Get  Free  E-Newsletters   |   Products   |   Site Search      

Frank Bell's Gentle Solution Revolution

Natural horsemanship clinics, horse training techniques and unique horse training products using Horsewhisperer Frank Bell's acclaimed Gentle Solutions. Frank's Safe and Simple techniques for training horses can achieve instant results - even with problem horses!

Making it Simple!   Making It Safe!   Get There Now!

      

Site Menu

 

 

 

<% page = Request.ServerVariables("SCRIPT_NAME") p = split(page, "/") CurrentPage = P(Ubound(p)) 'Response.write currentpage %>

<%if Currentpage="index.html" then%> Home Home
 <%else%> Home Home
 <%end if%>
<%if Currentpage="about_frank_bell.htm" then%> About Frank Bell About Frank Bell
<%else%> About Frank Bell About Frank Bell
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="natural_horsemanship.htm" then%> Natural Horsemanship Natural Horsemanship
<%else%> Natural Horsemanship Natural Horsemanship
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="philosophy.htm" then%> Horse Training Philosophy Horse Training Philosophy
<%else%> Horse Training Philosophy Horse Training Philosophy
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="horse_training_methods.htm" then%> Horse Training Methods Horse Training Methods
<%else%> Horse Training Methods Horse Training Methods
<%end if%>
<%if Currentpage="horse_training_videos.htm" then%> Horse Training Videos Horse Training Videos
<%else%> Horse Training Videos Horse Training Videos
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="equipment.htm" then%> Horse Training Equipment Horse Training Equipment
<%else%> Horse Training Equipment Horse Training Equipment
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="horse_training_packages.htm" then%> Horse Training Packages Horse Training Packages
<%else%> Horse Training Packages Horse Training Packages
<%end if%>
<%if Currentpage="training_and_event_schedule.htm" then%> Clinic and Event Schedule Clinic and Event Schedule
<%else%> Clinic and Event Schedule Clinic and Event Schedule
<%end if%>
<%if Currentpage="clinics_and_training.htm" then%> About Clinics and Training About Clinics and Training
<%else%> About Clinics and Training About Clinics and Training
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="demonstrations.htm" then%> Horse Shows and Expos Horse Shows and Expos
<%else%> Horse Shows and Expos Horse Shows and Expos
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="executive.htm" then%> Executive Development Executive Development
<%else%> Executive Development Executive Development
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="keynote_speaker.htm" then%> Keynote Speaking Keynote Speaking
<%else%> Keynote Speaking Keynote Speaking
<%end if%>
<%if Currentpage="certified_horse_trainers.htm" then%> Certified Horse Trainers Certified Horse Trainers
<%else%> Certified Horse Trainers Certified Horse Trainers
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="horse_training_tips.htm" then%> Horse Training Tips Horse Training Tips
<%else%> Horse Training Tips Horse Training Tips
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="horse_problems.htm" then%> Horse Problems Horse Problems
<%else%> Horse Problems Horse Problems
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="working_wild_horses.html" then%> Working With Wild Horses Working With Wild Horses
<%else%> Working With Wild Horses Working With Wild Horses
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="testimonials.htm" then%> Testimonials Testimonials
<%else%> Testimonials Testimonials
<%end if%>
<%if Currentpage="articles_by_frank_bell.htm" then%> Articles By Frank Bell Articles By Frank Bell
<%else%> Articles By Frank Bell Articles By Frank Bell
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="newsletters.htm" then%> Newsletters Newsletters
<%else%> Newsletters Newsletters
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="news_and_press.htm" then%> News and Press News and Press
<%else%> News and Press News and Press
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="horse_links.htm" then%> Horse Links Horse Links
<%else%> Horse Links Horse Links
<%end if%>
<%if Currentpage="AffiliateProgram.asp" then%> Affiliate Program Affiliate Program
<%else%> Affiliate Program Affiliate Program
<%end if%> <%if Currentpage="charitable.html" then%> Charitable Fund Charitable Fund
<%else%> Charitable Fund Charitable Fund
<%end if%>
<%if Currentpage="contact_us.htm" then%> Contact Us Contact Us
<%else%> Contact Us Contact Us
<%end if%>

 

Bubba Comes Full Circle

I first heard about Bubba’s plight in the middle of the summer. This four year old quarter horse had very serious melt-down issues. In fact it was so serious that the previous owner’s husband had insisted she dispose of the horse. With a broken arm requiring a plate and a long recovery in his wife’s future, this gentleman had no patience for this seemingly disturbed horse. As it turned out, a good friend and neighbor took the horse. While this did seem like a quick solution, Nancy Lee was apparently in way over her head.

We spoke several times on the phone and after a series of emails, Nancy and Julia Kolva, the original owner of Bubba arrived at my ranch in eastern Idaho in early October, having driven all the way from the Olympic Peninsula in the extreme western edge of Washington State. October, where I live in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem is a crap shoot. There can be several feet of snow on the ground or it can be classic Indian summer weather, and anything in between. The weather forecast wasn’t good, calling for rain. But these ladies were not to be dissuaded. These were two women on a mission . . . to find help for the very troubled Bubba.

I returned from running some errands to find my visitors unloading the challenging young blue roan of about fifteen hands. It was a pleasant afternoon, but expecting the anticipated deteriorating weather, I hurriedly gathered my gear and introduced myself to this troubled horse.

Bubba the Paradox


Bubba was blanketed and waiting at the edge of my round pen when I walked over to meet him. He had a curious and friendly eye and immediately accepted my initial stoking. I removed the blanket and began my groundwork with bonding, simply giving to the animal. Bubba delighted in my touch until I stroked his girth. Suddenly he flinched in that area and braced up ramrod rigid. His head shot into the air and white filled his eyes as he verged at the edge of losing it.

“Wow. He sure is touchy in there,” I exclaimed in a very concerned tone as I stroked his neck and allowed Bubba to settle.

“You haven’t seen anything yet. He’ll turn into a raging bucking horse when saddled. It is really scary and that is where the other trainers always quit. Nobody will work with him in our area,” supplied the equally concerned Nancy.

“Well I’ve got a few procedures to prepare him for saddling that’ll push his buttons as well,” I added as I fished through my tack bag for my lariat.

I looped my lariat around his girth and ran the end up between his front legs through his halter, then tightened up, pulling forward. With a soft cluck and constant pressure, Bubba took a very tentative and jerky step forward and was immediately rewarded with the release and serious praise as I stroked his neck and provided a couple affirmative atta boys. Within a few minutes he was responding well to the slightest pressure and moving forward as his girth was simultaneously being desensitized. That accomplished, I unraveled the lariat and moved it back toward his flanks. And that is when he became seriously unglued. Suddenly, without any warning he exploded into a raving maniac, wildly kicking out and frantically tearing around the round pen. It was downright scary as this seemingly rational horse just turned into an absolute out of control highly dangerous horse. I backed off on the pressure and he came down a few notches, but was still clearly very uptight.

“Well I’ve sure found the first thing that really bothers him. That’s completely irrational, unless there is pain involved here,” I observed as both women shook their heads knowingly.

“He just seems about half crazy at times and you never know when. Heck I saddled him up a couple weeks ago and the very moment I lifted my foot toward the stirrup, he just went off bucking and squealing like a complete nutcase. That’s why we’re here Frank,” Nancy informed me as she shook her head slowly back and forth looking at the ground in despair.

“Well at least now I can see what you’re dealing with. Man oh man that is really something,” I admitted as I tightened up again on the lariat. Bubba immediately melted down alarmingly, turning into this alter-ego that had everyone up to this point completely stumped. I eased off, but not all the way as I wanted to challenge him, but not so far that he couldn’t process it. Around and around he went, kicking out both hind legs with a resounding snap that send shivers down my spine. I could see how dangerous and irrational this horse could suddenly become and it was terrifying to witness.

“You’ve had him checked for pain, right,” I pried?

“I’ve had several vets and a good chiropractor look him over Frank. And our friend Marie is an equine massage therapist. She really took time to see if she could find anything and couldn’t. He’s really a case isn’t he Frank,” asked Nancy with a worried look?

“You just can’t blame him if he’s really in pain and I’m guessing that is what is going on. Let me allow him chill out and check his back,” I suggested as I eased off on the lariat.

As sweat dripped from between his legs and his heavy breathing subsided, I ran my index finger deeply down his back on either side of his spine. But that wasn’t it or I didn’t find it. I ran my hands back to his flanks where the rope had been and he flinched noticeably. I worked that area with my open hand and built from slapping his flanks very lightly to quite firmly as he tolerated progressively more and more; then I quit and asked him to lower his head and I worked inside his mouth and over his tongue with my index finger. With a big sigh he noticeably let down and lowered his head as his eyes softened.

“Just started to chill out a bit,” I supplied while reading his demeanor. “I’m just betting this time he’ll be a bit more rational.”

Sure enough when I tightened up on the lariat this time and gave him a soft kiss, instead of freaking out, he took a step forward. I rewarded with a release and some deep stroking. Using this process, within a few minutes he was leading forward with the slightest encouragement around his flanks, which had been his nemesis only minutes earlier. Progress.

Bring on the Saddle

I allowed Bubba to chill out and take a good long drink of cool clean water from my topped off trough as I prepared Nancy’s heavy stock saddle. He drank deeply which was a good sign after his long trip east.

“This is where it falls apart Frank, so be careful. Please be careful,” said Nancy with a very worried look.

“He knows what he’s doing Nancy,” Julie assured her in a calm tone.

“I really do try not to take many chances. In fact I’m quite concerned about my health, you know,” I assured them both with a disarming smile. I rubbed the heavy saddle blanket all over Bubba’s back, then brought it up over his head. I worked it assertively from each side until he could tolerate the blanket actually thrown from a distance onto his back without reacting. After a couple firm pats with my open hand on the saddle, I followed with the absurdly heavy old Circle Y saddle. Bubba’s head rose as the saddle landed on his back. He took very close notice and knew exactly what was coming as his eyes filled with white. His anticipation was palatable and at this point completely predictable, but I did my best to assure him with constant soothing words and stroking in his neck, wither area. I brought the cinch up firmly with just hand pressure, then eased off and loved him up. Then I repeated that procedure, increasing the pressure until I was pulling upward with everything I had. He handled the gradual tightening well. It made sense to him. I then threaded the latigo and snugged the cinch up, but didn’t cut him in half by any means. I wanted the cinch secure, but not uncomfortable. Immediately putting a bend into his body, I walked him in a couple fairly tight circles, then wound him down to a stop, instilling my regrouping exercise right from the get-go.

“This has to become 1000% rock solid. He must understand this means stop unequivocally and it might take doing it a hundred times before it becomes rote, a conditioned response to quote John Lyons,” I explained in detail. “This is my life saver. And it will be your’s too if and when it comes time to ride.”

Bubba was doing well; even better than I expected. I was actually beginning to think the worse was over and after slapping the saddle with the lead as he circled me quietly, I wound him back down to a stop and lifted my foot, as if appearing to mount. His head shot sky high and when I put just a wee bit of weight into the stirrup with my left toe, the volcano erupted with vengeance. This horse that only seconds earlier had been calm and relaxed was now ripping around the pen kicking at the same completely out of control craziness that had prevailed in the first wild go-around. It was beyond belief and I half expected him to crash right through the heavy wooden rails of my pen. I bolted outside to protect myself and watch the show in shear wonderment. I had never seen anything quite like this. This was not a disturbed horse acting out. No, this was a completely crazed wild animal on the verge of self destruction. But then this is why he was here and I had to see it and try to understand it and if at all possible try to help this lost soul. Admittedly at this point I thought he was way too far gone to help, though did not let on. The three of us stood back and watched as his back legs kicked out into the air with that crisp snapping noise that only such crazed horses exhibit.

“I have never seen anything like this in twenty years of working with the tough ones. This is just absolutely nuts behavior. Now I understand why you came this far,” I conceded with a strong sense of despair in my voice. At this point I thought this was a completely lost cause, though of course hoped for the best.

Eventually Bubba worked through his fit and stopped abruptly. With the slightest encouragement I asked him to move out and again he exploded into his frenzy. By now we could all see that he was expending his quantum energy and it was just a matter of time before he just didn’t have the energy to melt down anymore. As rationality and shear exhaustion seemed to eek back into his soul, I walked in and helped him settle with stroking, head lowering, and soothing words. That accomplished I again raised my foot toward the stirrup and he tensed up immediately. Instead of attempting to place my foot into the stirrup, this time I pushed downward with my hand, applying plenty of weight. Bubba handled this calmly, so by now I had isolated at least part of his phobia. We went around several times as I did this exercise on each side; then again I placed just the slightest weight into the stirrup with my foot. Though he didn’t lose it completely, he was clearly right on the verge of yet another serious meltdown. Searching for a good place to leave this session, I ended as he accepted at least a fraction of my weight in the stirrup.

I had to hurry to the airport to pick up a friend/photographer who would attempt to capture this adventure, and I was already behind schedule. I felt like I’d discovered a good part of his issues and left him in a reasonably relaxed state.

Then the Rains Came

The rain started pelting the metal roof of my house in the early hours of the morning. By dawn it was steady and puddles were accumulating. I donned rain gear and my broad rimmed canvas hat and fed my shivering horses as the two horsewomen tended to Bubba. This predicted weather confined us to the house all . . . day . . . long. It was brutal. We all so wanted to get on with it, but that just wasn’t nature’s plan and we found productive ways to fill the time. After a leisurely breakfast the two ladies took in a number of my instructional videos in the comfort of my cozy home. Later we dined well and talked horses and went to bed early, hoping for improved weather. And by golly Sunday brought an end to rain and the ground absorbed the bulk of the moisture.

The round pen was a mess and way too muddy and slippery to saddle the explosive Bubba. I walked him down to the widest part of my drive and got to work. The Saturday rains had given Bubba time to digest the Friday session and he had improved noticeably. So I didn’t waste any time getting the saddle on Bubba. And everything went well as I religiously did my groundwork, that is, until I lifted my leg toward the stirrup. His oversensitive demeanor exploded as he anticipated the worst. All of a sudden he was bucking wildly and I lost my hold on the lead. He did his rodeo performance then bee lined it to join the safety of my two horses a mere fifgy yards away across a fence; then he settled right down. I walked calmly over, took the lead, and walked back to the center of the drive. We had clean gravel to stand on, insuring good footing. Again I raised my foot and he predictably began his meltdown, but this time I was ready.

“Heeeeeeeeeeee,” I growled, jerking backward on the lead, driving him aggressively in reverse. Then I stopped and allowed this tough lesson to soak in. He looked at me with wide eyes as if to say, “Well that sure backfired on me.” And it did. And he got the message. This was completely unacceptable behavior. I just wasn’t buying into it anymore. I rationalized that he’d learned this bad behavior and needed to run right into the brick wall that I conveniently set-up for him.

I gave Bubba a few minutes to think it all over, then we walked back to the center of the drive and I proceeded to mount half way. I had his head tipped decidedly into me as I pulled myself up. He tensed ready to blow, but I talked him through it and dismounted and loved him up. He had to know right from wrong and my job was to make it obvious, abundantly obvious. And I did and he got it. Half way up without swinging a leg, I pulled myself a half dozen times on each side. He wasn’t real happy about all this and was at times right on the very brink of losing it, but I finessed it at the best of my ability. But I was not about to mount him in this dangerous location, nor without a helmet. On top of that I was hungry. So we left him saddled in the round pen and gave him ample time to digest the Sunday morning session, then headed in for breakfast as the round pen dried out.

Almost an hour passed as Bubba chilled and ate some breakfast as we did the same. Then it was show time. I donned my helmet and without too much fanfare began mounting half way on each side. It was challenging and he certainly wasn’t relaxed, but I persisted until he was handling this half-way mounting to some degree. And I didn’t need to have his head cranked in tightly, which was a good sign. But I admittedly wasn’t too excited about mounting him in the round pen. Even this forty foot pen was too much space for either of us to really relax, so we moved to Plan B.

Plan B

Earlier in the summer I had constructed a very small pen for the early rides on my wild horse Owyhee. And it had worked like magic. The horse felt secure in a small area, as did I. The horse couldn’t get much of a jump on me and I was able to relax. Figuring this might be the panacea for Bubba, I led him into this ten foot square enclosure. We did a series of one rein stops on the ground in each direction until it was rote for both of us, and then I mounted half way on each side. Reading his demeanor, he seemed to be handling this just fine, so while mounted only half way with only my toe in the stirrup, I clucked him into a walk and after a few steps, wound him down to a one rein stop. The two ladies were watching and reading him as well, watching closely for nervousness, increased white in his eyes, etc.

“He sure looks calm to me Frank,” Nancy observed.

“You just watch very closely and let me know if you see him begin to lose it, okay,” I instructed.

A half dozen circles in each direction and I swung a leg over his back and found the stirrup on the off side. Maintaining a feel with his head tipped to me on the left, I reached down and stroked his face and assured him with a soothing tone.

“Everything’s just fine Bubba. Just fine now,” I repeated over and over, not only for Bubba, but for myself too. Then with his head still tipped to the left I simply asked him to disengage his hind end as I leaned forward to take my weight off the moving part. He complied readily and again received praise. Then I did the same on the right. This exceedingly simple exercise had worked wonders with my wild one. And it did the same with Bubba. He felt safe and so did I and we were communicating. Something was happening, albeit so simple, but effective. Then we progressed to walking around the pen a short distance and winding down to a one rein stop in each direction. From there it was figure 8s as we both loosened up more and more.

Nancy was delighted beyond belief.

“He looks so calm Frank. I think you’re over the hump. His eye is mellow. He’s licking his lips and his head is low. Wow Bubba. You’re making it boy,” she exclaimed with glee!

“You ready to get on Nancy?”

She nodded confidently as I relaxed into riding Bubba around the tiny enclosure and loosened up in the saddle.

“Shoulda been a cowboy. Shoulda learned to rope and ride,” I crooned away with a huge sense of accomplishment and a smile to accompany that unbelievably satisfied feeling.

I insisted Nancy put on my helmet before mounting up. She adjusted the stirrups and mounted the transformed Bubba who was by now acting like an old seasoned riding horse. I instructed her to do the same exercises I’d instilled earlier. She followed my directions to a T and within a few minutes was sitting tall and confident. The amazing part of it all was Bubba himself. He was proud. He had overcome his completely irrational nemesis and just seemed to know and revel in it.

I opened the little pen and allowed Nancy to direct Bubba directly into the round pen, then after ten minutes or so, on into my arena. I watched very closely and barked instructions, instilling the basis for everything I do with horses, the one rein stop, until it was rock solid for both parties.

“I’ll saddle up Lakota and let’s go for a trail ride,” I suggested. Nancy was completely trusting and unfazed as we rode down my drive, then into the rolling fields that adjoin my place. Bubba was a champ. He did not have one single miss-step or concern. In fact he was so proud to be carrying his owner that he wanted to speed up and trot to express his exuberance. The four of us had an absolutely delightful ride through field and forest, culminating back at the same drive we’d calmly walked down only forty-five minutes earlier.

Mid-afternoon, the two horsewomen loaded Bubba and hit the road, mission accomplished.

Reflecting Back on Bubba's Transformation

Every single challenging horse that I encounter leaves me with more knowledge and in some cases a lesson learned. Bubba was a gift because he reaffirmed-

  • The value of riding in a very small pen for that first challenging ride. This was the second hrose that had transformed dramatically using this procedure.
  • Bubba as well needed to be jolted out of his dangerous pattern of melting down irrationally. When I growled at him and backed him aggressively, he did indeed hit the proverbial brick wall. And it worked. Instead of reverting to that flip out stage automatically, he learned to process instead. This bought us both time to replace that behavior with something positive. Irrational behavior leads to broken bones, horse and human. Rational behavior leads to safety.
  • And finally, beginning with very simple maneuvers in the round pen made us both winners. We were both accomplishing something. We were communicating, yes in a very basic level, but we were indeed communicating, and that in the end is what it is all about.



Frank Bell and his accredited instructors have been helping horses with their people problems for several decades. Frank writes interesting stories about these horses and their challenges. He also helps people better understand how to communicate with these magnificent creatures by answering their challenging questions on his website. Frank has designed a logical sequence of exercises that immediately places both parties on higher ground . . . without the need for a round pen. Suddenly both parties are riding in confidence instead of fear. Frank Bell’s 7-Step Safety System has been featured in horse magazines and ezines throughout the world including a three-part series in Western Horseman magazine. Frank’s foundation video “Discover the Horse You Never Knew” fully outlines “the system” and is available in the audio/video library that includes twelve works. Join Frank Bell’s Gentle Solution Revolution and breakthrough your training barriers now!

 

Discover the Horse You Never Knew!

Click NOW for a more extensive description of the contents of this video.A 60-minute video that will change you and your horse's life and relationship! Frank's Foundation Video...the place to start!

Learn More

Frank Bell and his accredited instructors have been helping horses with their people problems for several decades. He writes interesting and educational stories about these horses and their challenges. He also helps people better understand how to communicate with these magnificent creatures by answering their vexing questions on his website.

Frank has designed a logical set of exercises that immediately places both parties on higher ground . . . without the need for a round pen. Suddenly both parties are riding in confidence instead of fear.

Frank Bell's 7-Step Safety System (7-SSS) has been featured in horse magazines and e-zines throughout the world including a three-part series in Western Horseman magazine. Frank's video " Discover the Horse You Never Knew" fully outlines " the system" and is available in the audio/video library that includes thirteen works.

     

Join Frank Bell's Gentle Solution Revolution and breakthrough your training barriers now!

     

WWW.HORSEWHISPERER.COM

800-871-7635

Privacy Policy     |     Terms of Use

Copyright 2000-2005 by Dances With Horses, Inc., P.O. Box 819, Rexburg, ID   83440, Ph: (800) 871-7635, Fax: (208) 356-7817, E-Mail: frankbell@horsewhisperer.com