Horse Lover's Bunkhouse Home of Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship

06/11/2024

"Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." – Francis Chan

06/11/2024

Painted this for a friend whose mom passed last weekend...
Even in death there can be showers of blessings.

06/11/2024

I recently was asked a question,
“what’s your technique for teaching a horse
to stand tied patiently and quietly?
First off if you ask me any horse training question
On messenger or text, you will get a message
back from me with my phone number…
because often I need to know a little of the back story
in order to give you a good answer…
that takes a lot of typing back and forth.
And call me old fashioned but I like talking
And connecting rather than texting.
This isn’t the first time I have been
asked a question similar to this.
So I will share some of my thoughts here.
Since I still don’t know the background of the
particular horse referred to in the above question…
I will share general principles.
But it can certain change depending on
the severity of the problem.
A word of warning: working with a horse that
has learned to break away or panics
when tied can be dangerous.
Be honest about your own ability,
skill level, and confidence.
You may need to get help from
an experienced trainer who doesn’t offer quick fixes,
and will work with you and your horse together.
Here goes.
Remember principle #1
Tying your horse safely means NOT
triggering the flight or fight response.
Let that sink in.
Principle #2
The steps for teaching your horse
to tie safely are the same steps for
teaching him to lead, stand quietly for mounting,
and million other things.
Everything matters, and everything connects.
Princip[le #3
Before teaching your horse to tie safely,
he must consistently (and with no resistance)
give to light pressure.
Every time you handle the horse
the way you present the feel of the lead rope
is important.
Even the way you put the halter
on and off makes a difference.
The feel you use to back the horse up,
or ask him to move forward,
or step his hip or shoulder over,
it all sets the horse up for success.
The more consistent and better the feel is
the fewer problems you will have
when you tie the horse.
So before you tie, your horse should
give to light pressure from all directions –
left, right, forward, back-up, and head down –
consistently without resistance or pulling back.
I know this isn’t a quick fix….
Sorry I am not into that.
This means lot of giving to pressure exercises.
If you want a horse who stands quiet and still while tied…
you first need to make sure your horse is comfortable
giving to blocking pressure in all directions
with contact on your lead rope.
This is the key that unlocks safety,
and a calm relaxed horse who is ready to tie.

The Bottom Line: When you help your horse
feel calm and safe by removing physical and mental stress,
your horse will be less likely to panic
and will look to you for reassurance.

Please REMEMBER: Only when your horse
consistently stands quietly and
gives to pressure on his poll
should you attempt to tie him.
If your horse does not have these two traits yet,
then keep practicing giving to pressure exercises.
Ground tying is another great exercise to master.
Helping your horse learn to stand still and quiet
for grooming, saddling without being tied
also help the mindset of the horse.
Training the horse to stand still and quiet
at a mounting block and for mounting also
add to successful tying.
This post is long enough.
I have share how to prepare the horse for Success…
Tomorrow I will share things needed
to tie the horse up for the first time.
Feel free to add anything in the comments,
I did not exhaust all the possibilities of
ways to prepare your horse for tying.
I know this way takes time and effort,
but if you want the best results that is what it takes.

06/11/2024

The birds are peaiseing Him...
Oh Praise Jesus forevermore.
He is great...and greatly to be praised.
#

06/11/2024

Another one of my favorite old hymns... it had to have a sparrow ..singing praise to the Lord...for He watches over us.
#

06/11/2024

Felt like painring a colotful little bird singing a melody in her heart.
I really like this hymn.
#

06/07/2024

I am going to try to say this as politely as I can.
And I am not in any way putting others down
or their methods or lack thereof.
I hear a lot of talk about how we have to teach horses
to move balanced, in rhythm, relaxed and collected.
We have to teach a horse how to take leads etc.
It kind of puzzles me that we would have to teach them
these things.
I mean have you ever watched a foal or most any other horse,
running and playing in a pasture....
they do this naturally, without any interference
or lessons from our mighty intelligence.
I have seen so many beautiful pictures of mustangs
in the wild doing all of these things without being taught.
When I lived in NV I got the chance while working
for an outfitter to observe plenty of wild mustangs
in their natural habitat.
And believe me they were majestic
and did not have to be taught these qualities.
They had them all running up and down steep
rocky mountains, across dried up river beds,
through tall sage brush, etc.
I guess maybe if the horse is born and lives in a stall
all it's life it may have to learn how to go over rough terrain
with grace, ease and safety.
But this stuff is already engrained in their DNA.
So it shouldn't take long for them to catch on.
Maybe we really have to do some unlearning
because we teach the horses to brace,
causing unbalance, lack of rhythm and collection.
I watched a 13 year old girl who came to my camp
a couple of weeks ago, riding her young horse
for the first time at a lope.
He was naturally balanced, rhythmic, collected, and relaxed.
Why? Because he had been started well...
and because the young rider just stayed out of his way...
she rode with balance, and confidence,
and let him move naturally, the way he was designed to.
She didn't have to teach him where and how to place his feet,
a certain cadence, to be balanced, or a particular headset.
It was a true picture of harmony.
I hope they don't unlearn this natural movement
they achieved on the very first ride.
I also watched 9 year old riders who were fearless,
and also just stayed out of the way of their horses,
not trying to the force the horse into a posture or lead,
they just sat up their straight and confident,
the horses seemed to act and look like
they didn't even have a rider on them...
because they were not braced...
waiting for some kind of forceful que or correction.
It was a beautiful thing.
But as soon as they tried to start impressing the others
it seemed to fall apart. Very interesting.
I have also discovered this with Ernie, Keith's new horse,
at first he was bracey and unconfident,
especially taking the right lead.
I discovered the less I did and the more
I just allowed him to find it...
he took the lead every time.
And so instead of trying to force it on him,
I just waited until I could feel his body right
and when he offered, I accepted it.
I didn't teach him how to take a lead,
or to collect while doing it.
When I just rode in a way that allowed him to find it,
by staying out of his way, and not trying to teach it too him...
He did it. Because he already knew how.
(Disclaimer: now if there is something off physically in a horse because of pain or an injury this can change things a lot.)
So my point is, just maybe we don't need to think
we are so smart that we have to teach a horse
to do something he already knows how to do.
Just maybe He will do it naturally...
if we are focused and just stay out of the way...
and harmonize with him as a rider,
without heavy aides, and big corrections.
Even though we had good intentions,
maybe we helped the horse unlearn his natural
way of movement...
So instead of trying to change the horse,
or retrain him, we need to
just take him where he is at,
with all the flaws we have put into him,
and allow him to find the way that feels good to him again.
I don't know if I have explained this in a way
that makes sense...
I am betting there will be some discussion in the comments.
This is certainly a hard concept to teach and explain.
I guess it is all about feel, observation, timing,
letting go of our view of perfection,
and seeing the horse how he really is
what he really feels,
and the way He was designed to move
on his own, naturally.
That maybe is true harmony.
The results can be a beauty we can't really teach...
we can only experience it, when we let go
of the way we think it has to be.

06/06/2024

I am getting posters made today for this event coming up.
Please like and share...
Thanks, Help us get the word out.
And if you would like to help sponsor...
please pm me.
Thanks.
We are glad Paul is coming back to our area again.

06/06/2024

Yes it is horse related.
“Absolute liberty is absence of restraint;
responsibility is restraint; therefore,
the ideally free individual is responsible to himself.”
-Henry Adams
And I may add the ideally free individual
Is submitted to God.
Because there is absolute freedom in Christ.

“Restraint and discipline
Are examples of virtue and justice.”
-Edmund Burke

“Where there is no revelation,
the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps the law.”
Proverbs 29:18

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06/05/2024

I was hired to do three original paintings that were all as close as possible on hymnal page ...
These are a memorial for parents who have passed...
One for each siblibg.
They turned out almost identical...that was a challenge.
The two butterflies at top represent parents.
#

06/02/2024

Country kids learn through chores that
hard work is a must and can be very rewarding.
One of the young girls at my most recent
horse/art camp displayed this quality of
work ethic, when she asked me before we
went to bed, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
And when the girls were cleaning their stuff up
as they were getting ready to leave,
she went above and beyond the call of duty,
helping others with their stuff as well.
She showed everyone how to make the beds well,
and so much more.
Now I am not saying city kids can't learn the same
work ethic, responsibility, and willingness to lend
at hand even when they are not asked to.
All I am saying is that kids on the farm/ranch
may just have more opportunities, and it is
not only expected it is a necessity.
As our society get further and further away
from the kind of lifestyle where farmer/ranchers
help each other, putting up barns, bringing in crops,
branding cattle together etc. it seems we may be
less and less motivated to do work that is not
particularly assigned directly to us.
It seems that we do the bare minimum and not more,
if even that.
I know that I appreciate the work ethic that my dad instilled
in me from a very early age by caring for animals, gardening, fencing, yard work and so much more.
I worked in the hayfield at an early age,
it was long hours and a lot of responsibility,
and at times scarey when things went wrong,
or stuff broke down.
I just want to say thanks to the parents out there that
find a balance between helping their children have fun in life,
and at the same time develop responsibility,
respect for property, and a good work ethic.
I know it can't be easy.

06/01/2024

Wrapping up this horse/art camp at the hub with ice cream....but emma had to leave early so missed out on the treat...and i forgot to get pucs of emma and alyssa while riding. All in all i think it was a very positive experience.
#

06/01/2024

This evening we brushed horses and practiced synchronized walking...learned aboit proper handling, haltering, and care of equipment...also went over parts of saddle and bridle...
Then did a pattern with the horses while leading.
Finished off the evening woth BFO, journaling and devotion story about ponies in the coal mine...and how Jesus calls us out of darkness into the light.

06/01/2024

Roasting hot dogs, marshmallows for smores, and believe it or not roasted pickles...youth horse/ art camp at horse lover's bunkhouse.

05/31/2024

The kittens got to come in the bunkhouse to eat...
The girls are spoiling them.

05/31/2024

Another horse art camp at horse lover's bunkhouse...
Nice job on their paintings.
We also did some pencil sketches.
#

05/30/2024

We have confirmed Wild Horse Ministry with Paul Daily At TAYLOR ARENA
JUNE 26-6:30pm

05/28/2024

Last trail ride of the horse/art camp was peaceful and fun...then we went to the Hub for ice-cream before coming back to horse lovers bunkhouse to pack and clean up.

05/28/2024

The older girls are finishing their painting while the younger ones saddle up for a horse swap with parents permission...they have been begging me to do this all weekend.
Hirse/art camp

05/28/2024

Just sitting stll in the quiet of the morning enjoying the pretty iris blooms and plants around the corncrib gazebo while the girls sleep in the bunkhouse...
I am reflecting on the past 4 days... what went well what didn't...how i can do even better next time...and all the little miracles and blessings of these beautiful days we call life.
Giving thanks to Jesus my Savoir for opportunitis for parents who trust me with their kids, the horses who put up with our nonsense trying to figure out what the heck we want from them as they give us their whole heart...and for these precious young girls their energy, enthusiasm, and influence on my life...as a few months ago i was ready to throw in the towel......i think the teacher always learns the most...and of course a huge thank you to Keith Jarvis the best husband in the world who quietly walks around picking up the broken pieces and fixing them...sees where we need help before we even know we need it...and serves us with love.
Again my cup runs over.

05/28/2024

Keith took a pic of all 7 of us tonight after our trail ride...one more day to go of youth horse/art camp at horse lovers bunkhouse...
Then start over again with a new group next weekend.

05/27/2024

Just confirmed that I will be a co-sponsor of bringing Paul Daily with Wildhorse ministry back to our area again.
We will be meeting at Taylor Arena at 6:30 pm on Wed. June 26th because we cannot use Burwell arena with the construction going on.
We are excited to get started promoting the event.
Watch for more news to come.
https://www.facebook.com/whministries

05/27/2024

The two 9 year old finished their horse paintings tonight....they were focused.
Youth horse art camp at horse lovers bunkhouse

05/27/2024

The hot dog were delicious and now they are enjoying smores. At youth horse/art camp ... #

05/26/2024

The kitten tamers have arrived at horse lovers bunkhouse..
We started the youth horse/art camp off today with roping lessons, a devotion..then flower drawing lessons...followed by a group lesson riding patterns...i have to give it to the two 9 year olds they kucked butt on the 13 years olds by not breaki g their patterns and getting the right leads....each girl got to show off with something they thought they could do well and we each shared what we like about what they did... 9 year old ellie was our favorite with her creative gumnastic trick riding... she is so strong and balanced...after lunch i split the girls up into two groups... the two younger ones did a lesson together and we had fun playing i can do it can you...then the three of us went on a trail ride...when we got back one of yhe older girls got her private lesson since shechas to leave early...while the others rode their horses on their own and the younger ones played with kittens...the older group got their own trail ride too...now we are making a fire for hot dogs and smores...followed by painting and devotions before bed.
I hope to make it through the rest of the day...lol

05/26/2024

Early morning roping lessons while tge teenagers sleep...lol
Youth horse/art camp at horse lovers bunkhouse

05/26/2024

I am little busy this weekend with 6 young girls from ages 9-13 are here at horse/art camp... It was so very precious yesterday as one young one said with tears in her eyes. I want to meet Jesus. Wow. My cup runneth over... so much love being poured out by the Holy Spirit.
Another one said it has been worth every penny we paid to come here. I already got more than my money's worth on the very first day and there are 3 more to go. She paid for every penny out of her own money.
She broke my heart with love and gratitude.
What a blessing.

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05/26/2024

Boy i am exhausted 5 hours of riding lessons ...2 hour trail ride...caring for horses... helping girls make spaghetti for supper...drawing lesson for 1.5 hours...and 45 minute devotion...
I will sleep good tonight after a long shower...
Repeat tomorrow.

05/24/2024

Two sisters got here a little early for the horse/art camp this weekend at horse lovers bunkhouse...
So we took an enjoyable trail ride.
Great start to a fun weekend.

05/24/2024

I have added a last minute spirit horse retreat in June (21-23) since the July and August ones are full.
Also have some art retreats with openings.
Or just come to relax at the Calamus Lake.
Or bring your horse for miles of trail riding.
Or come for riding lessons.
We aim to meet your individual needs.
See link for details.

Way more than riding lessons! Uncover the Joys of Riding! 2024 Spirit Horse Retreats and Art Retreat Dates Are Now Posted