LONGEVITY

STORY & PHOTOS BY KIRK PRESCOTT – BAR XP PHOTO

Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” Here are some life experience questions answered by some of our industry’s most [ [honourable horsemen and women.

While equine related pursuits have evolved and diversified over the years, key elements of horsemanship remain tried, tested and true. Regardless of discipline, horsemen with experience have a wealth of knowledge to share. From first horses bought at auction to camel racing and everything in between, these folks have intriguing experience and highlight essential equine principles with confidence. Sit deep in your saddle and listen-up, as we share thoughts on working with horses from those who know best!

LES GREIPL

Ponoka, AB (66)

Born in Big River, Saskatchewan, Greipl moved to Alberta in 1969. A natural hand with a horse and a skilled jack-ofmany-trades, Greipl has worked as a farrier, trainer, rancher and oil-field mechanic for many years. From pasture doctoring to barrel racing, Greipl has put his equine counterparts to work in many disciplines. Greipl began checking pastures and moving cow-calf pairs, many moons ago. He has competed in gymkhanas, cattle penning and cattle sorting for several years. His success in the arena led him to barrel racing, where he was also very accomplished. Soon, he began starting colts for other well-known athletes and fellow ranchers. After meeting Mel Hyland in 1996, Greipl was encouraged to attend a 30day, Reis Ranch Universal Horsemanship Clinic, in California. With a patience for colt starting, Greipl was hooked in the discipline.

At his peak, Greipl started roughly five young horses a month, while working full-time as a mechanic and operating as a farrier. An avid outdoorsman, Greipl naturally incorporated mountain riding into his training and backcountry excursions. While old injuries and a recent knee replacement have slowed him down a little, he actively enjoys ranch rodeos, pasture roping and helping others start their own horses. Greipl is skilled at helping others improve their horsemanship and has produced many fine horses that bear his brand.

Q. If you had to choose three key principles to uphold when training horses, what would those be? What exercises do you use to enhance these principles while riding/training?

A. “First, let the horse be a horse. Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. Second, the rest is longer than the work. Third, pressure and release so the horse knows what he did correct.”

Q. What is the biggest challenge that you face when coaching another rider?

A. “Feeling, timing, and balance. Some people have this naturally, but when they do not, it is tough.”

Q. How do you keep yourself in condition to continue training and how does your age shape your career?

A. “Doing groundwork on colts can be quite physical. I am a farrier so that helps to keep a person in shape. In the winter I log and cut firewood to help stay in shape. Every year, as you get older it is harder to keep in shape. Injuries are the hardest to recover from.”

Q. What is your retirement plan and how would you coach someone financially, who’s younger and wishes to pursue an equine related career path?

A. “I was lucky. I had a full-time job with a pension. I would also invest a percentage of my training dollars. You have to be smart money-wise, so if you get hurt you have some backup money. Have a website so you can market yourself. Build halters or another craft and have a side job to help with extra money.”

Q. What advice would you pass along to younger trainers, coaches and riders?

A.“Don’t undercharge. Charge enough money and you will train only the best colts.”

Q. How do you feel our western horse world has evolved? What modern “tools of the trade” do you find beneficial to equine enthusiasts and their horses?

A.“It has evolved from forcing the horse to do things during training, to now allowing the horse to choose if they are ready and willing to work through each step of their training. Social media has opened up the availability to learn about horses and horsemanship. There are good trainers willing to share their knowledge, you just have to ask for it.”

ANNE THOMPSON

Priddis, AB (72)

A horsewoman with many talents, Anne Thompson has been there, done that and won the buckle to boot! With a love of horses deep in her DNA, Thompson was drawn to horse events, at an early age. Her equine career began more than 60 years ago and has flourished, ever since. At the age of 12, Thompson became a volunteer Pony Club Instructor. The inherent reward was driving the truck from the family farm to the stable.

From that point forward, anything fast and involving a saddle, has captured Thompson’s attention. Gymkhanas, working cow horse competitions, barrel racing, camel racing, team penning and side saddle racing all hold a place in her bountiful resume. Thompson is a firm believer that a good horse and rider can do it all. A drive to be successful in multiple pursuits has fostered her growth as a well-rounded horsewoman. The fact that King Leo Bar had points in almost every class, in the American Quarter Horse Association handbook, serves as her ongoing inspiration. Thompson approaches everything with a smile and notes that, “Fun On Horseback” has always been her motto.

In her view, her greatest contribution to the horse world has been her teaching. With a Bachelor of Physical Education, her transition to becoming a riding instructor was beyond natural. Thompson has helped hundreds of men, women and children fall in love with horses, learn to ride and become horse people, in their own right. As an accomplished horsewoman, Thompson thrives with lessons, summer camps and clinics. Her legacy continues with two daughters that are also skilled equestrians and the many students that she has coached, both in and out of the arena.

Q. If you had to choose three key principles to uphold when training horses, what would those be? What exercises do you use to enhance these principles while riding/training?

A. “Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult or uncomfortable. To do this, you have to have a very clear view of your goal, whether the goal is ‘Get in the trailer’ or ‘Lope a nice circle.’ Establish a level of communication with your horse, so that you recognize quickly when your horse understands your request and when your horse is still saying ‘What?’ The sooner you feel a step in the wrong direction, the more subtle your correction is. Once the horse is a few steps into it, the correction must be bigger. I see horses get the most confused when a rider changes their mind part way through the instruction. For beginners, this is very important. Decide what you want to do and keep asking until you get it. Every rule of riding has exceptions. Learn lots of different tools to add to your toolbox. By that I mean find different ways to accomplish the same goal. Listen to your horse and deal with what is required at the moment. Every horse is unique. Every rider is unique. One rule does not fit all.”

Q. What is the biggest challenge that you face when coaching another rider?

A. “Starting people in the art of riding is my favorite. The rider has to first of all feel safe. They can’t learn anything if they are scared. Secondly, they have to be having fun. Give them a game to play and watch them figure out how to get to their goal. Thirdly, be very clear in your instructions, and only ask for one new thing at a time. I like to break down the end-goal into small manageable parts, work on those and then build back up to the total goal.”

Q. How do you keep yourself in condition to continue training and how does your age shape your career?

A. “Hahaha. This is a good question and one that often surprises people. My husband (age 75) and myself (age 72) love to go to Crossfit! Andrew, at Natural High in Okotoks, has been our coach for the last seven years and we know that he has been our inspiration and butt kicker. Of course, doing chores and fixing things around the ranch keeps us going too but we found that was not enough to keep our senior selves fit.”

Q. What is your retirement plan and how would you coach someone financially, who’s younger and wishes to pursue an equine related career path?

A. “Retirement plan? I like the idea of that but I truly love what I do and probably won’t ever retire. I have however reduced my classes and get to focus on the small groups that I love the most. Financially, when you’re starting, don’t be afraid to supplement your income with other work. Building a strong enough clientele that will support your livelihood takes a long time. While I was a horse trainer and instructor, I was also an insurance provider, product salesman, and school teacher. I probably didn’t consider myself a full-time equine person until about 10-years into my career.”

Q. What advice would you pass along to younger trainers, coaches and riders?

A.“Create a positive environment around you. Don’t tear people down or allow others to be toxic in your space. It spreads quickly! Positivity will allow you to love what you do, will show in your horses and will keep clients coming back.”

Q. How do you feel our western horse world has evolved? What modern “tools of the trade” do you find beneficial to equine enthusiasts and their horses?

A.“What do I enjoy most? Faster trucks and nicer trailers!”

CECIL & DIANE SALMON

Chilliwack, BC (90 & 89)

For nearly 60 years, Cecil and Diane Salmon have graced the equine world in a variety of disciplines and integral roles. Though their introduction to horses was an eye-opener, they developed lasting memories in 4-H, reining, dressage, three-day eventing, barrel racing, working cowhorse and most notably, Quarter Horse racing. For their daughter’s first horse, Cecil purchased an unbroke, two-year old gelding. This endeavor proved to be educational as the auction equine also had a broken tail and a poor disposition. The Salmons have since enjoyed many different breeds and competed in several disciplines.

The dashing-duo, now retired, admire the American Quarter Horse for their temperament and diverse ability. Early on, the family honed their horsemanship skills and gained valuable training insight, in the show arena. They travelled with the Quarter Horse circuit for many years and were instrumental in developing the youth division of the British Columbia Quarter Horse Association. As their children – equally adorned with equine accolades – married and moved away, Cecil and Diane felt a natural progression to enter the breeding industry.

With a 129-acre farm in Chilliwack, British Columbia, the rolling hills of the Fraser Valley were ideal for the development of young bone, tendons and ligaments. Chargetta, a prized show mare with racing blood, started the Salmon’s band of broodmares. Along with their trainer, Baxter Andruss the Salmons produced notable champions with numerous accolades. Countinella, Noah Count, Betteta, Teskey Rd, and Wosseta are among their top earners. Daughter, Cindy Mussell, 67, former Miss Rodeo Canada, continues to barrel race descendants of Wossetta and many family members honour their equine legacy in various pursuits. Cecil and Diane raced horses as far south as Los Alamitos and as far east as Ruidoso Downs, until 1995. They were presented with a bronze statue in 1995, at the National Quarter Horse Congress, for Check this Reb, the Canadian Champion Racing Quarter Horse in North America. The Salmons have a yearly catch-up call with their trainer Baxter, now aged 90, who continues to train racehorses! Cecil and Diane also still follow the rodeo circuit, in a spectator role. Both remain fond of the relationships and knowledge the horse industry has bestowed upon them.

Q. If you had to choose three key principles to uphold when training horses, what would those be? What exercises do you use to enhance these principles while riding/training?

A. “Whatever discipline you choose for your young horse, give him a good basic foundation so if that career path doesn’t work out, they can enjoy life in another discipline. So often young racehorses have their lives end as a two-year-old when they don’t run fast enough. Other options include barrel horses, trail horses, and general riding, if they have a good foundation. A good foundation includes the ability to go on a trail ride, be in a pen of cattle, or the work pen and be a safe, respectful and willing partner. In the race world especially, but in all training, make sure your horse is conditioned well enough to withstand the rigours of training. You can’t beat the long, slow distance method for developing bone and muscle. Lots of people don’t take the time to do it properly. It paid off for us many times over with longevity in our racehorses and barrel horses. Too many horses develop life sustaining injuries that could have been prevented by this alone. Pay close attention to the health of your horse. Remember horses are not meant to grow up in a stall. They are meant to run and play and develop strong bones, tendons and ligaments which they cannot do being ridden for an hour a day and cooped up for the rest of the time. Good facilities are a must for developing body and mind, both essential elements of a healthy horse. Ample turnout and rest from the training is key along with a good relationship with your vet and horse trainer.”

Q. What is the biggest challenge that you faced as a breeder/ trainer?

A. “To maintain a safe and healthy environment for the mares and foals. Injuries, birth defects, inability to conceive and nutritional deficiencies all play a big role in whether we would have a healthy young horse or two ready to start race training every year. In the Fraser Valley we receive a lot of rain and abscesses, due to mud. This caused us much grief as did the sugar content of the grass in our area being far too high. The answer to those was to feed straight alfalfa as it is a legume without sugar, minimize the grass time which is difficult while trying to maintain good turnout and take advantage of hills to build shelters to minimize the mud factor.”

Q. As you aged, how did you keep yourself in condition to continue breeding/ training? What factors influenced your decision to retire?

A. “As we aged, we were always very conscious of our own health, as we were with the horses. We were physically active playing sports, golf, riding and eating well. We continue to be very involved in the horse world through our daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We have always been active people in the horse community first at the local level, then provincially, nationally and internationally. Physically, we keep active working on our three acres. We downsized considerably from the 129 we used to have, but it keeps us busy nevertheless with lawns to be mowed, gardens to be tended etc. We both walk and golf, ride bicycles and enjoy the outdoors. I, Cecil, decided to retire from the logging industry when I turned 60, with a pension. With daughters grown and gone we sold some of our property for housing that previously had been a source of income as a gravel pit.”

Q. How would you coach someone financially, who’s younger and wishes to pursue an equine related career path?

A. “I would say don’t play with money you can’t afford to lose! It is a big gamble, the only people making a living in the sport are the trainers and riders because they are guaranteed an income, despite the outcome. I did a survey on QH racing in the US and TB racing in Canada, in 1996, based on owner’s income in the industry. I chose the US for the QH racing, as it wasn’t a large enough industry in Canada. The results showed 6% of the owners in the TB racing industry made money and 7% in the QH industry. Poor odds!! In other words, don’t quit your day job!”

Q. What advice would you pass along to younger trainers, coaches and riders?

A.“Have a good relationship with your clients, if you are a trainer or coach, or the opposite if you are a breeder. Communication is the key to knowing if the horse will be able to compete at the expected level or if you are wasting your money. We had the same racing trainer, Baxter Andress, for 25 years. A few times, he told us to bring the horse home and find another career path for it. We appreciated his honesty rather than continuing to spend our money unwisely. Find out what your clients want and if they want to compete at the highest level, are they prepared for the costs involved? There are a lot of ways to enjoy a horse that don’t involve a big expense and perhaps that might be the better path if finances are of a concern.”

Q. How do you feel our western horse world has evolved? What modern “tools of the trade” do you find beneficial to equine enthusiasts and their horses?

A.“Of course, with the internet, the western horse world has evolved socially and economically. You can get results, watch events, live stream, check out pedigrees all with a click of a button. Certainly, that has been very beneficial. Years ago, live coverage was the only option for a mare. We spent plenty, sending mares to the States. Now there is frozen semen and cool semen, embryo transplants, and cloning as options. Also, individual rodeo events have expanded to be more inclusive. The barrel horse 4D system is just one example of creating a more even playing field for horses and riders, that are not top caliber, to enjoy the sport and reap rewards. Numbered team ropings have gone a similar route, both allowing more people and horses to enjoy the equine experience.” WHR