Your Horse Live: Frank Bell

[cvb]

anyone know anything about the folk who are demo-ing at Your Horse Live this year ? Frank Bell and Sylvia something (can't remember the surname)

[Harry Hobbes]

Frank Bell is a "clinician" who teaches natural horsemanship. Here's his web site: Frank Bell (http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/FrankBellAccredit.html)

Harry

[cvb]

Hmm, are the quotes round the word clinician there for a reason ? Its just that its quite a trek down from Scotland, in the winter when the horse's are in. So I was wondering if these guys were worth the trek or not. (The other people are Steve Sikora and Julie Goodnight (http://www.juliegoodnight.com/) ). I think they are doing some clinics while they're over here too, but I have to check the details.

Steve appears to be John Lyons Certified....

[Harry Hobbes]

"Clinician" is the general term used regionally over here to succinctly label the vocation of folks like Parelli, Lyons, Bell, Maxwell, Roberts, et al. The term is derived from their business offerings, wherein they offered and conducted extensive weekend horsemanship and riding clinics.

At some point, someone may coin a better term, at which point that better term will gain usage.

Best regards,
Harry

[cvb]

Ahh - I wasn't sure if it was "clinician - nod, nod, wink, wink - you know what I mean" !!:eek: as in "handle with care" ;)

[Tootsie4U]

Harry, sometimes you can really throw out tongue twisters :p

Never heard of this guy, myself. Will have a peek at the website. Whats your take on him cvb/Harry?

[lisae]

at a Cornell University Horse 2001 exposition. Lots of clinicians and vendors. I was fairly new to my exploration into natural horsemanship at the time. In retrospect, I would not pay or go to see Mr. Bell again, he had some handling techniques that were OK but a lot of it was chasing the horse around the round pen shaking a plastic bag on a stick, horses didn't look too happy or interested in working with him. He had good luck de-sensitising a young horse to ropes and getting him to do a "join up" type response. However, he had to give up on a beautiful grey Arab that was a reputed chronic bucker, no one tried to get on that horse (it was as near to being hysterical as any horse I've seen) and the owner was in tears when she led it away. Mr. Bell had a woman assistant who did any of the riding or starting, his own back and knees were shot. Overpriced equipment was selling briskly, though.

[Miriam]

Is it Sylvia Loch. If so she is does classical dressage.

Heres a link fo rher:

http://www.classical-dressage.net/

[Harry Hobbes]

Whats your take on him cvb/Harry? I haven't had the previledge of either observing him in action, nor perusing his published works. Nor have I heard any commentary; because, he doesn't seem to be that well-known in these parts.

However, he appears (via his web site) to be providing systematic training geared toward the novice (re-)starting horses. His training system might be worth investigating, as an alternative or complement to some of the other Clinician offerings.

The "Sylvia" may be Sylvia Scott, who hosts the Frank Bell web site, and is one of his certified instructors.

Best regards,
Harry

[cvb]

I think the "sylvia" link was a red herring from when I looked at his website, as the other folk are Julie Goodnight and Steve Sikora.

The "Your Horse Live" site (here (http://www.yourhorselive.com) ) says

"Also in the Dodson & Horrell Main Arena visitors can see three of America’s top-class horse trainers in action. Using a variety of easy-to-apply methods, the trainers will show how to improve your relationship with horses. Frank Bell, Steve Sikora and Julie Goodnight will be flying in from the States exclusively for Your Horse Live."

I think it can be quite difficult to tell from a website (which after all is a marketing tool) exactly what someone's approach is as they tend to use "sales speak" and the words they know are "key" or "hot" for their audience.

Thats why I was after any personal experience.

Steve I would feel a bit more comfortable about as he is John Lyons certified. At least then you have some idea what their approach is.

I'm quite curious how these guys are going to work together ? They are all in the same slot....

[TWH Addict]

I love Frank Bells methods. Bought his first video a little while back, The Discover the Horse you Never Knew which is hes 7 Step Safety System. To my mind his methods are simple, effective and easy to follow. Ive had great results. Id love to see him in action, but same problem up her in wet and windy old Scotland, hard to get away at this time of year with limited turn out time and a LOT of mucking out.

[cvb]

TWH Addict - ditto !

Thats my dilemma as well. During the week, my mum (retired) does must of the work with the horses, mucking and turning out and so on in the winter. So I'm really lucky and try to make up for it by doing my bit at the weekends. But then if I jaunt off for a day or more, not only am I not helping out and doing my share, but I'm also not riding or exercising my or her horse. And that makes them more of a handful for the subsquent week.

So it really has to be a big deal to negotiate time away....

I checked about the clinics that Frank is doing immediately afterwards - and they are all in Warwickshire as well :(