AR Horsemanship

Hope’s right around 20 rides now and she is starting to show some real potential. We have been working on body control, cruising around at all of her gaits, and her stops. Her stops are probably her favorite thing so far 👌🏻 She was not a fan of the neighbor throwing a frisbee across the street. She was pretty sure that was going to kill us. But, other than that, I haven’t found anything that she’s been super fearful of. And we did work down from the scary man in the field. Hope is going to make someone a really nice horse. Don’t forget she’ll be available in January! #teamespanasilk #countercanterdesigns

Jimin 100 days from the wild 💜4 yr old mustang gelding out of Divide Basin, WY. We will be showing together at the 2024 The Fort Worth Mustang Show in September. This sweet boy is coming along great and is such a joy to have around.#teamespanasilk #countercanterdesigns #ftworthmustangshow

Our final class of the makeover, freestyle! Freestyles have always and will always be my least favorite thing. I am never fully prepared. And as usual, this was made up on the spot 🤣 Despite not being rehearsed in full, Chandler had done all the components separately. He got a little hot in the arena but considering everything, I was super happy with his performance. We were not perfect for even close, but we got it done. Chandler and I finished in 5th place overall! In the auction on Saturday afternoon, Chandler sold to a lovely couple. They picked up the following morning. He is doing great and they love him dearly! #teamespanasilk #teamcountercanterdesigns

Our final preliminary class was trail. This was Chandler’s best class, but it was not without its bobbles. The poles were very white, so there was some clear hesitation in his gait. And despite us having a checkerboard bridge at him, Chandler wasn’t sure that he was able to cross over the one in the class. Chandler really pulled through for me here and got both of his leads clean, and stopped nicely in the box. He did roll the pole in our back, but in his defense, backing over a pole that they can’t see doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I came out of this class estatic with how well it went. Chandler really had tried hard for me in there. I couldn’t have asked for a better pattern from him. He gave me everything he had. We placed 1st in this class! EspanaSilk Grooming Products Counter Canter Designs

Mustang Maneuvers

Our 2nd class was maneuvers. For this class, we didn’t have a great warm up situation. Because of the lack of warm up space, I wasn’t feeling very optimistic about the class. Chandler was struggling to pick up his left lead, and he was mentally hot so I had no idea how our class was going to go. Chandler handled himself overall nicely in this class, despite his anxiety over his canter. Another class I was happy with! We placed 6th again. #teamespanasilk #countercanterdesigns

It’s time that I posted some updates on the Extreme Mustang Makeover now that it’s been a week since we checked in and started showing 🤣 Our first class was the handling & conditioning. This class went well, apart from moving on his feet pick up and thinking that the trailer was a little too small for his hind feet. He did everything though, and I was really happy with his performance! Chandler earned 6th place in this class. #teamespanasilk #countercanterdesigns

It’s time that I finally posted about this sweet boy💜On April 6th I picked up a 4 year old dun gelding from Divide Basin, Wyoming. Previously tag 3510, he is now Baby Mochi, barn name Jimin!He was a curious but incredibly jumpy little guy. I’ve had him for about 50 days now and he has easily become one of my favorites. He has so much try and is very much an in your pocket, wants to be friends with everyone kind of horse. Jimin and I will are working towards competing in Fort Worth, Texas in September. Following the competition he will be available through competitive bid in an auction. #teamespañasilk #countercanterdesigns #thefortworthmustangshow

Kookie’s first time doing liberty in the big, grass arena! He is such a natural when it comes to liberty work that he makes my job easy. Tracking left he never left me once. Going to the right, which is his off side, he left a couple of times but came back easily and went right back to work.

Chandler is coming right along in his groundwork. We are preparing to have a first ride soon, but I wanted to make sure he was respectful of all his cues on the ground. Today, he started learning the pick up. He caught on in a very short 15 minute session. And he couldn’t have cared less about having me up above him. #teamespanasilk #countercanterdesigns

I’m behind on updates… but Kookie is progressing amazingly in his undersaddle work. He’s got 3 rides now under his belt, and has been super chill about having me on his back. Kookie had his first 2 rides last week before I left for the Southern Equine Expo, and then he got a week off. So I wasn’t really sure how he would do today coming back into work. He was a total champ and we ended up with an awesome 3rd ride walk-trot. I’m still taking a my time and doing a much slower approach to everything than with some, but it seems to be paying off!

Mouse’s first run in the Smoky Mountain Trail. We showed this morning at 9:30, the first to go in our division. I’m very proud of how Mouse has handled herself with the obstacles, and the atmosphere. For her first time showing and being in front of the crowd, she couldn’t have been any better. She got a little bracey after our jump, but that was the only thing. I almost forgot to trot to the teeter totter so we only got like 2 trot steps, but that was totally on me! Round 2 tomorrow! #teamespanasilk #countercanterdesigns

Mouse and I are competing this weekend in the Smoky Mountain Trail challenge at the Southern Equine Expo. This is her first major outing to a show and already she has surpassed any and all expectations that I had for her. She has taken everything in stride, really trying her hardest for me. This video is a small clip for our practice on the trail course. We show in our first round tomorrow! Mouse is looking sharp from our amazing EspanaSilk Grooming Products 🤩

Kookie’s first session with learning to draw in by following the whips. He has a lot of natural draw and enjoys getting positive reinforcement in the form of pats. I’m so impressed with how quickly he picked up on this. And while this is a small accomplishment, Kookie has so much potential to develop liberty work!

First touches on a new mustang are always so special 💛💛 Tag #6563 is off to an amazing start in his gentling journey. He is has had about an two hours worth of work that’s been split up into shorter sessions. He is moving off of pressure and was quick to pick up on round penning, turning in to face me, and when to stop. He draws in quite nicely. Unlike a lot of the geldings I’ve worked with, he isn’t curious in reaching out to sniff me, a whip, or anything of the sort. But, he does like to follow me when I release the pressure so I wouldn’t say he isn’t curious. I cannot wait to get my hands on untangling both his mane and his tail. He has some impressive wind knots. My EspanaSilk Grooming Products will come in clutch to make him really shine!

On Wednesday’s we wear pink💗💗 Toya’s accomplished a lot in the first 30 days of her domesticated life! She’s got roughly 10-15 rides. Although I’m really bad about keeping track. We have a long way to go between now and the competition middle of June, but I’m really happy with how far Toya has come in just a short amount of time. She’s not without her struggles, but she’s truly an incredible mare! Toya and I are proudly sponsored by EspanaSilk Grooming Products and Counter Canter Designs 🤩🤩you can use my code arhorsemanship to get 15% off your next Counter Canter order!)