Not Just a Cowpoke

Have a question about training, riding, starting colts, equiptment, or just about anything else horse related?

After spending most of his life on racetracks and ranches there isn't much Chuck Karlin doesn't know about a horse's life. Chuck, with his wife Koleen, are committed to sharing his lifetimes worth of knowledge by helping people find answers to their horse related questions.

To read more about Chuck's philosophy, please read Micheal Mahaffy of Barrel Horse News article on Chuck Karlin.
Click here to read the article.

THE PRAYER OF A HORSE

To Thee, my Master. I offer my Prayer:

Feed me, water and care for me, and when the

day is done provide me with shelter;

a clean dry bed and a stall wide enough for

me to lie down in, in comfort.

Talk to me. Your voice often means as

much to me as the reins.

Pet me sometimes that I may serve you

the more gladly, and learn to love you.

Do not jerk the reins, and do not whip me

when going up hill. Never strike, beat

or kick me when I do not understand what you mean;

but give me a chance to understand.

Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding, see if

something is not wrong with my harness

or feet.

Examine my teeth when I do not eat. I may have ulcerated tooth, and that, you know is very painful.

Do not tie my head in an unnatural position or take away my best defense against flies and mosquitoes by cutting off half my tail.

And finally, O my master, when my youthful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel master to be slowly tortured and starve to death; but do thou, my master, take my life in the kindess way and your God will reward you here and hereafter.

You may not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of Him who was born in a stable.

Amen.

About Chuck Karlin

Chuck Karlin grew up in a Thoroughbred racing family and has been involved with horses one way or another since he was about 5 years old. "I'm 66 now so it's kind of been a lifetime thing for me" he says. He grew up in the VanBerg Family, with his Grandfather, Marion H. VanBerg, and uncle, Jack VanBerg who are both Racing Hall of Fame Trainers. His Grandfather gave him his first job at a racetrack when he was 5, and he never looked back. As an adult he worked with his uncle Jack, an Eclipse Award Winner who trained Gate Dancer, Alysheba, and many other horses. Chuck also spent several years on the West Coast with D Wayne Lukas, where he started all of Lukas' 2 year old horses and managed the off-track program for him. Chuck met Ray Hunt in 1978 in California, and had the opportunity and privilege to observe and apply Ray's philosophy and approach in working with horses. Ray once told Chuck "It's not just a way of working with horses, it becomes a way of life". Chuck has been practicing it ever since. Throughout a successful career that has spanned more than four decades, Chuck claims he would not have achieved anywhere near the success that he has without his wife and partner, Koleen. "She still starts colts and rides with me. She goes to the track with me and works on the ranch. Shes been there through the good, bad, and ugly with me. She's been my rock a lot of the time".

(The above is an excerpt from www.barrelracingnews.com)