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Buck Brannaman Clinic at Staley Homestead

Buck will be teaching at Staley Homestead, Sheridan, Montana, July 27-30, 2013.  The clinic is already full.  However, clinic registration remains fluid.  Life can change the best laid plans.  Interested riders are encouraged to sign up for the waiting list.   Flyer Download:  Brannaman Clinic 2013. AUDITORS are welcome!  We have lots of …

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Hunting for the Hindquarters

Sometimes, I feel like a one trick pony.  My answer to multiple horse/rider problems… “ride the hindquarters.”   That’s become my personal mantra, too.   But, I didn’t invent this answer.  Quoting from Tom Dorrance’s book, True Unity, Willing Communication Between Horse and Human:    “The rider needs to get to the point where …

Emulating Ray (part two)

Combining Softness and Power It’s my observation that lots of Western riders can get their horses soft, while lots of English riders can get their horses moving with power.  The real art is combining softness and power.  My best dressage lessons were made possible by Ray Hunt.  With a simplicity …

Murphy-head-shot

Emulating Ray Hunt

Ray Hunt had a profound impact on my riding.  In spite of the fact, I’m keenly interested in dressage and Ray was a Western Ranch sort of fella, Ray helped me enormously.   Without Ray, dressage wouldn’t make any sense to me.  Ray could say something that would stick in my …

Buck’s clinic at Staley Homestead

  Buck will be teaching at Staley Homestead, Sheridan, Montana, July 27-30, 2013.  The clinic is already full.  However, clinic registration remains fluid.  Life can change the best laid plans.  Interested riders are encouraged to sign up for the waiting list.   For more information:  Brannaman Clinic 2013.

Dressage Test Run Through

VIDEO Riding dressage tests is a fascinating personal challenge.  There’s a competitor in my soul, even if I’m only competing against myself.   My little spitfire Jemima (Han/TB/Arab cross) is not ideal for competition.  Compared to the typical enormous cruise-mobile warmbloods, Jemima’s a compact sports car.  However, at 15-3 hands, her narrow build is easy …

Ruby in a drop noseband, 4 years old, 2006.  Betty riding.  Bonnie Cazier photo (cropped).

Wardrobe with What Purpose?

Questioning the Drop Noseband. Having studied horsemanship for a few (plus) years, it seems I’m perceived as having reached the age of “wisdom.”    Hmmmm…   I’m not sure about that, but maybe that’s wisdom, since I’ve made enough mistakes to know I don’t have all the answers.   In any case, people …