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Joe Schomburg
and Andrea Haller have created an Oasis for Horses and Their
Humans.
Andrea spends
a lot of time on her computer managing "the oasis" and
putting together clinics. But, from time to time, she gets to enjoy
her mare Secret (left), her equine partner for 12 years and counting.
Despite two colic surgeries in 2004, Secret at age 19 is happier and healthier than ever. Due, in part, to the unparalleled "gymnasticizing" program taught by Mark Russell, author of "Lessons in Lightness. After many years (decades, really) of riding with other clinicians, there is no doubt that Mark has forever changed the way we approach and "train" our horses.
Joe always had fun with his horses. Joe was over 40 when he got
his first horse Dancer (left), who at age 25-plus is still sound
and having fun.
Rapidly becoming
known as the Horse-Whisperer of Wellborn, Joe has built a facility
where horses and people can come to enjoy each other.
Joe teaches
each horse to follow a feel first in a round pen and then on our
obstacle course. Since a horse trailer is just another obstacle,
any horse will load (and unload) quietly and easily, even when the
handler is on the roof! But the horse must be rewarded for each
"try" even if the try was barely perceptible! Joe teaches
his human students to be alert for the smallest "try",
and once this is accomplished, the horse and human are true partners.
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WELLBORN
