We first met Joy last December after she was taken in by the incredible people at Quest Equine Welfare in Australia.

Joy had been found at one day old, lying in…

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Horse Have to be Kept Apart of Trail Rides



On any hack, everyone is careful to keep their horses apart. Mostly out of fear in case one spooks and kicks another or in case personalities don’t mix. Surprisingly horses prefer to be tail to nose on hacks. This gives them a sense of security and reassurance out in the big scary forests. It also has to do with their herd instincts and need for closeness.



Miniature Ponies are Ponies



A few people have…

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Cali made her first visit to a restaurant today. With permission of the

owners we attended the year end banquet for the local Mini Horse club.



Cali, rode in the SUV. We towed her bathroom. Which is her trailer at this

moment.She is comfortable "going" there. She goes right on cue every time I ask

her. She did need her ramp to get in to the SUV, but she jumped out. Good girl!



She found the door, stopped at the step, found the door handle (this one…

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We had a second session this evening. Working on forward with a pull. I'll take forward anywhere. Click.

Once we get consistent forward, we can begin to train choices of where.

Cali's used to being led. Taken where we want her to go. This is her "first toe in the water" of making decisions. I let her decide where to go. For a little horse, that's confusing. So, it's natural that she would choose to go the places she is used to.



She chose the trailer, the car. When asked…

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Cali is settling in well. She's was a little nervous at first and she and my old mare scared each other.



We had a first lesson: Putting on the Dog Harness I got her. I'd opened the large dog harness as large as it would go.

Sigh... our perceptions are so weird. The first thing I had to do was to make it smaller at every angle. She was patient even though the wind was howling.



Next, I let her take me where she wanted to go with a little tug on the harness. She…

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I received a call for a saddle fit to a stable I had never been to. It was quite a long drive, and as I drove in the yard, my mood sank. The stable was an old rundown cow barn, and the yard was full of piles of junk. The owner was a grumpy old cowboy who walked with a limp. He gruffly agreed to show me the horse I had come to fit the saddle for, but I could tell he had little interest in helping me. As we walked to the stable door, I wondered about the condition of the animals inside. I got… Continue