Comments on Arizona Clinic

From: Linda Bean
Saturday, May 10, 2008 8:56 PM

If you go to the following link you will see a video of us all riding Eternal Flame at Bucky's clinic.  There is also a couple short clips of Kathie on Robbie and Desirai on Sammy

http://www.youtube.com/user/stablemate1001
 

Comments
New York State Plantation Walking Horse Club Clinic, Spring 2008

The exercises (tools) Bucky presented to the riders and auditors were were well explained and easy to understand.  His attention to riders and auditors alike was excellent.  Thank you Bucky, Nancy, Pres NYSPWHC,

Great job learned a lot of helpful tools.  Thanks for coming, Kate

Good imagery!  Enjoyed techniques used for gaited horses.  Saw definite improvement in several horses.  Good horsemanship and good horsemanship regardless of breed or discipline.  Joann

Best clinic I've ever been to.  I hope Bucky will be back and I'll have my horse in the clinic.  Come back trail and ride with us!  Jessier Carrier

Thankyou, Thankyou- I've learned so much  "Under The Brat".

I no longer have an excuse for having a pacey horse.  Dixie and I have learned so much from you.  Thanks so much for coming all the way to New York to teach us!  Dee Dee Tongue

As an auditor this has been  a very positive learning experience.  Unlike many other clinics  I have attended.  The points have been very well explained, why they would work and why they were being done and could they be accomplished.  Terms were explained in common English and demonstrated so we could see what was happening.  The lessons where repeat several times.  The thing that separates Bucky from other clinicians is, he is a  very good teacher and makes his points in a very positive manner without offending people.  He is very quick to recognize the horses problems and the riders weaknesses and then he works to correct them.  This was a gaited horse clinic and Bucky understands gaited horses very well.  Bucky is a very patient person and takes the time that is needed to do the job.  Allan Sawyer

It never made sense to me how we could ask for a headset with the same move as "stop".  Now I know...we don't.  Bucky's clinic absolutely was the missing piece of the puzzle for me.  My horse has never gaited better.  Please come again.  Ron Tongue

Pocatello, Idaho Clinic Spring 2008

Bucky, It's always a pleasure- you combine logic and humor to bring out the best in both the horse and the owner.  I've never heard you say anything to discourage a participant.  People leave your clinic with hope.  It's very uplifting-  See you next year!  Linda Bean Sandy, Utah

A one day audit is enough to remind me of all the things I need to work on every day.  I appreciate your insight and practical approach.  Flame is awesome.  Gary Bean

Wonderful experience for both me and my horse!  I am encouraged I can now take the information I learned and continue to improve myself and my horse, to develop a team with me and my equestrian friend.  Bucky sticks to basics to achieve success.  I had a great time.  Thanks :)  Janet Hanrey Erda Utah email:  jhancey@murrayschools.org 

Great Clinic.  Bucky's communication makes it easy for both horse and rider to learn.  Can't wait til next year.  Marion Wheaton, Woodland, UT  marion.wheaton@gmail.com

This clinic was even better than last year.  My horse has grown tremendously since the last training.  Now, after this clinic, I am ale to stop w/o pulling on my horse's face, soften him using several techniques and back him w/o rein pressure.  Bucky's relaxed style is very conducive to learning/  Thanks Bucky-You're the best!  Kathie Lambson-Mackay, IDA - klambson@atcnet.net.

Thank you Bucky. I enjoyed this clinic even more than last year- if thats possible.  I really appreciate your advice, time and kind words.  Your clinics have helped my relationship with my horse and improved my horsemanship in general.  I'll be back next year!  Noah Anderson  Pocatella, ID  noah_andersonii@yahoo.com.

Wow!  All I can say is THANKYOU you have taught me more in the last few days then I ever dreamed of learning.  It was and is so nice to see the improvement in both my mares gait's and my riding.  Thankyou and I look forward to taking more of your clinics in the future.  Melissa Schmitt  Ririe ID, 

The knowledge you bring and share with all of us helps both people and horses have better and closer relationships.  Thanks for caring enough to sacrifice your time and working your own horses to help us all.  What you do is a real benefit to the horse.  Desira Schild  Chubbuck, ID.

Friday, September 29, 2006 12:01 PM

Hi Bucky and Nancy,

My dressage trainer, Pam Larson, is wondering how far she can go without doing damage to Dazzle's gaiting ability. Yes, since we were with you in June, Dazzle and I have been taking weekly lessons from the "dressage trainer down the road." Pam keeps saying the Dazzle is a "strong willed" horse, as you may remember from the flexing challenges from June, but I think you'd be impressed with her progress. I know I am! and I would never have thought about training another walker this way. Boy am I glad I went to your clinic!
Pam is reading your book again, know that she has some walker experience under her belt, and may be e-mailing you as I am not the best person on translating "dressage."
I am hoping you'll be back in 2007 with stage 3 of your workshops for Dazzle. I do have a 2.5 year old filly that I am hoping to start this fall. I have learned so much from Pam about the dressage way of starting a horse and now know what you were trying to help us with 6 months later. I guess Dazzle being a "strong willed" horse and me just being a slow learner make for an ideal match!
I have talked to Ashley, Becky and Rachel since the clinic and the excitement is still there about how much we have learned, enjoyed and can apply.

Thanks again for everything,

Tym, dazzle and company
 

Tompkins
Thursday, May 25, 2006 9:00 PM

Hi Bucky,
Well we have been home a week now. I just want to write and tell you how
much I appreciated everything you did for me, Willie and especially Sur. As
I told you in person, I have been to various gaited horse clinics and also
watched many video's. None of them compare to you. Yours is the first that I
could ever implement at home.

I had so much fun. You have a way with horses and people. Everything that
you taught you explained in a way that made sense and was not hard to
comprehend or put into practice. As you know, I was concerned about having
to change bits with my horses. It was so reaffirming that because Willie
responded well to his non snaffle bit, you did not have me change.
Understanding what you were teaching made so much sense that I was able to
use the snaffle with Sur and see how much he relaxed and changed. Thank you
for all your explanations and tools. I wish I could convince everyone I know
with gaited horses to attend one of your clinics or take some lessons with
you.

Rick and I also appreciated all your hospitality and continual teaching that
you offered us during our extended stay. It was so awesome that although we
had only planned three lessons you were happy to give so many additional
lessons. I just can't put into words how much you have made a difference in
my riding and my horses.

I have worked Sur 4 times and he continues to relax more each day. I took
Willy out on the trail the first day back and he was awesome. It is so fun
to be able to use the tools you gave me. I wanted to tell you one more
story. I talked to Mary and
she told me that after she took two lessons with you and spend the rest of
the summer in Pagosa, when she returned to Hawaii in the fall, she was able
to implement the tools you had given her with Sadie, her off gaited mare,
and now she is doing very well in both the flat walk and the running walk. I
think that is awesome.

Thanks for everything and I look forward to trying to put together a clinic
in Phoenix so others can benefit from your knowledge and your teaching
skills.
Lynn

Hi Bucky and Nancy,
Wow!!! It was a fabulous weekend.  Summer and I had a ball.
I have used my loose ring snaffle bit every day. I keep practicing my technique.  Sunday she was awesome just me and the deer to see but she used her rear end and brought up her chest!!!! WOW    My friend stopped to see me so I got her to come out and watch and she was so impressed over the last time she saw Summer.  Just had to say thank you for the marvelous clinic. It was a great learning experience.  I so enjoyed meeting you both and I feel so lucky to have gotten this opportunity to ride at one of your clinics. Thank you and may God Bless you.
 Kathie Gregg and Summer

Subject:  great clinic!  Date:  Tue, 28 Jun 2005,  From: "Rachael Nyenhuis"

Hi Sally,  I just want to thank you so much for putting on the "B.L.E.S.S. Your Walking Horse" clinic this past weekend.  It was truly the best clinic I've ever been to.  Bucky and Nancy Sparks have taken such natural, honest riding techniques and shared them with a bunch of us non-dressage folks.  I'm absolutely amazed at how much Socks and I learned from them.  Never would I have paid much attention to a "dressage" clinic, but the principles they taught made a huge difference in every horse there.

I liked not only their techniques, but also their presentation.  Bucky was very positive.  He found something good to say to every rider.  He inspired and encouraged riders, pushing when necessary, but never belittled or embarrassed the greenest riders.  By working with each rider individually, the riders got much more out of it than when other clinicians have had 10 horses riding in a ring at the same time.  As an auditor for the first day, I loved seeing the same type of lesson repeated over and over.  Seeing 10 or 11 riders working on the same softening and balancing techniques helped me learn it well enough that I could apply it at home that night.

Hats off to you Sally.  You brought a great thing to the walking horse people in Minnesota.  I'd love to see them back again next year.

Subject: Hi  Date: Mon 27 JUN 2005, From: "Jane Scharver"

Hi Sally.  I wanted to thank you for getting Bucky and Nancy here.  I thought they were absolutely fantastic....I learned a lot from them.  I loved the way they took a lot of time with each person and I learned watching others as well, sometimes it is easier to see when your not in the saddle.  i wish I could have stayed all day and I would love to have them again...they are great people..thanks again for all your work putting this seminar together..I am going to write to FOSH or just send this to them..I am going to join the group too.  I am all for what they stand for.  See ya soon.  thanks again.

Subject: B.L.E.S.S.  Date: Mon, 27 JUN 2005, From:  "Jan Robia"

Hi Sally.  Wanted to drop a note to express my appreciation for the clinic you and the others organized and just held in Procter.

It was an A+ for me, for several reasons.  Primarily, the clinicians were superb.  Bucky and Nancy have warm, happy, inviting personalities, even during their down time.  They were supremely clear in their teaching, with simple and solid concepts that anyone could grasp.  I loved their attitudes toward the various horses, their humor and their encouragement to the brave "victims", as Punky referred to them.  Also, I've been studying with a dressage teacher, so I was glad that the Sparks showed the value of applying dressage principles to the Walking Horse, to bring out it's best.  That was precisely the go ahead I wanted to hear.

The weather and facilities also contributed to a good day.  I'm getting more than a little tired of freezing at the April Horse Expos.  (Not that you could control that.  But don't the Expo organizers realize that everyone wants to be in Minnesota in the summer?)

Before even leaving, i said to my friend, "I hope these folks will be coming back."  See you at the Celebration. 

Subject:  Testimonials/Letters of Recommendation, Date: Mon, 27 JUN  2005, From:  "Louisa Fabbro"

I audited the clinic with Bucky and Nancy Sparks.  Everything was explained and demonstrated in a clear and easy to understand way.  After watching the first day, I went and tried the techniques with my horse.  She did pretty well.  The next morning, I practiced with my horse a second time before going back to the clinic.  She remembered what I showed her and did even better.  She was getting it just as well as the horses that were actually at the clinic!  Bucky and Nancy just layed things out so simply that made it so anyone could put these things into practice and get some results fairy quickly.  This, along with their friendly, encouraging, personalities, just made the clinic a real pleasure.  I would highly recommend them.  A+++

Subject: (Fwd: Bucky and Nancy Sparks Clinic), Date: Wed, 29 JUN 2005, From:  "Renee Sordahl"

Dear Sally.  This past weekend was one of revelation...TWH's don't need the long shanked bit, heavy shoes, martingales, draw reins and all the other "crutches" we've been brainwashed into thinking they need in order to gait properly.  This was the best TWH clinic I've attended.  Very refreshing approach with results that were simply amazing.  Both for horse and rider.  Kudos to Bucky and Nancy Sparks for their courage in this novel approach which defies traditional TWH training methods.  Hurry and book another clinic date with the Sparks and be sure to save a place for me and my horse!!  Sincerely.

Subject: clinic, date: Tue, 28 JUN 2005, From:  "zbailey macho and annie: signedMeredith"

Good morning.  I got the email about the clinic and wanted to respond because it was a great clinic.  I finally found a way to get my horse to be ridden and to communicate with him in a simple way without lots of money and extra tools.  Nancy and Bucky gave me the tools I needed to unlock my horse.  the respect and enthusiasm that they had when we did it was great to hear.  Hopefully, we can have them come back to continue in their series and continue to progress to more advance riding and teaching people to be nice but assertive with the horse.  I was surprised what a little tweaking did for my horses ride and how much better he was and how he is probably more comfortable now then ever.  I wish I had this clinic when I started.  I could go on and on about how great it was.  A big point that I feel is important is that Nancy and Bucky made everyone feel great about the horse they had.