Nicole Brass Horsemanship

07/02/2024

07/01/2024

Here are a few of the River Grove Ranch highlights that were sprinkled between our blow out tires and truck fire . The Gold Rush Classic is by far the largest and most competitive Peruvian Horse show in N. America and it gets bigger and better every year!
RS Perseo

~double Champion of Champion Open Performance Horse w/ me

~High Point Versatility Horse

-double firsts Reining pattern with me
-double firsts ba****ck with Lauren Robinson
-double firsts champagne with Rob Sjodin

(sadly Elizabeth became ill and missed her ch of ch class with him)
RSTD Montanero

-double reserve Champion Amateur Performance Gelding LV 2

*and a rock star with Joyce Almas in the novice classes where they consistently placed high in a tough line up. So proud of Joyce for overcoming her many nerves to get out there!
LEA Luna Lena

-Champion Open Performance Mare
KRA Patron

-double firsts Ladies to Ride Performance
-double Champion Amateur Performance Gelding LV 1 with Tito Sandigo
-double Champion of Champion Amateur Performance Horse LV 1 w/ Tito
*Patron literally pulled a rabbit out of the hat for that win! When I was riding him in the open performance championship, he went through the pattern the first time flawlessly. On the return, he had to turn tight around the judge and then *gasp* the judge had put his hat on the next cone. To know Patron and his fears of all things that are where they shouldn’t be…well….he about expired on the spot at the magically appearing hat and hit the brakes. When Tito took him back into his ch of ch class, Patron managed to get around the hat cone perfectly! Mama proud for him also conquering fears
JBS Suspiro

-double Champion Amateur Performance Stallion LV 1 with Lauren Robinson
-Reserve Champion Open Performance Stallion

*I’ll put up a separate post on my guy. His accomplishment is too meaningful to me to just tuck it away at the bottom of a group post 🤍

Thank you to my crew of Zach and Jean for keeping it all together behind the scenes. And to Zach…I owe you one and next time you get your pick of a horse to show!

06/29/2024

The best way to shake off a bad week is to grab a horse and head for the hills. So I did just that first thing this morning with Jean, LEA Galena and LEA Zeus to take deep breaths, decompress in nature and soak in the beauty of the day

Jean has been one heck of a trooper and asset during her summer visit here with her horsemanship acumen, humor, hands and perseverance during some really tricky and trying situations. I am deeply grateful for her grounding presence.

I feel badly that her suitcase completely burned and she lost her belongings in the fire and I’m really hoping a jeweler can salvage her heirloom rings. I’m pretty sure she sat in the back seat on the way home repeating to herself ‘Go to Vegas, they said. It’ll be fun, they said’

I promise not to use her ruined passport as a reason to try and get her to stay longer. I also will do my bestest to make sure the rest of her visit is filled with only adventures of the good kind !

06/26/2024

You might think this is a repeat video from our blow out on the way to Vegas. Alas, this is another, 40 miles from home

The universe is either telling us to never ever return to Vegas or to just never leave home again and ride long into the mountains

Zach tried to sing while changing this one. Although he was lacking inspiration (he is also still dealing with smoke inhalation issues from the truck fire so his singing skills have been subdued on the return trip home)

Remarkably our sense of humor is still intact!

Except when we think of Les Schwab Tire in Hailey, Idaho who just sold us this set of nearly 4k ‘new’ tires that were actually year 2017-2021 models. When we think of how they endangered horses and humans by internationally selling us old and unmatched tires we get really really ticked off ……

06/25/2024

. Gratitude

Apparently leaving Las Vegas is more of a trick than we’d imagined. Yesterday we were maybe 15 minutes outside of the show arena at SouthPointe, when a passerby hanging out of his window yelled ‘You’re on FIRE!!’

There’s not much more than those three little words that can instill that particular kind of panic and fear when hauling 7 head of horses

Unfortunately, that driver didn’t stop to help. In fact, no one stopped. Even though we were on the I-15 in morning rush hour traffic, dang near next to the Bellagio

Inexplicably, the gas powered generator in the bed of the truck that powers the horse trailer A/C unit had caught on fire.

I pulled over and immediately began pulling water buckets hung for the horses to pour on the flames, which by that point were reaching over the cab of the truck.

Jean started filling buckets from the water tank on the top of the trailer and Zach and I were running them back and forth along the top of the concrete highway divider we were parked next to

Yet still the flames kept getting higher. Unfortunately our fire extinguisher was under a box too heavy for me to lift so I grabbed a moving blanket and soaked it for Zach to try. That didn’t work, either.

We had both called 911. They put Zach on hold and transferred me to the fire department, who put me on hold. We weren’t exactly in a ‘listen to hold music’ frame of mind….

Jean and I unloaded horses out of the back ramp, and still traffic wouldn’t slow down. I couldn’t unload the front horses from the offside ramp as we were right next to the highway divider, and I was afraid to unload them out of the escape doors as they would be jumping into the traffic. The traffic that didn’t even stop when I ran into the highway waving arms and screaming for help

While Jean and I were dealing with the horses, hero Zach went under the wet blanket to somehow get the trailer unhitched. By this point the hay bags and luggage had also caught fire.

As soon as he pulled the truck forward, a fire truck blessedly was driving by on the way to another call and the quick work of the first responders extinguished the fire. I will forever be mystified and grateful that the generator didn’t explode…..

When the flames were out, Jean and I were sorting the horses while Zach had to unpack the entire contents of the tack room and gooseneck as there were fears embers had gone inside the trailer and they would ignite. If you saw the previous video of our show set-up, you know that we had a packed trailer. We’d stayed up till midnight the night before packing the trailer, and it sure didn’t take Zach a fraction of that to get it unpacked

About that time, a god-send cowboy of an angel named Brock pulled up and offered his nearby Yard Ranch for us to take the horses. We hooked up without lights or brakes as all wires were melted and the police escorted us to his place where we could get the horses unloaded and safe

A mechanic came out and rewired the trailer and this morning we loaded up and then discovered that the trailer brakes were locked and the damage to truck and trailer was more extensive than initial assessment.

So. Here we sits outside in 115* temps. Horses are wondering what in the hay kind of thanks is this after their amazing service to us over the weekend at the show. And yet they are healthy and safe and that’s all that matters

We are all fairly traumatized and counting blessings. Zach has some smoke inhalation issues that will resolve . We have found a hauler to take the horses home and we now have the trailer functioning enough that we can tow it empty and we are eagerly awaiting our 4am departure time. Home will have never felt so good.

Many thanks to all the amazing humans out there who surrounded us will with helping hands and love 🤍

06/25/2024

Does anyone know of a hauler who can get 7 horses from Vegas to Idaho ASAP?

06/16/2024

Dads are ordinary creatures, turned by love into heroes, story-tellers, sources of adventure and singers of song ~

Happy Father’s Day to fathers of all species who guide, teach and parent, whether their own children or someone else’s.

JBS Suspiro with his son, RGR Alturas

06/12/2024

‘When he greats you with a nicker, nuzzle and regards you with large and liquid eye, the question of where you want to be and what you want to do has been answered’ ~ Albert Borgmann
LAG Triturador LAG Tribuno x LAM Turmalle

06/06/2024

Good news today in the advancement of horse welfare as the British Racing Association has banned the shaving or trimming of whiskers on horses ‘to bring the sport into line with other equestrian disciplines.’

The trimming of sensory hairs was outlawed in 2021 by the FEI – the international federation that governs the Olympic equestrian sports, and other disciplines around the world such as dressage, jumping, endurance, eventing and reining. Their decision followed other countries who had long ago banned this outdated practice and deemed it to be ‘cruelty to animals’

What is interesting to note is that the racing industry has, unequivocally, been the the industry leader in not protecting the welfare of their equine athletes. If even they have come to recognize that the practice of trimming whiskers is not in the best interests of the horse, then it’s rather embarrassing to be involved with breeds who not only allow it, but encourage it

The practice is as ludicrous as it would be to shave dog or cat’s whiskers. Each one of these sensory vibrasse hairs connects to a different part of the animal’s brain and are a direct link to the eir nervous system

The location of horse whiskers, aka vibrissae, is not random. They are concentrated around the eyes, between the nostrils and upper lip, and on the bottom jaw beneath the lower lip. These locations compensate for the blind spots a horse has in front of its face and underneath its nose. Horse whiskers provide feedback to the horse on their surroundings, helping to determine the safe distance from objects. They also help to protect the eyes and muzzle from potential harm

For some unknown reason, years ago someone thought it might look ‘cool’ to shave these whiskers off, and then soon everyone followed suit like blind sheep. Following without understanding why or questioning if it was actually healthy for the horse.

Help spread the word to others as those who continue to do this simply don’t know any better. Once we know better, we can do better. For the love of the horse

06/01/2024

So satisfying to watch the homegrowns all grown up!
Love the possibilities and potential of RGR Alturas & RGR Bolero

05/27/2024

Grateful to all who served so that we may enjoy the beauty of each day

05/24/2024

. RSTD Manolo

Once Manolo recovered from his completely shattered shoulder 3 years ago, I’ve been the only one to ride him. I had intended for him to be Elizabeth’s next show horse and then he was injured before they had a chance to dance together.

Yesterday I asked Elizabeth to ride him. And made me all misty to watch them together….what an inspiration this horse with the heart of a lion is. He will always have a slight mechanical difference in the lift of his left leg, otherwise he shows no effects of his should’ve-been-life-ending injury.

He will always be ridden lightly, even though he loves to work and be on the trail. His only post-injury return to the show arena when I ride him last year to the fairytale, fantastical win as Canadian National Champion of Champion Performance Gelding is bar none the most rewarding ride of my life. He’ll forever be the most spoiled boy in the barn

05/21/2024

. and then there was Tru
LAG Triturador
LAG Tribuno x LAM Turmalle

2024 Cactus Classic Champion of Champion Breeding Stallion

Tru had the biggest ask of all the show crew. Not only was I unable to work him in an arena since Texas, but he spent a week being collected (breeding) at a clinic and I picked him up and went, all laden with hormones, straight to the show grounds

As he was already Laureado (winning 3x previous) for Copper State, he was only judged under the Los Amigos show. Instead of taking him through the qualifying classes, I rolled the dice and entered him straight into the very last class of the show; champion of champions breeding stallions

I was showing in two classes before his so had limited warm-up. And, in a credit to his temperament that I’m so enamored with, he went out there and did what he does and loves best: performed for a crowd

I’m deeply humbled to call this horse my partner and be trusted with him in and out of the arena by Elizabeth Tierney and River Grove Ranch.
Thank you for believing in both of us.
It means the world to me

05/20/2024

. So proud of my amateur riders!

River Grove Ranch owner, Elizabeth Tierney, did it again, winning Champion of Champion Amateur Performance Stallion on RS Perseo! (Hecwas also double champion in open performance with me)

After having just won this title in Texas, she’s having a hard time deciding which belt buckle to wear each day and is absolutely positively over the moon. She is a reminder that in order to stay young, you’ve got to continually strive for the goals you set for yourself. She’s an inspiration!

And after the intended rider for RSTD Montanero was unable to ride, I asked Lauren Robinson to hop aboard and they went right out and won Champion of Champion Amateur Performance Gelding! I’m constantly putting Lauren on different horses and her skills continue to improve and it’s beautiful to watch her ride.
Great job, ladies! You sure make me proud 🤍

05/20/2024

Another poignant moment from the Cactus Classic came from this trio. This handsome horse, RSTD Expreso, came to River Grove Ranch last year when his owner, Jean Thom, (riding) was having a life change and needed to make the difficult choice to find Expreso a new owner

Jean came down from Canada to spend the summer here at the ranch helping us out and it was a beautiful reunion when she saw Expreso again.

Gigi (left), leased Expreso all winter and was so excited for her first show with him. She had planned on showing him in the novice classes and amateur performance, and then decided at the last minute that it would be fitting to have Jean show her former boy instead in the amateur performance. Jean hadn’t been on a horse since last summer when she delivered Expreso to the ranch, and those two picked right up where they left off and won Champion Amateur Performance Gelding!

It was a ride that made more than just me misty eyed.

Well done, Jean!

05/19/2024

There are so many interwoven stories from the Cactus Classic last weekend. My biggest point of pride was watching these three ladies, Rachel Clifford (LEA Princess Del Rio), Cheri May (CPR Amigo) and Gigi Tierney (RSTD Expreso), participate in the novice division in their first ever show. They did amazing! The novice division was so competitive and the biggest classes of the show (also participating in the novice division was Teri Szombathy on LEA Viviana), and I was beaming with pride as they all placed high in class after class as their hard work had paid off
Congrats ladies! You sure made us all proud

05/16/2024

Happy Birthday to the beautiful Lauren Robinson!

Lauren entered the barn a few years back with an incandescent smile and infectiously sunny attitude and I’m blessed to call her a friend and partner in many horse adventures. She is my right hand and has a full time job trying to keep my organized. She and Faraon are the most beautiful duo and I’m endlessly happy when watching them together

Whether she’s winning in the arena or riding though the mountains, she brings her brand of happy wherever she goes

Happy Birthday wishes to you!

05/08/2024

It’s time to bid goodbye to my month stay at Rio Rancho Verde and the proprietors, Carmela Lizzo and Joe Stock, who I’m happy to call new friends. They have created a true paradise in the Arizona desert and a haven for all the horses and humans who pass through.

They have paid meticulous attention to detail and at every turn there are vignettes in the landscape.
They offer a few airbnb rooms and have about a dozen RV spots with room nearby for your horses to stay with miles and miles of trails through the back gate.

I’m grateful to have found such a gem of a spot in the world and to have crossed paths with such amazing humans who opened their doors and hearts to me, 11 horses and Bo dog. Thank you for the hospitality; I hope to return the favor one day!

https://www.rioranchoverde.com/

05/02/2024

Sending out a congratulations to Rachel Clifford or her purchase of LEA Princesa del Rio!

Rachel began riding with me a year ago, and when she wanted to lease a horse, Rio (who I’ve had since a weanling and was just 6. As I start them all slow, she was far from a finished horse). And typically pairing a novice rider with a green horse is a combo best avoided in the land of horse training. However, Rio was the only option I had and also happens to be my favorite mare I’ve ever worked with, as from her first ride she has done an excellent job of taking care of me

After months of riding her 3-4 times a week, Rio has officially become Rachel’s first horse! They have been the perfect pairing and will continue to grow together at River Grove Ranch and I’m deeply happy to have them both with our posse of riders

Better yet, Rachel is going to show at the Arizona Cactus Classic Peruvian Horse Show next week. I’ll have 4 novice riders at the show and 3 have never shown before and we are all looking forward to a great time as everyone challenges themselves to become better horsewomen. That is what showing is for me; simply an extension and one facet of your relationship with your horse

Over the past few years I’ve brought 11 different novice riders to this show and several have gone on to amateur status and all have gone on to purchase their own Peruvian Horse

Thank you all (horses and humans), for
brining me so much pride and joy. I look forward to watching Rio and Rachel grow together!

04/24/2024

I’m staying in Arizona between shows with 11 horses. Despite the pressure to have all these horses ‘show ready,’ the riding I’ve done with them over the past month has been just down the trail (the arena dirt here is too deep to gait in, even if I wanted to ride in the arena. Which I don’t so that works for me)

All 11 of them ride out alone quietly and I’m riding them all, including spicy boys like Tru and Patron, in just a simple, loose rope halter. (I forgot to pack my side pull and had to improvise!) They all ride out great alone, with nary a whinny as we leave the ranch, and they all return relaxed and calm. This trait isn’t taken for granted, as it’s come through lots of work, until they all have developed self-confidence and trust the partnership they have with me

Why a halter? …………….Why not?

Many of these horses do not like bits. Their mouths are all conformed differently and in the Peruvian Horse show world, the horses must be ridden in the same bit. Which is good as it is a mild bit with a short shank so the bits can’t keep getting ‘bigger,’ as is the issue in so many breeds, but it’s not so good if that particular bit doesn’t fit the horse’s mouth.

I’m able to ride them all in a halter as the riding comes from my seat and legs and all of them can perform the same tasks that they do with a bit; show maneuvers, side passing, backing, pivoting off hind and fore, walking on a loose rein, gaiting, galloping if I ask, opening gates, ponying other horses, traversing obstacles, etc

Does this mean that some of the horses who don’t care for bits might be protesting when I have to put metal in their mouth to show? Yes. Would I rather see them happy and relaxed without a bit until I have to use one, instead of riding them all the time in what they dislike? Also yes. The show appearance is secondary for me to their overall physical and mental well-being. I’d rather they ‘play’ with and ‘mouth’ their bit for the short duration of a class than ask them to carry it all the time if they dislike it. They do for me, and I try to do for them. That’s what a partnership is

Does that mean you need to ride bitless to be accomplished? No, not at all. Each horse and rider is created as an individual.

What is confounding, however, is that if you can perform all the required movements and gaits without a bit, shouldn’t that be not only allowed, but rewarded as something to aspire to in the show pen? Instead, bits are REQUIRED, and bitless is not allowed. (This is standard across all breeds and disciplines. Bosal (bitless) classes are offered for young horses, then disallowed for the older horses). This follows the backwards mentality that many humans still have regarding horses and looking at them as an animal we need to be dominant over, versus a sentient being we can work with in partnership and harmony without force or fear. The pervasive thought is that a horse must work off of metal in its mouth to be considered ‘finished.’ (This does not mean the use of bits is always ‘unkind,’ it means the use of them stems from humans long ago who felt that they could only ‘control’ and ‘break’ a 1000lb animal through force. Most of us thankfully now know that that isn’t the case and finished, light, bridle horses are beautiful to watch. My point is questioning why finished ‘bitless’ horse is not acceptable or as revered)

There are long-awaited signs of change on the horizon for horses as bitless is now being allowed in jumping and dressage competitions around the world and some countries, such as New Zealand, have made bits optional in competition

I look forward to the day when I can compete on these naturally gaited, barefoot horses,who are worked without any artificial training ‘tools,’ in a way that is more natural and harmonious for them. Bitless goes hand in hand with their natural state and is a lovely way to present these horses and all types of horses

04/14/2024

Some days you’ve just got to ride into the sunset ~

Sending out Sunday gratitude to all my amazing followers. Thank you for sharing the love of all things equine!

04/10/2024

I’m positively giddy to be back in the Arizona desert for a respite under wide open skies with horses to keep me company

To say that the silence of rides through the desert in bloom has been rejuvenating after a long winter under a blanket of snow is an understatement…

So many stories from 45 hours on the road on a journey through Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, and I’m grateful for the health of the horses

The focal point so far was the fabulously run Lone Star Peruvian Horse Show and I’m immensely proud of the performances from horses and riders for River Grove Ranch.
Highlights for me was watching ranch owner, Elizabeth Tierney, winning double champion of champion AOTR Performance Horse on her mare LEA Luna Lllena, and Champion of Champion Performance Horse on her stallion, RS Perseo (who was also double Champion of Champion Performance Horse with me), and watching our Canadian friend, Rob Sjodin, ride my boy KRA Patron for the first time ever and guide him expertly to triple Champion of Champion LV 2 Amateur Performance Horse. And my personal favorite was the heart and soul LAG Triturador put into becoming Champion Breeding Stallion. He is the ride of all rides…. And then there was ranch hand Zach, riding out into the arena to sing the National Anthem from horseback. So many highlights!

While we are all grateful to bring home so many belt buckles, the real prize is in the heart of these horses and what they give to us. It humbles me and I’m so happy they can enjoy relaxing days in the sunshine for a moment. A second trailer just arrived with more horses from Idaho, so I now have 11 of my favorites to ride off into sunsets over the next month. Happy trails!

03/27/2024

. Road Poetry

*this is what happens when I’m heading into 30 hours of being stuck in a truck 🙃😂

In the wild west's rugged embrace, Zach, Jeremiah. and Nicole took to the road in haste

With eight horses in tow, they hit the road,
Through Laramie, Cheyenne, and Amarillo they strode.

With Austin, El Paso and Tucson still on the horizon's glow
Adventures awaited, tales yet to flow.

Nicole, with reins firm, tried to steer the course
But dinner at the Big Texan took a unforeseen turn

Zach's flat top cowboy hat, and Jeremiah's clogs, set tongues a waggin'

Locals jesting, casting jibes and bad vibes
The proud Idaho boys took offense at the jest and tables were turned creating a mess

Yet Nicole stayed calm with her loyal Bo dog and came to the rescue and pulled the boys from a bog

She should’ve stayed in, feeding carrots to horses, in the tranquil tableau of the stable
She prefers the horses to people or foe

Lauren and Elizabeth, flying high above,
Left the driving to those below, with love.

Eight steeds in tow, majestic and true,
Their journey's a rhythm, a melody anew.

In Hemingway's spirit, rugged and bold,
Their story still unfolds, a tale untold.

Of friendship, laughter, and the open road's call,
Where each adventure, grand or small, enthralls.

03/27/2024

. Life is filled with synchronicity

Our second overnight on the road was in Amarillo, TX at the Lone Star Bed and Bale (I highly recommend staying there for horses and humans if you’re ever traveling through!) As soon as I stepped out of the truck, I stumbled into the past by seeing Pete Kyle.
Way back, Pete had a training facility in Ogden, Utah which was down the road from my life at the time at the Shooting Star Ranch. Pete is an amazing Reining horse trainer and I was heavily involved in the Reining world at that time. Our lives, friends and horses intersected and so many wonderful memories tumbled through my mind.
Pete’s son Ryan runs the Bed and Bale and he still remembers his dog pulling him as a child on roller skates down the barn aisle at the Shooting Star Ranch. It’s been about 25 years since I’ve seen either of them and it sure was kismet to run across them in the midsts of all these wide open spaces.
Isn’t life grand?!

03/22/2024

. LAG Triturador LAG Tribuno x LAM Turmallè

As I get ready to hit the road for a long trip to shows in Texas and Arizona, Tru wanted to tell his sons stories about what shows are like (Tru really likes to show…mostly so he can show off!) and then he showed them how to get it done

*please note that he is a Peruvian Horse and they are 100% naturally gaited. Which means he was born moving this way, and he moves the same if I’m ba****ck with a halter on him. They are truly the smoothest riding horse in the world. Not only must this breed be shown barefoot, additionally, any artificial training ‘tools,’ such as draw reins, martingales, big bits, whips, etc, are forbidden during training or for show. He is even shown without clipped whiskers or ears to highlight the naturalness.
The Peruvian Horse was organic before organic was cool!
I’ve spent a lifetime training and showing a variety of breeds and the Peruvian Horse is my favorite for a multitude of reasons; the top of which is that they are natural in an increasingly artificial equine world 🤍

03/20/2024

JBS Suspiro, a stallion, helping bring his friend Garabato in from pasture. Suspiro requires just a side pull and is being ridden ba****ck. He leads by example in showing how stallions can be integrated into the ‘herd’ and become calm and focused once they are

03/17/2024

MSCRL Bolero, is sending out a Sunday message of love. That’s what life is all about !