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Wednesday, August 29 2018 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Carleton Brooks: Keeping Old Fashioned Horsemanship Alive

Carlelton Brooks

By Catie Staszak

Portraits by Kristin Lee

On a Monday afternoon in the desert, there isn’t much going on at HITS Coachella to resemble the atmosphere of the horse show’s Indio, California, namesake. The loudspeakers are silent, the rings are empty and the most commotion one is likely to encounter is from the sand blown in by the strong wind tunnels that form beneath the Santa Rosa mountain range.

Carleton and Traci at their Malibu facility, where the barn and the riding ring boast an ocean view.

But Carleton Brooks doesn’t miss a Monday at the eight-week horse show circuit. While others are enjoying a well-deserved day off following a long week of showing, Carleton, who, along with his wife, Traci, runs Balmoral Farm in west Los Angeles and Malibu, California, is capitalizing on the opportunity to observe his horses in a quiet setting.

He watches, and more importantly, he listens, noting the tiniest of details. He mentally records the way his horses stand and move in their stalls — which leg is forward, which hind leg rests and which way they turn around. Throughout the circuit, he rotates his horses’ stalls so that they aren’t always leading with the same leg while eating, and he outfits every stall with a manger placed on the ground so that the horses eat more naturally and inhale less dust.

“The horse has to bend over to eat the hay, encouraging him to bring his hind end underneath him, bring his back up and bend his head and neck while he chews,” Carleton explained. “Isn’t that what we ask them to do [when we ask for shape] when we’re riding?”

Carleton, 60, and referred to by many as simply “CB,” is one of the most respected and recognized horsemen in the country — and he takes the title of “horseman” quite seriously. Operating Uphill Farm, Inc. in Atherton, California, out of the Menlo Circus Club for more than two decades before joining forces with Traci in the early years of the new millennium, he has trained four recipients of U.S. Equestrian Horse of the Year titles and 17 Champions at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Washington International Horse Show, and National Horse Show, where he has been named the competition’s leading hunter rider. He’s also an “R” judge and popular clinician; many top professionals from across the country also reach out to him for advice, coaching or training for horses determined to be difficult to figure out.

“I don’t know that there are problem horses — just horses that are not completely understood,” Carleton said.

The Handwritten Word

To talk with Carleton is to speak to a figure straight out of a novel — nearly every sentence to come out of his mouth is philosophically quoteable and worthy of being recorded in a book. Perhaps it’s because he, too, is writing down anything of note that he hears. For the past 30 years, he’s been taking notes of valuable tidbits he’s heard or learned from other professionals in the industry. He’s kept all of them. The majority is boxed up in his home, but he keeps his notes from the past year with him while he’s on the road.

Carleton likes to observe his horses in the quiet setting of the barn.

“Carleton is always studying,” Traci said. “If someone says something, he writes it down. He studies other sports — how they train and what they say. He’s always looking for a tidbit of knowledge. He reads a lot about coaching and teamwork. The book that [college football coach] Urban Meyer wrote, ‘Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season,’ is one of his favorite books.”

“I never go without pen and paper,” Brooks said. “If you write it down, you remember it. After they ride, I have [my students] write down the things that we touched upon that day or what they learned and what they have to do next. The handwritten word is very powerful.”

“Becoming the Horse”

Carleton’s horsemanship is deeply rooted, as he started out riding two horses bound for the slaughterhouse with his siblings in cornfields they cleared and plowed themselves near their Indiana home. Carleton credits that time for teaching him responsibility, work ethic and how to properly care for animals, at a young age. Eventually, he showed on the East Coast in the summers while he was in high school, and when he turned 18, he rebuilt a horse trailer from the frame up, loaded up his horse and drove with his brother Andy to California. To this day, he prefers to drive his own rig to cross-country horse shows like indoors and coordinates Traci’s and his shipping company, Uphill.

Carleton, with Green Conformation 3’6 Zone 10 Reserve Champion and Grand Hunter Champion Virtue, standinf with Lexi Wedemeyer and Green Conformation 3’6 Zone 10 Champion Mallory Square.
Photo by Jennifer Taylor

Carleton focuses his training methods on understanding horses and treating each as a unique individual. His program is the antithesis of “cookie cutter,” and he never forces a horse to do anything. More telling, he is not afraid to fail.

“It’s all about structure. You have to become the horse,” Carleton explained. “I have a philosophy of failing nine out of 10 times. Most of the time, I don’t fail 10 times before I figure it out. I used to laugh if I failed two or three times. I used to go, ‘That’s three down, that’s four down … I’m getting closer!’”

Carleton has used some unique methods to bring out the best in his horses. Neither Vested, the 1992 First Year Green Working Hunter Champion at Harrisburg, nor Penn Square, a top Regular Working Hunter, jumped in the schooling ring before showing. Clay County, a top ribbon getter at both Harrisburg and Capital Challenge, had to be ridden in a driving rein.

“Clay County didn’t like you pulling on his mouth. I rode him with a driving rein and he was butter,” Carleton recalled. “He had a special rope that he wore to the ring, which I got out of reading a book about a man who trained vicious and cruel horses using completely humane methods. I took him to the ring in that, trotted him up and down [the schooling ring], and then put him in the ring.”

“He’s a genius.” said Lexi Wedemeyer, Carleton’s assistant and rider. “I’ve worked with a lot of people, and there’s no one I’ve worked with that can think like a horse and put himself in that situation more than Carleton does. It’s amazing to work with him like that. Every day, I learn 10 things.”

Carleton and Traci enjoy their horse life together.

The Professional’s Professional

Carleton is kept busy with the day-to-day ongoings of Balmoral. Traci does the teaching at their West Los Angeles facility, while Carleton works with and develops horses at a newer Malibu facility, which the couple has worked out of for two years. The horses often rotate between facilities so that they can receive ample turnout on the sprawling Malibu property, where the barn and the riding ring boast an ocean view.

While he doesn’t show anymore, Carleton is still riding regularly and teaching riders of varying levels, and on any given day at Thermal, you can find Carleton anywhere from the pony ring to the grand prix arena, educating his own students as well as other professionals.

“Over the last 10 years, he’s started to become more in demand for other professionals,” Traci said. “It started out where he’d help them in the schooling ring and give them pointers. Now, whenever somebody can’t quite fully get something, everyone says, ‘Ask Carleton.’”

“Anytime I have any questions or need help at a jump, especially if Mom and Dad aren’t around to help me, he’s the first one there to lend a hand or bounce an idea off of,” said Olympic veteran Guy Thomas, who grew up under the watchful eye of Carleton while the horseman spent a time working for his parents, Butch and Lu Thomas. “He’s 100 percent about everything. If he’s going to help you, he’s going to give it his best shot.”

“Carleton taught me to think outside of the box,” said Mandy Porter, a three-time World Cup Finals veteran. “Each horse is an individual, and what works for each can definitely be unconventional.”

When amateur rider John Zambrano saw the success his partner, top hunter professional Peter Lombardo, was having at indoors with Carleton’s help, he wanted to work with him, too.

Carleton and Traci run Balmoral Farm in west Los Angeles and Malibu, California.

“I swear, he can speak to the horses in their language,” said John, who is also bound for the indoor hunter championships this fall. “The first time I worked with him was 2013, and he was helping me with a green horse. She was a little horse, and I’m a big, tall person, so there was a lot involved with balance and upper body control. Carleton put it all together so nicely in the way he explained it. I ended up champion that weekend. Ever since, he and I just clicked working together. I feel lucky to be able to work with somebody like him.”

“At indoors or a very big show, he helps me and my horse get ready from the ground, and it’s been really helpful,” said Peter, who rode to two championship titles and a reserve championship at the 2013 National Horse Show while receiving help from Carleton. “I do everything myself, and it’s such a luxury to have somebody like that helping you. My whole career, I’d have to ask the groom, ‘How did that look?’ To have somebody like that on the ground has been especially helpful.”

By the number of calls Carleton receives daily, it’s become increasingly apparent that his skill set is rare, his methods a throwback to another era.

“In our business today, the true horsemen are becoming fewer and farther between,” Mandy said. “A lot of people don’t understand the depth of his knowledge.”

Photos by Kristin Lee Photography, www.kristinleephotography.com, unless noted otherwise

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Tagged under: carleton brooks, catie staszak, hunter-jumper, kristin lee

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Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
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