JR’s Journal – Dave Ellis Clinic and Compliment

September 5, 2003Posted inJR
Other than Pat and Linda Parelli, Dave Ellis is one of the two highest premier instructors in the Parelli organization. We did lot's of turning (hindquarter and forequarter) ...with the human getting in time with the feet.  We did lot's of transition of trotting to a back.  We did lot's of transitions of casual rein to concentrated rein and back to a casual rein.  We did partnership riding which is like drill team riding with two or three people. The instructor always checks everyone out during the exercise.  He got me once…

JR’s Journal – JR the Wal-Mart Greeter Horse

June 27, 2003Posted inJR
What is the picture that haunts your waking and sleeping thoughts when it comes to traveling with horses. Yep, a BREAK DOWN! I’ve never had a break down. Before I go out of town with pickup and trailer, I grill my husband. Did he look at the tires? Do I need to buy new tires for truck or trailer? Are you certain that the tread is enough.. I mention at least 6 times how dreadful it would be if I broke down somewhere in the middle of no-where with horse…

JR’s Journal – Walk in the Park Horror

June 15, 2003Posted inJR
JR and I were practicing our gait last Sunday. I like to call it purity of gait practice. We rode by ourselves at James A Reed Park. The park has a lot of trails and they are flat and grassy. It's just great for consistency. We were zipping up the side of a paved road going to the trail head on the other side of the road. Out in the parking lot FLASHES a 7-8 year old girl RUNNING with a KITE! The KITE is low to the ground and…

JR’s Journal- JR the Tall is a Guard Horse

May 27, 2003Posted inJR
May 27, 2003  I was out in the pasture yesterday. The horses were across the lake. I walked way over there to see them and to trim some nasty saplings growing around the lake.The dogs came with me...as they always do. Cricket,our black dog, just got her 25lbs of hair removed in her yearly summer trim. She turned into a small short haired dog with a cute little bandana. JR saw me and started walking towards me to say HI. Then he started running to me. "WOW," I thought, "He's…

JR’s Journal – Susan’s Big Blank Duh Look

May 10, 2003Posted inJR
JR and I were in a combined L2 and L3 clinic today doing just lovely. We do have a horse in the clinic that tends to get upset when another horse comes near him or touches him. I knew that from being in an earlier clinic with him...but I got too close. All of sudden we heard the squeal, the back up to kick, only we were too close. The horse whirled and then the head snaked at us. Ears pinned and teeth barred. The horse went in for the…

Velvet – Flying Lead Changes

May 8, 2003Posted inVelvet
This is a post from the woman (me) who had given up on FLC as Velvet would never do them consistently...in 5 years. This is a post from the woman (me) who was shocked to discover that Velvet had passed the L2 Flying Change Lead task the other day while in a group lesson. Here's a another shocker:  I decided to work on the L3 task...counter canter. You must canter once around an arena or area in a counter canter. Velvet has been making great improvement in her ability to counter canter. Last…