By Sheryl Lynde | Horsetrader columnist

According to author and motivational researcher Carol Dweck, Ph.D. of Stanford University, there are two mindsets. Some people think their basic traits are fixed for life. This is just who they are. They are defined by their past insecurities and traits such as shy, cautious, fearful, etc., and are limited by them.

The people who fall into this category are referred to as having a “fixed mindset.” According to her book Mindset, fixed-mindset people cope with failure very differently than the “growth-mindset” people. Fixed-mindset people feel that you are either gifted with ability or you are not. You either win or you lose.If they try something that is out of their comfort zone, they feel awkward and uncomfortable at not performing at a certain level. If they have to struggle with a new concept or skill, that spells failure. They are concerned with the approval of others and fear that showing their lack of ability in a new area will compromise how they are viewed and regarded by their peers. For those with this mindset, the risk of being vulnerable is too great, and often they quit.

Back country riders make it from Norco to Bishop—retrace their journey!

From Horsetrader staff reports

After months of planning—and training—Mike Williams and Rebekah Wan completed a 320-plus mile trek from Norco to Bishop.

Day 20: Made it!…we arrived in Bishop!
Wednesday, May 22 • 20.2 miles
We made it! 320-plus miles in 19 days through mountain ranges, desert, flood plains, aqueducts, streams, train tracks, trestles, wind, rain, heat … and patience. All the horses are showing the wear-and-tear, as are the riders, but they all made it! No more midnight waterings, 4 a.m. feedings, 7-8 a.m. starts in the saddle, and riding from dawn to dusk.

Day 19: It’s the homestretch
Tuesday, May 21 • 14.5 miles
We trailered out to Taboose to pick up the trail Mike and Rebekah left yesterday.

Objective
• To increase the level of difficulty on your turnarounds by adding a little more speed and collection
• To learn several ways to correct turnaround problems that many horses and riders get into

Things to Concentrate on
• Fundamentals! Soft neck, correct bend and cadence (or rhythm)
• Learning to feel when a horse is starting to draw back too far. If you’re driving the back end up this shouldn’t happen
• Increasing the difficulty without frightening your horse or getting him in an unpleasant bind
• Don’t get in the habit of using your outside leg for impulsion, it will cause problems in the long run. Tune your horse up to respond to your clucking if you need to, but outside leg will eventually start to make your horse invert his turn

California farrier Travis Koons finds success relying on a minimalist approach in therapeutic cases

By Jeff Cota, American Farrier Journal

“You don’t want to shoe lames horses, trust me.”

Bob Marshall tried to warn the confident young farrier, but the then 18-year-old Travis Koons had made up his mind. The Hemet, Calif., youngster had printed business cards, announcing that his farrier practice specializes in pathological, remedial and corrective horseshoeing.

“Why would you ever put that on your business card?” the legendary shoer asked him forcefully. “You don’t want to shoe lame horses!”

“Yeah, I do, Bob,” Koons told him. “I can charge more money.”