Blue is the sweetest Paint (we think) ever. Hes a bit of a couch potato physically right now with all the beautiful grass but he tries pretty hard. His rider has been doing a wonderful job getting him into a program that will help keep him sound. I wasn't prepared for how smooth he was!
I dont really hop on other peoples horses often. My passion is to empower riders to train their own horses, but every now and again its worth it <3
Here we arent doing anything grand or fancy. Just simple stabilization of the shoulders and straightening. Lots of potential here!
I hope your trainer doesn't give you what you want.
I DO hope your trainer gives you what you need, more importantly...what your horse needs.
There will always be someone willing to do it faster and flashier. There will always be someone willing to get you into the show ring on your time line instead of your horses. There will always be someone who will tell you only the things you want to hear. For the right price, there will always be someone.
I don't want that kind of someone...not for me and not for you all either.
So, choose your someone carefully.
Choose someone who values their process enough that they can't be swayed from it by demands and dollars. They know where they've been, where they're going and all of the things they've learned between. They put your horse first and show you the value in work that is centered around what the horse needs. They are your biggest supporter while remaining honest and realistic about what it takes to achieve your goals. The only promise they make, is that your horse will get better...and you will too. You pay them but at the same time, who they are at their core can't be bought. They live their truth each day, honest and humble.
That type of someone is priceless...
- Tarra, Concinnity Farms
People often ask me about lunging and groundwork. For me personally, if it doesnt have to do with correcting a dangerous problem, it NEEDS to be something that will mean something important to the horse. It needs to be something that benefits its mind and body. It also should be something that will mean something later when under saddle.
Here is just one of those exercises. You dont need cones, but for the purposes of teaching it to someone who is new to it, they really help.
These specific movements benefit the entire neck (especially the lower Cervical) and the shoulder girdle. They also benefit the entire back, ribcage, and pelvis but for the sake of keeping things simple, we are focusing on the shoulders.
There is a LOT of moving parts. The handler needs to find their space, center, timing, and feel. They also have to have a clear understanding of what they are asking the horse to do, if we dont understand the purpose, it will not be as useful. The horse needs to accept being led in a new way, needs to relax, needs to slowdown (balance), and needs to find a rhythm with the handler. As they get better, only their bodies energy and intention will be needed to "dance" around the entire arena doing whatever patterns and movements they want.
Not only does this bring the pair into a soft "feeling" state, it also prepares the body to be physically available for self carriage. After you get the hang of it, its really quite fun. We also can then teach them how to do this with a bridle and then under saddle - this is how you build an educated horse amd rider on one exercise. From the ground to high levels under saddle. Imagine that much layering if applied to everything we teach ourselves and our horses.
With this exercise, you can evolve into shoulder-in/out, sidepass, leg yield, renvers (haunches out), travers (haunches in), half pass, and pirouette. The neck and shoulders can be maneuvered in a lesser or greater degree depending on what benefits e
Empowering another horsewoman... it's where its at for me!
We are so blessed to have Carol Lynn McArdle back here Feb 23rd - 25th. If you missed out on her last clinic, you will not want to miss out again!! Limited riding spots.
The clinic venue is in Molalla, OR off Toliver Rd.
Rides are $200/ride
Auditing is $25/day (please RSVP with me)
Stalls are $15/day
I have a few more spots available:
Fri/Sat/Sun - 7am, 9am, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm
As is standard, half your total $$ is required to reserve your ride spots. This deposit is NON non-refundable as there are many expenses paid for ahead of time to secure our Clinician (as is standard). The remainder of your balance is due BY Feb 15th.
IF you need (need) a spot that is not listed here, please PM me.
Please PM for more information or requirements.
@followers
This boy is so smart. It's probably why he's always in trouble. I love him so much but man does he drive me nuts sometimes. I keep being told his antics are normL for this age and him in tact... but idk. Today i saw some light at the end of this 2 yr old tunnel.
Khat has been working so hard the last few weeks. Due to an injury, she never got to really work on being a proper arena pony.
She still has a way to go but the fact that she's able to soften her head and neck and connect her front end with the hind is a big deal.
Starting to be able to move more forward with a long and round frame is now not so hard.
Fun girl. I can't wait for Mom to hop on and feel the improvement.
Dazzle is coming along nicely. In the first few days here she was fine being saddled, bridled and learned to lunge. Her in hand work is great, she's learned to flex, shift her weight from shoulder to shoulder, counter bend, and change direction balanced.
I've found that she is sensitive to sounds startling her (reasonable). I decided that since she's so good with the equipment and groundwork, that it would be a fantastic time to work on desensitizing and building her confidence with noises that are unfamiliar to her or unexpected.
5 days ago I could only get the little crinkly bag on her cheek and neck and a little of her shoulder. She would not let the larger bag within 30 ft of her and that was in the round pen. I did a little bit of environmental sacking out by hanging feedbags around her paddock, which she magically had zero issues with. So it's the sudden noise and movement that was the issue. I'm very proud of her and how far she's come in trusting me and learning to think before reacting. She is so extremely smart. I am guessing within another day or two I will be able to touch her all over with the grain bag. As most horses are not handled evenly from the left side to the right side, she was expectedly more reactive on her right side.
I am so proud of her. She's had such a huge change in the last few weeks and I could see her mind deciding to acclimate. She enjoys doing stuff and is proving to be extremely intelligent, very kind, and a thinker. We already know she is a beautiful mover and athletic. She is elegant and bred to be a little extra spicy for the show ring.
Peter's progress is really coming along nicely. When he was younger he was broke to drive. He has had a saddle on him and a couple walk rides. We've gone through all of the steps as if he'd never even seen a saddle. This is the second ride off the lead line and I would call this pretty darn fantastic. You would think his horse was dead broke and has been ridden every day of his life with how chill he is.
I always start a horse under saddle with two people. I truly believe it Bridges the gap between groundwork and in saddle work. Levi is my right hand man in this process. Once he gets enough hours just moving forward freely without any pressure, I will then start to install some buttons.
This is such a nice gelding! BTW, he has wonderful feet, large bones, and is comfortable to ride. He has been cantered from the lunge line with zero issues. This guy only wants to please and do his very best. Even though he is bright green, he has the potential to be a once in a lifetime type horse.
*He's a sensitive guy, but not overreactive or dramatic. He actually has not spooked at anything since being here.
*He leads well, is easy to catch, is polite in a stall or paddock with neighbors. Picks up his feet, loads into a trailer perfectly, is quiet when tacking up and grooming. I have not bathed him yet but I am guessing he will be a perfect gentleman like all of his other siblings have been. He's been blown off by the vacuum without any hassle or worry, I'm guessing clippers will not worry him in any way either. Stands well to be trimmed, easy to deworm, and totally fine with shots.
#dreamboat
#morganhorse
#gelding
#whatafella
Dazzy is doing so well. A few days ago she didn't even know how to lunge. She is a quick study! She picked up on what I wanted within 5 min.
I thought I'd wait a week before saddling her but she proved ready for it today. She didn't have any issues with being tacked up. She had a tiny hop (missed it on video) and that was it. I'm looking forward to seeing her progress.
Usually once a year I make a week long pilgrimage to Clovis CA and ride with my sister Lori of Future Gold Sport Horses
I love to further my education, fill in gaps, ride horses that I normally don't ride, and use different methods. This time I focused on a little half pass and some half steps. Lots of good stuff!
This is Rodrigo, a 4th level schoolmaster. I just love riding him... He loves to work, is so comfortable, always trying to do exactly what you want, and kind. What more could you ask for on vacation!?
Last night I decided to get one more horse ridden. It seemed to only be "misting"... no biggy right?!
Austin was incredible about the nasty weather that built. He did have some trouble slowing down at the trot and relaxing, I think he just wanted to get it over with lol. But he never once said NO. Just had some extra go-go-go energy. Now we can say if you get caught in a hail/rain/wind storm, he will likely just keep doing what you ask.
This guy is so sweet.
**PS. If 500 people donated $200 to an extremely worthy cause, kind horses like Austin would not have to endure the horrible weather <3
Not every ride is an "out of this world" ride... Sometimes we struggle, sometimes our horses struggle. It's easy to get stuck on the "that was crap" train... Try to find 3 things, 3 moments, 3 of something positive in each ride (or more). There's always a silver lining, you'll only find it if you are searching for it.
Here is Oliver. We've been having many good rides. Much progress. Yesterday he was just not feeling it...
Remembering that this particular horse will always have struggles and is always moving three steps forward then two steps back is going to be very important in our partnership.
I was feeling very bummed by the end of this particular ride. Of course it always seems to be the ride that you have the camera going lol. After reflecting on the video several times, I decided to search for what was good about the ride regardless of how I felt about it.
Here are my three clips that I am pretty proud of this guy for. These are my silver linings for this ride and I'm going to choose to search for them. I have a feeling there will be more that show up the more I open my mind to them.
Luv you Oliver ♥️
