Saturday, November 12, 8 am – 4 pm
Mars Arena, Chatham Hall, Chatham, Virginia
The SEFHA Colt Starting Invitational is to provide an opportunity for horse owners, breeders, and riders in the area to see three trainers from their local area demonstrate the basics of putting a young horse under saddle. We hope to show the benefits of non-coercive natural horsemanship training for the horse and the owner or rider, and to introduce to the public horse trainers who live and work in our area.
This is a one-day event during which the three trainers will conduct three one-hour training sessions in three side-by-side round pens with three unbroken and relatively unhandled three-to-four-year-old horses. At the conclusion of the training sessions, the trainers compete to ride or guide their horses through a short obstacle course. A winning trainer will be declared by a panel of judges based upon how much each trainer was able to accomplish with their horse, taking into account the starting point and trainability of each horse, and on the techniques employed by the trainers. No unduly coercive or harsh treatment of the horses is permitted.
Between each one-hour training session is a one-hour rest period for the horses; during the rest periods, each trainer will be permitted to demonstrate their training accomplishments with their own finished horse.
Chatham Hall will also have an opportunity during the program to demonstrate its riding program, and is invited to set up a booth to advertise the school, riding program, and summer camps to the audience.
Other details:
The trainers were selected from among candidates referred to the selecting committee by SEFHA members and other local horseowners. To be considered, a trainer candidate must live within a two-hour radius of Chatham, Virginia; be a full time professional trainer; and be well versed in the principles of natural horsemanship. The selecting committee will interview each trainer before a panel of three trainers is invited to participate. Trainer selection will be completed by June 30, 2011.
There will be five judges on the judging panel. Each judge must be involved in the horse industry, be well versed in the principles of natural horsemanship, and be fair and impartial.
SEFHA has invited Tom Seay, host of RFD-TV’s “Best of America by Horseback,” to act as emcee for the event.
The horses used in the event are being offered by the owner, and will return to their owner at the conclusion of the event (though they may be offered for sale by owner). We are looking for three geldings or three mares, between 3-4 years of age, from the same farm and preferably from similar breeding, of similar temperament, that like people and can be haltered, but which have not received any previous saddle training or handling in preparation for saddle training. The horses must have current vaccinations and negative Coggins before the event.
SEFHA promotes responsible horse ownership and care, and does not allow alcohol or improper behavior at SEFHA events.
Twelve years ago, Brock Griffith traded a bull riding career to pursue his dream of working with horses. He immersed himself in the study and practice of natural horsemanship, gaining valuable knowledge and skills in this methodology and confidence in its application. His unique style is inspired by a variety of influences, personal experience, and an open mind. Brock is a talented horseman, trainer and clinician with an extraordinary ability to communicate effectively with both horses and their human partners.
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