Dianne Sept Lesson

Today I had a lesson from Diane Sept. She is a connected riding instructor with a very long history in gaited horses. We are concerned about Pidgeon Fever in our area so I we are leaving horses at home, but someone let me borrow their Tennessee Walker.

Although not everything Diane taught me was new, the way it was put together was entirely new. First, the lesson focused on me, not my horse, which was a NICE change of pace. I have gotten to a point with my riding where I get less and less feedback about my overall riding picture, while we focus on improving the horse. Not to sound snotty, but I am generally the best student in a clinic because I listen and adapt well. So, I can get great results even in an hour lesson.

So I will call the overall picture of what Diane taught me 'rider silence'. Have you heard the term 'radio silence'? That is when there is no sound on the radio. Rider silence is no noise in the rider's body. I have had many instructors that have had me push the horse to move out with my body, Diane asked me to feel the horse move and let THAT move my body. But not my entire body, my hips were connecting with the back feet of the horse, my upper body was reaching up, quieting the movement in my body.

The result? I was able to open up the horse, he was reaching for the contact, stretching through his topline and putting himself together. It was *very* cool.

What was interesting is that I had been pretty quiet with an impulsive horse and busy with a lazy horse, but I learned I could be WITH the horse in rider silence. I went home and rode Tesoro and he was very relaxed although speedy, so I will ask Diane about that! But I have to admit, when I actually got all of Diane's suggestions working in harmony I didn't have rushing problems. *MAYBE* I just answered my own question!

And by the way THUMBS UP for Diane.

Horse Slaugther-My Perspective

On a message group I belong to, there has been a dialogue about horse slaugther. Many people have weighed in, most in support of slaughter. I rarely state my opinions publicly, but here goes. Remember, it is just my opinion. Here is what I wrote:

It is an interesting conversation. There are many pros and cons. I have only had horses for seven years, so I haven't seen the cycles that many of you have, but here is my greatest concern:

When there was a meat buyer at auction, there was a bottom value for a horse. The better trained, the better looking, the BETTER the horse was, the higher price. Most of us are riding, owning, producing quality horses that don't end up at auction, but as I drive by the auction house every day when I go to work, I can tell you it is active and alive.

Now that horses have to go somewhere, they are being sold for $50 and $75. I know someone who actually bought a trained horse for $25 (not my version of trained I'm sure, but they were willing to ride it). A horse for $25? So, the horses that don't sell go back to their homes where they are not a match, or where owners cant afford them. Horses that are sold are now disposable because they were only $25 or $75. I can spend $25 in the blink of an eye-I can't even fill my truck for $75, but I spent THOUSANDS to buy my horses (and I got some good deals). They are NOT disposable. They require quality care and only the best situations. I have tried to sell Tesoro, I did for years, but couldn't find him the right home because (like Dianna said) I knew what he needed and I couldn't find it. I would never take him to auction, but think of all the people who are NOT responsible like us. .

They are out there. Have you been to a large boarding facility lately? Have you encountered a serious backyard breeder? Have you looked at Craigslist? Have you visited your neighbors in the woods? Well, I have done all of those things, the way people treat horses is SCARY. If I was a horse up for auction, I would be very afraid.

When the price of a horse is less than a tank of gas (and yes, I know someone who bought a Paso Fino at auction for $75), it doesn't just hurt the horse market, it hurts the animals we took responsibility for when we decided to breed. I wouldn't want to be the untrained horse that hops from home to home to home because it is disposable. Maybe that is why it learned to kick or bite, because it had to defend itself. For irresponsible people it is easy to give up and try again. and again. and again. and again. Only the horse suffers. I cannot abide by that. I would rather see a horse humanely euthanized (or dog, or cat) than to suffer the indignity (and possibly suffering) of irresponsibility.

For this, and many other reasons, I support horse slaugther as a necessity in the marketplace. It should be humane, regulated and taxed. I actually support humane horse slaugther more than the hunting I grew up with where if you didn't have a clean kill, you would track an animal to finish it off. I grew up eating that meat, where an animal very well may have suffered. Now that I think about it, I might not eat game again.

It is a very fine line.

Back on purpose

I started this blog almost 2 years ago because I didn't even know what a blog was and my new job was to work with website publishers. Over time, the blog evolved and for a good run, I posted a lot of information that was to help people with their horses. Now that two years is passed I know more about online advertising that most people that run a website and I have seemed to have lost the focus of that good run.



How did that happen? Well, I forgot about my purpose. Although I am not a seasoned horse professional, nor have I even had horses for more than a decade, I know my purpose is to help people learn about horses. I remember what it was like to not know ANYTHING and I still know HARDLY anything, but as I continue to learn I will share with you what I learn.



I will be camping the next few days, but when I return, I promise to have some surprises and maybe a few things you didn't even know.



Here is a picture of Tesoro and I this weekend at the Advanced Level 2 Parelli clinic.

Horse Vacation-Jerri Style

On Saturday I start my official 'horse vacation' where my goal is to ride a horse every day for 9 days, most days more than one.

Here is how it will start:

Parelli Advanced Level 2 clinic in Bend. Not sure if I'm ready for an advanced level 2 clinic, but I'm going to give it a shot. I'm taking Tesoro. It will be my first clinic with Marc Rhea a 3 Star Instructor. I'm looking forward to something different.

Although I have great friends in Bend, I decided to stay in a hotel so I can go to my room, take a shower and SLEEP!

I will get home Sunday evening and Monday I'm headed to a state park for 3 nights of camping. I'm taking all 3 horses and 2 dogs!!! It will be a great time bonding with my family. A friend of mine is coming to ride on Wednesday, but other than that, I am planning on being alone, alone, alone. I'm taking a twin mattress and sleeping in the back of the truck.

I head home Thursday and on Friday I'll attend a Clay Wright Clinic in Veneta (near Eugene). Clay Wright is a natural horsemanship guy with a dressage background, often his stuff is called 'Cowboy Dressage'. He is being hosted by my favorite local teacher Julie Fisher. I'll be using Phaedre in the clinic. I'm really excited!

Clinic is Friday, Saturday, Sunday, then Sunday I have a ride with Brent Hicks a dressage clinician from California. I'll be riding Tesoro. He doesn't have a website (that I can find). I have seen him once before and I decided I'd like to try and ride with him.

It should be an eventful, fun, learning-filled 9 days and I CAN'T WAIT. I could have taken a pretty nice vacation with the money I'm spending on gas and the clinics, but the learning I will do and all the time I will spend without cell phone, email and facebook access will be well worth it.

Would love to see any of you as auditors, or contact me if you want to ride with me Tuesday or Wednesday near Portland.

Phaedre is home

I took 4 lessons on Phaedre with Julie this week and then I brought her home. There were some sticky patches, but overall she is doing SO good. She moves beautifully and in time she will be a spectacular horse. The most amazing thing is nothing really seems to phase her. I couldn't be more thrilled with my new pony. I plan to ride her for the next four days and then back for another lesson Thursday.

The Phaedre Ride

Today, I rode Miss Phaedre for the first time. She is obviously becoming Julie's horse as she wasn't greating me at the stall, so I am glad she is coming home this week. But Julie has been doing a great job with her and getting on was uneventful-EXACTLY how it is supposed to be.

I struggled to get her to trot and we didn't try the canter, but Julie noticed when she got on to school her afterwards that her legs were really far foward. Then I started looking at the saddle and indeed, I had it WAY too far forward. So on Tuesday, I will put it farther back and see if things go a little better.

I'm pretty out of balance and VERY out of shape, but I think in just a couple of rides she and I will find our place. I am getting three more lessons this week, then I'll come for weekly lessons for a couple of weeks. I am going to lots of clinics in September and I am taking some time off, so I will be getting a lot of hours on my girl. I am hoping for our first schooling show in October. :) YIPEE

Horsin' Around

Today was an amazing day for me and my girls. So I am not sure if I have officially told everyone that I love mares. I feel like even though they have good days and bad days (just like me) and that their love is hard to earn (like me), and it takes them a while to build trust (like me), once you have patience, love and trust they will be very true to you. By the way, I feel the same way about male dalmatians. :)

When I was looking for horse to buy, I knew I wanted a mare, but I would take the *right* horse even if it was a gelding. Luckily Phaedre fit all of my requirements (including no white feet) along with her amazing can-do attitude.

Today we went to the Horsin' Around compeition at Fisher 4F Ranch. So anyone who reads this blog with any regularity knows I adore Julie and Craig Fisher and Julie's partner in crime and horses: Darlene.

Today I headed to the Fishers for the Annual Trail Competition. This is the 3rd year I have participated, my 2nd year as a judge. There are 36 (or 37) obstacles on the course ranging from simple to terribly difficult. There is backing through poles, downhill, jumps, trenches with water, bridges (3), squeezes, tarps, more water, roping, trailer loading (send into the trailer only), ditches, step ups (and downs) and a whole lot more. Today I took both of my girls through, here are the results.

Miss Phaedre: I took Phaedre in hand. She was able to do 33 of the 36 tasks missing the large trench with water, another large water obstacle and ground tying. (oh by the way you have 1 minute and 30 seconds to compelete each). I have done almost none of this kind of work with her. Her willingness to try is WHY I bought her and you could not get the smile off of my face. Julie is training her and says that I will really like her under saddle, I just could not be happier!

Precious: I rode Precious and we did 29 of the 36. I passed on two obstacles (step down-it is about 1 1/2 - 2 feet, Uriah fell off Precious last year doing this because she is a leaper) and the tree jump (I'm not comfortable). We ran out of time on the front feet on the tractor tire filled with sand and 360 around it with back feet on ground, but she did it.

The Canteen dip (pick up a canteen off hook, dip it in water, dump it in barrel, hand up canteen) was one I was only going to do part of. And we did, so I was pleased.

She refused the large trench filled with water (I mean LARGE). Below is a video from last year. And it is even steeper than it looks.




She refused another ditch and I wasn't able to rope, so 3 were me, 2 were her and we will share the other 2 (ok, I'll take responsibility for all the ones she didn't do).

It was a grand time and tomorrow I will be back to judge all day!