|
For Immediate Release
August 26, 2007
Monroe, GA
For more information contact Tess Vanattia – HorseSouth
Marketing, Graphics and Communications
tess@horsesouth.com
706.492.5911 | 678.448.7287
Ed
Dabney wins the East Coast Trainer Challenge at the
North Carolina Equine Extravaganza®
With a cute sorrel colt that judge Julie Goodnight
described as “fractious” and “difficult”, Ed Dabney used
the gentle methods and solid training techniques he is
best known for to win his first colt starting
competition. Rockin J Horse Stalls sponsored the event
and presented the $2000 cash prize to the winner. The
Challenge was held in Raleigh during the North Carolina
Equine Extravaganza®
August 3rd-5th.
"The East Coast Trainer Challenge is a wonderful
environment in which to showcase the proper methods for
starting a young colt with gentle techniques. In my 30
years of experience in the ranching, movie and training
industry I have started hundreds of young horses. Even
though the Trainer Challenge competition places time
limits on our work with the horse, I was still able to
work with the horse within his nature and only progress
as far as he could handle without being too stressed,”
Ed explained.
Ed’s movie stunt work can be seen in “The Patriot” with
Mel Gibson, “Crazy Horse” with Gene Hackman, “The
Postman” with Kevin Cosner as well as others.
Competitors Terry Myers and Scott Purdum were successful
with their young charges as well. Both trainers rode
their horses at a walk, trot and canter. “The
competition was very close, with only five out of a
possible 400 points separating the trainers when we
tallied the scores,” said Challenge creator, and Equine
Extravaganza®
producer, Vicki O’Hara. “Ed’s horse was difficult and he
maintained the integrity of the “low stress” portion of
our challenge. His horse looked to him for guidance
each and every time he felt threatened or scared.”
Some in the crowd began referring to Ed’s colt as “lil
Bucky” on the second day when a tightened cinch caused
quite a show! Goodnight explained to the crowd that in
her quarter of a century as a horse professional about
30 percent of horses will buck the saddle. Ed’s colt
proved to fit well into that category. Other judges for
the competition were Randy Abernathy, Tommy Garland, and
Dr. Don Hoglund.
"I am honored to have been selected as the winner of
Equine Extravaganza’s®
East Coast Trainer Challenge by such an esteemed panel
of judges. The young colt I worked with had a desire to
trust but he was very nervous and sensitive. With this
type of horse the trainer must be very calm and convey a
sense of safety and confidence to the horse. The horse
will mirror the human’s emotions. I tried to keep the
colt in a calm, thinking state of mind so he could
continue to learn without being overwhelmed. Even when
he exploded a few times I tried to remain calm and bring
him back to a quiet state of mind as quickly as
possible," Ed explained.
Ed will now head to Virginia to compete in the final
phase of the East Coast Trainer Challenge to be held in
Richmond at the Virginia Equine Extravaganza®
Oct 26 – 28. In this 2007 finale, sponsored by Virginia
Animal ID, Ed will face off against seasoned horsemen
Bob Jeffreys and Kenny Harlow. These clinicians will
work with their horses for an hour each day, beginning
on Friday at 5:30 and culminate Sunday afternoon as the
winner is chosen.
"It was a privilege for me to have the opportunity to
meet and work with fine trainers of the caliber of Terry
Myers and Scott Purdum. I hope our paths cross again in
the future."
Ed Dabney is a 5th generation horseman and a
nationally known clinician featured on RFD TV. To learn
more about Ed Dabney visit his website at
www.eddabney.com. To learn more about Rockin J Horse
Stalls visit their website at
www.rockinjhorsestalls.com. To make plans to attend
the Virginia Equine Extravaganza®
and the next in the series of colt starting competitions
visit their website at
www.equineextravaganza.com
Equine Extravaganza®, a production of Maryland-based
Moonlark, Inc., is a comprehensive, all-breed,
all-discipline expo, held once each year in Richmond, VA
and now in Raleigh, NC and is one of the largest of its
kind on the East Coast. The 4th annual
Virginia Equine Extravaganza will be held at the
Richmond International Raceway Complex October 26-28,
2007, and will feature hundreds of the country’s top
equine vendors, sponsors, clinicians, performers and
professionals. More information is available at
www.equineextravaganza.com. |
