Roper Pro! 12/23/2019

December 26, 2019Posted inEmmy Lou, Fancy
Dratted Kohout Challenge- Rope Something From Your Horse Let me start out by bragging about being a total roper pro (see Roper Santa! I have that exact same rope.)  I have roped the middle of a wild hackney pony (embarrassing story in book two).  I have been in hundreds of roping lessons and clinics, excelling in all (none) of them! In the Parelli world, the highest level of online horsemanship involves a 45' lariat.  We students start out hating the lariat.  We live with our rope 24/7.  We sleep with…

Whine Negated

December 13, 2019Posted inFancy, Missouri Fox Trotter
Here was my whine yesterday on Facebook: "Today I learned it's more difficult to trot and canter over poles as it is to jump over jumps. When Fancy's front foot steps on the pole, we're headed dirt-downwards! Who knew? One glass of of wine night And turtle cheesecake!" You are not going to believe what I'm going to tell you today! I can't even believe it and I lived it. On this day, Fancy and I cantered over the poles both ways of the arena. On this day She wore…

The Cliffhanger

December 4, 2019Posted inFancy
Our first real trailride produced some amazing pictures taken by fellow riders. When the trailride was over, the light was perfect for pictures. Riders think if they live through the ride, it's a done deal. I am alive. I learned that a trailride isn't over when one arrives alive back at the trailer. "Hang On" for the story! The Rock Island Trail exists very close to where I live in the Kansas City area. It's an extension of the Katy Trail. These trails are abandoned railroad tracks that have been…

Backing Up Back Story

November 26, 2019Posted inFancy
Backing? You want me to back? sigh... My wonderful friend loaned me a horse so I could ride while my own horse was recovering from stifle, later diagnosed as EPM. She came with past problems, but she was rideable. I needed a horse to ride. Winter depression sets in when you are a crazy horse woman without a rideable horse. Plus there is the sadness seeing your beloved horse with a limp. Fancy came into my life. I got her and took her home. A few days later I took…

Hell of a Lead

November 25, 2019Posted inFancy
November 25, 2019 Group Lesson under the direction of Erin Patterson Cloverleaf pattern with poles in a small arena is hell with a fast cantering horse. The turns are very tight and then there are those nasty poles in the way. It takes some nimble foot work to accomplish this pattern at a fast canter. Fancy has yet to perfect a slow canter. Why go slow when you can go fast. That is also my guiding light life principle. Fancy and I are so alike. sigh Fancy is suspicious of…

Best Group Lesson Ever

November 21, 2019Posted inFancy, Flying Change, Missouri Fox Trotter
Quote of the day: “I can no longer tell people watching Fancy and I ride that Fancy was ruined at her colt start.”  No one would believe me.   Highlight words from Erin Patterson during the group lesson of November 20th, 2019: “That fox trot is perfect!” “Look, she isn’t arguing!” “Hey!  Fancy looks like a Performance Horse!”  (I apologized). While Fancy was doing a flat foot walk leg yield diagonally the long way of the arena Erin pronounced:  “That is excellent. Look, her ears are flopping!”  (That is wonderful for a Fox Trotter gait…