LRTC Wild Horse Mentors'
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John giving a talk
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John Sharp of Prineville, OR turned 87 this year and could still
put in a full day on the training floor. John has been gentling
and training horses longer than the workshop participants have
been alive.
John proves the theory that experience, wisdom and common sense are far more important than muscle when working wild horses. John is a gentleman in every sense of the word and both horses and burros respond very well to him. |
John setting up a squeeze chute
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Haltering a burro
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Starting to give to pressure
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Hue, John, Willis and "Thunder"
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John and his admirers
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The basis of John's work is the
bamboo pole method which allows contact with a wild horse without
applying too much pressure.
John, Pat (Halter Lady) Fredrickson & burro
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A child gets a burro ride
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John's Award
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This year's workshop was dedicated to John and his accomplishments.
He received accolades from BLM, the Pacific Wild Horse Club, the Wild Horse Mentors and virtually everyone else present who has known and worked with him. He also received a nice award for his 60+ years of teaching others about wild horses. |
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The Pole Method
| We have found John's pole method to be an approach that anyone, from horse experts to the very beginners, can safely use and get positive responses from their horses. It allows the handler to safely interact and make contact from a safe distance and for the horse to be touched and understand that it is not only OK but that it actually feels good. For more information on gentling horses with the bamboo pole, click Here! | |
Becky Tipton finding that "magic spot"
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Rubbing down the chest
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| Wild horses primarily eat grasses and don't compete for food directly with most native species. In some areas the horses actually help control grass growth which benefits other plant communities and the animals which feed on them. |
Continue to Part 5
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