MERRY CHRISTMAS

From Heidi, Phoenix, Copper and Oakie

Summer 2012

This has been an excellent summer. I feel pretty lucky to have such dedicated and enthusiastic riders, and I adore my horses.   I love my job!

Here are pictures of a few of my students. 

Thank you to everybody who gave permission to have pictures on my site! 

I'm so proud of all my riders who are remembering one of my Most Important Rules of Riding... SMILE!

Sadie, age 12, with Phoenix

Sadie was my first student when I set up here three years ago

Laura, age 9 (almost 10!) with Copper

We girls don't melt in the rain

Selina, age 18, with Oakie

we don't melt in the heat either, even if we think we might

Rukhsana, age 9, with Oakie

Laika, age 14, with Phoenix

Daniel, age 12, with Phoenix

Lucas, age 14, with Oakie

Victoria, age 8, with Copper

Victoria & Copper, Daniel & Phoenix, Lucas & Oakie

Laura & Copper

Rukhsana & Phoenix, Laika & Copper

These sisters wore matching outfits and rode matching horses

 Hey grown-up riders -- prepare to smile for the camera, you're next here!  

Weather Permitting!

It's almost Spring, or as we call it around here, Horse Hair Season!  

Riding lessons slowed quite a bit over winter, and now everybody's getting ready to ride.  I honestly believe even the horses are looking forward to having something fun to do.  

Riding in the great outdoors, without the protection of an arena, can present many challenges.  So what do we do when the weather isn't agreeable?  

There are a lot of learning opportunities, even if we can't ride.  

We can do "unmounted" lessons, in which we stay in the tack room, or under the shelter with the horses.  Learning about grooming, or all about Western tack, can easily fill an hour.  (The price is the same as a regular lesson.)

What if it's not raining anymore, but the horses are soaking wet and the ground is too muddy or slippery?  Bring your rubber boots, and learn about horse handling.  Leading a horse with a halter and lead rope is a great way to get to know the horse, how he moves, and how you can stay safe while handling him.

Of course, actually getting on the horse is the goal!  You might be surprised at how much weather can be tolerated when there's a horse involved.  But days that aren't so nice can be advantageous.  For example, cool cloudy overcast days seem gloomy but are great for riding.  It's not too hot, and nobody has to squint in the sun.  Days when the sky is white, and fluffy snowflakes are falling, are wonderful to ride.  In a few months, we'll be dealing with heat and sun, which are great but have their own set of challenges.  We can adapt.  We dress appropriately for the weather, and I can adjust the lesson plan to suit the weather and ground conditions.


But let's not fret about the weather.  When it comes to horses, there is always something to do, and something to learn.

Like I always say, any time with horses is quality time!