Colt starting:
I truly believe that putting a good foundation on each horse I start sets them up for a great future, in any discipline the owner prefers.
My methods have been learned by years of working with horses, and learning from each horse. Horses are as unique and individual as people. If a horse needs things broken down into small steps, and taken slowly, thats what I do. If they understand what I am showing them and can perform each manuever, we procede. If they do not, I find a way to get them to think and understand what I'm asking them to do. I am very particular about them having a soft mouth. I do everything I can to take the bitting process softly. You will not see my horse's mouth gapping open when pressure is applied to the reins from the very first ride. When the ground work is done properly there is no bucking when its time to mount and start riding.
When the horse is responding to leg pressure and understanding the difference in direct rein and neck rein, I ride them out around farm. They get exposed to vehicles, tractors, motorcycles, dogs, cows and traffic on gravel roads. We have woods and creeks, roads with bridges for teaching them to go anywhere confidently.
Ranch Work:
I teach each horse to move around and through cattle with confidence. We use our older experienced horses to help the younger ones settle in. They learn to sort calves from cows and turn cows away or push them through open gates. All horses used for this work, learn to have a rope swinging around them. And have no problem roping off of them.
Reining:
Reining is so much fun I reccomend it to everyone! If you like moving slow or if you like sliding to a stop, maybe you would like to see what its like to spin a horse. If you think any of this sounds like fun, you should get into reining. I have been taking colts with 60 days of riding to Ohio to show, Shawn Flarida, to see if any of them will be a prospect for his program. This has taught me a lot about reining, and the kind of horse you need to perform those technical maneuvers.
Trail Riding:
I like to teach horses to move down trails, through the woods and fields with ease and patience. Teaching them to cross any kind of terrain we may encounter and crossing bridges whether they are large or small. Accepting any number of other riders and horses that might be trail riding also.
Challenging Obstacles
Here, Karen builds on the foundation of trust that she has built with the horse to conquer a very challenging obstacle . (She is teaching the horse to walk thru and eventually carry a rider thru a black tarp teepee.)
Once Karen has introduced the horse to the various obstacles, she asks the horse to do them all again...this time, mounted.
TEACHING MAGNUM TO LAY DOWN, THEN RISE WHILE MOUNTED
In an effort to keep her riding gelding Magnum challenged, Karen is always looking for new experiences, obstacles and talents to introduce him to. Recently, she decided to see if she could teach him to lay down, then get up while she was mounted. (This may come in handy when old age finally catches up with Karen)