(timer reeling) (soft music) (timer beeping) - [Narrator] Funding for Georgia Outdoors has been made possible in part by The Imlay Foundation and from viewers like you.

(lively music) - There's just an air of nobility about horses.

I mean, look at that face.

That's why so many people love horses.

In fact, there are more than 74,000 horses living in Georgia right now.

(soft music) - [Narrator 2] Horse Country is scattered all across Georgia.

With rolling hills and miles of painted rail fences.

These pastoral images come alive when horses run across the land like mythical creatures in a fairy tale.

(soft music) Huge animals on skinny legs with long tails that fly in the wind.

(soft music) There's only one species of domestic horse but within the species there are about 400 different breeds from around the world.

Ranging from the quarter horse to a race horse.

They have been domesticated for over 5,000 years.

Equestrians live in a unique world with its own set of rules and traditions.

(soft music) At Fortitude Farm owner and head trainer Carolyn Bell, showed us some of those traditions.

So this is a show barn, which means these horses go to competition?

- That's right.

We go to hunter jumper shows.

- And they're, but they're all different.

- They're all different.

So what we've done for you today if, is we have gotten a jumper ready.

So this is Loot, and you'll see that his bridle has a shadow roll on it, and a long shank here on the bit.

This is a long shank, and that gives us more leverage because the jumpers are a little more, we call them hotter.

They're fiery.

They wanna go.

They, their job is to go fast and jump high.

Okay?

And so we present them a little bit differently over here we have his braids and his mane and you'll see they're big and thick.

So they're a little bit different than what we'll show you in a minute.

And then on his legs, we have his boots and they have fleecy and the boots are there to protect him to protect his tendons.

His tendons are very fragile and when they go fast and they jump high, they also turn very sharply.

And we don't want if they kick themselves, we wanna protect them.

(cheerful music) - Let me show you what she's talking about.

This is a jumper competition at Chattahoochee Hills Eventing in Fairburn.

What you're watching is a jump off.

These riders are trying to complete the course as fast as they can, without making a mistake.

You can see why it's so important to protect the horses legs, because sometimes they do hit the bar/ But when they clear all the hurdles without knocking off any bars, it is incredible to watch.

They jump so high and then turn on a dime just in time to do it again.

(cheerful music) Back at Fortitude Farm, we learn it isn't just the horse that has special requirements.

The rider is expected to dress a certain way.

So even her outfit is different for jumping.

- Yes, her outfit is a little bit different.

This is her formal jumping attire as opposed to my formal I mean formal hunter attire.

So this is formal hunter attire.

This is called a shadbely, these tails and this is called the stock tie.

And so we wear our formal clothes when we're going to do the derby which is something that is very exhibitor friendly and a little bit newer to the sport, the derby.

And it's very formal.

- It's also very expensive.

The jacket and boots are about $1,000 each and the helmet runs around 800 bucks.

That's just part of the outfit.

As you will learn, showing horses is an expensive sport.

So what are you gonna teach me next?

- All right next, we're gonna learn about a hunter.

We're gonna show you how we turn a hunter out for a horse show.

So this is a horse.

His show name is Ambiance.

And the reason his name is Ambience, is because if you look at his blaze this white marking on his face, that's called the blaze.

It's shaped like a flame.

- It is.

- Coming out of the top of the candle.

- Oh my God.

Yes it is.

(Bell chuckles) - So I named him Ambiance.

- He's beautiful.

- Isn't he beautiful?

- And so everything about this is different.

Like he doesn't have.

- He doesn't have the boots on, in the hunter ring we're not allowed to have boots.

And his braids are very different.

You'll see.

They're very tiny.

And that's another, that's a mark of a very good braider.

It's a braider that can make tiny, tiny, tight braids.

And so.

- Okay.

- That's very different.

You might've noticed that the jumper did not have his forelock braided.

The forelock, are the bangs.

- Okay.

- That are between his ears.

- His gear is different as well.

And unlike jumpers, hunters are judged on their form and their rhythm.

Carolyn makes it look like a ballet.

(gentle music) When the horse jumps, there should be a certain number of strides between each obstacle.

The horses knees should be even as they come up and their head stays down.

The main thing is keeping that steady rhythm that and attention to detail.

- If they have chrome, like he has the stockings the white stockings, we baby powder his legs, we oil his feet, so, it's very important that a hunter be turned out in an excellent condition.

- Even the tail gets special attention.

- Isn't that beautiful?

- The four.

- So this is how we braid a hunter, for a hunter's tail.

And when you braid their tail, it takes up some of their natural tail.

And we want the tail to be very full.

So you're not gonna believe this, but he has extensions.

(both chuckle) He has a fake tail in here, that's braided in and you can't tell at all, see, look at that.

- Yeah.

- Isn't that amazing?

- Wow.

Yeah.

- It matches that's custom made it matches his tail exactly perfectly.

Isn't that amazing?

- God it's beautiful.

- Isn't that beautiful?

So the braiders are very very important to us.

We can't go to the horse show without the braiders.

And my braider follows us around to all the horse shows all over the country and braids for us.

- Wow.

- And Missy, I wanted her here for you all today because her fingers fly so fast across the manes that you can barely see them when she braids.

She is just tremendous.

- And she's putting yarn in there.

Yeah.

- Yeah, she's braiding the yarn into the manes.

And she actually just shared a fun fact about the braiding with me, which is that before the fox hunting even, when we were at war, they would braid the horses for the soldiers so that the mane didn't get tangled up in the weapons and in the harnesses.

- Wow.

- Isn't that interesting.

- So this goes back, a long, long way.

- It goes back a long way.

Then the fox hunters braided the manes as well so that they didn't get tangled up in the brush.

- There's a lot to know.

- There's a lot to know yes.

And our hunters have a long history.

- Under the yarn woven into the mane was in case a soldier or hunter needed to tie up equipment in an emergency.

You begin to understand how much history goes behind traditions still used today.

(upbeat music) All of those traditions mean money.

A lot of money.

The horse industry pumps $2.5 billion into the state economy every year.

Making it one of agriculture's top 10 commodities.

Just buying a horse can cost a chunk of change.

- No horses aren't cheap.

They're very expensive actually.

I like to compare them to cars a little bit because you can buy an inexpensive car and it'll still get you from A to B.

And you can buy an inexpensive horse and it'll still walk, trot and canter but they're all levels.

So you can buy a horse that has all the bells and whistles like for example, a Maserati would, and that's gonna be a higher end animal with a lot more expense.

So I go to Europe and I import horses.

We train them, we put an American show record on them.

And then we sell them for six figures.

And there's a lot of money in the industry, not to mention, how many people the industry supports.

Because it takes so many people to help us.

We, need our grooms.

We can't, do anything without our grooms.

And we need our braiders and we need our trainers and we need our shippers.

We have to get the horses from barn to horse show.

When we go to the horse shows, we have to have our judges, we have to have our jump crew, we have to have our horse show secretaries.

I mean, it goes on and on.

- Barns, full of horses around Georgia and all of them generate income for the state.

Michael Allen, oversees Foxcroft Farm, like Carolyn.

He shows horses and loves everything about them.

- I think a lot of it is to do with there's connection, with nature.

They are beautiful animal.

Everyone says they're majestic and in their own eyes.

I think for some it's just, yeah, there's just a bond.

And for some of us, I think it's just in our blood - Michael has to make sure, the horses in his care are exercised and kept clean.

- Yeah.

I've got a heck of a job.

I mean, I get to play with horses and I mean of course run this whole lot operation as well.

But yeah, I mean, it's like a kid's dream really get to play with animals and get paid for it.

- Horses definitely have personalities and are quick to figure out whether you know what you're doing.

- They totally configure you out, whether you're on the ground or on their back and that they can they can test you a little bit and just like people can push your buttons and they'll push your buttons a little bit.

Some are much more accepting and go with the flow, and some are gonna be like I can give you a little trouble.

Let's see what you made up.

So, sometimes that's kind of I say the challenging ones sometimes once you figure them out, well, will give you more.

And for me, I always try and focus on the classic basics when it comes down to it, how to use your legs, how to use your hands how to use your eyes, your body, your weight, and all that.

And then how to understand connection or contact and how to develop feel.

And then from that point on, it builds from there from where you can stay like that or you can get to where you don't have to use any of that.

And you can just, look, change your body weight or whatever.

And you kind of get the same reaction.

So it's cool.

- His point is that it's all about the entire body controlling the horse.

Listen to this training session.

- (indistinct) so it doesn't get too loud.

The shape is fine their.

Just keep a little, and then good turn, watch your lower back so you're not collapsing through that kind of lift your, hold your core, (roaring sound) this reverse turn over here.

Patient, patient, patient, patient settle.

(horse gallops) Good.

One more.

(horse neighs) Don't let him push left there.

Outside aids, outside aids there.

Don't let him push to the left so hard.

- Now, watch him ride.

Like Carolyn, his whole body is working with the horse and he makes it look so easy.

- I do love the ride.

Yeah.

It's I said earlier, it's in my blood.

It's been a part of my life for, well since the day I was born.

My mom went into labor on a horse actually.

So.

- What!

- Oh yeah.

Yeah.

She rode in the day she had me.

Now, she got on one that was being a little naughty and her water broke when she was riding.

And then 22 hours later, I came.

(laughs) - It is in your blood.

- It is totally.

Yes, I love to ride.

I couldn't imagine my life without it.

So, I mean, I've had, I mean, I do a lot of other things on top of it, but, I mean, this is, this is it.

This is my passion.

This is my drive.

This is my lifestyle.

This is you know, pretty much everything I am.

- Well, that's a big, - Became buddies.

- Pretty big barn.

- Yeah, it is.

I think it's 'bout 30 stalls, 32 stalls up in this barn here.

And then we have another barn on the bottom of the hill that we keep like all the horses that are in the lesson program.

And I think it's the other like 15 or 16 stalls down there as well.

So yeah, it's a pretty big operation.

- It's a big responsibility too.

You gotta take care of these people.

- Yes, it is.

It's like being a walking, breathing, talking, den mother most of the time between horses and people.

So this is one of my guys here.

- This is Ramen, like the noodle.

His real name is Redman Charian but Ramen is his barn name kind of like a nickname.

- Is it okay to pet him?

- He's.

Yeah absolutely, he's very friendly.

He loves people.

Hey, how are you doing there Ramen?

You're pretty.

- I do some of the bigger hunter stuff on him.

Not, not the Grand Prix level but no, but like the international derbies.

Right down there.

- I like his little white spot.

- Yeah.

He's cute.

He's got a great expression and he's quite friendly, so.

- Ramen, give me an expression.

- Yeah.

- Can you tell me (indistinct).

- He's like what?

- What?

- What do you want?

- What do you want?

What you want?

- He's like, hi, you got food for me.

- Yeah.

- He's like, that a treat?

(hand tapping) - This is like my dog.

- He loves his treats.

Give him peppermint.

He's your best buddy.

(gentle music) - After being around horses, you realize they are curious and very social animals.

Horses don't like to be alone.

So this is your life.

- This is my life yeah.

This is eat, breathing and sleeping it so.

And this is Carmen or this is my other one.

He does all the natural looking obstacles and he's judged , on his style, his way of going, his manners.

And he's been very very good.

He's won the, most levels the national level with me.

He's been to West Palm Beach and show with me and got great prizes there.

I mean, he's, kind of a force to reckon with.

He's a nice horse.

So.

- He's a beautiful horse.

- He's a beautiful horse.

This is one of his favorite things.

You all see, He doesn't usually like he'll, like his chin.

He loves his chin scratch.

And usually he'll turn turn his head upside down when you do that.

But he's actually more interested in the camera right now apparently.

Yes, you're gonna be on TV probably.

Oh, there we go.

We found the spot.

That's his spot.

He loves that.

He usually he'll turn his head upside down when I do this, but he's a little bit distracted by dinnertime and the camera.

- And us, yes.

There's such a bond between horse and human.

It's something I wasn't expecting.

- But, he's my buddy.

- He's pretty.

- Yeah, he's my rock star.

So I've got a couple their a little obsessed with me but, most of them are just, they know I'm in charge.

I mean, let's say they're herd animals.

They're social animals and they have a hierarchy.

So, they always knew who the alpha is.

And that doesn't mean they're afraid of the alpha but they know I'm alpha.

They know I'm dad.

So they know I'm the one who takes care of them.

So they always look to me.

- Being around horses this much, made me want one.

Say dad, it's time to feed me.

- He's not photogenic or anything.

- Oh way, and he's not a (indistinct).

- No, not at all.

(somber music) - When you spend time around a barn or stable you realize the people who ride here are like family.

They hang out together, they take care of their animals together, the same is true at Fortitude.

And here again, you see that human horse bond.

- He's so silly.

- What is he doing.

- He's just playing.

He's just being playful.

All he wants is your love and attention.

He's so precious.

Yes.

You're so precious.

Yes you are.

Yes you are.

(chuckles) - Like Michael, this is Carolyn's life.

It's also the life of Madison Lareau who teaches dressage.

Where once again, there is a special style.

- The horse will be elevated in the front end and they make very beautiful movements.

The horses uphill.

It's a really.

- Kind of more like prancing.

- Yes.

Like prancing yes.

- Yeah.

- The highest levels, they're very elevated.

They're prancing.

And it's basically like a dance when you're one with the horse.

- So, Madison, what do you?

So it is, do you feel like you're dancing with your horse.

- I do yes.

- It's like a dance.

Yeah.

- I mean, what kind of bond have you made with the sport?

- A very very deep bond especially when you're riding, everything is all one gone.

It's like your aids are, you move with the horse as one, moving sideways or prancing and dancing, and it's, really, really special.

- And her braids are very very different than our hunter braids.

- I love the braids.

- Aren't they beautiful?

- Yeah, they're very different.

- And another thing that you'll notice is her bridle, her bridle has a lot of bling.

It's very very shiny.

And in the hunters, we're not allowed to have bling it.

They say it distracts from the judging but in the dressage world, you can bling it up.

(gentle music) - Here is the dressage dance so to speak.

Her horse Malibu is wearing wraps on his legs, to protect moves like this.

A deep turn where the horse is actually crossing its legs.

I'll show it to you again.

(gentle music) When he picks up speed, it's easy to see how his legs could bang into each other.

There is no jumping here.

Dressage is simply elegant and refined.

But any of these styles involve a lot of training.

Down in another field, Carolyn is teaching a four-year-old.

- Good job.

Look at you trotting on Tink all by yourself.

You're amazing Cora.

Look at that posting.

That's incredible, honey.

Try to push your heels down, okay.

Well done.

Wonderful posting Cora.

Nice job, honey.

Look at that posting trot.

That's amazing, sweetheart.

Push those heels down.

Oh, make her stand.

- Yeah.

- Very good Cora.

Very good.

You wanna give Tinkerbell a hug, a hug and kiss for Tink.

Very nice.

(hands tapping) - So this is, what you do all day every day.

- All day long, every day I come and I ride, and I teach and I train and we show and I coach.

And, (horse snorting) if I didn't have to do if I didn't have to work for a living, I would come to the barn every day and do what I do.

- That is a good job.

- It's a great job.

- Her older students will compete and she's preparing them for perfection.

That's what it will take to win.

(wind whooshing) - Sit down, lift your chin.

Look where you're going outside leg.

Well done, turn, don't you lower your face, broad your aim.

Sit down, look up.

Stay at the center of your jog, outside my barn.

Turn, look in the air, outside leg, outside leg.

Good job.

(upbeat music) (crowd cheering) - These shows are what it's all about for many coaches and students.

Regardless of the style every rider is looking for one of these.

A ribbon means prize money.

(upbeat music) (gentle music) Hugh Lochore overseas, Chattahoochee Hills Eventing better known as Chatt Hills, 8,000 acres where horse shows range from cross-country to hunter jumper.

So you, in the great scheme of things how big a player is the State of Georgia in the equine industry?

- It's big.

It's not just, not just the kid that turns up at a horse show that that has all that.

So everybody that has a horse, whether you're starting at the more economical level or competing at the high much more expensive level of a question is, you, you've got to have a farrier you've got to have a feed store you've got to have a tack store.

You probably have a trainer of some sort you've obviously got to have the horse and all the clothing and it goes on the list goes on.

There's a lot of background industry behind this, this one bigger horse, the use of horse sports.

- In addition, all the folks here are eating in Georgia restaurants and staying in local hotels.

Many of the jobs you talked about, involve simple things like keeping the course clean so that nothing trips up the horse.

Despite their size, these are delicate animals.

- Yeah.

Very fragile.

And, in many ways, we bred them to be so.

We're trying to create the perfect athlete a lot of the time for whatever sport we're in.

It used to be that you would take a draft horse and make it into a jumper, just because that was what was around.

But nowadays we're breeding horses.

We're crossbreeding different types of horses to create the ideal American football player.

You're going to, you're gonna, seek certain amount of strength, certain amount of speed certain amount of agility.

So you've crossbreeding and they are they're fragile.

They got legs that aren't much bigger than us.

They weigh five times as much as us.

And they travel at speeds five times what we can run at.

So have you imagined them jumping these huge jumps, the grind that we run them over has to be very consistent.

It has as consistent as possible because those little pens that are running on at high speeds, the tendons and knees we have to, manage their tendons very closely.

And thankfully we're all aware of that within the sport.

A lot of these horses go on into that, into their twenties.

They compete happily into their twenties.

And that's a, an old horse.

- While it's true that shows and competitions bring a lot of money into the state.

Many folks just like to ride for fun.

Some own enough land to keep them at home.

A peaceful ride down a dirt road takes you back in time.

Watching someone take a leisurely ride down a trail, or across a field is like looking at a Norman Rockwell painting.

It just seems like an all American thing to do.

Horses changed the way we fought battles how we got mail, that had a huge impact on the agricultural community.

Horses played a big role in history and continue to have an impact on our culture today.

I'm Sharon collins.

Will see you next time.

(gentle music) Funding for Georgia outdoors has been made possible in part by the Imlay Foundation and from viewers like you.

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