Cypress is a Cowboy

This horse... this horse I've been trying to finish for a year... has... ARRIVED. Now, I was not raised on a ranch, nor have I lived in Montana and lived the life of a cowboy. But it's what I've dreamed about my whole life. I've been misplaced in this city life for a long time... (if you can call Redmond the city life!) This horse makes me feel like we could pack it all up and go work a cattle ranch and be really good at it. This mutt from the wild, that roamed the range of the Oregon desert for the first year of his life has finally given his soul and devotion to me in his own way. Still owning himself and still staying Cypress, he has finally agreed to let me call the shots around here. We've come to the point were I don't feel like we are working against each other. We've found our niche together and I'm so very grateful for it. I feel proud when I see my 8 year old daughter riding the once rouge horse, I can't help but feel so proud for him. I see her riding him well and him staying inside of complete compliance and enjoying understanding someone else other then me, let alone a child. I watched him stay soft for her, listen to her, enjoying the light load. I almost cried it was so beautiful. When I practice roping off this horse... he likes it, he likes the quiet of it. He pays attention and seems to know exactly what to do. Bless his heart. His wild heart.

I at one time almost gave up. Deemed him a plain old trail horse. This disappointment I felt was awful. I had plans for this big boy. But he just wouldn't give in... but he has....completely and 100%. It took 4 1/2 years. He is almost 8 years old. I've learned a million things from this horse. Mainly the power of persistence. How to treat a horse for what they are. The know no anger. It is us that possesses anger and disappointment. Take that away from the equation and you have something real solid.

One day, you may see me and Cypress in a branding pen one day. You may say "Look at that rock star mustang." I can't wait for that day. :)

Elegance and Spark... that's what I like...

I have an Arabian stallion named Kalamazoo. I call him Kyle. He is not your typical stallion. In fact, I had no plans on ever owning a stallion. I always felt the life of a stallion cooped up in a stall, taken out to ride and breed was just hell for them. Plus, my only experience with stallions was handling these wicked, lustful creatures that had no interest in being good for me. They screamed and called and pranced around and I had NO interest in ever dealing with them again. Then, Kyle comes along. Kris Wilcox, one of my instructors brought him to the barn to train for riding and get him sold. I thought he was drop dead gorgeous. He was shy, sweet, so well behaved and just darling. I had to have him. Some how it worked out and he became a Mecca horse... well, a Catherine horse. He has his turn out buddy, Apollo, and they are so finely suited for each other... two beautiful Arabian horses hanging out together, nothing better then that.

He's been the easiest horse to deal with. He's a little bit of a ding dong when it comes to scary things outside, but for the most part, he's really respectful and well behaved. He was a handful when taken on a trail walk, but nothing scary, just annoying because he had a hard time listening. Otherwise, he's been easy to work with. I rode him about a week ago twice and rode him tonight. My goodness. What a gentleman. I walked and trotted him. I asked for bend, I asked for his haunches to move... I backed him, I turned him... he remembered it all from the ground. What a diamond. His trot was amazingly smooth. It doesn't look that smooth from the ground, but under saddle it took my breath away. I have big plans for this elegant beauty... and it's not what you think. I'll keep you posted as time goes on.

On the side, I want to use him as a breeding stallion. But I do not want to do any Arabian circuit showing or anything of the sort. His beauty and his quiet mind is what I would like to pass on. Obviously I'm not in this for money, I'm in it for the love.

This horse has literally changed my life. I've never felt this way about a horse... even my beloved Cypress. It's just something different. It feels like he gives me absolute trust. He thinks my idea is always best and that is golden.

Rooster and Freedom.....

Rooster is amazing. I had a really bad couple of days and my friend asks me to go on a trail ride. So, I saddle the little guy up. He's full of beans and ready to go. He's the type of horse that loves to be in front with ears forward and it makes me feel like he's got the biggest smile going on in those ears. He really, really likes being in front. If he is behind another horse, he is really competetive and wants to pass. So after a few instances of crow hoping and combustable energy releases, Rooster starts to listen and I give him a little more freedom. I wanted to let him go, but he just goes into over drive. He and I do have an understanding though... you take care of me and I'll take care of you. Listen to me, and I'll listen to you. There is nothing that compares to the rush of galloping on a horse. Knowing that you can let it all go, let them go to the moon and come back to earth still in tact and still be grounded is golden. He appreciates that rush too.

On the way home, my friend asks if it's ok to canter up the hill. Of course it's fine... but Rooster wanted to fly. I trusted him and let him go. No need for leg and prodding... just release the energy to him. As I passed my friend and watched him disappear behind me, I could hear my heart beating inside my ears, I could feel the wind slipping it's icy fingers into my hair and my breath stayed inside my chest. Rooster was fast... so fast and so quick, I felt like I was on a dirt bike. He kept accelerating and I could feel him saying "WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Then right back to earth when I asked him. Freedom to be who you are. Freedom to do what you feel, freedom to believe it's all good. Freedom. Rooster taught me it's ok to be free when trust is there. My bad couple of days is over. An empty can in the dirt. There is nothing like a friendship with a horse. Nothing.

Giving him a job...

I write a lot about Cypress. I've been trying to finish this horse for a long time. I know I've trained him to do most everything. But he gives so much resistance that I've written about before. But something has changed. I gave him a job. I try to work him outside the arena as much as possible and have started to pony young horses from him. He enjoys this and this seems to bring out the precise training I have put into him. He is perfect. He is strong. He is good with young horses.

This morning he did something he has never done. I've had him in my life going on 5 years now and I have heard him whinny twice. I've never heard him nicker. He's not like Flame who will give you deep nickers when ever he sets eyes on me. This morning Cypress was not facing me. When I looked in his stall to say good morning, he turned quickly and gave me that soft, deep and so special nicker. He appeared to be very happy to see me. This made my year. This made it all worth while. :)

I Fall in Love Everytime

This is Joe pictured to the right. That is his owner Chris. Joe is a 2 year old curly/appy.


One thing about training horses is that it is an emotional task. You are dealing with an animal that only wants to please you. How wonderful is that? They want to do what is right and take the path of least resistance. What's also fascinating is that they all are different, so I end up learning more then the horse does.



I have been working with 3 horses the past week that do not belong to me. Their owner is out of town and has asked me to continue his work with them while he is gone. I am in love with each one of them for different reasons. Because training a horse is more like proving to a horse that you are trustworthy, a bond is created.



I found myself hugging and kissing a 2 year old curly horse today. I don't usually do that to other people's horses, but because a bond has been achieved, I feel love and affection for him.



I'm not sure if this is how most trainers conduct themselves. But I know that I am extremely happy to have met every horse I have ever worked with. Even the one's I found difficult changed me in some little way.



Teaching a horse to live with the human race is an easy task if you begin with a relationship. I suppose that's easy to say. Achieving it can be hard, but I love every minute of it.



My point being is that it doesn't matter who's horse it is, I love them all and I love what I do for a living and I feel as if I'm the luckiest person in the world. :)

Jon Ensign is the MAN!

We hosted a clinic this weekend and it was wonderful. I chose not to participate in the clinic so everyone could have a chance to go. I did get a private lesson however with Jon after the clinic. Cypress learned the meaning of "Go!" today.

Now, Jon warned me. He said to get ready for what may happen. I've never pushed Cypress as much as I did today and that's probably why I never in a million years would of expected what he is capable of. My horse took to bucking so much I didn;t know what hit me! But I did not fall off. I held on with my legs, and of course did the very thing Jon told me not to do which was pull back on the reins. I had to though, I pulled myself half way back on with Cypress' poor mouth. But we got through it, a whole series of him bucking down the wall.

Jon taught me to be brave today... showed me how to "get 'er done" with out holding my hand or my horses' hand. He taught me about not giving up, keep at it... not just overall but all the little things. Cypress has counted on me giving up. He's so dang smart that way. Which is why he probably was so surprised today when I did what I did with Jon.

Jon is so great with not only beginners, but people who have a lot of skills and just need help because they are stuck. I can't recommend him higher. :) http://www.jonensign.com/ He is also the best colt starter I've met. :)

My Old Flame

It's hard watching your beautiful horse age. Especially one that has a neurological problem. Flame is what I think of as a perfect Arabian horse. He is the quintessential Polish Arabian. He looks like he could run 500 miles in the desert and still kick your ass at the end of the day. He is beautiful, big boned and heavily muscled.

In August of 2006, we took Flame to a western playday. He blew everyone away with his 13 second pole bending run ending in the most beautiful piaffe. He set a park record that day. He blew me away. I am not a gamer but he was for 13 years. No one knew he was 23 years old. On the way home he lost his balance and busted his front leg through the escape door of the trailer. He was ok but at every corner he would loose his footing and almost fall. A 15 minute drive took over an hour. That was our first sign.

In January of 2007, I was lungeing Flame and he fell. He was hurt, so I called the vet. My vet was not so concerned about his fall, but was very concerned about Flame's demeanor and the fact he was showing pretty severe signs of a neurological problem. Because of how stiff he was in the neck, he felt it was probably something pressing on his vertebrae. After several tests, and a regimen of potent steroid treatments, my vet said to just wait and see, but the prognosis was dim. I felt as if I was going to fall to my knees. My Flame was going to die.

Flame kept falling in his stall. He kept showing really bizarre behavior... there wasn't a day that went by where he didn't have a ding or big owie on him from falling in his stall. He would just stand in pasture when I would turn him out. His head hung low...looking as if he had the worse headache ever. I thought I may have to start making plans to put him down. Then, he seemed to get better. He was perked up, eyes brighter...he even claimed a mare. He stopped falling in his stall, and even started galloping in the pasture again, with tail high and neck arched.

He is still not at 100%. But I am hopeful that he will be with me for longer then we all thought. It was awful seeing him go through this. It is hard watching his body become more angular and less muscular. He is in retirement, because it is not safe for him or a rider if he looses his footing. But he is still here. Everyone kept saying I would know when it is time to put him down. I thought the time was close, but I seem to have been granted a little more good time with him.

I wish I could ride him one more time... gallop him, spin with him, sit that little prance he has. I am thankful though I can still watch him arch his neck, prance and passage around his new claimed mare, "Butterfly".

I cleaned him up today. Gave him his Arab hair cut, trimmed his whiskers, brushed him till he was shiny. Man, he's gorgeous. He will always be the most beautiful to me. Today, my daughter said with a far off look... "Mom, what if Flame could be a stallion for just one day? We could pass one his pretty face through all the mares here at Mecca.". I thought that was a good wish. :)

Horse eating logs and stumps

It's funny what horses spook at. It makes me laugh! Cypress spooks at the same stick in the ground every time we go on a trail ride.

Here is a list of the things my horse spooks at on the trail....

*The stick that could be a very stiff and arthritic snake.
*The stump with ivy that could very well be a dragon.
*The noise of someone using a hammer that might as well be a drive by horse shooting.
*The speed bumps in the road that may jump up and bite.
*God forbid, another horse on the trail...don't trust it, it could be a Trojan horse!
*The LOG. It's a bear pretending to sleep.
*Bunny rabbits. They are little venomous goblins.
*Being in front of the pack...and being left behind... and being in the middle!

Horses are silly, but their sense of self preservation amazes me. Gotta love them for that.

The Dogs of Mecca

We have a lot of dogs at Mecca. They bark. They play. They run. They drive me nuts. But for some reason, they just fit in here. Clyde is the king of the barn. He is this little half red healer and half Pomeranian. What a mix! I got him from the pound about 4 years ago. He drove me crazy when we first got him, but he has turned out to be the best dog in the world. He understands English. I've never trained him to sit or roll over... he just does it. His favorite thing in the whole world is to bark and to be touched. This dog will roll on his back and lay there for hours being scratched. He will go from person to person accepting love all day. Thank God for him there are tons of people here all the time.

Ray is the big, dopey black lab we have. He is always happy. He has this killer paw that clobbers you every time he says hello. We have been trying to break him of this for years and it's just a losing battle. He also has a bad habit of putting his nose where he shouldn't. I apologize in advance if he bestows this greeting on you! He is also the best watch dog around. I remember one day, I was in the barn. Ray comes tearing down the aisle way, sped past me into the holding pen and out to the big summer pastures. I thought "what on earth has gotten into him?" I followed this speed demon down into pasture... when I arrived, he was chasing the whole herd up the hill. Again, I thought he had gone mad. What was he doing? I yelled for him and he ignored me... He chased the horses all the way up... then turned around barking and sounding off like a siren. He ran like lightning back down the hill. Just then, I heard what sounded like hundreds of coyotes. It was a BIG pack of them. He barked and barked and ran... the coyotes sounded farther away and eventually and obviously were gone. It took about 10 minutes before Ray came trotting up the hill, tongue on the ground. He trotted right past me and jumped into the water trough. I thought... "maybe he isn't so stupid after all. He just herded the horses away from danger and chased off a pack coyotes." Good dog Ray. :)

We've also got little Freya at the barn. She is Max's (cute blue eyed mini aussie shepard) best friend. She is a little Boston Terrier with the heart of a big dog. She is a little spitfire you will see running through the barn like a bullet. She's not so car savvy, but we've all been working on it. Watch out for the little mouse of a dog when you drive in, she still thinks cars are big chew toys! She also likes to nap right in the middle of the parking lot.

There is also Monica's famous Dex. He is a wiener dog who has lost the use of his back legs, so he is in a wheelchair built just for him. Of course there are many jokes flying around about his name... such as "Roll-a-Dex". But Dex keeps on truckin'. He keeps up with the best of them and is a favorite at the barn!

These dogs are fun to watch, fun to talk about and fun to love on. I feel so blessed we have such great animals at Mecca. :)

They all must measure up to Rooster

Riding Rooster is like riding heaven. He is an amazing western horse. He's who I measure all riding horses by. My goal is to get Cypress (and all horses I train) like Roo. He's a tiny little bull dog of a horse...standing almost 14.3 hh. He is not the prettiest horse but in my eyes, he is the best. He taught me what it should be like... do not settle for anything less, get them as light as Roo and you're good to go.

His personality is what makes him so cool. He is SO friendly and comes trotting up to you not only with ears pricked all the way forward, but he nickers to you when you call his name. He loves being scratched... ALL OVER HIS BODY... anywhere will do and he will love every minute of it.

Rooster will always have a place in my heart and I will always love riding him. He reads your mind, and I love that...

It's too hot

Today at 100 degrees, I did nothing. I left Cypress into ride and didn't do it. It felt like we lived on Mars today. So hot my eyes were burning. The horses were sweating badly in the barn at 8:30 pm. If it EVER gets this hot again, I'm movng to the North Pole.

Somtimes you gotta keep trying

Cypress is not an easy horse to train. He's got a big body and a big mind. It took me 4 years to figure out he's not being resistant because he is an ass... he's frustrated. When he doesn't understand, he does weird things. For instance, sometimes he's as light as a Butterfly. Sometimes he wont even walk on. When asked to turn on the haunches, he will fake it and still walk with his back legs. Then he'll start shaking his head and getting angry if I don't stay calm. If I get frustrated, so does he. It's as if it is insulting to him for me to get frustrated with him when he is TRYING to give me the right answer. And it is not fair if I am not being a patient teacher.

The canter has been a nightmare. I was beginning to think he doesn't know how or he physically can not do it.

I've changed bits, I've changed saddles, I've changed my mind a million times on what to do. Another person would of given up a long time ago and put him in that nasty category of "mustangs are worthless lazy bones."

But I love him so much, and he will give 100% 3/4th of the time, so I continued on. So, about 2 months ago I began to really pay attention to what exactly was happening. I started noticing a pattern and began to work more with his frustration. I broke it down, didn't ask anything of him I wasn't totally sure of how to ask till I figured it out myself... and just went about business. I'll be honest with you, after some of the rides I had on him, I didn't feel like riding him for a couple weeks. I felt guilty, but the thought of confusing this horse more and feeling like I would have one more bad ride under my belt was something I didn't feel like doing.

Cypress has always been in a french link snaffle for the dressage training. When I started his western pleasure training 6 months ago, I kept him in that till I wanted to fine tune the neck reining. So I switched to a light Tom Thumb. He did well in it, but I thought trying him in a low port would really help him get clearer signals with a lighter touch. Boy, was I wrong. The shape of his mouth really calls for some sort of snaffle. I've been resistant to want to keep him in a jointed bit because I know it does alot of pinching. Then, last week, I found a french link Tom Thumb western bit. I almost didn't buy it, but I am glad I did. When I put it in his mouth, he seemed relaxed and sort of like, "Thank you, this is what I'm used to."

When I rode him last night, I felt yet another connection. I stayed relaxed and tried to be the best teacher I could be for him. I think I had the best ride ever on him last night. I rode him on a loose, droopy, one handed western rein (something I haven't done yet because he was still at the stage of needing two hands to half halt and ask for bending, etc). We worked on stopping, using his hind end more for the walk and jog. We worked on stopping with my seat. I like a horse that puts on the brakes and stops when I want to stop. We got to the point where he would stop on a dime....relaxed. No head coming up, no 2-3 extra steps.... all done on that droopy rein, with him saying "Yes Ma'am, whats next?!"

I thought about how he hates feeling trapped. He is not claustrophobic in spaces, but he doesn't like his body to feel constrained. So, after about an hour of riding out the smoothest, slowest jog ever, I asked for the lope. Now usually it's me picking up the reins, begging him to canter and then after 2 laps of speed trotting he would go into this cannon ball run canter/hand gallop. We had been working on it on the ground and out on the trails, but I hadn't asked for it in the arena for over a month. I set my mind, told myself to keep the droopy rein, don't box him in with my hands... just ask for it and see what happens. If he trots on, no big deal, ask for that great stop. Wouldn't you know it, it worked. I put no expectations on him, and he went from a walk to a canter. What?! I tried again from the halt... I actually got a lope. Not a canter, a lope! I tried again, and asked for him to bring himself under my legs and he was loping like a western horse should.... body free, up and collected on his own, me relaxed and supporting his sides, we circled, he obliged. He broke gate, we stopped, I asked again from the halt.... right back into it.

The difference was not the bit. The difference was patience, thought, trying new things and understanding this one of a kind horse. Now, I'm sure we'll hit more snags, but at least now I know to keep trying and not give up on this horse. When I took him in a couple walk/jog classes against 30 beautiful paints and quarter horses and we came in 2nd and 3rd out of 30, I knew that this so thought lazy mustang was something special. Sometimes believing in a horse and trying over and over with new ideas and thoughts is all you need to keep going. This can be hard for me since I am a person who expects results and when I don't get them, I get stuck. Cypress has taught me to open my mind, be understanding of his mind and find different ways to guide him. What a wonderful gift he has given me. The power to follow through, not give up and to be patient. Thanks Cypress. :)

Apollo

Apollo is such a diamond. He is an amazing dressage horse. He's suffered from various lameness issues off and on and at one point before I owned him, a vet told his previous owner he should only be a pasture horse. Apollo begs to differ. He is not 100% perfect in his gates now, but he is very rideable through 3rd level and still the coolest horse to ride. He has so much knowledge and so much in that big brain of his. He has taught me a great deal about dressage and what it means to have lightness. He makes you work for it, but when he gives it to you, it rocks.

He is so beautiful. So beautiful it takes my breath away at times. Lisa rode him tonight and just watching him makes my knees week. Arabians are my favorite horses. Apollo is my dream Arabian...standing at 16.1 hh and 1200 lbs, people think he is a cross, but I assure you he is ALL arab. :) He's that beautiful deep, rich bay with black points. He is large boned and nicely put together.

His personality is what makes me fall in love with him over and over. He's a little shy, but curious all at the same time. He really needs leadership but is confident at the same time. He loves treats and those big liquid eyes are hard to resist.

I sometimes have a hard time sharing Apollo. But I do as that is the nature of having a riding school. Apollo can be such and amazing teacher as he is not a guesser. He needs clarity and he is then he is golden. He gives you what you ask for always.

Tuaca and Melissa

Tuaca: I've known him for almost 4 years now. When I first met him I thought he was a nut ball. He flipped over in the cross ties, paniced when he saw the tractor and rubbed his tail completely out in his stall. His tail was literally 2 feet long. The poor fellow was afraid of whips, scared of his own shadow and completely insecure. He was owned by a woman who did not have time for him but loved him dearly. She decided to sell him.

Enter Melissa. She came to Mecca as a western student. She was afraid of horses even after 2 years of riding lessons at another stable. She kept flinching our first lesson, but quickly caught on to the fact our horses were different. I watched her blossom as a rider as the months went on. Then one day she comes to me and says she's ready for a horse. She wants one....now. So she looked at several, and was interested in one or two here at the barn. Then, someone suggests Tuaca. I rolled my eyes and said, "I don't think that would be a good match...noooo, not Tuaca and Melissa..." BOY, was I wrong! She feel in love with him. She bought him.

After several months of getting to know him, I watched her and Tuaca change and get better. She went from not being able to stop him to winning 1st places in shows! She had a goal and she is reaching it. I admire Melissa for what she has done, not too many greenies can achieve it so quick! Melissa now trail rides Tuaca alone, canters him bareback and performs flying lead changes on him.

Tuaca has really grown in her care as well. He is so cool now. I rode him tonight and couldn't believe I didn't see his potential way back then. What a wonderful ride and what a wonderful horse. He is confident, understands, and I highly doubt he'll be spooking at his own shadow from here on out. I especially like how she has taught him to ground tie. :) Im proud of both of them.