JR’s Journal – Kindergarten Days in Jenny-School

October 23, 2001Posted inJR
A couple of years ago, I decided that I knew what I wanted in my next horse. I wanted a naturally gaited, athletic horse. My baby's name is JR and his mommy and grandpa can do flying lead changes. JR is 2 1/2 now and he went to Jenny school yesterday. I talked to Jenny after work and she said guess who I rode today? I couldn't guess. She said, "I rode JR". Well, there's another JR in the barn, so I said which JR. She said, "YOUR JR!" WOW!…

Velvet – L3 Parelli Clinic and the Galloping

October 16, 2001Posted inVelvet
Velvet did her normal extraordinary job during the clinic last weekend. No one else lives in a stable that has Parelli lessons every week, so it's not hard to figure out why Velvet is so highly trained. We had riders from 11 different States attend this advanced clinic. There aren't many level 3 clinics given in the United States (or world, for that matter). So those advancing thru the PNH system have to go long distances for these few and far between clinics. I got over the last vestige of…

Velvet – Practicing for Reining at Celebration

August 24, 2001Posted inVelvet
Today in a restaurant, I was playing with my little metal toy horsie. I was running the reining pattern on my table. You know how people stare at you when you aren't looking and then you look at them and try to catch them. Well, I didn't try to catch them staring. I imagine they thought I was a 50-70 IQ person playing with my horsie! I'm carrying my metal horsie where ever I go. When I have a chance, I run the reining pattern with him. It really helps…

Velvet – Practice for Celebration Trail Class

August 21, 2001Posted inVelvet
I took my yellow slicker, my blue tarp and a bag of pop cans over to Pine Dell tonight. I made a water box with the tarp and logs. I hung the yellow slicker on top of a traffic cone that was sitting on top of a barrel. I had Velvet carry the bag of pop cans from the barn to the obstacle course and we warmed up with them bouncing on her saddle. She smelled the water box before she confidentally went through it. She ignored everything else. In…

Sage the Pony Horse and the wretched Bumblebee

August 1, 2001Posted inSage, Velvet
I was ponying Velvet yesterday while riding Sage. Velvet started to rear and buck and run back and forth on the "pony side". I knew we had trouble in River City! I had to concentrate on keeping my leg from getting tangled up in the lead. Velvet also rubbed and pushed against Sage, pretty close to where my leg is fastened on. Sage held firm. I lost all control of the rope and Velvet got behind Sage and up on the other side where she became snubbed. Her head was…

Velvet – Flying Lead Changes at Equitana – IV

June 24, 2001Posted inVelvet
Pat's new resolve this year was to teach something useful during each Savvy Demonstration. He waited until the last performance to teach flying lead changes. He and some of the students demonstrated the proper body position and drop to trot lead changes. He asked the instructors to demonstrate flying lead changes over two barrels. Luckily, Pat set this up for Velvet to change leads from left to right. Jenny was relaxed as Velvet has been doing it flying lead changes in this direction over barrels at home. Jenny was last in line and she jumped…