Horse Journey

How can you describe love? A picture says so much. Link and Rollie say “hello” to little 2 year old Madeline, with grampa Pete.

At last year’s Chilliwack Mane Event I personally met this inspiring horseman and clinician, Michael Richardson who is in a wheelchair. He says he doesn’t identify himself as someone in a wheelchair.  His clinics and presentations were amazing even to his able bodied riders, and his attitude so positive. However, Michael teaches riding, trains horses, and gives clinics from his wheelchair! He rides his horse with a special saddle. When I think about the challenges Michael has to overcome to ride a horse or do things that come easy to me as an able bodied person, I do have to ask myself: If he can do it, what’s my problem then? It’s so inspiring!

I also use his wonderful explanation of riding. Michael explained that walking and riding are a similar motion, it comes naturally to us. That is one of the reasons why riding is so therapeutic to us. And, moving your hips to a figure 8 when riding helps to move with the horse’s rhythm. I’ve tried it riding my horses and it works really well! It helps both the horse and rider balance.

I’ve sent Michael an email inviting him to come back to Canada, I’m so hoping he could give a clinic to us here! (When I met him, he did say to visit him in Texas anytime. I might have to do that some time!)

Please view these 2 videos of Michael Richardson. Well worth watching! Enjoy!

Michael Richardson – An inspiration

Michael Richardson – A new perspective

This is his website (note the name of his ranch is Broken R Ranch.) http://brokenrranch.com/

His facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/michaelrichardsonbenefit

 Five years ago today I drove to Cranbrook to look at a young 2.5 yearTennessee Walking horse gelding named Link. I found the ”horse for sale ad” on a TWH website. I fell in love with Link after meeting him and seeing his people friendly personality.  

I’ve been guided to a new beginning. I’m now working at Arion Therapeutic Riding Farm. I started as a volunteer leading horses and sidewalking.  In the last couple weeks I helped out feeding horses. Then I was asked if I could teach horsemanship skills for kids and adults to help with building confidence and self-esteem. Next thing I know, now I’m signing up to get certified through CanTRA as a riding instructor. And, combining my passion of horses, counselling and life coaching, I’m signing up to a course for Equine Assisted Therapy / Animal Assisted Therapy. This course is held in Calgary in May at Healing Hooves Equine Facilitated Counselling. I’m so excited. I can hardly wait! Maybe Link and Rollie could be your next equine counsellors?

I have a little picture I love, I clipped it out of a magazine a while ago. It is so true.  It says:

“All I pay my psychiatrist is the cost of feed and hay, and he’ll listen to me any day.” ~ Author Unknown.

 Horses really are very good listeners.

Rollie the listener.

A little warmer March weather has turned the ice to mudville. I’ve now trailered Rollie to lessons 3 times. Our instructor is Ashton, and the lessons are at the indoor arena at Serendipity. The trailering part has gone surprisingly well. We had never trailered Rollie by himself (without Link) before. He’s handling it all very well. The lessons have been great, and a good practice for both of us. We’re doing dressage in gait. Ashton even climbed on Rollie and took him through his paces. She doesn’t normally ride gaited horses. As soon as he started gaiting, she grinned ear to ear. Wow! Smooth! We like to call it the “gaited grin”. LOL! 

Ready for lesson! Rollie and me at indoor arena.

Here’s a video of the first lesson, me riding Rollie and Ashton instructing. (It’s not our first lesson ever, but we’re a bit rusty since our last lesson last summer at a different facility).