Shokota Equestrian - Ken Davis

08/18/2024

So i've been behind in my posts for the ranch, We have a new training horse with Amanda & Tim Lawson who own "Cody" and they are really trying hard and so is he.. a new Intern, Josh Gruber, who is "green" to horses himself, but his wife has experience at another barn and he wanted to learn so... good deal sir!

We have our regulars Ms Melanie Hearring & Lisa Clukey Houston who have taken a long measure with what they have learned and done ... i am so happy and impressed with their efforts...
We were invited to teach a lesson at "Cockade Stables" in Petersburg with Kris Andrs when she got back from her "w/ horse vacation" and i am really impressed she did this and came back with questions and needs for learning ... and i am truly grateful for the Managers (wonderful mother/daughter team) at Cockade Stables for allowing me to come down ( MANY barns do not allow/like/ accept outside trainers) i am humbled and grateful ma'ams ... and Kris Andrs for intro'n me to the members and staff. i am blessed, appreciative and grateful in my blessing .. more on the changes at Shokota Equestrian - Ken Davis next..

08/04/2024

really sorry i don't have pic-s .. REALLY good day with Melanie Hearring & Lisa Houston ... met 2 new potential students and possible Intern and Moses was a treat to ride ( it makes me happy to be in the saddle let me tell ya... changes my whole projections)

07/31/2024

just watched Freda Alanderson do a remarkable job of Sweden had a clean ride in the cross country and a clean ride for the arena jumping...

07/09/2024

06/30/2024

THIS WEEK in short... replaced another stall front of the barn with a sliding front 1/2 grill / 1/2 slat slide door and prep-ed 4 stalls with 3 dividers of the same grill/ slat work. Hope to set them this coming... then the last 3 days BIG SHOUT OUT to Michael Ingle who helped me with his skid steer level out behind my arena for TWO (2) round pens for my apprenticeship program, level the area for the new carport for the equipment (and 4 stalls or run ins in the future) and prep the fence to move for that and the foundation to be put in... ( gravel/ crushed slate) with the tax refunds!.. thank you again mike! he crushed up 2 "sandstone shelves" that with out exageration were as big as a VW bug and a Honda wagon! (foundation packing for the new building) sorry this ran on, just pretty happy for once in a long while... and thank you Good Lord... Pics tomorrow i hope

06/12/2024

i see the "flavor of the Month Trainers" Videos giggle...
everything runs in waves.. color of horses, s*x of horse, saddle for horses, what people want to DO with their horses...
cracks me up the new "trick" is to have your horse "pick you up from a fence, fencer or rock to mount... We have been teaching this FOR YEARS it's not new ....

06/11/2024

Sunday's Cowboy Church was really to heart with the way my last yr and the first of this had been.. Jessie really offered some great thoughts... then a great ground work to saddle group with a gentleman named Orin riding Juliette and doing a Super job.. and i Mrs. Jamie Barrack arranging for me to get lunch in the saddle ! l can't tell you how cool that was ....

06/11/2024

WHAT a weekend at Lillywood Ranch in Deltaville ! Friday had pizza and fielded some questions as i rode Charlotte... then WHAT a class with some of the riders from last yrs clinic and WOW could i see some GOOD changes.. the afternoon class was ground work and these guys really clicked with their horses...

if anyone has PICs because i was VERY BUSY with a GREAT group and some really "gett'n it" auditors!... could you please send, or post them for us!

05/30/2024

answering my seat without a "lot of leg" or any rein...

05/30/2024

i am looking forward to showing the 16 exercises and who they really do make a good partnership

05/30/2024

really looking forward to the Heathsville/ Gloucester clinic and seeing who has that "startle gone with their flag" and we can Do Some Saddle Work! and the 16 exercises...

05/29/2024

sorry it took so long ... l took some student/ clients for a ride Sunday... after some lesson problem solving in the arena we took a ride in the pastures and in the back. The ladies didn't realize we were doing some of the 16 lessons in the saddle as well as the 1st 1/2 of the Half Circle/ Infinity Exercise ... and upon reflections they had a lot of "aaaaahhhhhaaaaaa' moments... still looking for one to take pics...

05/23/2024

what a day to "be lost in a moment".. this chick has ONLY 159 rides on her... what gal... want to find out how to have THIS with YOUR horse?... Lillywood Ranch, Heathsville VA... call Whitney Barrack 804-577-3302 or Jamie Barrack 804-436-7970 ...

05/23/2024

last yr wasn't a good year, and this year didn't start so good... but when you need "time out", drop the phone in the truck and take out with the Charlotte chick and my best bud Budgie and a slow 2 hr stroll on a horses 2nd ride in eight and a half months ... ask us how at the Lillywood Clinic june 7,8,9th !

05/22/2024

come meet Charlotte at the Lillywood Clinic June 7,8,9th in Deltaville Va and see what we can do for YOU... she was leg yielding after an 8 MONTH BREAK and just over 150 rides... WOW!

05/22/2024

today was her first ride sense SEPT 10th!.. we did 15 minutes of the infinity (1/2 circle) and rode like a champ!

05/21/2024

Kaizen
[Kai-zn] • Japanese
(n.)philosophy of continuous improvement; becoming one percent better everyday

Join us June 7-8-9th at Lillywood Ranch in Deltaville VA to understand 1% EVERY TIME! ...804-796-2600

05/15/2024

good soft trot, LOOSE rein, arching my body a little forward. MY inside leg has glided forward behind he shoulder and the outside is back JUST BEHIND the girth and as i sit down ( posting to HIS outside front leg) i pull the "trigger" with outside leg to coax him into a soft EASY canter/ lope for a 4 strides and back to a trot, walk and stop with a STEP BACK.... he truly is a great little guy

05/15/2024

rocking his and my weight back (position 3) MY right leg is back but OFF ( we want to shut the rear DOWN & NOT move ) my left hand is in rein position 2 and my left hand & rein as well as my leg are supporting the backward swinging to the right... kinda word-y so reread a few times

05/15/2024

working on the 1st of (5) ways to move the rear... so turning on the forehand, we sit in position one...my left leg moves OFF of him and forward, opens the door for HIS left to step over...

05/15/2024

i think my time is up unless ms Julie Anne decides to let him stay... he really has been a nice horse to start and he is on his way ...