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Show KbftGSSipnS C-.- i i f L 4 i B1 Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Horse trainer takes his cues By ViAmi Prestwich Uintah Basin News Service When Daniel Orr was a teenager working as a tour guide at the Jacksonville Zoo in northern Florida he never dreamt that one day he would be training wild horses in the dry plateaus of northeastern Utah. Raised in a very urban, concrete-covered environment, environ-ment, Orr, who is an energy service safety instructor for Uintah Basin Applied Technology Tech-nology College, said he always liked animals. That's why he served as a volunteer in the zoo's education center, but even then he thought that was about as close to wildlife as he would get. "We had nonvenomous snakes, a hedgehog, lizards, fish, and tarantulas. Stuff the kids could pet," Orr explained. "It was pretty cool." His life was so far removed from cowboy hats and saddles that he never thought he would ever actually own a horse. Now, since moving to Vernal two years ago, he said owning a lot of horses has become his goal. Using every resource available, avail-able, Orr is trying to learn as much as he can about horses. He asks advice, reads, watches DVDs on horsemanship and also offers his services as a trainer. He's got the patience and the ability to communicate communi-cate with these four-legged creatures, according to his friends. Orr's talents and dedication has made him successful suc-cessful in turning wild horses captured during Bureau of Land Management roundups into useable mounts. "There are a lot of good cowboys and horse trainers in the Uintah Basin," Orr said. "I learn a lot from them. I can't consider myself a cowboy, cow-boy, but I love training horses. I like the western lifestyle. I like the fact that I live in a rural area. I have a hat and boots, but that doesri't jmake me a cowboy." Still in every spare moment he has, Orr is working with horses or trying to enhance his equine education. Part of that includes volunteering to help with the annual Dinosaur Dino-saur Roundup Rodeo. He is currently the vice president of the Vernal rodeo committee. "Some guys like to golf," Orr said, "some like to work in the yard. I like to work with horses." After graduating from high school in Jacksonville, Fla., Orr spent 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and obtained a degree in computer science sci-ence from the University of Maryland. During his military service he was stationed in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Other assignments took him to Japan, the Philippines and Australia. He ended up in Vernal when he married his wife, Misty Stuckett. The two met while Orr was living in Rock Springs, Wyo., working for an oil company. Orr had been told previously previous-ly that he was athletic enough and had the patience to be a good horse trainer. Once settled in Vernal, and as soon as the opportunity presented itself, he gave it a try. The method which Orr uses to train wild horses requires good communication skills as well as patience. "You want to get to know what the people want from the horse," Orr said. When he is done with a horse the owner has to know how the horse responds and what commands the horse is accustomed to. "It's not trained if just you can ride it," he said. Orr emphasized that wild horses rounded up by the BLM and then put up for adoption are not like horses that have been in the corral all their lives. These horses are not comfortable with people and are habituated to Each office is independently owned and operated. mm V ' prtton V - v ofeverysaleis cv donated to the 1820 West 1 Children's Miracle Hwy. 40, Ste F Network. Vernal, 43S - Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results 4 UyA i v . ii V . k , ' - - - - y . '. y- ..... I ,.:'. , : ... w " ; - : . -HrS- : jr.;.; V v i - . ' - ' ' " v .V ' ( '. ' v. , '.s- Orr puts the final touches on Toad taking cues from the herd. "You have to go slow," On-explained. On-explained. "You teach them one thing and then back off for a while." In the few years that he has been working with horses, Orr has become rather dedicated dedi-cated to the idea that one does not "break" a horse. "You're gentling them down," he said and explained that there needs to be trust between horse and trainer. Another phase that Orr considers equally important is the ground work. "Just like a house, you need a good foundation or the house will crumble," he explained. "The same is true with horses. You need to establish respect between you and the horse. Take the halter on and off. Start putting pressure pres-sure on tlie horse, moving his feet, picking up his feet. You want these horses calm and cool when you work with r mm III j - ' ' . ' , ' . ; ' I 4J J I ' v. -' - - r. mi .:J-.. - , . - - i - ' t n - " - - . - - I -' r ""r. " - "-" . --. j - -" j y - - : ' 7;-, . . 1-1 . - " ' " .. ... I r v. ".. r v- j.r ft!. "'I tki JV. -.' 'V Orr puts Toad through the paces in the outdoor arena Saturday placed for adoption by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. - - r ) Utah Amy Hacking 790-0432 781 - 2500 before a competition. them." Even after all the gentling down and the ground work, Orr recognizes that a horse may not want a rider on his back. "I've been thrown a few times," he admitted. "Some-,. "Some-,. times it just happens. A horse will act totally different once you get on their back.." Even as he volunteers his time to train mounts from the BLM wild horse and burro program, Orr is also studying equine nutrition. "I want to be the kind of trainer that understands all the needs of the horse," he said. This father of three is happy hap-py with his life. He loves his job, the people he works with and the many opportunities he has to work with horses. "I don't think I would have done any of this if I lived anywhere any-where else," he said. Beautiful 2 story home over full finished basementl 5 bedrooms, 3 12 bath, with officeformal dining room and bonus room off the master bedroom. Too many extras to mentionl Call Amy for more Information 790-0482 from his 1 I .1 - ; ? t i : w . --jiili irtt -. -. . ... '..., .l.J. , , : f uii at Dan Orr adjusts the halter on his horse, Toad. Raised in Florida, Orr is now the vice president of the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo Committee and an instructor at Uintah Basin Applied Technology College. A. SB mm -rsi morning at Western Park. The Vernal transplant trains wild horses , : 1 Beautiful 3 bdrm, 2 bath home, Fully landscaped wauto sprinkling system, Huge covered deck out back, Call Jan Sharpe Today 823-4OC0 Jan Sharp 828-4000 students A v N'v. v " As . V.t t v - II Cleo Mortensen 828-4916 Don't face cancer alone. Call 800-ACS-2345 or log on to www.cancer.org 247 for information or to find free services available in the Uintah Basin.. March Golden Age Center Dances, 155 S. 100 W. Vernal. Every Friday night 8 to 10 p.m. Kays Band, all are welcome. Winter Kundalini Yoga classes. Wednesdays 12-12:45 12-12:45 p.m. & 6-7:30 p.m. Call Margaret 781-8711 for more information. TOPS club meets in Vernal City offices, 447 East Main, on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. Ten Star All Star Basketball Camp. Call (704) 373-0873 for brochure or visit www. tenstarcamp.com. 17th Annual Uintah Basin Local Artists Show, Western Heritage Museum, 328 E. 200 S., March 4-28. Call 789-7399. 789-7399. 12-Step Recovery Program, meets Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m. at 2100W.Hwy 40. Open and anonymous. Call 790-7917. March 26 Eliminate genealogy clutter organizing pictures, histories and documents, 7 p.m. at the Family History Center, Lila Caldwell, teacher, call 789-3618. March 26-27 NIMS Training for 400 ICS, at UBATC Center, Roosevelt, Room C7.' Runs 4 to 10 p.m. Contact Michelle Miller, Uintah County Emergency Manager: mmiller co.uintah.ut.us to sign-up. March 27 2nd Annual Talent Show, Uintah High School Auditorium, 7 p.m. $5 donation at door. Open to the public. Come see the tremendous amounf of talent at Uintah! HATS OFF TO EDUCATION NIGHT, The First Ever Fifth Grade Challenge. Challenge starts at 7 p.m. at Uintah High School Cafeteria. Free. Formore information, call 781-3100. March 28 Spring Story and Song Get Together. An informal get together of story and song. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 226 W. Main, Vernal, 7 p.m. Freeopen to the public. For more information, call Lori at 789-4938. March 28-29 GED Test, Uintah School District Office, 635 W. 200 S., Vernal. Begins 6 p.m. Friday and continues Saturday. Apply at Ashley Valley Education Center, 250 S. Vernal Avenue or USD Office by 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27th. For questions, contact David John or Shela Swain at 781-4675. March 29 Rocky Mountain Elite Lamb Sale. Call 789-1185. 789-1185. Girl's Softball tryouts at the Naples Softball Park, 8 a.m. (8 and under draft), 9:30 a.m. (10 and under Continued on B2 Hosting m event? Post it for free on our community calendar at L 1 Custom construction throughout One level, 3 bed, 2 bath, groat tor entertaining. Upgradod Homemaker'! kitchen, gnrrion spot, RV parking. Call CIco at 828-4916 |