Horsemanship Newsletter copyright 2005
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Table of Contents:
1 ~ Rahn Greimann, Managing Editor of HorseNAround & Southeast Equine Monthly introduces
JP Giacomini, a Modern Renaissance Man of Horsemanship CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
2 ~ Testimonials: WHAT HORSE PEOPLE SAY ABOUT JP: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
3 ~ Horse Management: THE TROUBLE WITH STALLIONS: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
4 ~ Breed Profile: LUSITANO, THE SPORTHORSE of IBERIA: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
5 ~ Poetry: THE LITTLE WOODEN HORSE: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
6 ~ Want to Shop for some Cool, Horsey Gifts? CLICK HERE FOR A SHOPPING ADVENTURE
7 ~ Thinking of Breeding your Gorgeous Mare? CLICK HERE FOR MAGNIFICENT STALLIONS
Renaissance Man of Horsemanship
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Readers of our magazines have become acquainted with the writings of JP Giacomini and it is time to introduce him more thoroughly to the equestrian world at large. In today’s overloaded horse training panorama, JP stands out as a “Renaissance Man” of modern horsemanship. He started riding by the “seat of his pants”, yet has studied various methods worldwide all his life and developed a very sound theoretical basis for his methodology. He has an extensive classical dressage background, yet he has applied it most successfully to the very competitive field of international Dressage, Eventing and Show-Jumping. His method has a definite European flair, yet he has adopted both Western and Native American approach when appropriate. His sessions radically improve the emotional behavior of his equine students, yet JP relentlessly works at enhancing the horses’ biomechanics, as often demonstrated by spectacularly improved soundness and performance. It can safely be said that “JP’s Essential Horsemanship”™ method is a fundamental paradigm shift that blends today’s Classical, Natural and Sporthorse training concepts… READ MORE
Alexandra Dees, Doctor of Chiropractics, breeder of Sport Arabians, Warmbloods and Lusitanos, Registrar of the Int. Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Assoc.: “JP is a rare find: A horseman capable of thinking outside the boundaries of the current equestrian platitudes, yet is still committed to the true spirit of the classical riding of the masters. JP blends the best of the French and Portuguese styles with his own unique methods based on a thorough knowledge of sport horse management. As a chiropractic physician, I deeply appreciate JP’s dedication to the well being of the horse, both mental and physical. I have never before worked with a trainer that has such ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the horses and riders he teaches. Every aspect of JP’s method that I have seen is firmly based on the in-depth knowledge of the structure and biomechanical function of both the horse and rider. I can testify to the fact that my horses, after an hour of intense work in collection will exhibit no pain upon palpation of the para-spinal musculature. In fact, none of JP’s horses that I have worked on, have ever shown the characteristic pain and tension patterns unfortunately prevalent nowadays with dressage horses. This is the most fundamental demonstration of the correctness of JP’s method and philosophy” … READ MORE
" The Trouble with Stallions"
ANOTHER TRAGIC STALLION ATTACK. Recently, I read with sadness a terrible story in which a stallion savagely attacked his handler during a public display at a horse fair. He then attacked the two people who tried to get him under control, with dreadful consequences for all involved. All three people got hurt very badly and the horse is already, or will soon be euthanized. Tragedies such as this are amazingly rare, yet they can happen much more easily than we think. For the victim, the horse and his owner, stallion attacks are a matter of life and death that merits some reflection.
Last year, I wrote an article about a horse that had bitten his handler and dragged him around by the arm, hurting him really badly, as the guy was just cinching him up (maybe a little too enthusiastically!). I had the “fun” opportunity to attempt his "reformation", which was one of the riskier moments of my training life. The goal was to get him manageable at breeding time and safe to be around. I worked on the horse with Endotapping™ and it succeeded in only two sessions, proving one thing: even the worse behavior is modifiable with that method. I followed my usual “Essential Principles” step by step, but I must say that this horse stretched the limits of my faith in my own method!! He never displayed any aggressiveness afterwards, even breeding, except when his previous trainer came to visit! The horse reverted to his previously nasty behavior as long as that person was near the stall, demonstrating how the emotional upset had started. He was later exhibited without a bridle in reining during the Paint World Show, then sold to a young girl who has never had any trouble with him since. He was eventually gelded as his owner had no need for a stallion...READ MORE
The Lusitano (or PSL) from Portugal (an ancient country laying on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, next to Spain) is historically the same breed as the Andalusian (or Pure Spanish Horse/PRE) with whom he shares his historical breed standard, and 50% of it’s genetic make-up. The Lusitano is considered the “Sport Model” of the Iberian breeds, as demonstrated by the careers of Novilheiro (a Grand Prix dressage horse, Intermediate event horse and International leading Show-jumper in England in the 80’), Orphee (leading Dressage horse in France and Olympic competitor in 92, the Lusitano Team that became 4-In-Hand Driving World Champions in 96 and the Alter Real Guizo, Dressage Team Bronze Medalists for Spain at the World Championship at the WEG in Jerez, 2002 and at the Olympics in Athens 2004. Lusitanos also dominate bullfighting in Europe, Mexico and South America and have won the last 3 European Championships of the Working Horse (an open competition similar to our Reined Cow Horse competition)… READ MORE
by Andrea Neve, L’Ecole des Loisirs, ©1996, translation and introduction by JP Giacomini
This very short story came to our household in a wondrous little book as a gift from a friend returning from France. It has become our son Ruy-Philippe’s all-time favorite bedtime story request. Although he may understand only parts of it (it is written in French), he has learned it by heart and we are using it to help improve his pronunciation. The superb illustrations and the fact that he LOVES the sound of French are probably a big factor in his interest!
The more I read it to him, and he repeats the words after me, the more I feel a resonance about my own relationship with horses. Naturally, the horsey play that I indulge in with my stallions is more of the grown-up kind. Currently, I am teaching them to do fancy dressage stuff on the long lines, which really feels like the closest thing to dancing with a partner: I watch my step and they learn theirs. When the day is over, I dwell on our attempts, our accomplishments and our little misunderstandings. At night, they are often the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep. They keep on dancing in my dreams, just like the little wooden horse of the story probably gallops in my child’s mind all night… READ MORE
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Super Athletes in Black, Buckskin, Palomino & Gray
Thinking of Breeding your Gorgeous Mare? Through Centuries of Line-breeding, Portuguese Breeders have maximized the Prepotency (dominant genes) of the Lusitano Horse. Lusitanos have been used to improve the Versatility, Dressage Ability & Cow Sense of Many Breeds. They pass on their Special qualities without obliterating the Identity of the Other Breed. Their Hooves are Super! Lusitanos and Athleticism, Soundness & Willingness to the Beauty of Other Breeds. JP & Shelley Giacomini, Baroque Farms USA principals, have close to 60 years of combined experience in the Lusitano & Andalusian breed. Over 100 foals produced, mostly by transported cooled semen. JP is available for acquisition, breeding and training advice. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish fluently and has the best connections in ALL the producing countries In both Europe and the Americas. Visit them at: www.BaroqueFarmsUSA.com
