www.kerrykuhn.com

Kerry uses his (natural) practical horsemanship classes to help others develop the leadership their horse is looking for. What Kerry strives to teach with his critique horsemanship clinics, is how to gain control of your horse mentally, emotionally, and physically. Reading periodicals on horse training, or just putting a training bridle on your horse and pulling on him is not truly controlling your horse. Often time's humans focus solely on the physical aspect and neglect to see the power of the mental and emotional. Learn to gain control of all three together and you will be amazed at what you can get from your horse.

With the knowledge and experience Kerry has gained, he hopes to teach riders how to become better partners with their horses. By learning to listen to their horses, a rider becomes aware that leadership is what their horse needs. Being in the best place at the best time develops the rider as a good leader. This is what Kerry strives to teach.

Trainer Scott Purdum uses his horsemanship skills to teach all types of horses. His training creates a horse's willingness to work with, and respect the handler. With each client he teaches both the horse and handler how to work together to form a better relationship with each other.

"Be Clear. Be Concise. Be Consistent."

Scott is dedicated to bringing horses and people together using methods that are easy to understand and apply! His program works with all breeds and helps riders of any discipline become a better partner with their horse!

If you have a problem horse, a horse that needs breaking, or even an older horse needing a "tune up", Scott is here to help.

Tracy Porter’s teaching style is easy to understand, fun and progressive. It is the foundation training needed to create successful individuals in any breed or riding discipline.

Her ability to look at life with a simple eye, a vivid imagination and a silly sense of humor of not taking life to seriously is what has inspired her teaching to take on a style all it’s own. She is honest and sincere in her desire to help others and quite frankly is tired of all the garbage horses have to put up with in the name of training. These are just a few of the reasons why she has become a favorite clinician to horses and the people that love them.

Tracy has competed and been involved with many equine disciplines many of which are foreign territory to gaited horses once again proving to her that the only limits are those that we place on ourselves and rules are meant to be broken and when we think we know it all, we aren’t doing anyone a favor. She gives clinics and tours the United States and Canada with her Paso Fino’s Caz and Twinkle. Visit www.Tracy-Porter.net for more information on Tracy and how you and your horse can join in her training program and summer clinics at her farm in Milton Wisconsin and Manhattan Illinois and winter clinics and training in Ocala Florida.

A graduate of Duke University, Mari Monda Zdunic is a top dressage competitor having earned USDF gold, silver, and bronze medals, Olympic Sports Festival silver, bronze and team medals, along with numerous USDF top ten horse of the year honors from the United States Dressage Federation from Training through Grand Prix levels, open and all breed awards. Mari competed in the Olympic Trials in 1980, Gladstone, NJ; and the 1981 World Championship Trials. She is equally admired for her spectacular exhibition rides which have thrilled spectators from coast to coast. An associate of Mr. Chuck Grant for fourteen years, Mari is continuing his fine work since his death in 1990, as owner and trainer of Shine-A-Bit Farm.

Mari has been key in the promotion of nontraditional dressage mounts. She has trained and shown the first North American Arabian, Connemara, Appaloosa, and Paint Grand Prix dressage horses; those being Gahalla owned by Paul and Delores Lavins, Grosse Point, MI, Tre Awain DeValera owned by Three Creek Farm, St. Charles, MO., and Billie Joe Freckles, last owned by David and Anne Gribbons, Long Island, NY, and Double Darin Cody owned by Amy Mueller of Saginaw, MI.

Mari has also been deeply involved in the advocation of the American Quarter Horse in competitive dressage and for high school exhibitions. Mari and her horse, Shine-A-Bit III (AQHA) have performed exhibitions at the Washington International Horse Show, as well as at the Quarter Horse Congress, and was honored Grand Prix horse of the year for the United States Dressage Federations all breeds quarter horse awards in 1988. Mari also trained Royal Inspiration to a three time American Buckskin, Amateur Championship - rode and owned by Eva Haron, South Lyon, MI. Another familar mount for Mari has been Prussian Dudley, a Saddlebred/ Trakhaner cross gelding who really enjoyed his time in the spotlight.

Always the consummate professional, Mari takes pride in students who ride and train, the end goal being to make your horse go "skipping down the road!"

Juli is the owner/manager of Golden Gait Stable located at 23803 Grange Road in Marengo and offers boarding, leasing, starting horses, remedial training, and horsemanship lessons in riding, training and care. She considers her facility a place where horse-lovers and horses can bond and grow together in skill and knowledge.

Juli’s background includes training in Jumping, Dressage, Saddle-seat, Western, Trail and Gaited Horses. She’s taught hundreds of riding lessons, offered badge work for scouts, worked on behalf of Pony Club of America, and held clinics for HAHS, Northern Illinois Horse Fest, etc. She has shown, fox-hunted, and ridden competitive trail rides. Now she commits most of her time to educating future trainers, future and novice horse-owners, and uneducated horses. Juli is available for clinics, consultations, training, and lessons.

Juli’s training philosophies are based on communication skills and passive leadership. Her emphasis is on safety and positive growth. Juli offers a unique program which is geared to teach people how to train their own young horses. She works together with them and their horse, guiding them through her holistic, no-stress, step-by-step training methods. She will be presenting her most popular clinic on Spook-proofing Your Horse and Changing Fear to Curiosity.

She also teaches accredited equine training classes for Kishwaukee Community College . The classes are: “Equine Ground Training Basics, Starting Under Saddle, Stable Management, and Equine Business Basics”, and are held at her farm. The curriculum includes videos, demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on work with horses. The college awards “Stable Management” certificates to those who complete the program successfully. For students wanting more personal attention and hands-on work, Juli offers small group intensive classes on equine training and care (limited to 4 students.)

You can read her articles in the “Sentinel”, and the “Horse’s Mouth” (equine publications) or look them up on Illinoishorse.com.

Juli welcomes questions from readers on training issues, and often responds to these questions in her column. She has written her first book “PRELIMINARY HANDLING FOR YOU AND YOUR HORSE”, which covers the foundations of horse training and handling. She is currently working on her second book about her passive ground work methods which will be released in 2004.  

Look up her web-site at www.goldengaitstable.com.

     Tommy Garland is one of the top trainers and clinicians in the country today. He grew up in a family of great horse people and has become well know and skilled in his own right. He has competed and won many top awards and now passes on his knowledge to help others. He has competed at the “Road to the Horses” in 2008 and will return in 2009.
     We are pleased to Have Tommy Garland as a clinician and a judge for our Midwest Trainer Challenge at the Northern Illinois Horse Fest this year. Tommy also has an award winning program on RFD-TV. Please Join Tommy all weekend long at the 2008 Northern Illinois Horse Fest.

Ben Eyster has many years of experience in many areas of the equine disciplines. Living and working in Northern Illinois , Ben has developed many long lasting relationships in the Horse and Equine Industry. Ben will be doing colt starting and beginning clinics at the Northern Illinois Horse fest both Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to catch this wonderful local trainer.

Lynn Palm one of the foremost and respected horsemen in the world,  of Palm Partnership Training is a pioneer among women in the horse industry. For more than 30 years, Lynn Palm has championed the partnership of horse and rider, bringing her unique perspective to hundreds of thousands of horse enthusiasts around the world.

Lynn is a regular commentator on RFD-TV and Horse TV, and is a regular contributor to many equine publications, such as Horse & Rider, Dressage Today, Western Horseman, Horse Illustrated, Paint Horse Journal, and the American Quarter Horse Journal.

One of the few clinicians available today with a proven competition record, Lynn Palm's list of accomplishments include:

• Named 2007 AQHA Horsewoman of the Year
• Named one of the top clinicians in the United States by Horse & Rider magazine
• Featured clinician at Equitana USA
• Named the AQHA Female Equestrian of the Year by the Women's Athletic Association
• A Record "4 AQHA Superhorse Wins"
• Over 34 World and Reserve World Champions
• Over 50 Bridleless Dressage Exhibitions to Music throughout the United States at such prestigious events as the National Horse Show, the Washington International and the International World Cup
• Chosen to Perform Exhibitions during the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games with the Quarter Horse Ambassador "Rugged Lark"

Debi Metcalfe – Missing Horses, Tack, Trailers and Horse Identification 
Often referred to as the “John Walsh” of the horse industry, Debi Metcalfe is perhaps the most recognized expert in the field of horse recovery, theft prevention and horse identification.

More than just a pasture fence was broken when thieves took Idaho, from Debi Metcalfe’s husband in Shelby, North Carolina, in 1997. Important ties binding her family together were stressed by the abduction of a horse they viewed as a member of their family. They reacted with confusion—people still steal horses?!—and fear. When she realized local law enforcement considered her family’s loss a minor matter, she took action.

Debi began what would prove to be one incredible journey. Her quest led she and husband Harold into the dangerous world horse thieves inhabit. Along the way she discovered unexpected allies and recovered Idaho in a church parking lot 51 weeks later in Tennessee.

She didn’t see it coming but Stolen Horse International had started forming itself as soon as she sent out her first plea on the Internet by email to anyone who would listen. Little by little people joined this unnamed group linked together by big hearts, kind hearts and broken hearts.

TJ was born in Glen Innes, New South Wales , Australia .  At eight years old his grandfather, Sid Kirkwood, took him to a clinic held by Australian horseman Kel Jefferies, one of the first of the "natural horsemen” who used sticks and flags to train a horse instead of the sometimes violent methods which were commonly accepted and widely used at that time.  TJ instantly knew the path he would take on his journey to becoming a horseman and by twelve he knew wanted to spend his life working with horses.

Participating as a young rodeo cowboy in the Australian rodeo circuit in bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc riding, calf roping and steer wrestling. At the same time he was also riding show jumpers, and finding success on the Australian Bushman’s Horse Racing Circuit where his eight year career as a jockey took him from the Australian tracks to Japan and later the United States . Deciding to expand his knowledge in the show arena, he moved to Europe where he learned to train Grand Prix Show Jumpers.

In 1990, TJ arrived in the United States with little to his name: his saddle, gear bag, suit case and a way to make a living with horse. He first found work giving horseback tours in Maui , Hawaii and carriage rides in Sacramento , CA . A chance meeting found him training prized show Arabians in North Carolina before moving on to Boston he reestablished himself as a jockey and in the show jumper world before being asked to return west to help start a ranch in Montana. This westward adventure took him to Arizona and then to Colorado where he teamed up with his rodeo idol, Larry Mahan. In 1995 at one Larry Mahan’s Clinics TJ was approached by a couple from Indiana wanting him to hold a clinic for them in the Hoosier state. When his first clinic was a roaring success, it soon it became apparent that Indiana was to become TJ’s home base. For ten years he has been training horses, conducting clinics, judging horse shows, and organizing trail rides. 

His goal continues to be to help as many people through his “Calm, Australian, Training Method”. By understanding the principles of C.A.L.M., horse lovers are able to develop a "True Partnership" with their horse because they are not only learning, but taking to heart, and creating a foundation based on: respect,trust, communication, and love for their horse.

Currently he trains and conducts clinics in Westfield , Indiana and in the winter in Ocala Florida . To contact TJ: 765-729-1217 or visit his website at www.TJClibborn.com

Dr. Tom Tweeten is a scientist with more than 35 years of experience in Analytical Chemistry. He has worked with industrial chemicals and human and animal nutrition to develop chemical testing procedures to insure product quality and integrity.

About eleven years ago Dr. Tweeten and a couple of young entrepreneurs began developing a line of horse care grooming products. Since Dr. Tweeten is a horse owner and show competitor, he has worked to create products that are healthy and beneficial for his horses, while achieving the aesthetic results he wants. Dr. Tweeten’s experiences enable him to focus on developing a way to properly prepare and groom a horse so that it is beneficial to the animal. Based on this presentation you will learn what you will want to include in your tack box to maintain a healthy appearance of your horse.

Caring and maintaining a horse takes time and money. Taking time to work with a horse is an important part of getting the most out of a person’s investment whether it is preparing for a show or going for a trail ride. I will share some thoughts and ideas why grooming is not just for showing BUT an important part of communicating and building trust with a person’s horse.

There are three aspects of grooming that will be presented. They include:

• Showing how the grooming process can help both the rider and the horse relax before beginning an activity. It helps both partners in the riding activity come to a common mental state.
• Talking about selected tools that work best for grooming. Each tool will be demonstrated, showing how to get the most out the grooming device.
• Summarizing of how to select different grooming aids and what to think about when looking at the ingredients they contain. Have you ever thought how the horse grooming process differs from human grooming?

Through participation in the presentation, a person will begin to have a deeper appreciation of how this type of quality time can strengthen their relationship with a horse, enhance the appearance of the horse, and enrich their riding experience. I invite people who are both new to riding horses as well as the experienced horse person to attend.

Suzanne’s love of horses and their beautiful movement, in-depth understanding of correct biomechanics and teaching expertise have all come together in her work as a horse trainer, Centered Riding© Clinician and co-founder of Two as One Horsemanship™. Suzanne’s cross disciplinary equine interests include trail riding, dressage, reining, jumping, gaited horses and more. With a Masters Degree in Education, a black sash in T’ai Chi and more than 20 years of teaching experience, her unique ability to teach complex equitation concepts in a humorous, creative and down to earth style empowers her students to progress in their chosen discipline safely, effectively and joyfully. In her spare time (ha ha!) she writes equine articles, develops and appears in instructional equine DVDs, practices T’ai Chi and spends time with her Bernese Mountain dog, Maverick. Suzanne is an AQHA Professional Horsewoman.

Jody Beilke is a civil business and transaction attorney licensed in the State of Illinois. She obtained her law degree in 2007 from Northern Illinois University College of Law graduating cum laude; and, received her bachelor’s degree graduating summa cum laude in 2004 from Rockford College. Ms. Beilke is currently practicing in areas including: collections and small claims, commercial law, personal injury and equine law. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, American Bar Association and the American College of Equine Attorneys.

EQUINE LAW

Ms. Beilke can assist individual horse owners, trainers, breeders, and riding, boarding and training facilities in resolving claims for personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation. She also drafts contracts for equine purchases, sales, leases and commission arrangements; and, created equine liability releases for boarding and training facilities, trainers, transporters and other individuals and entities sponsoring or participating in equine activities. Ms. Beilke also enforces lien rights for individuals and equine boarding facilities in Illinois.

Ms. Beilke is a current member of the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois and the American Horse Council. She has attended the National Equine Law Conference held annually in Lexington, Kentucky and renowned for being the leading seminar for equine professionals. She is also an active member of the American Paint Horse Association.

Ms. Beilke has competed in the Illinois Hunter and Jumper circuit; and, currently is barrel racing and attending rodeos.

Dennis Auslam does training, lessons and clinics out of his facility, Redwood Stables in Morton, MN as well as conducts clinic at remote locations. He also has been a presenter at several horse fairs in the Midwest. Dennis has 28 years of horse experience at all levels. He specializes in starting colts and also works with performance, halter, pleasure, and trail horses. Whether training any breed of horse, passing along techniques or teaching responsibility to young riders through lessons, it gives him great joy as a trainer and instructor to be able to expand people's knowledge of the potential of their horse and the relationship between horse and owner. Some of his accomplishments include year-end championships in rodeo associations and successful showings in AQHA and ABRA.

McAllister is a board-certified family physician with master’s degrees in public health and environmental health. She is the author of Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom’s Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim. She also writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column, “Your Health by Dr. Rallie McAllister.” As an advocate of family health and an expert on childhood obesity, McAllister is a popular speaker at events ranging from national conventions to local Cub Scout meetings. She makes regular appearances on television and radio programs across the country, and her fitness and nutrition tips for parents and kids have been featured in numerous publications, including Better Homes and Gardens, USA Today, Parents Magazine, Prevention and Family Circle.

On the program, McAllister discusses her new book Riding for Life: A Horsewoman’s Guide to Lifetime Health & Fitness. The book includes a questionnaire that enables horsewomen to identify and overcome barriers to optimal health and fitness.

World Champion, Dave Robart has spent his entire life around horses. Dave, is a fourth generation horse trainer. Dave's father, Dink, trained and also rode race horses as a jockey. Dave spent much of his childhood on Roy Rogers ranch where his father trained Rogers race horses. When Dave was just 11 years old he started  exercising race horses on the bush tracks in California. Dave always seemed to have a special way with problem horses. He had the uncanny ability to cool out unruly race horses that other handlers refused to work with. Dave began breaking horses with his father in his early teens. Dave opened his own training center in 1985 at the young age of 23, where he was quickly recognized for his work in solving behavior problems in horses. Because Dave was willing to work with all breeds and disciplines, other professional horse trainers would send horses for Dave to work on problem areas they could not deal with. Dave also achieved national and regional titles showing in many disciplines and breeds.

Harmony Horsemanship……  “It’s all about the horse”

 Harmony Horsemanship LLC is owned and operated by Ted Schlueter and Paulette Stelpflug.

Harmony Horsemanship LLC. was established in 2000.  Teddy and Paulette have taken the best training methods and incorporated them into their program.  They teach more than methods.  They teach a philosophy.

 Traditional training methods primarily rely upon strength, force, and restraint devices to control a horse.  Instead of trying to get a horse to react, Harmony Horsemanship will get the horse to respond.  Harmony Horsemanship’s “soft” method of training focuses upon communication with the horse.  Hindquarter Control is one of the most common terms and concepts that you will hear and learn from Harmony Horsemanship.  The power of the horse is in the hindquarter.