Released April 02, 2008

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- An internationally-known expert on horse behavior and natural horsemanship will speak at Montana State University's annual equine conference to be held Saturday, April 26, at the Gran Tree Inn in Bozeman.

Dr. Robert M. Miller will give the Catlin Memorial Lecture on "Understanding the Horse's Mind." Miller, the author of "Secrets of the Horse's Mind" and "The Revolution in Horsemanship," is considered the father of imprint training, a revolutionary technique for training foals. The retired equine veterinarian is transforming horsemanship with his techniques in equine behavior and natural horsemanship.

The equine conference will also include 12 breakout sessions, a trade show, luncheon, pitchfork barbecue and horse sale. The breakout sessions will cover a variety of topics, including a panel of experts discussing the issues on unwanted horses in America, foal care, manure management, nutrition, pain management, and small pasture management. The trade show will involve a wide variety of vendors and include a stallion/producer section. The pitchfork dinner and horse sale will be held that evening at MSU's Miller Pavilion.

Horses included in the sale were donated by producers and trained by students in MSU's colt breaking and training classes. Instructor is graduate student Wade Black, the son of Martin Black and grandson of Ray Hunt, internationally-known horse clinicians.

Cost of the conference is $45 per adult and $25 per student before April 11. Cost at the door is $65 per adult and $45 per student. The steak/chop dinner costs $17 before April 11. Attending the horse sale is free without the meal.

The equine conference will be followed the next day by a Wade Black Horsemanship Clinic. Black's horsemanship technique is called "Foundation for Perfection." The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27. Cost is $5 for spectators and $75 for participants on horses. The number of riding participants is limited to 12.

Schedule for the April 26 equine conference is:

• 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. -- Registration.
• 8:30 a.m. -- Welcome by Doug Steele, vice provost and director of MSU Extension.
• 8:45 a.m. -- Catlin Memorial Lecture on "Understanding the horse's mind." Dr. Robert M. Miller.
• 9:45 a.m. -- Refreshment break.
• 10:15 a.m. -- Continuation of the Catlin Memorial Lecture.
• 11:15 a.m. -- Break.
• 11:30 a.m. -- Concurrent Session 1. Participants choose from four topics.
• 12:30 to 2 p.m. -- Lunch buffet and trade show.
• 2 p.m. -- Concurrent Session 2. Participants choose from four topics.
• 3 p.m. -- Refreshment break.
• 3:30 p.m. -- Concurrent session 3. Participants choose from four topics.
• 4:30 p.m. -- Conclusion.
• 5:30 p.m. -- Pitchfork fondue at MSU's Miller Pavilion. All proceeds go to College of Agriculture student scholarships.
• 6 p.m. -- Preview of horses for horse sale and student reining competition.
• 7 p.m. -- Horse sale begins. Miller Pavilion.

For a sale catalog or more information about the conference, go to the MSU Extension Equine Web page at http://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/equine/equine/htm or contact Julie Hager at (406) 994-7953 or jhager@montana.edu

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http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5765

Contact: Evelyn Boswell, (406) 994-5135 or evelynb@montana.edu