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According to Keen, he does not believe in training
horses by issuing any type of abuse, but rather through
constructive work and repetition.
While he offers his services, year around, he has
seen more business during the summer months, when
school-age kids are on vacation. He works with new
riders as well as advanced riders, of any age.
About 95 percent of the riders bring their own
horses, he noted, but he does offer his own horses to
riders if needed.
Keen offers training in all disciplines of riding,
including English, Western, Dressage, Trail, Pleasure
and “Wenglish”… something he has developed that
combines Western/English riding.
At the training facility in Ledbetter, riders stay at
a camp house that sleeps up to 11, complete with all the
comforts of home. The days start early … around 7 a.m.
… and learning exercises continue throughout the day.
The most important thing that Keen hopes to instill
in the riders is a new/higher confidence in themselves;
a fix for the riders as well as the horses.
“The riders learn by observation, listening,
talking and movement,” noted Keen.
The educator explained that horses are “big
reactors” — they (horses) “think” 10 percent of
the time, and “react” the other 90 percent of the
time. When the horses make mistakes, he uses a
“working time-out,” such as making the horses back
up or do other exercises that wear them out a bit.
“There’s got to be a little ‘John Wayne’ in
every rider in order to be in complete control of their
horse,” he explained
This summer, most of his clinics have lasted around
three days, and the first day is the “most
challenging” for all involved, but by the third day,
most have “become one with their horse and are in
rhythm, together.”
Next year, Keen plans to extend most of the clinics
to five days so the riders have a couple more days to
“practice what they’ve learned” before going home.
So far, Keen has had riders from all over Texas, as
well as several other states.
Along with the clinics, private lessons and private
groups that come for the learning experiences, Keen has
a farrier business that takes part of his time.
Keen’s wife, Kelley, works right beside him, doing
most of the “organizational planning and computer
work,” they noted. Together, they have created a very
warm and comfortable atmosphere for visitors to their
facility.
Future plans include building a new barn, a covered
arena and a training facility for the students who come
for the clinics, but for now … the Keens are busy with
their business they built due to their love of animals
and nurturing atmosphere they have created … for their
family and others.
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