked to their chests, a couple begin to prance and sidestep.

Helen, who is riding a young homebred Paint by Cat N Diamonds, has a smile on her face as the chestnut gelding surges ahead. Just behind her mother is Linnea riding Invest In Bonanza, aka “Hidalgo,” with Rikard on Apache bringing up the rear.

From the vineyard, the group rides down past the medieval village and fortressed castle of Castelfalfi, whose original name “Castrum Faolfi” was first mentioned in a document dated back to the 700s. This borgo was once home to the Medicis, a famous banking family during the Renaissance period. Color is everywhere—cobalt blue skies expressively contrast against the cypress trees that lead up to farmhouses of earthy shades with dark green shutters.

Midday Conversations

Photography: Fotosearch, JESS MORTON

Photography: Fotosearch

From the nature reserve, the group rides on to Ghizzano, a small medieval village that is under Pisan control. There, they take a lunch stop high in the hills under a large oak tree where the tourism board has installed a rest area for horseback riders. There are plenty of mature olive trees to tie off the horses, and long lush grass for them to graze on while the group enjoys their lunch, which was delivered by a car to the spot.

The group drinks locally produced Chianti wine, and enjoy an Italianstyle picnic complete with prosciutto, salami, three types of Tuscan cheese, salad, boiled eggs and Tuscan bread. To complete the meal is Italian coffee along with cake made with orange and pine nuts.

The group drinks locally produced Chianti wine, and enjoys an Italian-style picnic complete with prosciutto, salami, three types of Tuscan cheese, salad, boiled eggs and Tuscan bread.

It’s a time for relaxation and conversation as the group discusses the horses they have ridden over the years.

Helen laughs as she recalls her first horse, a 16-hand black ex-racehorse.

“I was a tiny child,” she recalled. “My horse would never let me catch her.

I would spend hours trying to get the head collar on her, and had to learn all sorts of tricks to get hold of her. Poor mare. Back then I used to ride her for hours, and usually at speed … she probably saw me as some sort of crazy elf girl that always made her run and she wanted nothing to do with me.”

Once used as a draught animal, Chianina are the biggest cattle breed in the world and date back to the pre-Roman Empire, making it among the oldest of all pure cattle breeds. The large, strong animals hail from the Chiana Valley in Tuscany, and are the producers of the world famous Florentine steak.

The forested and hauntingly lovely Val d’Elsa is home to some spectacular ruins such as the monastery San Vivaldo, pilgrimage route built 400 years ago and the Cafaldo Springs, a mysterious natural spring located at the bottom of a shadowy canyon.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 103

097-104-Wanderlust.indd 103

6/12/13 3:55 PM

Afternoon Adventures

Following the midday meal, the horses are resaddled and the riders wake up their senses from the break with a quick canter through a unique section of the trail. Here, the rock has been cut away to form a tunnel, and the horses love the twists and turns as the trail slowly winds its way up the mountain.

The group rides on to the old Villa Monti, used as a hunting lodge by the Bardi family during the Renaissance period. The current owners claim the ghost of a white horse can be seen galloping during winter from the villa windows.

After crossing through open fields and riding through horse-high grass, the riders come to a Chianina cattle farm. Heavily muscled with long legs, hard hooves and a calm disposition, the cattle ignore the riders, although a couple of curious calves amble towards them before taking off in fright to return to their mothers.

The trail then leads through the village of Sughera, just outside perimeter of Castellare’s 900-acre property. In the distance, 20 horses of varying colors can be seen grazing. These are the retired trail horses as well as the broodmares and yearlings from the breeding farm.

As the group enters Castellare on the grass trail outside of the fenced pasture, the horses decide to join the riders, who urge their mounts into a canter to gallop alongside the horses. A long, grassy stretch where the horses surge ahead happily, it is no doubt a highlight of the day’s ride for everyone.

Easeful Evening

Having bathed the horses and put them away for the evening, it’s understandable why Rikard describes the day as one of those he’ll remember for the rest of his life. For years, he was scared of horses but today his Paint Horse was a partner in his Italian adventure.

Tuscany has always been famous for its wines, its art galleries and its wonderful cucina povera. Riding this spectacular region on horseback is a unique and eco-friendly way to discover both the area’s wonderful countryside and historic points of interest.

And what better equine partner to see the Tuscan beauty from than the American Paint Horse?

Go online to learn more about Castellare di Tonda and trail rides through Tuscan region of Italy: www.castellareditonda.com ctquarterhorses.wordpress.com www.inthesaddle.com/rides/view/143_castellareditonda_ tuscany_italy

Colorful Country One does not instantly think of American Paint Horses in this land of medieval castles, crumbling ruins and old Roman roads, yet the Paint Horse with his unique coloring and willing nature But why do so many Italians choose Paint Horses when Tuscany is known for its native Maremmano horse?

A Paint Horse’s character is the most common answer. The Paint has a reputation as an honest and calm horse. The modern Maremmano horse, which was once stocky, rustic and hardy, has been infused with Thoroughbred blood since the turn of the last century in an effort to breed athletic sport horses. The result is a tall and often high-strung horse that is better suited to the show-jumping ring than working cattle in the Maremmano swamplands.

Photography: Fotosearch, JESS MORTON

has made his mark on the Italians—and is today one of the most popular breeds in the country.

104 | CHROME Summer 2013

097-104-Wanderlust.indd 104

6/12/13 3:55 PM

105-LyndonGaither_fp.indd 105

6/11/13 4:09 PM

{JOURNEY} HAVE HORSE, WILL TRAVEL

SWAT Team Don’t let pesky flies take a bite out of your trail-riding adventure.

By Michaela Stephens

S

ummer temperatures always bring the excitement of adventure on the trails, but the ďŹ rst outing can quickly turn sour if it leads to a mass of bug bites and an agitated horse.

106 | CHROME Summer 2013

106-107-Fly_Control2.indd 106

6/18/13 4:13 PM

Fly Control The desire to enjoy the outdoors doesn’t mean having to tolerate nagging pests. The key to a pleasant ride is to ensure your horse is comfortable by taking a few precautions before hitting the trails.

At Home

Having a solid pest control plan in place is the best precaution against flies and other insects this summer.

The trick is to have a system to prevent flies around the barn and pasture from every angle and then to double those precautions on your horse when riding outdoors.

“It is always more reasonable to prevent rather than fight pests,” said Christine Miller, marketing manager of APHA Corporate Partner Farnam’s equine division. “Thorough pest management in all seasons comes from having a plan in place as early as possible. Giving your horse every possible advantage against his summer foes—both prevention around the barn and prevention on your horse—will lead to an enjoyable trail experience.”

The fly population around the barn is directly related to the manure pile. Keeping the barn area clear of manure piles and trash will reduce the breeding potential of flies.

“Flies live and reproduce in the dirtiest areas of the barn,” Christine said. “Eliminating them on the home front in these areas is a great place to begin the pest-control system, and will ensure a relaxing grooming and saddling process before the trail.”

Besides flies, removing standing and stagnant water is also a must to prevent mosquitoes, which not only annoy horses but also spread the deadly West Nile Virus.

Other methods to use around barns and pastures include spraying the premises with a spray like Farnam’s Bronco Equine Fly Spray, hanging sticky tapes and fly traps, and adding feed-thru products to the horse’s diet.

“Feed-thrus work by controlling

flies in and around the barn as they stop flies from maturing into biting, breeding adults,” Christine said.

On the Trail

There are a number of products to help keep flies from annoying your horse while outdoors. The choices for topical solutions are endless with fly sprays, roll-ons, wipe-ons, ointments and even physical barriers.

“With the wide array of fly-control options on the market, you should experiment to determine the most effective products for your situation and the best combinations of products for your horse,” Christine said.

Fly spray and other topical defenses should be applied after grooming and saddling to determine the areas needing the most coverage and to prevent interference from tack or skin irritation.

“Farnam Bronco Equine Fly Spray is an effective, water-based formula that has a pleasant citronella scent and can be used directly on horses and in horse quarters,” Christine said.

For long rides, it’s best to avoid water-based sprays, which can wear off quickly, and instead use a sweatresistant product such as Farnam Endure, which is available as a spray or roll-on, and oil-based sprays for longevity on the trail.

“Farnam Endure provides up to 14 days of fly control and keeps on working even in wet conditions,” Christine said.

Fly repellant ointments can be applied to sensitive face or healing skin areas, while roll-on products or petroleum jelly can be used on ears.

Final options include physical barriers such as fly masks, capes, sheets and leg wraps.

Riding on the trails should be a relaxing experience for both horse and rider. Developing a solid defense scheme and taking all possible precautions against agitating flies will clear the path to a more focused horse and an enjoyable trail experience for both of you.

There are thousands of species of flies in the United States. While only a select number of these species are common

MANAGEMENT—Maintaining and Minimizing Throughout the Season Flies are a top annoyance to many

nuisances, the disruptions they cause to

horses and horse owners. Maintaining

your horse’s normal feeding and pasturing

pastures, employing good manure man-

routines can be upsetting. Many fly species

agement methods, and protecting horses

can also transmit injurious diseases.

with products and flywear is essential

APHA Corporate Partner Farnam sug-

throughout the season.

gests implementation of a three-stage fly

• Keep your pastures healthy and pick

control program of prevention, reduction,

up manure daily. Best practice is to

and management to protect your horse’s

cover stored manure piles with clear

comfort and health.

plastic and/or to hire a commercial

PREVENTION—Using the Right Products

service for pick up and removal. Use

at the Right Time

a feed-thru fly control product prior

The first step to fly control is preventing

to the onset of the season to inhibit

flies from becoming a problem in the barn

the development of adult houseflies

and pasture areas, which is best done

and stable flies in the manure of

by targeting the species most common to your environment and most harmful to your horse.

• Reduce the number of flies by starting fly control early in the season.

• Prevent flies from breeding by using products that interrupt fly life cycles.

• Use products that will target all the species in your area.

• Practice routine sanitation and take

treated horses.

• Use good flywear, such as Farnam’s SuperMask® II Horse Fly Mask, to help protect your horse’s face, eyes and ears.

• Use equine fly control products on your horse, especially around sensitive areas, which varies depending upon the fly species.

• Available products include roll-ons,

housekeeping measures to keep fly

sprays and lotions; always be sure

populations down inside and around

to follow the product label’s direc-

the barn and surrounding environments.

tions for use.

REDUCTION—Keeping Fly Populations

The most effective fly control strategies target flies throughout the fly life cycle, us-

Low Even the best-managed strategy cannot

ing methods for prevention, reduction, and

entirely prevent flies from reaching your

management. Farnam has a full line of fly

horse, whether he is indoors or out. How-

control products to protect you, your horse,

ever, having fewer flies to deal with will

and your surrounding environment.

make your horse more comfortable. This is why fly control is an on-going process; your early prevention efforts can be more effective when supplemented with other fly control methods such as: • Reducing larval habitats attractive to flies with regular cleaning and mucking and keeping all edibles for your horse in closed storage bins.

• Keep your barn and pasture areas clean and dry by eliminating standing water and dispose of all wet feed and hay. Be sure to also dispose of all trash in sealed, rodent-proof containers.

• Using repelling sprays approved for barn use around the barn’s perimeter and set traps for common nuisance flies outside to draw flies out of the barn and prevent flies from entering the barn. Do not use traps inside the barn or you will attract many flies right where you are trying to get rid of them.

My Chrome Life Go to mychromelife.com/journey to download the Farnam Fly Control Guide, and also discover how you can get a 25% rebate on Farnam fly products.

Summer 2013 CHROME | 107

106-107-Fly_Control2.indd 107

6/12/13 4:06 PM

{journey} GIDDY UP

Dude ranches provide a unique opportunity for a family vacation.

T

By Michaela Stephens

he idea of stepping back into the pages of history has excited generations for ages. While museums and libraries hold facts of our history within books and behind display cases, the presence of dude or guest ranches have emerged as a way to preserve and experience the past. These ranches provide the rare opportunity to live rather than read an adventure and offer a fresh alternative to the traditional family vacation or reunion.

Dude ranches are as diverse in amenities as the guests who frequent them.

Many ranches are conveniently located near national parks or landmarks while others can be found in remote regions near picturesque towns for a more complete immersion in the Old West.

Colleen Hodson, executive director of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, says these ranch destinations appeal to families in particular, adding that an

108-109-GiddyUp.indd 108

6/12/13 8:52 AM

Photography: Fotosearch, ABC

Under the Open Sky

extended-family gathering or reunion at a ranch provides the opportunity to bond and create memories in a new and adventurous environment.

“Dude ranches are truly the original, all-inclusive vacation destination. They give families a chance to connect and create memories,” she said. “There are no hassles because everything is taken care of—from transportation to lodging to meals to activities. A vacation to one of the more than 100 DRA-accredited all-inclusive guest ranches gives you more time to enjoy your vacation rather than worrying about planning your next activity.”

Whether your focus is the addition of horses to your escape destination, or the desire to be closer to the stars, the unique landscape of a dude ranch can provide a rich alternative to traditional vacation destinations. While many choose a working ranch for the excitement of the historical experience, many guest ranches have evolved into all-inclusive resorts to compete with other destination vacations and can even offer spa and golf packages within their customized itineraries. Some ranches also include adventure activities like whitewater rafting and zip-lining.

“The Dude Ranchers’ Association has seen an increase in bookings over the last couple of years,” Colleen said. “We attribute it to the fact that people still want an all-inclusive vacation experience without the large crowds you normally see on cruise ships or very well known tourist destinations. Plus, the cost of a dude ranch vacation is very comparable, and can be even more affordable than other all-inclusive options.”

A ranch combines elements of a modern business supporting the economy while allowing guests space for reflection and perspective. Set apart from tra-

Photography: Fotosearch, ABC

“Dude ranches are truly the original, all-inclusive vacation destination, and give families a chance to connect and create memories.”

ditional vacation venues in hectic resorts and bustling tourism capitals, ranches offer a remote retreat as well as an educational experience.

“Most of our dude ranches are multi-generational owned and operated,” Colleen said. “So they are the real deal.”

While lodging can range anywhere between small, charming cabins to stunning lodge resort accommodations, a family’s stay is certain to be restful. Most ranches now provide onsite dining services or are located near charming historic communities that offer a night of exploration on the town.

Whether a working ranch, or an all-inclusive resort guest ranch is preferred, a retreat into the countryside for stargazing, fishing and riding is the ultimate setting for an atmosphere of relaxation and recreation. No matter what destination getaway has been pictured, there is a ranch experience to meet and exceed the vision.

Guest ranch vacations have become so mainstream that one near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming was featured in the opening episode of ABC’s Modern Family 20112012 season.

Photography: Fotosearch, ABC

Photography: Fotosearch, ABC

“Most of our dude ranches are multi-generational owned and operated, so they are the real deal.”

To learn more about dude and guest ranches and how to create a family all-inclusive vacation at one, check out this website:

www.duderanch.org

Summer 2013 CHROME | 109

108-109-GiddyUp.indd 109

6/12/13 2:20 PM

110-EquiBRAND_fp.indd 1

6/11/13 2:45 PM

{CULTURE}

Photography: MCLISTER

LISTEN TO THIS

111-117-PerryBand.indd 111

6/14/13 2:38 PM

-PerryBand.indd 112

6/12/13 12:11 PM

Photography: rick hublein

Photography: Becky reiser

What will become of us?

Oh I don’t care All I know is I’ll go anywhere – Pioneer

s r e i t n o r F New Garrison

By Tonya Ratliff. m u lb a re o with sophom ry o it rr te d e rt a h c n arts u The Band Perry ch

Photography: rick hublein

Photography: Becky reiser

Song of the Year. ‘sophomore iles north to for m 30 e th l rful of that phrase, ve fea tra to en be es d m ha ho e eir “W th leave id. “Even kids,” Kimberly sa rview with The to re te in we 19 we ril ce Ap sin y ’ m p, t. m er slu The morning of st album, we were eil Perry the conc erything they do gan recording our fir be imberly, Reid and N The Band Perry, ev we K r re fo gs fo e, lin be se sib u y, r Yo rr he Pe phomore slump. any ot Band orth ey wouldn’t have it how to avoid the so assachusetts to N t th M d ou h an ab , ug ns ng ro fa th lki e ta g th r lin fo were trave was also the is a one-hit wonder.” ert that evening. It e did not want to be W y. movie for wa rsu Andover for a conc d e title of a horror Boston an th of e lik wn do of ut rt : sh so e on t’s th ti “I ques g what same morning of e searched The everyone was askin lic po nd e “A th d. ile de ad wh id h es c iti us,” Re sus- how do you cat rounding commun to avoid all that.” ? e ic Marathon bombing w n t sto e Bo l o tt tw we are going to do e o th b a in g for one of in n light um, which was The answer: self-titled debut alb pects. ’s nd ,” m ba hi e to d at Th fin g ey in th ak d pe an , , K um O in at es ze a trail in go a l B 10, went pl 20 e lat r “I hope everything in he d d se r an o e lea e re sh d tw usical t ritory. m w inside the tour bus e ates. The album ha n St d te ni U e th Kimberly said from in No. 2 ver song “If I Die g in. including the crosso ts brothers were ridin hi 1 e o. th N r fo d atinum in the rstandably concerne went quadruple pl ich wh g,” un The trio was unde ied Yo rr o wo usic Award ts but they were als won the Country M en d sid an re es ea at ar St nd te sto le ni Bo U were unab g their fans if they about disappointin When you’re young You can f l y s But we trip on cloud h hig o to t ge Cause we

We grow up And then it’s gone Oh God only knows What we’ll become nely – Don’t Let Me Be Lo

111-117-PerryBand.indd 113

6/12/13 3:00 PM

– On Tour – The Band Perry has rejoined Rascal Flatts on the road for a cross-country tour through October 3rd. For dates and venues, go to thefansperry.com/tour.

Photography: KREBS

? g n i o g e w e r a e r Whe ? s u f o e m o c e b l l i What w – Pioneer

111-117-PerryBand.indd 114

6/12/13 1:38 PM

listen to this

“Coming off of success from our first album, we found ourselves asking a lot of questions about our future—both personally and professionally,” Kimberly said.

It’s in the lyrics of “Pioneer,” the second album’s title track.

Where are we going?

What will become of us?

“After writing those lines, the song became our guiding light throughout the process of recording the album, which is why we chose it as the title track,” Kimberly said. “It’s truly about the last three years of our lives and trusting that the songs we wrote would lead us where we were supposed to go.”

“People hear the word ‘pioneer’ and they think of covered wagons or astronauts on the moon, but to us, the idea of a pioneer is very modern,” Reid added. “It reflects the idea of putting one foot in front of the other when you’re unsure how to get where you’re going.”

While the first album has a romantic feel, Kimberly says, Pioneer’s songs are more motion forward.

“Our first album was an honest representation of where we were at the time,” she said. “When we sat down to write, we had pictures in our heads, and back then it was very romantic imagery like Ferris wheels at the county fair. This time our inspirational images were of armies and marching bands moving forward. It was very militaristic, and I think you can hear that in the melodies and lyrics.”

“We didn’t discuss the images we had in our heads with each other at first,” Neil added. “It was just what we all felt and how we processed the meaning behind the music.”

Photography: KREBS

If it’s true home is where the heart is I guess now I’m homeless (Get back to what you know Get back to what you do) Gotta get back to me without you – Back to Me Without You

The song, “Pioneer,” was written during a crosscountry trip that signaled the beginning of the band’s sophomore album.

“The song is about the journey from our first album to our second, and everything we’d been thinking about and living out for the past two years,” Kimberly said. “It’s about putting one foot in front of the other and about the journey. We did take a literal journey from east Tennessee all the way to the Southwest and then to California.

‘Pioneer’ was written on a hilltop in Santa Fe with

the skyline in the background. It was a very inspiring moment.”

It was in a Malibu studio that the trio immersed themselves in intense writing sessions with legendary producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with the Dixie Chicks, Johnny Cash and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“To work with one of our musical superheroes in the studio was so incredible because he challenged us to set higher goals as songwriters,” Reid said.

“He’s the ‘song doctor,’” Neil added. “All his wisdom and all the secrets are in his beard.”

Integrating the trio’s visual-thinking talent, Rick pushed Kimberly, Reid and Neil to go past their comfort zones and reach deep into their souls for the right words.

“He was also about hearing the heart behind the music,” Kimberly said. “He just really challenged us to make every lyric and melody completely honest. Sometimes as you write lyrics you do so because maybe these set of words sound good together—it’s poetic, but you don’t necessarily believe it in your heart and soul.

“Rick was about really digging deep to write the most honest music, and he was very involved in our songwriting phase, and being a counselor and just giving an ear to our collection of songs.”

That emotion and honesty can particularly be heard in “Back to Me Without You,” which was written while Kimberly dealt with the end of a friendship.

“It was literally crashing and burning as we were writing the song,” Reid said. “She was heartbroken and had to take breaks from writing it so she could go somewhere alone to cry. Neil and I kept telling her, ‘Get back to what you know’ and ‘Get back to what you do.’”

The brothers’ advice became part of the song.

“I think we are as vulnerable as we’ve ever been on this album,” Kimberly said. “We certainly tell real-life stories and wear our hearts on our sleeves, so I think we just pushed both sides of those limits even more so than we did on our first album.”

“We probably wrote every song on this album at least four times,” Neil added. “Each time we’d finish, we’d ask ourselves, ‘Is this song completely honest about where we are in life? Does it say everything we want it to say?’ The songs on Pioneer are truly the story of things we’ve been thinking about and certainly the things we’ve been living out for the last couple of years.”

Mama always told me That I should play nice She didn’t know you When she gave me that advice -DONE.

{culture}

Betcha Didn’t Know • In the song “I’m a Keeper,” Kimberly sings

she’ll change her name to Cherry. She admits that she’s always wanted to be named Cherry after the girl in the 1967 S.E. Hinton novel The Outsiders.

• The song’s lyric also inspired Nashville-

based Gigi’s Cupcakes to create the Very Perry Chocolate Cherry Cupcake, which featured cherry-flavored cake piled high with chocolate frosting and topped with a red cherry.

• Kimberly, Reid and Neil hand-signed

22,222 copies of the Target exclusive deluxe edition of Pioneer, which features four additional songs.

• For the last two years, the band has done

nearly 700 shows. So, when they’re on the road, each have an essential item they can’t live without. For Kimberly, it’s her pillow from home while Neil must have his iPad handy at all times. When it comes to Reid, it’s Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.

• When he’s home, Reid enjoys riding his

American Quarter Horse Shinning Jude. “His name is ‘Romeo,’” Reid said. “I did not name him that; its what he came with. But I thought with his registered name, I could call him ‘Jude.’ Then I could sing ‘Hey, Jude’ when I call for him.”

• Neil loves photography and his photos are

often seen on the band’s Twitter and Facebook accounts. However, Kimberly and Reid have had to ban all photos of them sleeping with their mouths open.

• According to Kimberly, the best sweet

tea in the world is made by the caterer for the Rascal Flatts tour.

• The sibling’s mother, Marie, is their fashion

stylist and “coach,” often giving feedback about the band’s live performances.

• All three agree that the song every person

should have on their MP3 player is Queen’s “’39.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 115

111-117-PerryBand.indd 115

6/12/13 3:01 PM

Fighting Hunger Although America is the land of plenty, one in six Americans copes with hunger on a daily basis. The Band Perry has joined Outnumber Hunger in an effort to help feed Americans.

“It’s been such a life-changing experience for the three of us,” Kimberly said. “More than 50 million Americans struggle with

we’re looking at singing those songs back to us at our shows. It’s all of our next-door neighbors. So, it truly does touch all of us as Americans.”

To help The Band Perry fight hunger in America, go online to outnumberhunger. com to find out how to make donations or volunteer at local food banks. Also, buying specially marked products from General Mills helps Outnumber Hunger.

Just go to outnumberhunger.com/how-tohelp and click on the “Enter Your Code” button. From there, consumers can enter their local ZIP codes along with the product code, which allows Outnumber Hunger to donate meals to local charities.

“I think one of the biggest things that drew us to Outnumber Hunger is the way it helps on the local level,” Neil said.

“With Outnumber Hunger, you’re able to help right in your backyard,” Reid added.

On MyChromeLife.com

“Better Dig Two” ...the first single from Pioneer, quickly became a hit after its release in October 2012. The song has gone platinum and is the band’s third No. 1 country hit and their first No. 1 U.S. Country Airplay hit. And the dark love song with the funky rhythm has now become a favorite of line dancers.

Before your next Honky Tonk outing, learn the dance steps to “Better Dig Two” at mychromelife.com/culture.

111-117-PerryBand.indd 116

“Southern Gothic” is a label The Band Perry wears proudly, and the siblings have always tried to include elements of the culture made famous

by American South authors like William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor and Tennessee Williams into their songs. But unlike their first album, Pioneer’s bigger arrangements and harmonies are maybe a bit darker. It’s what Kimberly says is a “modern throwback of The Band Perry.”

Although the siblings credit Rick for helping them grow as songwriters, his minimal production approach didn’t fit with the band’s goals. So they journeyed back to Nashville to the recording studio of producer Dann Huff, who’s worked with Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts. The siblings hoped Dann could help them bring the energy of their live shows to their second album.

“Dann is the first producer who saw us perform live,” Kimberly recalled. “He was flabbergasted.

His mouth was hanging open. The first thing he said when we got off stage was, ‘Whoa, you guys have a rock ‘n’ roll edge. This is what you do.’ That led us to add more electric guitars and background vocals, which created more daring musical moments. Dann threw out the rulebook and let us go anywhere we wanted.”

So when the siblings decided to “Freddie Mercury” up “Forever Mine Nevermind,” there was no stopping them.

“We are huge Queen fans, and with this album, Queen played a huge part,” Reid said. “We listened to a ton of Queen making this album.”

Co-written with former touring partner Brad Paisley, who also plays guitar on the song, “Forever Mine Nevermind” is “truly an indulgent piece of music,” Kimberly says.

“On the bridge, we literally stacked probably 10 vocals on top of each other,” Reid added. “Neil

even hits two octaves above Kimberly at one point.

But because we were listening to a lot of Queen, it made us really want to bring in those kind of dramatic, over-the-top vocals as well.”

“Better Dig Two,” the first track released from Pioneer, is a hard-driving love song with a dark side. The band was immediately attracted to it.

“That song has all the elements that we love in a great song … it’s got that Southern Gothic feel to it and it’s the ultimate love song—the kind of love not even death can separate,” Neil said. “It’s written in such a dark way, and that’s what we really like about it.”

Opening with Neil’s classic mandolin sound, “DONE.” is quickly taken over by funky guitar rhythms and pounding drums. It’s a song the band obviously has fun with, which is even evident in the music video where Neil dons war paint, Kimberly wears full-length black leather gloves and the trio participates in a living gothic-style chess game.

“That song is about a relationship where you keep giving and giving and the other person keeps taking and taking without giving anything in return,” said Neil, who co-wrote the song with Reid.

“Eventually, you’ve had enough of that person to where you just cut the ties and are completely done.”

The barn-burning Honky Tonk song “Night Gone Wasted” is a Garth Brooks-like anthem mixed with the confidence of Shania Twain and just a dash of the Beatles.

Although Pioneer has its share of energetic, hard-pounding songs, there are also sweet ballads like “End of Time”—the band’s take on what the South would look like at the end of the world (the Alabama moon fell from the sky and the sweet tea wells ran dry)—and “Mother Like Mine,” a tribute to their mother.

6/12/13 1:39 PM

Photography: rick hublein

for us because that means it’s the people

Photography: McLister

hunger, and that number really hit home

“It tells what the world would look like if it was raised by her the way she raised us,” Neil said.

When the three played the song for their mother, she “bawled,” Kimberly says.

“We determine how good an idea is based on if Mom cries,” Reid added, “and there were a lot of tears from her for that song.”

She’s the sky that holds the clouds She’s the lady of the house A blind believer in all I dare to be There’s no safer place I’ve found – Mother Like Mine

I’ll join a band and sing like a canary Get out of here and change my name to Cherry And every night I’ll thank holy Mother Mary – I’m a Keeper

Pioneer is everything the siblings hoped for when they started their 18-month journey to create a second album. It’s brought back the romantic mystique of bands back to music—something the trio has dreamed of since forming the group in Mobile, Alabama, as kids. It’s also captured the full-throttle intensity of The Band Perry’s live show.

“We need songs that could fill large spaces,” Kimberly said. “Our show is very aggressive; there are a lot of guitars and hard-hitting drums, and the music on Pioneer captures that.”

“Playing the new songs has given our live show a new burst of energy and the crowd feels it too,” Neil added. “They’re as excited to have new music as we are.”

And that’s what it’s all about—the fans.

“We’re so blessed and honored to be able to make a second record, and we owe all of that to the fans,” Reid said. “When we play live, a lot of people think that they’re there to see us, but we’re actually there to see them and to hear them sing back to us. We love to stop in the middle of a song and hear the fans still singing. We’re very thankful for all the support that our fans all across the country have shown us. It really means a lot to us.”

Even though it was a trying day for Bostonians on April 19, the lockdown was eventually lifted and fans were able to enjoy an electrifying concert.

Following the show, Neil posted on the band’s Facebook page, “We couldn’t imagine a better place to be tonight! Thank you Massachusetts for having us.”

The response from Candice Cote summed up best the love fans hold for The Band Perry: “Thank you for giving us a moment to smile through all the bad that’s happened this week. You guys are wonderful.”

Thanks are not necessary. That’s just how The Band Perry rolls … and sometimes rocks.

Photography: rick hublein

Photography: McLister

When she was 15, Kimberly hired then 10-yearold Reid and 8-year-old Neil to be roadies in her first high school band. The boys eventually grew tired of doing the grunt work and formed their own band, which would open for Kimberly’s.

“While most of my friends were playing little league, I was sitting in my room learning bass lines of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles,” Reid said.

“It’s really all I’ve ever known.”

Parents Steve (a pediatrician and not the former lead singer of Journey) and Marie were always supportive of their children and encouraged them to pursue a music career, even when there were more people on stage than out in the crowd “But our parents said, ‘We’re not going to allow you to have a fallback plan. You were born to do music. We’ll support you, we’ll help you figure it out. This is what you need to do with your life,’” Kimberly recalled. “That was really the moment

the three of us joined forces as The Band Perry.”

The siblings’ parents had no legitimate experience in the music industry but they did have a love of music. Marie preferred country while Steve had a fondness for rock ‘n’ roll.

“Music was on the radio all the time,” Neil said.

“I’d go to sleep listening to the Rolling Stones and wake up hearing Loretta Lynn. Our parents peppered our palates with a lot of different sounds.”

From country to rock ‘n’ roll to bluegrass to punk, Pioneer blends these sounds, and shows how the music the siblings were raised on has influenced their songs.

“You’ve got your rock-country, you’ve got folkcountry and you’ve got pop-country,” Kimberly said. “I feel like if Tom Petty or Bruce Springsteen came out today, they would be on country radio.

It’s like the last rock-and-roll frontier. So, we’re just happy that the country stations accommodate both our folky-country side and our roots rock as well.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 117

111-117-PerryBand.indd 117

6/14/13 2:38 PM

She’s She’s A bli Ther –M

118-Wyndham_fp.indd 118

6/13/13 6:52 PM

119-Markel_fp.indd 119

6/11/13 4:16 PM

{culture} ON THE WALLS

Technicolor Lyndon Gaither brings vibrancy to sepia-tone Western art.

By Tonya Ratliff-Garrison

Army, where he was responsible for creating recruitment and advertising posters and displays. Before becoming a contemporary Western artist full-time in 2006, Lyndon also worked for Dallas design firms and was a freelance graphic designer.

“I always dreamed of being an artist and consider myself very blessed to have had the opportunity to create and do what I love,” Lyndon said. “Every day I get up and can’t wait to get to the studio. People ask me when I’ll retire, and I tell them that I will never be able to retire because I enjoy what I am doing so much. Even if I were to retire, I would still be doing what I am doing now.”

Lyndon has always painted what he loved—the Western iconic images of cowboy Americana.

Photography: Rick Hublean

L

yndon Gaither’s paintings definitely feature horses of a different color.

“I like to paint in bright, explosive colors that exhibit emotion and draw attention to my subjects,” the Dallas artist said. “I translate emotions and feelings into color as I communicate my individual interpretation of each subject.”

Lyndon grew up on a farm outside of Plainview, Texas, and even though he was always drawing horses, he never owned one and still doesn’t even today.

“I live in the middle of Dallas and it’s kind of hard to keep a horse there,” he said with a laugh.

A University of North Texas graduate, Lyndon began his art career in 1973 as graphic designer for the U.S.

120 | CHROME Summer 2013

120-123-LyndonGaither.indd 120

6/13/13 1:13 PM

Photography: Rick Hublean

“I always dreamed of being an artist and consider myself very blessed to have had the opportunity to create and do what I love.�

Summer 2013 CHROME | 121

120-123-LyndonGaither.indd 121

6/12/13 2:21 PM

2013 Youth World Show Artist Lyndon Gaither is the official artist of the 2013 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show, which is June 29-July 6 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Lyndon’s “Paint” features an American Paint Horse with a flowing mane and “bright” expression.

Visit his booth in the World of Color Gift Show to see his vibrant paintings and watch him create a one-of-a-kind piece of art while he’s at the Youth World Show.

To learn more about Lyndon, go online to lyndongaither.com.

“But I started out doing very realistic sepia-tone, brown-on-brown, and painted that way for several years,” he said.

Inspired by Western artists Jeff Hamm and John Neito, Lyndon’s style evolved from the subdued to the colorful about eight years ago.

“I have worked hard to develop my own style of painting to express my love of the West on canvas,” he said.

“My paintings come from my heart.

They are contemporary expression of my subjects through my use of vibrant color and textures.”

Although the paintings have no background, the vibrant colors and Lyndon’s brush strokes create a three-dimensional scene.

120-123-LyndonGaither.indd 122

“My paintings contain areas that simulate the embossed tooling of leather patterns found on saddles, belts, boots and other cowboy gear,” he said. “This is a unique technique that I have developed using acrylic paint.”

Acrylic paints are fast drying and this allows Lyndon to work and rework areas as he paints. The medium also allows him to use a palette knife to build up texture on the canvas.

“My work is evolving, and I continue to stretch myself and my limits with every new piece,” he said. “It is the contrast of colors and shapes that excites me to paint. My bold, dramatic and electrifying use of color is what sets me apart from traditional

6/14/13 12:37 PM

Western artists.”

Lyndon exhibits his works at trade shows that include the AjPHA Youth World Championship Show, the AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. It’s not unusual to see a crowd gathered around his booth watching Lyndon paint an original piece that usually ties into a subject related the event at which he’s exhibiting.

Besides his paintings, Lyndon’s artwork has also been turned into pieces for the giftware industry, from holiday decorations to horse statuettes.

“I like seeing people’s reactions as they enjoy my work,” Lyndon said with a smile. “Most of all, I like be-

ing a small part of the Western way of life. Cowboys, cowgirls and the West hold a fascination for me that began as a young boy growing up in the Texas Panhandle. I lived out in the country and learned to appreciate the land and the animals that surrounded me. I still, to this day, get goose bumps when I see the American flag being presented in the arena by a rider on horse back at the start of a rodeo.”

Lyndon also has a passion for supporting the Western industry. He has donated works to the University of Tennessee Rodeo Team, the Texas Stampede Rodeo and ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship.

But Lyndon’s works might be best

known for the pieces he creates for the Careity Foundation’s “Celebrity Cutting” event, which is featured every year at the National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity. He has donated original paintings for the last seven years to this organization, which helps patients and their families battling cancer in times of crisis through a number of supportive and clinical service programs.

“I have been given a great talent

by God, and I am excited I am at the time in my life where I can share that talent with my audience and give back some of that talent through donations,” he said. “I have found that the people in the Western commu-

nity are hard working, down-to-earth people who care about others, their animals and their country. I enjoy being a small part of that culture.”

Summer 2013 CHROME | 123

120-123-LyndonGaither.indd 123

6/12/13 2:21 PM

124-US_Rider_fp.indd 124

6/11/13 4:21 PM

125-LibertyMutual_fp.indd 125

6/11/13 4:26 PM

L I FE AS UNI QUE AS T H E H O RS E

D L P Z

ADVERTISERS A–D

M–P

Anderson Bean Boot Company .......................................... 5

Markel ............................................................................ 119

APHA Members:

Barbara Meikle Fine Art .................................................... 22

Massoud Furniture............................................................ 37

Doing business with our APHA Xtras partners will save you money on every transaction.

Carhartt ............................................................................ 58

Barranada Shirt Company ................................................ 21 Chris Owen Western Art ................................................... 16 Cimarron River Company.................................................. 32 Dang Chicks ..................................................................... 31

Use them all, or find one that suits you and use it frequently.

You will quickly realize savings that reimburse the price of your APHA membership.

Noble Equine ...................................................................... 7

E–L

Purina ............................................................................... 60

Equibrand Corporation ................................................... 110

R–Z

Farnam ............................................................................. 26

Rocki Gorman .................................................................... 2

Ferrini USA, Inc................................................................. 72

Sherwin-Williams .............................................................. 95

Greenhouse Gallery Of Fine Art ........................................... 1 Hart Trailer ........................................................................ 71 Justin Brands/Tony Lama ................................................... 8

Financial Services & Insurance Liberty Mutual VPI Pet Insurance Long Term Care Resources UMB Visa Credit Card US Rider Equestrian Motor Plan

Morris Kaye Furs .............................................................. 68 Paint Horse Winery ........................................................... 81

John Deere ..................................................................... IBC

Equipment: John Deere

Merial ............................................................................... 42

Double D Ranch .............................................................. IFC

Gist Silversmiths ............................................................... 53

Value + Savings = APHA Xtras

Maverick Western Wear .................................................... 35

Tim Cox Fine Art ................................................................. 6 Twister Trailer .................................................................... 96 US Rider Equestrian Motor Plan ..................................... 124 Valvoline ......................................................................... 127

Liberty Mutual Insurance................................................. 125

VPI Pet Insurance ............................................................. 28

LubriSyn ........................................................................... 40

Wrangler .......................................................................... BC

Lyndon Gaither ............................................................... 105

Wyndham Hotels ............................................................ 118

Can’t wait for the next issue of CHROME?

Travel Wyndham Hotel Group Red Roof Inn Motel 6 Avis Car Care Budget Car Rental Business Services Constant Contact Office Max Office Depot Home & Ranch Valvoline Sherwin-Williams

[

www.apha.com /apha-xtras

Then head online to MyChromeLife.com for exclusive features, articles and columns you won’t find inside CHROME magazine.

From the latest fashion trends to yummy recipes to advice on a variety of everyday topics, you’ll find it all at MyChromeLife.com.

MyChromeLife.com enhances your life, a life as unique as the American Paint Horse.

]

MyChromeLife.com 126 | CHROME Summer 2013

126-INDEX.indd 126

6/14/13 8:30 AM

127-Valvoline_fp.indd 127

6/11/13 4:33 PM

{APHA} HOME PLACE

Learn’d His Lesson

By Billy Smith

Welcome to the first issue of CHROME. I hope it inspires you. I hope it creates a sense of pride that you belong to the American Paint Horse Association. I hope you share it with your friends, especially those who aren’t members but should be. Chrome is inspired by the uniqueness of the American Paint Horse and by the changing demographics of horse owners across the United States.

Today, women make up 70 percent of APHA’s membership.

with damp towels. They taught me to play bridge, The women in my life have always inspired me, for which I have never forgiven them. sometimes when I didn’t care to be inspired. The They taught me that the revolver in the night chisels they used to mark my upbringing created stand was loaded; don’t touch it, but if you need puzzlement during the women’s movement of to, by all means don’t miss. my youth. I didn’t know subservient women that They let me take my first sip of whiskey when I heard about on the nightly news. The women my parents weren’t looking, and let me snort a litin my life were leaders and hardened life coaches tle Garrett snuff and then laughed when I hacked who answered to no one but their own near perlike a dying guinea. fectly calibrated moral compasses. Here are their They convinced me that I was far tougher than lessons: I really was by shooing me back outside when They taught me to say, “I swun,” when I was I wanted some sympathy for a skinned knee. amazed; “You look the Wreck of the Hesperus,” “There’s not enough blood for you really to be if you’d had a bad day and looked it. hurt. Now skedaddle.”

Threatened me by pledging to “knock the dog Take your hat off on the first meeting of anywater out of me,” when I had misbehaved the first one—man or woman—and women always. time; “Go cut me a switch,” on the second time.

They taught me that it was ok to cry, but not for “I been knowin’ him for a long time,” when very long, and that you save everything, especially I introduced a friend; “It’s a real honor,” when I containers. I still cut feed scoops out of fruit drink met a new one. jugs and coffee cans. Poor folk “I reckon,” when I underalways know that things can get stood; “Begapardon,” when I didn’t.

“The men in my life worse.

These were my grandmoth“Leave me be,” when I wanted taught me when ers, aunts, great aunts, and to be left alone; “Come see me,” to fight and when wrinkled kin whose place on when I didn’t. the family tree was never clear.

“Give me some sugars,” when to duck, but these They were great teachers, hardI wanted a kiss; “Skedaddle,” women taught me ened disciplinarians, and the when I didn’t. to behave.” most tender of sorts. Kind when “Fixin’ to,” when I had a good they needed to be and meaner intention; “I reckon not,” when I than a plow mule when the occasion called for didn’t. such. They were cut out of the cloth of the Great They forced me to talk, and demanded that I Depression, the Dust Bowl and innumerable mini listen. natural and, some supernatural, disasters that dotThey taught me to let the molasses soak into the ted their country-folk lives. They were the knitters core of a homemade freshly buttered biscuit, to of a fabric that’s near impossible to fray. break cornbread into my buttermilk and to pour The men in my life taught me when to fight and peanuts in the neck of my glass-bottled “Cocola.” when to duck, but these women taught me to beAnd that sardines eat pretty well with some crackhave. ers and directly out of the can.

This first issue of Chrome pays homage to the They taught me the proper way to wring a chicken’s neck, then to pluck it, proper cleaning of 70 percent of APHA’s members who are women. a chicken gizzard, how to skin a rabbit, what wild You’ll see plenty of Paint Horses and a few men, plants I could eat and which ones would make me but you’re more apt to see women who lead famisick. That liver and onions were a delicacy and lies, businesses, horse operations and perfectly collards were tasty, but greens with jalapeno sauce align the trusses to the fortified monuments of the were better. They taught me to be kind to the aniAmerican Paint Horse lifestyle. Perhaps for too mals even if they’d someday end up on the table. long we didn’t recognize that this is a unique lifeThey taught me how to battle the merciless style, even in the horse world. But it is, and we’re winds of West Texas by packing the window sills proud of it.

128 | CHROME Summer 2013

128-HomePlace.indd 128

6/14/13 12:48 PM

IBC-JohnDeere_fp.indd 1

6/11/13 3:03 PM

Dress to kill. Ride to win.

Taryn Hale ~ Mesa, AZ

Ultimate Cowgirl Next Door

Available in Q-Baby with

technology

BC-Wrangler_fp.indd 1

6/11/13 3:06 PM