Woke up at 4:30am. About 8 hours of sleep in 2 days combined. Took 9 horses and ponies to the Parelli tour stop. Filled the arena with PonyPros. Blew even our own socks off. The Parellis were amazingly generous with us. They gave all the kids halters and lead ropes, plus the levels 1-4 pack, and gave Les and I four-week scholarships to the center in CO. Feel like I need to sleep for days, but it was worth it Can’t believe how awesome the kids and ponies were. Check out the photos of Linda when we showed her our video, told her we had 5 more kids at home, and that we boarded 30 minutes away.

Some quick facts:

• Blue Man has only been with us for 4 weeks. This was his first experience traveling off property for an event. He was rescued a year ago by Mustangs and Mohr, then came to us at the very end of April. At that time, he had basic groundwork but had not been started. He has 1 ride on him now and is, as you can see, having a ton of fun with Parelli!
• Thistle has only been with us for 2 months. She was 10 years old and was ranch raised, so had had no training before coming to us. This was her second time ever in a trailer and only only her second time away from the home she was born and raised on. Look how awesome she is now!
• Thistle’s partner, Emma, is a 6th grader and has only been involved in horses for 3 months. She has learned all this from PonyPros in just 12 weeks!
• Peanut and Wallie are only 4 years old. This was only their second time hauling out to a different arena. They have been with us for about 9 months now and were unstarted when they came to us.
• Casey is an adopted rescue horse. Conner has only owned him for four months.
• Koa is an adopted rescue horse. This was her first time ever hauling out to a strange arena.
• Celebrity has only been with us for 2 months. Chloe, age 12, was his partner at the tour stop.
• Sam is a rescue pony who used to stand like a tri-pod because he was so fearful and in so much pain. He used to run to the other side of his pen and smash against the panels when someone walked by. He has been with us for almost 2 years now.
• Because the horse who Katelynn normally works with is a rescue who is not strong enough to travel, this was Katelynn’s first time ever working with Sam. Talk about a good pony and natural student to put it together so fast and so well!
• Our dream is to have an Atwood Ranch style program for ponies and to have the best kids program in the world.

Today Les and I went on a trail ride at the Flat Iron trail head, which is about 5-10 minutes from our barn. We love hauling Ilo and Koa out and they love getting out. Asher and Tovi came with us, Tovi with his forearm bandaged since he still has a sore ankle. The vet wrap did wonders, though, and he was still in good shape by the time we got back.

Flat Iron is super cool because it has lot of ups and downs. They are gentle enough you can trot them in most places, so we did! Day 2 of Ilo and Koa’s trail trotting careers! Both girls were super good. We even stopped to take some photos with the spring wild flowers. They’re tiny, unlike flowers you get in wetter climates, but really pretty accents to the desert colors. Ilo, of course, loves the camera, so here’s a silly picture that makes her look like a hippopotamus. Seriously cute.

Les and my legs and abs were uncomfortably sore from getting back into yoga, so we were processing some junk as we walked. It’s no fun how emoitonal baggage comes up with those physical releases. Ilo kept nudging me like, “Hello, Earth to Kali…” because I kept getting sucked in by my hamstrings wallerin’ I love yoga, but it’s hard when you spend so much time walking in sand. We’re doing a 6:30am vinyasa practice so we don’t stay out at the barn til 8:30 at night every day! Send some positive thoughts our way if you’re up that early!

At PonyPros, we try to give our colts a very good first experience with riding. Here is an example of a 3 year old ranch raised colt’s first time being ridden. We start our colts bareback because they are less likely to get scared and buck. The first ride is just about getting moving and there is very little focus on cues or aids. We do use some obstacles to give the colts somewhere to go, but we use them to create a migratory flow, rather than as events. Cinnamon is learning very quickly and is an especially good boy.

Gina worked with Chloe on her release, working up to landing in a canter after a jump. Sundae got his hooves shaped for improved balance. Cinnamon played with the tarp again, then wore a saddle for the second time, and carried it over jumps. He only wore it for a short time the day before, so today was very impressive! Gina decided to name the mini Penny Lane, and we got some very cute photos of the little miss against the blue sky! Word has it she has some pinto markings under all that fur! Cuuute!