Buck Brannaman, Continued.

The following are excerpts from my notes and content and quotes might be inaccurate.  I am doing my best to repeat what I wrote down in my notebook from the Buck Brannaman clinic I attended.

I have learned a lot from Cooler Horsemanship.  Much of what Buck said in his clinic I have heard from James Cooler, but auditing the Buck clinic for four days really allowed things to sink in.  One thing I have been working on a lot lately is riding from my seat and I loved watching the following:

"Walk, trot, canter with a loose reign, then one can collect".

There are three seat positions, actually four.

Position one:  On pelvis for a moment (and obviously used for jumping) when asking a horse to go faster, but then it is immediately into position two.

Position two:  Athletic stance - straight up, on balls of feet.

Position three:  Feet forward, deep pockets.

Position four:  Your butt hits the ground.

Class Exercise:   Ride with your seat while walking on a loose reign.

Talk about out of sync... some horses took off and others never changed pace.  Some riders didn't loosen their reigns even though they thought they had.  A few did a nice job.  The worst offenders seemed to be a dressage and an english rider.  And Buck did not go easy on them, but he was honest.

Buck encouraged some to use their legs to get their horses going.

"It is impossible to have a horse light to the hand that is dull to the leg.  My leg is pushing on an air bubble, especially the lower leg.  (and my leg is saying) "I have every intent to kick you if you don't listen to this good deal."   Buck went on to say that legs were only used for transitions, not for maintenance of impulsion.

"Riding is supposed to be discreet.  If my horse starts to slow, I might kick a fart out of her."

(a side note:  I tried this on Oberon.  He slowed, I followed through and gave him a BIG kick with both legs.  He really jumped forward!  Since then, all I have had to do is pull both feet out from his sides and he speeds up. I have not had to wollup him again since!)

Of course, no Buck clinic is complete without a few quotes from Ray Hunt "See how little you can do to get them to trot".

And so, as the class went 'round and 'round the ring, Buck kept offering advice.

"Try to make it invisible.  Slow walk to fast walk ... liven up YOUR body.

I believe the horse above was Buck's "green" horse - which I found amusing as most people's horses never behave
and listen as nicely as this gelding.

Fascinating and my notebook is full of advice:

Lateral flexing - Buck looks for a soft feel, pole slightly higher than the withers, ears level, with head turned; it doesn't have to be all the way back to the riders foot.

Longitudinal flexing - he is looking for the proper elevation of the head.  The head WAY down (like the western pleasure show people like - he called it the "new fad" - holds the rib cage and spine down... spurs do NOT lift a horses back.

So how does one raise withers without getting the horse dull to our hands and legs?

Well, Buck said the pole must elevate to the proper position, the withers must rise so the horses hips can engage.

And there are exercises for this.  I will highlight them in my next posts.

Buck Brannaman "Redirect Energy"

Buck Brannaman is a legend in the horse world for some.  After auditing a clinic I must say, on horseback he is "poetry-in-motion".  He makes everything appear elegant and simple... which of course, when I went to apply what I learned back at my "home" arena with my horse, it wasn't easy at all.  It takes a lot of patience and practice.

HERE is a great article that sums up Buck fairly well.

The four day clinic I attended was held at Sullivan Farm Hanoverians , a top notch private farm that has been hosting Buck every other fall for many years.   I think there were about 15 - 20 riders in the Horsemanship 1 class.

So much information is at hand at a clinic like this, so I had a notebook handy and wrote down bits and pieces of what registered with me.  My next few posts will be about things that made me pause and think.   My first "pause & think" moment is below.





Buck is a patient man, but there is no room for "non-listeners".  That goes for his students AND his horses.  He said:

"My horse needs to be quiet enough not to draw my attention".   He expects accurate movement, no milling around.   If one is tuned out by their horse, he said to change subjects.

"You want your horse always aware of you.  Be aware of your horse!  Fidgeting?  Direct that!  Think of it as a gift.  Do something with that energy; redirect it or it will be a negative."

"Don't let your horse check out.  A horse wants peace.  Trade movement for peace."

The Pick-up Line

My iPhoto improved with Kim Klaussen's "Oh My" Texture

The Pick-up Line

A Gelding's Boast

Back in the day
when I ran with the colts,
I was an "Outlaw",
untamed vigor,
no cowboy could tame...

A Mare's Thoughts

"They're all the same..."


by Margaret Bednar, October 12, 2012


This is linked with Kim Klaussen's "Texture Tuesday" & IGWRT's "Music with Marian" subject"  Outlaw/Crazy.    I don't think this is exactly what the prompt was looking for, but it is what I could do with the time I have available today.

This is a photo of the new stables my horse, Oberon, is boarding.  I sold my horse, Sebastian, to my manager trainer and they are now at a different barn as well.  I am really excited, though, as I may be trail riding with Sebastian & James this weekend.

If you are a Buck Brannaman fan, check back here in a few days as I have a few photos and a rundown of the clinic I attended a couple of weeks ago.

The Horse Whisperer - Buck Brannaman

I have been at a clinic watching the real "Horse Whisperer" this weekend.  The last day is today, Monday, October 1st.  As many of you know, his name is Buck Brannaman.

"Everything you do with a horse is a dance".  Buck

A Cowboy is a craft, a profession.  It is a craft... it's not just putting on a hat and going to some night club to sing karaoke.

I will be back in a few days with photos and some of my notes... and maybe a few good ol' Buck quotes.  :)

Man o' War, a poem

Man o' War

America's genetic gold,
son of "good tidings",

veins throbbed fire,
his mind, desire.

Had a 26-foot stride
that soared as if winged.

Rebellious youngster,
"like holding a tiger's tail",

he became "De mostest hoss
that ever drew breath."

He transcended his sport,
a "Babe Ruth" of the track,

truly "brought one close
to divinity."


by Margaret Bednar  9.20.12

Man o' War and his caretaker, Will Harbut

Click on the above link (under the picture of him with his groom if you are interested in reading about this famous race horse.

I just finished re-reading a book I had from my childhood "Man o' War" by Walter Farley.  It is fiction, but largely based on fact.  A very uplifting read!  I highly recommend it.

Fred Stone  has painted many a magnificent horse.  I'm considering purchasing this poster of Man o' War.

A Unicorn?

Unicorn Oberon!

The Late Passenger 

C.S. Lewis 1948

The sky was low, the sounding rain was falling dense and dark, 
And Noah's sons were standing at the window of the Ark. 

The beasts were in, but Japhet said, 'I see one creature more 
Belated and unmated there come knocking at the door.' 

'Well let him knock,' said Ham, 'Or let him drown or learn to swim. 
We're overcrowded as it is; we've got no room for him.' 

'And yet it knocks, how terribly it knocks,' said Shem, 'Its feet 
Are hard as horn--but oh the air that comes from it is sweet.' 

'Now hush,' said Ham, 'You'll waken Dad, and once he comes to see 
What's at the door, it's sure to mean more work for you and me.' 

Noah's voice came roaring from the darkness down below, 
'Some animal is knocking. Take it in before we go.' 

Ham shouted back, and savagely he nudged the other two, 
'That's only Japhet knocking down a brad-nail in his shoe.' 

Said Noah, 'Boys, I hear a noise that's like a horse's hoof.' 
Said Ham, 'Why, that's the dreadful rain that drums upon the roof.' 

Noah tumbled up on deck and out he put his head; 
His face went grey, his knees were loosed, he tore his beard and said, 

'Look, look! It would not wait. It turns away. It takes its flight. 
Fine work you've made of it, my sons, between you all to-night! 

'Even if I could outrun it now, it would not turn again 
--Not now. Our great discourtesy has earned its high disdain. 

'Oh noble and unmated beast, my sons were all unkind; 
In such a night what stable and what manger will you find? 

'Oh golden hoofs, oh cataracts of mane, oh nostrils wide 
With indignation! Oh the neck wave-arched, the lovely pride! 

'Oh long shall be the furrows ploughed across the hearts of men 
Before it comes to stable and to manger once again, 

'And dark and crooked all the ways in which our race shall walk, 
And shrivelled all their manhood like a flower with broken stalk, 

'And all the world, oh Ham, may curse the hour when you were born; 
Because of you the Ark must sail without the Unicorn!' 

Bareback & a Straight Line

We are taking a bit of a break from the dressage saddle and are riding with a bareback pad.  The girls love Oberon's trot for posting, but it isn't the easiest to sit.  So, for balance and a change of pace, this is what they have been doing.  I already see an amazing improvement in their balance and it will be interesting after another week to see if their riding in the saddle has improved.

I rode him today and I worked on look, leg and "hopefully no" lead.  Every time Oberon deviated from my straight line, I circled him around and put him back on track.  We started with the walk, and then a trot.  We really did make progress!  I want to get really good before I try it at a canter as I am also trying to get him to feel my energy and drive "stop" as well without using any rein.

I know it is all very basic.  But, this is where we are.

I know Oberon's head should be carried differently for better collection, and that will be addressed eventually, I'm sure.

Of course, we always find time for ground play, and I had a fun time working him in a crazy 8 around two cones and also an exercise while I walked a straight line and he half circled and cut back and forth in front of me.  I will try and get a video of both of these as they are a lot of fun.

The summer heat has lifted and riding is a joy again!

And of course, after a hose down, a bit of green grass is always a nice reward!