Show stable, training stable, hobby stable, where do you fit in? Naturally some aspects of each always exist within them, but in general; there is a big difference. When it comes to my choice, it will always be a training stable.....I would like to think it's the middle fork of the highway, where hobby horses and show horses are discovered, developed and ultimately find their place. A place where discovery, both horse and human happen. I have always been an explorer, adventurer and thrill seeker. I never get enough when it comes to that.......and horses dish out plenty.

Whatever your goals are and whatever your talents are, if your into horses, they will tend to take you in the direction you want to go...well sometimes in the wrong direction, at the worst moment...but that also leads you to a new place, in your riding ability or maybe a resolution.."I'll never try that again"! Being blessed with the ability to ride and the opportunity to share with others has culminated in a very unique and awesome fellowship., a clique that is very inclusive. Outsiders of the equestrian world are somewhat bewildered by the commitment to our horses and often it's futile to address it.

If you are a show rider, I know there is a thrill, a queasy gut when you walk through the in gate of your class....It is the moment to shine or maybe eat dirt (or crow)! For the trail rider, parking your truck and trailer in some remote, far away place, you step out into the crisp air and you reach for the trailer door...it's a new adventure. For the beginning rider, as you pull into the farm, your heart is light and head high in the possibilities..... dreams are reality and you cannot wait to see the horses and be "in the barn"! If your a trainer, slipping that leg over the saddle for that first ride is never a dull moment, "are we going to be good or is all he** going to break loose!"... hopefully your ground work has laid the foundation for an easy start....but, there are no guarantees!

I can say,  I know all these well and being able to share it with many brings me to a fine place, with good people and good horses. My place, I call it a training barn, because what we do here is explore all those possibilities and develop each of our riders and horses.  I really love to bring them together, make a team. I have often had troubled horses and riders rediscover themselves and go on to fruition, or at least find peace in the relationship. I suppose there is no greater feeling for me as a trainer, than to bring along a young horse or "fix" that relationship between human and animal. I am always so happy the day I realize my horse and I understand each other or the day the troubled horse shows trust regained....That to me is worth it all. As a riding coach, it is nearly the same....as each student finds a new ability and as they "connect" with the horse, I am thrilled to see it in their faces. What a great thing to work with a horse and be a "partner" a "team".

After a time, some riders are off to the show barns, others find their way to the less stressful hobby barn, but each still has the opportunity to learn (which I hope they do) that there is always more for the horse to teach us. Where ever you start and ultimately end up, I wish you well on the journey, check your cinch, it's a long ride!  Clay Jackson

Just getting under way .... a 4 year old, aka "Viper"

So many hours, long cold days, hot ones too.... no one around just the horse beneath you, some far away goal, a pinpoint on a far reaching plain. Seeking amnesty from foolish mistakes, and revelation in a new discovery of ability. No attempt to run away, though the feeling comes and goes.....there is an answer, and one must seek it or be forever lost in quandary. The horse knows, but won't tell.....only waits to respond to the right answer.

Who is wise? Who is the real teacher? I must remain the student to know and yet again know,
I do not.

CAJ

I went to bed thinking about what to write for an article…. What would be helpful, maybe something about bits or technique?  What came to my mind surprisingly was about my relationship with the horse.

I was riding as soon as I was walking maybe sooner and my mother and father made sure that I had the exposure…they were very active in the American Quarter Horse Association as breeders and competitors. That being aside, my relationship began early on when I found my connection with each of the horses as I grew up; their individual personalities…. They, were very much like my family.  Growing up in the South Bay area, riding even alone sometimes, in the Santa Cruz mountains, I never gave much thought about how special my life was. I took it for granted that it was commonplace and that anyone could have this much freedom. As I grew older, we moved to Oregon and I experienced living in a more remote life, on the McKenzie River.  I still, was connected with the horses but the social environment of school and a basically non horsey community of friends drew me away from it somewhat.

August 23, 1973 changed that. That was the day my best friends mother died in my arms from a lethal gunshot…. I won’t go into details but I can assure you, I was transformed by a very real moment, when life slipping away in front of me, her soul as I knew disappeared like the setting sun, leaving only my heart beating in my ears and the weight of her body cradled in my arms. I was 13 and suddenly no longer a child. I relate this because the first thing that brought me solace was to be with the horses.

 It may seem corny, but I found myself sitting there in the field surrounded by a band of 8 horses, accepting me, not judging or caring even a little about what had happened…they only sought company and grass. How simple. I think those times I needed to hold onto something true, the horses gave me that, they were honest, straight out, no guess work involved. I did not find that in the human element…lies, cheating, hidden agendas; every one judges everyone, better or worse, power plays. Don’t get me wrong I had love and compassion, plenty…but I knew that there was a dirty truth in life, I had lived it.

So…. in the end, horses I could trust, people? I never really knew if someone was who they seemed but the horse was 99% of the time right up front. So here I am a horse trainer, well maybe, maybe, they train me. They train me to be kind, to be patient, to be alert…ever on guard, yet living life right now and enjoying simple things. They are forever memorizing good and bad experiences yet often very forgiving, over and over. Are they just dumb…I don’t think so; I think a greater power gave them a big heart, one big enough to allow prejudice and wrong to afflict them and still try to please us. What more can you ask for? Ask the same for yourself. Ask yourself if you can be that simple and true. The next time you look close into a horse’s eye, you will see your reflection. What will they see?  I hope they will they see love and trust, compassion and happy excitement, living life for the sunshine and the green grass and good company. I will always be indebted to the horses in my life.  I have watched them be born and watched some die. In each and every horse I have ever met, I found a kindred spirit…..or maybe, I find myself.

Clayton A. Jackson

May 2012