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GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!
Purchase by clicking on PayPal link below.
Make a horse lovers dreams come true!
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Sherry is a member of
*NE Horse Council
*USEF (US Equestrian
Federation)
*EAGALA (Equine Assisted
Growth & Learning Assoc.
*Parelli Savvy Club
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"Sandhills Horse Sense"
is devoted to promoting
relationships and
choices that lead to
a positive future.
Sherry is now an
EAGALA Certified
Horse Professional
working in conjunction
with Melissa Dearmont &
Mid-West Country Clinic
L.E.A.D.
"Leadership through
Equine Assited
Development"
will help you with
building relationships,
problem solving,
attitudes & behaviors,
conflict & stress,
responsibilities,
positive choices,
and much more.
Individual sessions by appointment!
Classes & Retreats adapted to families or groups are
also offered .
Call 1-866-757-3853
1-402-684-2908
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For this months newsletter scroll down the page.
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You can now register and pay for our services on-line!
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MINI CLINIC with FREE TRAIL RIDE
available at Sherry's House starting again this spring on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month.
Also upon special request any open weekend or day Sherry is home.
Tenative Dates:
March 26; April 9&23; May 7&21; June 18; July 2&30; August 27; Sept. 10&24; Oct. 8&22; Nov. 5&19;
Make plans to ride in the sandhills this year
Individual instruction in the morning then a Free Trail Ride in the afternoon (Very easy trails)
Only accepting 4-6 riders. It only takes two to make a day of it, so Call a friend now and join in the FUN!
Call Sherry at 308-730-2150 for more details.
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GIFT CERTIFICATES NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE
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Sherry & Cisco
Having a great time!
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Past Newsletters: Please keep scrolling down for this months newsletter.
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FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER "Attention Please" Does your horse listen to you?
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Dear Horse lovers,
Even though it has been a cold January I have had many dedicated students eager to learn come out for private lessons and simulations classes. As I watched horses and people trying to perform in the bitter cold I noticed how sometimes people ask something of the horse when he is not paying any attention to them. Perhaps it is hard for them to concentrate because they are so cold and shivering. But no matter what the excuse, any effective communication begins with having the listener’s attention. When working with horses I have found many of them are not in the habit of giving their attention to a human. I believe this is often the cause of a lot of the difficulties people experience with their horse.
Being able to gain and hold a horse’s attention is the first step in building a safe, harmonious relationship between you and your horse. I have been pondering why we tend to skip this first step. Perhaps it is so basic and such a subtle step that we take it for granted. Since it is so important for good communication I think it is worth giving some thought and consideration to this topic which we seldom hear people talking about when they discuss horsemanship.
We all know and realize when explaining a task, in order to expect our directions to be followed well we need to have the learner's attention. Since I am an retired school teacher and many of you reading this may have children I can make the analogy of teaching children. For example, if we want to help a child learn a math concept or the meaning of a word, but they are staring out the window watching other kids play on the playground, they won't learn a thing until we get their attention. It is no different with horses, except that we also have fears to deal with. And if a horse is afraid, he is not paying attention to learning but to surviving the moment which usually means fleeing.
Every good horseman is aware at least subconsciously all the time of making sure he has the horse's attention before attempting to elicit a response. They achieve this by doing just enough to warrant the horse's attention. It could be something as simple as a shift of weight, a flick of a finger, a gentle tap on the withers, a soft bump on the lead rope, or change in expression of the handler to distract the horse from whatever he is focusing on back to the handler. The key is to stop doing whatever you did to get his attention the moment you get it. Consistency will pay off. As soon as the horse's attention leaves again, the sooner you repeat a small distraction the less you will have to do to get his focus back. It usually takes very few repetitions for a horse to associate focusing on the handler with the release of the distraction. The horse soon realizes his attention on you is more comfortable and more important than away from you.
If you can do this without being over demanding and at the same time peek the horse's curiosity then the horse will start to stay with you mentally longer and longer. It takes a person who is acutely aware of when the horse's attention is about to leave in order to make your cues more and more subtle until they are nearly invisible to the untrained eye.
The reason you want to gain and hold the attention of a horse is so he will keep track of you in order to respect your space. You need to make sure your space matters to him and that the horse knows where you are. It is important we have a horse's attention on us even when doing everyday tasks like brushing, saddling, going through a gate or stall door, and feeding.
You can tell if his mind is on you by checking to see if his eye or ear are towards you. If his head goes up and he looks off in another direction to watch what is happening somewhere else then do what it takes to bring his attention back. Do this for safety, because when his attention leaves that is the moment you begin to loose influence over the situation. First his mind goes and then his feet, followed by ribs and hips. You had better watch out if you are in his tracks. If you will develop the habit of tipping a horse's mind back towards you early and as often as necessary you can avoid a lot of accidents and phrases like "he didn't even warn me", or "I don't know what happened, he just..."
If you cannot regain a horse's attention quickly and direct or disengage the hindquarters then I would not recommend leaving a confined area to ride your horse until you can. It is important you learn to read the indicators which tell you the horse's thoughts are going elsewhere. Some of these include: body tension, drifting a certain direction, ears and head coming up, and the direction he is looking. It is better to keep control over the situation before they are too far gone. By being aware, reading the signs and keeping the horse connected to you a lot of dangerous situations can be avoided. Try tipping his nose for a step or two at the first sign of discomfort, thus redirecting his mind back to your ideas. Then maybe ask for lateral flexion checking to see if he is still with you. Before you can be heard you have to get the horse's attention then he can follow your directions.
It is the habits you have developed in a controlled environment that will either ensure of impair your success of keeping a horse with you mentally and hopefully physically when you are in an unfamiliar or threatening situation. If you are in the habit of letting your horse's mind wander and tune you out, then don't be surprised when his concerns take him where they may instead of where you desire.
I have developed some simple exercises for my students to practice keeping their horse's attention. They are very easy to do even when the ground is frozen. You can do them while standing in one place and you don't even have to ride. They work wonderfully. But I am not going to give my secrets away in this newsletter, you will either have to join our yahoo chat group, or come to a clinic or lesson to learn these very effective exercises. I am having wonderful results with my own horses.
As with most things in horsemanship, you must first be able to gain and hold your own attention well, before you can expect your horse to do the same. Being diligently aware of your horse's attetion takes practice. It is not a habit that comes easy to some. It is not until it becomes second nature to you that you will be able to keep track of your horse's attention subconsciously. Consistently giving your attention to the horse is the start of gaining and holding your horse's attention on you.
Happy Trails,
Sherry Jarvis
"Horsemen share knowledge. Showmen hide it in a corner and go home." -- AQHA Judge Dale Livingston
NE Horse Expo at Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, NE; March 7-9
I will have a booth and be doing demonstrations, so come visit me.
Plus I will have a drawing for free bags of Kent feed and a free lesson, so be sure to sign up.
NEW - GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE ON-LINE.
What a great present for a horse lover!
A horsemanship Camp on a working cattle ranch in the beautiful sandhills of central NE.
Click on the PayPal Button on the left side of this page to purchase one for a friend or loved one.
JOIN A STUDY GROUP THIS WINTER!
In addition to the many clinics and lessons we will continue offering throughout the winter, we have formed some study groups for those interested in getting together to support, inspire, and encourage one another on their horsemanship journey.
There are several women in the Omaha, Lincoln, Broken Bow and Grand Island areas who have already started meeting on a regular basis in order to advance even quicker and stay motivated toward excellence with horses.
We would like to see other groups popping up in other areas. If you are interested in starting or joining a study group call Sherry 308-730-2150.
For now the locations change because sometimes we meet at a person's house to watch DVDs,
and other times we will meet at an arena to ride.
So Please call before coming!
The study groups are free unless there is an arena charge.
Please call ahead of time if you want to attend.
Here are the tentative dates set for the study groups:
Feb. 2 Simulation Class in Cozad $20
Feb. 10 Ashland NE (DVD’s)
Feb. 10 Broken Bow, NE (DVD's at Corey's house)
Feb. 23 Simulation Class in Kearney (FULL)
Feb. 29 Broken Bow (Riding at County Indoor Arena)
March 15 Elkhorn, NE at Chance Ridge
More dates are availabe in 2008 go to the schedule page.
STUDY GROUP GUIDELINES
These study groups are not exclusive, meaning we want to encourage people to come who may not be familiar with "natural horsemanship". We don't want this to be a club where only the "chosen few enlightened ones" can join, however we also don't want this to turn into a place where people bring problem horses expecting free lessons and a quick fix. If you have a problem horse please seek the support of a professional trainer like Sherry.
These groups are meant for students to express and show what they have learned with each other. It is a day of sharing creative ideas and free expression.
In order to encourage people who have never taken a lesson from Sherry to attend we respectfully ask that the first time you attend you do so as an observer only. This way you will have a more objective view of what it is all about by not having to attend to a horse. You will get a better sense of the expression and techniques of natural horsemanship.
Of course if the study group is watching DVDs that day instead of playing with their horses, then anyone is encouraged to attend whether they have taken a lesson from Sherry or not. It doesn't even matter whether you have a horse yet, maybe you are just thinking about getting one, then by all means come and learn.
Please always call before coming 308-730-2150
NEW KENT FEED SPONSORSHIP IN 2008
After carefully testing quality feeds this past year, Sherry has decided to be an influencer for Kent Feeds.
She is feeding Dynasty Pro with some amazing results on Cisco her horse who was diagnosed with EPM this past summer.
Preregister for one of Sherry's Camps or Clinics in 2008 and have a chance at WINNING a FREE bag of Dynasty Pro. Go to the REGISTRATION PAGE to discover more and also find out about Early Bird Discounts.
REGISTER AND PAY YOUR DEPOSITS FOR OUR SERVICES ON-LINE. Go to ON-LINE REGISTRATION and sign up for a camp, clinic or private lesson today and reach your 2007 horsemanship goals.
SCHOLARSHIPS available for Youth Camps at Calamus Outfitters Ranch.
Go to REQUEST SCHOLARSHIPfor a registration form.
SPONSOR A YOUTH PROGRAM
If you would like to sponsor a scholarship for a youth to attend a horsemanship camp you can donate to the scholarship fund
at SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Read 2008 Camp diaries and reports on
Sherry's BLOG
Start making your 2008 summer plans now!
It's not too early to Sign up for a 2008 Confident/Leadership Camp
Dates are now available go to the Schedule page for more information.
Registration forms are available on the Registration page
NEW Cowboy/Cowgirl Horsemanship & Cattle Drive Camp offered May 30-June 2, 2008
at Calamus Outfitters Ranch, Burwell, NE
This is a new style camp we are offering because of requests from men who would like to be able to attend our camps.
The first day will be a group horsemanship lesson with ground work in the morning and riding in the afternoon.
The second day will be more ground work and horsemanship riding skills in the morning with a group trail ride in the afternoon.
The third day will be the cattle drive.(No experience is necessary, you should be able to at least trot your horse with control and confidence)
The fourth day will be set aside for free time, more trail, riding, scheduled private or semi-private lessons with Sherry, tanking, fishing, swimming, or whatever means of relaxation and fun you prefer.
Special Rates available for married couples
There will be a limited number of participants, so sign up early to reserve your spot.
MINI CLINICS WITH A THEME EVERY MONTH ALL WINTER
In conjunction with the private lesson weekends at Chance Ridge every month
we will have 2 hour mini clinics with a theme, maximum number of participants is 6,
so be sure to register in advance by e-mailing or calling Sherry 308-730-2150
REGULAR PRIVATE LESSONS from the TRAVELING TRAINER at these HOMEBASE Locations:
I go to Chance Ridge, in Elkhorn, NE monthly for private lesson.
It is normally the third weekend of the month.
Feb. 14-17 is the next date for Private lessons.
Time slots are nearly full already so reserve your spot early.
March 14-17 will be the next date.
I plan a clinic and also private lessons that weekend.
I already have times reserved for private lessons.
BKT Arena in Lincoln has asked me to come monthly for private lessons.
The next date for lessons there will be March 28-30th.
We will tentatively try for the last weekend of each month.
But call or check the schedule for sure. It can be flexible.
More 2008 dates are on the schedule page
(First come first serve basis, time slots always fill.)
I will try to remain as flexible as possible with scheduling.
You will need to make arrangements in advance for your time slot and keep your lesson time or trade with someone once you have reserved a certain time.
Please try to sign up as soon as possible, as I am normally full.
Cancellations will be charged.
PRIVATE -$80 (2 hour)
SEMI-PRIVATE
(2-people $130 - $65 ea.)
(3 people $165 -$55 ea.)
Extra hours negotiable.
Horses for lease $25/lesson or bring your own horse.
PACKAGE DEALS ON PRIVATE LESSONS
Buy four consecutive montly lessons and get the fifth one FREE.
Total cost is $330. Pay 1/2 ($165)upon first lesson. The other half ($165) at the 4th lesson. Fifth lesson is FREE.
**This does not include semi-private lessons, but check with me personally and we will see what we can work out. It also does not include a lease horse, arena or stall fees. Only the instruction is FREE
If there are at least three people in your area wanting private lessons and
you are only a 2 hour drive from me I will come for a day.
If it is a 3-4 hour drive I need at least 6 people.
If you are further than 4 hours we can still talk.
I have stick and will travel!
OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THIS WINTER!
Host an EQUINE PSYCHOLOGY CLASS or SIMULATION CLASS this winter in the warmth of your own home.
We have already had several and the next one is Feb. 2nd in Cozad, NE at 1:00 (Still time to sign up)
There is another one scheduled for Feb. 23rd in Kearney but it is already full.
Host a LEARNING DEMONSTRATION for a 4-H group, saddle club, or group of friends:
I will bring my horses or use a problem horse from the group to give you an evening or afternoon of learning by watching. Interactions with questions and answers will be a big part of the learning environment. So for those who are always wanting to audit or are just curious about what we do in natural horsemanship this is a perfect opportunity. I promise you will learn a lot. It costs less per person than a clinic or private lesson.
"SHERRY'S BLOG" now has over 30 articles. To learn more go to Sherry's Blog
These articles are not only informative with training tips, but they are also inspirational and can motivate positive personal growth in many areas of your life.
We now have over 70 members on our Heart in Your Hand Yahoo Chat Group.
This group is dedicated to natural horsemanship students lead by Sherry & Keith Jarvis whose aim is to help both the horse and rider to become even more successful by presenting a balanced foundation from which you can build a confident, trusting, respectful relationship,without sacrificing the spirit of either the horse or the human. This is a place to share natural horsemanship philosophies and how horses change our lives including those little victories/defeats that don’t mean anything to the "normal" crowd, to have a place to celebrate/vent leadership issues, blinding flashes of the obvious, or brainstorm creative ideas! We will be able to organize natural play days, tournaments, and post information and announcements of natural horsemanship happenings.
This group is by invitation only. You are officially invited by receiving this newsletter. If you would like to join Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship's Yahoo group please e-mail Leigh the moderator at freeman@diodecom.net
FAMILY VACATION AT CALAMUS OUTFITTERS RANCH
Rent a cabin $75/night for two people $100/night for 4 people. Sleeps six maximum.
Includes a kitchen (microwave & frig), bathroom (shower only, no tub), air-conditioning, picnic table, and grill. Two bunk beds (one double, one single)
Stall is $10 a night. Bring your own hay.
Exciting new pens, arena, and round pens were built this month!
Horses must be current on all vaccinations.
Private Instruction is $25/hour at the ranch.
Lower group rates per hour, or a package deal per day.
Call to arrange your special package deal for a small group.
Lease one of my horses $25 a day.
Miles of trail riding, fishing, boating, canoeing, tanking, swimming, etc.
Lodge is available to lease for larger groups. 10-20 people $350 a night.
There are also camper RV hookups close to the Calamus Lake.
There is a small house in Burwell available to rent for only $65 per day. It has two bedrooms a bath, kitchen and living room. However it is about 15 miles from the ranch, but only 2 miles from me.
If you are interested in any of the above ideas please let me know, as the cabins do book up quickly especially during hunting season.
This opportunity is available all year because Calamus Outfitters has now built an indoor arena. There is a rental fee of $15 per person/day for the indoor arena.
Thanks for reading and hope to see you on the trail soon!
Happy Trails,
Sherry Jarvis
PS: Read monthly training tip on Sherry's BLOG or join our mailing list.
This months topic: "More on Straightness"
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Sherry Believe's in a Wholistic Program: Other services available:
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Physcial Health
Skin Care, Diet and Exercise
Sherry has been told over and over that she looks and acts much younger than she is. Those who have taken lessons with her have experienced her energy and passion.
Her secrets are eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, don't drink or smoke, use sunscreen, wear a hat and take really good care of your skin with a dermatology tested and proven skin care system.
If you would like to find out more about the special skin care and dietary aide products that Sherry uses to stay looking young and full of energy call her at 308-730-2150 or 308-346-5663.
Sherry knows that a good horsemanship program will affect every area of your life. Staying in shape is part of it. Call Sherry to visit more about how she stays in shape for her horses. Or maybe, how her horses keep her in shape.
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Mental and Emotional Health
Sherry has been through some stressful and challenging times in her life like the rest of you.
She has bounced back through many life changes by keeping a positive outlook on life even though depression tried to take over at times. It seemed that her horses always kept her on track and so it was only natural that she wanted to share their healing powers with others.
Check out
"Sandhills Horse Sense" a program devoted to promoting relationships and
choices that lead to a positive future.
Sherry is now an EAGALA Certified Horse Professional working in conjunction
with Melissa Dearmont & Mid-West Country Clinic.
L.E.A.D. "Leadership through Equine Assited Development" will help you with building relationships, problem solving, attitudes & behaviors, conflict & stress, responsibilities, positive choices, and much more.
Right now sessions are by appointment!
Classes & Retreats are offered upon request!
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Click to join heartinyourhand
