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Post by mswan on Jul 27, 2010 17:59:51 GMT -5
I went out today and bought some noodles to make my own obstacle. I want to mention that I HAVE been wearing a hard hat EVERY time I ride. But as you see in the pictures, I forgot my hard hat on the ride. Thankfully, Tabby took good care of me. Thank you again Monica! Not sure the picture of Mindy and I should have been in there but loved your report. The bra trail has been there for many years. Now, it's even better!!
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Post by mswan on Sept 4, 2010 10:59:37 GMT -5
I took Holly over to Ellensburg with me on Thrusday. I went to High Country Training. They do a lot of Reining and working cow training. I had my friend Portia ride Holly and tell me what we needed to work on. I ended up leaving Holly with them for this month to refine some of her training and let her meet the cows and buffalo. They will work on her canter and lefting her shoulders. Getting Holly balanced has been an on going thing but this past summer she has come into her own. The trail riding has helped her out a lot. I've put a good foundation on her and now it's time to learn some of the more advanced stuff. I had Jon Esign check her out and he wanted to take her home with him about a month ago. It's been very rewarding to see how far Holly has come. Everyone who meets her loves her. More updates as we go.....
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Post by Kea's Crest on Sept 4, 2010 13:22:57 GMT -5
Merle, you do such a great job with Holly. It sounds like her training is well thought out and fun for her.
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Post by coconut on Sept 4, 2010 23:41:51 GMT -5
Merle, I love that Holly gets treated like the treasure she is! She's so lucky to have had YOU fall for her
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Post by mswan on Sept 6, 2010 11:26:28 GMT -5
Thanks! There is just something special about Ms Holly. I have never been an Appy fan but there is just something about Holly. It is always fun to watch other horsepeople handle Holly. Like Jon Esign. He has worked with a lot of horses and when I handed Holly's lead to him, I told him a little of what I had done with her. When he worked her and kept asking things of her, I could see her confidence growing. Like saying... I know all that stuff. He handed her back to me and told me, it was one of the first times that the horse really did know all the things the owner said. He wanted her and gave Holly lots of praise. It was a fun moment since we have done all the training on Holly. Now she gets to learn some new stuff. I am looking forward to getting my first report.
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Post by mswan on Sept 24, 2010 9:57:16 GMT -5
I just got back from spending a couple of days at the ranch where Holly is "going to school". She is doing really good with her lessons and I had an awsome ride on her yesterday. I tryed to get some pictures but wasn't too successful. Next weekend Holly comes home.
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Post by jaybird on Sept 29, 2010 12:19:58 GMT -5
Tell us more, Merle!! What did she learn at school??
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Post by mswan on Oct 1, 2010 23:46:36 GMT -5
I brought Holly home today from her month at the ranch. She was happy to be home. While there Portia worked on getting her to pick up her shoulders and balance herself. The canter work and transitions were an other thing they worked on. Taking advantage of a very large outdoor arena was very helpful. I will continue to work her this winter and hope to take her back over to start on cows next year. She got to see them and watch the other horses work them. For now we have our homework and trail riding to keep us busy.
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Post by mswan on Oct 18, 2010 10:44:10 GMT -5
Well, we learned something this last week. I brought Holly over to Julie's to play. Julie hadn't been on her in a long time. Julie had gotten new sand in her arena. I rode Holly and showed Julie some of the things we were working on. Then Julie got on Holly. They were doing great. Julie asked for the canter and Holly took her lead like a pro. A few times around, then Holly hit a deep spot in the arena and went down. She really tired to get her feet back but couldn't. They are both ok but it scared both of them. Me too! I will be very careful about the footing from now on. No deep sand!
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Post by Kea's Crest on Oct 19, 2010 10:37:31 GMT -5
Glad everything worked out OK. It's a good reminder as I need to add some sand to my round pen. I know my temptation is to just make the sand a little deeper in the low spots. Thanks for passing along the "experience."
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Post by mswan on Nov 7, 2010 11:42:15 GMT -5
Yesterday Holly and I had a centered riding lesson from Karen Irland. It was awsome! We did a group class with three of our friends. After so many years of trail riding< I had lots to work on. We did walk and trot. Holly was wonderful! There was 7 of us there to day for the day. All my friends seem to have their birthdays around this time. Mine was the 4th of Nov. so I brought a cake with little horses on it. The horses got treats too. There was six brithdays covered in one ! We had a wonderful day. As always, Karen loved Holly!
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lyn51
Junior BB Member
SAFE Volunteer
Posts: 91
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Post by lyn51 on Nov 7, 2010 21:33:16 GMT -5
I want to hear more about this, I am reading the book, Centered Riding!
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