Posts

100 Arrows a Day for 2022

-
Image
  I have committed to ground shooting an average of 100 arrows a day for the 2022 calendar year. I had a goal during the off season to improve my arrow handling in hopes that I will be able to get 3 successful shots off during tower runs in 2022 competitions. I also want to be more precise in my shooting, not just hit the bullseye, but to be able to hit any specific spot on a target.  The “off season” should have started in October with my last competition taking place at the end of September. Instead, I found my practice time getting set aside as the daylight grew shorter each day. I had gone from shooting several times a week to maybe once a week through November and December. I recommitted to my practice schedule on January 1 st . I brought my bow with me to the barn so I could shoot in the indoor arena on days that it rains. If I stick to my commitment that will be 36,500 arrows shot in the year. The goal is an average which means I don’t have to shoot every day. The majority of
Post a Comment
Read more

Our Introduction to Mountain Trail

-
Image
    I'm a big fan of cross training no matter what discipline the horse I am working with is intended for. I find it incredibly beneficial to teach them different skills and disciplines and to expose them to new things. I did everything under the sun with the little mare I had before Joe. I bought her to show Western Pleasure, and in the 17 years I had her with her we barrel raced, sorted cows, did cowboy mounted shooting, countless parades, trail class, western riding, hunt seat, and spent 5 years on a rodeo grand entry team. I was once told that by doing that I was a "jack of all trades but a master of none". What I ended up with was a very confident all-around horse that has gone on to make a great kid’s horse. Joe was bred for Western Pleasure, turns out he's a kick ass archery horse and confident trail horse who loves to work cows and go for gallops at the ocean. I'm always looking for new things to engage his brain and keep him from shutting down, which h
Post a Comment
Read more

My Barefoot Journey with Joe

-
Image
  **In pulling together pictures for this blog I know see the importance of photographing hooves on a regular basis. My mentor continually reminds me to take more heel off the right front and I now see that I had it lower in March of 2019 than it is today. I now have a dedicated folder for hoof pictures and have them all dated. *** My barefoot hoof journey started 3 years ago when I had Joe's shoes pulled and learned how to maintain his hooves myself. It was the answer to one of the deepest layers in the onion of his unsoundness. For the past 3 years I’ve been balancing his hooves on my own on a weekly basis. I have my own set of hoof knives and a few favorite rasps. Every few months I spend a Sunday at a clinic with the mentor that taught me how to balance hooves. He checks my work and usually tells me I’m still leaving too much heel. He makes a comment on how Joe’s front hooves almost look like they belong to a horse now, instead of a pony . I spend time on those Sundays watc
Post a Comment
Read more