Schooling Saturday-Grades for the DOR

Professor Cactus Jack Splash here. Today is schooling day, boy do I have plans for the DOR! I am going to teach her to jump, keep the ball away from my feet, get her to jog beside me, and I just might see if I can get her to put that stupid grocery bad on her head.
I will give a report later.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

We started out playing the friendly games.
The DOR the worked with me on how to act in a halter class. She thinks it would be fun to show me in some halter classes next summer. I did really good! I don't quite get why the DOR feels I have to trot while she is jogging beside me...won't she get tired. Well she did today, she was jogging and I was walking-eventually she gave up. See I am good at "halt her"-I got her to stop.

The DOR also brought out a new toy, a circingle...looks like something a circus horse would wear. If she thinks I am going to tolerate feathers and blingy stuff put on it for a parade she better think again-I have my dignity to maintain. I am not sure what all she plans on doing with it. Today she decided we would work on my issues with things flapping around me and the fact that I think everything that is white is a grocery bag. Well I could see that I was going to have to teach her a lot today.

She had been out in our pasture earlier with these white things hanging out of her pocket. I thought I should save her from them, but there was no way I was going near them. Freedom grabbed on out of her pocket and tried to eat it. All he did was kill it, the DOR picked the dead thing up and put it back in her pocket. Well the DOR decided that it would be a brilliant idea to put the things in one of the rings. Do I look like I thought it was a good idea. Well I taught her how to lunge me without a fall apart, I did worry about her a bit when the white things started flapping around. The DOR did such a good job that we got out the apple stick with the bag on it. You will never believe it-the DOR touched the bag with her hands and set it on her head. Well she isn't scared of it is she. I did pretty good with blowing marbles when she first started waving the bag at me. Eventually I ran out of marbles and the bag was still waving and it was inching closer and closer.... Well I tell you that the United Nations would be proud of me, I made a peace treaty with that bag in a big hurry. The bag listened and hostilities were stopped. The bag hung in the middle of the air and I touched it with my nose several times, the bag did not eat me. I am not sure if the treaty extends to all bags or only this particular one, but it is a step forward. The DOR decided we had both had enough and that both of us came a long way today.

I am going to spend the rest of the evening watching the horses in the north pasture go nuts...the llamas moved in next to them and they are all wigging out. I like the llamas, I offered to swap the horses the llamas for the grocery bags but they were too busy snorting and running to hear me. Maybe tomorrow I can work out a deal.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Skywatch Friday No. 21

This is a series of photos of the oak tree taken at 4:30 in the evening. Boy is it getting dark early.

When I was six I came to live with my grandparents while my dad finished his doctoral program and got ready to move up to Washington for a job. I rode up in my grandpa's truck, loaded with our possesions, with my uncle Buck driving and my aunt Betty navigating. I was in the middle and got to "shift gears" (grandpa would scream if he knew that!).We arrived at my grandparents and the first thing I remember is spying the biggest tree I had ever seen. Now I know I had been at my grandparent's house before, I just have no memory of it prior to arriving in the truck with my aunt and uncle. We arrived on my seventh birthday, my grandma made a pink bunny cake and I got a necklace with a blue heart surrounded by "diamonds"-I felt like a princess.

I remember going out after eating cake and standing at the trunk of the oak tree, looking up. While the leaves were green, it was much like these photos. I thought the tree reached clear to heaven and that if I could just climb up in the branches I would be able to see God. I just had to figure out how to get up into that tree...

Please go visit the other great Skywatch participants at SkyWacth Friday There are wonderful photos from all around the world!

Where I went to school

I went to school at a place called Full Circle Ranch. I was originally trained for riding there and returned as a five year old for "secondary school."
Bill Basham and Angie Reitmeier address the entire horse. Their purpose is to help horses and humans live more harmonious lives through understanding and kindness, rather than through fear and ignorance. They will teach with patience and consideration while searching for ways that make sense to each individual.
The DOR says that you need Kevlar undies when you go to their clinics. They are not mean, just straightforward and honest-sometimes that hurts humans a bit.
This couple has taken horses that have been "written off" as untrainable and turned them into a horse that can be a working partner with a human.
They help horses learn to be brave. They teach a horse to think with its left brain, rather than reacting with the right brain. Horses who go through this school are exposed to a variety of adventures in various settings. They work with owners to ensure that when the horse comes back home there is a good relationship in place to continue moving forward. Located in Potlatch Idaho it is a wonderful place to go and spend quality time building you relationship with your horse under expert guidance.
Yep, I sound like and ad, sorry. I know that my training there is the reason I am not a werehorse more often, or all of the time. I have a tendency to react first and think later...it is a good thing that I was taught to think so I can recover quickly if I do have a fall apart.
There are places where magic happens and the DOR has seen it happen here. Bill and Angie help her with a horse she rescued. This horse had been so abused that she was afraid all of the time. The DOR saw through that and could picture in her mind the horse she could be. Bill and Angie helped peel the layers of damage done to this mare, uncovering the horse the the DOR could picture in her mind. Now this horse is working at a cattle ranch, competes at roping competitions, and works as a pick up horse for bull riders at rodeos. From a horse that panicked at the slightest thing, to a horse that has a fit if she can't get in the trailer and go on an adventure-you see they do work magic at Full Circle Ranch.
The DOR and I will be heading their way for some quality time. She has been busy making armor plated outfits. She has a lot of things she needs to work on and knows she will be taking a bit of heat, she also knows that every experience with Bill and Angie makes her a better horseman.
If you ever have a chance to attend one of their trainings I encourage you to go. If you go to a training in Washington State, look for my spotted butt to be there and come by and say howdy.
Training is the basis for the horse/human relationship, good training is the basis for a partnership. It is important to never quit learning!
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

The eyes have it

The DOR loves her horses eyes, she thinks they hold all the knowledge that one needs to know in them. She took some pictures of those of us at the ranch yesterday and I thought I would share them.


This eye belongs to Salty the Wonder Horse. His eyes have seen trails, jumps, numerous kids that he taught to ride. The most important thing his eyes have done is to teach a little boy with asperger's how to communicate. He helped the boy learn to understand that eyes speak to you and that allowed the little boy to learn to speak to others. Salty has seen a lot in his 22 years, he believes that horse have the power to help heal human hearts. In Salty's eyes all humans are to be loved.


This eye belongs to Freedom Dancer, a 42 year old energizer bunny. Freedom has seen trails, cows, husbands, wives, and kids. Freedom has seen more than any of us will ever know. He has never lost his love for humans, he is a very forgiving soul. He believes that you look where you want to go, pick up your feet, and just go there...it is that simple. In Freedom's eyes there are no excuses for not doing what you want to do.
These eyes belong to Ginger. She believes that humans must be taught proper manners. She has taught many a rider proper horsemanship and manners. First you get the look and lip, then you get the tail swish, then you get the "Ginger Stomp" a hind foot stomping the ground-if you still don't get it she walks away and leaves you in "time out" until you apologize. In her eyes humans need to remember that they are a partner with their horse, not the boss.


This eye is Harley Darling's. In Harley's eye you will see bravery. I tease the pretty boy that he is a looks and no brains, it is just because I am jealous. Harley looks at things and figures them out. He has eyes that want to learn about everything and understand about things, that is why he is not afraid. In his eyes knowledge and understanding are what you need to overcome fear.

This eye belongs to Scooby. Scooby's eyes have seen many a trail with his old owner, they were together for many years. Scooby has seen both shores of the United States. His eyes gave courage to the DOR, a belief in her ability to become an independent re-rider. Now his eyes don't see anything ...he is blind. But in his eyes you will see trust. He trusts the DOR and other humans to keep him safe. He uses his hearing and sense of smell to help raise an orphan colt. In fact unless you know Scooby is blind you would never know it until you watched him for a day. Scooby's eyes are filled with confidence, his eyes will show you that a handicap is no reason not to live life to the fullest.
Hank owns this eye. In his eye you will find fun and mischief. Hank's eye teaches you that life is supposed to be fun and if you aren't having a good time it is your own fault. Hank doesn't tolerate human pouting or bad moods. He will tease you until you laugh. Hanks's eyes say that heaven or hell is where you are at right now-it is your choice which one you are in, so choose wisely.


I own this eye. This eye believes that older beings can learn a lot from younger beings-after all look at all I am teaching the DOR. This eye also believes that there are times you should be afraid and run away blowing marbles. In this eye you will see how deep the loving bond between a horse and human can run. In my eye you will see peace.
So I hope this helps you understand why the DOR loves the eyes of horses, she believes that all of the answers to life's questions can be found in the eyes of a horse. She also believes that every horse has a lesson they are sent here to teach to humans.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR

Thank you

Thank you Teachings of the Horse it is an honor to receive this award from you. I am going to pass this on to some blogs I like to drop in on...I hate having to pick just a few.
Mosul 4 all a blog written by a female medical student is Mosul
Powell River Books Blog what would you do if you lived in a floating house in BC?
Strawberry Lane a touching blog about life on a small farm.
Tumbleweed Crossing is about living on the high desert west of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Margaret and Helen a delightfully honest blog by best friends of 60 years.
Cowgirl Up a wonderful role model for any rider.
I know that I have missed someone, for that I apologize...please drop by and take a look at the blogs listed on the side bar. I keep finding so many great places to visit.
Enjoy your day and don't forget to hug your DOR