August 20th...
Sorry to everyone that has been following Encore’s site for taking so long to do this blog.
I want to start this off with what took place on Aug 13th.
On Aug 13th, I pulled Encore out of the pasture, away from all of his friends, and moved him to a separate pasture with
Journey to spend the night before the big day.
Once in the pasture, I climbed aboard Encore while he was eating, which I have never done before.
I have this bad habit, and a lot of people think that I am very strange for some of the things I do with the animals that I
love, or in this case come to love. I talk to my animals. Especially the ones that mean so much to me. If you think I am
crazy, oh well!
While Encore was eating, and me sitting on his back, I proceeded to have a talk with Encore and tried to explain the things
that were going to transpire within the next 24 hours. He kept his ears cocked the entire time as if he was really listening
to the things that I was telling him.
After the long talk, I dismounted and called it a night. Myself not being very happy about what I had told him that was going
to take place tomorrow. I felt like I was going to lose a very dear friend, and I was hurting. I am not sure how Encore felt!
The morning of Aug 14, I did all the chores for the other animals that we have. Then it was time to start getting
ready to go to the trainer’s challenge.
All of the equipment was loaded the night before. We just had a few minor things to go into the truck, as well as getting
Journey and Encore ready to go.
Once we had everything that we thought we needed in the truck, it was time to get Journey and Encore and get them ready for
loading.
Since a day or two after first getting Encore, I have never ever had to chase him to catch him. Well, things were going to be
different this morning. For the first time, I had to play this silly game with Encore of catch me if you can. Evidently
Encore understood the little talk we had the night before regarding what was going to transpire.
So needless to say my day was not starting out the way that I was hoping it would.
I kept talking to Encore and trying to reassure him that everything was going to turn out just fine and that I wanted the best
performance and best behavior from him today.
All went well with just a little hesitation on getting into the trailer to leave. All of the way to the event Encore never
touched his hay, nor did Journey.
Once stalled at the fair grounds, I gave Encore his hay as well as a bucket of water.
He did his talking to the other horses as normal. And was pacing steady in his stall. He seemed very uncomfortable.
At the start of the first session, before our turn, I took Encore outside hoping that this would relax him just being with me,
and not being confined.
Outside, I met this wonderful woman and was talking to her and not paying any attention to Encore. I noticed that the lead
line went lax, and I looked. Encore had lowered his head and was letting this little girl pet him and rub his face and mouth.
I thought this was a little strange because Encore doesn’t like to have his mouth touched. But he never moved.
While I was talking to this lady, I was informed that her and her daughter (the little person petting Encore), followed
Encore’s site religiously every morning.
After a long conversation, I was told about the relationship between Encore and this little girl. Encore and this little girl,
(Caroline), have done in the past some of the same things that Encore and I have done. They would sit for hours and she would
talk to Encore and pet him. Encore knew and trusted this little girl, much in the same way that Encore has learned to trust
and love me.
By the time that it was Encore’s and my turn to show what we have learned to do on the basics, I was extremely nervous, and
shaking like a leaf. I wanted him to be on his best behavior, and let me do everything perfect like he was taught.
Encore sensed my uneasiness, which in turn made him very uneasy. So we kind of messed up the entire first session. Which was
mainly my fault. Encore just reacts to what I do.
On the way back to the stall after the first session, I tried to reassure Encore that everything was okay. Problem was, I
wasn’t convincing myself that it was.
Then came our turn for the second part of the challenge. Yes I did take Encore in the other arena, and warm him up ahead of
time. He was doing everything that I wanted him to. Even the things that we have been having problems with at home he was
doing perfect.
Everything fell apart as soon as we went into the arena. He decided to do this partial rearing thing. Which he has only done
when he has gotten upset with me.
So we skipped the gate. We moved on to the first set of logs and bridge, which he did okay. We trotted off to the next set of
logs and he did those fine. Time for the right lead and canter over the next set of logs. Problem! Wouldn’t give the right
lead, and didn’t want to canter. Circled around a few times and finally got the lead and the canter. Half way thru the logs
he slowed to a trot. Next obstacle, side pass thru the logs. Not his best thing. Started doing it perfect, half way thru he
backed out of it. Next obstacle was backing an “L” Alright! Encore’s best thing. He can back up a mile any direction I want
him to and at damn near a run. Not today! He said, “not doing this”. On to the final obstacle, trot a serpentine around the
cones. Successful.
Back to the stall we go. Encore, being antsy, myself feeling a mix of emotion. Disappointment, failure, and thinking maybe my
daughter and wife were right. My methods of training are not the way to go. And maybe that I shouldn’t have taken on this
responsibility. I definitely had messed something up some where. I was ready to give up and call it a day and not even
compete in the final session, the “freestyle”.
Between the second, and last session, I found out that a friend of the family was bidding on Encore to buy him to just give
him back to me. The only other person bidding on Encore was also someone else that I personally know. Once he found out that
the other person bidding on Encore, and their intentions for Encore, he backed out of the bidding.
Thank you Doug! Very kind of you and also very thoughtful I know how much you really wanted Encore.
When I knew for sure that Encore was going home with me at the end of the day, I did it again. I went and had a talk with
Encore. I informed him that no matter how he performed in the freestyle, that he was getting back on the trailer and going
home, not only where he belongs, but where he is going to stay, going to be loved, and mostly going to have a job for as long
as I am a live.
I had decided a week before this challenge took place, that I was going to retire from showing horses, training horses, and
especially riding horses. I had put it in writing before the challenge, and had given it to Jill in an announcement that was
supposed to be a little about the trainer.
Well the announcer never did read it.
Encore and I went out for the freestyle portion of the day. No warm up or anything else special. I figured, we messed up the
first two sessions, might as well see if we could make it a strike out.
Encore decided to surprise me. I was beyond being nervous anymore. I just wanted the day to end. Encore put together a
perfect performance. He did everything that I asked him to do without ever hesitating once. He had shown me, and everyone
else that he can perform.
Encore made me very proud of him at the end of the final session. And I think that he also showed the judges that him and I
have a special bond, and that him and I can work together as one, no matter what I ask of him.
Even though Encore and I didn’t finish very well, Encore finished first in my eyes. He knew what he wanted, and he was not
going to let anything stand in his way to reach the goal that he had in mind.
Aug 15th... Encore was pulled out of the pasture the next day, and put thru everything that he messed up on on Saturday.
To no surprise, perfect.
Wednesday afternoon, Aug 18th, when I got home from work, Lisa, Mike, Serenity, and I went for a trail ride. Encore was
the candidate. No chasing him down in the pasture, no problems what so ever.
Aug 19th, when I left out for work again, some friends of ours came over to ride trails and work in the arena.
Besides their horses, several of our horses were selected to be ridden also. Encore included.
Encore had many different riders that day. And from what I was told, he was not a problem for anyone.
He had riders of different ages, different riding skills, and different levels of riding ability.
I was told he behaved himself well.
Makes a trainer feel proud.
I would like to thank Jill and everyone else involved in setting up this challenge. Very nice job!
I would like to say congratulations to all of the trainers. Don’t ever think that you did anything wrong because you didn’t
take first place. You did honestly finish first. You and the horse that you trained came out winners. Think about where this
horse might have ended up without any of you. So each and everyone of us are as much a winner as the ones that did place.
Some of the trainers I kind of know because I see them at some of the shows I attend. Some I have only heard about. I only
know one of the trainer’s personally. But congratulations to all of you on a job well done in such a short time.
I don’t really know what to say about my wife, daughter, son, my daughter’s boyfriend, our other friends!
From the very beginning they have supported me with such things as you are to old to be doing this, your crazy, that horse is
going to hurt you or kill you.
,br>
I would have not ever have gotten involved with this, except for a comment that my daughter made to Jill in an e-mail.
Well as everyone has seen Encore has not hurt me, or killed me! At least not as of yet.
As the months went by these individuals have had a change of heart. My loving wife, “Lisa”, thank you for seeing the
relationship that Encore and I have and buying him for me. I don’t know what I am going to do with two horses, but Encore is
home. Now I have the big “Yellow Pony”, and his companion, the big “Gray Pony”. The both have inherited the responsibility of
taking care of me whenever I am on their respective backs.
To my son, “Justin”, thank you for supporting me. Next year, if needed, you will have to do the trainer’s challenge, and show
your sister how good you are.
To Lorie, Rick, Nikki, Jason, and the entire clan from Amberg, thank all of you for taking the chance and riding Encore, and
for supporting me.
To my best friend/daughter’s boyfriend, “Mike”, thank you for your support, and talking me out of retiring completely. You and
I have many trails yet to ride together. YOU GET TO BUY THE BEER!
My special thanks go to Sundance, my regular horse. He has had many conversations with Encore, and has helped me out
tremendously. You have a new buddy.
To everyone else who has supported me and believed in me, thank you. The judges for their time, patience, and fairness to
every competitor.
My deepest thanks have to go to my daughter, “Serenity”. You and I have butted heads many times over the years about training
horses. We have disagreed about training methods. This challenge has brought you and I closer together. Over the past three
months, you and I have had many long discussions about training horses. Not only about, Journey and Encore. But about the
horses that we show on a regular basis. Thank you for helping me out when I was having problems with Encore, and showing me
ways to get the results that I wanted. Encore is proof that “YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS”. I have learned a few
things from you in the last few months. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! Don’t ever tell the “old man” he is
too old, or is going to get hurt trying something. Because I will do it just to prove you wrong!
I have a special thanks for a very special person that I only met once, but I felt that I have known her forever.
This Thank You is for Caroline. Thank you very much for believing in Encore, and showing him that you really care about him.
I could see from the time I seen you petting him that there was that special touch, special feeling, and especially the special
trust and bond between the two of you.
Caroline, no matter what people say or think, you keep talking to the animals that you love. You have a very special gift that
most people don’t have. You don’t look at the outside and see what is obvious to everyone else. You look at the inside of
them. You have the ability to look inside of them. Through their eyes, and see their intelligence, their heart, their desire
to be loved and cared for, their wants and needs.
Don’t ever give this up, or let anyone else tell you any differently.
Let the animal, or person, tell you from their soul what they want and need from you, and then give it to them.
People might think you are crazy, or say you are crazy. That none of this is possible. Don’t ever believe them.
When you have doubts, think of Encore, and I. Ask your mom, ask Jill. But mostly ask yourself in what you believe.
People can talk to animals, animals can talk to people. You just have to be willing to learn and understand their language.
And my biggest thanks have to once again go to Grace and Jill for making all of this possible. Without the two of you this
would have never taken place.
One final note for everyone. Not just the trainer’s involved with this, but everyone in the world.
“DON’T LOOK AT THE COVER OF THE BOOK, READ THE BACK COVER, OR READ THE PREFACE. LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK, READ IT, AND WRITE THE
ENDING THAT YOU WANT”.
Encore’s blogs will continue, especially for Caroline, who looks forward to and reads them every day.
A Final large thank you to Everyone.
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