This is the movie I trained and shot with Odd Job Bob, the Gypsy Vanner horse. The Greening of Whitney Brown. It will be in theaters in November and in Walmart stores in December. You'll get to see an incredible horse along with his sweet sidekick, Sammi Hanratty. It was challenging working with a kid that never rode before, but I used it to my advantage and got her to understand what to do while being her character and getting that genuine feeling of how it feels to be on a horse for the first time. 
I see Odd Job Bob didn't get listed on the poster, as I feel he is the star of the movie (Bob is in about 90 % of the scenes). You'll also get to see Maverick too. I hope all you horse people go out see this movie. It is a great family film with a lot of lessons your "teens and tweens" will take to heart. If  you fall in love with Bob, as everyone does, you can get your own Gypsy Vanner horse at                   www.gypsyvanner.com  or just go there to check out Bob and his friends. Friend Bob on FACEBOOK too. Thanks to Ed Fitts and Sue Rathbone for the opportunity to work with such beautiful horses.
Keep an eye open for the premier. I'll be there. Ride Fast... Take Chances!  tommie

Here we are at the Monmouth County Fair in NJ. My niece gets a nice photo on Blade. She is a
cowgirl in the making with that smile.

We just back to Liberty Horse Ranch after being on and off the road all year. We set up a clinic here in Sept and have many movie projects in the works. We have a lot of things going on and are starting to book up 2012. It is going to be a busy year with many new things coming. We have podcasts, tv show, training dvd's, new product and apparel coming plus more than I can tell you now. Check out my new production hub link on the navigation bar and our website at www.equineextremist.net. Sign up for our email list to make sure you get notified of new clinics, shows and more. Thanks again for all your support and hope your training is going well. Remember, you are the trainer. Think ahead and think simple. It doesn't have to be a long process or 4 year study program to create a relationship with your horse. Ride Fast... Take Chances!   tommie

Hey gang, most of you probably already heard about this, but I wanted to include it here to keep it fresh in peoples minds. This outbreak is a big eye opener as well. If you ever wonder why you need to have health certificates and papers for your horses, this is a good example of why. It is also why I limit the contact my horses have with other horses and people. Prevention is the best way, but when it does happen we need to quickly get this under control. It could effect many horses if people don't stop to think about these things now
Please read on and take this seriously. Thank you.

To:       PRCA Members

 

Re:       Equine Health Alert

Date:    May 20, 2011

From:  Cindy Schonholtz, PRCA Director of Industry Outreach
            719-440-7255
            animalwelfare@prorodeo.com

           

The PRCA continues to monitor the EHV-1 outbreak in the Western States; this is the second update on the issue.  The first update can be accessed here:   

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs014/1101303344550/archive/1105560416151.html  

 

We take the health of all livestock very seriously and have been in contact with many state animal health officials and are monitoring all official information from states that are reporting on the issue.  At this time all of the information that we have is that all of the confirmed cases can be traced to the National Cutting Horse Association event in Ogden, Utah from April 30 to May 8 or horses that have had direct contact with those horses.   Additionally, no restrictions on horse transportation have been put into place, any change in these two factors will cause the PRCA to send further updates and reassess the situation. 

 Please contact Cindy Schonholtz at 719-440-7255 or animalwelfare@prorodeo.com with any questions or concerns.        

 

Tips for All PRCA Members:   

 

The PRCA wants our membership to make informed decisions and do what they and their veterinarian feel is best for their individual circumstances! 

1.  If there is even a chance that you know of that your horse may have come in contact with any of the horses that attended the Ogden, UT  or if the horse has any of the symptoms, isolate, call the veterinarian and do not move that horse.  This is very important.   This is a highly contagious disease that has an incubation period of 2 - 10 days.  There is not a vaccine for the neurological form of the disease and no cure, but the symptoms can be treated and the earlier the detection, the more successful that treatment is likely to be.  If your horse has any of these symptoms while at a rodeo, DO NOT LEAVE, isolate the horse and contact the rodeo veterinarian immediately.   

Symptoms to look for:   

· Fever above 102 degrees with no other explanation

· Decreased coordination

· Urine dribbling

· Loss of tail tone

· Hind limb weakness

· Leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance

· Lethargy

· Inability to rise

2. If you choose to travel: 

· Contact your veterinarian for advice if it is safe for you to travel with your horse
· Avoid nose to nose or close contact with other horses

· Do not share equipment, buckets, brushes, bridles

· Wash or sanitize your hands often, you can transmit the virus on your hands, shoes or clothing if 
   you come into contact with a horse that has the disease. 
· When you return home with your horses isolate the horses that have been traveling from other
   horses for 10 days and take their temperature twice daily.

3. Before transporting horses interstate, contact the State Veterinarian in the state you are traveling to insure there are no travel restrictions.    

Directory of State Veterinarians  

http://www.avma.org/disaster/state_veterinarians.asp

4.  Join Pro Rodeo Livestock Facebook group for the very latest updates    
 5.  Resources: 
 Excellent article on the Subject:  http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18264
 

Guide to EHV:  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/equine_herpesvirus_brochure_2009.pdf 

 

 

TIPS FOR PRCA RODEO COMMITTEES

 

1.  Contact your State Veterinarians Office to ask to be included in any email update lists and let them know of your upcoming event and ask if there is any news or travel restrictions that may affect your event.   If state animal health officials or local veterinarians recommend cancelling your event contact PRCA Rodeo Administration immediately.   

2.  Work closely with your on-site rodeo veterinarian to institute bio security plans as well as any other suggestions they feel will assist in keeping horses safe.

3.  Have a plan for handling media inquires regarding the EHV-1 outbreak.  Ask your veterinarian to assist you in preparing a written statement on the issue that can be use.   

4.  Email animalwelfare@prorodeo.com with any information you obtain in your area that you feel would be helpful to the PRCA. 
 5.  Have available to all contestants the attached flyer on the subject. Download flyer here.
 6.  Work with your rodeo veterinarian to have a plan if a horse at your event shows any symptoms.  

 

     

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES 

 California Dept of Food and Ag 

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html  

Colorado Department of Agriculture  

http://www.colorado.gov/ag  

Colorado is requiring importation permits, info available on the link above

  

Idaho Dept of Agriculture

http://www.agri.idaho.gov/Categories/Animals/animalHealth/healthehv.php  

 

New Mexico State Livestock Board 

 http://www.nmlbonline.com/
 
Oregon Department of Agriculture
http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/AHID/equine_herpes_virus.shtml  

 

Texas Animal Health Commission 

http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/pr/2011/2011May_EHV1NationalInvestigation.pdf  

 

Utah Department of Agriculture

 http://ag.utah.gov/news/index.html  

 

Washington Department of Agriculture

http://agr.wa.gov/News/2011/11-10.aspx

Wyoming Livestock Board Release
Note:  They are requiring extra transport requirements read this release for more info 

http://wlsb.state.wy.us/NewsReleases/WyomingRequirementsHorses%5B1%5D.pdf

We are at the Kentucky Horsepark getting ready for the World Games. We
have been going over the rehearsal for the opening ceremonies. I also
did a couple of shows at the park. It was a lot of fun. Tomorrow we
leave for Des Moines for the Gold Star Futurity. 700 miles on the
road, followed by 3 days of shows and then Discovery is flying me to
LA for a tv shoot on Sunday. I return Monday to drive the 1300 miles
back home to Florida, after we stop in to the Kentucky Horse Park for
a few more rehearsals with Dan James. Should be a good week. If you are in Des Moines,
stop by and say hi. Ride Fast... Take Chances! Tommie
>
>

Technology and me don't get along so good, so anything that makes my
life easier is a good thing. I love my iPhone and now blogging is
easier too. This is just a test, but I hope it works. It will save me
a lot of time and steps.
Thanks to my tech Jamie
.
Tommie

Sent from my iPhone

Time really flies when you move into a new place. We have been training every morning and the rest of the day spent cleaning, fixing and setting up the ranch. It is a labor of love and takes a lot of planning and time. By the end of the year we will all be experts in landscaping, PVC fencing, plumbing, electric, wood floors, and remodeling. First thing was to get the bugs under control too. The horses always come first, so before we even started on the house or the office, the fences, waterers, bugs, manure,  shavings, hay, grain, and pastures were cut, groomed and controlled. When you have horses, they become your way of life. Your schedule revolves around them. The saying "Dogs have owners, but horses have staff" is true here.
I've been working with the girls (interns) on roman riding the past few days. Kristen and Ashley have been doing very well. Chantal is also roman riding too. Looks like we might have a new act in the works...
 

We're working on a lot of new projects and also trying to get this place ready too. So be patient and we'll have our new intern program, training, and clinic agenda up by the end of the year. We have openings for interns coming up, so anyone interested please contact Karen. She will go over everything with you. You can send your resume and application to her.
Saturday afternoon we went to Amanda's to wish her a happy 13th birthday. Her new mini horse Bentley will be fun to work. He's a little overweight, but he is a good looking all white mini. Happy Birthday Amanda and we'll see you next time you come back.
I've got ot get back to the barn.
Ride Fast... Take Chances!  tommie

First I wanted to post a photo that Chantal took of me and Maverick. I think it is awesome. For those of you who don't know Maverick, he is one of my three Australian Heeler Cattledogs I have. There is Bandit, Maverick and the newest addition is Cutaway. Bandit is pretty much retired, Maverick has a role in the movie "the Greening of Whitney Brown" with Kris Kristopherson and we do a live act with Blade as well. Maverick really helps me out during demos and goes and gets me a rootbeer from a cooler. Kids love to see him run and get excited about getting a root beer. Maverick loves to have a job, so anything I let him do, he loves it.

So many people asked me about how to train my dog to fetch a beer from the fridge that I made a video so anyone can teach their dog how to do it. You can find it on my website at www.equineextremistproshop.com. Maverick does such a great job getting a root beer for kids that we put his photo on bottles of JONES (HANSEN) all natural soda.
 
You won't see the dogs at the FEI World Equestrian Games since they aren't allowing ANY dogs on property during the entire event. They will be waiting for us back at base camp. You'll see Mav at Cowboy Christmas in Vegas and the Western Stock show in Denver, plus a whole lot more next year. We've got a great show line up and will be all over the country. So make sure you come and say hi.
Chantal and I took time out today from our grueling schedule to take a canoe ride down the canals at Weeki Wachi. It was just what we needed to get our minds off of training and the move. Beautiful calm waters and manatees all around. We stopped at rope swings and tried them out. It was a blast. What a nice way to relax and enjoy nature and the water.(and it's 8 miles from the ranch!) Back to training and filming tommorrow. Ride Fast... Take Chances! tommie

Time sure flies, but things are getting back to normal. The star of the upcoming movie "the Greening of Whitney Brown", Odd Job Bob is here at Liberty Horse Ranch. We're getting ready for his movie debut. We've been doing a lot of training. Chantal put together the daily training program and it has been working out well. The interns are loving it here. We get to train, ride and take care of the horses in the morning, have lunch, then have off until 5p to avoid the heat, then back to work with the horses until sunset at 8p. We absolutely love it here, there is so much potential to do so much with the horses. It is always a lot of work moving to a new place. Not to mention trying to get a new hay supplier, shavings, grain, farrier, vet and tack store. I've already walked out of one feed store because of poor service. The lady wanted to know why I wanted to see the feed before I bought it. She said I couldn't open the bags, but there may be a few broken bags back there to look at. I had to walk myself to the back to the where the feed was kept. The guys in the back were great. They let me look at the feed and told me all about what they carried. The filled me in on what was good for hay around here as well. So, I was feeling pretty good until I walked up to the front counter again. The lady was looking down and ignored me until I said "hello?" She then said "well, how many do you want?". Now I don't ask for much, but I asked her if that is how she treats all her customers. She said yes, so I told her I couldn't do business with someone who doesn't want my business. I went to the next store and to my surprise, I found a mom and daughter who went out of their way to show me the feed and tell me about their business. They asked me about my horses which means they are interested in helping me.  It was a breath of fresh air to do business with someone who takes the time to care about me and my horses. I then got a call from our neighbor who was looking for hay as well. She got a few quotes, but said that one store she went in the lady wouldn't tell her the price unless she ordered it, since the prices change all the time.  What?  Guess which store it was? I'll give you 3 guesses, but you'll only need one. Again, this person may just be a clerk and doesn't understand people, but when I have a choice of who I do business with, I'm going to choose the place that I like and feel comfortable at. You don't have to roll out the red carpet or follow me around the store, but what I do care about is service and feeling welcome. The good thing about our new place is that I do have other places to go and there is a lot of options. 
I didn't want this to be a gripe session, I just want people to realize that the attitude they have reflects what they get back. It happens all the time in horse training. If you don't appreciate your horse or go at it half-heartedly, your horse will lose interest in you and won't work for you. When it's time to work, pay attention to your horse 100% and you will get 1000% more in return. If only the clerk understood that. Ride Fast... Take Chances! tommie