Earning Trust and Respect
Source: MiningGazette.com
Houghton, MI
May 2, 2008

It’s a basic routine for Lisa Holombo — blanket the horses, take them to their individual turnout paddocks, feed them, clean their stalls and transport the manure.

Four hours later, the morning chores are complete and it’s time to prepare for the afternoon.

Taking care of 13 horses boarded at the North Entry Stables is a full-time job for Holombo. In fact, she quit her career in home care to dedicate her time to the stable she owns with her husband, Steven.

“We generally start between 6:30 and 7:00 (a.m.),” she said. “I do three feedings a day, so I do another feeding between noon and 1:30 and an evening feeding.”

The routine continues throughout the day. Again, at the end of the day, the horses are fed, their blankets are removed and they are returned to their sleeping quarters.

Proper care for the horses is top priority at the stables, so the Holombos are bringing back a horse specialist for a clinic to be held at the stable.

The Natural Horsemanship Clinic featuring Dave Kluge will be held at the North Entry Stables in Chassell on May 9, 10 and 11 and is hosted by the Holombos.

Kluge, originally from Wisconsin, has been riding and training horses since he was a child. He has been conducting “Natural Horsemanship” clinics throughout the country since 1994 and has started over 400 horses with many being classified as “untrainable,” according to his Web site.

Throughout the workshop, Kluge, a horse trainer, will demonstrate proper riding techniques by earning trust, installing respect and developing communication in a horse/human relationship.

Events will kick off Friday evening at 6:30 with a horse starting demonstration.

“At the Friday night demonstration, people are going to be watching Kluge with a 2-year-old colt that has never been saddled,” Holombo said. “He’s going to have it in a round pen and by the end of the evening, he should be on the horse and ready for the first ride.”

On Saturday, the demonstration will continue with a workshop, “Starting Off Right in the Round Pen” from 9 a.m. to noon and “Building the Relationship from the Ground Up” beginning at 1 p.m.

“With your horse relationship, you want to get your ground work done before you get on,” Holombo said. “If you don’t get along on the ground, don’t get on.”

The events will wrap up Sunday with a workshop on balanced riding at 9 a.m. and a workshop on lateral movement from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This is the third time Kluge has conducted a clinic at the stables, Holombo said.

Built in 2000, the stable provides boarding for horses and features a heated indoor riding center for the winter, Holombo said.

“There are 13 horses here now, but we are cutting back to nine quite soon,” she said.

The Holombo’s have four horses of their own that are part of the daily routine at North Entry Stables.

The Holombo’s originally met Kluge at a clinic and brought him to Michigan for private lessons for their daughter. That’s when they decided to bring him for public clinics.

“He’s a really nice guy and he’s really down-to-earth,” she said. “He’s a great teacher and he gets his message across.”

Holombo found Kluge’s philosophy, which involves building a relationship with the horse, to be effective, and has heard numerous success stories from people who attend his clinics.

“I had a lot of people call to find out if we were going to be holding another clinic,” she said.

To reserve a space for the workshops, contact Lisa Holombo at 523-4532. Spectators are welcome to attend any of the events. The spectator fee is $10 a day or $25 for a weekend pass. Please bring seating and food and refreshments will be available to purchase.

Anyone interested in receiving private lessons is encouraged to call and reserve a space.

North Entry Stables is located on North Entry Road in Chassell. For more information on Kluge, visit www.davekluge.com.