Five Minutes With... 100 x World Western Pleasure Champion - Mark Shaffer

Mark Shaffer, 100 times World Western Pleasure Champion and brilliant clinician, has coached many riders including professionals, amateurs and youth, to huge success and is undoubtedly one of the World’s best trainers.  Mark based in the USA, is always happy to pass on the secrets to his success during his Mechanics N Motion clinics and since 2008, has been visiting Australia once a year, giving serious western pleasure riders here the opportunity to learn his proven training techniques.  In 2010 Mark’s Mechanics N Motion Down Under Tour expanded to 6 weeks and covered Australia and New Zealand and he’s planning another trip south in 2011.

Mark teaches a specific system of exercises, which can be performed with varying degrees of difficulty, depending on the training and fitness level of the horse.  The aim of these exercises is to not only make your horse physically strong and fit but also to provide mental focus.

The absolute best thing about Mark’s training program is that it really works!  Once you’ve attended a Mechanics N Motion clinic and implemented the training program at home with your own horse, improvement in their responsiveness and movement becomes noticeable very quickly.  This system achieves results regardless of what level you and your horse are at, makes riding more pleasurable and improving performances in the show pen.

As well as the Mechanic N Motion clinics Mark has a range of training DVDs that can be viewed in conjunction with attending a clinic or on their own.  He also has a range of tried and true training equipment available for purchase.  Visit Mark’s wonderful website  www.markshaffershowhorses.com to find out more.

Horsezone were lucky enough to attend a Mechanics N Motion clinic and catch up with Mark when he was in Australia...

When did you first become involved with horses?

I started riding when I was 5 years old. I had a training business at 13 years old!

 

What made you decide to train an

d show Western Pleasure horses?

Western pleasure horses are what I grew up around.

 

What do you enjoy most about training and showing Western Pleasure?

I enjoy the challenge at the top level of competition. It is a high degree of difficulty to maintain the horse’s natural movement with the control factor that I required.

What makes a great Western Pleasure horse?

There are 4 ingredients to a successful pleasure horse.

1) breeding - the pleasure horse must possess a pleasure bred background from both the sire & dam.

2) movement - the pleasure horse must have a lot of natural ability to have the movement required in competition.

3) confirmation - the pleasure horse must have the build to function & move properly.

4) disposition - the pleasure horse must have the mental capacity and willingness to be educated for competition.

 

what do you enjoy most about teaching training clinics?

My biggest fulfilment is developing a more educated and confident horseman. If the rider has a more clear understanding on how to operate the animal, it will save many unnecessary hours of confusion and frustration both with horse and rider. I walk away from the clinics knowing that the horse will have a better education with a lesser amount of dramas.

 

You have won many World Championships, however, is there one achievement that stands out as your most memorable success?

Our program has earned over 200 World and National titles. The most memorable to date was when my wife and daughter competed in the same class at our National competition in 2008. My wife earned the National Championship and our daughter earned the Reserve National championship. It was a very proud moment.

 

You inspire many horse people - are there other horsemen/trainers who were your inspiration or that you admire?

Yes of course, I had a few mentors in my early days of becoming a horseman. I learned so much from their expertise. These people include:

• Wes Wetherell
• Steve Heckman
• Jerry Stanford 

However, what provides me the biggest inspiration is the horse itself. It is an amazing animal!

 

We would like to thank Mark for his time and are looking forward to seeing him 'down under' again in 2011!