I emailed the White House and am still trying to get my call through. I'm praying the roundup of Cloud and his herd will somehow come to a halt. It's just terrible...

Jennifer, you have a beautiful horse in Oliver, and a good example to encourage others to adopt mustangs when they are rounded up. We know the roundups have to happen because there isn't enough forage to support them. People may be more inclined to help these horses when they see success stories like yours.

Jennifer, I did not mind at all you trying to find answers in my discussion. I apologize if I ever seemed dismissive or did not give you enough respect. Oliver is VERY lucky to have you as an owner.

Jenn, Im soory that you feel so frustrated, It's no reason to leave the group. I understand feeling like no one really takes you seriously when you know 100% that what you do is right for you.

I've started joining other sites besides barnmice. There's jus a little bit of an air of exclusiveness here.

Still I'll keep checking my friends blogs (Jackie) and the really good ones that arent my friends. As well as discussions that interest me.
That's the point right? Dont think that being popular is the most impotant thing here, it's not.

I'm from LA too. I had it one day with being told how to do everything because I was'nt as experienced as everyone else.

One day I tacked up my horse and rode all the way home, Ive never boarded since.

But you're always gonna find people whose goal is'nt to teach you, it's to show you how much they know.

I just hate thet you got discouraged by the comments and the feedback, because that's not what we came for!!!

Still there's many brilliant minds to learn from here, you just have to find your level of comfort.

For me I think maybe just reading the blogs, and not necessarily commenting on everything will work best. I find that if I find a subject I really care to give my imput on, it ends in a cetrtain two users picking apart my posts.

I could have just clicked ignore but I feel I can learn from reading they're posts too

Hi, Just dropping in to say hi, I think I just lost the fear of posting my picture online.
This is me, Are you surprised? Girrrl!!!
I dont know why everyone always think s I'm agirl on here. I never said that.

Take care, it looks like you're having fun
Jesse

I no longer live in LA, we moved out of Hacienda Heights 5 years ago to a place called "Twin Oaks" It's in the mountains east of Bakersfield, about a 4 hour drive from LA

I grew up riding out of the LA equestrian center, and later SF valley. I was'nt around horses for few years at all & got my own first horse when we lived in Hacienda Heights

Where Do you live? The city of LA?

This my mare Cassidy if you want to see a picture of her 6 month old foal, go to Jackie Cochran's comment thread on her page, whew!! these take long to upload

Hi Jenn I was just on your blog post, this is my mare with her baby "BHF's Silverado Canyon"

I ride every which way, but mostly english because it's comfortable and fun. Ever try jumping more than a couple feet Western? That is no fun! and the kind of trails I go on I need some flexibility from my tack.

When I shool in the arena my excercises are decidedly english so I guess my horse dont really do "Western" per se.

But I dress them up Western depending on who I'm riding with or what I plan on doing during that ride. Here we were just visiting with a neighbor down the road at a few days old. And I needed to pony him over so western made sense, but now that he leads well I can pony him bareback if I want.

Please read my last entry in the Old Fashioned discussion. Oliver may be showing symptoms of Hyperactivity of the Adrenal Gland. This may be causing Oliver's stallion like behavior (charging people). Please get him tested for testosterone levels, I think the vets have a treatment for this condition.

The Mom's a Dunskin, I prefer Buckskin-Dun, or Bay Dun + Creme, because it's more descriptive from a genetics perspective.

The foal appears yellow in these pics, but actually is a black horse underneath the Buckskin and Dun dilutions.

So hes a Grullo, A Silver Grullo because he inherited that "Buckskin" dilution from his mom on top of the Dun mutation of Black.

His Dad is a non-silver Grullo, the simple black form of Dun.

Both my foals appear to be grullos now that they shed out their baby fuzz. I'll try to put up new pics soon. Wait till you see LACY's little girl. "LOBA" She's only 3 months and already outgrew her 5 month old brother "Silver"(she's 37.5% percheron) sort of has the looks and build of a Grulla Friesian (kinda heavy but not like a perch)

You're welcome Oliver. Take care of your mom, she loves you.

Is this the information that you wanted?


Are They Still Real?"
A young girl's question rings true as we continue to lose our herds of wild mustangs to uncontrollable mismanagement by our own government. Here is an update on Cloud's capture and release and what you can do now. Plus a preview of the new show!

Dear Friends of Cloud and his herd;

On September 9th six of us stood atop a low hill near the corrals where the Pryor wild horses would be set free. The first band to be released was Cloud’s. But, the family was missing the young members of the band and Cloud knew it. Instead of racing to freedom as he has done twice before, he dashed in a circle around his mares and lone foal, Jasmine. Again and again he tried to snake them back toward the corrals where part of his family was held captive.

It is the stallion father’s job to keep the family together and we saw a display unlike anything I have ever seen as Cloud swept past his band trying to keep them from returning to the mountain top. The whole time wranglers on horse back drove the band and yelled at the horses, trying to get them to leave. Cloud paid no attention to the riders on their tall horses. Instead he tried in vain to reunite his splintered family. In the end the mares won, racing away with Cloud grudgingly following. With tears in our eyes, we watched him disappear into the desert.

Two days earlier we had stood on high hill over looking the corrals watching as bands were driven in from the mountain top through the desert. My heart dropped as I spotted the pale horse in the distance with his band. It was Cloud. The helicopter pilot dipped and swerved, doing its best to bring his family in through the desert foothills. With the Black in the lead, the band broke back time and again, as if knowing what lay before them. Finally, the helicopter was able to press them into the wings of the trap and Cloud took the lead. The Judas horse was released and raced past him. What happened next was a first for me. Cloud completely ignored the lure of the Judas horse! When the corral came into view he slowed and the band pushed in around him, trying to run away from the helicopter. Dust swirled around them as Cloud stopped and turned to face the chopper and stood still for a few seconds. Then, he turned following his family into the corral. I have never seen this kind of defiant courage . . . ever.

And so, I ask that we take his lead. Courage is what we need now. Courage and tenacity.

We must keep up the fight.

photo above: Living Images by Carol Walker


SHOW PREVIEW HERE. The new PBS Nature Cloud program, "Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions" will premiere on Sunday, October 25th - many of the horses you will meet in this third chapter now sit in pens at the base of their mountain home. Please help us lobby for the release of the older horses immediately. You can read and follow our frequent updates on The Cloud Foundation blog here.

TAKE ACTION NOW:

Ask for the release of the older horses from the Pryor Mountain roundup, it is cruel and nonsensical to remove Grumpy, 21 year old mare, Conquistador, a 19-year-old band stallion, and the 11 other horses over ten years old. Ask for the immediate reform of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, call daily and fax your comments as well!

1. White House Switchboard – 202-456-1414 (fax: 202-456-2461) -- Ask for Senior Advisors: Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod. Ask for Michelle Obama too, her office is receiving a tremendous number of calls and they need to continue.


2. Call your Senators – switchboard 202-224-3121 and ask that they support S1579, The Restore our American Mustang (ROAM) Act


3. Call the Senate Committee of Natural Resources – 202-224-4971 (fax 202-224-6163) Email here. ask that they push the ROAM Act through immediately– it must go up for a vote soon in the Senate


4. .Join us for for the next Advisory Board Meeting and "Mustangs on the Hill"- Sept. 28 & 29th

Please join me and many others at the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting in Arlington, VA on September 28th (click here for information). Make your voice heard – and then join us in DC on the hill for meetings with key members of the Senate as well as upper-level whitehouse and Department of Interior staff the following day. Our wild horses' hoofbeats need to be heard in Washington DC! More details to follow to be posted on our blog soon.

Our mailing address is:
The Cloud Foundation 107 South 7th St Colorado Springs, CO 80905

Our telephone:
719-633-3842

Copyright (C) 2008 The Cloud Foundation All rights reserved.

Well six months of fighting is not that bad considering i had to listen to my parents for 16 years fight. so its not that bad and cleaning stalls is the most enjoyable part of my day.

Happy birthday!! I hope Oliver treats you real good today.

Hi Jennifer, I'm forwarding this to you from my Parelli Newsletter.
I wish I'd seen this in action. Maybe they will do one of their monthly DVD's on it during the year. Pat is doing a rescue horse at each Celebration this year but this is a MUSTANG success story.

Parelli Celebration Highlights Humane Society
of the United States Rescue Horses

This weekend at the Ft. Worth Celebration, Pat played with Thistle, a sweet-natured five-year-old mustang who was rescued during a large-scale neglect investigation in Nebraska earlier this year. Since the rescue, Thistle has been under the care of the Doris Day Horse Rescue and Adoption Center until he arrived in Ft. Worth on Thursday. Each day of the Celebration Pat played with Thistle, and by the end of the third day Pat was riding the mustang without reins leaving many saying this was the best training session they have seen Pat lead. It was truly amazing to watch, and the experience is first hand proof that the Parelli method can help any animal if you put the relationship first. Read more about the Parelli Humane Society of the United States partnership here. Following the event this weekend, Thistle was made available for adoption to a selected, loving home.

Hi Jennifer. I saw your question about the rope around the neck of the horse being ridden without a bridle. I also like to ride bareback with just a neckstrap... I've done so since I was little. I have used a soft rope, but generally I use a long stirrup leather. On a larger horse the leather sometimes sits a little higher than I would like, so I am hoping to have a cordeo made, or possibly get one here:
http://www.equihof.be/catalog/index.php?cPath=183_61
The cordeo is long enough to fit low on the neck, which is best. A cordeo isn't meant to exert control, so you will develop good balance, seat and legs riding with one, since your aids primarily come from your seat and legs. You should ride in an enclosed arena (and with your trainer there) when riding with a cordeo... even after years of riding my pony that way, I always used a bridle (hackamore) when hacking in order to have more control.

Hi again, I was browsing through your photos - Oliver is such a cutie! Toby looks sweet too. Bareback is a great learning tool - you not only gain balance, but you can really feel the horse. A couple of my coaches have given me lunge lessons in which I would ride bareback with my eyes closed and focus on what the horse was doing (which leg was moving up etc.). I love being that 'in touch' with the horse (you can more easily feel the muscles prepare for a transition, sense if the horse is relaxed or nervous... you really get to feel what's going on with your mount). Plus bareback riding is simply a lot of fun. ;)
... and if it happens to be cold (a common occurrence in Canada) being close to your horse provides a bit of extra warmth! :)

Horses certainly do have a lot to teach us! I have a very smart lad myself (he's too smart sometimes!) . He is the first young horse (under 4) that I have ever had, and we are taking our time learning together. I'm in no hurry since we hopefully have many years ahead of us. He's just a baby (two) so it's lots of groundwork for now... and we're having a blast. He is a fun and curious horse, with an awesome sense of humour!
If nothing else, my horse can always make me smile! :)

Yes, I would be great to see. Did you get the Sept or Oct. DVD for the Savvy club? I can't believe I haven't watched mine yet. Maybe too much time chatting on barnmice.
Where have you been.~~ Haven't heard from you in a while? I was out on vacation to florida and still itching from some beach bugs after 6 days home. Other then that it was a very nice trip. Can't believe I've been home that long.
Been riding? Hope you'll fill me in! Cash and I are at a good place. Hoping for some peace at the barn for a while.
Keep Horsen Around!

I see two pictures by you in Wild Horses from the Sanctuary....Is that it? Sounds interesting & fun. I'm all for anything that helps the wild mustangs!
I just posted a video of Cash and I if you want o take a peek.. It's just under the videos, I didn't see how to link it to my page. But if you look at the ones that came in today, I think you'll see it.
Keep Horsen Around!

I am very happy and very sad tonight.
I am very very happy that Cash and I rode around the barn yard tonight....all by oursleves and it was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! Yes! Beautiful!! He was such a good boy and all went very well.

The sad part was watching the PBS special tonight on Clouds herd. If you didn't see it, I think it was the first showing of this part 3 of the series. The show was a delight but made me all the more so sad at what is going on with not just this herd but so many of the herds and the individual horses. I'm thankful that so many are getting homes (like your Oliver) rather then being added to the ones held in pens but the freedom that is being lost by so many and the families that are being broken up. I fear this is not being done for the protection of the horses at all but is totally due to greed on the part of many men that stand to profit in different ways by destroying these most beautiful animals. These animals have a loyalty to each other as shown by the program. I guess it's just time to really get down to business and get all these phone numbers and addresses together and really get busy stirring the pot.
Hope you and Oliver are having lots of fun!

Almost forgot! I did watch the Savvy Club DVD late last night and even though I didn't really think it would be too useful but it was interesting. It would be especially good for someone just learning with a horse. The idea of stroking/combing the reins to help relax the horse was very cool and then the little technique of how to hold the reins to back was different then how I'd been taught. I used it on Cash tonight and he liked it. He's always backed good but he was more responsive and faster about it tonight.

But, but, but, did you see my other message? We got out of the arena and around the barnyard?!

Did you see the new show on Clouds Herd tonight? it's suppose to be on again several times in the next two weeks if you missed it. It was VERY interesting what Ginger has been able to catch on video and share and explain about mustang life in the wild. I was soooo touched. You are going to have so much fun yet ahead of you....on top of what you've already had watching him grow up with you.

Got another Savvy Club DVD again today. I just watched the last one a couple of nights ago.
Good thinking on your part to not watch the "Cloud' taping till you are feeling better.
I found myself feeling very serious and sad as I watched it....and mad. And Depressed!! Somehow I have to try to not allow it to disturb me so much so I can get busy on the phone and mailings. I want to let the light shine so people can see the issues and act to help...not get snuffed out with gloom and doom.

Thanks for the comment. I can't help but enjoy 'The Squirt'... he's just so much fun! :)

I read that you are doing some 'in hand' work with Oliver. You can accomplish a lot with groundwork. If you are firm and clear during your work, and assert yourself as the leader, then your relationship with Oliver will become stronger, and your confidence in one another (and thus your confidence in general) will also grow. Have fun! We're having a blast with our groundwork, and are in the process of introducing ground-driving. Riding is only one aspect of enjoying horses.

Jennifer, I don't know if you read the blog post about "Tummy Out". For some reason I am getting the feeling that this technique might help you ride Oliver bareback. The exercises she gives sound like they will help prepare the pelvis for following the motion of the horse's back and make you more secure.
I REALLY appreciate your comments to my posts!
If you can't get Oliver to move you could just let him stand there and practice those tummy-out exercises on his back. You might get surprised and find him moving under you after a few minutes.

Saw your video. Oliver looks nice and calm. Good work.

Hi I think you have a wonderful prospective. I'm 39, and have been spoiled for most of my life I have had a relationship with horses. I left for 11 years (long story-- had to) but when I finally got a horse again (Oct. 26/08) I realized it wasn't the ridding/jogging, compition racing- showing that I missed nearly as much as I thought.. it was what you are developing with your horses... this is what I missed, the comunication, the time spent being part of Che's herd... creating a family/herd with him and my human family... the togetherness of the whole experience... My horse drives this point home each day since he only allowes my family and in particular my husband and myself to touch or work with him... he only wants those closes and nearest and dearest to him... his herd... no others are welcome... I think many people need to take a step back and think about things from their horses perspective and from the herd mentality like you have. Good luck. Deb

Hi Jennifer,
I think I remember you from another horse board in WI.
You got into horses around the same time I did.
I love your pictures........the background mountains of CA...are beautiful!!

Easy horses may make good riders, but the hard horses are what turn a person into a horseman (or horsewoman, don't you wish they'd make up their minds?). Before my first difficult horse I thought I knew what I was doing, it was my crazy mare that showed me I didn't and started me on the road to being an affective horseman.
It is really hard, though, when your difficult horse comes in the first few years!
Stay safe dear.

Jennifer:

It's Shawna Karrasch, and "On Target Training". Maybe that's the book you've read, but it's the right one. Try little horse crunchies (I use sugar cubes, they're cheap and easy to get, and easy to keep in your pocket or a fanny pack) instead of big carrots and apples. The Spanish Riding School uses sugar cubes, so they're good enough for me.

Jan

Hi, Jen!

There are no dumb questions! If Oliver was a child I'd have a fit about the butter creams, but Oliver's teeth and chemistry are different from humans', and his teeth only need to last him about 30 years, rather than 90. I use sugar all the time, and it's straight sugar. I think whatever works for you is fine.

I think it's time to read Shawna's book all lthe way through again. I do that with a lot of things - I take away the big picture the first time, but start to find the detail work the second or third time through. Referring to specific chapters works, but sometimes we miss the preceding work by doing that.

It's hard to not be affected by our animals - they have pulled and pushed me through some terrible times, and I am very connected to them, and you are clearly the same. That's a double-edged sword, as caring deeply about anything makes us more vulnerable. I think that developing the relationships and growing together is worth the tough times!

PS - it's great that your trainer takes Oliver on trail rides 4 times per week - that's wonderful! Take a look at agility courses for dogs, and trail courses for horses, to change up Oliver's training situation and make his work more challenging for both of you.

cool
thanx for commenting me!

Hey Jennifer--remember you said Oliver would just bite at your leg when you tried to ride him. Just read a book by a trainer (dressage) of many decades. He commented that young horses often bite at the riders leg before the horse figures out what the leg aid means. It isn't just you!
This is probably why English riders often start with the lunge and teach the voice commands (should be easy with the clicker.) That way the horse already understands what WALK means (& trot, canter (hup)) before we get up on the horse's back.
I noticed on the video you mentioned--Oliver was walking past Toby and it looked like Oliver was thinking of nipping Toby--but he didn't because he was working for you. Good job woman!!!

Just watched your long video. I am impressed. You would never think that Oliver had once come after you.
Alert, interested, responsive. GOOD WORD Jennifer!!!!

Hey Jennifer!
I also give the horses the benefit of the doubt. At least the first time or two, then I work on figuring out what I'm doing wrong (and its usually my fault.)
I also apologize to the horses I handle and ride.
So good to have you back and sharing your knowledge.

A late Happy Birthday Jennifer. Congratulations for your ride.

Well you are special! I'm sure at least your horses tell you that every day...probably several times a day.
Welcome to the over 50 group. It sounds old by past generaton standards but it can be a great decade to 60. Take care!

Hi Jennifer, long time no see.  I hope you have been surviving the weather. 

This week I got lucky, I got to ride 2X, but I had to decide to ride when it was 25 F at sunrise, cold and windy.

I am so glad to see that Oliver is so manageable now.  See where hard work can get you with a horse?  You've done a great job.

Yeah, I'm also on the Forum using my own name and the same photo of Mia. 

So long Oliver is not 1) opening his mouth, 2) not slinging his head up, 3) not diving his head down and yanking the rein out of your hand, or 4) not tossing his head up and down, you are probably doing OK with the bit.  The proper response to all of these, at your stage of riding and well into the future, is to move your hands forward until Oliver stops doing the above, while gently urging with your legs.  Don't worry it will come, especially since you care about Oliver's comfort and are doing all you can to learn to ride.

I am trying to find a bit that Mia will consent to, the problem is that at her age she has less room in her mouth.  During my experiments I had all of the above problems, and each time I moved my hands forward just like I just told you.  I finally found a bit she seems to be happier with, but I have to use really light contact.

Don't listen to most people about your horse, they are not there and they don't know what you've been through with him.  Steve has trained him well enough to be your lesson horse.  Listen to Oliver first, Steve second, and also some of the people here  for a different viewpoint.  Bitless can be fun, but you have plenty of time to try it later.

Hey Jennifer, how are you, Oliver and Toby coming along? You getting to ride much?

Hey Jennifer.  Good to see your picture again.  How are Toby and Oliver doing?

Sometimes I wonder if Steve is good for you personally. 

It is the HORSE who is the proper judge of how well you are doing.  All my riding life I've been dissed by professionals saying I did not know what I was doing, only I was the one with the horse I could put anyone, a horse I had gotten just green-broke and did the rest of the training myself.  He was so good people thought I could not ride.

I long ago gave up on getting approval from professionals.  Keep going, don't let a pesky pro diss you out of your joy.  You just got a different relationship going with your horse.