Trainer challenge highlights rehabilitated horses

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR~ 11/16/2011

Brandi Lyon was the winner of the 4th annual Luv Shack Challenge in Cave Creek earlier this month, but she said she hopes the event produces a lot of winners, specifically the 11 horses that participated.
Designed by Luv Shack founder Joey Ogburn, the event had 11 trainers each select a horse that was abandoned, abused or saved from slaughter and work with them for 90 days.
On Nov. 5 the 11 trainers returned to Cave Creek for the competition at Cave Creek Memorial Arena to show what their horses had learned
Lyon, who picked second to last, worked with Snickers, a horse so fearful of humans she couldn’t even be touched initially.
“Joey had saved her off a slaughter truck and she was terrified of people,” Lyon said. “The great thing with horses though, what is really amazing, is that they don’t hold onto their past. Once you teach them that you’re different from what they’ve experienced in the past they’re immediately trainable.”
Lyon who was brought up around horses, and taught to train them by her father said there are some personality traits required for working with horses.
“A lot of it is having the knowledge of knowing what exercises do and don’t work, but you have to know who you are as a person,” she said. “There are different types of trainers, but if you’re either one of those people that gets angry or gets defeated easily you’re in the wrong field. My dad said this years ago, and it’s so true, ‘the only emotion that belong around a horse is a sense of humor.’”
In 90 days Lyon was able to make great progress with Snickers.
“Normally you’d spend a bit more time, but we were able to get a lot done,” Lyon said.
During the competition the trainers showed that the horses could be loaded into a trailer. They then went through an obstacle course and performed a number of required activities before finishing with an eight-minute free style routine in which the trainers could select any way to showcase the horse’s abilities.
Trainers were judged on technical skills, artistic value and crowd appreciation with $3,000 going to the winner.
“All I really cared about was that I had a horse that was sound physically, healthy and ready to go,” she said. “It’s why all of us trainers got into this. Our goal is to change a horse’s life. To take them from where they were and get them to where they are adoptable was an amazing experience.”
“The Trainers’ Challenge is a really unique and fun way for our animals to be seen and adopted,” Ken Bacher, President of The Luv Shack said. “Our volunteers and trainers work hard for our cause. It’s amazing what they’re able to accomplish in a short time and it is such a reward to see the horses find a loving home.”
Snickers was one of four animals that were adopted out that day. Lyon said that three of the remaining seven also were in the process of being adopted.
The Adoption proceeds are used to pay for feed, hoof care, and vet expenses for Luv Shack horses, as well as to fund other programs for children. The Luv Shack is a 100 percent volunteer run organization with no paid staff.
Luv Shack is located at 6206 E. Rockaway Hills Road in Cave Creek. For information on Luv Shack go to luvshackranch.net or call 602-299-8975. .