Support Your Horse

Support Your Horse
My journal entries from Riding in Buck Braanaman Clinic March 11-14, 2011

March 11:
I love little Sorry so much. I've known that she was ultra sensitive and that I need to have better feel for her. My big blinding flash of the obvious is preparing her for the transition by changing the way I collect my reins so she does not brace.

We started the day with the all important lateral flexion at the stand still. Buck was very particular about how the horse bent. Just cranking the horse's head around was not acceptable. If we want to be great horsemen we had better learn how to do this with finesse. We concentrated on rewarding the horse's slightest try.

We worked on three elements in the flexion; elevation of the poll above the withers, ears staying level (the horizontal plane) and the nose slightly tipped or (the face on the vertical plane). Oh and we didn't over bend them either, just 90 degrees. We recognized any time the horse was correct in one dimension, not expecting him to accomplish all three elements at once. First we asked for one of the elements to be performed very well, then two and maybe eventually all three elements would come together for a moment. We didn't expect the horse to start out perfect, but should always be working towards perfection with all three dimensions of the vertical flexion.

We sat still for quite some time working on this exercise. Patience is a virtue of every great horseman. If you were in a hurry at this clinic then you were in the wrong place. Like every horseman I have ridden with they each have stressed the importance of bending the head. Buck was more particular than any other person I have ridden with about us taking the time to really get this good. And he stressed all weekend that we should continually be working on it with every horse. After the lateral flexion was working for us a little better then we also worked on the soft feel while standing still.

We were instructed to first asked the horse to elevate the poll and give us a soft feel before walking out. Plus be sure your horse left straight. We did a lot of serpentines using our legs first then supporting with the reins. The inside leg was back and the outside leg forward. While performing a serpentine make sure the whole horse is making the corners and impulsion is maintained. After the serpentines were working for us a little we then began to ask for the same soft feel while continuing the serpetine work.

Next we worked on stopping from the walk taking extra care to be sure we asked for the soft feel before stopping the horse. After everyone was getting their horses to stop a little better, we stopped the horse then waited for the horse to settle before asking for a soft feel again and a back up. Again we were instructed to focus on elevating the shoulders to get the backward impulsion where the hind quarter is pulling like an engine. The next step was to transition right from the walk to stop to backup with smoothness.

Again my blinding flash of the obvious was in my preparation for the transition in order to keep Sorry from bracing. It is always about the feel we are able to present to the horse. Sorry fell in love with a Buckskin horse, whom she must have thought was like her buddy Cisco back home. She was talking to him whenever she could. She slowed up whenever she was by him, hoping to stay with him, and tried to speed up whenever he wasn't nearby. Buck talked about how horses are fresh first rides in the spring and we need to support them more. They will quit being buddy or barn sour when we are able to support them in a positive way. The more we are their leader the less they need another horse for support. I am glad to say that each day I was able to give her more of the support she needed and by the 4th day the Buckskin was now a non-issue for her.

Next we did some walk trot walk transitions. I was not happy as Sorry got a little more emotional as we increased the speed. So I went back to serpentines, small circles and disengaging the hind quarters when needed. Buck explained the importance of keeping the four corners of the horse balanced and straight from front to back, especially on departures. This to can keep the horse from being emotional because he feels solid and balanced. Just like Ray Hunt, Buck told us to focus and keep the horse between our legs.

We didn't do any ground work, but we talked about how important it is especially when one isn't a good enough rider to get the job done from the horses back. There was one horse who was pretty crabby with the other horses and he had the same idea Don Jessop did at the Parelli clinic I went to last spring, to make the horse move out faster away from the other horses. When a horse is pinning their ears getting ready to kick at another horse he will always slow down, so speed them up. However, the lady riding this horse was unable to do this. She just couldn't make her horse go. So this led to a discussion about life in the feet and making sure your horse walks out nice and is not dull on your legs.

The best part of the clinic was at the end of the day after the ranch roping. Buck was riding his horse outside on the way back to the stalls and the horse was rushing. He showed how to slow the horse's walk, with a soft feel and waiting for the horse to get with you. Instead of quieting the horse he said let the horse figure out how to quiet you. After everyone left I skipped dinner and extroverted that I am I stayed and rode Sorry working on that last thing I saw Buck doing with his horse. I worked on getting her to slow down her walk on a soft feel, staying with me and not getting frustrated or emotional about it. When she could do it I went back to serpentines as she felt relaxed doing them. Then we cantered some circles. Which was the only time I cantered the whole weekend. Buck told how Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance said they could get a horse ready for The Cow Palace or The Grand Prix and all they would ever do is walk them and maybe trot a little. When I rode with Jack Brainard he stressed the importance of doing everything very very well at the walk before ever increasing your speed. I must say it was much easier for her to do all of these things without the other horses in the arena. Meaning I have got to have a better connection with her and keep her attention when riding in a crowd.

Sorry didn't like her stall, so I thought I would tire her out some so her stall looked like a pretty good place to rest and it seemed to work for her at least that night. I didn't get supper until 9:30. It is late now, so shutting off the light as I am writing this in bed. I am looking forward to another day tomorrow.

March 12:
Wow, another great day with Buck and the best horse I ever owned, Sorry. If only I could be as good a horsewoman as she needs me to be. I want it so bad, I am desperate to be the best I can be for her. She deserves the best because she has so much natural talent. I want to be able to provide the leadership she needs from me to help her feel secure and be able to stay balanced both physically and mentally so she can do her best and feel good about doing it. I didn't get started as early with her today and didn't do as much ground work. So consequently when I first got on she really needed to move her feet so instead of frustrate her I let her walk her big walk around the arena. Then I added some serpentines and slowing down the walk. Finally I found a good place for her mentally and for us physically in the arena to do some lateral bends while standing still. It was kind of tricky to find a spot, because with 25 riders all warming up it was sort of a circus.

When Buck circled us up he talked to us for quite a while. I wish I could write down everything he said, but it is too much and it is the same philosophy that I already have. However he does speak about it very eloquently, yet with a common sense attitude that is both meaningful and thought provoking. I could listen to him all day. Here are some of the little morsels: less sooner instead of more later; prior preparation is key; feel and timing; reward the slightest try; take the time it takes; get it done even if it means you have to do it ten thousand times; persevere; have a good work ethic; think positive and focus.

After our pep talk he sent us out to do real tight serpentines with lots of bend in the horse. It was hard for everyone to keep their forward impulsion because we kept running into one another. Even Sorry lost hers and that takes some doin' on a horse with a ton of go. She was better to the left than to the right and of course better when we were in a clearing than in a tight group squeezing us. I worked on lots of lateral flexion and soft feel though out the day. In fact every time, we stood still and Buck was talking with us I played around with it.

Sorry was getting better and better, less resistance and oh so pretty on the elevation part. Her vertical and only going 90 degrees is improving also. She gives me so much it nearly breaks my heart. Her try is so awesome. If only I could give her as much each moment that she gives me. My timing still isn't always where it needs to be. I am giving her my whole heart too, but it never seems to be enough. I believe her heart and try is much bigger than mine and my try is pretty determined. She inspires me beyond what words can describe. There is no way I will ever out-grow this horse and Buck pretty much said the same about his horses. That touched me how much he really cares for his horses.

After the small serpentines we started doing the million dollar move. HQ to FQ. Sorry was sticky on the HQ but moving the FQ pretty well but with too much forward and often crossed over behind instead of in front. We just had so much forward motion it was hard to shut the front end down and when I did she got somewhat emotional. She worked up a pretty good sweat, and it was colder than heck in that arena. Everyone was freezing. Buck wanted us to keep the lateral flexion though out this move and I had been practicing it with the head and neck a little straighter, so we had to work at that a little harder than I expected.

Buck observed that people were using their legs too much and dulling the horses so he did an awesome simulation explaining how we brace on one another equally, and the difference when we present the kind of feel with lightness that is effective. I am not going to try to describe the simulation here but want to say that it was a profound one. I have to lick and chew on it more and do it with someone. But the bottom line is if we brace on the horse he will match our brace to balance himself.

Next we let the horses really walk out then offer a soft feel and see how slow we could walk them. I mean barely moving, slow, slow, slow, and when you think you are going slow, go even slower. We were instructed to bring our life down and not just pull on the reins. I already do this all the time, but Sorry was emotional a few times especially in one part of the arena. This was a great exercise for her and it is working great. Since this was my burning question I wanted to ask Buck on the first day, when he asked us what we wanted to learn. I didn't ask my question because I figured he would eventually answer it if I paid attention. And he did. The question was, "How do I slow this horse down without her getting emotional and also not loose my awesome impulsion?" I love the way she walks out, like she really has a job to do, and I never want to loose that. I hate riding a horse who just plods along.

The last exercise we did for the day was to have the horses randomly spread out with four riders trotting around us. They were to stay in the trot and make as many turns as possible, have a good focus, and try to use legs first then reins as a support. Sorry always tried to stop at her buddy the Buckskin, and one horse kicked my stirrup as I rode behind him. Glad it hit me rather than Sorry. She did swing her hind end out too much sometimes, but gave me some nice soft feel and a few good turns with all 4 corners feeling solid. It seemed my turn was shorter than the others, but I am not complaining.

During this exercise while we were sitting still we were instructed to give our horses something else to think about when another horse trotted by and our horse got worried or crabby. Sorry had a few of both at first, but it wasn't long and she wasn't paying the least bit of attention to the horses moving around. She was finally getting connected with me. During this time she gave me some awesome lateral flexion. After I got back from supper I took Sorry out to the arena for a good roll and run. She did lots of both. That horse never gets tired. It took her a while to come to me. As soon as she did I took her back to her stall gave her a good rub down and shed a few tears in her mane because she is such an awesome horse. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such an awesome creature, and I feel so responsible to be the best I can be for her. I hung out with her for quite awhile until I was completely frozen. It was quite a cold weekend.

March 13
Buck said we all have a lot of baggage that we don't need to bring to the horse and stressed how important it is to live in the moment like the horse does. Everyone sat in awe as Buck warmed up his horse both this morning and in the afternoon. It was inspiring to say the least. He is such a beautiful rider and truly soft. Everything looked so effortless. He was basically doing dressage in a western saddle wearing a flat cowboy hat. He has impeccable timing and patience with his horses. He always wants the horse to have a good expression and be relaxed the moment he drops everything to let the horse stand and rest. In other words he doesn't want the horse to be bothered.

He keeps telling us over and over about the importance of life in the feet and to use our legs with the air not on the horses sides to create lightness. He turned us loose to practice the slowing down the walk with a soft feel exercise, expressing again how vital it is for a good canter. Then we added back up 5 forward 5 back, then 4, 3, 2, 1. We worked a lot of million dollar moves, mixing it up with the slow walk, fast walk transitions, backups and serpetines when necessary.

Then we started some leg yields. He said not to come off the rail because most horses want to dive in anyway. We also did a lot of backup then pull the front end through (a slow roll back). When I got my timing with the feet right Sorry crossed in the front but when I got ahead of her she stepped behind and lifted her head up high. I really need to slow down and wait for that foot to come through. Slow down, slow down, slow down, Sherry. You are ahead of her in your timing. She was also yielding to the right better than to the left. My right knee hurts a little tonight. Must have been putting too much pressure on it.

We must have trotted for at least a 1/2 hour doing leg yields across the diagonal of the arena. I was frustrated with the other riders because they couldn't seem to follow the directions. We were to stay single file. They couldn't seem to get the idea of how to rate their horses behind another one. They would let their horse go up the tail of the one in front, pass really close or they couldn't keep their horse going. If they would have just stayed a horse length apart it would have worked. But they did not. It was a very frustrating exercise for me because so many of the people would not stay organized when we were not on the diagonal. So Sorry got a bit emotional too. Plus it was tough in the middle when the lines criss-crossed. But I do like the exercise, if people would just follow the rules. Some just couldn't follow the rules because they didn't have control and others seemed not to care or just didn't get what they were suppose to do to keep it organized.

After break we picked a partner. One person was the cow the other the cow horse. We were to mirror each other like cutting. It didn't go so good for Sorry because the other horse kept crowding us and my timing was off. Before we quit we practiced again on our own all we had done today. Even though Sorry's leg yields and roll backs weren't so good in the group situation, when we were on our own slowing down I was impressed with how the stressful work had improved her yields when the pressure was off. So it was all good. After everyone left I did a little ground work with Sorry, but went back to my cousin's early on Sun. evening to have dinner with them and play with the kids.

I didn't write in my journal after the 4th day, because on the way home I had to pick up a pony for training. It made for a long drive home. Didn't get home until late and every day since I have been working Happy the pony and another training horse named Babe, plus continuing the learning with Sorry. But I will say the 4th day was just as good as the others. Buck did not introduce anything new, we just kept practicing what we had already done, trying to refine it. He is a perfectionist and said he wants his students to be just as good as he is, or even pass him by. But he also said they would be aiming at a moving target, so they better be progressing faster than he is. I love a teacher who is always continuing their own education and striving to be better.

Oh and I almost forgot, a couple of people got bucked off on the fourth day, thankfully it wasn't me. LOL. Don't really know what happened? A horse spooked at who knows what? And from there it was like dominoes falling. Luckily I was at the other end of the arena. And when I heard Buck yell one rein stop, I did it and Sorry stopped turned and faced the dust storm of spooking and bucking horses. She stayed calm and that sure made me happy. Even though that little horse can be a nervous ball of energy at times, she has always stayed with me during some out of control situations (like a cattle drive with bolts of lightening, a covey of quail jumping out in front of her etc.) She seems to be able to keep her head about her. Another reason I think so highly of her.

I am glad I made the effort to go instead of attending the NE Horse Expo this year, and I plan to go ride in another clinic with Buck in CO this summer. The only regret I have is I didn't get any pictures. I can't get enough learning and I am desperate to be the best I can be. I know that takes dedication, perspiration, and perseverance. I am willing to pay the price.

Report Card Time

Picture by James Ingram
Report Card Time
By Sherry Jarvis

Here we are at then end of our series about CAWA. The acronym we have been exploring the last few months in the feature article of the monthly newsletter. We have looked at C-Calmness; A-Attentiveness; and W-Willingness of both the human and the horse. As we arrive at the last desirable character quality I would like you to burn these anchor words into your mind, so that any time you are working with your horse you are giving yourself and your horse a grade in each category.

Observe your horse with keen eyes, scan over his body does he get an A+ or an F for calmness at this moment. Just because he is standing still may not mean he is calm. It could be the calm before the storm. Maybe the horse deserves an A for calmness but he is blowing you off and therefore deserves an F for attentiveness.

Perhaps you deserve an F for attentiveness because your horse may be trying his heart out for you, but you keep pressuring him too hard instead of becoming clearer for him, and then when he finally blows you wonder what happened. You became to direct-lined in your thinking, thus you missed the signs because you were not paying attention to the horse in the right way. Therefore you earned an F in attentiveness and now you are assigned a do-over lesson. You have to start back at the beginning again in order to re-teach the horse in a way that makes sense to him. Sometimes a horse has to do some unlearning of bad habits before you can teach him the new and desirable habits. And sometimes the human has some unlearning to do too! How many do-over lessons do you want to be assigned? Becoming more adaptable in your approach will lead to fewer do-overs.

Then there is the horse which has high marks for calmness and attentiveness, but fails in the willingness department, because you haven’t figured out how to motivate him yet. So he just kind of stands around looking at you with his tongue stuck out at you like “Ha, Ha, bet you can’t make me do that, others have tried and failed, what ya got that they didn’t have?” So don’t forget you might need to be willing to get out of your comfort zone to find ways to help motivate this horse to want to perform for you. As you can see it is a two way street, I am grading myself as well as the horse on how we are doing in each character trait.

Now we come to the last letter of the acronym A-Adaptability. I have never had anyone come to me for help because their horse will do anything they ask calmly, attentively and willingly, no matter how the situation or circumstances change.

Adaptability means being able to adjust or be flexible to changing situations and circumstances. It is the ability to change (or be changed) to fit changed circumstances.

When a person is adaptable and flexible it shows that one can act in a way that encourages change at any or all times. In today’s challenging times, this is more important than ever. A great leader can be many things; but most great leaders do not fall apart when they are faced with change and adversity. They are not so fixated on one way or one thing that they are not willing to explore new ideas and different solutions to old problems. Adapting to a situation, surroundings, culture, or idea does not require you to lose originality but it expects you to assert yourself in a way which makes you welcome to it and the people or in this case the horse involved.

Some consider that a person’s ability to show adaptability and flexibility is essentially a part of their emotional intelligence. I think it also shows a horse’s emotional stability. In leadership development, it is a key quality. It is a common trait that all prospective employers seek when considering candidates for a job.

Being adaptable to change is a very important positive character trait for both the horseman and his horse. To be able to deal with change is necessary, because life doesn't necessarily let us remain in our comfort zone all the time. Regardless of the amount of preparation you’ve had before working with a particular horse, you simply cannot predict everything that may happen now or in the future. I guarantee situations will pop up that you were not expecting. I can’t count the number of times I have heard myself and my clients say, “Hmm, my horse has never done that before. What the heck is going on?”

Those who have learned to adapt to the needs of each individual horse you work with will have better success developing the horse into a working partner. Adaptability is high on the list of top positive character traits for both the horse and rider as without it you won’t be able to make the most of your experiences. Adapting and adjusting is crucial and one should make it their priority as it will be appreciated by your horse. You will also appreciate your horse more when he is adaptable to you, the circumstances you put him in or the situations you end up in together.

A horse that is truly adaptable does not need to loose his high grades in calmness, attentiveness or willingness just because the circumstances change. These are the old trust worthy horses, the tried and true partners, the first ones we always pull out of the corral when we have a serious job to accomplish with no messing around. Mine is Cisco.

A horse is becoming adaptable when we change the context of what we are asking him to do and he can still remain calm, attentive, and willing, or at least he can keep his grade fairly high in each. While a horse is learning to be more adaptable at first he may lower his grade a little in each category, but as he progresses he will eventually be able to hold it together better when we change the context and he may only loose one of those positive qualities. As he becomes more and more adaptable he will be able to sustain his calmness, attentiveness and willingness better and longer each time we change the context. There are many ways we can change the context of a situation for a horse.

The weather: All of a sudden the wind comes up. Does your horse loose his calmness even though you are still asking him to do the exact same thing he was doing a moment ago? If he does, he isn’t very adaptable to weather changes. Last spring students were shocked in the young horse handling class at how calm the colts were even though the wind was blowing about 60mph. It can be done.

The environment: You take your horse to a new arena that is very different from the one he is used to. How often have you heard yourself or someone else say, “My horse never acts this way at home.” Then you have seen the person with the tried and true horse that no matter where they take him he never seems to get unsettled and can do his job in nearly any environment, especially when the person is patient with him and they understand one another.

Other horses coming and going: You are doing a perfectly calm, attentive, willing, little jog trot when your horse’s buddy leaves the arena then suddenly you are on an out of control race horse. What happened to the relaxed willing jog trot? It left when the calmness and attention the horse had on you were replaced by a crazy scared horse with absolutely no attention on you. In fact, he doesn’t even recognize that you are still in his world, the only thing he is paying attention to is his buddy leaving. So he can’t possibly think about a jog trot. It becomes something like a piaffe or maybe even a rear when you try to hold him back from running to be with his buddy. So don’t even think about getting the jog trot back until you get his calmness and attention back. Or what about this scenario? A new horse comes in the arena while you are cantering beautiful collected circles and as the new horse goes by your horse acts up.

Change of Speed or Gait: I have seen some horses that are very willing for the rider at the trot, in fact he will trot along calm and happy for miles, but ask him to canter and all of a sudden the answer is no; he will kick up, turn, speed up or even slow down the trot, he will do just about anything except canter. This is usually a very lazy or spoiled horse. Then there is the opposite a horse that wants to go all the time, as long as he is trotting at a nice clip or even galloping along he is fine, but ask him to walk and the willingness turns into nervous resistance which can result in jigging, rearing, running off and a host of other undesirable behaviors. And what about changing the speed within a gait? A well broke horse stays calm, attentive and willing whether you ask for a slow, medium or fast speed at the walk, trot, or canter. Does your horse loose his calmness or willingness when you ask him to change the speed of a gait, or do you only have one speed within each gait?

Anything new: Like trailers, flags, plastic bags, loud unfamiliar noises, different textures on the ground, going from light to dark places, any small space that makes the horse feel claustrophobic, pigs, birds, deer, and a host of other animals and things too numerous to mention. It is only natural when you ask your horse to do something new that he becomes nervous. However if you can keep the horses attention and give him reasons to be willing, like rewarding the slightest try, using approach and retreat, then your horse can become more adaptable to new things. How often I have had people call me up because they got a new horse trailer and they can’t get the horse in the trailer. They usually say, “He loaded in my old trailer, just fine.” It is sort of humorous if you think about it. We spend all this money on a brand new trailer and our horse doesn’t appreciate it one bit. The fact is the more adaptable your horse becomes the quicker and easier it is to introduce him to new things.



I found it interesting that when I looked up the word adaptability in a thesaurus some related words were; pliability, suppleness, bendiness, softness and an antonym was rigidity. Who doesn’t want a horse that is pliable, supple, soft, and bends easily in your hands? We all know we can get a lot more done with a horse like that no matter what discipline we choose. And what horse likes a rider who is rigid in their riding posture and heavy handed making it physically difficult for the horse to be pliable, supple, and soft?

When we are too rigid in the rules of engagement we can become dictators to the horse causing him to be less willing and adaptable in his mind. On the other hand by being a flexible yet reliable and assertive leader we allow and encourage the horse to become a willing partner that is calm, attentive and adaptable. This kind of working relationship is valued and enjoyed by both the horse and his rider.

What does your report card look like, are you calm, attentive, willing, and adaptable when working with your horse? Or are you unconfident, unobservant, stubborn, and rigid? What does your horse’s report card look like? Is it fairly steady or does he go from A’s to F’s too frequently? If so, then my advice is to be more consistent. Consistency is one of the greatest keys to good training. There is a huge difference between consistency and rigidity. Consistency is reliable, even, regular, and steady, where rigidity is severely strict, harsh, rigorous, and stiff. My way or the highway kind of thinking.

So be firm but fair, be soft but not a sponge, be particular but not critical, be determined yet flexible, and most of all be balanced. In other words don’t swing the pendulum too far to one side or the other. Oh and keep a light heart too, it’s fine to take your horsemanship seriously but remember it can and should be fun too, which is why my slogan is Happy Horses, Happy People. You can’t very well have one without the other.

If you missed the other feature articles about CAWA you can read them on my blog, or I am working on another book, and I will go into these principles even deeper with exercises to reinforce them. However, I have no idea when it will be finished because my schedule is so busy right now. But I will keep working on it. Another way to learn more is at one of the summer horsemanship camps, regular private lessons, or schedule Sherry to come to your area for a clinic. The 2011 schedule is quite full, but we will do our best to fit you in. Go to our website to learn more. www.heartinyourhand.com

Stubborn, Bored, Scared, Confused, or Willing

Stubborn, Bored, Scared, Confused or Willing

Over the past few months I have been sharing an acronym CAWA in the feature articles of the newsletter. We have covered C-Calmness and A-Attentiveness of the horse and the human. In Dec. the article titled "The Heart Regulates the Hands" the willingness of the human was discussed. If you have missed these articles you can read them on my blog.

This month I will focus on W-Willingness again, the willingness of the horse. Of course, this is a no brainer. Who doesn't want a willing horse? I have never heard someone say, "I need to sell this horse he is just too willing, he wants to please me all the time." In fact the opposite is usually true, if you have a horse who is so willing and tolerant that he will do just about anything you ask without any resistance, this is the horse you cherish and rarely put up for sale, unless you are hopelessly desperate for cash.
Let me start by reminding you of the qualities of willingness.
The horse is:
• easy to get along with (he just seems eager to do what you ask without reluctance)
• ready to act voluntarily (there is no need to force him with external pressure, phase four is rarely necessary)
• enthusiastic to cooperate (as long as he understands he complies without hesitation)
• prompt to act or respond (he does not drag his feet, or fight against requests)
• cheerful and freely offers his obedience (his ears are forward with a soft eye, sometimes all you have to do is think or point and the horse says yes)
• agreeable or favorable disposed in his mind (he does not switch his tail, bite, kick out, or lay ears back at you)
• prepared to act on his own accord (the horse will ask questions, like “What is next?” He is seeking what the right answer is and can work things out on his own)

I doubt that there was ever a horse born who was perfect and could live up to every one of these qualities all of the time. However, there are some horses which are born more willing than others. Of course environment and learned behavior also plays a role in the temperament of a horse. It is our job to help the horse to be more willing no matter what his inborn characteristic or learned behaviors happen to be. Sometimes horses are described as stubborn or bored, scared or crazy, confused or stupid, and even downright naughty or mischievous. So how do we get a stubborn, bored, scared, confused, or naughty horse to be the willing partner we dream of?

If we want to influence and win people or horse’s hearts so they are more willing to do whatever we ask of them, then we must first find out what they need to overcome fears or weaknesses, and then discover what motivates them. If we can give them what they need and inspire them with a reward that is meaningful to them the chances of them being willing to do things for and with us will be greatly improved. We need to be the one who is flexible, change to fit their needs and provide motivation, so therein lies the first challenge. Are you willing to change to fit their needs? If you are, then the second challenge will become quite interesting. It will involve a great amount of careful observation with a little trial and error to discover what is needed, what motivates, what works and what doesn’t. But that is what makes it exciting and rewarding for you. When you finally see what is needed, what motivates, and find what works it is very satisfying.

I believe the most difficult horse for me to work with is one who is stubborn or bored rather than one who is scared and crazy. Because once you get a scared and crazy horse calmed down and trusting you it usually isn’t very hard to motivate them to be willing. However, a stubborn or bored horse which has become disrespectful can be very hard to motivate to be willing. So our approach has to be totally different with these two horses.

Let’s tackle the stubborn or bored horse first. I have discovered that they are very good at simply outlasting a person. They know you will quit long before they have to do what you want them to do. They can be very frustrating. So the first thing you must be determined to do is not give up and don’t loose your cool. To motivate them you may have to become quite provocative. Find interesting things to peak their curiosity. They need a reason to move, so I use lots of objects or obstacles, even other horses or cattle to give them a job with a purpose. Be creative, use whatever you can find. Maybe they are bored because you are boring to them. I believe mindless circles are boring too. Now I know the importance of riding good circles and I expect my horses to do that, but I change things up often to keep this horse interested in me and what we are doing. If I am bored with the circle why shouldn’t they be too? Too much repetition will bored them to death, so don’t try to perfect them in one day or you will end up with a fight on your hands. Instead, do it just long enough to make a little better change then reward them greatly. Sometimes letting them do absolutely nothing is the greatest reward in the world. So leave them alone. Treats can also be a great motivator for this horse, but I don’t make a habit of giving them out of my hand. Instead I’ll play hide and seek with them on the ground, on a barrel a post, etc.

The main thing is forward motion is critical to keep and once they offer it to you don't shut it down because if you do it will be much harder to get it next time. This horse needs to know what's in it for them. The good thing is he is clever, however sometimes smarter than we are, which is why he appears stubborn. But at least they are calm, dependable and consistent. So sometimes they will fill in for a less confident person, and then they might take over too. So bottom line is no matter what kind of horse you have you still have to learn to be a savvy horseman in order to bring out the best in him.

So now let’s talk about the horse which is the total opposite, one who is scared and crazy. This horse doesn’t need a reason to move and it is not a good idea to hold them back because it makes them want to run all the faster. Instead, let them move their feet and you will have to find some ways to interrupt their frantic patterns like lots of change of directions. Try to constructively direct their energy instead of trying to shut them down. If you are not a confident horseman then you will probably never get this horse’s trust or respect, because you must be able to always stay calm and not over react when they do.

You must introduce new things very slowly to this horse and follow it up with lots of repetition, because doing it over and over builds their confidence each time they succeed. This horse needs a lot of time in unfamiliar situations if you go to rushing this horse without using approach and retreat you will push him past thresholds and explosions will follow. Plus they will loose their trust and respect for you when you do this. So slow down, give them lots of space in tight situations and ad changes gradually. Purposeful progression is very important.

The main things is you must be a confident leader who is crystal clear. This horse is not always forgiving and will not fill in for a beginner until he is trained at higher levels, plus he must trust and respect you. However their great energy and endurance makes them very athletic. So if you want a talented performance horse they may fit the ticket, if you are patient enough to develop a relationship with them. They are highly perceptive which is good for their survival but it means they can read you like a book, so you can't fake it until you make it with them.

If you want to learn more about how to help the horse who seems confused or unpredictable, or the one who seems downright naughty or mischievous become more willing we have specific suggestions for these horses as well. You can learn about these strategies by attending one of our equine psychology workshops or a summer horsemanship camp. In the mean time remember that it is we (the humans) in this partnership who must first be willing to change to meet the needs of the horse according to his inborn characteristics and learned behaviors. Then we have to find out what motivates him. Basically all prey animals are motivated by five main desires; safety, comfort, food, play and sex. Which is much different from the primary motivators of humans which include; love, praise, recognition, and material things. As we keep these differences in mind, and keep our eyes open to subtle changes in the horse then respond appropriately we will become more effective in helping our horse to be a willing partner.

Sign up for our next equine psychology class (March 5th) or attend one of our camps this summer to learn hands on. Or get a copy of my book “Win Your Horse’s Heart” because if you can learn to win your horse’s heart you can be sure he will be a more willing horse.

Happy New Year Dreams

As we embark on the New Year, I want to remind you that dreams and goals can be realized. So I wanted to share with you my story in hopes that it will inspired you to follow your dreams in 2011 no matter how hard it seems.

Even before I quit my teaching job six years ago to pursue my dream I had a vision of where this adventure was going a long, long time ago. The dream actually started when I was a very tiny girl with my first pony Ginger. My Dad believed in me and told me over and over I could do anything I set my mind to and I believed him. This is the beginning of any dream, believing you can do it!

The dream started to take a deeper root after college while teaching in a little one room school in the middle of the Sand hills near Whitman, NE. I found a new reason for living besides my own selfish ways through the happy faces of eight little cowboys and cowgirls. The sweet kids in that school didn't have much financially; in fact most would call it poverty, for some lived without electricity, or indoor plumbing. One little boy came to school smelling so bad I would take his clothes over to my trailer during recess to wash them, and give him some of mine to wear. He brought pork fat sandwiches for lunch, so I bought him Ramen Noodles and apples for lunch and gave him free guitar lessons after school. This little boy and the other kids really changed how I looked at life and caused me to think about whom I was and what I had. I rode horses with them after school and these kids were my only friends at this time in my life and they blessed me. One of the little brothers, only four years old could ride better than most adults I knew. My Dad had taught me to believe in myself but these kids taught me about believing in others.

Before moving to MT I had a great opportunity to work at Howard Pitzer Ranch near Ericson NE. It was like a dream job. I was handed a groomed saddled horse that a cowboy had ridden once or twice and was told to get them going. I learned a few more pieces of the puzzle that I needed to know by watching Gary Putman, Howard's professional trainer at the other end of the arena. We rarely talked but I observed everything he did carefully. I thought I had arrived and I put myself up on a pedestal. But about the time one thinks this the rug seems to get pulled out from under them. Before my pride got out of hand I set out on a new adventure which was more like a wandering in the wilderness. Searching for what I thought I wanted but more importantly finding what I needed.

After the move to MT my dreams seemed to be put on hold while I was being trained for the things I would need to understand and experience in order for the dream to take shape. I worked for a reining trainer where I learned how little I really knew. But his ways were rough and cruel and it just didn't feel right. I felt alone at this time on my horsemanship journey like nobody really understood me. I knew I was missing a very big piece of the puzzle, but I wasn't sure what it was, where to get it, or even how to receive it. One of the things I have learned about dreams is that once you think you know where it is and how to get it you still have to learn how to receive it. I also experienced some painful losses during this time which gave me more compassion towards others.

Through more unforeseen circumstance I moved to TX and then to NV. My precious horses were left behind in MT while I lived in TX for about six months, then a year later I finally brought them back to me in NV. I was further away from the dream than I had ever been, and I thought I would never see the dream fulfilled. Yet in my heart I held on to it, without any indication of how it could come about, or if it ever would. Nothing seemed to be working the way I wanted it too. Little did I know at the time that the trials I was experiencing were the very thing I needed to develop the maturity I would need in order to handle even a little piece of the dream. During these troubled times I learned about leaning on others and my horse for strength and true friendship rather than using him for my pleasure and desire to be better than others in a competition. I humbly learned that I didn't have to have the purple ribbon or acceptance and praise of others in order to be a winner. I didn't compete at all during these years, but I spent countless hours with my best friend, Slick (a very troubled horse, who now as I look back was a perfect mirror of me at this time).

The dark times were about to come to a close. The doors began to open in WY where the dream was being reborn again in the sunshine of the Wind River mountains, and it would be even better than I ever dreamed possible. It is there that I finally learned what I didn't know. I found the missing pieces and what to do with them. I received them with much gratitude. During this time I met the Parelli's several of their instructors, Brian Newbert, and some other natural horsemen and women who inspired me, taught me, and helped me realize that there was so much more to my dream.

I also learned in order to have the dream I must give up my old self and ways. I thought I had already done that back at the little one room school in the sand hills. However, I was wrong. Change is a long and sometimes grueling process. It rarely happens miraculously over night. It would take nearly twenty years for me to truly take what was planted in my heart the fall of 1983 in that little one room school and begin to see the fruit of it. Through those years the soil was toiled deep with a painful sharp plow. Weeds were plucked out of me which often tore my heart, but the scares of the tear were always washed and healed with cool, clean, living water. I did not let a root of bitterness grow in me, instead I held on to my dream, never giving up. On New Years Eve of 1998 I wrote on a little piece of paper, that by the time I am 50 years old I will be sharing my passion for horses and life with others in a full time way.

Upon moving back to NE I felt like I was finally home again, but the time still wasn't just right. So I waited patiently for a couple of more years, trying to be faithful to my work even though my heart was now deeper in the dream that it had ever been. Well, maybe I wasn't totally patient, I whined and moaned a lot more than I should have. I felt depressed and like a failure. It was a very big leap of faith when I quit my teaching job at 46 years old. Four years before the age on my piece of paper. It was a very small beginning. I trained a few horses, did a few clinics, sometimes there was only two people at them, but I gave them my all. And sometimes I still only have a couple of people at an event, but that matters not to me. What matters is I am living my dream of sharing my passion for horses and life with others.

Every year for the last six years Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship LLC has grown and evolved, and so have I. I know this growth and evolution will continue, as I stay flexible and open to new things and change. I have made plenty of mistakes along the way and learned from them. I will make a few more, but I am not afraid of the mistakes I may make as I continue forward. I will learn from them too, and keep living the dream.

I am very excited about the new camp formats for this year, because I feel they are really the next step in the evolution of sharing my passion for life and horses. I really look at this passion as a ministry to uplift others and help them overcome their obstacles and live their dreams. Whether it is their horsemanship dreams, the dream of being more confident, starting a new business, writing a book, getting in better shape, living in joy and peace, it matters not to me. I will do my best to be a means of not only giving you information but inspiring your transformation. So if you have a dream deep within you don't give up, and if you don't have one then I ask you to step a little out of your comfort zone and let one develop in your heart, because they do come true with desire, perseverance, and diligence. I am living proof of it.

Happy New Year

Sherry

Jan. 2011 Newsletter

As I write this newsletter with only two more days left in 2010 it is lightly snowing. The last three days it was in the 40’s and even up to 50 so I took full advantage of the beautiful weather by riding my horses. However, my office work has taken a back seat for way too long and I will discipline myself the following weeks to get caught up. As I look back over the past 12 months I am so thankful for all the wonderful people and their horses who shared their horsemanship journey with me. I think I learned as much as they did as I taught and helped both horse and rider develop their relationship and skills.

One of the things I hear people say when they talk about instructors they have had, they want a person who will listen to them, encourage them, and teach them from where they are not from where the clinician is. So this year I am working on my listening skills for both the horse and the rider so that I can break things down and teach them from exactly where they are, not where they think they should be, or where I want them to be. However, I do know that sometimes this may cause the person to be discouraged, especially if they are not where they think they should be. So I will hone in and work on my encouragement skills (or in horse language, reward the slightest try) in order to support the person to keep on moving forward one step at a time even if there are obstacles in our path. I will work with the person and horse to either work around these obstacles, learn to deal with them, or move these obstacles out of our way.

Each year Heart in Your Hand Horsemanship has grown and evolved in different ways. In the past couple of years some additions have been my book “Win Your Horse’s Heart” (Be a Better Horseman) was published and this year we added a new bunk house for you to stay in when you come to our place for lessons, clinics, trail rides, camps, internship, or to bring your horse for 30 days of training. We also have nice new individual pens for your horse, a round pen, and playground. In 2011 we will hold any camp with only 4 or 5 people in the new Bunkhouse. Camps with over 4 or 5 people will still be held at Calamus Outfitters. In fact the May 9-12 Camp is already full with 8 people. It will be exciting as it is a camp with both husbands and wives coming together. Another first, well we have had Dad’s come to the parent youth camps before.

2011 will be another year of firsts, growth and change as we evolve to meet the needs of horse lovers. This winter, I am working on another book, but this one is a spiral bound workbook, with step by step exercises to help you build an even better relationship with your horse. In addition to our monthly private lessons trip to Omaha and Lincoln, a yearly week in WY at the Carter Ranch, plus clinics anywhere upon request, we are also offering several new camps formats this year which include:
• Horsemanship & Trail Obstacles Camp: will include groundwork, de-spooking, horsemanship skills, and a variety of trail obstacles and fun trail rides. A friendly competition for extra motivation.
• Trail Ride Camp: is for people, who are not interested in lessons, they just want a really cool place to trail ride. We provide the lodging for both horses and humans, the land to ride on, lease horse if needed, and the wrangler to guide you. Bring the whole family or a group of your friends. Space limited to small groups of 6-8.
• Spirit Horse Retreat Camp: is for those who want to grow spiritually and they love horses. I have found that horses can teach us so much about ourselves and our relationships. They are like mirrors with hair on them. They can teach us many truths about life. Round pen, ground work exercises, riding tasks, mixed with free times of reflection, plus guided discussions & bible study will round out your day. Bring your own horse or lease one of ours if you don't have one.
• Yoga for Riders Camp: is for those who want to develop their physical abilities as a rider. We will be doing yoga class every morning for our own bodies. Then we will be doing stretching exercises for your horse to improve his suppleness, and then we will be transferring the yoga exercises to riding. You will go away more physically fit, a plan to continue it, and a more balanced rider.
• Body, Mind, and Spirit Camp: is a combination of the Spirit Horse Retreat and Yoga for Riders Camp with common sense horsemanship skills which will keep you progressing. We will start the day with Yoga exercises (Body), work the common sense horsemanship skills in the middle of the day (MIND), and end the day with Bible Study (Spirit).
Of course we will continue the camps we have had for the last 5 years as well. Which are:
• Youth Camps for those over 12 years of age, and the Youth/Parent Camps for those under 12.
• The Women's Confident Leadership camps are a real hit for those needing just that, more confidence with their horse.
• The Young Horse Handling Camps are for those who want to get their horse off to a good start with a solid foundation.
• Horsemanship Boot Camp for those really serious about taking their horsemanship to the next level (we worked real hard, not a lot of leisure time, and the camp is more days).
• Alumni Camp in Sept. This is for anyone who has ever attended a camp in the past 5 years. It will include the regular classroom sessions, free time with your horse, group and individual instruction, simulations, and leisure trail rides.
• Annual Alumni Camp in Oct. This camp is by invite only, we will be advancing each person from their level, doing drill team patterns, liberty and finesse skills, and yoga exercises
It is not too early to sign up for one of these camps. You can find dates for each one on our website Calendar . I know in this economy everyone wants to know the cost of the camps and I can guarantee you that our prices are more than competitive. In fact I have been looking for a clinic to attend for my own continuing education and everything is nearly 2-4 times what our camps cost. So if you are looking for a great value we will meet your need. You can sign up by Clicking Here.

We invite you to join us in our new horsemanship adventures in 2011 and go where you never dreamed possible.

Upcoming Events:

Jan. 7-9 Private Lessons in Omaha and Lincoln, unless the roads are bad, then the back up date is Jan. 14-16

Please reserve your private lesson time as soon as possible, as we only have a week to put together the schedule and we all know that can be challenging. If we have to postpone until Jan. 14-16 we will try to keep the schedule as close as possible to the Jan. 7-9 one, however, I know it will need a little adjusting.

Jan. 22: Equine Psychology Class in Bennington 10:00-4:00
This will be held in a private heated indoor arena. Bring your own lawn chair. We will have a variety of horses to observe as they are at liberty in a herd, and then while being handled by different people. We will discuss their horsenality, things going on with the horse and between them and the handler, plus strategies to deal with behaviors and situations that come up. You will not need to bring a horse. This is an interactive session in the arena with some classroom time as well. Bring a lunch, or be prepared to go somewhere.

I will also schedule some lessons this weekend on Fri. the 21st. However I do plan to go home Sat. night after the class unless some others want lessons on Sun.
I plan to come to the Omaha/Lincoln area each month throughout the winter just as I have done for the past three years. So if you can't make the trek out to Burwell for lessons or camps, remember I will continue to be the traveling trainer coming directly to you in order to meet your individual needs.

Feb. 11-13 Private Lessons in Omaha and Lincoln, unless the roads are bad, then the back up date is Feb. 18-20

Feb. 26 Yoga for Riders, place to be determined.

Against All Odds

Last month I continued the discussion about the acronym CAWA (Calmness, Attentiveness, Willingness and Adaptability). I talked about the willingness of the human and how the heart regulates the hands, if you missed it you can read it on my blog. I said that I would talk about the willingness of the horse this month, but every year my January newsletter usually includes something about goal setting, achievement and motivation. So I would like to continue that tradition this year.



The picture is of Bettina Eistel and her horse is Fabuleax 5. If you look closely, this is a 50 year old woman from Germany who does not have any arms. Bettina doesn’t let her disability stop her, in fact she didn’t just overcome her disability, and she walloped it! She wears riding boots with cut-outs in the toes so she can have ‘hands’ (imagine how cold her toes must get … and how often they clip a branch or a fence board – ouch!). She can saddle, bridle, hose down, wrap, blanket and do just about anything else that is needed for her horse. And, she rides by steering with her legs and holding the reins in her mouth. IN HER MOUTH. Try that…Kind of makes me feel ridiculous for complaining about anything I can't do with my horses.

Her accomplishments include: 2 silver and bronze medals at the European Championships in Portugal in 2002 and 3 silver at the World Championships in Belgium in 2001, 2 silver and one bronze at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, 3 German Championships. A bronze and silver medal in the team standings at the 2008 Paralympics in Hong Kong. She also wrote a book, and hosts a TV talk show, not bad for a girl with no arms. Now that is winning against all odds. You can read more about her by Clicking Here

I share this story not to make us feel like incapable failures with our horses but to motivate us to believe that we can do anything we set our minds to. It might help us to stop looking at what we can't do and start exploring and expanding what we can do! During Christmas Break I read three very powerful books about overcoming challenges, gaining confidence and never giving up. The combination of some R&R the last month, reading Bettina's story and these books I am re-inspired to do even better this year with my horses, students, business, family, and my personal life. When I look back over the last seven years since moving to NE I am empowered by all the changes that have occurred in my life. Now I admit that there were challenges and struggles along the way and that all of the positive changes I have experienced were not accomplished without some pain and effort. I am not yet perfect and still have areas in my horsemanship and personal life which need improvement. When I am not exactly where I want to be I remind myself that neither am I where I used to be. The fact that I have not yet arrived does not intimidate me or make feel less successful; it simply spurs me on with a deeper desire and more courage to reach my potential. And I am sure that it is much greater than I have even imagined. Now I don't say that to brag, but I say it to encourage each of you that I believe in you and the things I know that you will be able to do in 2011. A teacher cannot teach effectively what they do not practice or believe themselves. Integrity is living and practicing what you preach or teach.

So what do I practice and believe? I believe that we should never give up on ourselves. I refuse to live in fear. I didn't say I would never experience it, I said I would not let it rule my life. Because fear is the greatest obstacle many of us must overcome in order to develop our potential. I have met people who are afraid of their horse or being hurt by them. However in addition to that I find many horsemen afraid of failure, change, making the wrong decision, criticism and what other people will think. So I practice keeping a right perspective on fear, where I learn to discern when to heed it's warning, when to face or confront it, and ultimately how to conquer it.

I believe that it will take some sacrifice in order to reach my goals and I am willing to pay the price. Progress or success will cost something. I believe it takes consistency in order to make significant progress or succeed at anything, and this is something I practice in many areas of my life. I know that if I am not happy with where I am at or a situation I am in right now that I will have to make an effort to change myself first, even if it is just my attitude towards the situation. I know that if I don't want to be in the same place next year at this time I will have to pay the price on this end to have the desired results on the other end. I will have to spend some of this year moving towards my goals for next year. As I move forward I am sure I will have to make some tough choices and I will come to some painful crossroads. When I reach those places I have two choices I can either run back to where I came from or press through. No matter what I want to see change (in my abilities as a horseman, my business or my personal life) I will either press past the pain of change now, or I will be exactly where I am today this time next year. However, I believe I will have the strength and courage to be consistent, make wise decisions and keep putting one foot in front of the other, because I know that if I continue pressing through without giving up I will eventually have the victory I long for.

I fully believe reaching your potential is linked to the way you handle adversity. Winston Churchill said: "Difficulties mastered are opportunities won." When we allow difficulties and challenges to frustrate, intimidate or discourage us we will never win against all odds like Bettina has. We don't all have to be alike, we don't all have to face the same giants, but if you face your own giants head-on and press past them taking one little step at a time and then another one and another one and another one, you will develop the skills and determination needed to be everything you were created to be and experience your dreams to their fullest and beyond whatever they may be. They don't have to be riding in the Olympics, they may be very small, but we should never despise small beginnings. They are just that a start; and that is where it has to begin. So we all have a new start in a couple of days, I hope that each of you will take advantage of it and that at this time next year, we can say we conquered a few giants in our lives and we have moved closer to becoming all that we can be.

The Heart Regulates the Hands

Over the past few months I have been sharing an acronym CAWA in the feature articles of my newsletter.We have covered C-Calmness and A-Attentiveness of the horse and the human. Plus I have shared training diaries of the seven horses I worked with this fall.

This month I will focus on W-Willingness for the human and next month we will talk about the horse. As we have been discussing these qualities we realize that not only do we want and need them in our horse in order to have a safe and successful ride, but we need to display these characteristics as much as the horse does. Horsemanship is a partnership and when both parties do their best to uphold their responsibilities the outcome is a learning experience where growth and progress is a continuing journey.

Let’s start by defining willingness:

It is relating to the will or power to choose
Intentional or deliberate choice
Ready to act voluntarily, without being forced or because of external pressure
Accept what asked to do by choice with eagerness or without reluctance
It is an enthusiasm to cooperate or comply
Prompt to act or respond not dragging the feet
Something offered or given freely and cheerfully
Being agreeable or favorable disposed in mind
Being prepared to act on your own accord

This fall I had a little black Welsh pony here named Lightening Bug, she was one of the most willing horses I have ever trained and so it was really effortless for me to be willing. One willing horse and one willing human equals two very happy partners. I was eager to get out and ride her everyday. Each session was pleasant, trouble-free, simple and straightforward. When things are going well it is not difficult to be willing. However when a challenging horse appears in our lives suddenly it is not so easy to be willing to do what it takes with that horse. But this is the time when we need more than ever to be willing to change.

I had another horse this fall who was quite the opposite of little Bugs, this mare was complicated, demanding, and problematic. I exerted every ounce of my energy, strength, and concentrated thinking every moment I was with her in an attempt to help her become calm and willing. She was very complex with numerous issues to resolve. The more I worked with her the more I had to be willing to change my own strategies, to think outside of the box, and to look at my own shortcomings. This horse pushed me to the very limits of my patience and the trial with her often exposed my true colors. This pressure triggered something totally unexpected; I became more willing to take the pressure off her. I offered her more time than I could afford. I gave her everything I had. I tried to be spontaneous with her. I observed her carefully, sensibly and judiciously. As I watched her I became more sympathetic and compassionate towards her. This insight caused me to quit trying to order her around against her will and instead try to bring the best out of her.

Each day I worked with her I had a plan before we started but I remained willing to change that plan accordingly. The best thing that I did was I always finished what I started with her no matter how many hours it took. She taught me we have to be willing to do what it takes to finish. I learned that even though my commitment to finish with her was clear, I could only do what I could and not what I couldn’t. I tried many new ideas but one idea kept returning to me; the heart regulates the hands. And so I needed to be willing to control my thoughts and heart feelings about this horse so that the feel I presented in my hands to her were something that she could respond to with willingness.

Are you willing to go the extra mile with your horse? Are you willing to make the necessary changes in you in order to help your horse become a more willing partner? Are you willing to take the time it takes, putting aside your goals and entertainment so that your horse can develop into the trustworthy horse that you desire? Are you willing to learn from your horse? If you are, I am willing to bet that the more willing you are to be the kind of horseman your horse needs you to be the more willing your horse will become. If you find yourself being unwilling to do what it takes with your horse because you are at the end of your rope, or you have simply run out of ideas remember we are here to support and encourage you. We may not have all the answers but we have a pretty good reputation and likelihood of getting you on the right track again.

In the middle of this holiday season of love and giving I hope we find ourselves willing to give more than we receive and that this spirit will continue with us throughout the year in all of our relationships including the ones we have with our wonderful horses who give us so much. If you are a horse lover you know what I am taking about.