EAST MEETS WEST

The following letter came from one of our neighbours about one of our neighbors... I like to call it East Meets West. We have used this same method for years and I agree it works great!

TRAKEHNER COLT TRAINING BC RANCHER STYLE. Connie Kempter

Whenever you think, you have seen and experienced it all as a horse breeder, something comes up, that makes you scratch your head and look for an answer. This time the solution came in the shape of our immediate neighbor, 69 year old Art(hur) Harfman, a German blooded life long rancher, community leader and true horseman. Our then half year old semi-weaned colt Pharos vom Rappenhof went through a rebellious phase. As one possible cause we suspected some neglect from us in his formative early months, when we made the big move from Quebec to British Columbia's Okanagan Highlands in Canada's West, with our horses, dogs, household, vehicles and farm machinery. It sure did not help either, when a barn worker back in Montreal wrestled the two month old colt to the ground, when he would not stand still for the farrier.

Now in his new home he would not let us get close or put the halter on . He was overdue for his vaccination booster shots, deworming and hoof trimming. With very fast reaction he was dodging us consistently. Steven and I finally swallowed our pride of decades of breeding and handling youngsters and phoned our always helpful 'king of Sidley Mountain' for ideas and support. Art grew up in the 4 H movement, is a cattle inspector, breeding horses and using them for cattle work. He came over within a few minutes, armed with a standard round metal pasture gate.

Art entered Pharos' box stall with the gate and with calm and slow movements gradually literally cornered the colt by creating a small
triangle between gate and two stall walls for the colt. Pharos tried to hide his head in the corner, but relented soon, when he realized that there was no chance for an escape. He attempted to kick as well and gave it up soon as he lacked the space for this activity.

Art let Pharos settle in and started to touch and stroke the youngster all over the body until he finally relaxed and tolerated the human approach very well. Then Art progressed to touching Pharos' head with the halter. At the end he repeatedly put the halter on and took it off. As the next step he attached a strong lead rope with an equally strong metal clip and tied Pharos up, first with the gate still in place, then gradually removing the gate further and further. Art recommended to us to leave Pharos tied up for a couple of hours, but visit him every half an hour with some food for positive reinforcement. Art came back and led the youngster out of the barn and into the pasture, handling him for another half an hour before releasing him. The colt seemed to be happy and relaxed and actively made contact with Art by nuzzling him.

Pharos never looked back, stands quietly for blacksmith and vet and also leads well. A couple of times he wanted to give us hard time again with putting the halter on. Out came the gate and he right away gave in and submitted to us. At no time there was any shouting, roughing, punishing and fighting involved. Handlers and horse were never at risk to be hurt. The colt built up trust in humans again while learning respect as well. today Pharos is a well adjusted young horse and a credit to the horse whispering touch of a lifelong rancher.