Gaited Horse and Versatility Clinic

August 13, 2011Posted inNOVA, Velvet
Missouri Fox Trotters came out in droves today to help people learn the smooth signature gaits of the breed.  We had two beginners ride two World Grand Champion horses to really find out how to get the horses to do the flat foot walk and fox trot.  Nichole Copple has taken Velvet and Dusty through the World Celebration Fox Trotter Horse show and won the two youth World Grand Championships in Versatility and Ranch Horse. So Dusty and Velvet got to help people new to the breed learn to see…

The Magic Button

July 31, 2011Posted inNOVA
I found "the magic button" this past Saturday during a group lesson with Jenny Vaught.  It's just not every day that you find a magic button on a horse that you've been riding for four years! Nova is a gaited horse.  She's a Missouri Fox Trotter. Finding the right speed in the right gear is like owning a corvette with 6 forward gear-shifting speeds. There is one place for the flat foot walk and one place for the fox trot where everything is perfect. It's one of those 6 forward…

My NEW GLASSES

July 16, 2011Posted inNOVA
I've been dissatisfied with my glasses ever since they started slightly blurring my long distance vision.  And although they did match the turquoise that I'm fond of wearing, my glasses didn't match my horse. Have I mentioned lately that I love my horse so much that I buy clothes to match, jewelery to match, most anything I wear matches my horse.  Lately, my hair has been matching my horse too.  Yes, it's obsession and I'm just fine with it.  It doesn't affect anyone in a negative way and I can…

Velvet – Extraordinarlity Beautiful or What?

July 10, 2011Posted inMissouri Fox Trotter, Velvet
It was a Parelli tour event at the Louiseville Fair Grounds.  Jenny and Tony had taken Velvet and Sasha to ride when the instructors got to put on their demonstration and were giving lessons from Pat. We were there the day before getting ready. Getting ready is riding and practicing, as well as bathing.  Being Velvet's owner, I got to be there too and watch.  It was quite an honor. We were all gathered outdoors in a great big open space, suitable for horse back riding.  Linda Parelli was sitting…

Complaining about Humidity

July 7, 2011Posted inMissouri Fox Trotter, NOVA
During the winter, especially last winter, it was horrid cold.  We suffered terribly.  Everyone and I mean everyone in Missouri vowed never to complain about the Missouri heat.  I vowed to never complain about the heat.  You felt the cold horrid damp wet air go clear thru to your bones in winter Missouri.  I was snowed in for a total of 2 days and then the next time three days.  Snowed in and I live an inch from the city line.  The snow plows finally made it to my property…

Natural Solutions Horse Camp – May 2011

June 4, 2011Posted inNOVA, Velvet
I took Nova and Velvet to For the Horse Ranch. Velvet gets to stay there the rest of the riding year and be Jenny's Ranch Horse.  I rode Nova the first day and Velvet stayed in the pen by herself when Nova was out.  Velvet looked a little anxious and upset, so I rode Nova in the morning and Velvet in the afternoons after that. Velvet put on quite a ground work display of athletic talent the first afternoon.  You can tell when Velvet feels really good by her change…