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About Throwing Stones Farm
Throwing Stones Farm has been in business since 1996 working part-time and by
reference only assisting folks with problem horses and horse transportation. In
2001, Gregg decided to take his program to the next level.
Gregg Miron is the farm Manager and the developer of "Redefining
Horsemanship"®. Since 1996 he has been studying and practicing the various
techniques used by prominent horsemen like Pat Parelli, John Lyons, Carole
Fletcher, Chris Irwin and many others.
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Along the
trail with Little Joe
New Paltz
Times March 29, 2007
On a spectacular Sunday this winter, a day
that was mild and the sky vibrant blue, I was called by the crispness of
the air to go horseback riding.
An American Mustang owns me. His breed is the
last wild equine gem of the western frontier. He was born into a wild
herd in Nevada and was rescued during a drought by the Bureau of Land
Management Wild Horse and Burro Program. He came east with the name of
Scruffy, but now he is a handsome, lovable, feisty ten year-old, named
Little Joe. He has developed trust of humans and even enjoys our
presence. But Little Joe does not like the horse trailer. The ramp, the
walls, and the enclosure triggers his awareness that no longer could he
flee from danger, which is his survival mechanism. That Sunday at our
farm, he boarded the new trailer with difficulty. At least he got in, I
thought.
We headed south on the Wallkill Valley Rail
Trail. Over the bridge, with the magnificent views of the Dodd Farm and
the Shawangunk Ridge. Onto the remarkable Dressel property we rode,
apple orchards in every direction. We turned around and eventually
returned back to the Sojourner Truth parking lot.
Then the dusk and the winter cold set in. I
tried for over an hour to get Joe onto the trailer and was failing
miserably.
What does one do?
I called Gregg Miron of Throwing Stones Farm
in Gardiner. This Ulster County horseman is known nationally and
internationally for his skill as a trainer. His passion is training
horses and humans to safely use a horse trailer.
How fortunate for me, on that now cold eve,
that he was local and that I had a cell phone. "Gregg, I can't get my
horse onto the trailer."
He heard the desperation in my voice and
asked where I was. In 20 minutes he was with us. It was the first time
that I had met him, and it was now dark and colder. He told me to step
away and then established his alpha position with my horse immediately,
gently and effectively, with no yelling or brute force. I had never seen
my horse in training with another person. It is something akin to
sending your screaming child to kindergarten, and watching the teacher
extend their presence into your child's life. In a moment, there was a
behavior change and you learn something greater than your limited
experience of that other being. In fifteen minutes, the horse was in the
trailer, contentedly eating hay.
"Your horse is smart," he said. "You both
need training." He sent us off, reminding me to have a good evening.
Gregg, thank you for rescuing us, you are
amazing and a true asset to our equine community.
Judy Joffee
New Paltz
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