Let's face it, we aren't as brave and strong as we'd like to be or even as we used to be.  From the time I was thirteen years old (and even sometimes before that) I was fearless when it came to horses.  I worked at a boarding and rent-string facility and couldn't wait to get on any horse that gave anyone even a hint of trouble; and rent string horses can provide more trouble than most.  I've started and shown more horses than I can count.  Been injured as least my share of times, but always got back on without a moments hesitation.  Then, life, or motherhood, or whatever you want to call it happened.  Maybe it was actually sanity setting in, who knows, but the truth of the matter was I got scarred. 

I always thought I'd be a horse trainer when I grew up.  Even thought at one time that I might make it to the Olympics but that wasn't in the cards for me.  I have a great career and still ride quite regularly but it is not my full time job.

When Deven decided to become a full time horse trainer and go off to John's place to get certified I was excited but (I admit reluctantly) jealous.  He's a wonderful trainer and we make a great training team when I'm able to help, but of course I don't get to ride as much as I'd like.  For some reason I am still pretty brave on other people's horses.  This seems to evaporate on my own animals. 

As any wife who has taken instruction from their husband can attest to, it's no easy feet for either the teacher or the student.  The dynamic is skewed and more than a little emotional...it's no picnic for anyone.  But we persevere and have both lived to tell the tale.  We are even stil married! 

I decided to approach Deven about adding this page to the website. I wanted to share from time to time what I go through as a part-time trainer and rider who, in mid-life, have found my fear along with a horse that I love but who likes to give me grief.

Meet Shiloh:

Meet Shiloh:I bought Shiloh for all the wrong reasons; she was pretty.  A beautiful black Tobiano Paint who (in spite of the online video) had little education and even less sense.  As soon as I got out of the truck I was hooked. 

Shiloh has a couple of issues.  Primarily she is heard bound and she had no manners.  She is also more stubborn than most and seems to need to learn everything the hard way.  Deven has worked with her quite a bit for me and she has come an amazing distance.  There are things that she does though that I will have to work through and that means overcoming my fear. 

We went on a competitive trail ride a few weeks back that just scarred the spit out of me.  The wind was blowing about 20 mph and she did not seem to be paying a bit of attention to anything I asked.  I admit, I actually came to tears.  Now you probably don't know me but that just doesn't happen to me.  I was ready to give up.  Give up on the ride, the horse, everything to do with horses; I was done.  Deven wasn't having any of it.  We traded saddles in the middle of the trail and I rode Indy.  Now keep in mind I love Indy, I watched him grow from a scarred 2 year old straight off the BLM range to an amazing horse.  But I had only ridden him once at our house, for 5 minutes in our arena...did I mention the wind?  At any rate, Deven rode Shiloh and kept her on task for the rest of the ride.  While I won't say she was "good" she was certainly manageable and I was re-thinking my decision to pull her saddle and bridle off and sett her free.  Indy was an angel.  Throughout the trail ride he did anything I asked, went over obstacles, ignored the boogey man, anything.  We decided that for the next few competitions Deven will work with Shiloh and I will ride Indy...then it's my turn to try again.

Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on how Shiloh and I do.  I'm not much of a quitter and she has brought me closer to quitting than any horse in the last 30 years.  Everytime I go out to ride I decide that I'm not going to be scarred any more.  While I know it's not that simple, it seems to get less and less.  Chin up ladies, we will get through this.