A Day In My Life On The Ranch!

Living with a genius one never knows what he will be experimenting with next.

Always exciting that's for sure!

I better tell the horses to hide or they may find themselves with steering wheels attached next.

Have some fun folks, have some fun!!!!

Liz

Lee and Liz At Colorado Clinic

She Had Grit!

Another year has gone by and Lee passed 3 years ago today.

For me it's a day of memories and times of the past and I guess as we age we hang on to them even more when they have meaning of importance.

Her work is still having it's effect and her book "Easy Gaited Horses" had made it's mark and doing the job she so intended it too. As I have said so many times now, every gaited horse should automatically come with a copy of this book,, I term it a "working manual" for any and all gaited horse folks looking for the right information to help them on their path.

There is a story to the photo

If you notice Lee is very much focused on the horse she is on and with very good reason.

I was out judging a show and doing a clinic that weekend and spent time with Lee living the horse life we both know so well. We had a couple of eye raising times that weekend. The first at the show in which some what we were told"Big Time Trainers" from Missouri came up for the show, well if you know Lee and I ,that never meant much to us , show us the goods first then we'll decide. Upon entering the arena with a stallion in a model class, the handler was carrying with him one of those long Circus type steel poles with the big sharp hooks they use on elephants in this country. I did not even see these used in Thailand, all they had was a little bamboo stick they carried in their back pockets most of the time.

Lee was sitting ring side, I looked her way, our eyes met, you know just when you think you have seen it all and she gave me that look saying" You know what you have to do , so just do it".

So lets just say those trainers went home not thinking I was much of a judge as they did not make it on my cards.

Felt good too I have to say!

The next day was the clinic and the horse Lee is on was one that she knew so well and owned by some of her lesson clients. Great show horse, been there done it all, even steven kind of horse, but something had changed!

He had started that summer busting out for no reason in all out bellering, head down bucking fits, not the little kind either!

Both Lee and I we're in not the best shape that weekend body wise. She was in a bunch of pain from old injuries to her body and I was still having some bad back issues healing the year before from a hair line pelvic fracture from a training horse. I was in the much better shape though and we had both that morning taken our anti-Inflammatories.

I offered to ride the horse since knowing Lee was worse off the I was that weekend but she said, nope, she knew the horse and it knew her and felt if things broke bad at least she had a better chance of bringing the horse out of it if anything happened, so she donned her helmet, up she went. No one could find an answer as to why this was happening so Lee wanted me to take a look to see if I saw something she may have missed, which was pretty unlikely. Saddle fit great, bit was fine, Lee had all the equipment correct and in order and nothing had changed in that department through the summer. We could see the concern in the horse eyes and as Lee started asking him to move off you could see him tight in the body and suck up a little in the flank.

He moved sound and as Lee asked for more speed he had gone pacy from his fox trot as well. One could see the horse tense and tense badly, Lee had the feel though and she would easy him back down softly till she felt him relax some and then move him back up. I just saw no indicator as to what was wrong but he was saying something was, and Lee could feel it too.

So she brought the horse over and decided we better just go over the body. Before that though in looking at the hooves I noticed they were really, really yellow in color as the horse had light hooves. I made the statement that there are newer hoof polishes out now that wont make them yellow with build up. The answer I got back from the owners was" Oh we have not shown him this year. So we have not been using hoof polish". In my mind, I remember saying "Yikes", so with Lee still up, I looked at the gums of the horse, yellow they were, with very poor capillary refill.

Bad sign, so went around to the right side of the horse and looked at the gums on that side, shocked at what I found went back to the other side and told Lee , "you need to get off, very quiet and slow". I told her quietly about the gums and the huge abscess on the right side I found on the gums, she knew what that meant when our eyes met once again and she did not even wait for a mounting block to get off.

We recommended to the owners that the horse would need to be seen by a vet as we suspected ulcers. Although we did not elaborate to the owners how bad we suspected it was, for a horse to be yellow of hoofs, gums and have ulcers on the gums. We have both learned, folks want to hear the truth but really don't like the person delivering it, better the vet give them the details with the science of tests to back it up.

The horse did scope with sever ulcers , it's actually amazing the horse had not coliced before that. Horses with ulcers can behave in a lot of ways not normal for an animal we may know so well and we had both experienced that many times in the past.

The cause for the ulcer the vet also knew, as nothing had changed in the horse life, not feed, home, care, no new horse or old horse gone, but that year that was a state in such a sever drought and it was a state burning. The fires had been just every where and even while I was there my eyes burned from fire smoke in the state. The stress of that summers drought and fires was creating ulcer problems in a lot of horses .

So another adventure together, a horse helped and lessons learned.

Still very missed but she's still working!!!!!!!!!!

Liz

2009

My Mr. Perfect!!

To all my gal friends I found the answer!

It all started as a conversation with a friend about how great our guys are and how awful it would be with out them.

We laughed and knew cloning was an option if need be but not one either of us would ever be in a position financially to utilize that as an option.

Well the above photo is my answer, I just made Dave out of leather. Granted he has his limits but it's affordable and just so darn cute!!

Also what more could a saddle maker want but to be immortalized in leather!

Happy cloning!!

Liz

Bubba communicating a response to something with my friend Viv.

Viv and I are also good at hanging off of ladders, scaffolding and trusses.

The things we get into!

Dave and Sammy Chatting

The Animals do Speak!

Yes they do in their way, it's just not in English.

It's up to us to step forward as their teachers and care givers be the good listeners and observers in what they are trying to tell us ,when things are good and when they are not.

Some Homework

If you truly want to get good and do the best for your horse while in turn actually doing the best for your self at the same time.

Some folks have to get past the evasion of doing the work and learning as much as we can about these creature we are asking to perform for us.

It amazes me constantly in that people are asking their horse to move and perform with no understanding of how a horses body works. What is reasonable, and what is not with in it's given limits of structure, nerve and muscle use abilities.

The horses do try, and often what an owner sees as good, is not in what it's doing to the horses body and in turn the effects on the mind as well.

Right now with the market in the shape it is, it's not the papers or breed that are going to sell or create value in your horses for the most part, it's the training. This is an industry full of rehab and unusable horses right now. The best papers in the world does not mean the horse is safe and/or sound partner for a human.

With a little work and education one can create value, a usable, sound,happy horse, it just take us, the folks out here to step up and all do our job and do it right.

Two very important pieces of educational material I can't stress enough of value to any horse owner that is ready to learn and understand how a horse can and can not do things with effect and the limits is reading the book" The Dynamic Horse" By Dr. Hilary Clayton. It's easy to understand and gives a great understanding of how the horse body works in performance and movement.

The other must have Media is the DVD "If Horses Could Speak"

by Dr. med.vet. Gerd Heuschmann. If you care, you just cant afford not to watch this DVD to understand the effects of good riding application's and the effects of

some the new age trends that are not good for our horses.

Another great means of learning the abilities and limits of our horses is the full dissection class that a program called "Equinology" provides.

Taking up the challenge and learning around here, we take on with great relish and same with those we share the same passion of horses with us that come here.

It's always an adventure, fun, horses are better, healthier, live long and happier for it.

Liz

2009

Bubba about 6 years ago once again having to do something different. This time by the look on his face says , "This is way more load than I'm used too, and I look ridiculous".

Marshal as a pup

Just a bit more about Marshal as Dave and I received a poem written for him from a friend that knew him very well and always shared with him what ever she ate. Her dog Rosie was one of his friends that visited regularly.

Becky Voss and Marshal as a Pup
The Painting I did of Marshal when he was 2 years old
Titled "Pleading the Treat".
-THE GRAND OLD GENT – For Marshal

He’s gone now, that Grand Old Gent …
His bright eyes knew just what it meant
When you’d look at him sitting there
Hoping, hoping that you’d share
“Did you want some of these?”
Oh yes, yes I do, PLEASE?
His tail would thump with heartfelt glee
As if to say “You’ll share with me?”
Whatever tidbit he’d been favored
Was so appreciated and savored
Then nose and eyes upon the floor
He’d look and search for any more.
He was kind to all Life’s creatures
You could see it in his noble features
Maybe it was because his own life
Started out so filled with strife
Too tiny to live on his own
Little hope was there that he’d be grown
Into a beautiful Gordon Setter
Little hope that he’d get any better
It was just too hard to breathe
But God then gave him a reprieve
He’d heard the prayers so many gave
Hoping this precious life to save
So God sent an angel with hair of gold
And asked her Marshal’s life to hold
She accepted the challenge on that day
With all her heart (which is her way)
The years that passed flew on by
Too soon the time to say goodbye
The Grand Old Gent, with his kind heart
From his earthly bonds must part
But his spirit will always live
In the hearts of all of those who give
Care, compassion and love undying
To all God’s creatures who are trying
To live in harmony, peace and love
Until they return to Heaven Above.

Jane Greenwood 2009 ©

Marshal and Liz at the old Ranch in Clear Lake, MN

Marshal and Liz at School

Master Leather Artist and Instructor

Carol Gehrman
Fun Times had by all at Leather Guild Workshop!

The local leather guild holds it monthly workshops here in Dave's shop. This month they had a special treat in which nationally renowned Master Leather Artist Carol Gehrman, with over 50 years experience was this months instructor.

Also known to Dave as his "Leather Momma". Carol was a one of the largest influences in Dave's life to becoming the Master Saddle Maker and Saddle Tree Designers of today. Carol took Dave on as a young teenager , teaching him the art, getting him active in the leather guilds, taking him to the leather shows to learn and compete with his own creations, in turn winning him some very prestigious awards for a such a young artist. Carol refers to Dave as her third son and the relationship is long lived, still close and deep after so many years.

The local guild has a membership of some very talented members which meet monthly to share each others skills in projects they are each working on and learning new skill and applications. It's quite an amazing group that truly enjoys each other and what they do together. It's a joy to watch this happening and the interactions of so much going on, a truly fun group of folks to be around.

A Sample of Carols Work
Carol is known for her work in creating all types of Jewelery all done in leather. Her coloring of the leather and creating 3-D effects in her designs are astounding.

A Traveling Display of Leather Jewelry Carol takes to Shows

Another traveling Display of Carols work

One of the Oak Leaf earring I Received from Dave for Valentines day Carol crafted.

Relaxing and chatting after dinner

We had 21 people in attendance with a potluck dinner and I thought there must have been enough food to feed the whole Minnesota National guard.

No one left hungry unless they wanted to.
Guild Members Working on Projects

Jane and Gary drying leather pieces for their projects. Gary is tall, Jane in not short! I Wrote that for you Jane!

Guild members Pastor Mark, Dave and Carol working on refining carving knife skills

Dave and His Son Will who was also in Attendance

And lastly, I must have been eating one of those homemade cookies I could not stay away from and Tony knows me to well and is in begging mode knowing he always gets what he wants.

This was such a fun event and to not be only around so many great leather artists, but so many of them are experienced horseman and horsewomen themselves. They also have several active youth members which makes it even more of a joy I can tell for the older members to share and work with.

Liz

To Have the Greatest Clients in the World!

Andrea and Her Fox totter Fancy

Here are some fun updated photos Andrea sent of herself and Fancy doing some work since they went home this summer when Fancy was started under saddle here at the ranch.

I wrote about Fancy's first ride last year in my blog.

Although a very nice note she sent I still as I have told Andrea before myself, it sure helps to produce quality work in a horse for a client when the client has also done their job. Then it's a success for the client, myself and the horse. It really has been wonderful since setting a higher standard and clarifying the responsibility on an owners part before bringing a horse in for work.

No more just "dump them off and go till pick up".

No more'"just put a band-aid on the horse fast and cheap" only to come in a year later to fix again.

No more "just do it" and "they better have 10 years worth of training in months, and make me look like a star, even if I cant ride and am scared to death of a horse,,just be sure they make me look good!"

You know that type wanting us produce miracles, that's what I pay for kind of people and they should in their minds not have to do any thing on their part to keep the horse going!

And if it does not happen like it should of course "it's all the trainer fault".

It is so great to have people that want to be a working part of their horses education and every scrap information you can give them so they can keep doing the consistent type of work when their horse goes home. They love to learn, and put it to practice and get better and better, in practical use, not just hear words and regurgitate them back a to everyone around them but never really learn how to do it themselves with their horse, just make it sound like they do.

I love the folks coming here now, the conversations we have, like today Jane and I working together on refinements in a horses education and what most people think that is but what it really is in the true sense for the horse. Working and using the gravity we live with to our advantage,controlling our bodies core to make this happen. Just hours and hours of that deeper place my self and they want to get to. Enjoying together the self discipline and dedication it takes on our own part to make all this happen, with work and put it all to practice.

Oh the hours that go by so fast and you never want to leave the barn but our brains and bodies wear out so we must at some point.

______________________

Hi Liz,

I sure will keep in touch with my Fancy adventures. I am so happy with her. I hadn't done a darn thing with her all winter till last weekend. I tacked her up in the barn aisle. She stood like a pro with a look of joy. We went into my little indoor to play and she went right to work like the day she left your farm. I am just tickled! I did a little bit of ground driving because the snow was sliding off the roof making a big crashing noise. She didn't even twitch, but I thought I'd be pushing my luck if I climbed on. Anyway, She was marvelous. If the snow if off the roof by this weekend, we will go for a little ride. The thing that I just can't get over is how much she enjoys being taught things. And how really attentive of a student she is. I don't know how you did it, but it just impresses me to no end!! I've brought home too many sore and sour youngsters from trainers I guess. WOW What a difference. Thank You!

Andrea

__________________________________

Andrea and Fancy

Always fun for me to see also is when experienced folks, that understand and care also like Andrea has above, knows proper position of a good fitting saddle. Using her back rigging angled forward so the tree bars can function properly to distribute rider weight correctly, the back rigging is snug so it can function .

She's wearing her helmet even though years and year as an advanced rider. Great hands to nose band, as she can close her fingers to make contact if she needs to but only if she needs to, not maintaining a constant contact on a horse that is perceived as necessary at all times so often any more. Yet she has not thrown away her reins as called, she is ready to give hand to face communication as she needs to for Fancy.

She just gets it and puts it to use, it increases her success with her horse not only in Fancy's continued education but in safety for both of them.

Behind the scenes most of the time but her wonderful support is husband Leroy.