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MEISSNER REINING HORSES / Cameron Meissner / 591 Equestrian Center Loop / Manhattan, MT 59741 / 406-599-8091 / EMAIL
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when show season finally arrives. It can seem like an eternity riding in our indoor arenas, bundled up to keep the cold
encourage everyone to start preparing you, your horse, and your equipment early in order to help in having a positive
out, thinking “I’ll be okay, it’s only February.” Although I do think we, as well as our horses need to have a break, I
show year.
encourage everyone to start preparing you, your horse, and your equipment early in order to help in having a positive
show year.
In preparing yourself I first would strongly advise deciding what your goal will be for the year. Whether you want to
shoot for receiving your “Green Rookie “ buckle, or you want to be a finalist at a major aged event, have a goal. Once
you have a goal you can then start planning your path to meet that goal.
As many of you who know me have seen I am a big fan of my day planner. When planning the season I like to have all
the show dates written down. I then start collecting the premium books to each show. With this information I can start
to make decisions as to which shows I may need to go to, which shows I should use for schooling, and roughly how
much it will cost me. Finally, if you have a trainer go over your goals and plans with them. Make sure that both of you
are on the same page. This will prevent you from any misunderstandings, and can greatly help your trainer in assisting
you.
Your calendar should also include clinics, and trips to ride with others to get help, and new ideas. I encourage my riders
to spend some time learning from other trainers at the local clinics. This, for one, will “keep the fire burning” during the
off season, and will allow you to greater appreciate the vast techniques used by trainers. Although I encourage learning
from many different riders, I also warn that too many different ideas can leave a rider confused.
Finally, I like to use the cold winter months to service and make any repairs to my tack, trailer, and vehicle. I like to check
all of my stirrup leathers, and latigos for wear, as well as making sure my bridles are in good repair. I also like to compile
a list of all the items that should be packed before leaving for a show. Replace any empty spray bottles, or jars in your
tack trunk, and make sure you have plenty of good boots, and wraps. I would also encourage travelers to check the wear
on you tires, wheels, axels, bearings, and the floor of your trailer, and make any major repairs to your truck before
spring. All of this early preparation will help you enjoy a fun and successful show season.
encourage everyone to start preparing you, your horse, and your equipment early in order to help in having a positive
out, thinking “I’ll be okay, it’s only February.” Although I do think we, as well as our horses need to have a break, I
show year.
encourage everyone to start preparing you, your horse, and your equipment early in order to help in having a positive
show year.
In preparing yourself I first would strongly advise deciding what your goal will be for the year. Whether you want to
shoot for receiving your “Green Rookie “ buckle, or you want to be a finalist at a major aged event, have a goal. Once
you have a goal you can then start planning your path to meet that goal.
As many of you who know me have seen I am a big fan of my day planner. When planning the season I like to have all
the show dates written down. I then start collecting the premium books to each show. With this information I can start
to make decisions as to which shows I may need to go to, which shows I should use for schooling, and roughly how
much it will cost me. Finally, if you have a trainer go over your goals and plans with them. Make sure that both of you
are on the same page. This will prevent you from any misunderstandings, and can greatly help your trainer in assisting
you.
Your calendar should also include clinics, and trips to ride with others to get help, and new ideas. I encourage my riders
to spend some time learning from other trainers at the local clinics. This, for one, will “keep the fire burning” during the
off season, and will allow you to greater appreciate the vast techniques used by trainers. Although I encourage learning
from many different riders, I also warn that too many different ideas can leave a rider confused.
Finally, I like to use the cold winter months to service and make any repairs to my tack, trailer, and vehicle. I like to check
all of my stirrup leathers, and latigos for wear, as well as making sure my bridles are in good repair. I also like to compile
a list of all the items that should be packed before leaving for a show. Replace any empty spray bottles, or jars in your
tack trunk, and make sure you have plenty of good boots, and wraps. I would also encourage travelers to check the wear
on you tires, wheels, axels, bearings, and the floor of your trailer, and make any major repairs to your truck before
spring. All of this early preparation will help you enjoy a fun and successful show season.
Recently I was asked by a woman: "How old is too old to start training a horse to be a reiner?" This is an issue that I have
had to address a few times before. Whether a horse is injured as a youngster, financial reasons prevented a horse from
being trained, or the horse simply did not get the work it needed, decisions have to be made as to when it is just too late.
For me the direct answer is that it is never too late to teach a horse the maneuvers that a reining horse is asked to perform.
I believe that every horse, reiner or not, should be able to do all reining maneuvers to a point. As for when is a horse to old
to become a show horse I think it all boils down to an owners goals.
I feel that for most horses the road from start to finished show horse will take at least two solid years of training.
Obviously, if it is an owners goal to have a competitive aged event horse, such as a futurity or derby horse, that horse needs
to be in steady training beginning some time in their two year old year. If this is not an owners goal, and wishes rather to
have a horse to show in Non Pro, and Open classes, which are not regulated by a horses age, any time is a good time to get
started.
The difference maker to me in deciding is the cost versus the reward. Many of you know that it is not cheap to have a horse
in professional training, and when first starting a horse it is a bit of a gamble whether that horses will have what it takes to
be a competitive reiner. Because of the fact that many of the big money shows are futurities and derbies it makes the most
sense to start a horses training early enough to be ready for these events, as it gives the owner a better chance to earn a
significant amount of money on their investment. Young horses in training also hold a better value in the market and can
usually be sold for a reasonable price if an owner decides that it is not the horse for them.
For those owners wishing to compete in Non Pro and Open classes the fact is that many times it is cheaper to buy a finished
show horse than it is to start training on an already aging animal. Even if one had to take out a loan to buy a horse
(which I seldom recommend) the final cost of that animal, including interest, will usually be less than or equal to the cost of
two years of training in most cases. The difference, however, is that there is significantly less risk as you already know the
animals ability, and a rider can begin showing immediately.
This being said I have had owners in the past for whom it was a wise decision to train an older horse. As competitive as
the breeding business has become, horses who may be superior breeding animals, or raised offspring from a breeding
business should have some sort of a show record. Being able to show that a horse was competitive in the show pen will
help stallion owners sell breedings, and mare owners sell offspring.
To me this entire decision begins with an owners goal. I recommend to show enthusiasts to first decide what they would
like to accomplish with their horse, then express that goal with their trainer. From there an open and honest relationship
with your trainer will, with and luck, guide you and your horse to many win pictures.
had to address a few times before. Whether a horse is injured as a youngster, financial reasons prevented a horse from
being trained, or the horse simply did not get the work it needed, decisions have to be made as to when it is just too late.
For me the direct answer is that it is never too late to teach a horse the maneuvers that a reining horse is asked to perform.
I believe that every horse, reiner or not, should be able to do all reining maneuvers to a point. As for when is a horse to old
to become a show horse I think it all boils down to an owners goals.
I feel that for most horses the road from start to finished show horse will take at least two solid years of training.
Obviously, if it is an owners goal to have a competitive aged event horse, such as a futurity or derby horse, that horse needs
to be in steady training beginning some time in their two year old year. If this is not an owners goal, and wishes rather to
have a horse to show in Non Pro, and Open classes, which are not regulated by a horses age, any time is a good time to get
started.
The difference maker to me in deciding is the cost versus the reward. Many of you know that it is not cheap to have a horse
in professional training, and when first starting a horse it is a bit of a gamble whether that horses will have what it takes to
be a competitive reiner. Because of the fact that many of the big money shows are futurities and derbies it makes the most
sense to start a horses training early enough to be ready for these events, as it gives the owner a better chance to earn a
significant amount of money on their investment. Young horses in training also hold a better value in the market and can
usually be sold for a reasonable price if an owner decides that it is not the horse for them.
For those owners wishing to compete in Non Pro and Open classes the fact is that many times it is cheaper to buy a finished
show horse than it is to start training on an already aging animal. Even if one had to take out a loan to buy a horse
(which I seldom recommend) the final cost of that animal, including interest, will usually be less than or equal to the cost of
two years of training in most cases. The difference, however, is that there is significantly less risk as you already know the
animals ability, and a rider can begin showing immediately.
This being said I have had owners in the past for whom it was a wise decision to train an older horse. As competitive as
the breeding business has become, horses who may be superior breeding animals, or raised offspring from a breeding
business should have some sort of a show record. Being able to show that a horse was competitive in the show pen will
help stallion owners sell breedings, and mare owners sell offspring.
To me this entire decision begins with an owners goal. I recommend to show enthusiasts to first decide what they would
like to accomplish with their horse, then express that goal with their trainer. From there an open and honest relationship
with your trainer will, with and luck, guide you and your horse to many win pictures.
© Meissner Reining Horses, Dec 29, 2007 All Rights Reserved.