Spending Money With No Return or The Money Pit

October 14, 2011

SPENDING MONEY WITH NO RETURN, OR THE MONEY PIT

Sure is nice to have this beautiful weather we are having!! We do need some more rain, but it has been much cooler and it is really enjoyable. We had one of those ultra light airplanes go over us this morning. It had a multi colored canopy on it and the horses sure watched it. Foxy ran all over her pen and had her head up and really thought it was a giant buzzard, come to eat her!!

This week has been a busy week again for us. We have had lots of lessons, and a couple of clinics. We do have more room for horses to ride though. We have almost finished up the ones we have here. Speaking of getting some use from your horses instead of letting them stay in their stall or pasture all the time………………………….

The dream team, Sox & Pat

Jere and I, as proponents for Natural Horsemanship, feel that it is our job to inform people about Natural Horsemanship. One of the ideas Natural Horsemanship embraces is that you should be able to ride your horse, be safe, and have fun. Lots of people we see just go see their horse and feed him a carrot and pet his head and that is the extent of their interaction with their horses for that day. Why do they see him once a week and don’t do anything with him? They can’t handle him!! He runs over them, steps on them, and maybe even bites or kicks. You have considerable money invested in this horse by now. You have moved him into a barn or to your home, had the farrier come and work on him, had his shots, worming and Coggins taken care of and even bought tack and equipment. If you are spending all this money, why can’t you get out there and do something with him? Because you can’t control him! Go take some lessons and do it every week and then practice. Plan some time for him. I know we all have busy lives, but if you don’t have time for him, maybe you don’t need to own him? Horses are living breathing animals, and if he is standing in a stall or pen all the time, this isn’t good for him. We see so many people who have horses they are just paying for, not riding or enjoying and it is an easy problem to fix. Spend time at lessons, clinics and practices and you will be able to go on trail rides or show him or anything else. And you will get some fun out of all that money you spent. Wasn’t that the idea when you got him?!

Next Saturday, October 22, from 9a.m. to 7p.m., we will be at the Bluebonnet Equine Rescue’s Expo at the Travis County Expo Center in Austin. Jere will be demonstrating how to read the personality of the horse at noon in the outside arena. We also have a booth. Drop by and see us. The Expo has eighteen different clinicians and demonstrations, a silent auction, used tack sale, parade of breeds and lots of different vendors. You will find lots of horse stuff to interest you. This Expo is Bluebonnet’s main fund raiser and also a place where you can adopt a horse. There will be about 50 head there that need to be adopted and you can come and look and choose one.

Have a good week and get out there and do something with your horse!!

The Quality Of Our Students

October 1, 2011
Jere rode in the Jack Brainard Clinic in Leaky, TX on September 24 and 25. We love going to clinics to learn new things. It gives us new life and feeds us, and in turn, we do a better job at the next clinic we give. Jack taught some lead changes and Cowboy or Western Dressage. Jere has long advocated what he calls “Dancing with Horses” and got some new moves to try on his patient students. We took Bandit, our most finished horse. Sherry and Jackie came and rode in the clinic too, and I must say they really made Jere look like a good instructor. Jackie especially conquered some confidence issues, and we were really proud of both of them.

Our 3 Day Trail Riding Clinic was a success too. We had it at a very nice facility down the road from us at Tarpley, TX. This was Jody Campbell’s J C Horseshoe Ranch. Jody has a covered arena, quite a few stalls in a brand new barn, an outside arena, and she also has run out sheds with little pens around them. She does overnight boarding and does other horse stuff. Look at her page on the web. http://www.jchorseshoeranch.com/index.html We had 11 riders and we had a very good time.

When we start having lots of clinics and lessons and get really busy, we really start to appreciate the quality of the students we have who are trying very hard to learn Natural Horsemanship. This study takes time and energy. No one can do it for you. You have to put the time and energy into it. Lots of people believe that horses are like motorcycles. You have the mechanic work on them and park them in the garage and then take them out when you want to ride them and you have a nice ride. A horse may ride like a motorcycle, but he darned sure isn’t like one. You have to take the time it takes to have a good horse that you can ride down the trail or at a show. I can’t emphasize how much difference it makes when you actually spent the time and energy to put the foundation on your horse. Then when you take him to a ride or show you can have a good time instead of having problems and endangering everyone else.

We have an Advanced Horsemanship Clinic coming up on October 8 & 9 again at Jody Campbell’s Horseshoe Ranch in Tarpley, TX. There has been quite a lot of interest in this clinic. Jere is hoping to teach some of the things he learned at the Brainard Clinic.

You have to be able to do the ground exercises well, ride at a trot and walk and keep control of your horse for this clinic. This is also a progressive clinic. You cannot take one day only. You have to take both days. Please e-mail me if you are interested.

We have had 4 inches of rain in the last couple of days. It has also cooled down and this is wonderful!! We are so thankful for the rain. Have a good week!