Sunday May 5 2013

I hadn't played or worked with Cooper for a few weeks as I had not been feeling well. We got to the barn around 6 p.m. and the barn manager and her husband were doing feed and we had to wait until 7:30 when they brought the horses in. They said it was too dangerous for us to go out and get him as there were 3 new geldings out in the paddock and they didn't know yet how they would behave.

Once we got him in I took him right out into the outdoor arena without…

Well, on Saturday my baby boy re-starts the starting process.  I'm finding it quite disturbing.  I have the best professional I know working with him (and I'm involved, even if it's only watching).  So, I was pondering why this was bothering me.  I think it's because right now he's just unlimited potential.  Once he's started, reality kicks in.  Of course I will love him no matter what happens.  If he's not a dressage horse, so be it.  If he's not a high level dressage horse, so be it. …

Two Man Sorting

Last Sunday, after a good ride on Saturday morning, we took the horses out for some two-man sorting at Rancho Rio Stables by the Kern River.  In this iteration of calf work, the cattle are numbered zero to nine and there are two pens about 40 feet across with an opening between the two.  The cows are settled into the far end of one pen.  Our job is to go in and, once we cross into the occupied pen we are given a number, then we start with that cow and…

                             ‘Amazing Grace’

  The Joy of Compassionate, Successful Horsemanship 

                                                 By: Franklin Levinson

“Was blind, but now I see.” These words from the last line of the wonderful hymn

Amazing Grace, usually find me misty eyed and full of emotion. Sometimes I am totally moved to a very cathartic release and a flood of tears upon…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

When I decided to refocus my riding to dressage, I made a valiant effort to find someone to give me regular longe lessons. Shockingly, this was much more difficult than I had expected! I would hear things like, “you’ve been riding all your life, why do you need a longe lesson?”…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

If you don’t currently exercise outside of riding, I highly recommend it. While I completely understand it is tough to imagine doing anything other than crash on the couch after a 12+ hour day, I’ve found that it has made a huge difference in my body control and body awareness while I’m riding.

As a groom or working student when you are lifting buckets,…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

I hope you read this title, made a guffaw, and said, “What?! No ride is ever a bust!”

And, honestly, I agree with you. No ride is ever a bust, and it is the difficult ones that often teach us the most. This doesn’t change the fact that it is tough to…

From essentialequestrian.wordpress.com:

A colleague of mine used to love the phrase “managing expectations.” I’ve found this mindset has uses in many areas of our lives, especially when teaching and training.

As riders, we must check our expectations at the door and “let the horse be your calendar,” as Charles de Kunffy says. As teachers, it is imperative to manage the expectations of our…

Last Tuesday I went down to the tack store to pick up my Stubben, all ready to ride with new front billet straps.  It did not take very long for the local tack specialist to replace the billets and it just cost me $87.00 USD.  Now I do not have to worry anymore about a billet strap breaking and I can relax and enjoy riding in my ancient 43 year old saddle.  When I got it home I put on stirrups and stirrup leathers, my sheepskin seat saver and my…

Today we want to say CONGRATULATIONS to Orb and trainer,

Shug McGaughey for their impressive win in the 2013 Kentucky Derby!

Orb splashed through the slop the Kentucky Derby, coming from way back in the pack and giving Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his first victory in the 3-year-old…

Hi there, 

     My names Bethany and well its been a while since I have written a blog... life just gets in the way sometimes you know? Anyway writing a blog hasn't been the only thing that I haven't done in a while.…

Tim and I would like to introduce our readers and

to 2 new members of the “WINNERS ON HOOF-EASE”. Memorys and Dreams and Carni; both trained by Jennifer Hayford-Quinones, had races today with come-from-behind . We would like to offer a heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to all their connections! What a great day for all!…

Madam might be taking this writing partnership of ours a tad far. First she assigned me the job of publicist. That was fine until she informed Gabe and me that a Horse Opoly tournament with the local Belgian pulling horses did not comprise a proper book promotion. That’s when I suggested she might like to tackle this publicist task on her own since I was running low on tasteful ideas.

“Why, yes,” she agreed. “I’ll be happy to cook up a few events.”

Since then,…

When I was 10 I got Peppy as a Christmas gift. Shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with Laminitis. When I was 16, we had to euthanize her because the pain was past what she could handle. It broke my heart into tiny pieces to lose her. We were a great team in the show ring and together we won 27 ribbons.

Today I found an article that may save many horses and…

For the last two months I've been working out from 7:15 to 8:15 four times a week trying to get back into shape. I use a local physical therapy office that has a "health for life" program, so I am trained under the watchful eyes of trainers and PT's who have a real education in the mechanics of the body and will make sure (I hope) that I don't hurt myself. Why? So, when this time of the year came I would be ready to…

We are pleased to have Dale Myler return to Baker's this spring for an educational seminar on bitting featuring the Myler Bits® line.



Attendance is $10, and pre-registration is required to ensure your spot in the clinic. Your attendance fee will be reimbursed to you upon the purchase of a Myler bit. Included is an informative session and an opportunity for an open forum Q&A, as well as…

Kevin and I took Cole and Starry out for a ride last night. It was in the 70s, so we figured they would be on the quiet side, but we were wrong. Both were feeling good. We started out with some fine trotting. They were energetic, but behaving, so I was able to talk Kevin into doing some cantering—with me in the lead. That meant I could go fast!

We have a favorite stretch for cantering that is so good that we even call it “the canter stretch.” Cole really felt like cantering, so it…

Anyone following the Kentucky Derby this year? I've really been enjoying the Kentucky Derby Photos that I've seen so far. Such great looking horses. Do you guys have any favorites?