Craig Cameron “Lays It On the Line” for Road to the Horse 2010

Road to the Horse

For more info contact:
Road to the Horse
press@roadtothehorse.com
Ph: 325-736-5000


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Craig Cameron “Lays It On the Line” for Road to the Horse 2010

“You lay yourself on the line through performance, but I've done that my whole life. You're out in the eye of the storm, but for me that's what Craig Cameron is all about. I'm determined to go to Road to the Horse and do a great job!” says Cameron.

Trainer and clinician Craig Cameron of Bluff Dale, Texas is not only known for his great horsemanship but also for his sensational personality. Displaying his skills and entertaining the audience at the 2010 Road to the Horse, Cameron will compete against Richard Winters and Ken McNabb on March 6-7, 2010 at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN.

“Craig is the chili in chili pepper. He electrifies the crowd with his personality and wit. Part of Road to the Horse is entertainment and Craig sure knows how to entertain a crowd. You never know what's going to come out of him, but it's always fun. We're really excited to have him back,” says Tootie Bland, Road to the Horse owner and producer.

Sharing his experiences and knowledge with others, Cameron uses his witty and entertaining personality to make horsemanship fun and easy to understand. His love for horses and people is evident not only in front of a crowd or camera, but also in his day-to-day life on the ranch.

A life-long rancher, rodeo cowboy and horse trainer, Cameron has developed his own unique style and method through years of hands-on experience and hard work. He says that experience is the key to horsemanship and will be a factor in Road to the Horse 2010.

“Experience is the one thing you can't buy and it's something that can't be given to you. The key is to take the fear out of the horse. Then they'll relax and work with you. Everyone's approach is different, but not necessarily better. You just have to present it to the horse in a way they understand and then give them time to understand it,” says Cameron.

When asked about his competitors, Cameron says he is looking forward to visiting with Winters and McNabb and that they are two horsemen that he highly respects. Competitively however, Cameron has his eye on the prize and is focused on performing to the best of his abilities.

“I found out a long time ago when I was in rodeo that you can't worry about your competition. You just do the best you can do, but you can't worry about your competitors,” says Cameron.

To buy your Road to the Horse 2010 tickets and see Craig Cameron in action, visit www.roadtothehorse.com or order by phone at 1-877-772-5425. To learn more about 2010 Road to the Horse competitor Craig Cameron, visit www.craigcameron.com.


Road to the Horse

Road to the Horse is unlike any other event in the equine or entertainment industry. It is “the original colt starting challenge”. The two-day sold out event matches three of the country's best horse trainers and clinicians of today against one another as they train unbroken colts to ride in just a few short hours in front of a packed live audience and television cameras. By combining education, edge-of-your-seat suspense, entertainment and the love of the horse, Road to the Horse has been responsible for solidifying the position of today’s horsemanship heroes and launching the careers of tomorrow’s hottest new stars. In the process, the event itself has become a catalyst for the advancement of natural horsemanship. Hosted by Rick Lamb, of RFD-TV’s The Horse Show with Rick Lamb, spectators are guaranteed not only to have a good time, but also to walk away with training knowledge that will improve their relationship with horses.

Road to the Horse is proud to partner with many outstanding companies across the equine industry. For sponsorship opportunities and more information on the 2010 Road to the Horse visit www.roadtothehorse.com or call 325-736-5000.

Pretty stinkin' excited about this

The ICE Adventure

You've read maybe, about McKeever's First Ride. If not, back up ...

We arrive at Chastain Horse Park at roughly 9 am with about 20 bags of ice packed in coolers. At 9 am, it's about 95 degrees.
Those of you that know me well are aware that while I am not overly large, I am not tee-niny either. Publishing a magazine is not a physical job and well, I'll just say it. I'm somewhat lazy.
So, at 9 am I am helping Dee, Miss Deenie and Karen carry stuff for the event. It's not far really. A couple hundred feet, maybe not that much. Back and forth up the sidewalk. Within 5 minutes I am sweating like an unrepentant sinner on judgment day.
It's all good thou. We are happy and life is good. We get the drinks sorted into tubs and we are going to add the ice and water about 45 minutes before our guests arrive.
I asked God for a breeze and he supplied one! All was well.
We iced down the water and sodas and it quickly became apparent that in what was then 103 degree heat, we didn't have enough ice.
Karen was taking photos and we came in her truck, so Dee handed me the keys to her Range Rover and off I went to get ice.
Now then, Chastain Park for those of you that don't know is pretty much in the "hoity-toity" section of Atlanta. I wen to Publix to get ice and when I parked Dee's Range Rover there were two other Range Rover's in the lot but one was grey and the other was white. Dee's is black.
Into Publix I went. I gathered a dozen bags of ice into the buggy. I paid for them. I had the most pleasant cashier. It was going splendidly!
I walked out into the stifling heat and immediately considered climbing into the buggy with the ice.
I look around for where I had parked the car and noticed that ... while I was in the store ... about six Range Rover's IDENTICAL to Dee's where parked all around. I couldn't tell which was hers!!
This was a funny joke!!
Here I am on a black asphalt parking lot in 103 degree heat with a buggy full of ICE!
No problem, I'll use the key thingy to beep Dee's horn right? NO! Apparently, even though Range Rover's are in vogue in Buckhead, the keys aren't fancy enough to make the horns beep.
My ice is melting ....
Now I am suspicious looking because I am running around the parking lot with a buggy full of ice peeping in the windows of all the black Range Rovers.
I get several strange looks.
I want you to know it was the "horse person" in Dee that saved me! Her's was the only Range Rover with a saddle in the back.
I loaded up my dozen bags of melting ice ... and tried to shove Dee's gorgeous saddle as far away from the ice as possible.
Can't have water spots on the leather!
I just knew that before I got back, Dee was going to have a swimming pool in the back of her car.
Fortunately, the ice stayed frozen and many hands helped me carry the bags to the coolers and we managed to serve ice cold beverages to some very hot people!
Thank goodness the joke was only on me!

Abundant Blessings and ice cold drinks!
Tess

Healing Horses ....

What an awesome few days I've just experienced. I'll try to put it into words.

On Wednesday, Karen Jones (our new editor) packed an overnight bag and made our way west to Cartersville, GA. We pulled up at the gorgeous Serendipity Ranch owned by one of those "angel on earth" people Deenie McKeever.
Deenie is about the size of my 12 year old son. Just a tee-niny cowgirl. She ushered us into her home where we met Elliot, her handsome Golden Retriever. Her home over looks a giant treehouse nestled among the woods. From there you can see the mountains from which Karen and I drove from.
Along the wall that leads to the back of the house is a great collage of photos and newspaper articles, basically a visual walk thru this incredible woman's life.

Deenie's dad Dan McKeever was a pioneer in the world of prosthetics. From what I gather, Deenie got her sweet positive spirit from this man. Deenie tells us her world got turned upside down one morning while listening to Good Morning America. The guest was talking about Horses for Heroes, a program that pairs disabled veterans with horses for both physical and mental therapy.
A light bulb turned on and Deenie went to work. McKeever's First Ride was born! On Thursday June 18th, a bus load of folks in town for the The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) and the Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund (OPAF) conference came to Chastain Horse Park for this amazing event.
McKeever's first ride became a part of other clinics like First Swing (Tennis), First Swim etc. All of these programs are an effort to promote fitness among those with limb loss.
My dear friend Ed Dabney was on hand to show people and their families how to communicate with the horse, how they learn and how you ask for a response from them. (Which led me to think WOW, wouldn't it be great if everyone was introduced to horses this way!)
It was nothing short of pure magic to see these brave, wonderful souls interacting with the horses. As their minds engaged in learning about the horse and their hands glided down their powerful necks all thoughts of disability faded and the horses did what they do best ... captivate!
Those of us with horses know that in the still quiet of the morning, or in the dusk of a summer evening when you are greeted by the low soft nickers that horses can soak up your worry, your frustration and sometimes even your fear. For some of the attendees at McKeever's first ride ... a connection happened.
I know some of those people will seek out horses for not only physical therapy but for the pure joy and euphoric feelings they give.

Feeling Grateful,
Tess

New Helmet Laws in Florida

http://www.flgov.com/release/10814



GOVERNOR CRIST SIGNS BILL INCREASING EQUESTRIAN SAFETY FOR YOUTH

June 8, 2009

Contact:

GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5394

Governor Crist Signs Bill Increasing Equestrian Safety for Youth

~ “Nicole’s Law” promotes safety of children under 16 who participate in equestrian activities ~

LOXAHATCHEE – Governor Charlie Crist today signed House Bill 169, “Nicole’s Law.” The legislation creates safety standards to minimize the number of serious or fatal head injuries to Florida youth sustained during equestrian activities and recreation.

“Today I am proud to sign legislation that will help ensure the safety of Florida ’s children and prevent serious injuries that otherwise could have been prevented,” said Governor Crist. “I applaud our Legislature for taking action to protect Florida ’s future leaders.”

“Nicole’s Law” is named for Nicole Hornstein, a 12-year-old girl from Loxahatchee who died after being thrown from a horse in June 2006. This legislation creates safety measures for children who participate in equestrian activities and recreation. It requires a child under age 16 to wear a helmet that meets the current standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials for protective headgear.

Sponsored by Representative Joseph Abruzzo and Senator Dave Aronberg, “Nicole’s Law” applies to children age 16 and younger who are:

Riding on a public roadway or right-of-way.
Riding on a public equestrian trail, public recreation trail, public park, public preserve or public school site.
Riding on any other publicly owned or controlled property.

“Nicole’s Law” does not apply to children under age 16 who are riding while:

Practicing for, riding to or from, or competing or performing in, shows or events such as rodeos and parades where helmets are not historically a part of the show or event.
Riding on privately owned land even if the land is occasionally separated by a public road or right-of-way that must be crossed.
Engaged in an agricultural practice or pursuit.

Governor Crist signed the legislation at Hamlin Park , a seven-acre equestrian park, in Loxahatchee. Nicole’s father and mother Gary and Monique Hornstein, as well as two sisters, attended the bill signing ceremony.

Later today, Governor Crist will join Representative Juan Zapata during a visit to Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami where he will tour the facility and meet with veterans. Following the visit, Governor Crist, continuing his focus on strengthening Florida ’s economy, will go to Hialeah where he will tour the Hialeah Downtown Career Center and meet with Florida job seekers. For more information on Florida nearly 90 One Stop Career Centers that provide employment and training services and resources to businesses, workers and job seekers, go to www.EmployFlorida.com

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Copyright 2008 State of Florida | Privacy Statement

Freedom

Did you ever let a bad thing get you down? Did you ever have a dream that fell by the wayside?
If you haven't you probably haven't lived that long.
Life can seem like such a struggle sometimes. The last several months have been some of the toughest our country has faced in my life time. Fortunes have been lost, jobs and homes. People have had to cut back and learn to live with less. I wonder what we've learned? Some of us, will no doubt be stronger for the experience. Some will feel that it ruined them. Some of those that feel it ruined their lives may be much more fortunate than those that will be bettered by it.
What is the difference in those two examples?
Certainly, you can look at character, work ethic and even faith. BUT - where the difference really is - is in the decision.
Being happy is a decision.
Being successful is a decision.
Being miserable is a decision.

You see, we all have bad days, we all have broken hearts ... some of us have been down the road to financial ruin and back again ... but the people that make it back from any bad circumstance make a decision that it will not affect them. That they will shed their tears and they resign themselves to the feelings the "thing" creates, but it doesn't change who they are or what they are striving to do during their time here on earth.

In the book I am co-writing with my dear Friend Templeton Thompson, we talk a lot about keeping your focus. Some of the most troublesome times you can have in your life have more to do with indecision than any other circumstance. But once you decide what to do ... there is freedom in that choice.
"Clean Thinking" is not about the power of positive thought, which Templeton and I do both feel has strong mojo! Clean Thinking is about the power of decision, maintaining focus on what you've decided and learning to keep making the choice to get there no matter what!
We hope that Clean Thinking is a culmination of all we've learned and observed in our own careers and by meeting and getting to know not only successful people ... but happy, content people.
Find the freedom you are looking for and get on the track to happiness.

Abundant Blessings,
Tess

Climbing a steep hill

A few days ago, I went out to feed the horses. Inexplicably, one of the feed tubs was missing. We don't have a big paddock. Altogether it might be 3 acres. Most of it is wooded. So I knew it couldn't be too far away. I looked around for a bit, with all of the horses following me. They were just talking away to me, nickering and neighing, fussin' at me to hurry and feed them. Finally I spotted the feed bin. Some how it rolled to the very bottom of the steepest hill on our property.
Walking down the hill was easy. I have to be a little careful walking down hills because of severely blown out knees. Gymnastics seems fun when you are young ... actually it was pretty fun. But add some years, a few other injuries, and the onset of arthritis and well you start to wonder why you thought it necessary to swing around on uneven bars or flip yourself a 1000 ways across a springboard.
So back to the hill. There I was, at the bottom of the hill surrounded by hungry chatting horses. I picked up the feed tub and starting walking up the hill. The grade is longer at first, a slow slope. Not too bad. I was dodging poo piles and swatting flies. Then I got to the steep part. The horses where in my way, they wouldn't move readily. Usually they are well behaved critters but in anticipation of their breakfast, the manners ranked somewhere down there with the poo.
I got winded quickly and I slowed down. Patch, our biggest horse not so politely bumped me in the tookus with his large head. I didn't fall, but I was pitched froward and had to put my hands down to keep from falling. I dropped the feed bin and Murphy being all spiteful and sarcastic like he can be: of course it rolled back down the hill. Thankfully my little mare Terra stopped it with her nose. So I only had to walk back down the the bottom of the steep part of the hill.
I'll be honest here, I am about 40 pounds too heavy. I don't really gain weight easily. I seem to stay stuck at the same weight unless I make a radical change. Radical change, tends to kick your butt. I don't like my butt kicked.
But it was here at the almost bottom of the hill that I knew that I was ridiculously out of shape. So I started climbing up the hill, feed tub in tow. Hungry horses right behind me to make sure I didn't defect on their breakfast. I brought all four tubs up to the porch. Here's something funny for you non horse people. I spend more time "making" the horse's breakfast that I do my own. First I put in the grain. Then I add wet beet pulp and that's top dressed with a supplement. Sometimes we add Canola oil too. It takes 10 minutes or so to dip everything out. Then I put the tubs in the wheelbarrow and take them out to the fence line. The horses line up to eat according to their "pecking" order. Patchouli, Tabee, Junior and then Terra.
I got all the food set out. Then I realized that I was exhausted!
Then I was angry! I usually get angry when I can't do something well. It's a personality defect ... I am workin' on it, ok!
But yes, I was one of those kids that quit in the middle of Monopoly if I wasn't doing well. The difference is, usually, if I don't do something well. I learn to do it better.
Thing is, I know ALL about HOW to loose weight. I know ALL about WHAT to eat and WHAT NOT to eat. But I haven't gotten any better at it.
Then I sort of digressed a little and realized that life in general is like that hill. Sometimes you go down easy, sometimes you fall down fast and hard. Sometimes you are fit enough to run back up that hill and not miss a breath. Sometimes it's a struggle. Sometimes stuff is in your way and sometimes stuff knocks you down. But see, I had no choice but to walk back up that hill. Even if I went around, there was still a hill. That's life, you just gotta tough it out. In my industry we say "cowgirl up".
A long time ago I learned that we learn two ways: repetition or emotion. I also learned that sometimes a person is just not ready for the thing they are trying to do. There head isn't in the right place.
I once interviewed a famous horseman - I asked him if it bothered him when his students studied with him for years and years and then just quit. He told me that it used to bother him but he was finally able to realize that those people just weren't ready to completely learn the art of horsemanship. He told me that he wished he could play the guitar better and that he'd taken lessons from famous musicians. He told me that he "played at" his guitar several times a week. But he admitted, maybe even for the first time to both me and himself that he really wasn't ready to commit to being a better guitar player.
I guess, for whatever reason, I've not been ready to shed this weight for good. It's deeper than that thou. I know this is true for a lot of moms out there. I haven't been ready to focus on myself and my own needs. Not ready and not equipped. That's a gear change, don't you think? But I am doing it, in baby steps. I am teaching myself to remember ME. But it's a hill. It's a long steep hill.
If you are at the bottom of a hill ... you ain't got a choice. You just gotta climb it. Just look at the top of the hill (the goal) and climb. The obstacles will slow you down, sometimes they might stop you. Sometimes you might need the rest, so that's okay. But remember that you are climbing. I think the top is a fantasy but I think, if you work on it. You get better at the climb. I think maybe one day you'll just be walking over small hills and jumping ditches and puddles. I think - when you are ready, the climb is a welcome addition to your day.

Keep climbing,
Tess