Training & Summer Fun

Wow. Just when I think I get caught up. We have been concentrating on the horse training this month. Our new apprentice, Lori is doing well. With the 20+ horses we have coming and going here it is a lot to keep up with. Everybody keeps emailing me with questions on the horses, so here goes. Pokerjoe is doing great. He won over a ton more fans during our California trip. Joker and Ace are doing fine. We got Joker's package for his Breyer horse and it looks awesome. What a great representation of him. Breyer did a great job. I'll get a photo of Tommie and Joker on my blog as soon as I can. Ace is still a little sweetheart. Tommie's mustang, Blade which is part of our Wahl Mustang Project, we got last year at the BLM adoption. He is doing great. What a relationship they have. I can't even believe the bond and respect they have for each other. He'll be making his first public appearance at our public rehearsal coming up in a couple of weeks. Sugar, our American Cream Draft is as big and beautiful as ever. On a sunny day in the paddocks, she is just a sight to see. I'm looking for a ring curb for her so we can get her ready for bareback (rosinback riding). She would shine in the spotlight for sure! The chariot horses are coming along great. My team for "Xena" is a beautiful pair of dark bay with black mane Morgan horses. They are lean and quick and gorgeous. (Just like Xena!) The other team for Maximus is Ceasar and Sparticus. They are Quarterhorse/Haflinger cross. A big matched pair of stocky horses with attitude. They are rock solid with the "buzz cut" to match. Our riding horses, Cees and Sparky are loving it when we hit the trails. We have had a lot of time to ride the trails around the facility and it has been lots of fun. Tommie is also training Cowgirl, owned by Ginger Ryals. He is working with her to polish her bow, pedestal, laydown, and other tricks. This week for the school, we went over the entire week of driving. The chariots are a favorite. Who ever sees them wants to drive them. We couldn't race during the school, but we discussed and explained each step and what needs to be done to get them to race and show ready. They really understand what it takes to make a great act. It's not just a pretty horse and a few tricks. You have to treat every step and every aspect with care. Every part of your act must have a reason. Next week we start with building your act on what you have now. This gets people to work with what they know now, and how they can make it better. We do this all the time and it really stimulates you to really thinking of fun things to do. With Cavalia, all of the trick riding routine was from working with each rider and seeing what they can do. Then we matched the horse to their ability and then put them in a sensible order to really maximize the effect. We would build up slowly, throw in a curveball, come out big and then when you thought it was over, come back even bigger! That's what we teach is how to create that magic and type of thinking. We've got a bunch of drill teams and mounted shooters coming to see what they can do to spice up their acts. Mounted shooting isn't an act per se, but they are being featured in many shows and they need to build the excitement and showmanship while they are shooting. I think it will be great. Everyone loves to hear applause.
Well, that's just a sample of what's happening. We still have the TV show, Training videos, new merchandise, on-line website and more to come. Tommie, my husband Jamie and I are really working hard to make this work. Thanks to our sponsors like Wahl Clippers, Absorbine Products, Guardian Horse Bedding, and Northeast Conversion Trucks who help make what we do possible for you. Our goals are very high, but we know this business and we know there are many people out there with the same attitude we have. We love horses and want to make them shine and have fun. We want to show everyone how much fun it is to be extreme! We feel anyone who rides a horse is extreme. The horse is your partner and we will show you how we do it, while we have fun and get you to the next level. Our next clinic here will be July 14-16, 2006 in Sterling, IL. We have lots planned, so check the website. I know we will have info on it soon. Ride Fast... Take Chances!
karen