RIVER CREST EQUINE CENTER

Well, what a successful day on May 10, 2011 with Shiner and owner Karla Heckathorn. Karla arrived for her lesson on Shiner at 1pm. I had just finished clipping Shiner, IN THE CROSSTIES, with no pulling back or issues of any kind. Shiner was wonderful even with her ears. Karla was so thrilled to hear how well she did clipping and how Shiner has learned to stand in the crossties quietly. Karla tacked-up Shiner by herself, and I did a check, and Karla saddled and bridled her perfectly. Karla was so thrilled also that when bridling Shiner now, Shiner will place her head down and willingly take the bit on her own. That was a big step for a mare just two weeks prior was blowing up like a giraffe when bridling and pulling back when tied. Once tacked up, Karla and Shiner went outside to wait for me to finish tackingup Matt, who I chose to ride along with Karla on the trail because he has become such a good boy and is not spooky at all, even down the road with traffic and semi's and motorcycles.

Karla got on Shiner all by herself and had just a bit of a panic spell herself, but Shiner quieted down quickly once I got out there and showed Karla what I had been doing with Shiner to keep her happy and settled while mounting to keep Shiner still and quiet. Karla got on without me there at first to show her this which is why there was just a brief issue. Once Karla learned how to keep the process the same with Shiner, Shiner immediately became relaxed and Karla felt wonderful about how fast the process changed Shiner's demeanor and relaxation. They did great right from the start after they learned how to work together like I do with Shiner.

The trailride in itself was fabulous. Karla was able to navigate Shiner over logs, around trees, through brush and water and water obstacles, and even trot through straighter sections of the trail without any issues at all! We finished by riding down the road on the way home, and Shiner was perfect for Karla. Once back to the barn, I suggested to Karla that we finish her lesson in the arena with a little arena work. We worked on rhythm and Karla's sitting position and all went beautifully. Karla was so happy to be able to trot her mare on a loose rein and use her legs strongly and have the mare just relax and slow down instead of takeoff and jump out from underneath her.

We then cooled the horses down and bathed them, and all went wonderfully. Karla's coming out tomorrow May11th for her next lesson. Then she's off this weekend with Shiner to the Hoosier National Forest in Brown County, Indiana for her girls' trailride weekend. Then Shiner's back to finish her canter/loping training and finish her out on everything else.

Thanks to the Heckathorn's for giving me the opportunity to train such a well-bred mare.