In Tuesday’s TDN, we ran half I of Diana Pikulski’s interview with Robert (Bob) Duncan (click on right here to learn). This two-part piece is the primary in a sequence known as Equine Ethics, which examines methods by which racing can exist in essentially the most moral manner doable.
RD: My subsequent ah-ha second occurred with horse coach Pat Parelli. After my go to with Monty, I began exploring the web for extra horse associated information. The title that stored popping up was Pat Parelli of Parelli Natural Horsemanship. I used to be then fortunate sufficient to be invited to his International Savvy Conference together with an intensive VIP week the place not more than ten folks would have a seven-day accelerated program solely with Pat.
At Parelli’s place you checked your ego and your machismo on the entrance gate–an idea that many gate crews wrestle with. Here, I gained a extra in depth horse vocabulary. They got here up with so many attention-grabbing and provocative methods to interact your horse and your creativeness. Horses had been inspired to make selections for themselves. They turned invested companions and confirmed true enjoyment and reference to their people. Cues turned feather gentle and the response was versatile and fluid. I realized that this stage of connection and belief must be our new customary on the beginning gate.
Pat and Linda (Parelli)’s principled strategy and moral, horse-centric, practices information me to at the present time.
TDN: As your horsemanship superior, how did you refine the beginning gate protocols?
RD: The basis of our success was constructed on embracing the idea of “Right brain/Left brain” considering in horses. That phrase describes, in layman’s phrases, how horses course of info and react to their setting.
We modified the way in which that we approached the horses and the way we approached the education course of. The buggy whip, the necessity to again the horses into the gate, the pressured masses all mainly disappeared as a result of we did not want them any extra. Those issues had been half and parcel of a special period, a special manner of doing issues.
With our newfound data, by approaching the horse in a relaxed, non-threatening manner, we might start to construct belief and connection by way of delicate actions that mimic how horses talk with one another within the herd. In the mornings, a palpable change would happen (left mind/security) and the horse’s curiosity would kick in. This was a quantum shift, making a calmer, safer setting for all.
Also, I modified the curriculum, so to talk. Once a horse learns to interrupt, they always remember it. Our aim now’s to develop a horse that’s alert however calm on the gate. Horses get calming, remedial visits between races and aggressive gate works. These stand-and-back-out days are key to holding a horse on an excellent keel. A nervous or fearful horse goes into “fight or flight” (reactive, proper mind response) mode when careworn. It pumps adrenaline and hyperventilates, utilizing up a great a part of its reserve early within the race. Calm horses breathe deeply into the stomach, growing oxygen reserves whereas preserving power.
TDN: Was the transformation profitable?
RD: I consider that the transformation was profitable, particularly in New York, the place now we have been capable of proceed the philosophy for over 20 years by way of starters Roy Williamson, Mike McMullin and now Hector Soler.
After consulting for NYRA in 2009, utilizing solely our new strategies, I reviewed my information of gate work for the six-month summer season season at Saratoga’s Oklahoma observe. We had six thousand horse visits to our education gate. Of these six thousand visits, we by no means used the buggy whip, by no means used the blindfold, by no means muscled a horse into the gate, eradicated rearing up and flipping, by no means needed to again one into the gate and taught every horse to stroll quietly and willingly into the closed-door gate. All horses left our gate in a greater state of mind than after they arrived. These had been overwhelming statistics.
TDN: What is your response to individuals who resist re-learning how they deal with the horses of their care and management?
RD: The modifications we made did not develop out of some mystical new-age whispering. This current spike of curiosity grew out of the sensible, intuitive minds of the Dorrance brothers, Tom and Bill, who ran a horse and cattle outfit out of Oregon. Word of mouth unfold the information of their common sense success with horses. Ray Hunt, a disciple of Tom and Bill, carried the message like Johnny Appleseed, trailering his horses throughout the nation to unfold the phrase to horse individuals and ranchers throughout the states.
I used to be lucky to attach with Ray in his later years. We met at a clinic attended by 16 starters at Sunland Park Racetrack, in New Mexico. Ray was coping with respiratory points by then and I used to be requested to help him. It was a tremendous few days that led to 2 different clinics with Ray at WinStar Farm in Kentucky. After the success of the Sunland clinic, the AQHA requested Ray to do a sequence of clinics at numerous tracks, however his well being wouldn’t allow it. I used to be then requested and I accepted the chance. You will discover a thread of Ray’s philosophy in virtually each modern-day clinician’s presentation. His popularity and affect lives on.
TDN: Because of your success, had been you known as upon to work with horses outdoors of the U.S.?
RD: Yes, our success in New York was establishing that not solely had been the horses on the gate extra calm and persistently cooperative, however they had been breaking and racing higher. Word was getting round. I used to be approached by Aidan O’Brien to go to Ireland and work with their crew and by Gai Waterhouse to go to Australia to assist with the limitations there. Gai was decided to get her workers educated so I ended up happening yearly for a couple of years. Then, on plenty of events Gai would ship members of her workers to stick with me in Saratoga and observe our gate crew.
TDN: Where at the moment are in your profession?
RD: I retired from NYRA in 2005 and remained on as a guide, education horses on the Oklahoma coaching observe in Saratoga for an additional 12 years. Since 2005, I’ve labored for Todd Pletcher doing his gate work in Florida at Palm Beach Downs. Todd and I’ve had an extended relationship going again to his early days of coaching. I believe we see eye to eye on methods to get essentially the most from his horses. His dad, JJ, places the inspiration on the younger horses, making my job a lot simpler. It has been an ideal pleasure to be part of the household’s success. I’ve been round an extended whereas and I do know that I’ve landed in a spot that I can really feel proud to be part of.
TDN: What do you see as the following most necessary step for racing to take with respect to how horses are dealt with on the observe?
RD: Training and educating backstretch employees. I wish to see racetracks embrace this program and institute a sensible research course to coach new hires on the backstretch. Clinics might be scheduled as wanted and new hires might be issued short-term credentials till such time that they full a course. It must be taught from the nurseries to the retirement amenities in order that we’re all talking the identical language. I do not know something of better worth for the long-term well-being of our horses and personnel.
Anyone who wholeheartedly commits to this course of will arrive at some extent in a education session when a change comes over their horse. If you’ve gotten been honest and constant and dealing towards lightness along with your contact a change happens. The horse’s head drops and the attention softens. Tension leaves the physique and you might be with a pal. The focus is on you and the gate turns into a curiosity. It is a second of such intimacy and belief that it may well convey a tear to your eyes. It is a sense of pure pleasure. I want for all horse folks to expertise it.
