04/09/2023
Whew what a weekend!! I could NOT be more proud of this boi!! From being so calm and easy going hauling down and settling into a new place, adapting so quickly to being stalled and being in a high energy environment all weekend, to giving me his best during our classes despite both our nerves, to really coming out of his shell with all the new people who gave him so much love and attention. He came to the show still a bit stranger-danger-y, but only got more and more comfortable and confident by the end and really enjoyed all the attention. He is naturally so sweet and gentle ❤️
Sk8er Boi performed so well in our classes I still can’t quite believe it. We didn’t place top 10 (our division had thirty-five amazing horses so it was some tough competition!), but we had zero blow ups all weekend and only minor bobbles that cost us some points. I’ll post his score sheets soon! But what I am most proud of is how well he looked to me for guidance, and how when he listened and exhibited the training he knew, his confidence just grew as we moved through our patterns. I cannot believe this is the same horse who had regular dramatic blow ups and bolts as recently as June! Our first few months of training were rough for sure, but this guy has just blossomed into such a confident and willing partner who trusts and wants to please.
While Sk8er Boi and I didn’t make top ten, we did win a prize for being great ambassadors for the program! I was so shocked and humbled to have received this award, but Sk8er Boi truly is a prime example of what incredible transformations these mustangs can go through. I cannot thank Teens And Oregon Mustangs enough for all the experience and opportunities I’ve gained through being part of this program. Ever since I did my first mustang through it in 2013, I’ve been hooked on working with mustangs and have grown so much as a trainer with each one I’ve worked with. For anyone interested in challenging yourself as a trainer, I cannot recommend this program enough. For anyone interested in adopting a mustang, I cannot recommend getting one through this program enough. And anyone interested in learning more, I am always happy to share my own experience, so feel free to reach out! Teens and Oregon Mustangs really does change the lives of these horses and their humans.
As another fun surprise, Sk8er Boi and I also won a new hay bag for best stall decorations! I didn’t even know there was a prize for that lol. Sk8er is wearing a bit of his stall decor in the pic here 😎🛹
The best part of the weekend is that Sk8er Boi has found an amazing new home with Sarah Sands. Sk8er Boi had a lot of interest and multiple people who came out to visit him over the summer interested in adopting him, but when Sarah first came out to meet him and told me what she was looking for in a horse as well as what her horse experience is, I really thought these two would be an awesome pair. When auction time rolled around, I was SO stressed because it’s just so hard not knowing where the horse you’ve poured so much of yourself into is going to go! But when I saw that Sarah was the winning bidder, I could not have been more thrilled!! This is obvious if you watched during the auction 😅 I’m so excited for Sk8er Boi’s future with Sarah, so happy that he gets to stay in the area, and so happy is back at my barn to get to relax for a bit before his move 💙
Thank you so so much to Kolu Westcott with Pet Portraits NW for sponsoring Sk8er Boi’s journey over the summer and taking incredible portraits of this gorgeous guy. The beautiful shots Kolu got of Sk8er Boi did an amazing job of showcasing this boi 💙 Thank you Kolu not just for your time and talent, but also for all your help and support over the summer!! It’s meant a lot! To anyone interested in getting beautiful portraits done of your horses or dogs, please check out Kolu’s work! She is amazingly talented and wonderful with the animals.
Thank you also to Searmi Park with Autism Mustang Alliance for lending me her truck for hauling Sk8er Boi around while mine’s been out of commission! This has been SUCH a massive help and I can’t thank you Searmi enough! Searmi runs an incredible non-profit with her herd of mustangs (which includes one of my past TIP competition mustangs 🥰 as well as a T&OM alum!) and I definitely recommend checking out the work they do at AMA.
Thank you of course to my parents, Benjamin Clifton and Joanne Joey Bixler-Clifton for all of your support not just with Sk8er Boi, but with all my horse endeavors! Your encouragement and support means the world to me. And thanks so much dad for all the hours of your help and effort towards fixing my truck 😅 Even though we didn’t quite get it back to hauling condition, we did our best 😅
And thank you to everyone with Teens and Oregon Mustangs for allllllllll the work you do to make this program possible. I am so blessed to get to be part of this program and watch how much it’s grown and expanded over the years to help more horses and people. The T&OM community is full of such supportive and dedicated people and I’m so glad to be part of it!
Thank you also to Sk8er Boi, who’s given me his whole heart over the summer. You’ve taught me so so much, buddy. You’ve challenged me, tested me, and pushed me hard to grow as a trainer. But you were never mean, never naughty. You were only ever scared. But watching you overcome your fear and choose to trust me has been more rewarding than I can put into words. I love you so much, buddy, and you will forever have such a special place in my heart 💙
