|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
BROOK CURNOW: I was born in Grass
Valley, California. I lived there most of my life until I
graduated from high school and journeyed out to Powell, Wyoming
for College. As a child, I always was in love with horses and
wanted one badly. I started riding lessons at the age of five
where I learned English riding. Once I knew how to ride, I was on any
horse I could find. My neighbor raised Arabians so I would go over
to her house and help her clean stalls and do whatever she wanted
just to be around them. As soon as I was old enough, I was enrolled
in the 4-H program.
|
| At age 11, I got my first horse. My mother
and father said that I couldn't have a horse until I could take
care of it. So, at 11, I could lift a 100 lb. bale of hay, and I got
Cowboy. Cowboy was a bay three year old gelding that I just fell
in love with. He wasn't trained to ride but was very sweet and so
my parents bought him for $500. Cowboy and I learned together and
he has been my best friend though the years and has taught me so
much. I trained Cowboy to be the best all around horse ever. We
did it all, from parades, trail riding, western pleasure,
to equitation, showmanship, team penning, barrel racing, reining. You
name it - we did it. We won many local shows and placed every year
at the county fair. |
 |
|
 |
All my life I have been into
animals. I raised pigs and steers through 4-H and FFA and have
always been very involved in agriculture. In high school I
went through a veterinary program, and worked for a small
animal vet for two years. I learned a lot about how to care
for and help animals in need. When I came to Wyoming, I
really took off. I attended Northwest College, on a two year
course and graduated with honors and an Equine Studies Degree.
While in school, I was on the horse judging team and we won at
the AQHA Congress, - the largest Quarter horse show in the
world. I took home 8th High Individual out of about 1,500
entries. It was a wonderful experience and I still judge county
fairs today. |
|
|
After graduating I started
taking on my own training projects from local people, and have
been training horses ever since. At 21, I got a great job
working for River Run Appaloosa Ranch here in Clark, and got to
travel and show the breed circuit. I had a lot of fun and
showed a 3 yr. old stallion and a 2 yr. old gelding who were full bothers.
I almost qualified the 2 yr. old for the World Championship that year in such a
short period. I started at the ranch in May of 2002, and
started and showed that 2 yr. old, with only two months training
under saddle. |
 |
|
 |
Then Bill Maute, my
wonderful boss, offered me a job in training his gaited horses. I
was very excited, but also very uneducated about the
Tennesse Walking Breed. So I went online and started learning as
much as I could. In 2003, we went to the Spotted Saddle Horse Show
and I got to tour a bunch of awesome stables, and talk to trainers
and ride wonderful horses. When I came back, I had a new
perspective on
what the Walkers should feel and look like.
|
|
| Now I apply what I learned
and train our horses with that new found awareness. I never
thought I would be a walking horse trainer, but I thank the
Lord each day for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to
work with such talented horses. I am still a young trainer but
am learning and finding out new ideas everyday. I
believe that a person can never know too much about anything
and with an open mind, you can do the impossible. |
 |
|
|
There is no such thing as a
problem horse - only a problem rider or handler. I also give
riding lessons to any age rider, because I believe that our
problems with today's horses is that they are being more and
more confused due to unskilled riders. There are so many
wonderful horses out there, and if you do come across a bad one
that is un-trainable, remember it is not worth getting killed
over. I have had to turn a few horses away because they were
too dangerous for me. I'd rather be safe than sorry.
|
 |
|
 |
I attended the Nicole
Carswell clinic in Billings Montana at Standing Rock
Ranch. I took the level one instructors certification
and will find out soon if I passed. If so, I will be the
only one certified in Wyoming. I got some photos of me
and Nicole with a new horse of ours, Midnights Tobiano. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
