You, Your horse and GaWaNi Pony Boy

A Note from GaWaNi Pony Boy:

Throughout the years I have had the opportunity to work with horses in many different situations, Whether it be breaking colts, using a horse for demonstrations, using a horse to illustrate training exercises, riding instructions or fixing "problem" horses there are some common denomina tors. Of all the different things I do with horses, my favorite has to be working one on one with the horse and it's owner, trying to figure out just what the horse understands and what he/she doesn't. I enjoy this because it gives the owner a chance to see exactly what their horse is made of. Without an initial evaluation it is impossible for me to give solid advice about a problem or difficulty. Sure, I can take my best guess at a solution after talking to a horse owner, but without actually working the animal for 45 minutes or so, my advice is really nothing more than a best guess based on my experience with other horses.

What is an Evaluation?

In a small training area (40-50 ft.) I will put your horse through some basic tests and exercises. By seeing how your horse responds to the different exercises I can determine your horses demeanor, how he/she responds to different teaching styles, difficulties, temperament, etc. I then grade your horse in all of these different areas and come up with a general evaluation of where your horse is now and what your horse has the potential to become. After evaluating your horse's performance through these tests, I will write up a training prescription; basically a training regiment for the next 3-4 months tailored for your horse. Because horses are both individuals and intelligent it is imperative that we teach them within their own intellectual boundaries. Without an evaluation, it is impossible for me to custom-build a training plan for you.

What are the benefits to you?

Your horse knows you like a book! Whether you know it or not, your horse is constantly sizing you up, seeing what he/she can get away with and in general, studying you and your habits far more often than you are doing the same to your horse. Evaluations put your horse into an unfamiliar situation with someone who has devoted their life to reading horses. This may be an unfair advantage to the horse but it serves the purpose well. Invariably, the horse will perform differently or more consistently when we are working on an evaluation. This is because the horse is in a new, slightly uncomfortable position. People who have put their horse in a one on one with me have told me that their biggest benefit was getting to see someone else do the exercises properly with their horse.

At the end of your evaluation I will give you information sheets detailing the prescribed exercises, an over-all evaluation sheet, and we may devote 5-10 minutes to starting you and your horse on a specific problem area. You will also receive a confidential email address that can be used whenever you are experiencing special difficulties w ith one of the prescribed exercises.

To book a Private Evaluation - You, your horse and GaWaNi Pony Boy, please contact us.