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Training Director HT Derickson |
2010 Show 2009 Trail Ride |
H.T. has practically lived on a horse for all of his 75 years. When talking with H.T. you will hear many stories of his youth that involved horses and friends that had horses. From trips to the river for swimming and fishing, racing one of the first cars to come to Stanton, and then there are always the ones involving the show ring. H.T. has involved his entire family in some way with horses. All of his 5 children ride and enjoy horses and 4 of them depend on horses for their main source of income. You will frequently hear H.T. say he has still not lived long enough to have learned all there is about horses and he is constantly reading, and working trying out new ways of communication from the rider to the horse, "I learn something about horses every time I ride another one". His children and now grandchildren have benefited greatly from his knowledge. He is available to them and our trainers, almost daily for teaching. Professional or amateur, adult or juvenile, all have a chance to learn from this master trainer.
H.T. has won many championships in the gaited horse worlds, including the first ever Rea Swan award. His name is well known to those who frequent the winners circle. However, his passion is trail riding. H.T. has a goal to ride all of the United States, and he has met a large portion of that goal even in Hawaii. If you ask him where the nicest trail riding is, he will tell you, "right here in my back door, there are not any prettier trails anywhere that I have been, than the hills of Kentucky." |
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Trainer/Son James Derickson |
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Jamie has been in the saddle since he made his first show at the age of 5. Many blue ribbons later, he continues to grace the winners circle frequently. Jamie has International and World Championships to his credit. You will also find him riding and training horses for the trails with H.T. and Wilda all over Kentucky and the Eastern States. Jamie has an easy, quite hand and enough patience to work with any horse. |
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Trainer/Grandson S.T. Tipton |
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ST started riding at the age of 4 and has become one of the most respected young trainers in the industry. He is the grandson of H.T. and Wilda, so he was taught right from the very beginning. S.T. has a very natural easy going approach to training horses, and you will very frequently see him in the winner's circle. In 2005, he won the RMHA International Western Grand Championship. Working with amateurs and juveniles for the last several years, ST has coached and trained many UMH World and RMHA International Grand Champions. In 2007, ST trained the UMH high point Park and Classic winners. Also, in 2007, ST won his first UMH World Grand Champion ring. He will be styling, when he wears it with his 2006 UMH World Grand Champion Western Belt Buckle. |
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Equitation Specialist Wilda Derickson |
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Wilda, a TWHBEA Adult Equitation World Grand Champion, has educated many adult and juvenile champions on both the Walking Horse and Mountain Horse show circuits. The UMH Wilda Derickson World Equitation Challenge Trophy is awarded in juvenile equitation each year at the UMH World Show. Wilda expects, and gets, the best from her students and their horses. Her skills and instruction improve every riders' communication with their horse. She proves that riders are better horsemen and horses are better partners after lessons in equitation. |
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Trainer
Doug Spears |
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As a young boy that loved horses Doug came to VBF to receive riding lessons from Wilda. Doug grew up and found other interest and did not return to VBF until 1995 and joined the VBF team as a trainer. He brought with him a great interest and love of riding gaited horses. He has proven to be a great asset to VBF with his knowledge of gait and his experience in teaching a horse for the trails and the rails. |
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Trainer Brandon Willoughby |
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Brandon, joined the VBF team in June of 2008. His interest and love of horses started at the age of 6 when he was taught to ride by his stepfather (a well known trainer in the walking horse breed). His talent of teaching a horse to maintain gait, to trust the rider and overcome any fear of obstacles has made him a major part of our training program. You will find Brandon on the trails most days, but he does an exceptional job in the ring also. |
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Vera Patterson |
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Even though she does not consider herself "a trainer", Vera is very much a part of the Van Bert team and the wheel that keeps it moving. Vera is the daughter of H.T. and Wilda and the mother of S.T. She is involved with all aspects of VBF, from office manager, web design, photography, and sometimes she actually gets to ride. Vera competes in the show ring with her mare Autumn Strider, but she and Autumn love to trail ride best. When asked what she loves most about horses Vera will tell you, "it is the friendship you build between you and your horse, to be able to communicate with the horse like you would your closest friend." |
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Larry Patterson |
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Larry came to VBF when he married Vera in 1989. Larry is retired as a detective from the Kentucky State Police, but loves the marketing of horses. Larry prides himself in bringing together the perfect horse for each person. Larry enjoys working with the foals and occasionally showing in the conformation classes. He is very much a part of Van Bert Farms, with his military knowledge, he keeps VBF "running smoothly". |
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Philosophy of Training |
WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE BLUE IN THE SHOW RING OR A SAFE MOUNT ON THE TRAILS 
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A horse's training at Van Bert Farms starts shortly after birth, with handling and exposure to different elements for several months. Hands on work begins before a weanling leaves it's mother's side. In 2007, Van Bert Farms' trainers claimed the top five spots in the UMH Weanling division World trail obstacle obedience class. As yearlings and 2 year old, horses learn the cues on the ground which will prepare them for introduction to a saddle, bridle and rider. If a Mountain Horse has been prepared correctly, starting them under saddle is usually a gentle process. A saddle is slowly introduced to the horse and then, when the horse is ready, a rider's weight and shift in the saddle is added. A halter bridle is used initially, until the horse is comfortable with turning left and right, and has learned to start and stop with proper cues. For further training of headset, a bit is introduced, but only after a qualified Equine Dentist has made sure there are no dental problems and wolf teeth are removed. After a horse has shown consistency in gait barefooted, he/she is shod by an experienced gaited horse farrier with keg shoes only. No artificial training aids are used at anytime during the horse's training. Many horses still in a halter-bridle and unshod, will have very consistent, smooth and even gait. As with people , horses have special talents. After several months of training, an evaluation may reveal that some horses are more suitable for the show ring and others more suitable for the trail. Most Mountain Horses have the ability to be great at both. We believe our trainers give every horse,"it's best chance to be the best it can be". |
VAN BERT FARMS....
HAS THE TRAINERS....
WHO CAN SUPPLY BOTH! and they have the horses.....
if you don't already have one of your own! |
| Contact and Fee Information |
Training and Boarding Fees |
Ask for: Larry Patterson or S.T. Tipton 606-663-9437 or 606-663-9070 or e-mail sales@vanbertfarms.com |
Boarding with Training: $700 per month Boarding only : $240 per month outside $350 per month in stall Mare Care: $9 per day outside $15 per day in stall (when available) |
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