Tip of the Day

One way to improve your riding abilities is to continue to learn. There are plenty of books out there about horses and if you aren't a fan of reading then there is also youtube which has a ton of great videos where people show you things that the have learned. I even watch videos about things that I think that I am pretty knowledgeable about because there is a possibility that I don't know it as well as I thought I did. Also, don't be to proud when someone tells you something. There are a lot of aspects to horses and riding there is no way that you will ever know everything that there is to know. So if someone tells you something that they know don't just shoot down their idea or ignore it because "you know everything," give it some thought.

Passion

You know how people get dramatic about their passions and say how wonderful they are? And how everything is different when they are doing what they love. Well it's so true. Whenever horses are involved things are so different for me. I think with a clear mind and I feel a "horsey high" it's amazing. I am able to remove myself from any situation for even a minute. It helps when I am overwhelmed. But also whenever I am with horses I feel right. I am really reserved and I never want to do anything wrong. I am afraid of messing up all the time. But when I ride I don't think about it. I know that if I do something wrong my horse will let me know. And I also know that nothing that I do will hurt anyone because I do have a good knowledge of how to behave with horses. So that does help my confidence. Long story short... Passion=confidence. Everyone should have something that they are really passionate about because that confidence is amazing.

Therapy

There are always things going on. And life is full of adventures... good and bad ones. And when all the bad ones happened to me at one time I felt lost and confused. I felt like I didn't know myself any more. I also felt like I had nowhere to turn. And I knew that God was there and all... but sometimes it is helpful to have something that is physically there to help you though. And I hadn't seen a horse in so long that I was even more lost because horses are a part of me. When I finally got to see my horses I finally felt like me again, I didn't feel like I was looking for the answers. All the answers seemed to be in my head, I had peace. Don't get me wrong... there are awesome people in my life that really helped me through. But horses have a therapeutic quality that accompanies their ability to listen (and not try to teach you "life lessons' and reason. And they don't try to show you where you were wrong). So basically... horses are the best medicine for uncertainty.

Freedom

You know, it has been a while since I have been able to ride... but I was thinking back on the last time I did. Last time I rode I was really upset about some things that were going on in my life and I was stressed. And all I could think was that I needed to clear my head. So I went out and it just so happened that I was going to ride alone, and I got to go for a trail ride. I get out there and I am just enjoying myself and I totally forgot about my problems. Then halfway through I remembered them and started talking to my horse. I know I sound crazy... and I am.. but even though he didn't respond I was at least able to think things through. And I happened to make some of the best choices I have ever made because I was able to talk through and just enjoy some quiet time.

Blessed

Okay here is a fact for you, life is confusing and crazy and sometimes hard. And everyone has their own way of getting through the hard days. Some people eat a box of chocolate, some people blast the sad songs, some people lock them selves away in a quiet place and spend time alone. Well for me the easiest way to get through hard situations is look at pictures of horses and then Pray and find comfort in the Lord and the beauty that he has created. To me horses are a reminder of how much God loves me and wants good things for me. And they show me that even in sad or hard times there is still beauty in the world and all you have to do is focus on that instead of the bad things and everything seems a whole lot better.

Tip of the day

If you are looking to improve your riding skills try something new. Try dressage if you haven't yet. Or give western riding a try. There are so many different things that you can do in the horsey world like barrels, patterns and bareback. You can even teach your horse a new trick which will help you two to bond and they may not get the trick but if you are teaching right then they will learn your reward system for the next time you need them to learn something.

Gypsie Vanner

Gypsie Vanners are a beautiful breed of horses that have many other names such as Gypsie Cob and Drum horses the only difference between names is the registries. They were originally developed by Romanichal peoples native to the British Isles. It is a small draft horse breed that is most known for it's feathered legs and mild temperament. The first breed registry for the Gypsies was created in America in 1996 and they have been growing in popularity ever since. They have even gained affiliate recognition with United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and United States Dressage Federation (USDF). Most people recognize them based on their piebald or black and white pinto coloring but there is no set coloring for the breed and they come in many colors including solids. Their facial profile should be straight and "sweet" which means that it is not coarse and that it is in proportion with it's body.