It’s Complicated – Fancy

December 9, 2018Posted inFancy
Fancy has won the title of Most Intriguing Horse awarded by Erin Patterson.  She argues.  She argues when the human tries to get the bridle on. She argues when the human body tells her to speed up.  But after arguing, she speeds up and speeds up and speeds up!  Gradually Erin is getting less and less arguing and smooth gaits.  Occasionally, the ride goes bad and the only request she will obey is to canter. Earlier this week, I rode Fancy.  I had a horrid horrid time getting her bridle…

Open Reserve Ranch Horse World Grand Champion – Fancy

November 11, 2018Posted inFancy
What did Tony say this past winter?  "If you let me keep Fancy all summer, I'll win the Ranch Horse World Grand Champion." He did!  Guess who got the World Grand Championship Ranch Horse and Versatility garlands?  My name is on her registration too!  Jenny beat out Tony for the garland because her horse has been trained for many a more years AND had the perfect start to her life under my stewardship and the Vaught's training that started her life out right!  Half sisters won the World Grand Champion…

My Days are Special – Emma, Cisco and Fancy

October 26, 2018Posted inCISCO, City Dog, Emma, EPM, Fancy, Missouri Fox Trotter
I just got pictures from Florida showing Cisco's arrival! Cisco just traveled 1300 miles in a trailer. Tony Vaught made a special trip to get him. Cisco had gone into laminitis danger with his weight gain on the high sugar grass in Missouri. Horses get a version of sugar diabetes by eating too much sugar which is rampart in Central Missouri grass. This is called insulin resistance in horses.  Horrible pain called laminitis can result which heats up the bones in their foot to the temperature of a 400 degree…

Fancy is Perfect for Me. Rides #10 and #11

October 9, 2018Posted inFancy
Last week I got comfortable riding Fancy in Tony and Jenny Vaught’s clinic for rides #7 and #8. Near the end of each day, we cantered part of the bow tie pattern. The second day, Tony had to show me how to apply a more forceful pressure as Fancy resisted my light pressure-ask. Taking on a filly with strong opinions is like learning to walk again. That was last week. This week was a clinic with Dr. Mike Guerni. I was able to ride in a short Intro to Canter…

Love, Language and Leadership – Not There Yet with Fancy!

February 27, 2018Posted inCISCO, Fancy, Missouri Fox Trotter
Those are the three core words that guide my life with horses. This is a story about the invisible feel and bond between my beloved Cisco and I. Fancy is in round pen training with Cisco and I. Cisco and I show Fancy how to respond to my “language”. My desire is for the horse to come to me from several feet up to 20 feet from me. My signal is to bend my head to the side and focus my eyes at the flank area. My focus should communicate…

Florida Fancy Tales

January 30, 2018Posted inFancy, Missouri Fox Trotter
Monday morning at 16 degree weather was the departure of Fancy and young Bravo for their training adventure in Florida with Tony and Jenny Vaught. Tony and Jenny arrived around 8:00am, hooked up trailer, loaded hay bales, secured hay nets and loaded horses. They had to touch metal to do all this. While Fancy was loading everyone complained about being frozen. Tony’s fingers were frozen up to the nails. Jenny’s face froze. My thighs froze. The horses were fine. They live in this weather. Plus the hay filled nets blocked…