Gemara Farm Foxtrotters--Natural Horsemanship Lessons and Training

Here at Gemara Farm Foxtrotters we are committed to bringing the horses along as naturally as possible with a natural hoof barefoot trim to develop great feet and legs and with natural horsemanship using understanding of horses' habits and communication to develop their minds and skills. We don't ride them until they are three years old, but they have enough background education by that time to understand what it's all about and do well at whatever line of work for which they are destined. The logical progression of skills lends itself to horses who understand what we are asking and offering it without being forced into doing something they don't comprehend.

Several of our horses have gone on to become competive trail mounts, endurance horses, pleasure trail horses, and model and versatility show horses. One is even earning her keep doing some Hindu wedding ceremonies and is involved in trick training! See the horses sold page for pictures of them all.

We don't just sell horses, we try to match a potential owner to a horse so that they can have a good partnership for many years to come, and we work to help you learn how to communicate with your horse. If we don't have a match for you, we won't try to make a sale but will try to refer you to someone who might have what you are looking for. Check out our For Sale pages to see what is available. We also offer lessons and horse training.

All of our horses are barefoot, maintained every six weeks by farriers practicing the barefoot hoof trim. They have strong, sound, correct feet and seldom ever need the protection of boots, even on rough terrain. With the right farrier work, your horse can probably go barefoot too and be healthier for it, not to mention saving you money!

RECOMMENDATIONS

Clinicians:

Highly recommended is Natural Horsemanship clinician Brent Graef from Canyon, TX. He can really help pull it all together for you and your horse. Check out his yahoogroup or his website, www.brentgraef.com

Also, the clinician and author Mark Rashid from Estes Park, CO. HIs one-on-one clinics help make dramaticimprovements in horse and rider both. He uses principles from aikido in his teaching of horsemanship.

Books:

Easy-Gaited Horses by Lee Ziegler. She covers all breeds, all gaits, and how to achieve them NATURALLY without gimmicks! Lee was a personal friend who unfortunately has passed away, but her book is a wonderful legacy that lives on.

The Soul of a Horse by Joe Camp The author is the creator of the Benji character who got into horses at a later age and really absorbed a lot of knowledge of them quickly. Excellent information and entertaining reading.

True Horsemanship through Feel by Bill Dorrance. Lots of pictures and explanations of riding with feel.

Any and all of the books by Mark Rashid. Easy, fun reading but with a lot to digest.

Any and all books by Ben K. Green. Most of these are out of print but can still be found online. He has great tales of horse trading, cattle drives, and life in the early part of the 1900's.

Any and all books by John Richard Young Most of these are also out of print but can be found online. He goes into depth about riding instruction as well as schooling a horse.

The Revolution in Natural Horsemanship by Rick Lamb and Dr. Robert Miller This book explains the history of horse training and the how and why Natural Horsemanship is so popular.

In the Company of Horses by Kathleen Lindley The author was an apprentice with clinician Mark Rashid for over a year and describes her experiences on the road with him.

Gallop to Freedom by Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado Training Horses with the founding Stars of CavaliaGreat pictures as well as information on the philosophy and training methods of these founders of the equine spectacular Cavalia.

Lessons In Lightness by Mark Russell Natural dressage using a combination of artistic dressage and natural horsemanship

Riding in the Moment by Michael Schaeffer This is the best how to dressage explanation I've ever read. It teaches how to build the training from the bottom up instead of trying to teach how to just ride a move. This is an e-book so there is actually some interactive illustration.

The Far Away Horses by Buck Brannaman Autobiographical with information about horsemanship

Believe by Buck Brannaman Clinic participants and Buck writing about their life changing experiences riding with Buck.

Any and all books and articles by Tom Moates Tom writes about his journey in horsemanship under the instruction of Harry Whitney

Movies:

"Buck" Documentary about Buck Brannaman

Magazines:

Eclectic Horseman Excellent articles about horsemanship