February 14th, 2014
Hay hooks make a heart!
Valentine's Day brought spring-like weather to the mountains and some much needed time in the round pen for some join up with our veterans!
Cowboy Up! participant Lt. Col.Chris Schiano US Army Ret., in the roundpen with Knight.
It's been a while since Chris Chaisson has been able to ride Junior, so they get re-aquainted in the roundpen under Rick's supervision.
Nice smooth change of directions.
And reading the perfect situation, it's time for Rick to exit to allow the "magic" to happen...
...a little closer Junior comes...
... and join up!
Then as widely respected horseman Monty Roberts calls it, "Follow up", where junior follows Chris in any direction Chris chooses to take.
From the round pen to horseback, fellow Army veterans
ride side by side...
...and Chaisson imparts his horsemanship knowledge
to his newest rider.
Well done men!
February 15th, 2014
Gotta take advantage of the mild winter weather... all hands on deck for riding!
Wrangler Bianca leading at the trot, as practice makes perfect!
Gotta get the feel at the seated trot so that we can now
rise to the trot.
Rising to the trot is not just for English riding! It saves your horse and your butt on those long cattle gathers !
Great job!
Before we end our session we go over how to move a horses shoulders and hind quarters, while Bianca does some ankle rolls~ gotta keep those joints nice and flexible, as they are our natural shock absorbers!
