Top"Horse
Whisperers" Meet For Challenge In Fort Worth, Texas
FORT
WORTH, TEXAS, November 28, 2003 - You saw the remarkable bond between
human and horse in "The Horse Whisperer" and "Seabiscuit."
Now you can see if for yourself as the best "horse whisperers"
from around the world meet in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 12-13, tat
Cowtown Coliseum in the Historic Stockyards, for a two-day event
called El Camino del Caballo (The Road to the Horse). The unique
event is designed to showcase the art of gentle horsemanship while
entertaining the audience, and star famed horse trainers Curt Pate,
Clinton Anderson and Josh Lyons.
Rick
Lamb, of "The Horse Show," will be host and co-emcee,
along with local horse expert Philip Schutts. Judges are well-known
equine experts Robert Moorehouse, Christi Rains, Jack Brainard,
Buster McLaurey and Dr. Bob Miller.
"El
Camino del Caballo offers people the chance to witness young horses
take their first step down the road of trust, communication and
partnership with some of the greatest clinicians in the world,"
said Tootie Bailey-Bland, producer of El Camino del Caballo.
Day
one will feature clinics by Pate, Anderson and Lyons; a question
and answer session with the three clinicians; entertaining routines
with their favorite horses; and the beginning of the challenge.
Judges will choose three virtually untouched horses from a herd
of 10 in the Coliseum arena for the three men. the challenge will
begin with one hour of Round Pen work. Day two will continue with
Round Pen Work, Freestyle and an Obstacle Course. Drawing on their
horsemanship knowledge and skills, Pate, Anderson and Lyons will
demonstrate how to gentle, saddle, ride and guide a horse through
an obstacle course without using force, fear or trauma.
"A
winner will be announced at the end of the second day, but the real
winners of El Camino del Caballo are the horse," said Bailey-Bland.
El
Camino del Caballo will teach that respected training methods don¹t
"break" horses anymore, but communicate by touch, feel,
empathy and knowledge. "If you own horses, work or compete
with horses, or just happen to be one of the millions of admirers
of these beautiful creatures, this event is not to be missed,"
Bailey-Bland said."Simply put, it will amaze you. You are going
to see things happen in those arenas that will challenge your ability
to believe."
General
admission tickets to El Camino del Caballo are available through
both Ticketmaster and Cowtown Coliseum (1-888-COWTOWN). General
admission tickets are $45 for one day, $80 for both days, or $50
per day at the gate.
Box
and VIP seats are available only through Cowtown Coliseum at 1-888-COWTOWN.
Box seating is $55 for one day, $100 for both days, or $60 per day
at the gate. VIP seating is $100 per day, or $150 per day at the
event. VIP tickets include program, food, and beverages (cash bar)
in the VIP area. For more information, the public can call 1-888-COWTOWN
or visit www.roadtothehorsecom.
WHEN:
December 12-13, 2003
Noon-8:30
pm Friday, Dec. 12
Clinics and Q&A Sessions
Drawing of Horses
First Round of Challenge
Noon-4:15 pm Saturday, Dec. 13
Second Round of Challenge
Obstacle Course
Winner Announcement
WHERE:
Cowtown Coliseum
121 E. Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas
in the heart of the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards
(for map and parking, go to www.cowtowncoliseum.com)
WHO:
Josh
Lyons, clinician: Considered the best all-around horse trainers,
winner of "In A Whisper Challenge"
Curt Pate, clinician: Technical advisor for the movie "The
Horse Whisperer"
Clinton Anderson, clinician: Hosts weekly training TV show "Downunder
Horsemanship"
Rick Lamb, host/emcee: national talk show host of The Horse Show
Tootie Bailey Bland, producer: Film actress and stunt performer
Steve Bland and Thomas Saunders, wranglers: Expert horsemen and
wranglers for "The Alamo," "Secondhand Lions"
and other movies
WHY:
To better the relationship between owner and horse in an exciting,
entertaining and enlightening way that showcases the increasingly
popular, highly revered and somewhat mysterious technique of gentle
horsemanship.
INFORMATION:
www.roadtothehorse.com
TICKETS: 1-888-COWTOWN
Curt
Pate
A
Montana native, Curt grew up around horses in a working ranch setting.
He participated in rodeo for a number of years, announced professional
rodeo, and was an auctioneer.
Curt
travels the country giving colt starting and horsemanship demonstrations
at private facilities, colleges, fairs and horse events. He uses
techniques he learned while attending a Buck Brannaman Clinic as
a young man. He has been training horses for most of his life, and
was a technical advisor for the movie "The Horse Whisperer,"
along with Brannaman.
Curt
has committed himself to helping the horse by helping people. The
techniques he utilizes are relatively simple for the horse owner
to teach and easy for the horse to learn, yet very effective. He
teaches the basics that are often overlooked or assumed that the
horse already knows.
Curt¹s
goal is to provide an opportunity to learn an awareness of horsemanship
that promotes safe, effective, and enjoyable riding. He feels this
can be achieved by using common sense, looking at things from the
horse¹s point of view, and by being willing to dedicate time
and effort to reach your goals.
Clinton
Anderson
Australian
Clinton Anderson had his own horse by age 9 and began attending
horsemanship clinics at age 12. After playing Polo-Cross for a national
team, Clinton started his training apprenticeship at age 15 with
nationally acclaimed horse trainer Gordon McKinlay, where he started
and trained over 600 horses in two years. He then worked for Ian
Francis, and, at 18, began his own training facility.
Clinton
came to the U.S. in 1996 for an apprenticeship with Al Dunning.
He now lives in the U.S, conducting training, touring and conducting
clinics across the country.
In
April 2001, Clinton launched a made-for-TV weekly training program,
"Downunder Horsemanship," broadcast on satellite television.
The use of untrained horses and a variety of topics covering common
problems faced by horse owners has made his show the network's most
popular equine program.
Clinton
educates horse owners on how to be safe and effective while enjoying
their horses. His training methods are easy to understand and designed
to help horse owners get the results they desire. In his clinics,
he demonstrates how to build on a solid foundation to achieve a
new level of respect and communication.
Josh
Lyons
Josh
Lyons, son of "Americas Most Trusted Horseman" John Lyons,
spent his childhood accompany his father to training clinics, horse
symposiums and private lessons. At age 16, Josh gave his first public
clinic, which began such a successful career that John says: "Josh
is one of the best all-around horse trainers that I have ever worked
with. Josh has surpassed me in his ability to work with both people
and horses."
Josh¹s
skill and knowledge have been sought after in the U.S. and internationally.
He has held clinics and symposiums in Canada, Alaska, Cayman Islands
and Australia.
In
2002, Josh won the "In A Whisper Challenge" held in downtown
Fort Worth, Texas. The documentary pitted the skills of three of
the top horse trainers in the world in a two-hour format with an
unbroken colt.
Josh
offers a well-founded and proven method of communicating with the
horse using cues that the horse responds to, ultimately giving the
horse and rider an understanding of one another and becoming one
in the training process. He lives by the philosophy he teaches:
"Knowledge and patience are the only tools that you need to
bring with you into your barn."
Tootie
Bailey Bland
Tootie
Bailey Bland has enjoyed a 20-year film career on both sides of
the camera. She has worked with directors Tommy Lee Jones, Michael
Douglas, John Milius, Richard Donner, Chris Columbus, Simon Wincer,
Paul Verthoeven, Billy Bob Thornton, Terry Leonard and Billy Burton.
A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Tootie¹s film resume contains
blockbuster hits such as "Secondhand Lions," "Lethal
Weapon" (both I and II), "Fatal Attraction," "Home
Alone," "Total Recall," "The Fisher King,"
"RoboCop," "Dancer Tx. Pop 81," "La Bamba"
and more. Her television work includes "Lonesome Dove,"
"Good Old Boys," "Buffalo Girls," "Texas,"
"Rough Riders," "In The Heat of the Night,"
"Paradise," "Guns of Paradise" and "Return
to Paradise."
In
2000, Tootie partnered with Amanda Micallef to create Rope The Moon
Productions, where she produced "Grand Champion," currently
in negotiations for distribution. She followed that with the documentary
"In A Whisper." Tootie¹s horse background proved
invaluable in recruiting three of the top horse whisperers in the
world to participate in competition. "In A Whisper" is
currently in worldwide release on VHS and DVD.
Tootie
now has her own production company, Ride the Remuda Productions.
Her passion for horses led her to produce El Camino del Caballo,
featuring Clinton Sanderson, Josh Lyons and Curt Pate hosting clinics,
Q&As, entertainment and participating in a two-day horse challenge
with three unbroke young horses.
Steve Bland
Steve
Bland grew up in Ozona, Texas, then the family moved to Trent Texas,
where they built a 30,000-head feedlot which is still family run
and in operation today.
Steve
Bland has the honor of being the only cowboy to win four consecutive
NIRA Team Championships competing for Southeastern Oklahoma State
University from 1976-79. The then won Rookie of the Year in Professional
Rodeo in 1977 in two events, the calf roping and steer wrestling.
For
ten years, Steve won numerous championships, including Cheyenne
Frontier Days, Las Vegas Helldorado Days, New Mexico State Fair,
Hawaiian Fall Championship and back to back Calf Roping and All-Around
Championships at the famous Pendleton Round Up. Steve won the Bill
Linderman Award in 1980, for the cowboy who wins the most money
in three events in one year. Steve did it in five events in one
year.
Since
retiring from professional competition, Steve has been in the cattle
business. His knowledge with horses has led him to work on movie
sets as a boss horse wrangler, stuntman and actor. His acting roles
include "Dancer Texas Pop. 81," "American Outlaws,"
"Grand Champion" and "The Postman." His skill
with horses most recently found him working as the gang boss on
"Secondhand Lions" and Disney¹s epic "The Alamo,"
where he was in charge of 130 head of horses and over 50 wranglers.
Thomas Saunders
On
his ranch near Weatherford, Thomas breaks about 100 head of colts
a year. He is as much at home on four hooves as he is on two feet,
which explains why he is such demand as a horse trainer and wrangler,
and why major motion picture companies hire him. Thomas has worked
on "The Alamo" and "Secondhand Lions." It is
a tribute to this horses¹ great trust in him that they get
through it all with calm professionalism.
Thomas
is a sixth generation cowman with a long family history involved
in the Texas Cattle Industry. His family first came to Texas in
1850 and a great-great uncle helped establish the San Antonio Stockyards
and lay out the plan for the Fort worth Stockyards. Thomas¹
great-grandfather was the first cattle dealer in he Fort Worth Stockyards.
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