I am very proud to announce that Anne Frankowski just received her official Level 3 graduate certificate from Parelli. She completed her on-line level 3 back in 2013. She completed her liberty and freestyle riding level 3 this summer, with, of course, her darling Maia.
Well done Anne and Maia. I am so proud of you both!
Diann, Tracy and I left a hot Rogue Valley and took Taxi, Maia and Tori to Crescent Beach in Crescent City, California. It was Taxi’s first time at the Pacific Ocean and he rocked it, such a brave and confident boy. Maia and Tori are old hands at the ocean, but sea birds, dead rays, driftwood and sculptures made of dead crabs caused them some pause. Still they cantered freely down the beach and stopped to our sigh and Tori gaited through the waves. Life is very good. Music by Mary Ann Kennedy is used with the permission of the artist.
Three months after breaking her pelvis, Robin Keeton rode her Rocky Mountain mare, Reba, cantering down the Pacific Ocean beach at Crescent City, California. What an amazing woman and what a fantastic physical recovery! I am in awe of Robin’s determination. Music by Mary Ann Kennedy, is used with the permission of the artist: Mares & Born to Ride.
Ron hopped on Mystic son to try out how the Rebecca Underwood treeless saddle worked for him. Hurrah, no pain and I am now looking forward to riding horses with my Ronald Glenn after all my girls go back to Germany!
I watched Carole Mercer driving her lovely Morgan while riding another horse side saddle. Inspired, Anne and I went out and refreshed Mystic on driving, then hopped on Tori and tried it out.
It is harder than it looks! To begin with, Tori was not thrilled having her head between the two reins running to Mystic. She kept trying to duck under one or the other. Then you have to keep straight which reins you are using to talk to Mystic and which ones talk to Tori. Both horses were very cooperative and we had fun.
Mystic Ranch hosted a play date in August 2015. For the first hour, we turned 16 horses free to play together in our wooded trail course. The horses had a blast interacting with each other and racing each other. No fights and no injuries, just true “horsin’ around.” Once they settled, people played on the ground and rode their horses in the trail course and arena, playing with obstacles. After a potluck lunch, Anne Frankowski gave swimming lessons to horses in our pond. We finished with a beautiful trail ride through meadows, woods and hills. The next morning Hannah came out and played with Kami at liberty in the arena, while Anne played with Maia. Kami showed Hannah how she could pick up a 50 gallon barrel and Hannah taught Kami to carry a cone to give it to Hannah. Anne rode Maia with nothing at all, trusting her mare completely. So much fun playing with horses, sharing our love of our horses with others. It was a great time. If you were there, hope this video makes you smile in memory. If you missed it, maybe you will come next time. Music by Mary Ann Kennedy is used with the permission of the artist: Horsin’ Around, Horses and Life and Heart in Your Hand.
The wildfire smoke in the Rogue Valley was oppressive so Anne, Nadja and I escaped to the ocean at Crescent City, CA where we spent a lovely afternoon walking Crescent Beach and then riding our Paso Finos on a loose rein, cantering them, racing even, and having them slow and stop to our sigh. It was Tessa’s first time at the ocean and Nadja did a great job getting her over her fear of the surf. Maia was very itchy and Anne worked on teaching her to “lie down” please, with rolling in the deep sand as a major reward. Tori was, as always, perfect. Music is by Mary Ann Kennedy and is used with the permission of the artist: Horsin’ Around, Mares and Horses and Life.
This video highlights our horse vacation at Sunriver, Oregon, riding the scenic Deschutes National Forest and kayaking the river before going to the Oregon Horse Center for Team Penning, Cowboy Dressage and Mountain Trail clinics. We had a fantastic time with our three Paso Fino mares, Tori, Maia and Tessa. Music by Mary Ann Kennedy is used with the permission of the artist: Trail Less Traveled, Language of Love, Mares, Horses and Life.
Playing with formation riding and patterns, Jackie, Anne, Nadja and Tracy created a quadrille. We started practicing the pattern at a walk, picked up a little speed and became addicted to how much fun it all was! Who said arena riding is boring?
Eve bought Maverick in the fall of 2014. He was majestic, but aloof. He wouldn’t even admit to having an itch that needed to be scratched and was inclined to run away from you rather than come to you. Eve did a fantastic job building a relationship with Maverick, teaching him he could trust her on the ground. She asked Anne to work with Maverick and win his trust and confidence – on the ground, above him and on his back. This short video tells their story. Enjoy!