Many thanks!  Props to Regin Fletcher for that needle trick. 

Oh no!  I know first hand about those rotator cuffs and they aren't fun.   I hope everything goes well.  What happened?

Thanks bud.  Missing is part of it. That’s why it’s called roping and not catching!

Merry Christmas!  

Hi Jeff, We have a Beginner Cowhorse clinic scheduled for Jan. 20, 2024.  we'll have the info on the website today.  It'll be under the In-Person Learning tab at the top of this screen.  That's all we have planned right now, but we will have more on the schedule after the 1st of the year.  Thanks, Richard

Hi Randy,  I would probably go to a method that encourages the horse to want to stand quietly at the mounting block.  Maybe take him away from the block and work him from the ground quite a bit then let him come back to the block and stand quiet.  If he moves, repeat the process until he wants to stand still.  The key is to let everything be comfortable AT the block and everything away from the block is uncomfortable.  It won't be long before the horse will stand statue still.  The other approach would be to train the horse to stand there with a stick.  Just put him at the block and if he moves, tap his opposite hip with a flag or stick to move him back towards you.  I prefer the first method but that's just me.  Good Luck!  Richard

Lucas G Truax loping fixes a multitude of problems. 

Hi Lucas, the bucking is strange. How much have you been riding him?  Do you lope circles to get the fresh off him?  How hard is he bucking?  A hop or two or serious about it?  Did he buck when you were out west riding him a lot?  

Those marks don’t really bother me. Many a horse that has been ridden a lot will get them.  The difference in size could be from the way you ride or the way he travels. Could also be that the tree in your saddle was uneven. If they don’t get sore there, I don’t pay it much attention. 

Love to see those circles!