FTLComm - Tisdale - August 3, 1999
On highway 3 just East of Tisdale is located Tisdale's riding stable complete with a first rate dressage arena. Here is a place to learn about horses and their care, but also to learn the formal equestrian skills along the English style. Young riders are given the basics on well mannered quarter horses with able instruction and in an unparalleled setting.
This barn has been refurbished and provides more then adequate accommodation for its amicable society of four legged companions. In addition to horses that are part of the riding stable, there is room for boarders. Two dogs and two cats are in charge of supervision and administration providing around the clock security and inter species relations.
A riding stable is a valued asset to a community as so many people find the pleasant relationship they can develop with a horse has a positive affect on their lives. Horses by their very nature require a great deal of care and owners and riders alike discover that the caring for another living being makes themselves feel better. One rider comes out from Saskatoon just to spend time here with the horses and going out riding. This rider is visually impaired and for him the association with horses is the highest form of therapy he can provide himself with. One of Tisdale's first responders is happy to have her horse at the stable allowing her time to come out each day and still remain on call.
It was near supper time when these pictures were taken Monday afternoon and Morgan brought out a bucket of oaks which brought the horses in from the field. First to eat and first in every way is the leader of the pack below right. Horses develop a complex and well ordered hierarchical society with leadership and privilege.
This fellow is a quarter horse and if given the chance, loves barrel racing however, racing lowers his level of discipline at refined movement and that is what his good manners and gentle disposition make him best at. At this stable he can be counted on to provide a stable easy to ride and extra ordinarily well mannered and predictable behaviour.
It is obvious to you that this writer hasn't a clue about horses, that might explain the great surprise I had with the desire of this stallion to enter into direct interaction with me. He came over to the fence to talk to me and though it was hard to get a conversation going with him because I was talking to the owner at the time I still was impressed with the friendliness and genuine acceptance this fellow gave me a total stranger. He had spent a full year with a filly with the rest of the horses and failed to produce offspring. The leader of the herd is a gelding and this fellow respected the leader's directions and curbed his biological urges. It wasn't until this year when he and the filly had their own field that a colt was produced.
I had a chance to see them all including a yearling, a pony and assorted others that make up a well rounded set of horses to provide mounts for everyone who visits the stable. Though I have no desire to learn to ride, I think I will go back, just for the conversation.