Richard Boatwright the best things I ever obtained is a ski helmet, nice and insulated with ear muffs and protection and a heated jacked that runs from my Dewalt batteries to keep the core warm, heated socks also work a treat, this was me a few years ago at Hamsterley forest doing a 14 mile ride on my vanner mare who is in foal now, before I turned western! 

in the UK I’ve found you need to get on fresh snow before it has time to freeze and become slippery, especially if the horses are shod, ours love the snow and it gives them a real freshness and zip 

Richard Boatwright Completely agree, it’s akin to English dressage riders with double reins, Pelham bits and all the hardware associated, if mastered it’s a thing of beauty, if not it’s a sure fire way to wreck a horse! 

In terms of the ES20 Hackamore series it certainly sounds like a fun idea and if you have the right colt for it and enough time then why not! I know you like a challenge! 

it would certainly benefit those with horses that do not appreciate the snaffle 

It’s an interesting one to observe as a UK rider, having attended a California Bridle Association clinic last fall at the V5 ranch in CA where a lot of the riders were at the various stages of the “Program” 

I can understand the principles behind the process and the end result but for me I observed an awful lot of very busy horses working on the bit and not getting much peace compared to the horses in snaffles and hackamores.

I’m not knocking it and the experienced horses were on point and worked brilliantly on the cattle, it appeared to the unknowing like myself as more of a lifestyle choice in riding than giving anything more to the rider than a well broken snaffle or hackamore horse. 

I took a lot away from the clinic and the trainers were excellent but 8-9 years in the making along with mega expensive bits did leave me wondering, the noise from all those crickets from a dozen horses was deafening! 

Lucas G Truax Much appreciated, for sure if I end up in your neck of the woods, this years state side trip is to South Carolina to learn from the master himself! 

Urghhh this weather, frozen round pen again unfortunately and now I’m having to work a few days away so things ground to a halt again.

Farrier visit yesterday, all perfect for him despite some thrush, well all except the young filly, she was a challenge, thought my work on the feet had done her good but she didn’t agree so more work to do before the next visit, managed to address the left ear situation which is progress and she’s leading really well now, roll on the weekend and time to ride my grey, need a few hours in the saddle I think and she needs to get softer in time for your May Clinic, time to re saddle the big Friesian again and put my big boy pants on and see what he remembers! 

Thick fog forecast for the next few days also so I’m sure the mountain lions will be everywhere waiting to pounce on them! 

Katherine Cosper how are they settling in? 

Some nice videos Lucas, looks a fantastic place and your living the dream mate 👍

Katherine Cosper haha these accidents do happen, great looking colts and good luck with them, look forward to seeing the progress 

Richard Boatwright yes that was evident today, worked the code on Stanley, did some work with the bit and rope then some ground driving, went ok to a degree but nothing like the success with Mooney (but she is 15!) he was struggling with the forward motion being a lazy cob/shire so going to step it back with him to get that forward motion installed in him on ground work. 

Wish he had Seeta’s drive, she was a fire cracker today again but some really nice working of the code, rugged up again and walking about, some quick fire work in pawing and very slow introduction of the bridle, found a resistance on her left ear area so working through that.

No time for the others as the shoot was on today and they use our field so working them with guns going off is a wreck waiting to happen…..

tomorrow is another day.

I think a master class in ground driving is needed when I see you in April, to many ropes and not enough hands 🤣🤣🤣

Lastly my big girl Mooney, saddled up, bridle on and ground driven, absolute star, drawing back, yielding to lightest pressure etc 

just need to work on her forward motion more and flexion to soften her more before I start the 20 day program on the snaffle bit and also want to introduce the roping aspect, although lack of cows is an issue 🤣🤣

looking forward to getting back in the saddle as it seems ages since over ridden anything because of the weather