train a horse

I have been asked by a good friend to teach her grand-daughter Katie riding lessons! Ive seen her ride once…bareback, and OH MY GOD is she a natural! Reminds me of myself at her age;)

I am not asking to be paid, altho my friend offered—simply because I know i can do this & do it well, so it’s a tiny step towards getting my name out there so to speak:)

I told her she needs to tell her grand-daughter that I AM being paid for these lessons….for some reason people put more value and effort into things if they are paying for it-strange but true lol!

I have already printed some lesson plans, (how to properly groom, tack up etc.) and plan to give Katie homework, and quizzes as well.

I told her Grandma yesterday that I dont plan on just teaching her how to ride, but rather everything she will need to know about horses, and having one of her own.
She will learn about the names of the asst. body parts of the horse, names of most breeds, all about vaccines, tacking up & grooming her own horse, and aLOT of ground work.

I am having trouble finding things online that I can re-configure to meet my personal needs as for the lessons & lesson plans, etc.

If anyone knows where i can find good info on teaching I would really appreciate it!

I want to also make up “reward certificates” to give her when she does well, and probably will find cheap horsey “goodies’ for her when she’s done extremeley well!

This kid is a total natural, and all she needs is confidence, and to learn about the things we all need to know about her (our) horses in general…

again ..any ideas are welcome, this is my first time teaching in over 20 yrs!

Thx:)
JIll & Montana (ride ON!)

Last night I took My Arab Montana out after 2 weeks off (he was getting over a bad cold/flu) so he was full of it but I figured that was coming, especially as I observed his bucking, snorting, farting and other antics while lunging him in the round pen lol ;)
Had one of the best rides ever-went with 3 friends, we left a little before sunset & set out thru the Santa Ana river trails then went east up into the hills between Norco & Riverside CA.

Saw the sun go down painting an all pink, orange & yellow sky. Rode thru an area that was once a marsh but the river has since long receeded where there are nest boxes set up all around where the water once lay. I have often wondered what type of birds they were built for, and tonight i was in for a surprise. A lone male Wood duck was perched on one of the nestboxes, and stayed as if a statue while we silently rode by in awe of his beautiful paint by number looking colors! A Red Tailed hawk perched above us allowed for a great close up view of it before it launched off & headed to it’s roost for the night.

Then as we rode along enjoying the time with our horses & each other as friends, we stopped & watched as full moon rose, lighting our way as if by magic while we rode alll over in the hills. My horse nearly glowed under the moonlight, being a very light flea bitten grey color & all of us agreed it was more beautiful than words could ever describe!

There was a most delightful warm breeze coming up as I watched a giant white Barn owl swoop over us, lit up almost illuminous by the moon. Out hunting mice & other rodents for dinner in the desert hills, it soared around us for awhile like a glowing mist then headed northwest toward the river.

We didnt get back to the stables until after 10:30 p.m. but it was one of the best rides Ive ever been on, and mostly it was sooooo good to be back on my own horse again!

He rocks:)

Until next time, keep riding you all:)

Jill & Montana

Tuesday we are going out riding in the river trails near where I board Montana in Norco CA. He usually does real good out there, and we have to go thru town a bit to get to the trails, for the most part traffic doesnt bother him & he is really sound minded and if he DOES spook its merely a “shake” never a bolt sideways like some Ive had in the past! There are nice sand bars by the river that are good for trotting/loping the horses to build up good muscle in them.

I cant wait to go, I love going out there so much, and on my horse everything always looks even better:) We pack sodas & sandwiches, lol.

My horse crosses water real good, but hes a real priss about mud lol!!
He doesnt want to get his dainty little Arab feet muddy, (wink wink) and will jump mud rather than walk thru it. He’s a real character.
I love taking him out on the trails, and we usually ride up in the hills part of the time too.
There are nice little picnic spots where you can stop at & tie up the horses, view wildlife at the same time, and eat snacks—lots of Red Tailed hawks, Prairie falcons, Turkey vultures, and also Ravens galore… all out hunting for their dinner.

We come home after dark alot & when the moon comes up all fat & full sometimes and its truly magical! Especially when you see a giant white Barn owl swoop by coming out to hunt at night!
We hear the cotoyes yip yipping, and frogs and crickets start singing.

I cant wait for Tuesady!
I will take pics out there this time to post..I finally got the memory card for my camera!
Yahoo:)
Will tell how it goes ok?

Ride on people:)
Jill

Today I worked my horse bareback, something Ive been wanting to do since I got him 3 mos. ago but he is a little on the hot side so I waited until I got better used to him.

Today we went out and around the long block bareback!
Usually this horse refuses to go out alone, and has to have others with us to go out. I felt so good about him going out by himself, and he didnt give me any troubles without the saddle either! It was such a nice feeling to be bareback again-thats how i learned to ride as a kid, and always been my fave!

I gave him lots of carrots & a smidge of sweet feed for a treat when we got back I was so proud of him!
My Montana (Dars Shamir) rocks!
I finally got a pic of on him yest. too-will post on my pics area!!