Welcome Mini Mocha!

AND HIS NAME IS…. First, thanks so much for all the fun name ideas that were posted on Facebook! I’ll share my thoughts on the names that were sent in, then I’ll tell you why some of my favorites didn’t fit this mini…then I’ll share his name. Names that made me laugh out loud: ⭐️Mushroom…

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AQHA Journal story on Stacy Westfall

The AQHA Journal magazine story. Scroll through this PDF or click to download. I’m kinda speechless (can you believe it?) and I don’t know what to add except, thank you to Holly Clanahan for telling the story, Donnie Rosie for the beautiful photos and those who were interviewed, my husband Jesse, and friends Suzi Vlietstra…

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3 Reasons to ride in split leather reins

In the leather rein category the two main choices are split leather and single loop reins. Split leather reins are two individual leather reins, typically eight feet long. Each rein attaches to the bit individually and the rider holds both in their hand when mounted. Even typing it out makes it clear that there is…

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Willow, AQHA ‘I Can Can I’ won an award!

Although this buckle is dated 2019 it just arrived! Willow aka ‘I Can Can I’ is a registered American Quarter Horse and in 2019 we competed in both traditional and western dressage. You can watch that journey on YouTube under my playlist ‘The Trail to the World Show.’ That year we not only learn about…

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Presto’s first trail ride

For Presto’s first trail ride, I asked my husband, Jesse, to ride my mare Willow ahead of Presto. I’ve ‘ponied’ Presto from Willow before so they are both comfortable with being close to each other. Willow was both a calm influence and in case of emergency I could have used her as a wall to…

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Episode 88: Western Dressage: a conversation with Lynn Palm

  Today I’m talking with Lynn Palm about western dressage. Lynn literally wrote the book on the subject of western dressage. She competes, judges, and teaches people about the sport. In this conversation, we discuss the step by step nature of the dressage tests, how the tests lead to balance in horse and rider…and more!…

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