I started lessons on Rocky in March, with a break in April and May while the abscess on his neck healed. And sometimes it has been too hot! Our last lesson on August 2nd helped me see how far we have come. I remember my earlier frustrations trying to keep Rocky straight. This time it was much easier. I remember feeling very discouraged back in March, but now I’m feeling that we are finally getting somewhere! I am learning to not try so hard to make things happen and it’s easier. I’m relaxing down into the saddle, plugging in my seat bones instead of sitting tight and on edge. I’m learning that Rocky can do better when I do less. I’m working to sit tall and straight but not stiff. Even our stops are improving! At one point, Cindy asked for a halt, and Rocky stopped with very little rein! I had just started to emphasize a lengthening leg as the first stage of a halt, and Rocky quickly picked up on that! I was giving half halts before an actual halt, but not distinguishing enough between the preparation and the actual halt. With Cindy’s help, I realized that Rocky was probably not sure what I wanted. Bit by bit, we are working on this issue of communication. Rocky is beginning to find a lovely self-carriage. Whenever you feel discouraged, just keep at it. Know that someday, when you have worked through the problems, you will feel the joy of success! Thanks, Betsy.

 

Boss Man's Beauty
We found “Ginger” in April of ‘07 and she is the perfect horse for my husband! Bombproof as they come, she is an older Fox Trotter mare with Zane Grey in her background. She had arthritic hocks pretty bad at first, and it was difficult to pick up her back feet. With vitamin and joint supplements, she is acting like a much younger horse and I have enjoyed watching her playful antics. Ginger’s story is in the MARE book.

Walker’s Velvet Queen
“Lady” is the Tennessee Walking Horse mare that my husband bought for himself in March of ’04 (because of her loving personality), but soon decided he didn’t want to deal with her boss mare ways. We traded her off, then got her back--for me. I’ve ridden her in a few horse shows, on a 9 mile Hunter Pace and on various trails. I especially enjoy her smooth fast gait on the trails and the way she jumps any creek or ditch! She is even learning to accept the four wheelers and large trucks that share our road by the barn. She was the inspiration for my second book “MARES! (ya gotta love em)” that came out in 2008.)

Whoopie’s Rock a Color
“Rocky” has been with us since May, ’05. Russ rode him on trails for two years, then fed too much alfalfa, and Rocky bucked once. I have been riding him since, and he just gets better every year. He is a double registered Tennessee Walking Horse/Spotted Saddle Horse from the King Ranch in Missouri. He has a great disposition, very willing and smart, a kid at heart who loves to have fun, but is very sensible. He doesn’t spook easily, but does have reservations about noisy, blowing tarps! I have ridden him on the road with traffic, and in a few horse shows and I have hopes of doing “dressage” with this gaited horse. He has a really nice trot on the lunge line, and a nice smooth gait under saddle. I may be working on dressage, on jumping, more variation of his gait, canter—just so many things this boy can do. He is such fun!

Syn-cere
Syn-cere came to me as a 16 year old Arabian brood mare, proud and full of vigor! She had problems with being tied, with being haltered and bridled, and feeling any pressure on her head, after a previous trailer accident. She showed great intelligence as we overcame those ingrained fears! At 19, she placed 5th on her second Competitive Trail Ride. Syn-cere taught me the need to deal with our issues with quiet patience, one small step at a time. Syn-cere's story is included in the mare book.

Traveller
I’ve had Traveller since August of ’97, and enjoyed many good times on trail rides, Hunter Pace events and a few shows. He was sold to me as an unregistered Quarter horse, and he has an amazing trot that would have been good on a competitive trail ride! He is in his 20’s and has slowed down after a struggle with EPM, but is still rideable. He was my sensible, reliable mount for many years before the EPM, the first horse that let me relax and enjoy the ride. I truly thank God for help with his healing (also Debbie Antognoli and Lynette Schneider). He is a special horse.

Fanny
Fanny was my true beginning. She was ornery and headstrong, full of spunk and energy, and she reacted to frightful surroundings with intimidating strength. But she was mine and she knew it, for 13 years. Our journey together is shared in my first book, “Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse,” published in 2004.

Little War Dude
“Dude” was Fanny’s only offspring, born in 1977, a blue roan appy with white blanket. I later taught him to “talk” to me with a flappy lip. We started one Competitive Ride, didn’t finish. He stepped in a hole during a conditioning ride and was never sound again. I “loaned” him to someone I trusted to care for him while I recovered from shoulder surgery, then discovered later that they had given him away! After telling me they wanted to keep him! I often wonder if he is still alive, and I will never loan out a horse again. Dude taught me a greater appreciation of loyalty and responsibility.

And there were others. There was Sandy, a retired Quarter palomino show horse; Nugget, who bucked after he was wormed; Samson, an older Quarter-Saddlebred who didn’t want to go into a trailer; Sammy, the TWH field trial horse that wanted so much to please but was so nervous he worried his rider; Silver, an Arab endurance horse that slid into a fence and injured his leg the day after I realized what a great horse I had; Mandy, an Arab mare that had been badly mistreated and her young filly, Oksana, who had great promise for starting out as the smallest of twins! Every horse has a story to tell and lessons to share.

And here are a few extra snapshots, including one of my very first ride on my Uncle’s pony!

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