Education E-Book

SUPPLEMENT TO

EquineJournal

Education e-book

Fight the Freshman 15 TIPS FOR STAYING FIT AND HEALTHY

FROM BARN TO BOOK Schooling Clothes for Teens and Tweens

Intermont Equestrian ips h s n mpio a ED h C K l AN ona i R t a Y 19 N ALL N N O A I I T R NA ST M E U A EQ OGR PR

TOP -R

ANK

ED LIB ERA COL L ART S LEG E

EQUINE STUDIES DEGREES: STUDY & RIDE B.A. 7 B.S. 7 Minor 7 Pre-Professional: Pre-Vet 7 Riding Scholarships Competitive Riding Teams: ANRC, IDA, IHSA Preview Days to Visit, Auditon & Ride: Sept. 9 & Feb. 3 Learn more: www.ehc.edu/equine-journal

800.848.5493 7 admission@ehc.edu

Building Champions At DelVal, we focus on hands-on learning and real-world experiences to prepare you for success in the equine industry.

WE OFFER: •

On-campus Equestrian and Breeding Centers

•

Nationally ranked IHSA and IDA Teams

•

British Horse Society Testing Center

EARN THE FOLLOWING EQUINE DEGREES: •

Equine Instruction and Training

•

Equine Business

•

Equine Breeding

•

Equine Media and Communication

700 East Butler Ave. | Doylestown, PA 18901 | p: 800.2.DELVAL w: delval.edu/equine

contents

Education e-book

4 Fashion 8 Fighting the Freshman 15 Tips to help you prevent packing on the pounds.

Welcome to Equine Journal’s inaugural Education e-book. We have some great articles in this guide, to help you navigate your college years and beyond.

If you’re a college student who spends early mornings at the barn with little time to change before class, check out our Fashion column, “From the Barn to the Books” (and vice versa) by Terisé Cole on page 4.

We also know how difficult it can be to stay fit and healthy while settling into your freshman year of college. Kandace York spoke with nutritionists and fitness gurus alike to learn the best way to maintain a balanced diet, riding schedule, and workload throughout your first year at school. Read more on page 8.

We hope you enjoy this e-book and it helps you get some insight on what to expect in the classroom and the job search over the next four to six years.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/ GENERAL MANAGER

Elisabeth Prouty-Gilbride

14 The Road Less Traveled Veterans in the equine industry share their unique job descriptions.

BY KATHRYN SELINGA

on the cover

SENIOR ADVERTISING/ MARKETING CONSULTANT

Karen Desroches

OPERATIONS MANAGER

ADVERTISING/MARKETING

MANAGING EDITOR

Laurel Foster

Kelly Lee Brady

BY KANDACE YORK

CONSULTANT

Kelly Ballou DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kristine Miller

Kelley Roche

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT/ WEB EDITOR

page 8

PRODUCTION MANAGERS

Terisé Cole

Sherry R. Brown Cher Wheeler

ART DIRECTOR

Candice D. Madrid

Equine Journal

175 Main St./P.O. Box 386 Oxford, MA 01540 phone: 508-987-5886 subscription questions: 1-800-414-9101 affiliate subscription questions: 1-800-742-9171 international callers: 1-386-246-0102 equinejournal@emailcustomerservice.com www.equinejournal.com

page 4 COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF BECKER COLLEGE

social media

A Publication of MCC Magazines, LLC A Division of Morris Communications Company, LLC 735 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901 PRESIDENT Donna Kessler REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT Patty Tiberg DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Scott Ferguson DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING Donald Horton SENIOR DIGITAL STRATEGIST Sonny Williams DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Megan Thomas

Morris Communications Company, LLC CHAIRMAN & CEO William S. Morris III PRESIDENT Will S. Morris IV

2

EQUINE JOURNAL

| 2017 Pest Control e-book

follow us @

facebook.com/equinej instagram: @equinejournal twitter: @equinejournal

Congratulations to the

Averett University

Equestrian Department 2017 Intercollegiate Dressage Association

National Champions and 2017 ANRC Novice Level 3rd Place Team

FASHION

From the Barn

BY TERISÉ COLE

BALANCING RIDING AND SCHOOL CAN BE TOUGH, NO MATTER WHAT GRADE YOU ARE IN. Make life a little easier with pieces that can go from the classroom to the tack room and still look stylish. Say goodbye to changing in the car or running home for different clothes. These outfits may not cover up the smell of hay and horses, but at least you’ll look great!

OUTFIT #1 3 2

1

4 Outfit #1: [1] Fornash Enamel Bracelet ($25) This fun bangle adds an equestrian touch to your outfit. fornash. com [2] Hadley Knee Patch Breeches by SmartPak ($119.95) These breeches are so comfy you won’t mind wearing them to your 8 a.m class! smartpakequine.com [3] MaeLort & Co. Ring Backpack ($180) Whether you’re walking the course or strolling the halls, this waterproof pack will keep your outfit on trend. maelort. com [4] Tory Stirrup Leather Belt ($39.99) If you’ve ever used a stirrup leather as a belt, now you could use your belt as a stirrup leather! marystack.com 4

EQUINE JOURNAL

| 2017 Education e-book

FASHION

to the Books OUTFIT #2

Versatile Pieces

2

1

3

Outfit #2: [1] Piper V-Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt ($10.95) This simple tee can be worn with normal clothes or your barn clothes—you pick! smartpakequine.com [2] Belts By M Daisy Leather Belt ($60) A fun belt to bring sparkle to your jeans and the classroom. etsy.com/shop/ beltsbym [3] Rock & Roll Cowgirl Rhinestone Jeans ($79.95) Not only do these jeans look beautiful in the saddle, but you’ll be glittering your way down the halls. rockandrollcowgirl.com [4] Ariat Quickdraw Boots ($94.95) Comfortable boots are a must if you’re going to be in them from your morning lesson to your latenight class. ariat.com

4

2017 Education e-book

| EQUINEJOURNAL.COM

5

MediaMARKET

Sponsored Content

Emory & Henry College offers Top level liberal arTs program To Those passionaTe abouT equines

Billie Henard aboard Emory & Henry’s Donny.

Bailey Halverson riding Emory & Henry’s LeBeau.

WheTher you WanT To pursue a college degree in equine studies or ride competitively at the collegiate level, emory & henry College is the perfect place for students to graduate with a top-notch, private, liberal arts education while also pursuing their passion for horses. emory & henry helps you start learning, doing and connecting to enable you to become a valuable part of the equestrian industry both during your college training and for many years after you graduate.

The nationally-acclaimed emory & henry College equestrian program boasts 19 national championships in competitive riding since 2001. emory & henry’s ihsa, iDa, and anrC teams offer opportunities for students to gain competitive experience in hunters, jumpers, equitation, and dressage. riding is open to all 6

equine Journal

| 2017 Education e-book

students, regardless of their major or level of riding. emory & henry offers a bachelor of arts (b.a.), a bachelor of science (b.s.), a minor in equine studies, and a preprofessional program for pre-veterinary. equine studies degrees begin with an emphasis on the mechanism of the horse, along with a commitment to traditional horsemanship and the workings of rider position. students participate in hands-on learning through research and work opportunities, including equine health-related research studies to assisting at a-rated horse shows. The curriculum offers a broad range of courses in teaching, schooling, horse show management, judging, stable management, anatomy, first aid, and equine nutrition that prepare students for successful careers in a variety of different positions within the equine industry. emory & henry

is one of the few colleges to offer undergraduate research, putting their students at the top of the job market. students may choose to combine their equine studies degree with business or another major or minor to further their handcrafted education. graduates from the emory & henry College equestrian program succeed in careers ranging from instructors, trainers, and barn managers to professional riders at the national and international levels. They also enter veterinary medicine or achieve positions of industry leadership, including management positions at the u.s. equestrian federation where they help shape the future of america’s horse industry. “my job as a trainer, rider, and professional groom at Woodridge farm in boston allows me to travel to find horses for clients on the east Coast and

MediaMARKET Sponsored Content

Nick Martino competing at ANRC Nationals in 2017 on Polite Society, an Emory & Henry horse that is on loan to the college from Melanie Penner.

Emily McBee riding Emory & Henry’s Agincourt.

The 2016 Intercollegiate Dressage Association National Championship Team.

most recently in europe,” said 2016 graduate megan Wilson-bost. “starting from humble beginnings, i owe the majority of my successful employment to the program and connections that i made at emory & henry. riding this level of professional horses wouldn’t have been possible without the coaching of heather and lisa. i learned how to be a well-rounded, hardworking, and knowledgeable horsewoman due to their endless dedication and professionalism. When you say you graduated from intermont equestrian at emory & henry, people take notice in this industry. There is a standard of excellence they hold to and i’m proud to continue that legacy.” best value schools has named emory & henry College’s intermont equestrian Center one of the “20 most amazing College equestrian Centers” in the nation. amanda ginder, online relations officer for best value schools, says that “best value schools knows that for horse lovers and dedicated horse owners, the search for the perfect college often necessitates a search for the most amazing college equestrian centers.”

This amazing equestrian center is home to competitions and hands-on training on 120 acres (off i-81, exit 10) surrounded by rolling hills and stunning landscapes in southwest virginia.

The college provides 50 quality school horses for student use both in and out of class, and students are welcome to bring their own horses when boarding space is available. features of the equine center include both 250 x 150-foot and 200 x 100-foot indoor arenas, a 350 x 200-foot outdoor arena, the a.J. Coyle memorial CrossCountry Course, a 28-stall boarder barn for student horses, a six-horse gooseneck sundowner van, a twohorse trailer for transportation to shows, nine large grass paddocks, four tack rooms, usa equestrian regulation jumps, more than 80 box stalls, three wash stalls with hot and cold water, laundry facilities, and a classroom/ viewing room. scholarship audition and program preview days are set for september 9, 2017, and february 3, 2018, or you may schedule an alternate date. visit ehc. edu/equine-journal to rsvp or contact ashley bliss at 276-944-6533 or abliss@ ehc.edu for more information and to schedule your riding scholarship audition/campus visit.

2017 Education e-book

| equineJournal.Com

7

HEADING OFF TO COLLEGE? You’ve probably already heard about the notorious “freshman 15,” referring to the number of pounds that some students gain during their first year on campus. This month, two fitness experts and an equestrian drill team coach discuss proper fitness and nutrition that will help prevent you from packing on the pounds.

8

equine Journal

| 2017 Education e-book

BY KANDACE YORK

PhoTo: Jane carLTon

Tips From The pros

CollegiaTe equesTrian aCTiviTies

Going to college doesn’t need to mean leaving your horse behind. Dr. Betsy Greene, of the university of Vermont, has dual experience as a former collegiate rider—“about a hundred years ago,” she laughs—and as the university’s current equestrian drill team coach. “as a college student, i never looked at it as trying to fit something ‘extra’ into my life,” she says. “i would say i was running to the barn, both for the mental stress release and the physical activity, even when arena schedules meant that riding lessons were at 6:00 a.m.”

Today, she sees college students enjoying the same benefits of contact with horses, and the university of Vermont offers some interesting opportunities. “in addition to our dressage team, our equestrian team and our drill team, we have the Horse Barn Co-op, where students bring their horses to school with them and earn college credit for professionally managing a horse barn.”

10

equine Journal

| Education e-book 2017

»

Exercise is just one half of being fit and healthy, nutrition is the other half, and it’s an area where college students can often stumble.

There’s some controversy about the concept of the freshman 15—some experts say it’s only a few pounds, others say it may be 20 pounds or more—but one thing is clear. College is a time of big changes, and you’re going to be in charge of things that you may have never thought about before. Your fitness is one of them.

»Why iT MaTTers

Higher academic standards, heavier assignment loads, and shorter timeframes than high school are just the start of changes you’ll notice in college. There’s also the pressure of settling into your dorm or apartment, getting along with your roommates, budgeting your living expenses, and getting to class on time—without mom there giving you a dire minute-by-minute countdown.

“College is a really big transition,” Lindsay Wetzel Polin says.

“Students are balancing both academic and social activities in their daily lives.”

Formerly the Physical Activity and Nutrition Health Educator at the University of California, Davis, campus, Wetzel Polin is the Health Educator at California State University, Monterey Bay. Taking care of yourself has immediate advantages, she says. “By staying healthy, you’ll have more energy.

You’ll be in a better mood and you’ll sleep better, too, so you’ll be able to cope more easily with the stress of academics.”

Decades of research back up her comments. Study after study has indicated that the human brain works better and faster, with lower levels of stress, when it’s in a fit body.

Scientists think this is because the same “pipelines” that feed your body also feed your mind, and exercise triggers your brain’s release of neurotransmitters that regulate a slew of functions. These affect everything from your mood and energy levels to how rationally you solve problems (think college-level algebra).

In other words, you’re likely to have an easier time with your studies, and feel like you have more time—and more fun—when you stay fit and healthy.

PhoTo: isTockPhoTo.coM/ saM74100

“Seek out the health and fitness resources at your school,” Lindsay Wetzel Polin suggests. You might be surprised by the resources your school offers; uC Davis, for example, offers an on-campus farmer’s market and an on-staff dietitian who offers cooking classes, online recipes, and groceryshopping tips. “and remember, everything in moderation. We try not to lecture students about what not to do, but instead we help them make healthier choices.”

Don’t stress about being away from your horse for a semester or worry about whether you’ll be able to “catch up” on all your missed riding time; it will be oK. Bridget Braden says that adult riders often have an easier time returning to riding after an absence than young riders would. “Younger kids don’t have mature muscles, so they don’t have the same muscle memory as someone who’s been riding for a long time.”

• Compete on a nationally ranked team • Excel in a nationally recognized equine business management program • Or choose from over 35 academic programs • 94% of recent graduates report being employed or in grad school within 6 months

Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, N.Y. 13035 www.cazenovia.edu 1.800.654.3210

Ranked one of “America’s Best Colleges” and a “Best Value”

“

It doesn’t have to mean an hour in the gym. Go on a walk, or walk or bike to class instead of driving.

If you do drive to class, park farther away from the building.”

Lindsay WetzeL PoLin

»Find soMeThing you Like

As a horse person, you may not have thought much about fitness because it just “happened” with those long hours of stall-cleaning, trail riding, or competing in the show ring.

In college, though, these activities might be farther away, and even if you are an equine major, you may have dramatically less time than in the past. Wetzel Polin has a simple solution: find something else you like that bridges that gap.

“It doesn’t have to mean an hour in the gym,” she says. “Go on a walk, or walk or bike to class instead of driving. If you do drive to class, park farther away from the building.” It’s the same principle you use when cross-training your horse, only now you’re doing it for yourself.

Both the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that adults—that’s you now—participate in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days per week.

Good non-equine choices include brisk walking, water aerobics, and bicycling (slower than 10 miles per hour). Mix in some more vigorous activities a couple times a week, 12

equine Journal

| Education e-book 2017

like swimming laps, hiking uphill, or jumping rope, and you’ll have a good fitness regimen.

Wetzel Polin has high praise for UC Davis when it comes to student fitness. “The culture here is that many students ride bikes. We have recreation centers and pools for the students. We have physical activity maps that direct students to local parks and trails. We try to make it easy for them.”

»Work it in,

Work iT ouT

UC Davis takes a 10-10-10 approach to fitness, Wetzel Polin says: three, 10-minute sessions of exercise every day. “There’s some really good research behind these 10-minute chunks of exercise, three times a day. We call it ‘work it in, work it out.’”

When one session focuses on strength, one on aerobics and one on flexibility, your day will include the three components of basic fitness. Even if you’re not able to include all three types of exercise, though, something is better than nothing. Simple choices, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or using class breaks for walks instead of Snapchatting your friends the whole time, will help you stay alert and focused.

About 500 miles south of UC Davis, Bridget Braden suggests a similar approach: 20 minutes of exercise in the morning and another 20 minutes at night.

She owns BioRider Fitness in Escondido, CA, offering fitness programs customized for riders.

“You love to ride,” she says, “and you’ll stay fit to do something you love.”

Most colleges have student recreation centers at little or no extra cost, and she recommends that you use them. Forty-five minutes in a pool once a week will do wonders, Braden says, especially if you have joint issues. Mix in an occasional 15 minutes on a bike, elliptical or rowing machine; or even jump rope or do some jumping jacks (remember those?).

»nuTriTion

MattErs, too

Both Braden and Wetzel Polin

emphasize that exercise is just one half of fitness; nutrition is the other half, and it’s an area where college life often stumbles.

Pizza. Beer. Vending machines.

Macaroni and cheese. Ramen noodles. These may be staple items in a college student’s cupboard, but they’ll kill your energy and focus.

Braden adds that it isn’t just what you eat that makes a difference, but also how much and how often. “I see a lot of riders not eating enough or not eating often enough, and then your body starts storing all that as fat.” This slows your metabolism and makes it even harder for you to burn calories. Avoid this with several small, healthy meals throughout the day— enough to keep you from getting ravenous.

She also suggests keeping healthy food and snacks in your room and your backpack so you’re less tempted to binge on the bad stuff.

One quick fix? “Get a Magic Bullet,” she says, referring to small, singleserving blenders. “You can make healthy smoothies in just a couple minutes and take them with you.”

Another easy way to save time, money, and calories: drink water instead of sugary carbonated drinks (or worse, energy drinks). Keep a reusable water bottle nearby and fill it throughout the day, for free, at your school’s drinking fountains.

And don’t underestimate the value of sleep. Those all-night cramming sessions before tests have been soundly proven as ineffective anyhow, so you’re better off studying in short, frequent sessions and making sure you get enough sleep at night so you wake up refreshed.

»The FaBLe vs. FiTness Although you may hear a lot about the fabled “freshman 15,” Braden says weight is really just one element of overall wellness.

“I stress to my students that they shouldn’t worry so much just about weight—because it really is about fitness.”

turn your passion into

your career.

our associate degree in equine Studies gets you to your career in the equine industry faster. This comprehensive degree includes courses in equine lameness, equine massage, training and riding instruction, with a focus on quality horsemanship at a small school known for excellence in practical education. You can also choose to compete on our intercollegiate Dressage Team.

Visit vtc.edu/equine for more information.

2017 Education

| equineJournal.com

3

GA

N LI

YN HR

BY

SE

T KA



The Road Less Traveled Discover the Alternative Equine Career You Never Knew You Wanted Riding instructor, professional rider, barn manager…these are the careers that many people associate with the horse industry. But, there is so much more out there that you would likely never think of—from course designer or artificial breeding technician to a hot walker at a racetrack or a jump builder—when you really think about it, the opportunities are endless, no matter what your specialty. Follow the Equine Journal as we explore three unique and unconventional equine careers.

Guided Tour Specialist If you’re enrolled in or have recently graduated from an equine program, or are simply looking to get some experience in the industry, Laura Lash would recommend you go out West and try something new— perhaps become a wrangler or tour guide, like she did.

As an IHSA rider with a hunter/jumper background, Lash was unsure when her cousin suggested she become a wrangler at a dude ranch after graduating from Longwood University with a business degree in May 2012. “But in the end, I like riding and I like being around horses, and I didn’t see a need to be completely serious in my job life right after I got out of college. So I went out there,” she said.

14 46

equine EQUINE Journal JOURNAL

Education | 2017 January 2013 e-book

If you, too, find yourself in a similar situation, here’s what you can expect. At Goosewing Ranch in Jackson Hole, WY, Lash and her fellow wranglers experienced breathtaking views, hours of trail rides through nature, and intriguing conversations, on a daily basis. But, it’s not just fun and games all the time. “We did a wrangler certification where we learned what parts of the saddle we can take apart and what we can use as first aid materials…it’s one of those things that you don’t have the comfort of being [near a hospital] or have someone to help you. We were on our own with seven people, who, a lot of times had no idea about anything regarding horses or being out West,” she explains.

The utilization of problem-solving skills around the

Photo: courtesy of goosewing ranch

the industry, there are still some, like Goosewing, that are ranch, before you hit the trails is a must, too. “We’d have willing to train the right candidate. “I didn’t know how to tie guests come down at the beginning of the week—Monday was a square knot or saddle well or efficiently, so I didn’t really always our most stressful day because all of the new guests know what I was getting into [before I arrived],” confesses were here and we didn’t know what their riding ability was.

Lash. “Obviously I know how to ride, and I took two Sometimes they’d say they were advanced, but they weren’t, neck-reining lessons. It was so unnatural when I first started and so we’d have to figure out the proper pairing of horse and it, but you get used to it. And now I’m back home taking rider, as well as saddles,” says Lash. “The first day when they English lessons again and I want long stirrups and to ride with came down, we would also do horse 101 with them—how to one hand.” steer, how to control them, going uphill, going downhill, what Of course, while it is a thrilling job, being to do during certain scenarios, etc.” a wrangler isn’t without its challenges. “You At first glance, it may not seem like your (Above) Wranglers go through so many people and you’ve got to equine or other college degree would come not only get to ride make connections quick. Stuff is constantly being in handy for such a profession, but think on a daily basis, they thrown at you. It was really intimidating at first. again. “My business degree in general really also get to experience There’s so much responsibility,” says Lash. helped, because over and over we’d go through breathtaking views, like those at Goosewing But, as she will tell you, the challenges and ways to properly communicate with people Ranch in Wyoming. the overall great experience balance each [in class], and customer service—it’s huge out other out in the end. “If some people are there because you have to make sure every nervous about doing it after college because rider is comfortable,” says Lash. “Some people they want to get started in a career right away, go out sign up and they’re not very advanced and they end up slowing West over the summer [while you’re in school]. I think it’s a everyone else down, and so you have to figure out a way to good start and I think it makes you more versatile in whatever communicate with [the group], but also a way to solve the you want to do,” Lash says. “It’s incredible and the stuff you problem. Maybe when you get back you take them out in the get to do and the people you get to meet, I definitely think it’s field and run with the more advanced people.” worth it.”

And while many dude ranches ask for experience in 2017 Education e-book January 2013

equineJournal.com | equine Journal.com 15 47

Everyone recognizes the signature Budweiser Clydesdales and their majestic beauty. But it’s not often that someone stops to think about how they get to each location, who gets them “show ready,” and most of all—who gets to drive them.

Lester Nisley can tell you all about it—he’s done most of those things throughout his eight-year career with AnheuserBusch, and he currently holds the ultimate position when it comes to the famous equines. As the Hitch Performance Supervisor, Nisley not only trains the young Clydesdales to drive the carriages, but he also teaches the drivers at Anheuser-Busch’s Merrimack, NH, location; not to mention, he takes the reins himself from time to time—including for the brewing company’s 2007 Super Bowl commercial.

Growing up on a dairy farm and handling Belgians, Nisley scored his first job with Budweiser at the age of 21 at their West Coast location.

“When I was out in San Diego I started as a handler/groomer. I was there a couple of years…and I got the opportunity one time to get up on the wagon and drive. I had quite a bit of experience at it, so it went well for me. After I was there for about two years, I became one of the drivers…and after about a year I became assistant supervisor out there for the San Diego team,” he says.

After the San Diego location was shut down, Nisley transferred over to the St. Louis team, where he traveled 10-11 months a year—not his ideal situation. Being in the AtLester Anheuser-Busch inboth Merrimack, NH, Nisley heads the Clydesdale Lester Nisley headed Clydesdale training program, asboth wellthe as the driver training the driver training trainingprogram programand at Anheuser-Busch’s program.

Merrimack, NH, location.

16 48

equine equine Journal Journal

Education | 2017 January 2013 e-book

right place at the right time, plus A lifelong English having a plethora of experience rider, Laura Lash helped him out from there, as embraced the cowgirl culture in her time as a driver training program was a wrangler. just coming to fruition in New Hampshire—and so was his position of Hitch Performance Supervisor. “My job is to train young horses—four-year-olds usually—when they come here to the Merrimack training farm. We train them to drive, and get them ready for the road,” he says. “First we start them out with wearing a work harness, and then we start ground driving them in a team with an older horse to help them learn verbal commands and such, and once they get comfortable in a team, they have to learn to back up and turn and stop and go. Then we start driving them in teams

Top phoTo: James r. cuneo; boTTom phoTo: kaThryn selinga

Clydesdale Master

Midway is where you’ll turn your passion for horses

INTO A REAL FUTURE. Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION: Management | Rehabilitation | Science

Master of Business Administration in Equine Studies 100% Online | Complete in 12–18 Months | 36 Credit Hours | Experienced Equine Faculty

IHSA Teams Hunt Seat | Western

PLUS—Riding Team Scholarships

See how Midway is the place for you.

www.midway.edu/equine | 800.952.4122 Equal Opportunity Institution

of four, then six, and we start putting on the show harness. “[Budweiser also has] a driver training program from April through the end of September. The veteran drivers go through the company and pick two people [to train] for the year. The first driver will come April to May, so we’ll start him driving teams, and fours, and up to six...the second will come June to July and do the same program, and then August to September, both come back at the same time.”

But, the job, as well as the rest of the Clydesdale operations team’s, isn’t just about the horses. “There’s a lot more involved; you have to do media training, and that’s one of the things I’ve liked about the job. When I came here I knew horses, but after being with Budweiser for eight years, I really expanded in a lot of other areas, whether doing interviews, TV stuff, or working with wholesalers or management,” Nisley says, “so it is a unique horse job, but there’s a lot more to it, too. It’s kind of the best of both worlds; it’s good, the company provides you a lot of training to help you and advance your career.” This position may sound like a tough job to attain, but like most professions, you have to climb the ladder—and, surprisingly, the opportunities to get there are more ample than you may think. “They have an internship program that is from June, July, and August, and you go out and travel with the team. You’re an extra hand on the team—you do pretty much everything but drive the truck or the horses, and it’s a good way for people to see if they like it, or for the company to see if you would be a potential hire,” he explains. Ask him if he would encourage others to pursue an internship or job with the company, and Nisley’s answer is clear. “There are a lot of opportunities, and I think Clydesdales are a good way to start if you’re interested, and a good way of starting your career,” he says.

A-List Horse Trainer Have you ever watched movies like Hidalgo, Flicka, or Secretariat and wondered about the horses in it? How can they be trained to act hurt, scared, or even “die” on cue? “It is the same as training show jumpers, event horses, or FEI dressage horses—long hours and tremendous patience trains rex Peterson shows off his horses’ liberty training.

A-List Horse Trainer Have you ever watched movies like Hidalgo, Flicka, or

PHoto: ross HeCox/westerN HorseMAN

18 equine Journal | 2017 Education e-book kind of the best of both worlds; it’s good, the company provides you a lot of training to help you and advance your career.”

them. Sometimes we have to accelerate training to work within a specific time frame,” says Cari Swanson of Swanson Productions.

Swanson and Rex Peterson have trained numerous horses for countless movies, television shows, commercials, and more. So how did the pair break into the entertainment industry? “Rex started training horses when he was a teenager and learned from Glenn Randall Sr., one of the best horse trainers…Glenn was a master horseman, training horses for many difficult stunts including ones in Ben Hur, The Black Stallion, all the Trigger movies, and many other films. Rex began working on films with Glenn and continues to this day,” says Swanson. “I began working on films after purchasing RJ Masterbug, the famous American Paint stallion who starred in Hidalgo with Viggo Mortensen.”

There can be many perks to such a career, as one can imagine, but the most rewarding part for Swanson may not be what you think. “Working with the owners and actors [is the most difficult part]. The horses are much easier,” she says. “[I like] the challenge of training a horse to perform a complicated stunt or sequence for a film. Not only do we have to train the horse to perform, but he must perform in an environment with dozens of people on set and many distractions from every direction.”

Four of Swanson and Peterson’s horses played the main equine character in Winter’s Tale. “We had to train four white horses to perform for the one white horse. That’s normally how you do it—you always have a double and triple and a back up. One of them is the main liberty horse; two are the main jumping horses, a double, and stunt double to ride. And then there’s the main camera horse,” explains Swanson.

“The [horses] all have different energy levels, but we had to train them to be on set with the camera crew all around us, and cables,” she says, “so we [used] an obstacle course—that’s where we train them to ride through a lot of things.

“The trick horses have had thousands and thousands of hours of training. We’ve had 12 weeks to prepare for this film, and every day the horses get one to two hours of liberty work, at least one hour in the Rex at Peterson shows off of his saddle, and least one hour horses’ liberty training. driving, because there are driving scenes, too.” The downside: 15hour days on set…plus, with the “They have anneed internship rise inthink.

“CineMagic,” the for program is from June, July, live horses hasthat dwindled, making and August, and go out and it a tough industry toyou break into. travelwith withhorses the team.

You’re “Working in film andan extraishand the team—you television veryon difficult.

Special doand pretty much everything effects computer graphics but drivethe theneed truckfor ortraining the horses, eliminate it’s a good way for people many and sequences.

The business to see ifdramatically they like it, or for the has changed from company to seewesterns if you would be the old days when were potentialout hire,” explains. being achurned of he Hollywood,” Ask him if he would says Swanson. others to pursue But,encourage if you’re enrolled in an internship job to with the equineanprogram, useorthat your company, and Nisley’s answer advantage.

Network and make is clear.and “There are ainterlot of connections, if you’re and I think ested,opportunities, try to get an internship in Clydesdales are It a good way to the field, if possible. will help start if you’re and you get your foot in interested, the door with a good professionals, way of starting experienced foryour says. these career,” and anyhe horse-related job.

The relationship

between humans and horses is thousands of years old.

come be a part of

history www.averett.edu/equestrian • 1-800-AVERETT

Find Equine Journal for iPad™ on the App Store in iTunes

Visit www.equinejournal.com for details.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc.

Intermont Equestrian ips h s n mpio a ED h C K l AN ona i R t a Y 19 N ALL N IO IAN T R A N ST M E U A EQ OGR PR

TOP -R

ANK

ED LIB ERA COL L ART S LEG E

EQUINE STUDIES DEGREES: STUDY & RIDE B.A. 7 B.S. 7 Minor 7 Pre-Professional: Pre-Vet 7 Riding Scholarships Competitive Riding Teams: ANRC, IDA, IHSA Preview Days to Visit, Auditon & Ride: Sept. 9 & Feb. 3 Learn more: www.ehc.edu/equine-journal

800.848.5493 7 admission@ehc.edu

Stay Connected Subscribe 800-414-9101 Visit equinejournal.com Like us on facebook.com/equinej Follow us on twitter.com/equinejournal Follow us on instagram.com/equinejournal

Your All Breed, All Discipline Equine Resource

To advertise call 800-742-9171

digital

print

online