News from the round pen.. Another year… and a different horse.

Hello Friends,

I hope your new year is starting off great  I wanted to talk a little this morning about making comparisons…When you make comparisons, whether it is between  one horse or another, or one person and another it has the potential to come round a bite you when you least expect it.. Making a general assumption about a horse without checking him out to figure out his individual abilities or personality will probably lead to something happening that might have been avoided had you applied your knowledge with a little more regard for being an individual and respecting that when you step into the round pen. Some horses will learn and progress differently and some will surprise you with something you have never ran up against in any other horse. Like Bill D said… It’s remarkable just how much you think you might know, can all change with the very next horse..

Same goes for the people you think you know… It seems that lately a lot of folks have made the assumption that just because I happen to be related to a famous horseman, I am suppose to mimic his methods, be just as good, or my videos or books should be like his.. Well let me tell ya… What I do, how I do it, and whether you think it’s good or not is completely different from how Buck or John or Pat does things.. I don’t claim to be the all knowing horse guru.. I’m different, just like every horse is different.. You might not like it but that’s the way it is, sorry. I suppose you are thinking why this rant? Well I’ll tell you. In the last couple of months I’ve had a couple of negative comments put up  on amazon on Whisper This, and this month on my round pen video.. The very first one on the round pen vid after being out there for about 5 years now.. And even longer for the book. It’s not that I am going to loose a lot of sleep at night because a couple of  people think my stuff is not that good, or perhaps not like some of Bucks stuff or Montys or Pats. But for those of you that drop by here or on FB from time to time I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your comments on what I do or don’t do and if you all want to chime in feel free.. Taking what I try  to teach and using it for what it is worth to you or not, is what it is all about. Using the individual tips, methods or philosophies that works for you… Just like using something a little different that might work better on the next horse you step into the round pen with. But if you are coming here thinking your going to get a carbon copy of someone else or your next horse will be able to learn and be trained in exactly the same way as the last one.. Then you’re on the wrong site. Thanks for letting me vent a little this morning.

Smokie

About Smokie

Smokie Brannaman grew up on a 5000-acre horse and cattle ranch in Southwestern Montana. Working with horses, cattle and rodeoing as a professional trick roper was his way of life as a youngster. Upon graduating from high school, Smokie chose to serve his country in the United State Coast Guard. Although his military duties did not always allow much time to spend with his horses, he never the less, rode and trained horses of his own and others throughout his military career. Smokie retired in 2000 from the Coast Guard and worked as a Corporate Operations Manager for a security company. But he soon realized that his true enjoyment came from being around horses, training, riding and helping others with their horses. After working for 2 years as a stable manager for a large boarding stable, Smokie hired on at Ots Sunrise Farm to work with the young horses halter breaking, ground work and starting horses under saddle to progress to more advanced training. Smokie started his own business, Horseman’s Services Limited, llc in 2006 and now works full time as an educator of the horse and rider. Smokie utilizes the training methods of his brother Buck Brannaman, Jeff Griffith, and others, as well as his own techniques learned during a lifetime of working with horses. Smokie is a published author of two books about horses and their riders, Whisper This… Not to your horse, to yourself, and his newest book Equiknowlogy 101… and numerous horse training DVDs. Smokie lives in Greenleaf Wisconsin with his sweetie Vickie, and has three grown children, Kat, Travis and Jason. He raises and trains registered quarter horses of his own, which he uses as, Cavalry horses for his hobby, Civil War reenacting, and performing in Wild West Shows throughout the Midwest.
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