Refining · Moments

Back in Minnesota!

Well, I guess it’s probably time for me to update!!  Actually, way over time!  I did arrive safe and sound at home on Monday night, the 25^th of June.  I’m REALLY enjoying being back and together with my family.  I’ve gotten a lot accomplished and can’t believe it’s been almost a month since I arrived back in good old MN! 

Lance is enjoying being back in a pasture with his herd!  We now have 11 horses (the family acquired two more Morgans in my absence) and although I have spent some time with Lance, most of it has been with my 3 y/o Morgan, Noche.  I am continually being amazed at his eagerness to learn new things and his eagerness to please.  We play together for a few hours and then I get on and ride for ½ hr. each day.  Each time I go out to get him, he comes to the gate saying “What are we going to do today, Kelly?!”  He is just the coolest horse!  Just this last week he offered a canter for the first time and it was sooo smooth!  I was grinning from ear to ear and I swear he was too!!   The other big new s  is that I reached my  500 hr. marker  in the Morgan Pathways Program  I am enrolled in and as of today, have 556 hrs logged!  Three cheers for my Morgan companions!!!  

That’s the latest from me!

`Kelly

        ~Noche and I having a great time~

Sunday

We traveled from Limon, Colorado to Grand Island, Nebraska today.  The horses were having trouble with flies so our stops were short.  We took turns driving and staring out the window, which eventually turns into sleeping!  We are back in Central Time Zone which meant we lost an hour. 

The horse motel in Nebraska is very nice and big with grass and a shelter.  Lance and Shy seem to enjoy it although they are complaining about the bugs. (there really wasn’t too many in CO)  Stacy is staying at a KOA just up the street from the horses and I am about 6 miles away at the Rodeway Inn in Grand Island. 

Once I got checked in I ran over a few blocks to the Super Walmart and got my evening meal and enjoyed the cool air-conditioning. (the truck’s a/c broke down before we started back to MN)  

Tomorrow night I’ll be home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

`Kelly 

     ~Having fun with the Hotel Mirror~

Saturday

I spent Friday night with Debbie in her cabin and woke up early Saturday morning.  I pack up the rest of my stuff and got it hauled up to Stacy’s truck and trailer.  We took our time and by 11:00 we were ready to leave.  Debbie came over to say goodbye and we promised to keep in touch. 

I had mixed emotions about leaving the Parelli Center.  I didn’t want to leave all the people I had gotten to know, but I couldn’t wait to be home!

Stacy and I traveled for the rest of the day taking turns at the wheel and sleeping.  We arrived in Limon, CO around 7pm and got the horses to their motel and then we went into town.  Stacy stayed at a KOA with her trailer and I got a room in a hotel a short walk away. 

            I can’t believe I’m on my way home!  Whoopee!!!!!!

            `Kelly

Last Day

I can’t believe the six weeks are over!  It’s been so fun to learn new things, stretch yourself, and make friends.  I’ve become really close to Debbie and Sharon.  It was so hard to see Sharon leave this afternoon.  She is going to the CO tour stop before returning to the UK. 

Debbie and I helped with checkout and had a great time driving up and down with people and tack.  After the sun sank a bit, Debbie and I went out and rode together in the big round pen.  It was such a wonderful time.  Lance was the best he’s ever been.  His impulsion was beautiful and he was so willing and confident!  It was a perfect way to end the courses! 

`Kelly

                    ~our last day together~

Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday I ended up with heat stroke and felt really horrid.  During the hottest part of the day Sharon, Debbie, and I went to a western tack shop.  It was cooler in the shop, so I did better there.  I bought some CDs with good old western songs and a book of quotes. 

I had gotten the Fluidity saddle to try out, so even though I wasn’t feeling the greatest I did go out and ride in it for an hour.  After the sun went down I was fine. 

We had a campfire with singing and some people had somores.  We got to bed pretty late that night but it was worth it because it was our last campfire together.

Thursday I stayed out of the sun, but still had a bad headache.  The lecture was on jumping and flying changes.  I now have a better idea of how I will approach both those subjects when Lance and I get to that point.   

Debbie and I ran to town to do laundry and when we got back I stayed up until 12:30 to help Marianne burn her photos onto CDs for everyone in the class.

            `Kelly

                ~Thursday night's sunset~

Tuesday

Despite the heat today, I went out and rode right after lunch.  The reason, you ask?  I got to ride in the new Parelli western saddle, the Natural Performer!  I REALLY liked it.  Get the hint, Dad?

We also rode in the bridle and that went pretty good although we did have some rough moments. 

I’ve been enjoying my time here in Colorado but I’m really looking forward to being back home.

`Kelly

Monday

Whoopee!  I’m back on track with my updates!  Thanks everyone for your patience. 

Today was a broiler!  We had our usual lecture and demo in the morning.  After lunch the vet came out to do health certificates for everyone going home this weekend.  I spent the whole afternoon updating the blog, but that was ok because I didn’t want to get baked by the sun.  After supper when it cooled off, I went out with Lance and rode bareback for a while and then put the saddle and bridle on and rode in the round pen.  We played with Longitudinal Flexion, one of the things we had learned but Lance and I hadn’t been ready for then.  It was amazing the changes he made!  I am so excited!  My high-headed little Morgan can now stretch his topline in a beautiful banana shape!  I need to have someone take a picture of it!

`Kelly

Silverton/Ouray

            Sunday Debbie, Sharon, and I headed out early for Silverton and Ouray.  The road followed the train route for a while and then it took its on turn up into the San Juan Mountains.  We saw lots of horse trails winding around the mountains.  We all were wishing we could bring our horses out there and ride forever!  While we were at Molas Pass, we met another Savvy Club member and she took our picture for us with the mountains in the back. 

We drove through Silverton briefly but didn’t stop because we wanted to get on to Ouray.  From Silverton, Debbie drove on the Million Dollar Road, but what she called, “A White Knuckle Ride”.  I thought it was great!  We passed many old mining claims, went through some red mountains, hairpin curves, drop offs, even semis coming into our lane to get around the curves….you get the picture!

I can’t describe the mountain views, so I’m not going to try!  All I can say is the words that were spoken the most were: WOW!  Awesome!  Cool!  Look over there!!

Once we got to Ouray we wandered around the shops, ate lunch, and wandered around some more.  It was a neat town with lots to see.

We returned to the ranch via Durango and stopped to shop some more.  I got a new cell phone case since my old one ripped out and a case for our little camera so I can carry it while I ride. 

We missed seeing Linda’s Dressage lesson with Walter Zettl.  I was disappointed about that, but there really was no way we would have gotten back in time anyway.

Debbie, Sharon, and I agreed it was the best trip we had taken the whole time we have been here!  It was a great way to end our sightseeing weekends!

`Kelly

  
          ~Kelly, Debbie, and Sharon at the top of Molas Pass~

Saturday

In the morning we had an Myler bit demo.  Debbie, Sharon, and I stuck around for that and then since this was our last weekend to sightsee together, we decided to go out gallivanting.           

We took a local dirt road and just drove.  We found out that not all of Pagosa Springs area is as hot and dusty as the ranch!  It was absolutely gorgeous!  We saw some wildlife although it was interesting that a lot of it was in the more populated areas.  Up in the mountains we did see an elk, squirrels, and deer.  As we drove, we made our way up to Williams Creek Reservoir and along the way we came upon a little canyon.  When I looked across to the other side, there was a coyote trotting along the hillside.  It disappeared before I could take a picture of it, but I though it was pretty cool to see that!

It was amazing to see that different landscapes around each corner; just before the canyon there was beautiful green rolling hills with cattle grazing. 

     We got back to Pagosa just before dark and started on our laundry.  While it was drying we ran back to the ranch to feed our horses and then went back into town to get our laundry. 

`Kelly  

Week 5

I apologize for the lateness of my posting and my only excuse: being extremely busy!  To be honest, I can’t remember what all happened this past week so I’ll just write what I can remember.        

Monday started out great with 11 new people in our group.  The topic was on Finesse and Brace.  Lance and I had a super riding session, but afterwards he got an upset stomach.  We walked him for a while and he got much better so we didn’t have to call the vet.

Tuesday

Fluidity, balance point, martial art moves, and a crazy movie of Goofy teaching us “How to Ride”.  I’ve got to find it on the web!

Wednesday is a blur for me.  I truly can’t remember what Lance and I did.

Thursday afternoon I tacked Lance up and put the bridle on for the first time in a LONG time.  I bought some new snap-on reins so I could switch them from the bit to the halter when I needed to.  It worked super!  Lance loved it and so did I! 

Friday we did some more with the bridle/halter and it went great.  We got to practice a little bit on what the lecture was on, although most of what we have been learning is too advanced for Lance at this point.  We will defiantly have a lot to play with at home!  We got the six-weekers and faculty together and took group pictures.

`Kelly

     ~My Extended Family-Six-weekers and Faculty~

Saturday

On Saturday morning Sharon and I rode with Debbie to Mesa Verde.  The drive was awesome.  We spent the whole time laughing and having a good old time.  Once we were there we went to the visitor’s center which was a cool round affair of a building and got maps.  Each of us was hungry so we found a place down the road and ate.  We then hiked down to the one of the cliff dwellings.  We even got to climb down into one of the pits underground!  I thought that was pretty neat!  Debbie drove the car along some of the routes and at different overlooks we could see some more cliff dwellings.  We all spend some money on souvenirs and by the end of the day we were beat, so we headed back to the Ranch.         

            I really enjoyed the trip and so did Debbie and Sharon. 

            `Kelly

            ~One of the Cliff Dwellings~

Thursday and Friday

Thursday we took it easy for the most part, but did play at liberty for a while.  We made a major breakthrough in our Liberty and we both were having fun! 

Friday was Course 2 Finale.  A lot of people left, but there are quite a few that stayed on.  After lunch, Lance and I rode out in the grass field.  He did so well we even cantered around in the open and had a blast!  Debbie came by and took some pictures of us later on.

`Kelly

Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday was a pretty traumatic for me.  Lance and my riding session didn’t go so great in the afternoon and then that the evening Lance coliced.  The vet came out and gave him some pain reliever and stuck around for an hour keeping an eye on him.  Some fellow students stayed around and helped me.  It was really wonderful to have their support.

After the vet left, I sat out with Lance in his pen and by 11:00pm he was doing a whole lot better, so I went to bed.  I checked on him off and on during the night and he was fine.  I was so relieved.    

I was up early Wednesday to check on Lance.  He was doing great.  During the small group talk in the morning we saw a black bear come walking down past the horse pens.  It came from around our cabin area, and all I could think about was that I had walked down that path more then once the night before!  I’m sure he was watching me!  I didn’t have my camera on me, but Ethan got a picture of it that he sent me. 

I let Lance have the day off and took a nap because I didn’t sleep too much during the night. 

That’s it, folks!

`Kelly 

                            ~The Bear~

Ribsday

As the title states, Monday was on ribs.  How they should move, why a lot of horses have “stuck” ribs, and strategies on moving them so the horse moves more freely.  We had a big thunder, lightning, and hail storm during our lecture, but it didn’t last too long. 

I was so beat from the weekend that I went and took a nap.  I really needed it!  After I got up, Lance and I played for a while and it went very well.  I spent the night writing updates and getting Debbie’s pictures uploaded. 

`Kelly

           ~one of Mandy's pictures from Friday~

The Grand Canyon

We drove the rest of way to the Grand Canyon on Saturday and arrived midmorning.  It was an overcast day, so it wasn’t hot like I was expecting.  First we climbed up in the watch tower and got an excellent view of the Canyon.  It was magnificent!! 

Mandy got some pictures of a fast little lizard that crawled away in a blink of an eye!  We drove along the rim and stopped at different points, hiking a little ways down some switchbacks and then back up to the car.  We continued to the village where we ate lunch and went to the gift shop and got some souvenirs.  Then we took the shuttle buses the rest of the way along the rim and stopped at more points. 

There was a crazy squirrel that ran up to my knee as I was sitting down and then it ran around to ather people nearby!  Later we saw it sprawled out on its stomach taking a sunbath.  It looked sooo funny!!  

I really had a good time seeing the amazing scenery and watching Mandy take pictures.  We ended up at Hopi Point for our evening shots of the sunset.

We slept overnight in Williams, AZ, and on Sunday morning we left and drove through Winslow and Holbrook, Arizona on our way back to the Parelli Center. 

Dad, Heidi, and Mandy took me to do my laundry when we got back to Pagosa.  After I was done with that we had supper at a Mexican restaurant.  They dropped me off at the Ranch after 10:30pm and we said goodbye and they took off for home.  It was tough to see them go, but it helped to remember that I would see them in three weeks.

Thanks you guys for the WONDERFUL trip!! 

`Kelly    

 ~Heidi, Mandy and I just before we got to the Grand Canyon~

                                ~Mandy's evening shot~

Thursday and Friday

Thursday and Friday were on Fluidity!  We got a lot of tips and things to play with.  We also talked about Impulsion and the Power of Focus.  We rode both days and people are calling Lance “Speedy Gonzales” because he’s always on the move!!    

            Dad, Heidi, and Mandy arrived here around 9:30pm on Thursday and we talked for a while and then they headed to their hotel and came back on Friday in the afternoon after the day’s lectures and demos were over.  Mandy took some really cool pictures of me and Lance!  You will get to see some of them on the blog every now and then.   

            We headed out for the Grand Canyon that evening and made it to Kayenta, AZ where we spent the night.  It was sooooo wonderful to see them and to be traveling again!!  It was the start of a super trip!!

            `Kelly

Wednesday

We had our lecture and demo on saddle fitting and shimming.  It was excellent, and they gave us some handouts so when I get back we can experiment on all of the horses at home!  We also spent some time on the seatbuilders.  (see picture below)

We were told that we could ride in the afternoon if we could:

1. saddle our horses without them moving their feet
2. get all three gaits with no bucking
3. jump a jump without bucking  

Of course Lance NEVER bucks, so all I was concerned with was saddling without him moving his feet.  HAHA!  The saddling went great!  He stood really nice and still, so I was excited!  Then I went to moving him around and HE BUCKED!!! 

               We got that taken care of and I was actually kind of happy to get some feedback from him besides him just taking off!   Our ride went well and we were both happy.

            We had a campfire at night and Pat and Linda came over.  We sang for a long time and then I finally headed off to bed around 10:30.    

            `Kelly

Tuesday

Today was a cooker!  It was hot and dry, but we were saved by the breeze.  The lecture, demo, and simulations were all on Body Posture.  We did lots of stuff with conformation and body position; what it looks like, what it should look like, how it can change, and how it can’t change.  We also got some information on the human’s body position while in a riding position and how it affects the horse.  

After lunch we went out and drew on our horses; sketching the scapula (shoulder blades) and developed muscles and under developed muscles with + and -.  They told us to have fun, so some of us really got into it!  (see picture below) 

After that my Indian pony and I went out and played with transitions, change of direction, and even a bit of liberty.  Lance did excellent!!!  I am so proud of the progress we have made!  With such a success, Lance and I turned our attention to more important things, GRASS!  While he ate, I had a fun time taking snapshots of people, some of which turned of pretty good. 

I can tell I’m going to LOVE this course!

Aufwiederschreiben! 

`Kelly

            ~My Indian Pony~   

Monday

Wow!  Today was busy!  I suppose that comes with starting a new course and everything.  We had our first lecture on Fluidity-Freestyle and then went outside and played with the seat builder simulators.  Everyone had a great time!!!  We also had a session in the Cover-All before lunch. 

Right after lunch Debbie, Sharon, and I went into Pagosa to get some CDs so we could burn their pictures onto them.  When we got back we burned 2 CDs and rushed to the Cover-All for a demo.  It was excellent!  We had about an hour to play with our horses  before supper was on.  After supper, Effie (the girl from the Netherlands), Sharon, and I looked at some of the pictures that we all had taken.

I met some more of the new crowd here and have really been enjoying meeting people and getting to know them.   

            Dad, Heidi, and Mandy are coming out to visit this weekend and I can’t wait!!!  We are going to travel to the Grand Canyon, which will be really cool!! 

            `Kelly

~Some of the 6 weekers-Ethan,Tori, Lorri, and me~

Sunday, Week 3, Course 2: Fluidity-Freestyle

The theme for this course: Mission Possible!

The day started out great and continued to get better.  Most people started pulling in around 10 and 11 am.  I ate lunch with Sally and Teresa from MN and two new people that Sally knew. 

Orientation started at 3:00 and Jesse and Tina are the instructors for this course.  They were faculty members for the last course and have been great.  We got the outline for the course and watched a video of Linda talking about the course.  

After we were done with orientation, Lance and I made our way out to the big field and hung out together and grazed.  We did play a bit with transitions and some traveling circles.  He did wonderful! 

            Debbie and I uploaded her pictures onto my computer so we could burn them onto a CD later. 

            I am really excited about this course!  Tomorrow I hope to meet more of the new people and learn even more in the lecture! 

`Kelly