not what you would call pretty but her confirmation, talent, and genetics were exceptional. She was commonly referred to as “the big ugly mare”. It took about a year to get her right. She spooked at birds coming out of a bush and wouldn’t go around a bend on a trail. She was unconfident and inexperienced but she got better every week. She became my husband’s Birddog horse, a winning show horse, and eventually a lesson horse. My husband, being the pedigree and genetics person he was decided after looking at her pedigree that we were going to start making our own horses and he would come up with a short list of suitable sires and talk with me about it.
Getting back to my initial point, the bay stud cold she had the following year was gorgeous and quite the challenge for someone who had little experience with baby horses! Up until that time I had worked for well-known trainers doing finish work and the lesson program! By the time he was about six months old, he was totally obnoxious. I had one session with a trainer I had worked with in the past and this colt. In addition to enlightening me about a few things, he talked to me about leadership and respect. I had my work cut out for me, insight, and a lot to think about which applied not only to baby horses but to other personal, professional, and business situations. It really got me thinking and my lessons became more than just about learning to ride as well as my Team Building Program using horses became a modality for relationship skills, building trust, confidence, verbal and nonverbal communication, dealing with challenges, problem-solving, how the other guy thinks and the importance of focus, vision, partnership, and creativity.
There are pictures of this horse on my website and on my Facebook Timeline. Yes, he made me grow and was the start of many good things that empowered me and gave me the tools to empower others.
Thank you for your interest!
I look forward to meeting you and your team. I think you will enjoy the four-legged coaches!
