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Hall Saddlery Newsletter

March 2009

Roy Rogers "The Singing Cowboy"

Jude Bauer,
Hall Saddlery Store Manager

Many of you who shop at our store know that my niece, Alisa Bernhard, is a well-known rider in the Painthorse/Quarterhorse Industry (Fieldstone Farms). One of the reasons she is so good is because of the horses my sister Sue breeds. I have been lucky enough to break many of my sisters World Champion Horses (I do believe bloodlines are very important). I also broke horses for the Thoroughbred Race Track with Lanesway Farms so I have a good 100 babies under my belt.

So here's where the singing cowboy comes in... I sing when riding. They are not complicated songs - just simple, short, and sweet rhythmic songs. My walking song is "I wish I we're an Oscar Meyer Wiener" and my trotting song is "Jack and Jill went Up the Hill." You may think this is weird, but it's really not.

I was taught the trotting song by a Dressage instructor when I was riding a very high strung T-bred and what the song helped me to do was breathe, find a rhythm, and relax my body. In the book "Lessons with Lendon" (we carry it for $24.95) she talks about singing a song to relax the rider.

Have you ever gone to a Horse Show and noticed that when music is playing, the horses in the arena are normally trotting to the rhythm of the song? Babies that I break with the theory of straight, forward with rhythm, seem to be calmer with singing (American Idol here I come). A really nice thing that is helpful is when I try to introduce new things to a baby and they get scared or confused. I can always calm them down by going back to a SINGING "Jack and Jill went up the hill..." trot.

Recently I had the owner of Ella, one of the horses I've been working with, get on and ride. This girl has a jumper and Ella is definitely a calm, long, and low flat horse. Well, poor Ella kept on trotting faster and faster to try and keep up with her "jumper" rider posting, so I told the rider to sing the song! I've never heard the Jack and Jill song sung so fast in my life. So, the cowboys have it right... "sing" but sing slow. A country western song would be great, hard rock wouldn't be so good.

Share your cantering song with me this weekend during our Spring Sale running April 4-5th. If you do, I will give you a free gift!


  Pick-up a Book and Read this Spring... You'll be Glad You Did!

Kathy Hansen,
Hall Saddlery Assistant Manager

This month I'm talking about another type of grooming "tool" - a book appropriately called "Grooming Horses - A Complete Illustrated Guide." This book is part of a series called "Knack - Make It Easy." This do-it-yourself guide is packed with detailed step-by-step color photo sequences and has a lot of great information, clearly worded text, gives practical advice, tips, and shortcuts. This comprehensive book covers everything from the basics, to specific breeds, and styles of riding. Subjects covered include bathing, clipping, braiding, and other show preparation, skin and coat conditions, and the nutrition related to it, horse "clothing," and attire for the rider for all breeds and/or disciplines including gaited breeds.

See you at our Spring Sale this weekend!