Sunny Ranch Performance Horses

06/15/2023

As a lot of y’all know we are adding a new ranch hand to the family!
While celebrating our exciting news we are having to take a step back from lessons in some capacities.
Currently I will only be taking lessons for students on their own horses with special consideration for students who can tack up and manage one of mine independently on the ground.
In addition we will not be taking any client horses in for training at the barn this summer.
I deeply apologize to the clients I’m sure this may be disappointing but it is a decision we came to together as a family and with our doctor to keep our little one as safe as can be.
We want to thank all of our past, present, and future clients for celebrating this exciting time with us and for your patience as we settle into our next chapter ❤️

12/30/2022

What is the most underrated drill in the barrel race?

A small circle. Emphasis on small.

As trainers, our time is typically spent with other professional trainers and high level competitors. With that said, it’s easy to look past the simple, yet difficult task of loping a small circle.

It seems that the majority of barrel racers don’t lope small circles. Often times they are unable to get their horses to do this maneuver. Rather. the horse or the rider doesn’t have the needed body control to perform this task. Outside of skill, they sometimes they don’t posses the strength either.

Think about it from outside the box. If you are training for a strongman competition, would you be lifting heavy or distance running?

If you only lope big circles how can you expect to run small circles?

The physical training of those muscle groups is important.

Unfortunately, many of us ride horses that are not broke or responsive enough to do these controlled maneuvers. Unfortunately still, we don’t necessarily know they aren’t "broke".

Ride with more skilled riders. Learn more about body control. Learn about body mechanics. If you want to win, step up to the plate and master the fundamentals.

www.betweenthereins.us



📸: Bee Silva Photography

12/06/2022

12/03/2022

Smooth is fast.
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Less is more.
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Quiet hands, use your body. These horses follow our hips in a turn.
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Ride with confidence. Know where you are going and how you are getting there.
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Breathe, relax, this is supposed to be fun.
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There will be another barrel race, if this one doesn’t go as planned it’s not end of the world.

Make it a great week my friends 🌻✨
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📸Bee Silva
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04/14/2022

I saw a picture today that was “Share the Horse that Changed Your Life” and I immediately thought of Secret. The horse who has been there for my highest of highs and lowest of lows. The horse that could never have a price tag that would ever value what he means to me. Then I started thinking about Brandy. The horse that kept me sane while Secret was healing from his fight with cellulitis and being the best partner for him while he rested. Then I thought of Snowball. The horse that has taken care of so many kids and babies on her back. I look in my barn and I would be no where without these animals. So here’s to all the life changing horses 🤍

01/17/2022

Said goodbye to a good one today. Canela is off to Colorado to meet her owner and work cattle. This s***ky red head definitely had her moments but she was a fun one to have for awhile. It’s always hard saying goodbye to the ones you’d be okay keeping in the herd.

01/09/2022

Well Secret has decided to start the new year off right… with our last client for a little bit going home in a week, 2022 will be the year for the Sunny Ranch horses themselves…
Starting with Secret getting his first ride under saddle again today, a year after tearing his suspensory ligaments. This boy may never rodeo again but we at least get to ride trails and be a reminder for any new prospects what they have to live up to. Pretty great way to start our new year here.

12/21/2020

About a two month update on the little red head, Canela.
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The first month or so was spent watching over an injury from her trying to jump over a car a few months prior to her coming to me. Long story short this one has some s***k and is going to keep me on my toes. After X-rays and some time with the vet, I took things slow to be sure not flare up any swelling left in her back legs. Unfortunately she is going to have some scar tissue probably for the rest of her life giving her some funky looking back legs but since being cleared by the vet for good, she is working more and more each week.
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As any unstarted four year old, she needs some time to learn some manners first. A lot of ground work and firm patience with this one. Especially time at the patience pole. She has had the saddle on her a handful of times but only once with me in it and some steps of the walk. She is an incredibly explosive horse with very big baby reactions (I’ll post her audition to be a bucking horse in the comments lol). I am being very cautions for myself to avoid injury as well as not start any bad habits for her and give her the best foundation possible.
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I’m looking forward to watching her grow and mature. I think she is definitely going to be one of the good ones and shows so much potential already. Also looking forward to being able to change up our day to day routine by trailering to the covered arena in our community as winter comes. This is something I haven’t had the luxury of before and I’m really excited for it.

10/22/2020

A little bit of a bitter sweet update on the lil mare. Snowball came out of the trailer three weeks ago at my place whinnying and running for my gelding, Secret. She cantered and threw little kicks turned out that I haven’t seen her do in so long. She whinnied to me every morning for her breakfast and waited for morning scratches. Unfortunately she did not have the same happiness at the therapy barn. She started kicking in her stall, her arthritis was acting up worse than ever and she was just plain sad. So we brought her home for good this week. I would be lying if i didn’t say i was happy to have her home. It breaks my heart to not see her doing what she loves with kids, but I always preach that we need to listen to our horses more, and this is her telling me what she wants. However we are not giving up on her. With the help of some incredible friends and my vet, we are starting her on Equiox to help manage her arthritis, as well as making some changes to her feet with my farrier. My vet is very hopeful that this will help get her sound again. You’re home for good my sweet lil mare ❤️

10/16/2020

Welcome Canela! This little girl is a four year old quarter horse throughbred cross with a sweet personality. She is in for some rehab on an old, but healing, injury as well as, to gain some weight. Then I will start breaking her and finishing as an all around or rope horse for her owner. I’m super excited to get this young girl started as soon as she’s in tip top shape again.