Everything is a Training Tool

You know, Dad manages to make everything, even a tree stump, a training tool....

2009 Extreme Mustang Makeover

Well, guess what, Dad has put his name in the hat for the 2009 Extreme Mustang Makeover to be held in Tennessee. If he is selected as a trainer, the competition will be in October.... I believe he will be selected.... He and I went to Road To The Horse this year as our weekend getaway and had a great time!! Most of you know, we decided several years ago to make memories rather than buy gifts for holidays. So this was one of our make memories excursions. I treasure these times together! And the horse competition was great!!!

Take A Load Off

Here is Sierra and Dad, just taking a load off at the trailer....

Well, the competition is over, and life is back to normal, if there is such a thing. Dad has told everyone that he is retired from horse training. He wants to spend time training his own horses. I can't express how proud I am of his desire continually learn new things. You know, there are people in this world that just have a God given gift, and working with horses is his. He decided that he wanted to teach his horse to sit, and he DID!

The Auction

Well, it is Dad's birthday, and the day Uno is auctioned. It took me about an hour to understand the first auctioneer... And then, they changed auctioneers. I couldn't understand a word the second auctioneer was saying. I couldn't tell if he was saying $200 or $200,000.00. God blessed, me though, as always, He changed the auctioneer back to the first auctioneer about 5 horses before Uno.... Thank you God.... Of course, it didn't help the outcome. Randy and Marsha Olson outbid me and became Uno's new owners. It was a very sad weekend, and on Dad's 70th birthday no less. Anyway, we located the Olson's number and called them. We found out they have a nonprofit organization named Mustangs4ever. They adopt the mustangs, and eventually donate them to organizations that work with children that would otherwise never be exposed to horses. I know that Uno went to a good home, but he will be sorely missed. He was Dad's best friend for 100 days... God blessed our lives when he gave us dominion over the animals! It is an honor to be able to care for and receive the unconditional love they provide....

The end!

Dad and Uno bow to the judges....

EMM - The Horse Course - Of Course

I am so proud of how well Dad and Uno did during the In-Hand. After the conditioning and the in-hand, they are in 4th place in the Legends division. And he is going against professional trainers that are nationally recognized. Pretty impressive if you ask me! And now the horse-course. Dad made a couple of mistakes during the pattern, that unfortunately knocked him out of the top 10. He was supposed to make 2 turns to the right and 2.25 turns to the left. He did 1.75 turns to the right, which then caused him to break pattern to the left also. You will also see that Uno starts to trot over the W pattern, and Dad broke him back down to a walk. Oops. But all in all, Dad and Uno did an outstanding job!