Come along for Southern Oregon trail riding at its best exploring Givan Ranch, Antioch BLM and the Sky Lakes Wilderness. Music by Mary Ann Kennedy used with the permission of the artist.

Come along as Alyssa masters cantering Mystic on the trail, Val entices Cisco into splashing and going deep into the pond and then into the waves at the ocean, Erik discovers the fun of cantering, and the whole family enjoys the Family Fun Center. Cisco passed away a month later so the memories of this adventure are all the more precious to Val.

Music by Mary Ann Kennedy is used with the permission of the artist.

The day was hot but Jackie, Anne, Diann and Hannah wanted to play with our horses. We went down and cleaned the weeds out of the pond, then invited the horses to join us in the pond to play. What a great way to spend a hot day.  The music is by Mary Ann Kennedy and is used with the permission of the artist.

Julia’s family joined her to spend two weeks at Mystic Ranch and a week traveling in California. Julia showed them the wonderful relationship she had developed with Kami, our Paso Fino mare, playing with her at liberty and riding her bridle-less. Julia also got to help teach them all natural horsemanship, astounding them when they discovered that they too could stop a horse with just a sigh. From not riding at all, they were riding with feel across open fields and on the trail. They visited Crescent City, Mendocino, San Francisco, Monterey, Point Lobos and Yosemite. Home again, Julia had a farewell party for her friends and a last, heart breaking session with her Kami love. We sent Julia and her family home to Germany with our Beta kitty and part of our hearts went with them.  The music is by Mary Ann Kennedy and is used with the permission of the artist.

This video highlights the second half of Julia’s exchange year at Mystic Ranch in southern Oregon, her adventures with Kami, trip to the coast, the prom and welcoming her family as they arrived to visit Mystic Ranch. The music is by Mary Ann Kennedy and is used with the permission of the artist.

Julia and Kami reached an important milestone in their relationship the day that Julia decided to trust Kami enough to ride her in the arena with just the neck string.  The girl who “can’t” just proved that by giving up the control of reins, she can indeed ride her mare with feel and harmony instead.  I am so proud of them both.

My brother, Robert, and his wife Donna, stopped by for a visit and I got to take Robert out on a trail ride. When we were kids, we lived on our horses.  Riding with Robert again brought back so many happy memories .  It was great to see my brother riding my Mystic son.  You never lose it, you know!

Jackie trusting Kami

Kami receiving a hug

The day was sunny and warm.  The grass was lush and inviting.  Julia and I headed down to the woods to turn the herd loose to graze, lie down ourselves and enjoy the day.  Mocha and Julia traded off being each other’s pillow and Kami came over to love on us.  No better way to spend a lovely afternoon.

Sharon came up for a four day clinic with me wanting help trotting in balance and with confidence. We started with ground work, learning to get in time with Mystic’s feet going straight, then doing circles, then moving his hind quarters and then his forehand. We moved on to seat, leg and hand evaluation and correction with Sharon riding bareback, and riding the trails. We finished with Sharon riding not just relaxed trots on a loose rein, but doing her first canters, sighing Mystic to a halt without touching a rein and riding out Mystic’s crow hop without losing her balance. With that foundation, Sharon let me take off Mystic’s hackamore and she rode him with just the neck string. Wow, what a fantastic transformation in just 4 short days! I am so proud of Sharon and looking forward to hearing how she applies what she learned to her own horse, Prudence, when she gets home. Music is by Mary Ann Kennedy and is used with the permission of the artist.

On a purely personal note, I passed the first anniversary of my breast cancer surgery and my mammogram came back clean!  That called for a celebration which is what we had.  It was a great party with so many of the people that had supported me during that difficult time. Thank you.