Horsing around the High Desert

By John Wease

AS A CHILD IN THE 1950’S there were countless western television programs and movies. Most had very simple plots and, much like the Christmas romance movies, it wasn’t very hard to guess the ending after the first ten minutes. In many of these stories the horse was represented as something pretty special. Looking back, it may be the only part they got right. Everyone wanted a horse so they could ride tall in the saddle. We all wanted to be just like our favorite white hat wearing hero, defeating the bad guys, saving the damsel, and riding off into the sunset. I wonder who the young people can look up to now?

I was quite amazed this year to see a social media advertisement for the Summer Horse Camp at the Pegasus Training Stables in Yermo. A great idea, and a good way to teach discipline, responsibility, and working toward goals. At our Newberry Springs July 3rd Fireworks Festival, I had the pleasure of meeting Britney Swenson, the owner of Pegasus Training Stables. She had a booth there to promote her summer horse camp events and training classes but, as it turns out, she is involved in much more. When she told me she competes in horse shows on a blind horse, the sightless horse she would ride in the Newberry Independence Day Parade the next morning, I knew I had to visit the stables and learn more.

Britney has been training horses for about twenty-two years. Mostly she worked traveling to the various customers. In 2020 she moved to Barstow and set up business there. Recently, she relocated her operation to a very large property on Ghost Town Road in Yermo. To quote Britney, it is a “work in progress” and she has a lot of clean-up work to do. She is open to volunteer help. She trains both horses and riders. She boards horses. She hopes to establish a horse sanctuary. Not a rescue that rehabilitates and finds forever homes but a true sanctuary where the old, infirm, or otherwise unwanted equines can live out their lives in peace. She is well on her way. Several of her horses are rescues with health issues.

Her most notable rescue is the paint horse, “Smoke ‘Em All the Sightless.” Smoke, for short, belonged to a friend of Britney. He was a spooky horse that had never left the owner’s property. He became worse after he lost one eye to cancer. When Smoke lost the other eye, he was terrified of every sound and was unmanageable. The horse seemed to relax around Britney, and to save him from being put down, she offered to take him home and try to work with him. This was six years ago when he was a spry young twentyyear old. Now he trail-rides and competes in horse shows. He won High Point Champion in his division at the last Dusty Spurs Gymkhana Club show in Phelan. Their Gymkhana is a thirteen event competition that includes barrel racing and other timed, patterned and obstacle-type events.

Smoke seems to love it. It is amazing the trust (OK, I have to say it, blind trust) this amazing horse has in Britney. If you don’t know the special bond that can form between horse and rider, you probably never had a horse. Or, maybe, never the right horse. You must earn their trust. And, the level of trust Smoke must have in Britney, well, it is just incredible.

She began the summer horse camps this year. They are for ages five through seventeen. The four-morning program includes horse safety, handling, grooming, and tacking. Also, horse riding basics, riding, horse anatomy and first aid, and bareback riding. It is a pretty complete introductory course on all things equine. For those interested in advancing their skills, Britney trains riders of all ages and abilities.

The morning I visited, I met four of her current students and was able to enjoy a demonstration of their practice regimen for a “virtual horse show” they compete in. They compete in “ridden trail” which is an obstacle course set up in an arena that simulates obstacles and distractions a rider might find on the trail. They practice on the course and a video of the event is sent to T&J Virtual Horse Shows. They compete within their class against riders from all over the country without the expense of transporting the horses to shows in distant locations.

All four performed well. Olivia Taylor, age 7, was too short for the saddle the others used on “Jake” but she had no problem expertly performing the course without feet in stirrups. She competes on Jake in the pre-novice ridden trail events. Scarlett Taylor, age 13, competes in the novice class on “Scarlet.” She rode Jake in the Newberry Springs Independence Day Parade, alongside Smoke, proudly carrying the American flag. For those of you that don’t know, parades, with their noisy spectators, flapping flags, and other distractions, require a skilled rider and a calm horse. The Taylors have been training about one year.

Stephanie McEwan, age 27, had lessons as a young girl but has only been training with Britney about six months. She competes in the novice class and seems to be picking it up quickly. Britney’s son Orion, age 11, trains and competes as well. Although he wasn’t riding that morning, he was a busy helper and assisted with the demonstration.

Aside from training, horse physical therapy is available. I am familiar with equestrian therapy used to treat veterans and others with spinal and traumatic brain injuries. According to Britney, horse riding therapy is great for treating anxiety issues as well. It lowers the heart rate and has a calming effect. In these times, I’m sure it could benefit many of us.

When cooler weather arrives, Britney will start organizing guided historic trail rides for horse owners. Rides to Calico Ghost Town, the old mining districts in the Calico Mountains, or the other interesting locations that are available here. Photo shoots can be arranged for anyone needing a photo with one of her horses. The location is available for movie shoots as well. The property runs from Ghost Town Road all the way out to and onto the dry lake. She recently had a movie company shoot a “proof of concept” out on the lakebed. You may see Alexander the Great, The Untold Story at a theater near you in the future. Wait until Alexander is crossing the desert and see if you see Calico in the background.

Britney Swenson can be reached at (760) 600-9770 or on her Facebook page at Pegasus Training. Smoke ‘Em All the Sightless has his own Facebook page and there are some great photos of him there. There are sponsor forms on his page for any business owners that would like to sponsor this incredible, sightless wonder. It seems like a terrific way to advertise and help keep the champion winning prizes and inspiring us all.

John Wease’s New Book ‘The Horseman’ is a Captivating Novel That Follows a Passionate Horse Trainer as He Discovers His True Purpose in Life

FULTON BOOKS AUTHOR JOHN

WEASE, who lives with his wife, Susana, in the small High Desert community of Newberry Springs, California, has completed his most recent book “The Horseman”: a gripping and potent novel that introduces J.D. Holloway, who is a self-taught horse trainer.

Life events bring J.D. Holloway back to the big city for a high-paid job with a real future. There, he meets a justretired old wrangler who had worked some sixty years for a historic, highcountry Wyoming cattle ranch. After a long conversation about life on the ranch, he quits his job and heads for the high country. When he arrives at the ranch and offers to train horses for a bunk and meals, the ranch owner tells him he can stay and “play cowboy” for the season. After the fall roundup, the ranch would be sold. The hundred-year-old buildings, rustic setting, and the “playing cowboy” comment give him an idea.

Author John Wease begins his story, writing, “Did you ever get tired of your life as usual and want to run away from home? Head for greener pastures? Like old Chief Burton in the navy used to say, get ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired’?

Ever wanted to be like the old pioneers and load up your possessions and head for the unknown? Wanted to leave your stable, established (boring?) life behind? Was it impossible due to responsibilities or obligations? Well, I did. The morning of April 7, 1980. I was having this exact thought and even discussed it with Maggie, although, as usual, she didn’t offer much in the way of meaningful conversation. My name is J. D. Holloway, and I am a horseman.”

Published by Fulton Books, John Wease’s book follows J.D. as he plans to not only save the antiquated ranch but also possibly capture the heart of the ranch owner’s beautiful daughter.

Readers who wish to experience this compelling work can purchase “The Horseman” at select bookstores, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.

Please direct all media inquiries to Author Support via email at support@fultonbooks.com or via telephone at 877210-0816.