LS Ranch Naturally

08/10/2024

This is one of the most beautiful acreage properties around Bend OR.
22 acres and gorgeous farm home , pond, irrigated pastures, wonderful lifestyle with livestock!
Check the land and home and beautiful location!!

This 3808 square feet Single Family home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It is located at 60377 Arnold Market Rd, Bend, OR.

08/04/2024

Folks Yeah ! ! !
Jody & Dave have been asked back to Lone Jack MO. at
Sitter Downs Arena. We're excited to be coming back. They host many excellent folks and we're flattered to be included.
We'll be there in October so set your calendars, or better yet, contact Nancy ASAP. We have limited space available. click below for details
(if the flyer blocks out Nancy's email, it's [email protected]
https://conta.cc/4cl3m9a

07/17/2024

Folks, as summer begins to wind down set your calendar for the north country Wolf Creek MT in October. Dave & Jody will once again be at Rocking Z guest ranch for 5 days of great horsemanship, great accommodations, Great people, and Super Great food. It just can't be beat. If you've been there you know what I mean. If you haven't yet, this may be the year for you. Click below and get your name in the pot.
(note: some email managers block out email addresses in the flyer. Jody's is [email protected])
https://conta.cc/3WbtEUX

Dave Ellis & Jody Grimm are back in Wolf Creek Montana October 7 thru 11, 2024 Dave & Jody have the unique ability to help folks develop confidence in natural settings. At the Rocking Z Guest Ranch yo

06/18/2024

Hey folks on Tuesday the 18th after leaving my little mule, Annie, sit for a few days, I put my 4th ride on her and she began to express herself which actually thrilled me. She has been so quiet and willing with never any opposition the two years that I’ve had her. We’ve played on-line and worked some on the ground under saddle. We’ve ‘snuck’ a couple of rides with me holding the lead line and a couple at Liberty with me driving. Our manager Mayan played “crash dummy’ for me and there was never any opposition.

She is a mule and it’s just a matter of time until she has something to say regarding my opinion of what we should be doing. Well it seemed that today was the day. I’m still riding in a natural hackamore holding off on the snaffle for a bit. Mules, according to Tom Dorrance, are the kings of BRACE; so, I expect her to lean on the hackamore and test me to see how serious I am about turns and stops. All that is moving along according to plan Today when asking for a lope she finally said “maybe this has gone too far’. It wasn’t much opposition but I was glad to see that she did have something to say. We worked through it and finished with both of us in a happy place.

I’ve included a little video clip of her complaining. We finished the ride outside of the round pen riding at walk and trot around and into our arena. Jody took some nice videos of the finished ride and we’ll include them in our Horsemanship Library when I get it up and running.

It was great fun and I’m excited with her progress. See you down the trail.

05/16/2024

Folks, 2 years ago I bought a nice yearling molly mule off the Internet (don’t tell my mom) with the advice of a former apprentice and good friend. Well she was right and the mule has just been a joy. I named her Annie. The breeders had named her Oakley so it seemed to fit. I wanted to wait until she was 3 before I rode her. We actually started last year with some saddling and a couple of sneaky rides from our ranch manager, Mayan Moshe. Mayan has been a great sport crawling up on this little mule and hanging on while I played ground games. Annie never complained a lick.
I put my first ride on Annie yesterday. Mayan videoed while Jody provided support.

Here is a little clip from the ride which went just right, and a treat for me.

We are working on a Video Library project. It’s in it’s infancy. When we get to a distribution phase, we’ll be documenting this little mule’s progress here at the ranch. Should be fun along with the other videos taken here at the ranch and outside clinics. We’ll keep you in the loop as we progress with the project.

05/06/2024

Folks, don't forget about Jody & Dave in Walworth county fairgrounds in July.
Last year was a great success. Contact Jody to get your name on the list.
Only 2 months away.
https://conta.cc/3JQOmUz

Jody & Dave are Back Walworth County Fairgrounds Elkhorn, WI July 18 thru 21, 2024 Jody Grimm Parelli 4 Star Professional continues to advance her Finesse skills by continually re-connecting, riding,

04/30/2024

So folks, last month 2 of the 4 horses that we had in for c**t starting went home to their owners. Both were going nicely. Each owner was very pleased. I contacted them and Quinn’s owner is “over the chart” pleased. Sundance’s owner is very pleased. She has a little issue with the snaffle which we’re helping with. Each horse was significantly different while being the same age. Quinn, a 3 year old Andalusian and Sundance, a 3 year old Mustang gelding. The first rides were put on by our apprentices under Jody’s and my watch. The last rides were by Jody and me with help from the apprentices. Both horses were in the snaffle bit and both were soft and responsive.

So the reason I put this piece together was thinking about their differences and how it may have gone if we only had “The way to do it”. The early part of my life I started (broke) many c**ts successfully, meaning that they were rideable and the owners could ride them at home. That was all that I knew then. After meeting Pat Parelli and becoming aware of the Dorrances and Ray Hunt and a different way to start horses, I made major changes in my approach to c**t starting. It still took many years of addressing them as “naturally” as I knew to be able to recognize what each horse needed from me to understand. I still am not right all the time; but, I’m closer.

My mother was correct in telling me “don’t get stuck in a rut”. There are hundreds of trainers out there, maybe thousands, starting and developing horses. All with a different slant or approach. All the good ones each looking for the best for the horse. Whenever I get a chance to observe one, usually these days on my computer or TV, I make sure that I don’t say to myself, “Boy I wouldn’t do that”. I am not touching the horse, feeling what the horse said to the trainer. There could have been much more going on than I could detect. The same as the two that were here for Jody & I. One needed initially a strong effective leader; then a quiet steady hand to guide her. The other needed a quiet steady hand; but near the end, needed a stronger leader to help him realize that every thing did not always go his way. Neither seemed like this when they arrived; but they told us when we played with them.

Jody & I each work diligently to look at our horses with a clean perspective each time we pick them up in the mornings. We play with them starting with where they are at the moment. Then work towards moving them to where we would like them to be without damaging their dignity. We both look for what they need from us to be able to respond in the direction we wish them to go.

Worked well for these two. We still have 2 more here who get the same consideration as we work with them.
Take care, see you down the road. Dave

04/08/2024

Folks, here's a chance to sharpen your feel with your horse and then apply it with Cowboy Dressage maneuvers.
Jody & Dave will help you and your horse to become Reliably Responsive through various patterns.
https://conta.cc/3vI4pRa

Dave Ellis & Jody Grimm in Gilroy California June 22,& 23 2024 Improve your Refinement Test it with Cowboy Dressage Jody Grimm, a Designated Parelli Finesse Specialist and 4 star Instructor, will assi

04/03/2024

Hey folks, Dave got the number of days wrong on his clinic in Wyoming,
It's 4 day clinic with lessons on the 5th day.
Sorry, Dave says that it's his third senior moment of 2024 and he can't remember the first two.

Dave Ellis in Buffalo WY at Spear Z Spear arena June 10 thru 14, 2024 examining the values of Rein Management with Two Riding Styles FREESTLYE & REFINED Dave Ellis is a Parelli 6 Star Professional an

03/30/2024

We'll be looking in depth at the value to our horse of riding with Refined reins and with Freestyle reins especially through transitions. You may be surprised.
https://conta.cc/3VGwAuq

Dave Ellis in Buffalo WY at Spear Z Spear arena June 10 thru 14, 2024 examining the values of Rein Management with Two Riding Styles FREESTLYE & REFINED Dave Ellis is a Parelli 6 Star Professional an

03/22/2024

We have had a last minute cancellation for the Lester Buckley clinic and have an opening for 1 rider to participate in the Clinic, 4 Days, April 16-19, at LS Ranch, Porterville CA.
If you are interested contact Jody Grimm, [email protected]

02/29/2024

Hey folks here’s a little update on two of the 4 horses that we have in at this time for starting and for further development.

The little Andalusian, Quinn, is just blossoming more each day. She has decided that scampering around and striking just isn’t worth it. She has become quiet, thoughtful, and interested in actually pleasing her human. In the short time she has been here, she has moved 180 degrees to the good. We attribute this to a couple of primary philosophies. 1 – We let her be herself by jumping around, kicking out on-line and insisting that she do even more than she thought of doing. Then waiting for her to stop and ask us could she stop. We generally responded with no not yet. We’d like to see even more antics. My thoughts on this were to show her that we were not impressed with any of this nor were we threatened by any of it. This was the first week or 10 days that she was here. 2 - We than began setting some boundaries and worked Bill Dorrance to death with the right thing easy or comfortable and the wrong thing as uncomfortable as necessary. In about another week she just turned a corner and decided to be part of the family here. At this point we could begin asking her to accept the saddle, accept the rider and now she accepts the bridle. She’s still a little dynamo but it’s all channeled towards the good.

The Mustang, Sundance, has been a good fellow all along. The only issue that I see with that horsenality is that he seldom sees any pressure from going outside the boundaries. I know that at some point he will question his human and will need to follow her direction when he may not want to. While he’s here we need to occasionally “set him up” with a task that is above him, and ask him to figure it out and respond even though he may not want to. We do not want to over-face him; but challenge him a bit more. He is exceptionally good about following the program, going along with the human. He will be a super recreational horse and could be a fine performance horse if his owner wants to go that way. Right now, he’s just a joy to ride and check the ranch.

Both horses have been out on the ranch, ridden through cattle, and been ridden by their owner. Coming along nicely. We’ll now continue to expose them to everything we can find, and continue to put some miles on them. Here are a few shots from last week.

See you down the trail.

02/21/2024

A rare opening for 1 rider to participate in our Lester Buckley Clinic, 4 Days, April 16-19, at LS Ranch, Porterville CA.
If you are interested contact Jody Grimm, [email protected]

02/09/2024

Folks, I thought I’d catch you up on the progress of the two 3-year-olds that we’ve started. Each of them being opposite the other. They’ve been with us about a month. The Andalusian filly is just a fire cracker. The Mustang is steady Eddie. I worked with the filly the first couple of weeks. I felt that it was important at this stage of her development that she not get any reprimands or get into any trouble even though she consistently did troublesome things such as running through you, setting you up to be kicked or stepped on. She is pretty proud of herself and has a lot of dignity. So for the first few days I just re-directed her energy to a different place than she wanted. After she figured out that I was not going to waver, she began to take on a more peaceful demeanor. Then when she tested me I was firmer with my counter direction making sure that the instant she looked in for me she got a very big release. I waited until she asked to leave, let her go, then re-directed again. After she figured that leaving and acting foolish bought her nothing, I could then begin to ask for positive responses. She took to this handling quickly. Jody stepped in then to help her with positive responses and finding a way to act like a young lady. She very much liked Jody’s handling.

I picked up the mustang which Jody was already riding. We began to share the riding with our apprentices under our supervision. It’s unreasonable to expect the owners to ride the same as Jody & I ; so after a c**t is relatively safe I like to expose him to different feels from different riders. Two of the apprentices here wish to be c**t starters and I give them a chance to experience various aspects as these horses come along. Both do a nice job are good students that listen and believe what Jody & I share with them. Works well for the horses and the students.

After being with Jody for a couple of weeks, the Andalusian filly one morning came in with the herd and pretty much said I like it here and would like to get along. It was a rewarding morning. We supervised our apprentice from Italy through a bare-back pad, then the saddle, then sitting on her to the beginning steps of walking around with the new weight on her back. I must confess that I expected her to come unglued after a few steps and certainly when she trotted. But No! Our ground work and foundation help rose to the surface and she actually seemed to like having something different to do.

Both of these c**ts are destined to be particularly nice horses. Both are curious about everything. We take care to not disturb that curiosity. If it becomes problematic, we direct them somewhere else. So far both are going along with our deal. I picked up the mustang for several rides beginning to help him be aware that he will now have some responsibilities, will need to watch for himself, and become proficient with forward, back, left, and right. We’ve exposed him to cattle, hills and ditches and to a bit of actual schooling with circles, sideways, and straight lines. He just soaks it up. The filly has not yet left the round pen. She’s small and we feel no need to hurry her along. I’m expecting now that heading outside to the open will be a non-starter for her. She’s a pretty brave little gal and still spunky while continuing to check in with us and listen. Quite nice!

Both are great fun. Hard to beat the feeling of a young horse working to find the answers.
Take care and we’ll see you down the trail.

02/01/2024

Folks, Eclectic Horseman, a national magazine has over the last several years included articles from me. I'm very honored to be included in their publication. Well it happens that we found a way to get together for a video. They have kindly included it in their Fall Horseman's Gazette.
If you have or are considering hosting or attending a clinic but wondered just what is Dave about, you can get a look at my core beliefs with this video.
If interested, contact Eclectic Horseman (it's their video) at
303-449-3537 office
303-243-0747 text
or
http://www.eclectic-horseman.com

01/31/2024

Hey folks, January’s winding down and our yearly clinic schedule is taking shape. I’ve noticed that over the last few years some of our long-standing friends and clinic hosts have moved on for a myriad of reasons. As a result we have a few available openings for new clinics with new friends. If you would be interested in hosting a clinic with Dave, Jody, or both we have introductory arrangements for new hosts.

Give Jody a call at (303) 503-2911 or email her at [email protected]

It would be great fun to meet new folks or people we haven’t seen in a while during 2024.

01/30/2024

Folks, here's a preview of the upcoming Casa Grande clinic format.
This clinic will be special.

Folks, We wanted to give you a heads up on the perspective format for Jody Grimm & Dave Ellis in Casa Grande AZ. at Grianna Stables February 22nd thru 26th Dave & Jody have worked out a teaching style

01/22/2024

Folks, Jody & Dave will be in Elkhorn Wisconsin July 18 . We had a great time last year and are looking forward to another good one this year. Set your calendars now. We'll post a reminder as the date approaches.
You can contact Jody at [email protected]
https://conta.cc/3OaBhry

Jody & Dave are Back Walworth County Fairgrounds Elkhorn, WI July 18 thru 21, 2024 Jody Grimm Parelli 4 Star Professional continues to advance her Finesse skills by continually re-connecting, riding,

01/13/2024

Folks, Jody & Dave will be back in Leesburg, VA March of this year. They've worked out an interesting way to share their expertise with the class that is really effective.
Come and ride with them to see for yourself.
https://conta.cc/48x9I46

Dave Ellis & Jody Grimm in Leesburg, VA March 14 thru 17, 2024 Briar Creek Farm 41455 Southpaw Pl, Leesburg, VA Finding the pathway to Pure Horsemanship Good for your horse -

01/11/2024

Folks, this year we're looking at a new format in Buffalo WY.. We'll be examining the true differences between Freestyle Horsemanship and Refined. We'll explore which are useful in various situations. Which are counterfeit uses of each. We'll also take a long look at soft feel compared to Collection and the appropriate uses of each. I'm expecting that you'll be surprised at the results.
https://conta.cc/3tVaLeU

Dave Ellis in Buffalo WY at Spear Z Spear arena June 10 thru 14, 2024 What is the real difference between Freestyle and Refined. the difference between Soft Feel and Collection

01/11/2024

Hey Folks, Jody & Dave are headed back to Kansas the end of May at Sitter Downs Arena. They'll be teaching the components of Versatile Ranch Horse. They did this last year and the clinic was full. We're expecting this one to be the same; so get your name on the list by contacting Nancy on the link or picture below. We'll see you there. Contact Nancy at [email protected]
https://conta.cc/3O1wGbk

Dave Ellis & Jody Grimm near Kansas City MO. May 30 thru June 2, 2024 Sitter Downs Arena Lone Jack, MO Using Parelli Natural Horsemanship skills to advance on to Ranch Horse Versatility Every where y

01/11/2024

Well folks, winter is in full swing and Jody & I just got in 2 young horses to start. One is an addition to time that we spent on him in the fall. The other is green to the point of a little wild and 2 maybe 3. The owners rescued her about a year ago and aren’t sure of her exact age. The two youngsters are as different as day and night. These differences caused me to remember a video I watched back in 1990 showing Pat Parelli playing with a young horse in the round pen. He was pointing out the difference helping a horse relax at the beginning of a session. With one the horse was racing around the round pen while Pat just stood there relaxed doing nothing. With the other Pat was standing in the center with his arm over the horse’s neck quietly stroking the horse. He pointed out that the first horse could not relax in the center doing nothing, even being petted, while the second one was perfectly happy to be there doing nothing. It was apparent then and now with these two that I need to know just what actually causes the horse to seek comfort. The mustang is perfectly happy to just hang out and do little as possible until you ask. The Andalusian cross absolutely cannot keep her feet still. So then, Jody is working with the mustang and having great success. I am playing with the Andalusian cross (only second day) and playing with helping her find some comfort somewhere.

Those of us who have worked with horses before the Natural Horse movement came about as in pre-1980, have been admonished regularly for what some people said was just running a horse around the round pen until he was tired. I may have been guilty of that way back in the day before I knew better. Things are different now; yet, if someone would have been watching from a hill top with binoculars not able to hear what I was saying; but only seeing what was occurring, he would have thought I was racing her around today. When, in fact, I allowed her to just go where she wanted at whatever speed she wanted and was able to stop and look at me whenever she wanted. At this stage she doesn’t know where the comfort lies. I needed to set up a little scenario, let her play with it, then get in her way to affect a change and see if she could notice that things suddenly seemed better. And things were better, she found a way to just stand there for at least 5 seconds; then off again, and we’d just play out the scenario once again. Things improved to the point that I could ask a few favors such as maybe move her hindquarters, or back up a bit without taking off.

I would have been a fool to insist initially that she stand with me in the middle of the pen and let me pet her. She’s bright and catches on nicely. I’m really enjoying playing with such a clean slate and helping her substitute some of my ideas for her ideas. She’s a little dangerous at times; so, she gets me to paying very close attention which hasn’t been the case for some time. Both of our sessions have ended in the center of the pen, neither of us needing to go anywhere, and each enjoying a little stroking and rubbing. I feel fortunate that I got to see Pat Parelli with those 2 horses way back when.

Take care, see you down the trail.

01/07/2024

Kick off 2024 here.

01/06/2024

Hey you ladies on the west coast are in luck once again.
Jody Grimm and Margit Deerman are again providing excellent instruction, lots of laughs, and an incredible experience with their annual
Gals Giddyup and Grub event at LS Ranch near Porterville CA.
https://conta.cc/4aOyGgI

This has been great the last 7 years ! ! ! It's Time Again Ladies! Yep, time for our 11th (you got it 11th !!!) Annual Gals Giddyup and Grub Clinic May 3th-5th, 2024 Parelli 4 Star Professional Jody G

12/30/2023

Folks, 2024 is upon us now and fortunately Lester Buckley is returning to LS Ranch in April this year. A little later than the last 6 years. The weather is a bit more dependable. Click below for details and get your name in the hat for a spot.
https://conta.cc/4aBIwma

Lester Buckley has agreed to return to LS Ranch April 16th-19th 2024 Most of you have known about Lester Buckley for many years now. He was the featured horseman at "Lig

12/17/2023

Please note the corrected contact is Amber at [email protected] or (520) 705-5827
Yep 2024 is upon us and Dave & Jody are kicking it off in Casa Grande AZ in February.
This is always a super clinic with the best folks riding in it.
click below for details and mark your calendar.
https://conta.cc/3TAuafw

Jody Grimm & Dave Ellis in Casa Grande AZ. at Grianna Stables February 23rd thru 27th Jody Grimm Parelli 4 Star Professional Jody continues to advance her Finesse skills by continually re-connecting,

12/16/2023

Dave & Jody have managed to carve out 2 1/2 months of time to be on their ranch in the Sierra Foothills near Porterville CA. They will be riding practically every day starting horses, developing horses, and polishing their best ones. They would like to welcome you to join them. Click below for details. In the past this has become a great way to improve your connection with your horse or to improve your riding with one of their horses. Remember, it's California. No snow and occasional rain and LOTS of SUNSHINE.
Contact Jody at [email protected] or phone on link below.
https://conta.cc/4809iTw

Ride on the LS Ranch with Dave & Jody Dec '23 thru Feb '24 Those who have ridden here know that there is no place on the west coast like the LS Ranch in the Sierra Nevad

09/26/2023

Today I found myself riding alone on two of my best horses. These days two each morning between 9:00 and 1:00 is about all that I can manage. Here at LS Ranch we each gather our own horses, saddle them, warm them up, and then play with whatever we feel will help them improve in some manner. Then warm down, unsaddle, clean, and put them out. There is my wife, Jody, our current manager, and usually one or two apprentices. This gives all of us plenty of opportunity to visit with each other about our thoughts of the day. Well, not so today!

The two mares that I rode today came to me from the Atwood Ranch in Red Bluff California when each was two-ish. They’ve been here with me all of their life, they’re mine. One is a twelve year old daughter of Colonel Doc Bar Chex, the other an eight year old out of a Colonel Doc Bar Chex mare and a Thoroughbred stallion. They have some similarities while remaining quite different. I’ve handled each of them best as I can with differences depending on what they had to say to me. Both are very nice at this stage of their life but still need to be addressed differently.

While riding this morning I wondered whether they are responsive as they are because of my training or because of my communication skills, which are still in the learning process. I like to tell my students that I don’t train, I improve our communication. Well great! What does that actually mean in the long run? I strive to let my horse know when she’s right, when I need a transition, and when she’s being oppositional. I don’t teach her to do this or that or something in this manner. I ask her to recognize that I’m pleased, that more is needed, or that I’m not as pleased as I’d like to be.

Pat Parelli taught me that rhythmic motion from me will help my horse to know that I’m pleased, that steady pressure is all that should be needed to advise her that I’d like a transition, and that if she has contrary thoughts then rhythmic pressure will show up and I’m sure that she doesn’t appreciate that. Martin Black helped me to know about the value of weight shifts to advise our horse of which end should be moving and better yet, which foot should be moving and to where. On the other hand, I don’t teach them queues. I don’t say whoa, I don’t cluck or smooch. So far I’ve never heard another horse do either. I’ve gotten myself into the mold that Natural Horsemanship (which not everyone likes to say) is an effort to emulate what goes on in nature best we can with our limited abilities.

Well then all of that is well and good; BUT, if I ride a particular maneuver a hundred times and my horse understands it more, AM I TRAINING? If I ride patterns consistently, is my horse getting better at listening to me or AM I TRAINING? When I open or close a gate and I ask my horse to side pass over to let me open it, is that communication or training. When I rope a calf and my horse backs and holds it for branding or doctoring, is she trained to do that or is she just following my advice? I have no problem at all with training. However, I enjoy thinking that I’m communicating. But I often wonder if they’re, in fact, the same. Maybe it’s all semantics and maybe I should just get over it as Don Henley of the eagles said at their reunion.

Back to my two rides this morning. My ranch is in the foothills so a long flat place is not to be found. I did find a while back a road that had been cut 50 or 75 years ago, long grown over; but flat for about 100 yards. So now I slip over there and play with flying lead changes. Today, with each horse, I was loping along on one lead and merely said to myself “I’d like to be going the other direction without changing direction”. Both horses changed leads as soon as I thought it, EVERY TIME. So now I’m back to thinking communication because I did not give them the usual queue to change. OR DID I ? ? ? Unless you’re a fierce competitor maybe it doesn’t matter. I’m thinking that what’s in your heart and your attitude may be the answer.

Take care, see you down the trail, Dave

09/05/2023

Well folks it’s September and the oak trees up here in the Sierra foothills are telling me that Fall is in the air. We have a new apprentice here, a nice woman from Utah. She’s working at Level 1 in the Parelli program and it gives me additional insight towards the value of not only good; but excellent foundation skills. My playing around with some competitions the last 4 or 5 years has given me a much clearer picture of just what our foundation skills can do for our advanced skills. While I’m helping her with her foundation, I continually see what she can do with them in 4 or 5 years or even 10 or 20. It never ends.

Martin Black and I discuss this. Pat Parelli and I discuss this. Each with a slightly different twist on just when should we look at advanced horsemanship skills. Martin favors getting in there, trying it out and working it out. He has told me many times that he would never have learned how to start horses if he had waited until he was skilled enough horseman to do it. I just jumped in when I was 16 years old and started , I called it broke back then, my first horse. Everything turned out OK; but I have to wonder if it would have been better for the horse if I had known more about what I was doing. Pat feels that we need at least moderately decent skills before we charge on up the hill looking to slay dragons. But Pat said in the past regarding his levels program that you won’t be good at level one until you’re nearly through Level 2 and onward. Well how do we get to the next level if we continue to operate at the lower level. It’s a constant debate and I think they’re both right. I’ve heard Linda Parelli many times say “it all depends”.

So then, while I’m helping this new young lady with her foundation, I’ll be consistently telling her where it can take her later. It’s unlikely that she’ll remember that part while she’s concentrating on the beginning parts; but someday it may come back to her.
Take care, see you down the road. Hey, check our calendar on LSRanchNaturally.com and come and ride with us sometime.