Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Fun!
A very fun month and we are only half way through!
The Diamond A Ranch of Delano, MN clinic group. This was a great clinic, here we are working on upward and downward transitions using and learning what "Intent " means, and how to apply it in our selves to take to our horses. What a happy , happy group of folks to share with and enjoy!
I have had folks come to the ranch from so many places near and far this month! I cant keep up with all the places we have had visitors come from. This was our workshop group from Nebraska with one missing as she had to head out early. Our weather has been perfect to for riding for horse and human. A very big and welcome difference from the first 6 months of the year!
Lots of VERY big rigs coming and going, but this one I thought really looked great in the ranch yard!
If you have never seen a Bloomer rig take a good look if you ever get the chance,they are amazing, comfort for horse and human in a very cushy way.
Liz
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Some catch up & goings on
I know I have been lax in keeping up my blog this year since our very hard late winter went right into a cold wet spring in which about half of our ranch fence we put in 8 years ago was lost in the flood, but I have just about gotten everything repaired and on the down hill side of that work now.
The update on Lassie my 30 year old Quarter mare I've had all her 30 years did some severe muscle injuries to her left hind panicking in her stall the night of the big flood. Lassie is doing great and seems almost complete in her healing. I cant thank our amazing and wise vet Dr.Parker enough for seeing hope in getting her through it, he was right!
Also,the foot I broke replacing fence is healed, a little odd shaped but doing great too!
It's been busy and not much time to get photos of the goings on, but above is Karen and her horse McCoy that has now gone home from training. He is a Paso walker cross that was a super nice horse to work with and being just 5 has a long great working career ahead of him.
Lots of lessons going with the spring and above is Rachel's Two Eye Jack bred Quarter Horse she brings.
I love this line and have owned several through the years. Great minds,athletic and very hard for me to dismount once I'm up , I can get a little greedy working with these kinds of horses and have to do a check on myself when doing so! I've had one other Quarter horse coming for lessons that makes me do the same, but have to get a photo of Jan's horse Gus as he is stunning also, but I think he is Poco bred but same in many ways as the Two Eye Jack horses.
Liz & Junie mule
Shawn Junie's owner with big smiles all around. This is one fabulous mule and love how she is progressing so fast, the smartest critter on the place, and that means over Dave, myself and Tony the Aussie put togehter. I am having so much fun teaching and living with Junie. There,is a great team together here in Junie and Shawn and to see how much they love each other is very moving and heart warming for me to watch.
Some other Info for anyone looking for GREAT mohair english cinches. Pop Wagner recently made me 2 for my Zaldi Spanish schooling saddle, and I am crazy about how well they function and comfort for the horse (or mule). You can reach Pop at www.popwagner.com
So much going on as always but that's a quick review at Shades Of Oak Ranch.
Liz
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Heartland Girls Ranch Clinic
Heartland Girls Ranch
What a weekend it was ! So very special for me to work again with the girls I did last year and all the new ones attending this year. We had 18 girls this year in the clinic! Wow this is an outstanding group of young gals that not only was I able to teach and share my horse experience with but in their sharing just how special each one is.Very joyful, hard working group so dedicated to their horses. It was fascinating in that the karma of the weekend just presented unexpected fun situations for all of us to learn from, and so many I never expected to present an opportunity in teaching for me. It was a gift for me to watch how they knew to touch the horses with such compassion. The horses loved being with the girls, and how peaceful it made one feel just being in all that special energy happening between the horses and the girls.
This was an amazing weekend for all of us!
Bridget and Myself.
Bridget heads up the equine program at the ranch, and she continues to impress and amaze me in how she can do so much, it's a huge job and a very large program she takes care of.
Each girl made me a thank you card which there are not enough words to say how special they are to me.
We are not able to share photos of the girls to help in protecting them, but know they are grateful for what the public does and continues to do in donations and all forms of help in so many ways to have the horses help them in their journey of self growth and healing.
Myself riding Petey who was testing his new rider a bit so I just let him test me for a while and under that I found this amazingly trained pony that was talented and smart. Trained as well as any advanced horse just very good at conserving energy when he can. Something any of us can do from time to time also!
He made me smile in joy!
Updated Ranch Wish list
The ranch is always in need of many items as they get used there and with close to 30 horses needed for the program and often over 20 students riding a lot so everything is very used, and many items wear out quickly.
Helmets of every size
Saddles , English and Western
English pads, Western pads and blankets
English bridles
Reins
Leather punches
Hay nets
Hoof picks
Brushes ( the girls love to groom the horses)
Hoof picks
Brushes ( the girls love to groom the horses)
Saddle bags and horn bags
The girls and Bridget are willing to clean up any old unusable tack and saddles to resell as they have made a saddle fund hoping to get better fitting saddles than what they have now.
If making donations of money and you would like it to go specifically to the horse part of the program rather than the general fund, please specify where you would like it to be use and it will be honored such as vet, farrier,horse supplements, horse feed costs, saddle fund etc.
Heartland Girls Ranch is a very special, wonderful place doing wonderful work!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Jack Brainard and myself just talking of friends and folks we both know or knew from the "Old Order" of horse folks from MN in our history.
Great times and good memories.
Left to right
Jack Brainard, Richard Shrake and my self catching up with each other and sharing our horse adventures at Indiana's Hoosier Horse Fair.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Date addition and clarifications for Clinics and
Lesson days
For those receiving the March/ April Issue of the Sound Advocate on-line magazine
Below is a copy and paste of the scheduling sent for the Calander of Events listing in that publication for the months of April and May.
April 5-7 Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo, Liz Graves Clinician
Indiana State Fair Grounds
April 19 Pennsylvania Plantation Walking Horse
Association,
Private lessons day with Liz Graves
Diamond 7 Arena Dillsburg, PA
April 20-21 Pennsylvania Plantation Walking Horse Association
All breed gaited clinic with Liz Graves
Diamond 7 Arena Dillsburg, PA
May 7-10 All Breed Gaited Clinic TW Ranch with Liz Graves
Russell, Manitoba Canada
It was not listed as sent so wanted to avoid any possible confusion it may cause to possible applicants or participants with an interest.
The magazine listings are only of public events, I do not submit the private ones in this publication.
The magazine listings are only of public events, I do not submit the private ones in this publication.
For a full listing on my current events scheduling you can also go to
Please check back often as this schedule is continually being updated.
Looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones through out this year!
Warmest Regards to all,
Liz Graves
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