Twenty things people should know about me!

So I was searching for a little inspiration via Google. Well I was searching ten things people should know about horses, but then I saw a heading for twenty things people should know about you. that’s when the idea happened. So here you go, twenty things you guys should know about me.

1. I am extremely stubborn. let’s just say when I decide I want something my way, I fight like hell to get it. Some call it spoiled, I call it getting the job done.

2. I love horses, but that’s not all. I also love trucks, gardening, movies, John Wayne movie specials, being with friends and as odd as this may sound, I love where I work.

3. I actually like some polka music. That’s right people I said it. I like some polka music. I guess I get it from my Grandpa, but when Big Joe Polka show is on, I cannot help but tune in.

4. I love Oyster stew! Mom doesn’t make it very often because she along with millions of other people in the universe hate it. But really, who couldn’t love the taste?!?!?

5. When I am mad, I am furious, but when I am not I am pretty funny! people don’t really see me mad that much, but according to my mom, when I am really mad about something I am A. really snippy and always have the last word. B. I can never seem to let it all go. However on most of my good days according to friends and family I get them laughing to tears.

6. I am VERY opinionated. Much like my Grandpa, I say what I need to say when I need to say it. Who can help a girl really. If I don’t like something, guaranteed I will say something.

7. I hate being referred to as a “Hillbilly” or a “Redneck.” Alright folks, may I ask you, what really qualifies a person as a “Hillbilly” or a “Redneck”? I have been called both and it really ticks me off. Is it having a farm? Many in this world do. Drinking beer? The last time I checked many people buy beer and they are not in anyway country. Having a trailer home? That’s what I would refer to as being down on your luck and not a lifestyle of choice. Can’t we just call people “Cowboy”, “Cowgirl” or even just “Country” instead of placing us into this derogatory category?

8. I love to eat chicken, but I am deathly afraid of birds! So you know how everyone has those #1 fears? Well birds are mine. They scare the living hell out of me.

9. I won’t just settle for any guy. I am a firm believer in chasing your dreams and in that I believe that applies to finding the right person in your life. I mean common, you will be spending the rest of your life with this person. You don’t want some free loader that sits on your couch and eats chips all day do you? Now I am not saying I believe in “the one” or having a soul mate or anything, but I do believe that there is someone out there that you are meant to be with. They are well worth waiting for. I know what I want and I have high expectations, but I will not settle for anything less.

10. I am a firm believer in dirt cleanses the body. No I am not talking a mud bath at the spa or anything. I mean just getting down in the mud making mud pies, gardening or even having a mud fight is good for the body. I can’t really explain it, but you come out covered and feeling good in the end.

11. I LOVE kids, just not all kids. I for the most part love all kinds of kids, but there is one exception, bratty/spoiled kids. They are so rude, manipulative and wreck things. I for one cannot stand it and when the moment is right I call them out. Who really wants to see that?

12. I am a die hard Republican, in a family full of Democrats. Well all I can say is I stand my beliefs and give my thoughts when I wish. However I am always ready to get a mouthful in return.

13. I live on the straight and narrow, but do like to live a little. I am a firm believer in doing the right thing, but I am also if it feels good do it. Sometimes life gets just to boring.

14. I am terrified to drive. I know, but its true. With how fast cars move, my mother yelling and me being in control, it scares the hell out of me. So much that I honestly cringe just thinking about it.

15. I used to be REALLY shy. Couldn’t tell now, but I used to be so shy that it used to take me three months to raise my hand for the first time in class. I guess that’s what I get for being sheltered most of my life. THANKS MOM!

16. I am not afraid of the dark, but I cannot sleep without my dog there. All I have to say is that if there is ever an intruder in my room I am covered. Got my pillow, my blankie and my dog. Nope he won’t get me!

17. I wear my purity ring with pride! I honestly I think that the body is precious and should be well respected and taken care of both physical and spiritual. However it is a personal choice.

18. I hate cartoons, but my weakness is the Wonder Pets. Who couldn’t love those little guys Linny, Tuck and Ming Ming. I watch it every other Thursday with my cousin, she’s 3. We plan our whole night around it. If someone came up to me and told me to sing the theme song, I would sing it with joy. “Wonder Pets, Wonder Pets weir on our way, to help a baby animal and save….” On every night at 7:30pm on Noggin.

19. English is my first and only language. LITTERALY! For some odd reason, I did not inherit the famous gene of language.

20. I am in no way girlie, but I got my nails done and loved it! **GASP** That’s right folks, I got fake nails and liked it. However with all I do, they won’t stay on for long! I have been a nail biter since I was three and have never quit!

How horses saved my soul....

In many ways horses help people. They help them heal both physically and emotionally. However I say that they also help spiritually. How may you ask? Well you cannot really explain it in words, but I can tell you how.

First off let me tell you a little background. I am REALLY closely knit with my family. Like if anyone ever needs anything in our family they will help you in a heartbeat. We also joke around with each other a lot. We may tease each other a lot, but we mean it in the best. Many of our in laws don’t take to it so kindly however. But do we care? NO WAY. We are also the type that if something really bad happens to one of us, we drop everything and get over there to help best we can. I guess this is one of those times.

I am close with all my cousins, but I was really close with my cousin Jordan. He just got it. He could understand what I was going through and gave me the best advice. He was also very protective. However he was the type where he and I could talk about Professional Bull Riding (yes I do watch bull riding! GO JB MAUNEY!) and argue who was the best. Well in the end we would agree that Justin McBride was the ultimate. No matter how wild and crazy he was or how much stupid stuff he did, he was still the one that I looked up to. I am also really close with my cousins Andrea and Samantha. Andrea is the little sister of Jordan. The three of us are like inseparable. We are like the three amigos if that’s what you would call it. We are very different, yet very much the same. Sam is the sports/country girl and Andrea is more of an easy going rocker. We can talk to each other about anything and everything. We pretty much talk via text on a daily basis.
Now let’s go back to the day of May 24 of 2009. The day I will never forget. I wake up hearing my mom on the telephone saying things like, “how could this happen”, “how am I going to tell Lauren” and most of all “poor Mike.” Mike is my uncle and Jordan and Andrea’s dad. I just remember thinking, ‘Mike? What happened to Mike? Is he ok?’ That’s when I got that scary feeling on the inside. Where you know that something really bad has happened. You start playing in your head all the things that could have happened, when really you have absolutely no clue. Mom then gets off the phone, takes a big breath and comes into my room. By now I am white knuckling my pillow, praying something big hasn’t happened. Then the words hit my ears. “Lauren something has happened.” I burry my face in my pillow trying to soften the blow.

“Jordan was in an accident this morning.”
I sigh, look up and say, “What kind of a mess did he get himself into this time? Is he hurt really badly? How bad is his truck beet up? No matter, I will just call Andrea or Samantha and get the details.”
She then takes my hands and says, “Lauren, Jordan didn’t make it. He didn’t survive the accident.”

I was in complete disbelief. My words exactly were, “No. this didn’t happen. He’s just playing a trick. He’s not dead!” It all hit me as soon as we came to my grandma’s house. As soon as I walked in I caught sight my uncles face. He looked so upset. I have never seen him cry before this. In my family, you never cry unless something really bad has happened. That’s when I broke down. I learned that my cousin Andrea had been in the cities with her friends when she found out. One of my other uncles had to drive up and get her because they were afraid of her driving herself. With the days following my cousins Andrea, Samantha and I were fully immersed in what was happening. We talked about it, cried and talked about happy times, but we couldn’t get passed the void.

As we later found out more about the accident, the more it hurt. They say having closure helps families deal with loss, but for me at the time, it just dug me into a deeper hole emotionally. We learned that he and some friends had been out partying and drinking. They all thought that they/my cousin would be ok to drive home. It still is unclear as to whether or not he or his friend was driving. All we know is that his friends were sleeping in the back and that my cousin was either in the passenger or the driver’s seat. None of them were wearing seatbelts and whoever was driving took the turn to hard and lost control of the wheel. My cousin’s body was thrown out the passenger’s side windshield. Then where his body lay his GMC truck fell on top of him from the waist down. His friends climbed out of the car and pulled the truck off of him. While one friend stayed with him, the others ran to a nearby house to call 911. By 4:00am he was pronounced dead at the scene.

This hurt so much that just mentioning the accident that I would burst into tears. I just felt this huge irreplaceable void in my heart. It got so bad that I had these horrifying dreams either about him, the accident or something evil every night for about four months. Like I would place myself in the accident. One of the ones I remember was when I was one of the people at the party and Jordan was about to get into his car to drive home. I just kept begging and pleading that he not get in. I would like grab his arm and he would have to like drag me to his car. Somehow he always seemed to slip into his car and drive away while I was sobbing for him not to go. I would try to stay awake in the wee hours of the morning and still get up at six just so that I would not have these dreams. I felt like my life had no purpose anymore. Like I was just taking up space in this world. When I would come home from the barn I wouldn’t even eat supper or anything. I just stayed in my room all night. I felt like there was this huge pit in my tummy that made me never get hungry. Mom kept telling me to eat, but I would only eat a few bites. I kept asking God for a sign of something good. With lots of perseverance, God did give me something good that I needed, Daisy.

It wasn’t until the day I met Daisy that I slowly began to get better. Sure our relationship started out really rocky, but she gave me a purpose in life. I felt like I was important again. I felt that she needed me. I think it is safe to say that she was heaven sent. We needed each other. She listens to me and even though she cannot speak, I know she understands. She is the first to meet me and the last to send me off at the gate. She’s trusting and forgiving. She’s a spitfire and stubborn little girl, but she tries with all she has. She is so willing to please that if we are working on something, if she won’t do it she will try other things just to please me. She doesn’t beg for treats because she knows that she will get some anyway. She made me reach deep within myself and find my inner strength. To not run away from my fears. To grab life by the horns.

God only knows where I would be if I had never met Daisy. However I know that without her I am not complete. She is like my other half. Even though Jordan has gone to heaven, I feel one step closer to him and heaven when I am with Daisy!
As best said by Vince Gill in his song “Go rest high on the mountain”:

“Go rest high on that mountain
Son, you work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and Son”

Jordan S. Murphy
August 17, 1987- May 24, 2009
~MISS YOU COWBOY~

A dedication to my family, people and horsey friends!

This post is specialy dedicated to my family, human and horsey best friends. I got the idea because I got the flu most of this week (so sick if it! :( )and guess who made sure I was ok? FRIENDS AND FAMILY! Now you may ask how horses play into this? Well horses have helped me through everything. So this is for them too. Enjoy!

Me and Daisy's videos from the beginning

So I was looking through my video camera yesterday and found some videos from when we first started out. It’s really interesting to see where we were then and where we are now. Back then she was so defensive we would do anything. It was fairly frustrating. However we now have new videos we can make. Oh and by the way mom was the one holding the camera! Music thanks to Garth Brooks, “That Girl is a Cowboy” and Luke Bryan “Rain is a Good thing!”

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The new lyrics to “Do you Believe in Magic” by Lovin’ Spoonful called “Do you Believe in Horses.”

So I decided to do my own little rendition of one of my favorite songs called “Do you Believe in Magic” by Lovin’ Spoonful. Here it is:

Do You Believe in Horses?

Do you believe in horses with their magic and heart?
How their hove beats can free you whenever they start
Because it’s magic, out on the trail through the gooneys
They make people happy like a family movie
I could tell you about the love that will give you wings
But it’s no use in telling you all these things

If you believe in horses you can’t win or lose
If it’s the fast cars or freedom or whatever you choose
Just go ahead ride one, find that inner smile
Because I know you have one
The horse starts moving and you seem to feel
That inner happiness that just makes it real.

If you believe in horse come trail ride with me
We’ll ride till morning, just you and me
And just maybe if the weathers good
We will meet up tomorrow at the start of light
And we’ll go running and that’s when you’ll see
How the magic’s in the horses and the horses in me

Neigh, do you believe in horses?
Neigh; believe in the freedom of hove beats
Believe in the animal that will set you free
Believe in the animal that will make you see
Loove, talking about the horses

Do you believe like I believe Do you believe in horses
Do you believe like I believe Do you believe, believer
Do you believe like I believe Do you believe in horses

There are many reasons to wear a helmet. Here are just a few important ones that I have learned over the years.

1. Some are actually nice looking. They make so many kinds now a days that it is easy to find one you like. for instance if you are showing they make really professional nice looking ones and there are ones that good for lazy trail days.

2. Your head is not like your kidneys, you only have one! I couldn't’t even tell you how many times I have heard this saying when I ride. I once met a customer that knew someone that had died from a minor head injury when riding and that he himself had been to the ICU three times for head injuries when he was riding. All it takes some times is one good fall and you could be done forever!

3. They protect more than just your head! I have learned this one from personal experience. About two weeks ago I was riding my horse and decided that it would be ok to go without a helmet for one day. Boy was I ever wrong! She made the turn to sharply, I fell off smacked my head on the fence and landed in a very small pile of hay. I ended up hurting my neck so bad that the whole left side of my neck was tender, swelled and hurt like HE DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS! Turns out that I had whiplash in my neck for the third time. I had a nonstop migraine for about three or four days and there was no sleep to be had. I eventually had to have my uncle who is a massage therapist come and work on it for the first time. Which was quite an experience. However though I was lucky. My injury could have been a lot worse. Although if I had been wearing a helmet I would not have gotten the whiplash. Big lesson learned.

It just goes to show that riding horses is an extreme sport and that you need to take the extra precautions to make sure you stay safe!

My favorite movies!

Today this post is devoted to my all time favorite movies called “The Horse Whisperer”, “Flicka” and “Hidalgo”. You might want to make the videos full screen or click the video to go to Youtube to see it all.

First off what horse girl would not love “The horse whisperer”? I remember when I was five years old. My Grandpa knew how much I loved horses and bought this movie for me knowing I would love it. I sat in his chair and watched it with him. I was completely mesmerized. The fact that this guy had such a great gift was spell bounding. It is really true that sometimes the best way to speak to a horse is through a whisper. I just hope that some day that I can develop as much knowledge and talent as that guy has! Here is the movie trailer thanks to maxriding and Youtube.



“They just want us to spit back what they want to hear!” This is probably the best movie quote I have ever heard. This quote is from the movie, “Flicka.” Some may say that this movie has bad acting and the main character, Katie was a complete brat. However I think that is very untrue. I personally like the actors they chose for this movie. They all seemed very fitting for their roles. Sure Katie disobeyed many rules of her household, but it was for something that she loved dearly, her horse Flicka. Personally I see a lot of myself in Katie. The fact that she felt trapped in her boarding school and that she is very ambitious in what she wants out of life, but most of all her passion for horses. Just imagine if you had something that you loved more than life itself and then someone was trying to take it away from you. What would you do? Well, I know I would fight like hell to get it back. She was just trying to break free of this mold that her father wanted her to fit into. The whole stereotype of men work and women stay at home sort of thing. Although as best said by her mom in the movie, “When are you going to look at your daughter… and realize she’s you?” Here is one of my favorite youtube videos and song "Wild Horses" by Natasha Bedingfeild from the movie thanks to horsecrazy1699 and Youtube,



Imagine if you were challenged to a race half way across the world with the odds not only against you, but with people making crude remarks about how you will die in the race because A. you are not from the desert and B. your horse is a “mixed blood.” Would you do it? Well Frank T. Hopkins in the movie “Hidalgo” did! I suppose one of the reasons I love this movie is that it is a true story of how the underdogs can still come out on top. I also really like how Frank T. Hopkins, played by Viggo Mortensen, is portrayed in this film. It’s how all cowboys of the American west should be portrayed tough, true to his roots and caring. One of the sayings that I now abide by thanks to this movie is “you can say anything you want about me, but don’t talk about my horse that way.” Here is the video trailer thanks to freyamia and Youtube.

Saying goodbye is just all over hard.....

So today I thought I would make a blog about saying goodbye. I guess this was brought up because my friend has to put her dog to sleep today. So that got me thinking about all the goodbyes in the horse world. It’s the same really as any goodbye to an animal. However what makes it hard is that they don’t know if you are gone for good or coming back later. I think one of the hardest horsey goodbyes I have ever had to do was when I had to say goodbye to the very first horse I had trained, Pilgrim. Sure he was not the best horse in the world, but I had gotten really close to him. Not like I am with Daisy, but pretty close. He was another rider’s leased horse and because of health issues, she could not really train him much. So I offered to help her out, which turned into almost an everyday thing. At his old place all he did was stand around and graze all day. No one would even brush him. After I started working with him and giving him attention Pilgrim had gotten to where every time I would come he would meet me at the gate, nuzzle my pocket for treats, nudge my hand to pet him and all this other stuff. He would even fallow me everywhere without the halter on. He was also a very quite horse that had a lot of personality. Well one day I get a text from his leaser saying that he has to go back to his home because she can no longer afford the board unless I was willing to pay about half. Now only making minimum wage is clearly not enough to board a horse and I knew it as much as I hated it. So after about two weeks passed, it was the last day I would ever get to see Pilgrim. I decided to take him on a leisurely trail ride because that’s what he loved best. He loved to run on the open prairie the most. Then when we got back I just decided to pet him and give him all the treats he could ever want until my mom came to pick me up. I was bound and determined not to cry because cowgirls don’t cry. Even though my heart was breaking so much. My mom then showed up and it was time to put him in the round pen so he could be loaded the next morning into the trailer. I put him in the round pen and I could just see the sadness in his eyes. I told him that I would miss him and that he would always have a special place in my heart. I then got in the car. He watched the car and never turned his head away from it. Just as we were about to pull out I heard the loudest whinny I had ever heard. It was Pilgrim whinnying at the car. That was when I just lost it. I realized how much he meant to me and that it would be hard. However life moves on. I am sure Pilgrim is a nice pasture wherever he is. As a wise priest once told me, “sometimes it may take millions of tears to mend the hole in your heart.” As hard as goodbyes are, they are never goodbye, just a see you later. Whether or not you believe in heaven, you will see them again someday.

Is my life really worth $400?

Hey guys. Today’s blog will be about a growing thing in the horse world, breakaway stirrups. There are many types out there depending on riders preference, however there are some that look like they would not hold up very well and some that would, but are outrageously priced. So here is the question, would you rather pay what seems to be a fair amount of money for a piece of equipment that could not hold up or would you rather pay hundreds more for the same type of product? Let’s take a look at a few common products.
Just so that everyone knows first off that breakaway stirrups are designed to release when the rider’s foot is at or more than a 72 degree angle. From there the top bar of the stirrup will release preventing the rider from being dragged and from risking great injury or even death. Thanks to wzwz666’s video on YouTube, here is what a dragging looks like. Thankfully the rider was ok.

First let’s look at the Abetta breakaway stirrups. These have shock resistant stuff in them to prevent the foot from going to far forward. However they are rather cheapey looking. Not that style matters over safety, but they look like a child’s toy. Come on here makers, can’t we get a little more professional than that? Picture thanks to https://greenrivertack.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_128


Now let’s look at the STI stirrups. These stirrups appeal to me because not only are they safe, but stylish. However one thing that is not cool is the price. Most of them are $400 for a pair. Good golly, for that much I could buy a whole other saddle for that price. Since when does safety have to cost that much? I think that’s insane for people to pay that much for something to save their life. Maybe it’s just me, but that crazy! Picture thanks to http://www.breakawaystirrups.com/www/breakaway_stirrup_styles.html


All in all safety always prevails in the horse world. Just which stirrup to buy, I am not sure. What do you guys think I should go with?

The Best Day Of My Life!

So today I thought I would share with you guys about the best, most rewarding day of my life. It was yesterday, when I put the saddle on Daisy for the first time. My trainer and my mom were there with me. When I first got there I did the usual thing that I do when I first see Daisy: hugs, running and groundwork. Over the months Daisy and I have gained a trusting relationship. I give her all I have and she gives me the same. Did it start out that way? No. However we worked through the tough times and came out on top. Anyway when my trainer got there she said, “now be prepared for her to blow up (buck) when you put the saddle on because she has not had a saddle on since last fall.” Well we put the saddle and everything on. No buck. My trainer even said, “alright, be prepared when you tighten the buck strap (safety part of a saddle with a big scary name.) that she will for sure buck!” We tightened the buck strap and she still didn’t buck. So then my trainer was like. “ok get her walking and trotting around and she will for sure buck.” I had her walking and trotting for about an hour and she never bucked one bit. My trainer was shocked. She said, “ this is proof that all the hard work and love that you taught/showed this horse is working. Also that even the wildest horses can be tamed.” I was so proud that I got teary eyed. I even got to ride her for the first time in saddle. She still did great! My trainer said that it usually takes weeks, maybe even months for most trainers to be able to put a saddle on a horse that has not worn one for that long and even longer to ride. We did it all in one day. I honestly felt like one of the big time trainers. We went from underdog to wonder dog. Daisy made me even more proud to be her rider that day. I honestly felt like I was in a dream. I had been waiting so long to get my saddle and use it on Daisy. It finally happened. My dreams came true.

So I took a moment to do a little research project. I have always loved trucks. Always have, always will. Just the way I grew up I guess. However unlike most, I am not truck bias. I think that most of them have their good qualities and that some times, just like any normal car would, stuff happens. So here I have composed a truck I have fallen in love with from the moment I saw it, a Ford. I also have included my favorite horse trailer into the mix. Enjoy!

Let’s start off with one of my top favorites Ford. Mom says the only reason I like them is because Toby Keith backs them up. However, that’s not the only reason. I like the look of them, they seem to be a rather sturdy, not the most afford able (L) and go everywhere do everything truck. Not to mention Toby Keith is like better than Elvis and Jimmy Hendricks by far in my own little country world. The truck I chose to build was the Ford Super Duty F350 XLT. Maybe it’s the redneck side of me, but who wouldn’t love the fact that it says Super Duty in chrome across part of the hood? Takes me back to when mom and I were looking for our new “family” car and we were driving through the Ford dealership. It was about close to time for me to get my license and to start looking for a car anyway. We were driving past the trucks when I saw them. It was like looking at the face of God. Now mom knows I love trucks, so as she ever so rightfully should have done was pull over to let me at least touch it. Did she? NO! I politely asked her to pull over so I could look and here are her exact words, “Why would I want to look for those? They are ugly anyway!” I know, mean right? Whatever, I will get my payback when I am driving and she wants’ to stop. He he…. Anyway back on topic. Some of the features I chose are the extended crew cab, 8 ft box size, the camper package (I don’t camp, but when I ever do, I will be ready.), fifth wheel gooseneck and in dash computer to just name a few. All this coming to $39,660. YIKES! Hey though a girl can dream right????? Here is a picture of it thanks to Ford.com

Now on to the most important part, the trailer. The trailer I chose is a four horse trailer by Feather Lite. Feather Lite is known for their stainless steel trailers and their good make. They are often up for grabs at many barrel races, so you know you are getting a good buy. The one that I made is a six horse, meaning it can fit up to six horses at a time. It also has a wrapped hay rack, a five foot “dressing room”, feed bag and more. This comes to a grand total of $19,363. OUCH, I know, but believe me it’s all worth it! Here is the website to take a look at my selection:
http://www.fthr.com/trailer-shopping-tools/build-your-own-trailer/build-it.aspx?key=08e140a8-7980-483e-8e15-6dee23d31453
All in all, we all have dreams, mine with just have to cost me quite a bit. Hope they all come true!

Horses and God.

One may not stop to think about how much a cowgirl (and cowboys too.) needs her God just as much as she needs her horse. Just being with horses as long as I have, it has really opened my eyes in terms of how much I need God to help keep me safe when I ride. Every time I ride I always wear a silver cross and my purity ring on a necklace. Then right before I begin my work with my horse I kneel down next to Daisy, take off my hat, put it over my heart, Daisy lowers her head to about my level and I say:

“Dear God, I know we seem so small down here, just Daisy and I, but I ask that you keep us safe during today’s ride. Give Daisy wings to fly and grant me the gift of balance to stay on. Don’t let us work to hard, but let us do a job well done. I love you God, Amen!”

Strange I know, but it seems like every time I either forget my necklace or forget to pray, something goes wrong. I remember one day when I first started with Daisy and I forgot my necklace. That day Daisy bit me and threw me about five feet to the metal fence. My head hit the fence. My body fell to the hard dirt floor. I kind of blacked out for a moment and felt the lead rope barely tugging my hand. I opened my eyes to a very alert, concerned horse and to a mom saying “just make her run.” I just bucked up like I had been taught many years and went right back to work as usual. I kind of took it as a sign of sorts. Since then after wearing my necklace and praying, nothing bad has ever happened to me while I ride. That I am thankful for. Some may call it pure luck, maybe even chance. I say it was my cousin and grandpa keeping me safe in heaven. As best quoted by Trent Wilmon in the song, “ There is a God”, “Science says it's all just circumstance. Like this whole worlds just an accident but if you want to shoot that theory down, just take a look around.”

Every time I ride I feel like I am one step closer to heaven. I call it my personal heaven. When I ride, I am really free. People have asked me before, how can you believe in something that doesn’t exist? My answer to that is if you keep you heart and life closed from God, then he doesn’t exist, but if you open your heart and your life to God, then he is everywhere. From something as tiny as a mouse to as big as the tallest mountain peak. Then there is always the argument about how science is always right. I say that God made those scientific answers. Not to mention science cannot explain the unexplained like God can. I ask you, how does science explain miracles?

Probably one of the greatest miracles I have ever seen was with what happened with my cousin Sophie. I have babysat Sophie since she was three weeks old. We have a bond so strong that she is like my little sister. The night before Sophie was born I remember having the strong urge to pray for her. So I did. When she was born her shoulder got caught on her mom’s pelvic bone. The doctor had to jump on top of her mom’s belly in order to save her life. It wasn’t till about a year later that they would find out the extend of how bad it could have been. Sophie went in for her one year old checkup a joyful, bouncing, talking one year old. Her mom said that as soon as they came in the doctor’s jaw dropped. He said that with how much oxygen she lost he was sure that she had over a 50% chance of being mentally retarded, have shoulder problems or die before she would reach one. She came out normal and with a clean bill of health. I remember when they told my mom and I that. I started crying because we came so close to losing this little girl that I would give my life for. Now Sophie is a still happy, still bouncy, always talking three year old. I just thank God she is just as horse crazy as I am.

I will honestly admit though, it takes a lot for a person to submit to God’s grace. It was not until about five or so years ago that I really accepted God and trusted him. To me, submitting to certain things like love, I feel very vulnerable and guard my heart so I don’t get hurt. Being raised Catholic, back then I believed in God, but never really “saw” his work, I hated going to church and more. But now I can see God’s great work every day and I now view church like my third home, next to grandma’s house and the barn.

I am probably stepping on a few toes writing this, but God is what made us and I quite frankly think that we need to remember that. So to end on a high note here is one of my favorite prayers that just seems to fit.

The Lord is my Shepherd
(psalm 23)
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pasture,
He leadeth me beside still waters, he restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

SPRING BREAK!!!

I can honestly say that this Spring Break was the best break I have EVER had. Being true to my love of horses, yes I had lots of horsey time. However the best part about that was the fact that the owner moved my horse Daisy and her stable mate Patrick to a bigger round pen. To some that may not be a big deal, but compared to the tiny barn we were stuck in, it’s heaven. Not to mention, they are outside!!! It was so much fun that nothing could rain on my parade. Only because it was almost 80 degrees all week. We were sweating bullets, but it still could not keep me indoors. What was also really fun was that the round pen is on a slight hill. So the trying not to fall of wile riding Daisy without a saddle and on a slight incline was quite interesting to say the least.  Thanks to a good camera, steady hand and mom here are pictures of our horsey day.











To add to my great Spring Break, I achieved my long time goal. Thanks to Bruce Carpenter and my uncle Pat of Winona, I finally bought my saddle. To those who don’t know about Bruce, he is a very old man that runs a shop of new and used horse tack for REALLY cheap prices. He does it so that he can see people and continue to stay in the horse business. I bet you are wondering just how cheap his stuff is right? Well let’s just say the saddle I bought is a brand new Circle Y roper saddle well worth about $2,000. I only paid $375! *GASP* I had been waiting to buy my own saddle for about a year or two now. I saved up about $900 for all of my tack. For someone that cannot seem to keep any money in her pockets, it was dreadfully difficult. With the low price of my saddle, I still had enough money for the rest of my tack. So it was a given, I went hog wild. The first day I bought the saddle, head stall, four things of Vet Wrap, girth, blanket, pretty blue rhinestone spur straps, horse brush, saddle stand, breast collar and reins. All for about $490! Then I guess I still had the buying urge because the next day about an hour before I started my shift at Mills Fleet Farm, I bought saddle cleaner, two more blankets, treats and an Equi ball. Well then a few days passed when I realized I left my spur straps there at Bruces. So on Easter another one of my uncles, Mike, took me back there thinking that I was only going to pick up my spur straps. Boy was he wrong.  I bought a full body outdoor horse blanket, a four pack of horse bandages, a handmade purple crystal cross headstall (its SOOOOOO pretty!), saddle cover and a yellow leopard print halter! This in all cost me $127. Only because the crystal headstall was $85. All in all spring break only cost me $692.76. Leaving me with about $261.76 left. Here are the pictures from my shopping spree!



Lastly, I loved my Spring Break. It was probably the best Spring Break I have ever had. Well time to go. Keep looking for more posts.

Rodeo~Girl~4Life

I thought I would share a first.

So last night I was looking on the YouTube at all my videos I had created and I can across something interesting. My first barrel racing time and my first time using spurs. It was actually for a project last year, but it was a lot of fun! The horse was an American Paint named Millie. She actually wasn’t a barrels horse; she was a retired Western Pleasure horse. I think she may have been 10 at the time. However Western Pleasure or not we still had a pretty good time of 34 seconds on our first run! I think this one moment is when I truly earned my spurs! I have grown a lot in my riding since then, but it was still fun getting to look back. Anyway here is my first timed run. Enjoy!

A tad bit about my new bit!

So last week I had the greatest day ever! I used my new Myler O ring Combination Snaffle bit that I got for Christmas on Daisy for the first time! For those who don’t know a bit is basically what helps you to stop and steer your horse. It goes in their mouth and when you want to stop you pull back and it gently pinches their mouth, which is their cue to stop. Parts of the bridle are that they either have a brow band that that goes around both ears or an ear band that just goes around one ear. Then most have what is called a throat latch. This basically goes under the jaw and latches to the other side. This should be tightened snug enough that you can fit at least two fingers through it. Then some may have a curb strap the is placed just behind the lower lip. Here are some pictures to give you an indication of what it looks like thanks to Mini horse and Pony Tack guide and America’s Horse Daily:

A given that Daisy had not used a bit in a super long time, like in eight months plus longer, I just used a halter and lead rope before I got this. So I was just a little worried to use it on her! Let me tell you folks, Daisy did AMAZING with it! This bit is very unique in the sense that it is not like most bits. Instead of pulling on the mouth, which by the way if you pull to much it can make the mouth harden and be painful, it applies more pressure on the poll and nose and less on the mouth. That way you have less hardening.

Here is a diagram of the head of a horse by extension.org:

What’s also really unique about this bit is that you can set it to the level of pressure that your horse needs from the bit. This not only is a great tool, but also saves money in having to buy another bit. Considering bits can be well over 100 dollars apiece. The first ring is designed for minimal mouth pressure and more pressure from the poll and nose. This challenges them to work mainly off their nose. The second, (what I set Daisy to.) is designed for slightly more mouth pressure and less pressure from the nose and poll. The third ring is designed for complete mouth pressure. Now I bet you are wondering how I come to my decision on what one to set Daisy to. Well looking back it was simple really. I first set her to the third ring. Well when I got on her she started throwing her head and chomping on the bit. I tried adjusting the chin strap, noseband, throat latch and other adjustments to the headstall. None of those worked. I sat there for a while completely stumped. That’s when the epiphany happened. I moved her up a ring. After I did that she completely changed. She stopped throwing her head and lowered it to the horizon line right away. For horses the term horizon line means that the horse drops their head even enough that it isn’t low enough for them to buck, but not high enough for them to throw their head. An even medium. It is said that a horse’s head is so even that it is completely parallel to the earth’s natural horizon. Here is a great example of this thanks to Jeff Williams Quarter horses:

This bit can be quite expensive depending where you buy it. My mom got mine on sale for $56.00 at Leashes and Leads in Byron. (http://www.leashesandleads.com/) However full price was $156.00. Even though this bit is quite expensive it’s well worth the money! In just one day I noticed a huge difference in Daisy. Now imagine the difference it will make in the future! J
Check out the difference it also made in other peoples horses. Notice how much more the horse and rider are related and the horse gains more bend. Thanks to Julie Goodnight on Youtube.com for providing this video.

Anyway, thanks for reading and watch for more posts to come!
See ya!

Why I love my horse.

Today I was thinking about my American Paint Daisy. I then got to thinking about how much she means to me. Thats when I got the idea for this poem. So here it is folks: Why I Love My Horse.

Why I love my horse
Your coat is soft and beautiful
Like a cotton shirt on a summer day.
Even though that’s what I say
That’s not why I love you.
You do all I ask of you without a second thought.
As much as you don’t like it
I appreciate it a lot.
But that’s not why I love you.
You love me unconditionally.
No matter what I do.
I can tell you what I want to say or do
And you won’t tell a soul.
You looked at me with those auburn eyes
And that’s when I knew to my surprise
That something so wild deep inside
Can be so sweet in good time.
You’ve taught me to love.
You’ve taught me to hate.
But all in all I cannot wait.
For this love for you burns so true
And this is why I love you.

Oh my boots, oh my boots.

Last night after I got home from riding, I was putting all my gear away. I took a step back and looked at the bottom shelf, all my boots. These boots are much like eye witnesses to all I have done in the horse world. From my first ride to my first fall and everything in between. It’s amazing what all these boots have done and seen. This Christmas I got new riding boots. As of actually needing them, well let’s just say new boots for me is like a mall -a- holic adding a new pair to her already full closet. I go through boots really fast. I mean I have a good excuse working with horses right? My new ones are actually ones that I would not normally pick out or should I say PINK out being that pink is not my favorite color. My new ones are pink Fat Baby Ariats with boltey looking things on them. Thanks to Ariat.com here they are:




This takes me back to my first pair of boots. They actually weren’t even boots at all; they were more like make shift shoes. If I could sum them up in one sentence it would be, “Mom only bought these because she wasn’t sure I would stick with riding!” At the time I didn’t care, they were shoes that were just the beginning of my journey. Now having been a part of the horse world for about almost 4 years, you come to realize that riding is not only about skill, but style. So I figured it was time to upgrade. I in total have 4 pairs of riding boots. So that’s like a pair a year.

I remember the day when I graduated from possibility to going to stay to I will be a real contender someday. I got my real riding boots. They were Laredo and I thought they were the best. They looked really authentic too. I felt a true cowgirl. Thanks to horse town.com here is my first pair:



I am not boot bias, but I really do like my Ariats. I remember when my trainer convinced me to buy my first pair of Ariats and I never went back since. They are comfy, cute and durable, just the way I like them. These and my new pair of boots are the type of boots that you can wear to the barn or clean them up for a Rodeo/party. I think that’s when you know you have a really good boot. these ones are purple Doll Baby Ariats. Here is my first pair thanks to Ariat.com:



It may not seem like it, but when riding boots are just as important as the rest of your tack. They help keep you safe. The heel helps the foot stay in the stirrup so that your foot doesn’t slip through. Which can be extremely dangerous because if you fall and your foot is all the way through the stirrup you can get dragged which can lead to great injury or even death. To me is a really scary thought. If you want a good example of this, here is a video by dodisandperky on Youtube.






All in all, boots are not just good for style, but also safety. They do and see it all even though they don’t have eyes.

How the horses helped the handicapped.

This is kind of different from the other posts that I have done, but is one that is very close to my heart. It is about my first experience helping the handicapped people in my town ride. This one day taught me something very valuable in life. Keep reading and you will find out.

It was about May of 2007. My current riding instructor had convinced my mom, my two best friends and me to participate in helping the handicapped residents from Cardinal group homes ride horses through the RideAbility program in my hometown. We pull up to the barn and my mind was just spinning about what we would be doing. My instructor had given no other instruction other than dress for the weather and pack a lunch. So it was a given that I was slightly nervous.

We come to the barn to see the usual barn horses grazing in the round pens. We also saw a large white van and a bunch of strangers trying to feed one of the horses. Being a little shy, I kind of hung towards the back of the group, not really sure what to say to handicapped people, having never really met one before. However my mom reassured me that they aren’t harmful and are just people, but I wasn’t too sure.

We are assigned our person. I was assigned a women that looked about middle 40’s. We will call her Rosie. She was pretty average looking, besides the fact that she had a disability.

One of the first things that we do before we ride is brush our horses. So I go to the tack bucket and pick out two brushes, hand one to her and ask, “Would you like to help brush Holly?” She slowly grabs the brush and begins to imitate my actions much like a child trying to be like their parent. She lightly applies the brush all along the horse’s back. I instruct her to apply more pressure because horses love being brushed. She continues to brush and stare plainly at the horse, as if I had not said anything to her. I thought that she had just not heard me, so I repeated what I had said. Her helper that had come with her informed me that she had developed a strong case of stranger anxiety and hardly talked to anyone.

I looked over at the other groups laughing, smiling and talking feeling envious of them. I was beginning to feeling very discouraged. I stood there pondering for a minute on what to do. I thought ‘well this is really a lot of fun! I was the unlucky one and got the person that won’t talk. Why me? I might as well make the best of this situation. I wonder if I just keep talking to her as if she was talking back if she would eventually open up?’

So I talked to her about many things. All about horses, about the horse she was going to ride, anything. Much like before, she never said anything back. I was beginning to wonder what the point of this was if she didn’t respond to anything I said or did. Little did I know I was about to find out.

Time seemed to pass endlessly. It was now time for the people to mount their horses. Myself and three other people help Rosie get on her horse and I begin to lead them around the arena. I instruct Rosie on how to make her horse go, stop and turn. To my surprise, the other horses acted so differently with these people. It was like they were totally different horses.

We kept going around the arena what seemed like an eternity. My legs were starting to ache and my body starting to sweat from the heat. I could not help but hope that it would be done soon. My opinions soon changed when I looked over my shoulder to check on Rosie. I saw something that I had not seen nor expected to come from Rosie. A smile. She was smiling ear to ear and was seeming to enjoy her ride. This made me feel extremely happy to know that someone that could not speak to people in the same way as others could be saying so much with horses through their body language. Rosie was expressing herself without saying anything at all.

This turned the whole day around. It soon came up on lunch time and instead of eating with mom and my friends I decided to eat with Rosie so that she could spend more time with the horse. As I sat down with my back resting on the stall door and my lunch in my lap, I observed Rosie with the horse. The smiles continued and she loved giving her treats and petting her. This is when I got the first look at the magic horses have on other people besides myself. All they need is someone to love them and they will give you all they can. People with disabilities can open up to horses unlike with other people. Maybe its because horses won’t judge them or that they don’t care about what they look like, how they act or about what they say or do. They can truly be free of the image society has painted of them. I discovered that sometimes its not about what someone does for you, but what you do for them and in the end you reap the greatest reward. For me that was knowing that I gave someone who is sometimes looked down in society a reason to smile. On the outside they may look like your average disabled adult, but if you take the time to really look at what is on the inside and what matters most you may discover what is lying deep within yourself. It was this experience that made me decide that when I open my own riding school, I would like to host groups of disabled/handicapped people at my barn. To give many more people a reason to smile.

Here is the website to the program that helped me discover how good it is to help people, so incase you are interested in volunteering with RideAbility:
http://www.rideability.org/

Why we need to save the wild horses!

We have all seen those movies about the girl that saves the wild horse or the cowboy that seems to have this uncanny connection to the wild herds of horses. Now imagine what if all those horses were inilated. Whole herds wiped out by slaughter and euthanasia, foals ripped from their mothers and they would not even have a chance at experiencing a real home. Even worse, what if the government would actually allow and regulate this taking money out of our hard earned tax dollars to kill innocent horses. Now I understand that the population of horses has reached an all time high, but this is no way to go about bringing down the numbers. These horses are a part of our history. Without them, pioneers would have almost no means of travel, the Indians would have had to walk more and we would not have great movies like Spirit or Hidalgo just to name a few.

The approximate number of horses in America is around 6 to 10 million and the number of wild horses has shrunk to 13,600 compared to 1990 when there was almost 19,000. These horses have given us so much and this is how we repay them? It is just so wrong that they give us all they have and we in return resort to killing them in such an unfair manor. Not only that, but these horses are supposed to be protected under the Wild Horses and Burros act. According to Fws.gov, “Wild Horses and Burros Act (16 USC 1331-1340) -- Public Law 92-195, approved December 15, 1971, (85 Stat. 649) provides for protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros. It directs the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior and Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture to manage such animals on public lands under their jurisdiction.” So technically they would be breaking one of our own laws because these wild horses are protected. Also the land that they are currently on is not supposed to be changed or tampered with. However there is talk that they may make it for use of cattle farmers. Why should these protected animals have to forfeit their home?

Also these horses would not even have a chance to experience what a real home is like. So really we are missing out on some great horses. Some of the best horses come from wild herds. All I am saying is that instead of hurting them, just standing there and watching this happen or even just saying this wrong and doing nothing is unacceptable. We need to come together and be the voice for these defenseless horses. I encourage you to speak out and make your voice heard. One voice can really make a difference. Some things that you can do is become more informed, email, call or write your local congressmen and representatives voicing what you think, sign petitions either online or in person supporting your cause, adopt your horses from or send donations to the wild horse and burro program. Below I have provided just one of the many petitions for wild horses on the web, a website to locate and contact your congressmen and representatives and the website for the wild horse and burro program. Together we can make a difference and save the animals that have helped shape our nation.


Congress site:
www.congress.org

Wild horse and burro program site:
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html

Petition site:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/166841148

Horse racing: the real dirty little secrets!

Eight Belles, Ferdinand, Charismatic and Barbaro. Do these names ring a bell? These are all names of horses that have either died or been injured on the race track. Most people who love racing fail to see the unnecessary hazards that both Jockey and horse have to face.

Jockeys are forced to starve themselves, to constantly exercise and train only to receive a very minimal paycheck. They are expected to not only support their families, but also their sport. This can be very costly not only to their bank account, but also their health. Much like teenage girls with body image issues, Jockeys are forced to stay thin at all costs. They have great risk of such disorders as Anorexia and Bulimia. However the Jockeys are not the ones that are the main victims here, the horses are.

You would think that trainers and horse owners would want to keep these top money earning horses in good health right? WRONG! Most race horse owners and trainers will do anything; including using performance enhancing drugs to win a race AKA horse doping. Riddle me this, if it is not ok for professional athletes to use performance enhancing drugs such as steroids, then why is it ok for horses? According to Slate.com among the 38 states with horse racing, 28 have no regulations at all concerning anabolic steroids. The only two states that have agreed to make horse doping completely illegal are Maine and Kentucky. Have these people no sense of heart for these horses? Also, the repercussions if any for trainers and horse owners that do this are as light as a slap on the hand. So while they just usually have to pay a mere fine, horses are left to suffer both physically and mentally. Someone tell me how is that fair. Take the Kentucky Derby winner Thoroughbred Big Brown for instance. Not too long after he won the Kentucky Derby in 2008, his trainer Rick Dutro admitted to giving all of his horses, which includes Eight Belles, a monthly dose of Winstrol which is an anabolic steroid. Not only was he risking the health and well being of many horses including million dollar horses like Big Brown and Eight Belles, but he was also giving them an unfair advantage. Whatever happened to playing fair? Trainers don’t even have to sneak around for the drug, it is put right in front of them to use as they wish.

As I had talked about in another post, it is important for a horse’s health not to run/ride them too young. Horse racing is a prime example of this. Their skeleton is not grown/strong enough to support having a person on their back and running at top speeds simultaneously. This can lead to serious injuries, disorders and even death. Take Eight Belles for example. She had a great career until May 3, 2008. It was the Kentucky Derby and she was just behind Big Brown. Right when she crossed the finish line to take second she collapsed on both front legs. This caused both of her front ankles to fracture and she was so badly hurt that they had to euthanize her right on the track. Now I ask myself, if she was fully grown and her skeleton was strong enough to carry someone on her back and run at a speed of thirty miles per hour, would the injury have been this bad? My answer: of course not. Not only that but racing these horses at such a young age can cause early arthritis or plague them with a disease called laminitis that can cause permanent damage to the front and hind legs. The list drags on and on. Also, when horses are retired from the track, most people will not adopt them because of the potential for these disorders. For some of the retired horses, they are sent to Japan where race betting is more popular and stud fees (what people pay to have their mare breed to a stallion) are higher. However the down side to this is that once their stud fee gets below a certain point the stallion is sent to slaughter. The other more happy option is that they are sent to a retirement farm or an adoption farm. Some though are not so fortunate, they are sent right to slaughter houses.

Not that I am some PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals.) supporter, nor am I completely against horse racing, but I do think that there needs to be stronger rules against horse doping, when the horses can race and ways to reduce pressure on Jockeys both health and money wise. So the next time you watch a race like the Breeders Cup or the Kentucky Derby, stop and think for a minute about what the Jockeys and the horses had to do to get there.

My top horse idols!

Alright, so just about every horse person has an idol or two that they admire. An idol that not only rides with such gusto, but also has an unsurpassed communication with horses. As best said, “Horses messages are soft but clear, as if spoken in a whisper.” My top two favorite horse idols have not only put natural horsemanship training on a whole other level, but have forever made their mark in the horse world. They are Stacy Westfall and Charmayne James.

Stacy Westfall: What makes Stacy Westfall so great is not only was she the first and only woman to have ever won the national colt starting competition, but she also was the first to win a national title bareback and bridleless. For those who don’t know, bareback is with no saddle and bridleless is with no reins or bit to steer the horse, only leg pressure. Her method of training not only better opens up the communication between human and horse, but she also shows us how to feel the magic of being with horses. How horses not only light up your life, but also take you on this magical journey that you will never want to leave. What’s interesting about her is that when she was developing her method in her teen and college years, she did not use any influence from other top name trainers. In fact someone asked her at a competition once if she used the Parelli (another famous trainer.) method of training to train her horse. Her honest answer was “Parelli? Who’s that?” However the ride that she would be forever known for is one that is very dear to her heart. The ride for her dad. Posted on youtube.com by
BlueRoanMustang94, shows not only where good communation and practice can take you, but also heart. As best said by the announcer, “Thanks for teaching me to keep trying new things.”


Charmayne James: If there is one person that can truly prove that the underdogs are just as good, it is Charmayne James. Charmayne and her horse Gills Bay Boy, AKA Scamper, took the rodeo world by storm in the late 70’s to late 90’s. The most amazing part about this dynamic duo is when they first started Charmayne was only fourteen and she found then “wild” Scamper in a feedlot being prepared for slaughter. She didn’t care how much people told her how wild he was. She just knew that he was great. Scamper was the first horse that Charmayne broke herself. They entered their first barrel racing jackpot (name for lower grade competitions in the rodeo world.) in the late 70’s. This was just the start of their winning streak that would take them to win their first Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association world title. Her earnings throughout her career totaled over one million dollars, making her the first and only million dollar cowgirl. With all theses winnings, she is now one of the most sought after barrel racing trainers in the world. However, with every great idol, there is one thing that will always make them great. Charmayne’s was when Scamper lost his head stall and bit during a race. Posted on youtube.com by giogonsa, this video shows just how amazing this run was.



All in all, we all have idols that we view as great. Some as big as Charmayne and Stacy and others as small as a parent. The one thing that I think unifies all idols is that they teach us to reach for our dreams and to never quit trying. I can only hope that I become just as great as my idols someday.

Horses and kids: How young is too young?

Today’s blog topic will be kind of a double hitter of sorts. It will be on my views of training horses ages 2-4, under saddle and when I think is the right time to start teaching kids to ride. They are more alike than you think!

To start, I think that people should start under saddle training when the horse is either four or older. This can apply for all disciplines of riding. I did some pretty extensive research on this topic and some of the results even surprised me. One of the reasons is that they may still be growing. The growth plates in their legs have not fully grown and matured enough to support a full grown person. Basically the weight of the person would kind of make the bones at the knee grind and wear against each other. One thing that I would advise about this is periodically get your horses legs/knees checked to see how developed they are. Always keep in mind that all horses develop at different speeds. For some they may not be completely physically ready by age four. Take Arabian horses for instance, they don’t fully mature until they are about six years of age. Also to add to the physical aspect, starting this early can lead a horse well on his or her way to a fairly uncomfortable disorder called sway-back, which is the equine form of lordosis. For those who don’t know, lordosis is where the middle part of the thoracic region of the spine begins to curve inward. This can be quite painful and there can be many complications for horses with this disorder. Things like saddle fit and more. Not only is there physical growing, but also mental. Colts and fillies undergo a lot of stress in those few short years and it may be too much for them to undergo that much mental pressure. It would be too much for their brain to handle. It would be like handing a three year old a drivers license and the keys to your car. Sounds wrong right?

Another important decision when it comes to horses is what age is ok for young kids to start learning to ride. Not too long ago my cousin that I have babysat since she was a baby and is now three years of age comes to me and says, “Lauren, when can I learn to ride just like you?” I tell her, “well you can come with me when I work with Daisy.” “No, I want to learn to ride like you and the big girls, all by myself!” she retorts in her spunky three year old attitude. This really got me thinking about when it would be ok to teach her. I have seen many a time when kids just aren’t ready to ride animals that are quadruple their size when I would help with the kids riding camps around the barn. I mean, who could blame them for being scared considering that most of them cannot even see over the kitchen counter, much less be expected to control a large animal. I think it is ok to let a three year old just tag along to see a horse that you ride, however I would suggest having an extra hand there as well as an extra set of eyes. Like with Daisy, I have let my cousin just sit on her because I know that my cousin is calm when on horses and Daisy would not react. I think it is a good chance for them to not only learn about horses, but also help them overcome any fear and to teach them that yelling, running, etc is not ok around horses. Again using my cousin as an example, she has been sitting on some of my horses since she was one. While she was on we would address any fear that she expressed, like if she would get nervous and start crying I would let her down, calm her, and then help her realize that she is ok when she is up there. She would want to get back on, but it had to be her choice. I did not make her do anything she did not want to. I believe that you should never force kids into any activity that they do not want to do.

Although I would have to say at least five years of age is ok to start teaching kids to really ride. I have found that five year olds have a better understanding of safety and size, even though you still have to keep a close eye on them. You also may need to be aware that if you get them riding too early, they may quickly change their mind. However, don’t just use age as a way of knowing that they are ready. Really question if this is something that they would really stick with because horses, even as a hobby are expensive. I have worked with five year olds that would say that they love horses and as soon as they got on, they would become very afraid. That is when you have to be very tactful in helping them overcome their fear. One thing that I could not stress any more is safety, so don’t cut any corners with children. A few years back around my home town a young girl was killed when she was trying to get her horse from the pasture and another horse kicked her in the head. Remember that children that age are the prime height to get badly hurt by horses that are unaware of the size of the person. Just imagine if you were that girl’s grandparents. Not only do they have to live with the loss of their grandchild, but also the fact that it was completely preventable. A lot of accidents that have ever happened with horses are very much preventable. Explain the importance of little things like always wearing a helmet or having an adult there when they ride.

So basically when it comes right down to it, growth and maturity are the main factors. Make sure that it is ok for you to start under saddle training for your horse and before you start teaching your kids that you know really well to ride, make sure that they are really ready for the adventure of horses.

Why we ride western!

Western: barrel racing, pole bending, western pleasure, reining and steer roping. English: dressage, hunter jumper, eventing and endurance. These styles of riding are really quite different. Since the beginning of time people have argued about which is better. Being a western rider myself I think you know where I put my vote. It seems like every time I look at western vs. English, people that obviously ride English always seem to say something like western is lazy, there is no skill involved and it’s taking the easy way out. Now I am not saying that one is better than the other, but I think that if the English riders could understand why we ride western, they would take their words back. So here are a few things about western riders and why we ride what we ride.

The competitions. Being an avid rodeo fan myself, there is nothing like watching the header and heeler rope a steer or watching the winning barrel racing time. If there is one thing that really gets your blood flowing and thrill that you crave for, its rodeo. However there is more to western riding than rodeo, like western pleasure. Western pleasure is like the dog show for the horse world. Basically western pleasure is about having good confirmation, a good slow stride and showcasing the horse breed. If you like both looks and speed plus gut busting sliding stops and wicked fast spins, which might I add are REALLY fun to do, then reining is for you. Reining basically is things that most ranchers would do with their cattle out in the open plains, just with a little more flair. One type of competition that is rather new to western riding is Cowboy/girl mounted shooting. Not only do you have to steer a horse running full speed, but also handle and shoot a loaded rifle at balloon targets. Sounds absolutely thrilling. Those just name a few of the many exciting competitions of the western world.

The comfort. Unlike the English world, western people like to ride comfortably. People that ride English feel that they need to bounce up and down at a trot and that they need to get all prettied up to go see their horse. Western riders prefer comfort rather than style. Take myself for instance, when I ride I am in my boots, jeans, tee shirt and ball cap. I would rather focus more on my horse than what I look like.

Anyone at any age can do it. When it comes to riding western, age is not the biggest factor. You could be 102 years old and as long as you are in good health, you can ride. With English however most people have to stop riding because of the strain it puts on their body. Plus for someone who is learning to ride it is best to start in western because there is a bit more security. Then down the road they can choose to switch if they so wish.

To conclude I think that both riding styles are good and that they both are unique in their own way. If riders can take both disciplines as good, then we can better communicate with each other. Also to make my blog a little more interesting, I have posted a video by brookelovesrocky on Youtube that really explains best why I love western. So enjoy and keep looking for more posts by me! See ya!