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…

Fancy Tales – Our First Encounter December 2017

January 30, 2018Posted inFancy, Missouri Fox Trotter
Teresa loaned Fancy to me while Cisco is recovering from EPM. I picked her up from Teresa and Junior Osborn. Fancy had nearly 60 day’s training with a Fox Trotter trainer who had problems getting Fancy to move forward when he started her.  It was at her "colt start" when Fancy became "spur sensitive". Fancy had just completed 30 days training with a trail riding trainer. In her first two weeks with the trail rider trainer, she was ridden in a parade! Boy Howdy! She had kicked the husband and…

The Middle Horse Finger from Fancy

December 22, 2017Posted inFancy, Missouri Fox Trotter
Cisco and Fancy played at liberty with me in the round pen today. They ran around while I looked at Cisco’s back feet. He is still dragging both back toes. It occurred to me that maybe he needs to self-collect. I got the barrels in place with a space to run in between. Cisco scoffed at that and jumped. Fancy went to the outside through a space I thought too small for a horse. I gave the non verbal body signal to stop running which Cisco obeyed. However, Fancy’s nose…

Cisco Buddy Sweet

December 5, 2017Posted inCISCO, Country Frank's Lucky Star, Missouri Fox Trotter
Everyone calls this Buddy sour, but that is so negative for a dependence problem. Cisco has a personality that lends him to be dependent on others...usually a horse. Cisco and Lucky were boarded together this summer. I've been trailering Cisco and Lucky lately to a park where my friend got to ride Lucky. At no time was Cisco able to let Lucky out of his direct sight. If Lucky walked behind a trailer, Cisco went hysterical. I had to saddle Cisco where he could see Lucky. If not, Cisco became…

Fancy Tales – Fancy Play Day!

November 25, 2017Posted inFancy, Missouri Fox Trotter
I've been in California for over a week.  I had the most amazing time ever!  I'm back home and have a talented young horse to develop.  There is nothing better than a beautiful, talented young horse and a 60' round pen! The herd was in the far pasture across the lake.  I called Fancy's name on my way to the barn.  When I stepped out of the barn with my assortment of tack, Fancy was waiting for me.  The herd was still in the far pasture, but Fancy came a…