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This is a worthwhile video for anyone wanting to learn about western horsemanship. It’s especially beneficial for beginners and serious amateurs who want to train their own horses.
Bob Mayhew hold judging cards with the AQHA, APHA, NCHA, and NRHA, and he judges on an international level at some of the world’s most prestigious events, such as the NRHA Futurity. He’s a British Western horse trainer, but don’t hold his accent against him. (Besides, it’s barely noticeable.) What he has to say and how he delivers the material is what’s important, and Mayhew shines when it comes to explaining complicated information in an easy-to-understand format.
The 90-minute video covers a lot of ground, from handling foals to performing complicated reining manoeuvres. Bob does an admirable job of toughing on the highlights and most important facets of training a horse. It’s a steady progression, built on a solid foundation. He begins with good ground work, round-pen techniques, preparation for saddling and mounting, a primer on bits, body positioning, exercises for suppleness and softness, and he follows through with sections on speed control, direct-indirect bend, hip displacement, circle work, two-track, side pass, canter departure, stop, backup, roll back, lead changes, turn around, and more.
One of the strengths of the tape lies in Mayhew’s demonstration of the right and wrong way to do things. He shows the most common mistakes people make when riding horses and how to correct them for better performance from the horse. His language is simple and straightforward, and his ideas are presented in a way that encourages anyone to give his methods a try. He does not get bogged down in complicated verbiage and ethereal ideas that would confound even the most accomplished horseman. He leaves the viewer thinking that he or she can achieve a high calibre performance from their horse.
There are sections on the English horse and the trail horse as well.The tape was produced in Sweden by Visuell Kommunikation AB and the sound and picture are of the highest quality. Mayhew’s training facilities look just like any United States establishment, and with the exception of Bob’s slight accent, you’ll think things are downright American.
KATHY KADASH-SWAN,
WESTERN HORSEMAN MAGAZINE
JUNE 1998
This is a European videotape by Bob Mayhew, a Western horseman who calls Great Britain home. Hi is a good horseman that takes you through the basic gentling of the foal through round pen work of the older hors to develop a light round and responsive riding horse. Mayhew is a reiner and does a very fine job. The basic training would be useful for a horse intended for any sport, be it pleasure, trail or reining, One of the schooling manoeuvres used by Mayhew is what he calls a snake tail, known as a serpentine on this side of the Atlantic.If not for a guest speaker at the first part of the tape, and for the scenery, you’d never know Mayhew was riding in merrie olde England. His skill level makes him competitive anywhere a stock saddle is used.This tape is highly recommended. It ends with a dazzling performance at a horse show in which Mayhew’s friend, Larry Kasten, does a spectacular job with a very fancy horse. It’s a pleasure to watch.
AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE JOURNAL
MAY 1998
Bob does an excellent job in this video and his methods of teaching come across very well. It is easy to understand and the quality of the video is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Bob is using only green horses, which makes it easier for someone to understand rather than watching the perfect horse. It reaches the large group of people that need the most help, the beginner and the intermediate rider, although an experienced rider also can gain lots from it. The tape is full of good information!
JODY BRAINARD
NATIONAL REINING HORSE ASSOCIATION JUDGE
HORSEMAN
The same expertise that allowed Bob Mayhew to be the first European to judge a Western event in America, makes the video a valuable possession for anyone interested in Western performance horses.An outstanding horseman that has judged numerous events in America including the N.R.H.A. World Championship Futurity four times, shares his knowledge of basic training in this wonderfully produced video. His subtle, soft approach is outstanding and certainly the way to achieve excellence.ALLEN MITCHEL
SCHAIRMAN OF JUDGES COMMITTEE
NATIONAL REINING HORSE ASSOCIATION
Bob Mayhew has done it again. Like his book ‘the Art of Western Riding’ this video takes the horseman of whatever level of expertise, through the steps of starting the young horse in clear, concise terms that anyone can understand. I recommend this video to anyone who wants to try to understand the mind of a horse. There is something here for every horseman from the novice to the advanced, Western or English.
PETE BOWLING
AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION JUDGE
To purchase the DVD please send a cheque for £30 payable to Bob Mayhew to:
Bob Mayhew
Dumpford manor farm
Trotton
Nr Petersfield
GU31 5JR
