BR-r-r-r- It's cold!

I know , I know it may not be or seem as cold where you are but here in the hill country it sure feels cold. We didn't have any snow last night, but the majority of my lessons were cancelled for today. I hope it warms up this afternoon.

Jesse James

An auction barn is not always the best place to buy a horse
The sellers information doesn’t always come from a reliable sourse
But good looking horse flesh is hard to withstand,
So I bought this horse and gave him my brand.
I found out to late that he had come from another town.
No one there would buy him, cause his reputation was know all around.
The local cowboys had given him his name.
They called that outlaw Jesse James.
For a month that horse bucked, tried to stand me on my ear.
Then he would try to kick my head off ever time I came near.
Finally I said Jesse, your days are through,
There’s too many good horses out there to mess with you.
To the sale barn I’m takin you back
And I hope you end up in a dog food sack.
Jesse hung his head, he looked kind of sad.
Made me wish I hadn’t talked so bad.
Never havin a good home, I knew how he must feel
So I got a bucket of oats to feed Jesse his last meal
While he was eatin I started pettin on him and he looked kind of surprised
Then a little sparkle came into his eyes.
I started scratchin on him and he seemed to want more.
No one had ever been nice to Jesse before.
From that day on, Jesse turned around.
A better horse can’t be found.
If you want to rope a steer, he’ll put you right there,
Or put three kids on his back, he don’t care.
You see love worked on Jesse, just like you and me
Now He’s the kind of horse that God created him to be.
There’s a lot of folks in this world like Jesse James
They’ve been spurred in the neck and folks have jerked on their reins.
We Christians have a command from above,
God said go those folks and show them My kind of love.
You see God loved the world so he gave his Son.
He wants us to tell that to every one.
But if they won’t listen, have no fear.
If we mix that message with love, then they will hear.

copyrighted: Ron and Will 2003

Mini Horse Show

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending my 1st mini horse show. My husband's relatives had a mini-stallion participating in the Family Fiesta AMHA Miniature Horse Show at the San Antonio Rose Palace. I haven't been around minis and I wasn't too sure what all you could do. But what a wonderful experience! I met some wonderful people including Mary Ann & her granddaughter. Mary Ann was able to explain and show to me all the different events and what the judges were looking for in each class.
For Travis & his family it was a learning experience. This was their 1st show with their 1st horse. Harley(the horse)learned what to do and what not to do around other horses. As with all shows nerves ran high when it was Harley's turn to jump in the Hunter class. He had a refusal on the 1st jump, but did jump it & all the others and placed. Everyone took a deep breath when he finished cleanly and prepared for his Jumper class. He wasn't as successful in this class & did not place.When the show was over, everyone was glad to go home.
The only flaw/downside to this show is that they had the youth performance classes at the end of the day. The end of the day was at midnight Sunday! I haven't been in the show circuit in a long time, but for the youth (12 & under) classes to be at the end of a show (Midnight) seems a little extreme.
Overall I had a great time, being with family & horses is the best there can be!

Our Horse fun

Click to play Make your own Smilebox

Boerne Students

Boerne Students

At the end of school some students from one of the Middle schools in Boerne came out the barn to visit the horses. They enjoyed brushing, riding, and feeding Cowboy & Jake.

Jake's New Name

Last Wednesday while giving a lesson to Sophia (a rider who has a speech delay), she gave Jake a new name. We have been working on telling her horse to go. I believe that while teaching students the normal comands, such as, walk on, is important. However I want to tach my students words and concepts that they can apply anywhere. I wonder where any of my special needs students are going to use the words "walk on". Instead, I want them to learn a concept that they can use at home, school and anywhere they are. Anyway, Sophia had been working on - "Go, Jake", she was so excited she said "Go, Cake!". I did a double take, but good horse that he is, Jake started walking!

Saturday Riders

Each day I have riders and I think that the lessons are going to be plain and ordinary. but I should realize that would not happen. Between the kids and the horses more interesting things happen. When I go get Cowboy and get him ready for the first rider, he practically puts the halter on himself. He sticks his nose down into halter and marches out to get the saddle on. He is so-o ready to work. But he can also try to get out of a lesson, he tries to stop early and get a drink of water.
But he is the one that I use whenever a new student rides. I use him because he shows me how the child/adult feels when riding. The student feels relaxed, he is relaxed. If they are nervous, he is very hesitant, careful and slow with his walk and movement. I am posting a short show to introduce him to you.

Magic & I

Here I am riding Magic. She is a 6 yr. Appaloosa we have begun using in our therapeutic center in Fredericksburg.