JR’s Journal – Who Gets to Start JR?!

November 23, 2001Posted inJR
"Since you’re an advanced student now, I bet you are starting your own horses." "Why aren’t you starting your own horse? You’ve done all the ground work, haven’t you?" "Why are you paying someone else to start JR? He seems really tame?" Here’s my reply: I have access to "natural" professionals who start colts. These professionals give the colt the best start on the road to becoming a saddle horse. If you had choices for your children as to where they would start their schooling, wouldn’t you give them the…

Velvet – flying lead changes

November 12, 2001Posted inVelvet
I've been coached while doing flying lead attempts for 4 years. I've reached almost Master's Degree in flying lead changes. Jenny, the coach, always sez, "Squeeze with your right/left LEG" at the magic moment when changing directions. And that's exactly what I have done all these years. I have squeezed with my entire leg. Actually, I've pressed my entire leg on the side of the horse. What good do you think that has done? This is like the difference between the web halter and the rope halter. DUH This is…

Velvet – Level 2 clinic with Jennifer Vaught

October 27, 2001Posted inVelvet
The day was sunny and bright. It was warmer outside in the sun than in the indoor arena, so we were outside all day long. But it was cold in the morning, so we started out in the heated lounge. We had a knot tying class...we learned 4 knots. We got our circulation started with balancing games. Jenny had purchased a round board with a bump in the middle. The object is to stand on it without the edges of the board touching the floor. Then we had to stand…

JR’s Journal – Kindergarten Days in Jenny-School

October 23, 2001Posted inJR
A couple of years ago, I decided that I knew what I wanted in my next horse. I wanted a naturally gaited, athletic horse. My baby's name is JR and his mommy and grandpa can do flying lead changes. JR is 2 1/2 now and he went to Jenny school yesterday. I talked to Jenny after work and she said guess who I rode today? I couldn't guess. She said, "I rode JR". Well, there's another JR in the barn, so I said which JR. She said, "YOUR JR!" WOW!…

Velvet – L3 Parelli Clinic and the Galloping

October 16, 2001Posted inVelvet
Velvet did her normal extraordinary job during the clinic last weekend. No one else lives in a stable that has Parelli lessons every week, so it's not hard to figure out why Velvet is so highly trained. We had riders from 11 different States attend this advanced clinic. There aren't many level 3 clinics given in the United States (or world, for that matter). So those advancing thru the PNH system have to go long distances for these few and far between clinics. I got over the last vestige of…

Velvet – Practicing for Reining at Celebration

August 24, 2001Posted inVelvet
Today in a restaurant, I was playing with my little metal toy horsie. I was running the reining pattern on my table. You know how people stare at you when you aren't looking and then you look at them and try to catch them. Well, I didn't try to catch them staring. I imagine they thought I was a 50-70 IQ person playing with my horsie! I'm carrying my metal horsie where ever I go. When I have a chance, I run the reining pattern with him. It really helps…