Quiet Riders Make Timid Horses?????

The great debate! So I get the idea of having soft hands, correct feet etc. Spurs are an extension of your feet, not go fast torture devices. But have you ever “walked on eggshells” around a horse for fear of them spooking?

So I have a theory that I share with some friends. If you don’t ride your horse like a dead broke, seen it all, sane horse, then you will never get them there. I don’t mean jerking them around. I mean, throw the saddle on them. Don’t be quiet. Talk, dance, sing…. When you pull off the gear, pull it off. Let it hit the ground. I mean, take care of your stuff but don’t be all whisper quiet! The horses need to get used to random stuff too. If you have ever heard me run barrels, yes I said heard me, you would get it. I have tried to run quiet. With my mouth. But, my horse is like “mom? Are you ok?”. So I’m loud. Sorry!

Today we gained photographic evidence of our “horse’n around”! We call it Equine yoga! Needless to say, my horses really put up with a lot! We also carry pop up barrels, poles, ice chests and even chairs around from the saddle. I use my barrel horse to trim tree limbs because he is tall! He is used to them falling on his head! It happens!

So let’s all think about that the next time you go to saddle that flinchy horse!!! Swing wide! #resbarrelracing #resridinglessons #noonefellofftoday

Lynx and I on the left, Tori and Goose on the right!

Maggie riding backwards on Splash… not sure why but…

How did I do this?

You know, I used to barrel race pretty often on my horse Zbar Lynx To Cash. He has always been a powerhouse!!! I always enjoyed letting him fly in and turn three! It was a rush!!!! But, due to life, we have taken almost two years off. Now I don’t know how to do it!

We went to a race on Saturday. I was on the fence about running. I seriously considered putting a bit in his mouth (he runs in a light hack) just so I could slow him down. Well, he managed to injure himself so we didn’t get to make our run. However, I did get to ride in the arena after the race. Holy smokes. He was a freight train!!!!! We were just loping circles. I was having to keep him in the bridle! I had put my low port Myler bit on him so he would know we were not running barrels. I’m not sure how I ran him before, but wow… this horse is BROKE. He is responsive. He has been to so many arenas and won so much!!! He has mostly placed either in the 1D or 2D. He is now 15 and I am the only one that has ever run him on barrels! Now I remember why!!!! I think he would leave anyone else in the dirt!!!! Now I need to remember how to run him!!!!! My brain and body need to find that balance and control we once had while being astride this incredible athlete! Y’all, I’m not sure I know how to run Lynx anymore!!! Maybe I need to borrow a slow one to get my muscles back lol!

I See The Light!

I promised I would update before and after my surgery! The surgery was for sure needed on my shoulder. I had some tearing of my labrum and my rotator cuff. I had bone spurs on my clavicle that was, in fact, wearing on my rotator cuff. If this situation is like my left shoulder, I assume that when I was kicked in the chest last September, inflammation then formed in my shoulder on the side I was kicked leading to persistent irritation! Same thing happened in my left! They also removed my bicep tendon and anchored it to the bone vs the joint capsule!

Anyhow, it has been a little over two weeks and my shoulder is still in a sling! I do get out of my sling on May 6. I will be limited on weight. Right now, I’m not allowed to lift anything with my right arm. Eventually I will work up to five pounds etc. But, I’m doing pretty good! As long as I don’t physically use my right arm, all is well!

For lessons— I am wanting to start back the first week of May for those that can saddle the horse! If the rider cannot swing the saddle, I will either need parental help or message me so we can make sure Hannah can be there! I won’t be able to handle more than one student at a time. If there is a family with two riders, message me so I can have Hannah there! I miss my students! This will be a slow process and I will be feeling my self out to see what I can handle so please be patient! ❤️