No wonder horses are so peaceful and free.  They always tell the truth.  They don't care what anyone else thinks about them.  They don't gossip, back bite (with the exception of mutual massage), they don't simmer with anger, hold a grudge, and they don't put on a show or have agendas... unlike women.  Have you ever known a group of women who were very close for a long time?  A group who promised to be friends through whatever their life trail brings?  Then, when someone either makes a mistake, falls down (proverbially), or does something they disagree with, they turn on her?  If it were a herd of horses that experienced something like that, they would deal with it in the moment, move on and forget about it.  They would remain a tight knit herd, depending on each other for survival.  Not so with women. We tend to kill our wounded!  The Word says that life and death are in the power of the tongue.  Women tend to gossip, back bite and murmur, and what might seem like a fair reaction to a percieved wrong is really a deadly sin!  The Word goes on to say that we need to bless them that curse us; bless and not curse; and I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  The Word goes on to teach us that Psychic Prayers are intense feelings and thoughts directed at another, psychic prayers are a violelnt form of manipulation.

 Yesterday Peggy, Amanda, Emmi and I went trail riding with the Mineral Point Cowboys for Christ group.  Dr Dale Linebaugh invited us to see their new Barn Church and the beautiful land behind it!   It was truly breath taking, a huge valley was before us, large rock out croppings to ride down thru, a large roling hills in the distance ...and a river!  Something inside me just knew we would be crossing a river... I laughed out loud when I saw it because niether Kisses or I had ever crossed water before and Kisses JUMPED 8 inch streams.  I have been looking for challenges in my life that I had been afraid of previously of.  I got what I wanted!  I wasn't afraid of water, I was afraid of taking a completely novice horse that reacted huge to every new experience, across big water.  )When we'd crossed the wide expance of pasture and approaced the bank of the river my heart started beating faster.  As Kisses looked at the 3 foot drop down to the WATER her head and pace picked up.  Her eyes were wide and she began to side pass away.  We all rode toward what we hoped would be an easier acess to the water.  Eventually we got to a place that was easy to get in.  The approach was muddy but even.  After some gentle coaxing she went in.  Her eyes were big, she snorted, she splashed, and she crossed!  Yea!  A rush of pure pleasure rushed over me!  Another fear faced and overcome!   And then....we met up with some more riders...and we headed back to river...again.

 Yesterday Peggy, Amanda, Emmi and I went trail riding with the Mineral Point Cowboys for Christ group.  Dr Dale Linebaugh invited us to see their new Barn Church and the beautiful land behind it!   It was truly breath taking, a huge valley was before us, large rock out croppings to ride down thru, a large roling hills in the distance ...and a river!  Something inside me just knew we would be crossing a river... I laughed out loud when I saw it because niether Kisses or I had ever crossed water before and Kisses JUMPED 8 inch streams.  I have been looking for challenges in my life that I had been afraid of previously of.  I got what I wanted!  I wasn't afraid of water, I was afraid of taking a completely novice horse that reacted huge to every new experience, across big water.  )When we'd crossed the wide expance of pasture and approaced the bank of the river my heart started beating faster.  As Kisses looked at the 3 foot drop down to the WATER her head and pace picked up.  Her eyes were wide and she began to side pass away.  We all rode toward what we hoped would be an easier acess to the water.  Eventually we got to a place that was easy to get in.  The approach was muddy but even.  After some gentle coaxing she went in.  Her eyes were big, she snorted, she splashed, and she crossed!  Yea!  A rush of pure pleasure rushed over me!  Another fear faced and overcome!   And then....we met up with some more riders...and we headed back to river...again.

 Yesterday Peggy, Amanda, Emmi and I went trail riding with the Mineral Point Cowboys for Christ group.  Dr Dale Linebaugh invited us to see their new Barn Church and the beautiful land behind it!   It was truly breath taking, a huge valley was before us, large rock out croppings to ride down thru, a large roling hills in the distance ...and a river!  Something inside me just knew we would be crossing a river... I laughed out loud when I saw it because niether Kisses or I had ever crossed water before and Kisses JUMPED 8 inch streams.  I have been looking for challenges in my life that I had been afraid of previously of.  I got what I wanted!  I wasn't afraid of water, I was afraid of taking a completely novice horse that reacted huge to every new experience, across big water.  )When we'd crossed the wide expance of pasture and approaced the bank of the river my heart started beating faster.  As Kisses looked at the 3 foot drop down to the WATER her head and pace picked up.  Her eyes were wide and she began to side pass away.  We all rode toward what we hoped would be an easier acess to the water.  Eventually we got to a place that was easy to get in.  The approach was muddy but even.  After some gentle coaxing she went in.  Her eyes were big, she snorted, she splashed, and she crossed!  Yea!  A rush of pure pleasure rushed over me!  Another fear faced and overcome!   And then....we met up with some more riders...and we headed back to river...again.

 We were trail riding at Peggy's farm last week.  It was my first time to take Kisses (the white medicine hat paint mare) and Legacy (the sorrel paint filly) off the Farm for a trail ride.  It was so beautiful, the weather was perfect, and the friends were good.  Kisses was quite 'looky ' , but she maintained.  Legacy was pretty relaxed most of the time.  ,,,And then we got to the rushing white rapids!  Oh my.  Kisses looked at them and took a big jump...we made it.  Legacy, on the other hand, planted her feet and decided she would not risk her life; no matter what.  I crossed back over those roaring waters with Kisses; this time her jump was more of a hop.  We tried everything to get Legacy to go with us across the white rapids; but not a chance.  My friend Brenda was riding her.  I crossed back over with Kisses severl times.  By this time Kisses had the water crossing down pat...piece of cake.  After about a half hour and all kinds of asking, moving body parts, backing, telling, demanding; Legacy crouched down and then launched across that roaring white rapids!  When she got over she let out the biggest sigh of relief.  The really funny, yet sad, part is that the roaring rapids was only about 8 inches across and was meandering so slow you could hardly see movement.  I kept wondering what Legacy was seeing that scared her so much.  What could cause a 1000 lb. horse to be terrified of an 8 inch babbleing brook?

 Yesterday I was giving a lesson.  We were working on square and arch turns.  I decided to hop up, (o.k., use a mounting block)  on Kisses and ride with her, bareback and using a halter and lead rope.  After explaining how to do each and demonstrating each, at a walk, through a little course of cones, poles, and a bridge, I moved it up to a trott.  Now, I've been working with Kisses for quite a few months and she is very light and engaging.  As I picked up the trott, I was telling my student what I was intending to do,and asking her to do the same...follow the leader...  Well,  I was looking strait ahead while I was explaining and showing her how to do a left square turn...and on que, just as I had taught her she did a quick, light, pivot to the left...and I, looking forward, nearly landed on my butt!  I had spoke out where I intended to go, I had given a que to go in that direction, but I had not focused on my goal!  I wasn't looking were I wanted to go and I almost fell off!  I laughed, took a fear cleansing breathe and tried it again.  This time to the right.  Pick up your right arch reign, use your right leg, and.....whoa!..I almost fell off again (starting to look like a ding batt now). Once again, I had my aides and my ques in place but I wasn't looking, focusing on my destination.  We always go where we look.

 I was riding with my friends at our Private Lesson Clinic with Patty Johnson.  I was working on canter departures.  Patty reminded me that it's the first three steps of the transition that determine the outcome of the canter.  When I got in the correct position I could ask her to canter and the result would be a soft, lifted departure that felt wonderful and was simple for both my mare and me!  When each part was put together the whole became a thing of beauty and joy!  All of the ladies at the clinic left feeling so wonderful about their rides and their time at the Farm!  

When we get soft and movable in the hands of our rider-guide (the Holy Spirit) He will put us is the best and easiest position for success.  He is committed to bringing out our natural gifts and talents so we can totally engage ourselves in the ride of our life!  Correct positioning is imperative for collection.  Collection is necessary to transition smoothly from one movement to another.  Just as a horse has to be soft, supple, engaged and willing, so do we.  We have to give total trust to our rider-guide!  He knows what moves have to stop and which movements need to change.  He also releases and rewards the ones that are desired!  So, lets learn to follow...be a great partner...learn to dance as one!  It  is the simplicity of two becoming one that is most amazing!

Last weekend, Multiple, All Around, World Champion, Patty Johnson, gave a clinic here at the Farm.  As usual, I was running around making sure everything was as it should be, before I mounted up. That day I was riding my three-year-old western pleasure prospect, Legacy.  Usually I take time to cinch her up slowly, lung her for a bit, tighten the girth again, and then mount up.  In my excitement, I just tightened up the girth, and got on so I could catch up with the flow of the clinic. Legacy began to swish her tail and wanted to step into the lope.  I checked myself to see if I was tense or over riding her.  I didn't feel like I was.  All of a sudden, she stopped her feet, put her head down, and quickly dropped to her knees and then her side.  I got my legs out of the way (trying to decide weather to ride it out and stay on her until she got up, or get off while the getting was good!)  Patty firmly instructed me to get off, so I did! As soon as I could get to my feet I made her get up. I let her know what she had done was wrong and should never happen again.  Then I got on and rode her through her distress.

Synergy: To find your balance you must become one with the energy of the horse. To ride well , or even to stay on her, you almost need to become part of the horse, and this requires an intention and focus that seems to transend training and technique. You must be willing to travel in the same direction and arive at the same destination!

Life's Trail - is not to arive at the end in a well preserved body, but to gallop in, slide to a stop, completely spent, exclaiming, Woo Hoo! What a Ride! (Elaine Averill)

Serenity: The joy of riding is that there are no preocupations, just the close connection of our bodies and minds. The first thing that a rider has to learn if she wants it to become an artform, is the art of relaxation, This means finding peace in the process. Shalom, nothing broken and nothing missing. Enjoyment for the sake of beauty, unconcerned with success or failure, others opinions or judgements.

Responsibility- Working with horses is a priviledge not obligation. There is no way around it, a horse doesn't care about how much you know, he responds best to how much you care!

Presence - Requires living in the moment! We must forget about yesterday and not yearn for tomorrow. We need to live fully and completely in the moment so we don't miss what we are created to be. When you live fully focused in the moment, instead of always in plans and efforts for the future, you begin to experience real life.