Posts by Susan

Fancy is the age to graduate from a snaffle bit and go into a curb bit. I have been setting up the Wonder bit as a snaffle. Today I changed where the rein fits on the bit and poof, she is wearing a curb bit. Yee Haw! I self-graded C- to C at keeping my one hand grip on the reins. It’s very tough to cast aside one entire arm. The used arm gets upset as it is being asked to perform precision light handling of the horse’s mouth through…

This big arena that hosts events has “No Mounting Block” anywhere! We can’t get over that. Horses owned by older people must not board here. People trailer to events here like barrel racing and cow events. They must carry their own mounting block with them is what I guess. Fancy and I are participating in a Natural Solutions clinic with my clinicians and trainers, Tony and Jennifer Vaught. They have been coaching me for nearly thirt years. Yes, I’m almost experienced now. Http://www.forthehorseranch.com Outdoor Arena for Cow WorkingI’m looking for…

Larry Kilroy spoke to us during our Fox Trotter meeting. We need more riders in our local shows. If I can get riders, I’ll get classes in more shows. Will all of you pledge to ride?” At the time, I was so excited to have a new horse that I would have pledged anything.. I want to do it all. I took the pledge. Summer heat and high humidity is here. I hate it. It erases my outdoors desire. However, I pledged... The Greater Kansas City Arabian Association has a…

During the last couple of weeks when riding was not death by heat and humidity, Fancy and I became pole bending racers. We didn’t have poles, so we changed our title to cone bending racers. I tried to communicate with Fancy using hindquarter leg cues and neck reining using no contact with the bit. We were modestly successful. We were immodestly successful when speed zoomed up to a trot. Fancy likes Cone Bending and Pleasure Barrel Racing. She gets to “GO! We ended our day cantering around the arena. Our…

It is late September and we have had a most horrible heat and humidity summer. I predicted Fall would start TODAY! I had no idea that both the spouse and Fancy would make my prediction a “Near Fall” exciting event! Oh the fun today when I got to ride in a lesson today given by Erin Patterson. I got to ride with another student (who is amazing and has an amazing horse). The focus was on a Ranch Horse pattern, a Reining pattern, turns on the haunches, stopping and speed…