April 13

April 13, 1998 9:11 PM From: Dennis & Marcia Tipsword

        I have had the pleasure of owing, showing and judging for almost 40 years. In all these years I have seen many trainers come and go, but have never met a true horseman. That is, however, until I met Randy Bird, " Canada’s Man from the Snowy River" ! I was fortunate to come across Randy’s training technique through a purchase video of a pair of horses which he was training for a man from western Canada. In the video, Randy was showing and telling the owner of the progress that he was making. In a very short time, these unbroken range horses went form not being handled by human to well mannered driving pair. This video was most exciting. Randy broke these horses in the worst weather we have experienced in many years. These animals were working in 30 below wind chill weather which proved to me beyond a doubt that Randy is dedicated, well rounded individual who lives horses. I went to see the pair in action with the excuse to meet Randy and was totally amazed at what I saw. Randy seems to have a sense about horses that one can only describe as amazing and his method, although unconventional, is incredibly humane and effective. Randy uses technique developed by the legendary Australian horse trainer, J.D. Wilton. This method educates rather than breaks a horse. It involves a special set of training gear as well as a stock whip which gains the trust and confidence of the horse.

        I am the current president of the Michigan Horse Drawn Vehicle Association which is the largest driving club in the State and invited Randy to do a demonstration of his training methods last year. Sixty-five people attend that day and several horses were brought in, each with its own set of problems. The clinic started with a 2-year-old Bashkir Curly that Randy had trained to drive earlier that spring. This horse had nothing done with it from the time it left Randy to the day of the clinic. He began his whip cracking routine first in front, then over the sides and finally over the rear of the horse. The audience was in awe as Dixie stood like a statue and many commented that their horses would have fled to the next county. Next, a saddlebred yearling just off the farm was brought out and it wasn’t long before Randy had the little one leading and following the whip over several obstacles. The third horse was a Haflinger pony that, although it had been ridden, had never been harnessed or driven. Randy began slowly with the whip cracking routine and next came the harness and cart. In less 20 minutes, the Haflinger was driving around the arena with Randy cracking the whip over the pony’s head. Her owner was truly amazed! At the end of the day, sixty-five people went home in disbelief in what they had witnessed. They all agreed that Randy Bird is truly a " master horseman ".

        Whip and humane handling seem to be a contradiction of terms, but not when it comes to " Canada’s Man from the snowy River " . It is quite apparent that Randy’s compassion and patience work on any horse. If you want to create a solid, working attitude in your horse or watch a great clinic by a real professional, the man to call is Randy Bird.

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RANDY BIRD, Willow Wind Stable, 5200 White Road , Harwood, ONT. K0K 2H0

Phone and Fax [905]342-3053

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rbird@eagle.ca