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The Horse Trainer

Melissa Sandfort

Have you seen Robert Redford in The Horse Whisperer? He had a remarkable way of knowing and understanding horses, and it seemed as though they had their own secret language between horse and man. I believe that some people are born with the gift of understanding animals, and I’m not one of them — shoot, I can’t even understand my 3-year-old sometimes and he speaks English!

I mentioned a while back that our two horses, Thelma and Louise, were at “horsey school.” That is, they have spent a month with Russ Smith, horse trainer in Auburn, Neb. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of observing and working with Russ over the past month which has only furthered my training, discipline and understanding of our horses. I’m not an experienced rider, and in fact, I haven’t been on a horse since I was 10. But after a few hours at Russ’s barn I was already out trotting (and hanging on for dear life!).

Russ has a talent. A gift. He has ridden bulls and roped a few steers. He has had broken bones and bruises and maybe a sore ego when he was 15 trying to showing off for the cowgirls and was bucked to the dirt. But he has taken that gift and shared it with others in the horse community through training.

I’ve learned that cowboys all have different styles and what works for one trainer may not work for another. But I got on Thelma and with one small nudge to her belly, she was off and walking. Simple as that.

I wanted to chalk it up to the fact that Thelma has always been the calmer of the two horses, but after just one month, I see that I was wrong. Louise just needed Russ.

(This photo shows Russ on one of his own horses with Caramel, the goat supervising and his son getting ready for sledding season.)

Off to trail riding!

Until we walk again …

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