Horse Affairs, Trainer Challenge

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Thanks to all the great trainers who applied for this competition.
Congratulations to our Winners
1st - Scott Hulme - Montpelier
2nd - Rich Halquist - Rupert

Congratulations to our Winner -Scott Hulme - Montpelier Idaho
who trained Latte Made For Angels

My name is Scott Hulme, I am a professional horse trainer who lives in Montpelier ID. I started riding horses for the public in 1993, when I was 13. I took on team roping horses and horse with problems that just needed some good hard ranch work. Giving them a job made them good solid horses and helped their owners enjoy them. At the age of 19 I started getting involved in the cutting horse industry while working for cutting horse trainers. I then went on to work for several trainers who competed in the NRCHA and that is where my heart lies. I have started colts for Bob Gonsalves, Brandon Buttars, Les Vogt and Skip Brown. I worked for Skip and lived with the NRCHA Hall of Fame member for about a year. All the while loving life in the shadow of this great trainer.

I have gone on to win my own share of victories. I have won multiple awards in the URCHA. I trained Cash Me Zippen Quannah, a 2000, ApHC Stallion owned by John Hurley. Together "Cash" and I have won two saddles, and state championships in Utah, Montana, Wyoming and also the NRCHA. We have received ROM's in Team Roping, working cow horse, trail, reining and halter. We also qualified for the ApHC world show in these events in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

I have also won many other awards in the NRCHA including qualifying Lil Shi Lena, a mare of my own, for the NRCHA world show in Stephenville, TX . In the roping arena I have won thousands of dollars, 8 saddles and countless buckles and prizes.

I live with my wife Kimberly and our three young sons Jake, Payton, and Ethan. We run a successful horse training operation in Montpelier ID where we also hold annual spring and fall horse sales. The sales consist of our own horses and horses that we have consigned.

Contact Information: www.highcountryhorsesales.com 208.847.1105 Or TSHulme@hotmail.com

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Congratulations to our 2nd Place Trainer - Rich Halquist - Rupert Idaho
who trained Hot White Chocolate

I have always been around horses and livestock, having grown up on my family's farm in the Midwest. My first horse was a little Arabian mare, who taught me the importance of having a good, well-trained horse. After college, I moved from Minnesota to Idaho. This exposed me to an entirely different world of horsemanship. Being a high school teacher, I was able to spend my weekends and summers horseback. I was either day-working or riding in the desert and mountains.

After a few years teaching, I had the opportunity to make my living horseback. Over the next decade, I was able to cowboy on some of the biggest ranches in the US, from Oregon to Wyoming. Once I started a family, I wanted to settle down. I am currently a horse program instructor at the Idaho Youth Ranch in Rupert, Idaho.

My philosophy on horses is very simple: Try to work with your horses instead of against them. I have been influenced by Bill and Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt from books, videos, and from people who knew them personally. I have seen and experienced what can be achieved by making the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. After seeing some very rough and tough treatment of horses, I can confidently say having your horse as a willing partner is much better than having your horse as an adversary.

I have started horses that became working ranch horses, pleasure horses, and trail riding horses. Currently, I am riding a horse that will be marketed as a reining cowhorse prospect.

Contact Information: 208.532.3755 eve. E-mail: Halquist@pmt.org

Trainer Challenge Update:

"Things are going well down here. I wish the weather was better so we could ride outside more. We do get outside when we can and Schoko seems to enjoy it. Schoko started out really quiet, almost too quiet. I wasn't sure if there was something wrong, but he is just very calm and has pretty much stayed that way. He has been really willing and seems to pick up things very quickly. When we first started out, he was eager to see what I had planned. As time has gone on, his ideas didn't exactly match mine. After working through that, we are getting closer to my ideas becoming his ideas. "

Barbara Dunn - Meridian Idaho
will train Iced Mocca

Being born in Alaska, horses were not an early discovery for Barbara. At the age of four, Barbara was introduced to horses through a local riding stable, and at the age of eight her family moved to Idaho. The move to Idaho allowed Barbara to take advantage of horses being around every corner. Her neighbor's horse, cousin's pony, and an occasional borrowed ride from a friend's horse added to this love affair.

Sweets, a 3-year-old POA, was gifted to Barbara when she was 13, and that was when she realized a life with horses was inevitable. Sweets allowed a little girls dreams to come to life. Chasing the cattle in the field, running along side the river, going for a swim, and even playing catch-me-if-you can were simple pleasures.

There were a few years without horses, but Travis, Barbara's husband, wouldn't allow her to be without. Now the mother of three, there were different considerations regarding horse ownership. It wasn't fun to have a horse that would rear on command or pitch a fit when encountering something new. Barbara turned her interest from simple pleasures to safe enjoyment.

In 1998, Travis and Barbara built and opened a small boarding facility in Meridian and began training a few outside horses. In 2000, Barbara attended Dr. Tia Fehlig's Dynamic Hoof Trimming class in Montana. Since 2001, Barbara was been involved in Ada County 4-H as a parent, leader, judge, and demonstrator. Safety and enjoyment for all involved has always been her primary goal. This was the focus that led her to attending the John and Josh Lyons Certification Program in 2007. This was a dream of hers for more than eight years and she graduated with top honors.

Attending this Certification Program was an honor and a blessing. Barbara learned a great deal more than she imagined about horses and, in her mind, the safest and surest training techniques that will enable her to train horses to be trusting mounts and their riders to be confident partners. 2008 will be the beginning of the best years yet for Barbara and the horses and horse people she's involved with. May all your rides bring you smiles.

Contact Info: 208.888.2511 E-mail: RCLatigo@aol.com www.BarbaraDunnHorsemanship.com

Trainer Challenge Update:

"Any one can go to my web sight for updates, it will be updated this weekend. For now here is a statement. Mocca is doing great. Though, we've hit a resistant stage. Mocca is really believing this might be work. Because of the weather, our schedule has been inconsistent, but Mocca is always willing to come out of the stall and play. Mocca has the potential to be a fun reining horse. She comes over her hindquarters very nicely and is learning to carry herself nicely."

Henry Nabel - Boise Idaho
will train Decaf In Paradise

I was born and raised in Halberstadt, East Germany behind the so called Iron Curtain. For two years I worked as a deck hand on fishing trawlers. After a 3 month journey at sea we were leaving Congo, Africa and arrived at East Berlin early in the morning in the fall of 1987 the very day the Berlin wall was opened for the East German people. I was part of a historic event that day which I will never forget. The wall coming down opened up a world of new possibilities for me. I became introduced to training horses by Hartmut Keuchel in Braunschwieg a European champion in reining and working cow horse. His knowledge and approach to train performance horses got me started in the field. Working with horses has been a huge part of my life ever since.

I moved to Ireland and lived there four years where I continued to work with horses in my free time. During this period in my life I met some people who invited me to come to their church. After several weeks I became a Christian and my faith is now the most important aspect of my life. I came to the United States in 2000 and began working for Ben Below in Skull Valley, Arizona. Ben had a big affect on me as a horse trainer and I learned a lot from him. I left Arizona and moved to Minnesota to work for Monty Bruce who was also trained in teaching reining cow horses. In Minnesota I experienced one of the coldest winters in a decade and riding horses can be tough in -20 degrees!

After moving back to Arizona I rode colts for Colin Beales, a lifelong horseman and former President of the APHA. Mr. Beales has been producing excellent Paint horses, which I really enjoyed riding. I also rode horses for myself in the greater Phoenix area. After the winter in Minnesota the Phoenix summer was quite a shock, with horses standing in their stalls sweating at 5:00 am, as it can remain 100 degrees even at this time of the day.

I moved to Oregon to work for Bobby Usher, a cutting horse trainer in the town of Harper. I gained experience working cows in a ranch setting with thousands of acres surrounding it. After the two extremes of Minnesota and Arizona it was great to ride colts through the sagebrush in the Pacific Northwest and I have remained here ever since. The last three years I have been riding in Oregon and have spent the summers in Garden Valley at the ranch and retreat center for Calvary Chapel Boise. My responsibilities included taking large groups of people of people on trail rides, giving private lessons in addition to starting colts on the side. I also met my beautiful wife Kapri at one of those church retreats! We have four children, Alysse, Austin, Ryan and Rylie and make our home in Meridian.

I have now been training full time for the last seven years. My goal is to train horses to their full potential, being willing and respectful without frustrating them. I believe in laying a good foundation, gaining body control, bringing them along in their training for reigning, cutting, cow work, trail ride, roping ect... I enjoy giving lessons, helping people to learn to train their own horses, showing them how the horse can better perform and do its best as they appreciate a well broke horse with good manners. Consistency and repetition will bring consistent results.

It is important to me to have a balanced training program to keep a horse soft and fresh. By being a good leader training becomes better and the horse will cooperate and perform to its ability. Please feel free to contact me at any of the following: Home Phone: (208) 855-2445 Email: fritawalsh@msn.com Cell Phone: (208) 922-8245

Trainer Challenge Update:

"Decaf has been doing well over the last few weeks. She is willing to learn and is coming along in all areas. The biggest challenge working with her has been the weather conditions. We continue to work on suppling exercises, body control, and ground manners, getting used to riding in many conditions both inside and outside the arena. Decaf is a typical two year old so we take it slow, keeping her fresh and making it interesting by working on different exercises each day. I believe she will make someone a very nice horse and am looking forward to showing her at the competition."

Sonja Rhodes - Emmett Idaho
will train Espresso With Magic

Originally from rural Nebraska (the heart of America), Sonja began riding at the age of three and the by the age of seven was galloping along fields and dirt roads, riding the three miles to meet her best friend so they could ride and race the day away around the back roads of Pawnee County. Sonja married her highschool sweetheart at the age of 18, moved to Wyoming and worked on the ranches of Wyoming, Western Nebraska and Montana while raising their two children.

Eventually the Rhoedes sold their cattle and began training. Sonja became active in the study of Parelli Natural Horsemanship in 1999 and progressed through the Level 3 Parelli program and went on to ride with other horsemen in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Alaska, Idaho and British Columbia.

The Rhodes family moved to Idaho the summer of 2004 and Emmett has become their home. Sonja starts colts, addresses problem-behaviors, and gives lessons which direct students focus toward understanding the horses perspective and developing resistant free riding. Sonja's program is centered around reaching the heart and desire of both horse and riders in a positive and supportive learning environment.

Sonja's training experiences include specializing in "problem solving", taking in horses deemed dangerous or un-trainable. Through support and understanding of equine psychology she was able to help the horses address their fears and opposition, while helping them find "new answers" which create confidence and coping skills. She establishes a line of communication through touch on the ground that creates understanding and willingness while in the saddle. She is always looking for balance and softness in the horse and from herself.

Contact Information: 208.365.2350 E-mail: MeAndFlipster@yahoo.com

Trainer Challenge Update from Sonja:

"Whew...what a funny Idaho winter we're having! Coming from Nebraska, snow and ice are nothing new to me, however the vertical desert hills are a little bit different from the rolling timbers there. My arena is small, about 80'x80' and has been a solid sheet of ice for most of the training time thus far. So my training has all been out and about in the foothills behind my house.

I am "challenging" myself to succumb to stubborness. I am not normally much of an arena rider, I generally do a few basic things in there and then hit the hills, feeling I can accomplish all the things I want to address out there using flat spots as my "arena". However the footing has been a bit less than desirable and Espresso tells me it is difficult to keep her hind legs under her, so I am considering trailering to an indoor arena for the final weeks training...we'll see.

Espresso found her "no" button this past week, when feeling a bit stir crazy from not being able to be turned out for play time in the "skating rink"...we headed off to the hills at the 'rapid pace' of a working walk. When we were lucky we were able to trot as an open alfalfa field proved to be pretty manageable. All was well and we were happy to be out and enjoying the day, when we came upon a herd of 15 or 20 horses...hollering and prancing to get her attention. She said she would like to go play but the footing under us at that point had much to be desired so I told her to keep it to a quick crawl....she showed me that she does have a playful, snobbish opinion if she wants to--but you know she really can't be blamed considering the circumstances.

We got in a good enough exercise that she was happy and content to go by that herd on the way home so my mission was accomplished. I can't see confining her to a slow speed through the entirety of this training so I guess I will have to buck up (no pun intended) and get her to some dry ground. Probably the confines of a dry arena will prove freeing to the both of us and we can get the cobs blown out. I look forward to that!

At one point the other day, I dismounted to walk down a particularly slippery spot...thankful that I did because 3 steps into it my feet went out from under me and I found myself looking up at Espresso's belly. She stood stone still while I regained my composure. She had a distinct look of concern for my well being but no alarm bells were ringing--she's got a good, solid mind. This little filly has a good heart and a gentle attitude. She's going to make somebody a real nice horse. "

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Alternate Trainer - In case any of the above trainers can't fulfill the requirements Les E. Smutz - Challis Idaho www.RandRforHorses.com Les.Smutz@RandRforHorses.com 208.879.6863

Other Entries - We extent our gratitude to the follow trainers that also took the leap

Shannon Allison - Grand View
Bill Basham - Potlatch
Kendra Giedd - Nampa
Tanner King - Nampa
Lance Orman - Star
Jarom Purnell - Caldwell
Ryker Jones - Nampa
Angie Reitmeier - Potlatch
Jack Williams - Meridian
Matt Zimmerman - Adrian