Randi Thompson of Horse and Rider Awareness

I got to know Randi Thompson in the years of her participation in Horsemanship Safety Association.  These are years of which I am most proud of.  I became a assistant-clinician in this organization and worked with her and Donna West.  They are both people of high morals and great abilities and techniques with horses.  The horse world is so much better because of the works of these two people.

 

Randi Thompson Photo by Erik Olsen, Erikolsenpictures.com

Horsemanship Safety Association was started in Mazomanie Wisconsin by Betty Bennett Talbot and her family including Steve Bennett.  It is now considered defunct by the writer who wrote about my friend Randi,  but the teachings and certifications are still in use by her family who continues to bus in children from the city to teach them horsemanship skills.  http://www.hoofbeat.org/  They still to this day use this program to certify and instruct their instructors on how to teach and to it safely.

Many books were written by Betty Bennett Talbot about HOW to teach riding and their clinics were always about how to teach, teach safely and teach groups of riders.  Not just the individual.  The emphasis was on safety and knowing not just how to ride but how to impart safely the knowledge that you had in your head.  I learned so much from their program and was honored to be listed in the credits for the book that Steven and Betty wrote Games on Horseback.  The brief bio on this website says:  Mother-and-son authors Betty Bennett-Talbot and Steven Bennett are the authors of Games on Horseback, but the teamwork doesn’t end there. Betty is president and founder of the Horsemanship Safety Association (HSA), where Steven is Executive Director. Developed in 1964, the HSA teaches safe riding techniques to instructors and equestrians. It received the National Safety Council's Community Safety Award for Exemplary Public Safety in 1985. In honor of the HSA, Betty was inducted into the Horse & Rider Hall of Fame in 1996. Betty is also the founder of Heartland Horse Therapy, a riding program for people with disabilities.

This bio is from years ago and Steve has since passed on.  A few years ago during the 4 hurricanes that passed over the state of Florida I stopped in briefly to say hi to Betty and her husband John Talbot, while I was hauling horses to safety across the state.  They were still in Lake Placid and doing well then. 

I have may fond memories of my involvement with HSA and Randi Thompson including working with her and Donna in clinics in Florida, Maine and Michigan.  She signed the Pony Club D1 Certificate for my daughter, Tiffany Johnson, when she was a tiny little munchkin.   I had a great summer in 1999 putting 10,000 miles on my truck working at various summer camps all over the mid and eastern part of the US. 

I am honored and thrilled to see my friend Randi Thompson's story shared with the world!!! She has always been cutting edge and years ago she suggested that I should write.  I now write albeit sporadically when inspired.  Now she is videoing and still has an edge and the skill to impart to others, the ability to improve the relationship they have with their horse. 

This great article is written by Lauren Giannini about Randi Thompson's childhood and involvement with horses.  Read and learn more about Randi's concepts in horse training and how she has helped others to get REAL results with their horses. 

To catch up with Randi you can see more of her at  horseandriderawareness on Facebook or her Youtube channel randithompsonlive!

You can find me, the Computerized Cowgirl in many places, taking out trails or equitours in Florida and points beyond, keeping it real, safe and fun due to many of the tips I received over the years from Randi.  Thank you Randi for all the years you have shared what you know with others.