Trainer Recommendations -- Rex Peterson & Cari Swanson

I asked readers of the Horse Lovers of the Business World Group on Linkedin to recommend trainers who might not have a national following. Diana Murphy responded with this very strong recommendation for Rex Peterson and Cari Swanson. Diana's filly, Belladora, is pictured here.

Rex Peterson & Cari Swanson are the best team when it comes to clinics, training, starting young horses and "fixing" problem horses. Some may recognize Rex Peterson as the Hollywood Horse Trainer, having trained numerous stunt/movie horses for well known movies including: Black Beauty, The Horse Whisperer, Hidalgo, Flicka, Dreamer, Appaloosa, All the Pretty Horses, The Ring, The Patriot, Buddy, Crazy Horse, Far and Away, Sylvester, Three Amigos, Runaway Bride and The Black Stallion. He has been interviewed in numerous magazines and film. What most people don't know is that this exceptional trainer team, previously only available in Dutchess County, NY, is now available for clinics and actually travels throughout the US - helping "regular" people with their horses.

Speaking from personal experience, Rex started a strong/hot unbroke filly for me in 2007. This filly had no trouble rearing straight up and staying up, but that's not what we wanted in a riding horse. After only 3 days with Rex, she was started under saddle and has never reared with a rider thanks to Rex's immediate correction in the round pen. She has since developed into awesome and very safe athlete at 5-years old. And this year, Rex started another unbroke filly, who began to develop a fresh attitude as she turned 3 in 2009. I decided to keep my filly in the program with Cari Swanson and just over 3 months later, she took 1st place at her first show which was a large show (NEDA Fall Festival at HITS in Saugerties, NY) and then went on to take 2nd place (missing the win by a mere tenth of a %) at Dressage at Devon in PA (the show of all shows on the east coast). Absolutely incredible results by this team of professionals. For info, visit their website: www.swansonpetersonproductions.com or call Cari to set up a clinic at 914.456.3155.

I cannot stress how incredible my experiences have been with Rex & Cari. I have a 2-year old who will be started next year and I wouldn't think of having anyone else start and train him.

Long Rider Belinda Reaches Cooke City and then Gardiner, Montana

Belinda has emailed two updates -- the first one describes a rough trip to Cooke City, MT, through the mountains east of Yellowstone, including two grizzly bear sightings. The second post describes the trip west from Cooke City to Gardiner, MT, across some very rugged mountains with more grizzly bear sightings. Here's the latest:

We are finally in Cooke city,now. Had a few detours that probably cost us 3 days. Trails we rode to were not brushed out from the fires. Spent a day going in circles, up to 10,000 ft, almost. Hard work for the horses. Our first day out of Pahaska we saw a male griz. Probably 100 yds away. He didn't even give us a hello or anything. We camped at Camp Monaco, Buff Bills old campsite. The whole place was burned in 88, kind of a drag. The next day we climbed to over 10,00 ft to a pass. The descent on
the other side was pretty hairy. A thousand vertical feet of rocks about the size of grapefruits, on average, plus quite a few snow fields, wind, rain and hail kept us company, too. Hard going for the ponies, wading through the rocks and steep descents. Finally got to the bottom, in a nice wet forest. The creek was running hi and muddy. Camped at an old cabin that was pretty cool. Also saw a female griz and cub the second day out of camp. Wildflowers were to die for. The smells were great, especially in the deep forest. Nice to ride in a forest that wasn't burned. Due to
the closed trails, we had to ride the road from Little Sunlight to Crandel, where we stayed at a campground and had showers! Really good grass everywhere and the horses may be gaining weight. 2 more days brought us to here. The whole place is tore up with road construction. We had rain every day and night until now. Nice to have the sun all day and have dry feet for once. My mule is sore footed, so a shoer
is coming from Cody today. Then we will be on our way to Gardiner. Guess we will be in some deep wilderness then. Hope the trails are brushed. We have met some interesting and nice people along the way. Some real characters. They probably think the same about us.

Well, that's the short version.
Happy trails,
Belinda

Next update:

Made it to Gardiner MT. Haven't seen one elk or moose, but did have a
griz walk by camp one morning. Rode in lots of snow, rainand wind. But
also had sunny days. Gorgeous country from high to low. Wildflowers
everywhere. I have so many flower pictures. Here in Gardiner, bought hay
from Bill Hopppe, 5th generation rancher. Nice guy. His great grandad
was the first white person born in MT. Horses are holding up well,
except Jim Bob threw a shoe. Had one put on this am by an old guy who has
shod 23,000, by his count. We all swapped some good stories. We are at a
campground above the Yellowstone river. Lots of rafters an kayakers
going by.
The way we got here is Cooke city, over Daisy Pass, over Wolverine Pass,
camped on Wolverine ck. Rode over the divide between Wolverine and Lost
creek, to Slough Creek, up again over another pass, down to Buffalo Guard
station, camped. Out of Buffalo,up over another pass, down to
Hellroaring (what a creek and cool bridge crossing), camped. Rode to Fawn
Lake, camped and then to Jardine, an old mining town,old mines everywhere,
a cool graveyard with lots of people dying in 1902, from flu, I believe.
Rode on towards Gardiner, stayed at Eagle creek campground, then on to
Gardiner yesterday. We will leave here Sat for the trails to Ennis.
Guess we may see some mt goats along the way- I hope!
Take care all,
Belinda

If you check the map at the top of the page, you can see that the route from Cooke City to Gardiner and now to Ennis to the northwest crosses some very rugged mountains. I'm sure we all wish Belinda and Jim a continued safe trip and good weather crossing that territory.