MARECELO GUZMAN INTERVIEW

MARECELO GUZMAN INTERVIEW

Q - You have announced a new offering called “The No Bucking Program” for colt starting. In Western and English Performance training, how does this serve the horse?

A - The no bucking program is my signature way to start horses in a safe and humane way that prevents bucking and bad habits from the ground up, using the best of English and Western. I believe that we always need to reward the horse when they are doing right but also identify the little attitudes that could eventually turn in to a bad habit and put ourselves in danger. I spend a lot of time teaching my horses on the lead line and working in open spaces developing the horses mind and body, getting them used to other horses and objects before I even try to put a saddle on. This way we prevent the horses from learning to buck from the ground and this nobucking from the ground is the key to no-bucking when riding. Green horses are like a blank page where we start to write the guidelines for the rest of their lives. Colt starting is like preschool for humans, that’s why I like to start horses when they are young between 2 and 3 years old. The NO BUCKING PROGRAM focuses in ground manners, forward motion, rhythm, contact and acceptance of the aids, impulsion and straightness which are the basic skills that makes a horse collected in the long term.

Q - How does this help the rider or owner?

A - Our highest goal is to have sound and happy horses that will make their owners happy allowing them to enjoy well behaved and safe horses. A horse started under our program will help the owners save money in vet bills and even in human doctor bills! A horse that is well started will reduce the chances of accidents when handling them from the ground and will promote the safety under the saddle. When another professional or nonprofessional sends us a 2yo or 3yo, they will save a lot of effort, time and patience. A green untouched horse that graduates from our colt starting program will be a horse that’s ready to start his sport career, a horse that is ready for ‘’university’’ and prepared to be taken in any direction.

Q - Is a “No Buck” technique safer for the horse and rider?

A - Of course it is! Most horses that have been allowed to buck when young will keep bucking for the rest of their lives putting in danger the rider’s life along with their own lives.

Our “No-bucking” program consists in teaching the horse not to buck and most importantly in the safe and gentle way that our horses can be handled from the ground making a big difference on the owner’s safety reflecting also on the relationship they will have with their horses once they ride him.

Q - Why is this program important?

A - This program is very important to us not just because we take care of our horse’s and their owner’s safety, but also because since I love to start the horses myself, I want to make sure that they don’t buck because I can’t risk getting hurt. Most colt starters are young and unexperienced riders that haven’t finished they’re riding learning process, they are still green under the saddle, unbalanced physically and emotionally and are afraid to allow the forward motion on the horse to happen which effects tremendously on the horse’s rhythm, contact and control. The riders that make it to certain level call themselves trainers and don’t want to start horses anymore putting unexperienced riders on unexperienced horses creating a unvirtuous circle that decreases the chances of having a safe and well trained horse that can express their full potential in a safe way.

The No Bucking Program allows the horse to express its full potential under the saddle of a professional that has been starting horses since 2002 and showing horses in 3 continents, which ensures that the first rides will be done in the right way. This shortens the process of learning and allows the horse to show its full potential without learning bad habits.

Q - Where do you train out of?

A - We train at Four Peaks Ranch, right on the corner of Rio Verde Dr with 160th St. in Scottsdale AZ.

Q - Tell us about the location and facility-

A - The ranch is right beside the main road and has an amazing and breathtaking view to the mountains. Our barn is insulated, has a misting system and fans for the summer as well as big turn outs. The boarding has high quality alfalfa and bedding, horses get cleaned twice a day and the staff is very friendly and professional. We do night checks and make sure that our horses are always happy and comfortable.