Winter Arena Exercises: Part 2

by with No Comment iRanchiRide
Little Horse the fluffy, fuzzy oh so comfy POA mare.
Let’s focus on legs!
I have never been a very athletic person. I was at the back of the line when they handed out the athletic DNA. Things like running faster, jumping higher, getting on my horse bareback (see previous post here) and posting without stirrups have never come easy for me.
I remember one particular horse show in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho that I was competing in and Barbara Tibbs was judging.  I had been doing quite well that day. JR, my Quarter Horse gelding, was performing beautifully and I was proud of our partnership. Then came the Hunt Seat Equitation class.  JR tolerated my riding him in English tack but getting a ground covering trot out of him took a valiant effort.  He was predominantly a western horse. Some days the best he could muster was an extended jog. JR was not made for English.  However, despite JR’s decidedly western way of going, we usually placed well in Huntseat classes.
The class began. I knew what Barbara would be looking for in a Hunt Seat Equitation rider. I had taken lessons from her and I knew what was expected. I also knew that she knew I knew how I should be riding and my placing in the class would reflect her expectations.  The class was going well. Walk, trot, lope both directions and the line up.  Apparently it was a close class because she pulled several of us back out onto the rail to perform more rail work. I love competition, so knowing I was one of the top in the class drove me to really do my best.

Off we went at a posting trot.  We hadn’t gone far when the dreaded words came from the announcer, “drop your irons” (that’s the stirrups on an English saddle). Ugh! Posting trot with no irons.  Yes, I had done it before and practiced it but I was not good at it.  My competitive spirit drove me on. I gripped the saddle with my legs with all I had in me and attempted to rise as high as my pathetic legs would take me,  This particular exercise usually didn’t last long in a class like this so when I finished one lap around the large rodeo style arena I was sure we were nearly done.

The announcer came over the loud speaker, “Extend the trot”. Oh please no! Keeping JR at an acceptable English trot was proving difficult already and now I had to extend?  I glanced across the arena and noticed a girl on a little white Arabian.  She and her horse were usually one of my close competitors. She was gracefully rising and falling in the saddle as if she had never left her stirrups and her little mare stretched out and extended beautifully at her rider’s cue.  Oh help me! My effort to extend my devoted western horse’s trot felt, to me, pathetic. After a second time around the arena the announcer called for us to return to a regular trot, but still we continued iron-less.  My legs were burning; screaming at me.

Shall I remind you that I am not athletic? I counted our third lap around the arena.  Its funny how just when your pride has swelled in you so that your hat is getting a little tight on your expanding head, something comes along to remind your pride that your hat size doesn’t need to grow.  Four times around the arena. I didn’t recall having signed up for a stirrup-less endurance class.  At four and a half times around that huge arena the announcer finally said the words I was desperate to hear; “walk your horses”.  Sweet walk. Wonderful walk. Glorious walk! We lined up again in the middle of the arena.

I think I got third in the class that day so my performance must not have been as awful as it felt. Looking back on this story, two things come to mind.  First, thank you Barbara Tibbs for putting my teenage pride in its place. Second, practicing riding without stirrups is something I should do more often.
This leads me to the topic for today: riding without stirrups. I rarely ever ride without stirrups anymore unless it’s on a long trail ride and I am stretching out my sore knees.  This is partly due to the fact that I spend most of my time riding young, green horses or with my two year old son in the saddle with me. I also rarely ride without stirrups because no one makes me.  When I was young I had instructors who regularly made me drop my stirrups. My winter riding exercise this week for you and me is to ride without stirrups.
Here are a few tips before you lose the stirrups:
1. 10-15 minutes a day is just fine. I have heard of some people going all in and actually removing their fenders (Western) or leathers (English), but I am definitely not going there.
2.  Start slow. Your horse and your body will thank you.
3.  This should go without saying but I will say it anyway.  Don’t balance with the reins when you drop your stirrups.  Do not attempt this unless you have good, quiet hands.
4.  Don’t let your legs dangle lifelessly (see image 1). your seat and legs will not be doing the work that they must to keep you from bouncing all over your horse’s back.
Image 1- Too relaxed. No leg and seat contact.
5.  Keep them in the same position they were in when your feet were in the stirrups (see image 2).
Image 2- Correct leg position
with foot in the stirrup.

6. Don’t scrunch your legs up as this will cause you to pinch your horse’s sides causing you to miscommunication to your horse that you want more forward motion.  Scrunching your legs up may also cause your heals to come up and your upper body to be thrown forward out of balance (images 3 and 4).

Image -3 Too much bend in the knee.
Heal is coming up and pinching horse’s side.
Image 4- Way too much bend in the knee.
Heals are up and pinching. This is survival mode.

7.  The purpose of this exercise is to develop balance. Stretch your legs down and around your horse’s barrel and balance with your seat not your hands or knees (image 5).  Engage those core muscles.

Image 5- Stretch your legs down and
around your horse’s barrel.

8.  Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.  Ride correctly. Don’t ride in survival mode and expect your seat and balance to improve.

If this winter arena exercise sounds just a little too scary and you would like to keep those stirrups thank you very much, start slow at a walk or jog. If this sounds super easy and somewhat pointless, I am guessing you were somewhere closer to the front of that athleticism line than I was.  For those of you like me, just think of the great leg muscles we will be building!

This blog is written and maintained by Danielle Otis, one of the wranglers (one job title among many) at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch.  It is a collection of tales and stories related to the ranch that come straight “from the horse’s mouth”.

The oh so fluffy horse that is featured in the pictures above is Little Horse, my POA mare. I don’t really have long legs, just a small horse.

Winter Arena Exercises, Part 1

by with No Comment iRanchiRide
Zeus my 2012 POA/Appaloosa

As we reach the midway point of December, our North Idaho countryside is usually covered in a blanket of snow, but this year it’s not.  November put out a great effort with nearly 6 inches of snow here at the ranch. However, since then it has warmed up and we have no more snow. Don’t get me wrong, it is still beautiful here and wagon rides and Christmas parties have continued at the ranch.

To get away from the weather coverage and get to my point, its been a while since I have ridden my horses.  I can tell this is going to be a long winter as I already have horse withdrawals. You may ask, “Why don’t you just ride in the indoor arena?”  A 70′ by 100′ arena gets pretty small when you start adding things like two of our smaller sleighs and one large motor home. (Insert sad face here) The weather, however, has warmed (48 degrees today) and the footing outside has un-frozen so I can get out on the trails again. Woohoo!

Smokey a four year old I put 17 days
on before winter arrived and
ended my fun.

While I have been sitting inside, listening to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, finding every scrap of info I can on Cowboy Dressage and Western Dressage, and reading dozens of articles on Horse Collaborative, I have been dreaming about riding my project horses Zeus and Smokey.  In the midst of my daydreams, I have compiled several horseback arena exercises.  Most of these are adapted from Pat Wyse’s Basic Handle.

Here are a couple exercises you can do in the often small spaces we have available for riding in the winter time. Whether that space is an indoor arena or an open patch of un-frozen ground, you can continue to make progress in your horse’s training through the cold winter months.

Exercise One: Corner Circles
This exercise can be done at any gait but be sure to introduce it at a walk first, especially if your horse doesn’t know that your leg means anything but go. For a green horse this is a great way to introduce guiding leg pressure in a low stress environment. For a horse farther along in training, this is a great warm up or cool down exercise to get them listening to your legs. You can also use this exercise for introducing the turn on the haunches as it keeps the forward motion needed to perform a haunch turn without falling backward in the spin causing a belly-button turn.

Start at A and ride deep into the corner.

B: Begin a right hand, 5-10 meter circle. Bring your horse’s nose around enough that you can see the corner of his eye. Use your inside leg just behind the girth to ask your horse to move out and away from your leg.  Pay close attention to the timing of your leg ques. When your horse steps away from your leg immediately release the leg pressure. Ask again with your inside leg. If this is your horse’s first introduction to moving off your leg, all your asking for is a little step then release, little step then release.  If your horse moves off your leg nicely you can ask for a more dramatic crossing over step away from your leg.  Remember to ask soft first and increase the pressure until the horse responds, then release. Always start soft and increase pressure as needed. Ride strait down the long side of the arena toward the next corner.

C: Ride deep into the corner again.  Begin a right hand circle. This time, use your outside leg forward, at about your cinch, to ask your horse to step their front end around.  Again, start soft and increase the leg pressure until your horse steps away then release. Ask again. Start soft and release when your horse steps over.  Remember, you can ask for a more drastic step over on the haunches from a more experienced horse. Only ask for a little step from a horse that you are just introducing the leg to. Ride down the short end of the arena toward the next corner.

D: Ride deep into the corner. Begin a right hand circle and complete as in at letter B.

E. As you ride out of the circle at D ride across the diagonal and reverse directions.  Complete this exercise tracking left following directions as above only apposite.

Exercise Two: Straight Lines
We use this exercise on colts that are in their first few days of riding and our most solid saddle horses. For that horse that constantly tries to cut the corners and dive to the middle this is great to get them listening to your aids as well.  Introduce this exercise at a walk but be sure to increase the speed as training progresses. Riding this exercise while rating your horse (speeding up and slowing down) is a great way to create focus in the arena.

B: Create an octagon as you ride around the arena or field.  Focus on a point in front of you and ride a straight line to the point, guiding with your leg and reins. Ride as close to that point as you can (without running into it) then release the guiding pressure turn and readjust to a new point and begin guiding again.  Use your hand and legs in coordination to guide your horse in straight lines.  Your legs are there for a reason. Use them!

A: The same principals apply as you make a pentagon shape with your horse.  This does add a degree of difficulty as your angles will be sharper.  The lines will also be longer so you will have more time to focus on the straight line and really perfect it.

I hope these winter arena exercises add a little variety to your riding and training this winter. Stay tuned for more winter training tips.

If you would like more information about visiting or riding at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch visit www.westernpleasureranch.com or call toll free at (888)863-9066.

For more info about my horseback mentor, Pat Wyse, visit his web site at www.horsewyse.com.

I would love to hear what you do with your horse in the winter. If you would like to share some training exercises to be featured on this blog e-mail them to [email protected]

Don’t Squat With Yer Spurs On Or Other Places

by with One Comment iRanchiRide
Danielle taking the horses back to the field after a long day on the trail.


Some of our guests ask, and many more wonder in anxious silence, “How do I answer the call of nature while on a trail ride?” Here are a few tips from a seasoned trail guide and trail rider.

 
#1 Go before you leave. Remember that time when you were a kid, headed out on a road trip with the family, only minutes after departing and you declare “I gotta go!” Likely Dad’s response was, “Why didn’t you go before we left?” This is a good scenario to learn from when preparing to head out on a long trail ride.
 
#2 When nature calls, don’t answer it. Put nature on hold until the ride is over.
 
#3 Sometimes you just can’t put nature on hold. Believe me I know. I spent one summer guiding trail rides while pregnant and the call of nature was just NOT going to wait.  In this situation, choose a nice secluded spot with lots of brushy coverage. You don’t want your fellow riders to see more of nature than they were expecting. For those of you riding in those un-natural places without trees, good luck to you!
 
#4 Choose a spot carefully. Don’t make the rookie mistake of leaving the trail you’re on only to find that you are relieving yourself in another trail…with other riders coming up the trail behind you.  Becoming the butt of wrangler jokes for years to come, and inadvertently christening said trail with its new name, Full Moon Trail, probably isn’t on your vacation bucket list. True story.
 
#5 Leave your horse with your guide or tied to a tree.  You don’t need your mighty steed getting …well…nosy.
 
#6 Bury it. This might be getting just a little too personal, but learn from the boy scouts and bury it.
 
#7 “How do I bury it? It’s not like I have a boy scout along with his little collapsible shovel and all.”  Well I don’t know, get creative!
 
#8 Don’t use the “toilet paper” you think nature has provided for you. It’s just not going to end well.  That leafy green may look as soft as Charmin but likely it will leave you wishin’ you weren’t a itchin’.
 
#9 And last but not least, don’t squat with yer spurs on.
Saddling up and heading out on horseback, whether it is for an hour or for a week, is something I look forward to rain or shine.  Sharing that experience with someone else makes it even better. Now you can join me on the trail just a little more prepared for your next horseback adventure into the woods.

Danielle enjoying a view of the fall colors on her horse JR.


This blog is written and maintained by Danielle Otis, one of the wranglers (one job title among many) at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch.  It is a collection of tales and stories related to the ranch that come straight “from the horse’s mouth”.



 

Goodbye Old Friend

by with No Comment iRanchiRide
Today is a day I have dreaded. I have known for many years that today would come, but I have always hoped we could put it off just a little bit longer. Today I said goodbye to my old friend.
JR Chicka Do was my big, palomino, Quarter Horse gelding and he was Just Right. He was mine for 18 years. When I think of my childhood, JR is in every part of it. In fact, he was there as I navigated all of my adolescent and young adult years. We spent a couple awkward years in Pony Club , all of my 11 years of 4-H and years of teaching other 4-H ers and other horse crazy kids. I spent hundreds of hours and countless horse shows on the back of that big blonde horse. JR saw other horses come and go, he was part of my wedding, he took my daughter for her first ride, her first horse show and taught her to lope just this summer.
Twelve years ago JR was diagnosed with Navicular Disease.  We have worked to put off this day since that time. Because of the great work of John Fuller, our farrier, JR spent most of those years pain free and sound. As Fall approached, it became obvious that we could no longer maintain him pain free.
JR goes on to wait for me in heaven today. I was blessed to have the many years with him that I have had and I will forever be thankful for him. JR was practically perfect in every way. He was my teacher, partner, student, friend and great source of joy. Daddy, thank you for letting me steal your horse from you all those years ago.
Goodbye Old Friend…

A Fall Ride on the Moose Mountain Trail

by with No Comment iPlayiRanchiRide
Blacktail Lake
On the trail to Blacktail Lake
The Moose Mountain Loop Trail is an approximately 9 mile, round trip trail that takes you past two great mountain lakes.  This is a great horseback ride or hike. I rode this trail with my parents; Roley and Janice, my brother and sister-in-law; Isaac and Libby, and my two kids; Emily (4) and Gabe (2) on August 27, 2014.  Gabe rode in front of me and Emily rode behind Libby as neither of them are ready to ride their own horse on this sort of trail.
We drove to the trail head and unloaded our crew of 5 horses and 7 people. The trail head has a large parking lot with enough room for our 4 horse, goose-neck trailer and several other cars.  We headed out and followed the trail markers to Blacktail lake. This first part of the trail is a moderate climb with several long stretches of boardwalk.  Blacktail is a smaller lake but still beautiful.  We took our lunch break here and the kids had fun catching tadpoles and baby frogs until Gabe fell in.  We started a fire to dry off his clothes and keep the half naked toddler warm.  There are a couple primitive campsites here and plenty of grazing space that would make for an excellent spot for the horses to stay overnight.
Gabe, just after going for an
unplanned swim
Our lunch spot and campfire
To continue on our loop, we followed Trail 213 to Moose Mountain.  The trail levels out after the first short climb and is a very pretty ride through the high mountain trees.  As you approach the summit of Moose Mountain the trail get steeper and rockier. With Gabe riding in front of me, it was still not too difficult. Riding the ridge up to the summit offers some great view of both Blacktail Lake and Moose Lake.  The ridge narrows as you reach the top and I have to admit that last switchback made me thank God I was riding a great horse (I have a good healthy fear of steep drop-offs).  As you come down off the summit, the ridge begins to widen and offer some beautiful eastern views. At this point in our ride, Gabe and I dismounted and mom led my horse.  First of all, riding down hill with a two year old in front of you is not so easy and second of all that awesome horse I was thanking God for, is a bit mutton-withered and I would be riding on her ears by the time I got to the bottom.
Views coming off Moose Mountain
 As you continue on the ridge begins to narrow again and you come to what looks like (from the back of the line and on foot) a dead end, but no! The trail drops off sharply to the left.  This is where it gets a little western.  Everyone dismounted here and Isaac led the way on foot leading his horse.  Here the trail is a very steep, narrow side hill with a single switchback. We all turned our horses loose to follow Isaac down the trail while we scrambled down after on foot.  After this interesting descent everyone re-mounted, except Gabe and I (remember my mutton-withered horse) and the trail continues with a moderate descent through the trees into Moose Lake. I was able to start riding again about a quarter mile from the lake.  Moose Lake is about three times bigger that Blacktail Lake and has more primitive camping and fishing opportunities.  The trail wraps around the lake and heads back out the nearly two miles to the trail head.
Little Horse looking at
Moose Lake
Dad and Pepsi on one of
the many boardwalks
About a mile out from Moose Lake, on the way back to the trail head, one of the bridges crossing a creek was broken in the middle and lay in the creek bed. It looked as if it had happened recently and my bet is that the Forest Service will have it repaired soon as this is a high traffic trail.  We were able to get around the fallen bridge easily enough.  Dad and Isaac rode and us ladies (plus Gabe) led our horses across.
The broken bridge
Almost back to the trailhead
This was a really great family ride with beautiful views, great horses, not so great fishing.  This would also make a great day hike or overnight trip.  I would not suggest taking small children on this ride unless they ride frequently and a hardy in the saddle.  I was so proud of my little ones as they never got scared or tired.  As we were leaving Moose Lake we told Gabe that we were headed back to the trailer and he started crying and said he wanted to keep riding.  Oh and he wanted me to get off his horse!
Wylie and Blacktail Lake
*As a side note, this is not a ride that we take our guests on as we do not have permits to outfit in this area.  This was just a fun ride that we went on as a family and I though you might like to hear about our adventures in North Idaho.

For more information on trail riding at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, visit:  www.westernpleasureranch.com

The Bigger the Horse the Bigger the Heart

by with No Comment iRanchiRide

Amos and Andy were the best team of Percheron draft horses a person could ever hope to have. Amos was the motivated half of the team and Andy would rather just eat hay. They knew their job and they did it well. They taught all of us here at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch how to drive a team.

We lost Amos a few years ago at the ripe old age of 28. Andy is enjoying retirement and is currently the oldest horse on the ranch at 30 years young.

Andy misses Amos, his life long working partner, but has adjusted to life without Amos. In the winter, Andy has a private stall and run with a special diet of equine senior and hay pellets. In the summer, he has a part time job  babysitting the youngsters in one of our green pastures.

Andy loves any special attention he can get, especially if it involves a treat. So when you stop by the ranch be sure to find Andy and give him a scratch and a treat. Just make sure it’s a soft treat, he’s an old man and doesn’t have many teeth left.

Emily giving Andy a little love.
Andy- 30 years old and on a diet of grain and hay pellets and looking pretty good.
Andy enjoying some down time in his winter pen.
A memorial to Amos and Andy in the hallway at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch lodge.
The Bigger the Horse the Bigger the Heart.

My Little Cowgirl

by with No Comment iRanchiRide
We had some fantastic early spring weather here at the ranch and we spent every moment we could outside soaking in that vitamin D.  The April showers have since arrived, but I thought I would share with you one of Emily’s favorite activities during those warm, sunny days.  I have to say I am pretty proud of my little three year old cowgirl.  She rode my good ol’ boy, JR, and one of the ranch horses, Honey, all by her self.  She was very confident in her ability to ride her horse all by herself.  “Mama, will you leave the arena? I want to do it all by myself!” She learned how to steer and kick to make the horse go forward. She trotted like her uncle Isaac (complete with an attempt to post) and announced that she wanted “to lope like my aunt Libby!” No, I didn’t let her lope. I am looking forward to the time we will spend together with our horses this summer!
Emily riding JR
Emily riding Honey, and me riding Little Horse.  Emily has laid claim to Little Horse.

My Little Cowgirl trotting along
More trotting
Gabe even got in on the fun! He was all smiles and giggles as he went for his ride.
At the end of the day, a cowgirl always takes care of her horse.

Winter Horse Therapy

by with No Comment iRanchiRide

Winter is slowly loosening its icy grip on us here at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch and I am suffering from some serious cabin fever symptoms.  So today, I left the kids with mom for a couple hours so I could go outside for some winter horse therapy.

JR = Practically Perfect in Every Way

Of the many horses here on the ranch, three of them are my very own.  I have JR, my 21 year old Quarter Horse who is practically perfect in every way and has been my partner, teacher, student and friend for 17 years.  Little Horse is a 15ish year old POA mare and Zeus is her yearling POA/Appaloosa colt.

Little Horse = Nervous Nelly

I headed to the barn and caught Little Horse and JR to groom away some of that winter hair.  Little Horse is always a bit of a nervous Nelly when she’s tied in the barn, so she danced around while JR stood quietly enjoying the brushing and scratches I was giving him.  While some may consider getting covered in pounds of white horse
hair a pain, I consider the time spent in the barn brushing away those winter coats to be very therapeutic.

JR Thinks spring is coming!
Little Horse doesn’t think spring is coming very soon.

After JR and Little Horse were brushed out, I turned them back out and got a little show from them and their young pen-mates. Even my gimpy old man got in on the fun.

Little Horse showing the youngsters who’s boss.
JR watching the show.

Running and playing
Don’t mess with the head man.

Little Horse coming to say hello.

Then I went and visited Zeus at the little horse barn.  A winter of very little attention from me has caused him to be a bit jumpy and stand-offish. He is coming around however as he has discovered that I can scratch and rub away that winter hair in places that he just can’t reach to scratch.

Zeus = Son of nervous Nelly, Mr. “Not so sure I want you to touch me.”

“Hey, whats going on back there?” I love those Appy spots!

It was very refreshing spending an hour with my fuzzy ponies.  There is a quote by Winston Churchill which I think is very true: There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.  ~Winston Churchill

2013 Dude Ranchers’ Association Convention

by with No Comment iRanchiRide

Well I have just returned from the 2013 Dude Ranchers’ Convention at the Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg, Arizona.  My parents (Roley and Janice) were good enough to take the whole family along with them to this annual convention.
 It was great to see some new scenery as we traveled north from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon.  The Grand Canyon was, of course, spectacular.  However I would suggest that when you plan your next visit, make sure you don’t have a massive head cold like I did.  Here was my thought process: “Oh that’s really pretty! Wow, get a picture! Ok, I am going to go sleep in the back of our massive 12 passenger van now.” Speaking of our van.  Because we had the whole crew (Mom, Dad, Me, Landon, Emily, Gabe, Isaac, and Libby), we couldn’t fit in a normal rental car so we ended up renting this giant 12-passenger van. It was not the sportiest ride but it was really quite comfortable.  We named it the Queen Mary.  Dad suggested the Titanic, but we decided that name might start our trip off on the wrong foot. 
After the Grand Canyon, we headed south again to Sedona; a beautiful country full of red rock.  Then we headed up over the mountains on our way to Wickenburg.  On our way  up and down the twisted Highway 89, (seriously, when you look at this road on a map it looks like someone planted multiple corkscrews in the road) we found the city of Jerome. This was a booming copper mining town who’s population peaked at 15,000 in the1920’s, but is now a whopping 450 people. The craziest thing about this town is its location.  It is literally built on the side of a hill that you wouldn’t want to walk your mule across let alone build a whole town on!  They are proud to be America’s most vertical town.  The town is built on a series of switchbacks where front doors literally open onto Highway 89.  So for an interesting drive, I suggest you grab the Dramamine and explore the quaint town of Jerome, Arizona.
The Dude Ranchers’ Association convention was held at the resort ranch, Rancho de los Caballeros.  They have a beautiful facility and do an excellent job of serving their guests.  I was ready to take the king sized bed home with me when we left because it was so heavenly. 
We also had the opportunity to take part in a little friendly Team Penning competition.  For those of you who don’t know how it works here’s a quick run down.  About 8 cows are all on one end of the arena and a small pen is on the other end.  Four team members ride toward the cows, cut three out, and herd them down to the small pen.  This is a timed event, so the faster you move these cows, the better.  I was quite proud of our team because we placed 3rd out of nine teams and, I must say, we actually followed the rules; unlike certain other teams.
I really love attending conventions like this because between the speakers and the vendors you get some great inspiration on how you can give your guests an even better ranch experience.  It is also very encouraging to see the many ways we are doing things right for our guests here at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch.
Please enjoy these photos from our tour of Arizona.
+Landon Otis at the Grand Canyon

Sedona, Arizona

Waiting our turn for Team Penning at the Rancho de los Caballeros

On deck for Team Penning
Western Pleasure Guest Ranch
Sandpoint, Idaho
@Western Pleasure Guest Ranch

A Day in the Life of a Ranch Babe

by with No Comment iLoveiRanchiRide

Have you ever wondered what goes on at a North Idaho guest ranch during the unpredictable month of March? Through rain, snow, hail or sunshine, the ranch-hands continue their work on the ranch. Follow Emily through her day and learn just what a ranch babe does to help the ranch prepare for spring.

Emily starts the day out by helping Grandma to make beds in the guest rooms.  She makes sure the quilts are  on exactly the way she wants.
The ladies who come for quilting retreats need some help too.  Emily loves to help them sew.

Next, its time to head to the barn to ride horses.  This time of year, everyone is riding horses to prepare them for the summer guest ranch season and the young horses are getting a refresher course.  All the action takes place in the indoor arena because everywhere else is covered in snow, ice or mud.  Emily likes to supervise the riders, dogs, and cats from the hay stack.
The horses stand in the alley, waiting patiently to be ridden.  This is Chance sporting Emily’s saddle. Yes, that’s a big horse (16.2+ hh) and yes that’s a tiny saddle (8″ seat).

When she is not supervising or riding, Emily is just outside the barn checking the mud levels.  
All that work tuckers a girl out! After a quick lunch break, Emily is ready for a nap.  Anywhere will do, even the kitchen counter is a good spot to catch some z’s.

After lunch, the sun is out so its back to the haystack to supervise the cat and soak up some much needed vitamin D.
Now its Emily’s turn to ride! She loves to ride with grandma and tell the horse exactly what to do.  “Walk, trot, whoooooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhh, walk, whoooooooaaaaaaaahhhhh, trot”,  she tells Blue.

Blue is nice, but Chance is warm and comfy.  There is no better place to rest your head.

By the end of the day, this ranch babe is worn out.  A bag full of horse blankets in the tack room makes a nice place to rest.