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 A message from Stacy Casilio . . .your Jane of All Horse Trades Having a lot of experience in so many different aspects of the horse industry, I have found that the more versatile the better. When I train, whether it be horse or rider, English or Western, on the ground or under saddle, it’s about having a routine, knowing what you want from the horse, and consistency. There are lots of training techniques available, but none will work well without those three things. It’s good to have many different techniques under your belt, because each horse has been handled differently, or trained differently, or learns differently, and so if you find that what you usually do doesn’t work one time, you can try something different. Closemindedness will only make you able to train one kind of horse and not many. My experience spans from a Huntseat background to the respect of the Combined Training disciplines with lessons in Western, Vaulting, Driving, and Training mixed in. Working with the local veterinarian every other week and excelling to States in each of the 4-H Horse competitions coupled with a four year Equine Degree from UMASS also means that not only can I teach you to ride and train your horse, but I can also watch for and recognize signs of Cushings or Lymes Disease or lameness. And if you want your horse hauled, I have a Commercial Drivers License, and an excellent knowledge of trucks and trailers from my previous experience selling trucks from Cahillane Dodge and trailers from Orchard Trailers. Currently, I run a successful riding program at the Craig Equestrian Center (or Mt. Toby Stables since 1971) located in Leverett, MA. The barn fits in well to my versatility with their indoor, roundpen, dressage arena, games arena, stadium course, trails, and over 16 school horses. They offer full and rough board for all different kinds of horses. I have been teaching there since 1998 and still have the same students since then and more. My students have received Champions and many awards in Hunter/Jumper Shows, Combined Training Shows and Western Pleasure/Games. They also strive to become knowledgeable and hardworking equestrians that can be seen by their involvement in 4-H, Pony Club, Horse-related summer camps, clinics, and Seminars. Some of the horses they have ridden and helped train range from green broke ponies that buck and rear, to OTT Racehorses and even a Stallion. When looking for a trainer or clinican, judge or lecturer, instructor or driver, isn’t it nice to know you can get it all in one package. Most of the horse-owning public owns horses for pleasure or some light competition. I don’t distinguish between the every-weekend competitor looking to get a better dressage score or the backyard trailrider that has problems getting their horse to cross the stream. Problem solving is what I do and I do it all! |
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 Photos courtesy of photographer Tollen Johns HELPFUL LINKS:
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