Friday, July 31 2009

Preperation for Santa Rosa, California, August 2

Cleaned and ready to ride: Cochise

Willie

Cisco

Buddy

Life Lessons Learned on Horseback

Not every day is filled with horses and lessons that are verbally taught, but with lessons that come from going out to the Ranch and just living it. Today the group worked together as one, some cleaning the horses while others helped pack the trailer. Teamwork makes the dream work is the motto around Riata Ranch, and when we all pitch in, so much more is accomplished. Another point made today, was that even though it's one performance, we still clean our tack and take pride in cleaning our horses just like it was a month long tour. Our equipment and our equine partners are treated with respect and care, cleaning and conditioning until they literally shine. After all, where would we be without them?

One of the reasons we accomplished our duties today so quickly and efficiently was that we had purpose. We had a goal to tackle and over come, and we did it. You see, bloggers, Riata Ranch isn't just a trick riding school; it's so much more. We come to be a family, sisters united in a passion for the lifestyle Riata Ranch has created. No matter how many grudges, angry words or slights, we always know that someone on that team always has our back. We can count on every single member to do their part, play their role, and help anyone who needs it. Every girl demonstrates leadership, young to old, new to seasoned.

Tomorrow we leave for Santa Rosa. Knowing this team very well, every girl will give 100%, and come away with something from this show. In two weeks we will lose Bec, back to her native Australia, and it's going to be a hard couple of shows without her!

Life by design is our chosen style, and we live it to the letter. Off we go to Santa Rosa, California for a Sunday night performance. Catch up with you all monday!

Thursday, July 20 2009

Extra Practice For Santa Rosa, California August 2.

Horses and Performers practiced:

Buddy with Alyssa and Bec

Willie with Aly

Cisco with Bec

Cochise with Jennifer

Life Lessons Learned on Horseback

Today was a day off, but some of the group decided to put in a few extra hours. While driving up to the ranch, Jennifer discussed with the group about the many obstacles in life and how to take each hurdle at a time. When asked the meaning of life, Jennifer answered "The meaning of life is to have a meaningful life.". A simple, yet powerful statement. Life achievements are not gauged on worldly possessions, but on personal triumphs and what you get out of your own life. Meaning comes from the person within, not what you are told to be.

Overview of Trick Riding

Alyssa was superb with Buddy today. She really focused on keeping him straight down the pattern and right into line. She needed assistance getting him backed and turned around from Bec at the start, but by the end of practice she had it all on her own. Her vaults are getting cleaner and her hippodrome was fantastic at a lope today.

Jennifer partnered up with Cochise today. She really schooled him in backing straight out of the station and keeping collection. Cochise is the greenest horse on the team, and his naivety is often mistaken for trouble.

Aly had a very interesting day with Willie. They started out on a good foot, Willie has made some progress with leaving the station calmly. When practicing one foot stand, Aly had trouble keeping Willie at a trot. Rider error caused Willie to collect up into a lope, throwing Aly forward and to the side. After safely returning to station, they continued on with practice. When you make a mountain out of a mole hill, things don't get accomplished!

Bec practiced her shoulder stand on Cisco, and is looking stronger and stronger each day. Her partnership with Cisco is going very well, he knows just how to take care of those that are just learning the ropes of trick riding. Bec also had a great practice with Buddy and his trick horse work.

An impromptu practice that went really well for everyone. Tomorrow is cleaning day for Santa Rosa!!

Wednesday, July 29 2009

Training For Santa Rosa, California performance on August 2.

Horses and Performers:

Taos with Jennifer

Buddy with Alyssa and Bec

Cisco with Bec

Wyatt with Brandi

Aly with Willie

Spencer with Cochise

Life Lessons Learned on Horseback

Today started a little hectic and rushed, the group didn't have as much time to work as the last couple of days, but made due with what we had. Jennifer had some errands to attend to, and also had to pick up Chad Nicholson, her husband and our biggest fan (also professional voice talent and announcer to many PRCA rodeos) up from the airport, as he was returning from a few PRCA rodeo announcing engagements in the Central States. Today was focused on taking what we have and appreciating it. In today's world everyone's on a cell phone or clicking away on keyboards, accomplishing everything in an instant; horses are not that way. We have to remember that good things take time, and accomplishing something as small as flexing to right is something to praise. Appreciating the wealth we have in horses is one of our top priorities.

Overview of Trick Riding Practice

Jennifer and Taos did an awesome job today, and with Jennifer's guidance, Taos will make an amazing trick riding horse. She also came up with the excellent idea of combining the last two practices, making equitation patterns that included trick riding.

Spencer and Cochise had a good practice, working on some croupers and run besides. Cochise has had a hard time adjusting to the concept of a station, and Spencer has been working very diligently with him on this. Today was a big step forward for Cochise, he stood quite still, even with an extra horse in the line up. Spencer was able to do all of her tricks on Cochise successfully, as well as many run besides and patterns that involved different tricks.

Brandi obtained a huge victory for herself and Wyatt today. Wyatt has been a project horse for some time. Initially, Wyatt had been selected with the intention of joining the cast of "Cavalia", the international horse show, much like Cirque de Soleil, that interprets the evolution of the bond of man and horse. Now he is under the Riata Ranch training program, and is doing beautifully, guided by the skilled Brandi Phillips. Today they accomplished bending and flexing, loping circles collected and driven from the back end into the bit.

Bec had another great trick riding day with Cisco, ending practice on an excellent shoulder stand at a trot. Bec is fearless and has some clean, straight lines. Her vaults are improving very much and Cisco tolerates her height nicely. Trick horse work with Buddy today went smooth and she had little to no difficulties laying him down and keeping him down there.

Aly and Willie worked today on their speed and communication. Learning a new horses's quirks is always a challenge, so today was all about connecting and relaxing on Willie. Some horses you just can't change their personality; you have to accept and roll with it.

Alyssa continued to work with Buddy, and great improvements have been made in the last few days. She has grown very confident yet again and has started loping Buddy when she does her vaults. Alyssa is a very talented individual, and is very advanced for her age. We are glad to have her back working with us

Today was a great day again for the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls. If it wasn't for the versatility, determination and just plain heart our horses have, we wouldn't be where we are today. We are forever grateful of our equine partners.

Tuesday, July 28 Santa Rosa Prep

Training for Santa Rosa, California performance, August 2

Horses and Performers

Buddy with Alyssa Pratt and Bec Circosta

Cochise with Spencer Elizabeth Rose

Taos with Jennifer Welch-Nicholson

Willie with Aly Love

Cisco with Bec Circosta

Life Lessons Learned on Horseback

Today, Jennifer taught the group about change. Life is about changes, from change between horse partners to graduating high school and starting your life as an adult. Jennifer wanted to express to all that you have to roll with the changes; work with them, and above all, don't let them defeat you. Life is about changes; Riata would not be where it is today if director Jennifer hadn't decided to change how the program was to be run when she took over teaching the Riata way. She was not only speaking about changes in your personal life, but changes in your professional life as well. Now that the majority of the girls have graduated high school and are now on their own, there are many changes coming their way, changes that when met will now be faced with confidence, poise and a positive outlook .

Overview of Trick Riding Practice

Just like yesterday, it was hot. The group strarted practice at 82 degrees, and ended in 102, but as usual, they got the job done.

Jennifer continued to ride Taos on the straightaway pattern. She changed it up today, adding a small equitation pattern to help focus some of the horses more on their rider than the station.

Alyssa, partnered with Buddy, was welcomed back into the Riata family! A little rusty at first, but Alyssa quickly fell back into the riding groove. She worked with Buddy very well today, really concentrating on stopping Buddy square and keeping him straight while backing.

Bec continued to shine in the arena on Cisco, accomplishing much in the two hours of riding. She did beautiful suicide drags and didn't forget to sell! Bec also worked with Buddy intensely for an hour. Every day can't be perfect; working with horses one comes to understand that, just like people, they have their "off" days as well. Buddy was giving Bec slight difficulties in laying down, but Bec stuck with him and by the end of practice, Buddy had laid down on cue successfully 3 times. Way to go Bec!

Aly and Willie had a different goal today than just trick riding. They worked on leaving station calmly, and more importantly, listening to rider cues instead of Willie's cues! Willie is in show mode all the time, so today was about teaching him to calm down and focus not so much on running hard, but to respond more to his partner. Overall, Willie did an exceptional job keeping his trot (and his cool!), and really progressed in leaving the station calmly.

Spencer and Cochise did amazing today, there's simply no other words for it! Cochise has had little training, and what little he had was put to the test today as he was asked to run a straightaway while Spencer did the tail drag, around-the-horn vaults and shoulder stand, all very successfully. Nice work Spencer!

Even in the heat, we've still got the heart! Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls know how to buck up and keep smilin'! See ya'll tomorrow!

July 27, 2009 Santa Rosa prep

Good Afternoon Riata Fans! Welcome to the first edition of the Riata Ranch blog spot! The Cowboy Girls are all very excited to begin our blog, letting our fans, friends and family know what we get up to out here in sunny California!

Horses Used and Performers Practiced
Buddy with Jennifer and Bec
Cisco with Bec
Cochise with Spencer
Taos with Jennifer
Willie with Aly

Life Lessons Learned on Horseback

Today was a very productive day for Riata Ranch, not only in riding and roping, but in team building and chemistry as well. We started promptly at 8 this morning, catching Cisco, Buddy, Cochise, Willie and Taos for some hard work after a long weekend off. After saddling our partners and having a quick warm up, executive director Jennifer have the team a great life lesson learned on horseback. Jennifer explained to the group that not only are we out in the 109 degree weather to ride the horses and get better at trick riding, we are there for a purpose; to give our lives meaning, a reason to wake up and want to work hard. Not only do we come out here to work on our horses and make them better, we work on ourselves better through acknowledging our weaknesses and defeating them.

Overview of Trick Riding Practice

The team started work feeling invigorated and motivated, to say the least. To prepare for our next show, Santa Rosa, California, we used the straight away pattern. It had been Cochise's first time attempting straight away and Spencer did a great job coaching him through. By the end of practice she was able to do her around-the-horn vaults with ease and confidence, which Cochise picked up on, allowing him to run cool, calm and collected.

Jennifer saddled with Taos, one of Riata's newest trick riding prospects. Taos is very well schooled, but just needs a little time to get used to the commotion of the trick riding ring. Jennifer did beautiful patterns with Taos, and lead the group.

Bec, our Australian intern, partnered up with Cisco for this practice. Bec's trick riding grows in leaps and bounds, and today was no exception. She gained her footing with a warm up of run besides and single vaults at a trot, and progressed to parallel fender drags and a suicide drag that was, well, to die for! Her calm demeanor and excellent horsemanship skills shine in the arena, whether schooling herself or her horse. Cisco responded so well to Bec's gentle guidance and ran a great pattern, even though straight away isn't always his favorite.

Aly, also an intern, from Canada, joined up with Willie for this practice. Previously she had been partnered with Buddy, and before that Cisco. Today she progressed from run besides and single vaults to parallel fender drags, suicide drags and stroud layout on Willie at a gallop. The biggest adjustment was the speed and intensity Willie provided that Buddy and Cisco did not, and by the end of practice, Aly's confidence was back up.

Jennifer and Bec have been working on some trick horse with Buddy, and today was an exceptional day for him. He laid down with little to no hesitation, and hardly batted an eye as Jennifer rode Cisco bridle less around him. Bec has been an amazing attribute to the team this summer, and we are all sorry to see her go in August, she will be sorely missed.

Overall, today was a success. The team really gelled together and got some work done, helped each other with tricks, and in the end pitched in to feed, water and care for our guys. Also, our life lessons can be used not only in the saddle, but outside of the ring. Coming prepared, well informed and with a purpose to any interview will always be emblazoned in our minds, thanks to the tutelage of Riata Ranch.