Blog
Poquito Valley
We finished our stay in Poquito Valley on the 24th! What a totally relaxing time. Three wonderful horses and a shy but but eventually friendly Taco Terrier. Wonderful friends to work for!!!
Niagara Falls
The first leg of our journey across our great country was a challenge with the wind but we arrived at Niagara Falls yesterday afternoon and all is well! This morning the wind is gone and we are looking forward to seeing our nations Fauset ! We’re told 20% of our water comes from this source! Amazing!
On the road across the USA
Our wonderful host Lindsay. We are so thankful to her for trusting us with all her kids.
This time in NY has given us wonderful memories of wonderful people! What a Blessing leaving all of these people in the hands of Christina, our dear friend from Germany that apprentice with me many years ago and is responsible for setting this whole experience up! We are starting our journey back to Arizona today and will arrive at our next stay for some friends on May 15th - June 15th in Chino Valley.
Our trip back will have some down time to see some family in Indiana, friends in Minnesota and see the Dakotas before visiting with friends in Colorado, Lord willing!
Make A Hand Clinic “Kinderhook”
We finished our second Clinic in Kinderhook NY the 23rd & 24th with a wonderful group like we had in the first Clinic on the 9th & 10th! The first Clinic had to be in the indoor arena as it rained both days but this last one was out side and there was actually Sun.
The Clinics were both the same format of the Make A Hand Clinic. It was a challenge for the riders to over come habits of their instinct of riding! The way each rider held their reins was the first process of change. Learning to feel their horse’s mouth with their fingers rather than pull with their hands was successful by the end of the second day. What a difference there was!
We did several private lessons throughout this visit. All were ground management lessons. We worked at a Fox Hunting barn with ground management lessons and that was really interesting to work with these folks and learn about their sport of Fox Hunting. A single hunt is 5-6 hours of pretty challenging riding!
German Town New York
We arrived in German Town NY on April 3rd. For the next few weeks we will care for the critters on this beautiful farm with peach orchards everywhere! Three horse’s, about 20 sheep, 7 chickens and two kitties. This is a 118 acre farm with lots of orchards! There is a barn that is used for weddings that was built in 1890.
Peter, a 4 year old Welsh Cob pony has been my project horse. He has been trained but needs improvement on his lightness answering commands. We have had a lot of rain throughout our stay so his sessions have been affected but his progress has been good! Oops, I forgot the Lama! He is pretty cute.
Loading Lesson !
Had a trailer loading lesson in Scottsdale on March 2nd. Pam needed some help with her mare’s conference loading and being comfortable in a trailer. She could get her in but it was always a struggle and very time consuming. As soon as Pam would get her in she would storm back out. This was dangerous for the horse and Pam. The horse was a really good student and became very comfortable! It’s always so gratifying to see that!
A Filly update
Finished up with Lucy at our stay in Cave Creek. This little girl was just a pleasure to work with! All the time that I spent with her was focused on finish and lightness! She is going to be our friend Dorothee’s trail horse, and most probably Dorothee’s last horse and she picked a good one!
A POA Filly named “Lucy”
For the next few weeks I’ll be in Cave Creek off and on working with a 3.5 yr old POA filly named “Lucy”. What a wonderful mind she has! Her job will be, to be a good safe trail horse. For as young as she is her maturity surpasses her age!
A Wonderful Life
We had 5 wonderful days with guys in Cornville Arizona! This was one of those places that would get your day started off perfect every day! Long conversation with Ange, the Donkey! She would hang on every word!! The other two were Peruvian Paso. One is Successor, the darker chestnut. He was one I had in training for a couple of years. Truly a favorite! His improvements were so fun to be involved with! Unfortunately he was diagnosed with DSLD, degenerate suspensory ligament disease, but he has a wonderful life!!
Miniature Burritos & Horses
Had four miniatures; two burritos, two horses, and one regular burrito. They all needed to be loaded and transported but had never done it before. Miniatures can be pushed or pulled easily enough into a trailer but it can be a very stressful and traumatic experience! The goal is for them to be comfortable with the load and travel to and from Cottonwood and Prescott Valley. It was a wonderful time watching them understand the process!
The little white mini horse had not had a halter on it and was on about an 1/8 of acre with no in-closer so it was fun to work through her fears and get haltered and leading!
Cave Creek Filly
I went to do more work in Cave Creek on this really nice POA Filly! A good part of this work is getting Dorothee well acquainted with her new horse 🐎. Dorothee has some limitations riding from an injury several years ago. This little filly is proving to be a good companion for her!
Personal Horses & Critters
We just finished our stay for Val and Nancy in Granite Oaks, Prescott. Spent three days with three very personable horses and these lovable small critters, a Doodle and three kitty’s. I had a lot of barn detailing that kept me busy so it was a wonderful time!
Guess who’s coming to Breakfast?
Our stay in Page Springs is an example of why we decided to set off on this adventure of Horse Sitting USA. While sitting on the deck having breakfast we had the most pleasant surprises! A neighbors Longhorn showed up for a drink in the creek! We heard there were Longhorns next door but had not seen them, so now we know! Another surprise Blessing was while having coffee before starting my day a Golden Eagle landed on a branch no more than 15 feet from me! I tried reaching for my camera but he said “No pictures please“! Gotta love the world that God has made!!
Spring, the Grey Arab, developed an eye issue the day before her owner Katrin had to leave. Were thankful that Katrin felt she could leave on schedule and that we are here to give the care she needs and to receive the Vet that came today. The vet was very good and helpful but was not Springs regular vet which is Dr Bleake in Cottonwood. After seeing him for a second opinion we took her to Cave Creek for the lab work . Spring is gray/white in color and prone to cancers so this follow up was necessary to be sure. All negative!! Good news and the adventure continues!
Peace & Harmony
Finishing up a two day stay at our Page Springs, near Cornville, Az location and preparing to head to Cave Creek for 7 days then back to Page Springs for the next 7 days. This location is more like a sanctuary of peace and harmony plus one of these horses, the gray Arab, was my horse for many years! What a Blessing to be with her again!!
Horsemanship
We put on a horsemanship clinic this weekend for The Back Country Horseman Of America in Prescott Valley, Arizona. What a wonderful group to work with! This class was on the process of communication. How to recognize the decision of a command. Had one mule in the group! It was always special to hear the bray of this mule in the middle of anything we were doing! Can’t help from smiling every time he had something to say!
Horses and Kitties!
What a loving environment to be with these horses and kitties! These two horses are father, 21 and daughter, 15. So well cared for! Very relaxing to be around! We have three kitties to be with and they are just a Hoot!! One is 19 and you would never know it!! Steve and Brenda have allowed us to feel completely comfortable and welcome!
7 Mangalaro Marchador Stallions, Oklahoma !
Ned trained 7 Mangalaro Marchador Stallions ages from 2-4 that needed to be halter broke. Wonderful breed to work with! None had been handed before and they all worked through their lessons without issues!
Rick Schatz has been pasture breeding this breed from Brazil for years and produces a wonderful blood line, (link to Rick’s site www.flyingoaksranch.com ) Our journey continues!
Binky’s Story
Knowledge was Key!
Ned was called to place a halter on Binky so the vet could check him out. Ned and Binky walked around the coral for a few hours as they got aquatinted. After awhile Binky felt comfortable and allowed Ned to place a halter on him. knowledge was the key. The Vet was able to check Binky over and the job was complete and Binky is doing great! .
