1265 Snelling Ave North, St. Paul, MN
Sponsored by the Minnesota Horse Council
Back to main menu | Email Us


2008 MN Horse Expo Speakers/Demos
Times and topics subject to change.
More topics and times to be added, so check back!
Speakers/Demos Page 2 | Speakers/Demos Page 3
 

About Chris Cox




As one of this country’s leading horsemen and clinicians, Chris Cox has dedicated his life to learning from the greatest teacher of all, the horse. Raised on a cattle ranch in the wilds of Australia, he spent years learning to understand and communicate with his equine partners. Building on these experiences, he created a systematic, common sense training program with the goal of developing a willing, working partnership between horse and human.

His practical, straight-forward approach has made Chris popular with horse people of all ages, skill levels and disciplines. His methods allow horse owners to learn horsemanship techniques that get results in a safe way, while increasing the rider’s confidence and knowledge. Western and English riders alike find that his proven styles and methods cross the borders of all riding disciplines and can be applied universally.

Chris has been conducting clinics and demonstrations for over 20 years. His main goal is to help horsemen and women learn how to understand and work with the horse through mutual respect and clear communication. Horse owners around the world have benefited from his Chris Cox Horsemanship Instructional Program, a step-by-step home study program that allows riders to progress at their own pace as they learn to better communicate with the horse using methods the horse clearly understands.

In 2006, Chris won the “Colt Starting Challenge” at the Central Coast Equine Experience in Paso Robles, California, and was also named recipient of the Monty Roberts Equitarian Award. In 2007, he won the colt starting competition, Road to the Horse. In addition to spreading the principles and methods behind his authentic horsemanship, Chris has also become a successful trainer and major competitor in the cutting horse world.

Chris Cox conducts demonstrations, clinics and tour stops around the United States and throughout the world, and performs several times a year at various equine events. His “Come Ride the Journey” tour will take him to 11 cities in 2007, and was created to expose horse owners across the country to his practical, effective training techniques. He also offers week-long, in-depth Horsemanship Courses at his Diamond Double C Ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas, which are personally taught by Chris and are designed to provide horse enthusiasts with a thorough, hands-on training experience that will impact them for a lifetime. He is currently working with an author on his first training book, which will be released by Western Horseman Publishing in 2008. Visit www.chris-cox.com

JULIE GOODNIGHT

Julie Goodnight is a full-time equine professional with more than a quarter-century of experience. Her varied background ranges from dressage and jumping to racing, reining, colt-starting, and wilderness riding. Julie's extensive experience training horses and riders has earned her the moniker, “Communicating Clearly with Horses and Riders.” She travels coast-to-coast and beyond much of the year to horse expos, conferences and clinics to teach horses and people about each other. Her training and teaching techniques are featured on her weekly television show, Horse Master as well as in magazines such as Western Horseman, Horse & Rider, Equus, The Instructor, Perfect Horse, and America’s Horse; she has two syndicated columns in dozens of regional equine publications throughout North America as well as a world-wide presence on the Internet. Julie Goodnight is International Spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety and quality of riding programs. Her television debut in July 2007 rounds out her multi-media appearances. Julie Goodnight resides near Salida, Colorado, at her private horse ranch with her husband, Rich Moorhead, the CEO of Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area. Visit www.JulieGoodnight.com.

Tommie Turvey - Entertainer, Trainer, & Horseman

An accomplished performer and horseman in many disciplines, Tommie works in all aspects of the entertainment and equine industry. You’ve probably seen him in feature films, television commercials, as a featured performer at dinner theaters, a specialty feature act at a touring circus, a main character in a wild-west show, to performing his “extreme” shows at horse expos, equestrian events, rodeos, fairs, and numerous international horse shows around the world. In additions to shows, you may have seen Tommie featured in a national Absorbine Jr commercial, or seen him on RFD-TV shows with Clinton Anderson, Pat and Linda Parelli, or Rick Lambs the Horse Show. He is also a professional stunt man and recently worked on the feature films, "Batman" with Heath Ledger; Larry the Cable Guy's "Witless Protection", and HBO's Mini Series "John Adams" with Paul Giamatti.

Tommie’s partners and traveling companions are his prized paint horses. Pokerjoe has been with Tommie since 1996 years and has travels over 100,000 miles a year performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people. Pokerjoe is the veteran of the herd, is a solid performer and “upstages” Tommie in the “Riding Instructor” comedy act. With Tommie since 2000, Joker and Ace, Tommie’s black and white paint horses are full blooded brothers. Tommie acknowledges “You are as only as good as your horse, so I have to have a lot of discipline to keep them working consistently. With discipline and respect comes love and understanding.”  Joker was also featured as a Breyer model horse at the 2006 Breyerfest Celebration in Lexington, Kentucky. Tommie Turvey's Joker #711106" is a proud replica of Joker's strength and beauty.

“I love what I do”, proclaims Tommie. “It’s great to be able to play with my horses, entertain people, and make a living out of it”. Tommie’s experience shows it is a consistency in training methods and routine which get the best results. “If you can get a horse to trust you, you can get a horse to do anything you can think of.” His trust building techniques are what has enabled him to roman ride over a wall of fire, leap through rings of flames and in an amazing feat of courage and trust performs a death-defying stunt by roman riding his horse while he is engulfed in flames. This is a dangerous stunt which has never been attempted by anyone other than Tommie.

Tommie is a second generation horse trainer, raised on a paint horse ranch in California. Tommie spent his time growing up working with horses and performing on horseback. He is the only son of a professional rodeo cowboy, stuntman, actor and Marine Corp. veteran. It was his father’s strict guidance and "just do it" attitude around the horses which became Tommie's destiny. “To successfully train a horse you must know how to convey what you are thinking to the horse in their language and in a way they can understand”. It is Tommie’s imagination and creativity what make him unique in the horse industry.

When Tommie is not on the road with his own shows, he calls the Equine Extremist Equestrian Center at  Double G Farms in Sterling, Illinois his home. He spends his time training his own horses and giving clinics to those wanting to learn his proven methods of training. His days consist of training people and horses for trick riding, team driving, and trick horse training; as well teaching the daily disciplines needed to have a well mannered horse. In addition to his career with horses, he is a certified scuba-diver, licensed hang glider pilot, class B skydiver, and black belt in Tae Kwon Do. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, he frequently adds his talents as a stuntman in movies and television features. All of this experience combined enables Tommie to train horses and people in the safest manner possible. “Being extreme is not just physical. It is having mental focus, the ability to think under pressure, and seeing danger before it happens and avoiding it.”

Tommie has an exciting future planned for his company. Karen, his sister and partner was the quarter horse trainer and a featured performer in the highly acclaimed equestrian show “Cavalia” from their start in May of 2003 until January 2005. “It’s great to be working with Karen. We have the same type of thinking. She is a top notch trainer and a big part of this company.” Equine Extremist Entertainment offers clinics to its line-up in addition to performing their highly sought after acts. Due to overwhelming response, Tommie is now publishing training materials to offer everyone the chance to pursue the “Equine Extremist” in us all. From DVD's to books, Tommie believes everyone can benefit from the knowledge he has gained over the years. "I think people look at horse training too hard sometimes. It doesn't need to be hard, or time consuming. You have to do the little things to get you there. I train in small steps and for short times. I'm just like everyone else who would rather ride than train, so my training is precise, consistent, and dependable. I want to make sure my horses understand my cues and that I don't create a bad habit or an undesirable response. I see more people who over-train their horses so much that their horse just submits or gives up at the slightest pressure. My training keeps my horses thinking and keeps them focused on what I want. They don't do tricks whenever they want, it is when I ask them. If I train a horse to step on a pedestal, I don't want the horse getting on the pedestal on his own without me there. If I put the pedestal in their stall or in the arena with them they won't just walk up to it and get on. They have to be cued before they will get on. This is for their safety. I train them to do it when I ask. This way it doesn't create bad habits or potential dangers or problems. I use this logic to train in all aspects and once you make the change in your training, your horse will respond."
www.tommieturvey.com

FeatherDance

 

We are an equine entertainment organization, located in the beautiful state of Washington. Our focus has mainly been to share our love of the incredible Friesian (and sometimes their crosses) with admirers around the world. These horses are magnificent - they were meant to be shared.

This is accomplished via performances throughout the United States. Performances are choreographed to music, often produced to compliment a theme at various venues.

Visit us at www.featherdance.org

Terry Nowacki

Reading Equine Sign Language and Air Scenting

This presentation will enlighten you on how sign language and the use of scenting as a form of equine communication is much more developed than most previously published information suggests. From information presented you can learn to document equine sign language and use this knowledge to improve training techniques or to increase understanding between horse and rider. Scent detection is a natural instinct of horses where they detect airborne scent for wide variety of uses that range all the way from food location to greeting rituals. This unique characteristic of the horse is being used for search and rescue efforts and as a natural horsemanship game.  Scent detection is the only use that humans have for horses where knowledge and understanding of equine sign language is 100% necessary to complete your goal. Tips from this presentation will help improve many horsemanship skills, and increase understanding and appreciation of one of the most amazing noble creatures ever put on this earth-the equine.

Terry Nowacki is best known for his ground breaking research, clinics and public demonstrations given across the US on Equine Scent Detection. Terry's horsemanship experience is well diversified and includes an AQHA Public Service Award, minor breed national titles, Ranch Versatility High Point, earner of breed points is a variety of events, campaigning a state champion/record holding race horse and coaching a junior rider to a state championship title. Terry became a equine educator because after 48 continuous years of either riding, competitive showing, or professional training, he has developed proven training and coaching methods to share. Terry owns and operates an equine training center in Northern Minnesota. For more information you can go to http://www.airscentinghorse.com/

“Horse Apples and Where They Roll”
Presented by: Samantha Adams, MPCA

Try to think about your average morning chores: picking out the stall, loading the wheel barrel, dumping the manure into a pile and watching the horse apples roll down the side of the pile. This all sounds very familiar, right? Have you ever taken that thought process one step further and thought about the manure and if there was anything of value there, what happens to the pile of manure and bedding over time? If you have ever pondered over horse apples, composting, environmental issues, the value of horse manure, or you are looking to construct/improve a horse facility this is your opportunity to learn more!

Samantha Adams, a Pollution Control Specialist for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will be presenting “Horse Apples and Where They Roll.” During this speaking engagement Samantha will share feedlot basics, manure stockpile information, composting information, manure management and rule requirements as they apply to the equine industry. There will also be time for questions. Please join us in this opportunity to learn, discuss, and share information.  

Samantha Adams

As a horse enthusiast like many of you, Samantha Adams has combined her two great interests of science and horses. She grew up in northern Minnesota on a small horse farm looking at every opportunity to learn more about horses and the ecology of the beautiful Northwood’s environment surrounding the farm. Samantha was able to successfully mesh those two interests by working for the Forest Service in the BWCAW and assisting in teaching wilderness horse packing at an early age. She was able to follow that up while in college at the University of Idaho and later at the University of Minnesota, Crookston earning her bachelors degree in animal industries management. During her college experience she gained the opportunity to work for the USGS conducting behavioral research on the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse herd in Lovell, WY known for “Cloud” Stallion of the Rockies.

Once the research was complete she was employed by Stearns DHIA Laboratories where she managed the manure laboratory, feed laboratory, and implemented new near infrared equations for equine energy determination in feeds. Currently she is busy combining science and agriculture again in the feedlot unit at the MPCA. This task is challenging and generates many opportunities to educate and correct environmental pollution hazards at agricultural facilities while maintaining a productive working relationship with producers, this is one of the great aspects of the MPCA.  

In 1967, the Minnesota Legislature to create a new state agency with a demanding responsibility to protect the air, waters and land of our great state. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s goal is to make it possible for Minnesotans to use and enjoy the legacy of lakes and rivers, the forests, the plains and the natural resources, while keeping waters clean and air pure.  

In 2000 the animal feedlot rules were revised and implemented throughout animal agriculture around the state. The Minnesota Chapter 7020 rules have the potential to apply to Minnesota’s fastest growing agricultural sector, the equine industry, and we look forward to working with equine owners.

Mindy Price

Advanced  Dressage Demonstration

Here’s your chance to learn or review what dressage is all about: the levels, the movements, the training scale.  Learn what it takes to develop both horse and rider by strengthening physically, developing the mind and building trust. Watch as the shoulder-in, travers, flying changes, collected walk, trot and canter, half pass, passage, canter pirouettes are explained and demonstrated.

Mindy is a talented and committed dressage rider, having competed successfully through fourth level dressage.  Although Mindy has made a name for herself riding Friesians, her experience and passion lies in dressage, rather than just one breed. To that end she rides and trains horses of all breeds and finds enjoyment in the unique athleticism of each individual horse that she works. Mindy is the proud owner of three breeding stallions; Zorro (Friesian), Anthem  (Holsteiner) and Groovy (Gypsy Vanner). In 2004, Mindy and Zorro became the first Friesian team in history to qualify for the FEI 5 year old World Selection Trials. Zorro was the 2007 International Friesian Show Horse World and Grand National Champion in 3rd Level Dressage and Reserve Champion in 3rd Level  Freestyle Dressage.

Mindy has many awards under her belt, including 6 USDF Regional Championships and 2 Reserve Championships, 5 USDF Midwest Championships, 10 USDF All Breed Horse of the Year Awards, 16 CSDEA  Championships, and 13 CSDEA Year End Championships.

Mindy trains horses and students at Blackshire Equestrian Centre near Cannon Falls, Minnesota.  Visit her website at www.moncheval.com

Equestrian Vaulting

Three local equestrian vaulting clubs will demonstrate elements of the sport called "gymnastics on horseback," The demonstration will include basic exercises on training a vaulting horse, equipment needed to start vaulting,how to start learning vaulting movements, and the compulsory exercises every vaulter must master.

We will also perform individual and team freestyle vaulting routines on both the horse and the vaulting barrel.

Speakers/Demos Page 2 | Speakers/Demos Page 3

Back to Main Page