WHAT A WONDERFUL START OF A WEEK. DRILL TEAM IS LOOKING AWESOME, OPEN RIDING IS GOING VERY WELL, I PURCHASED A TIMBERLINE DRESSAGE SADDLE AND BELLA IS DOING TERRIFIC. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE HAY IS BEAUTIFUL AND FINALLY GETTING OFF THE FIELD, BUT I HAVE ONE TIRED HARDWORKING HUSBAND. I LOVE HIM SOOOOO MUCH:-) I TOOK BELLA FOR HER FIRST TRAILRIDE TODAY AROUND THE PROPERTY AND I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED HER TO DO BETTER. THE ONLY THING SHE LOOKED AT REALLY HARD WAS THE TRACTOR AND BALER, BUT SHE SURVIVED. AFTER THE TRAILRIDE WE WENT IN THE OUTDOOR AND WORKED ON HER TROTTING WHICH SHE IS DOING QUIT WELL. I AM VERY PROUD OF HER. AS FOR MISS FLICKA SHE IS WAITING FOR THE VET TO HAVE HER TEETH CHECKED OUT SHE IS HAVING PROBLEMS EATING AND THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN HER HATRED FOR BIT PRESSURE. I HOPE. I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY NEXT LESSON WHICH IS ON MON IF ALL GOES WELL. REBEL AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD AND WE ARE IMPROVING, BABY STEPS. I GUESS BABY STEPS ARE BETTER THAN GOING BACKWARDS.

River on Barney Lakken on Hank

Jada on Barney

Eric on Yogi being instructed by Vic

Open riding english green

Thurs. open riding Western blue.

Deb and Rebel dressage lesson with Vic

Deb on Bella bareback

Madison and River riding Rusty

Yesterday went well. I even rode Bella bareback for a while and took her for a walk with a group of horses down the road. She did great! I also introduced her to being ponied thanks to Barney. Than River rode Barney while Lakken rode Hank. The kids continued to ride for about 3 hours. HAPPY Kids and HAPPY Horses thats what it is all about.

TRAINING IS GOING VERY WELL BELLA IS A SWEETIE PIE, I AM NOW RIDING HER IN THE INDOOR AND WE TROTTED FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST NIGHT AND SHE DID GREAT. FLICKA ON THE OTHER HAND IS GIVING ME AND ERIC A RUN FOR OUR MONEY, SHE IS SO SPOILED ROTTEN AND STUBBORN AS HELL. LET ME TELL U LONG LINING HER IS A REAL TREAT.LOL. PERSEVERANCE AND PATIENCE GOTTA HAVE A LOT OF THAT WHEN YOU GET A HORSE LIKE THAT TO WORK WITH.

BELOW ARE PICS OF ERIC LEARNING HOW TO LONG LINE, FOR THE FIRST TIME HE DID A GREAT JOB. BELLA IS THE SORREL WHO IS DOING VERY WELL. YESTERDAY SHE JUST GOT 2 WOLF TEETH EXTRACTED AND SHEDDED 2 SETS OF BABY TEETH, WOW!!! ERIC ALSO GOT TO RIDE FLICKA TONIGHT WHO IS NOW OFFICIALLY IN TRAINING. HE DID REALLY WELL WITH HER SHE IS LIKE RIDING A MARSHMALLOW. THERE WAS ONE POINT SHE GOT CONFUSED AND GAVE ERIC A LITTLE BUCKA ROO, BUT HE HANDLED IT WELL AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE HORSE OR U MIGHT BE PICKING DIRT OUT OF YOUR TEETH. LESSON LEARNED, THANK GOD HE DID NOT HAVE TO PICK DIRT OUT OF HIS TEETH.

ERIC IN TRAINING DOING AN AWESOME JOB!!!

NEXT LESSON TOMORROW. FIRST SHOW JULY 10th.

WE STILL DO NOT HAVE ANY HAY UP:-( TODAY WE WILL BE CUTTING EVERYBODY CROSS THEIR FINGERS FOR GOOD WEATHER. THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO BREAKFAST ON THE FARM AND AFTER A COUPLE PARTIES TO ATTEND.
UPDATE: ERIC IS LEARNING ALOT, I HAVE HIM WORKING WITH FLICKA AND SHE IS QUITE A CHALLENGE. HE DID GET TO RIDE HER BAREBACK , THAT MADE HIS DAY AFTER THE VERY LONG TRAINING LESSON AND DID I FORGET TO SAY THAT SHE IS A JUMPER, SHE CLEARED THE OUTDOOR ARENA LIKE NOTHING. I JUST TOLD ERIC THAT SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS. ABBY WENT HOME, READY TO DO SOME LIGHT TRAIL RIDING. DALE AND TRACY ENJOY HER, SHE IS A LOT OF FUN AND SHE IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE U GUYS. THAN IN CAME A NEW PROJECT. THREE YEAR OLD QH WITH NOT A LOT OF EXPOSURE. HER NAME IS BELLA, AND EVERYDAY GETS BETTER. SHE GOT DROPPED OFF AND IS THINKING WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED AND WHERE IS MY MOMMY. SHE TOOK A FEW DAYS TO ADJUST WITH DOGS, CATS SCREAMING KIDS, AND HORSES FLYING BY WITH LITTLE PEOPLE ON THEM. I SWEAR HER HEAD IS STILL SPINNING. HER FIRST LESSON WENT AMAZING, EXCEPT FOR THE SURCINGLE, SHE BUCKED WITH THE BEST OF THEM FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS. FINALLY LAST NIGHT NO BUCK EVEN WITH THE CROUPER--PREPARING NOT TO LOOSE MY SADDLE IN CASE SHE FREAKS. WITH ERICS HELP LIFTING THE SADDLE ON BECAUSE I THREW OUT MY NECK/SHOULDER---I THINK I AM GETTING TO OLD FOR THIS SHIT BUT I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT. SADDLE IS ON, BREAST COLLAR IS ON, CROUPER IS ON. FINISH CINCHING SADDLE AND SAY A PRAYER THAT ALL OUR PREPARATION FOR THIS PAID OFF. GOOD GIRL, GOOD GIRL ,WALK ,GOOD GIRL. NO BUCK WALK TROT CANTER. YEAH WE DID IT!!!! UNTIL NEXT TIME.

KEN AND I WENT ON A BEAUTIFUL RIDE CHECKING OUT A PEACE OF PROPERTY THAT IS TOTALLY IN OUR DREAMS, BUT WE ALL HAVE TO DREAM I GUESS. THE HORSES WERE VERY GOOD, AND TOMORROW I HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK BOO HOO!!! UNTIL NEXT TIME.

MADISON ON REBEL RIVER ON FEDX

ERIC&DUSTY DEB&FEDX AT SPEED SHOW.

MADISON AND RIVER RIDING THEIR MOMMY'S HORSES

WELL I SURVIVED MY FIRST SPEED SHOW IN FIFTEEN YEARS. MY GOAL WAS TO STAY ON AND NOT SCREW UP THE PATTERN, I SUCCEEDED YEAH ME!!! OUR TIMES STARTED AT 26 SEC. AND WE GOT THEM DOWN TO 19 SEC NOT SO BAD FOR FEDX NEVER RUNNING A BARREL BEFORE I WAS REALLY PROUD OF HER AND HER BEHAVIOR. SOME OF THEM HORSES WERE SASSSSY.. WE MIGHT HAVE TO TRY AGAIN AT THE END OF THE SEASON, NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO PURSUE TO HEAVILY. ALSO CONGRATS TO ERIC WHO RAN DUSTY AND DID A SUPER JOB, FIRST AND A THIRD GOOD JOB. WE BOTH JUST NEED TO WORK ON STRAIGHT LINES DOWN THE CENTER OF THE ARENA. ITS AMAZING WE TRY SO HARD TO KEEP THEM ON THE RAIL NOW WE ARE ASKING THEM SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THEY ARE GOING WHAT THE HELL!!!! IT WAS A GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL THANKS ROC RANCH FOR LETTING US JOIN IN.

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!! THIS IS A TOTALLY REST YOUR BODY AND SOUL DAY. I NEED THESE EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. WE WERE SUPPOSE TO GO CAMPING THIS WEEKEND WITH THE KIDS BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE FORECAST. OH WELL WE HAVE ALL SUMMER. YESTERDAY ROBIN AND I WENT FOR A WONDERFUL RIDE WITH OUR HORSES AND WHEN WE GOT HOME MADISON AND RIVER RODE THEM, NOW THAT IS WONDERFUL TO WITNESS. AFTER THAT THEY BOTH GOT THEIR PONIES OUT AND RODE THEM IN THE OUTDOOR, PRACTICED TRYING TO GET ON THEM AND DOING AROUND THE WORLD. WATCHING THEM WAS TOTALLY PRICELESS. TOMORROW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HEADING UP TO EQUITY PARK TO TRY SOME BARRELS, SOMETHING LOW KEY AND A BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER. SOUNDS PERFECT TO ME! ALSO SCHEDULING FIRST DRESSAGE TEST THE END OF JULY, KINDA SCARED. " IF YOU WANT TO GROW AS A PERSON YOU NEED TO TRY NEW THINGS OUTSIDE OF YOUR BUBBLE." WELL I WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES:-)