2009 Mountain Trail compeditor Bridleless Oregon Horse Center

[shezcurvi]

Competitor



[NandiniJT]

Awesome partnership! Great course too :)

[Delela1]

Inspirational and amazing!! Love the relationship he has with Checkers. Horsemanship at it's best. Clear mutual respect, something we all can strive to earn.

[LankMcCrashnburn]

We just returned from OHC after showing my yearling mule Stella...got to meet Mark in person!  He was wonderful!! Very friendly and informative! We can't wait to take Stella to his horse park in Washington!! If you ever have the opportunity to work/learn with Mark...jump at the chance!!

[LankMcCrashnburn]

?Curious? Do you breed your horses? It is amazing how they naturally drop their heads to assess the trial and the obstacles...very Appy-like but I love that trait!

[mcmurf2]

wow, what a trail course.. very nice

[trudyverasita]

All good,but why spurs?

Throw out all the iron,then its complete

[miliser91]

@trudyverasita couldnt agree more! kinda takes the special away from it hey?

[lostbuckaroo1]

@trudyverasita

if this is a true horseman , he uses the spurs to clue his horse. the old time vaquero that rode bridle horses ways clued his horse him spurs, he hardly very touched his rein, working cows at fast paces, if you pick up the reins , you throw the horse of his game, spurs are only for leg clues.

[yourhorsedoctor]

The time and effort put into that course is amazing! What a quiet and willing horse!

[MindySchroder]

Gorgeous Facility!  WOW!

[misamiania]

Pat Parelli did not invent bridle-less riding. Bridle-less riding is as old as the first saddle if not older.

Mark Bolender has been to many clinicians and still attends clinics from time to time because he strongly believes you can not know everything about horses.

He has been some to Parelli clinics, however he's also attended Lynn Palm, Clinton Anderson clinics just to name a few clinicians who also do bridle-less riding.

On a ending note. Checkers is a boy.

[misamiania]

He has been to some*

[cowgirl3223]

i was there!!!=)

Mark is awsome!

[rreykdal]

Mark is a master. If you have the opportunity to attend one of his trail clinics, you won't be disappointed.

[2tipperary]

It is entirely possible for a horse to be well-schooled and responsive to his rider without the rider having the slightest clue who Pat Parelli is. Not all good training is Parelli.

[wolfsvain2]

@2tipperary I agree about the training thing. I use parelli as a primary training, but i also study as many other natural trainers as possible. I am becoming a horse trainer and have taken many trainers methods and change them to help my horses.

[Mandalark]

@2tipperary I agree 100%. I have not used any parelli type training on my horses yet can still ride them bridleless as well.. Plus, the 'natural horsemanship' way is older than parelli is, he just happens to slap his logo on it and charge more.. lol

[GotHorseCents]

As 2008 National Mountain Trail Champion award winner, trainer Mark Bolender and his 1st place futurity winning mount, Sir Rugged Checks are returning favorites at the show each year. Mark's training style is a unique blend of many of the top trainers he has had the opportunity to work under in his riding career. The outdoor extreme trail course Mark built is the premiere training facility in the Pacific NW. Check out his course video at his website Bolender Horse Park. Happy Trails!

[LankMcCrashnburn]

Absolutely beautiful!! I love how Mark waits for Checkers to sort things out...gives her time to think and then she willingly moves out. I have a horse and a baby Mule...we'll be at OHC soon!!

[lunabearjohnson]

This exhibitor's name is Mark Bolender and his horse's name is Checkers.. He has a beautiful training facility in Silver Creek Wa. Check it out online at Bolender horse park.. I see as always that they were a joy to watch! I have shown at this show the last few years and unfortunately couldnt make it this year, but it is an AWESOME show!!

[JeaneDeVries]

Very nice! Must have some Parelli training- lovely horse.

[Arabhorse2]

I doubt it.  Most Parelli-loon horses are never ridden.

[JeaneDeVries]

You clearly haven't seen enough to make a judgement. There are countless videos on YouTube of Parelli students doing amazing things with their horses in the saddle and on the ground. But it's okay to be ignorant.

[mysticpasos]

Beautiful performance. Curiosity, trust and harmony. Well done!