Now living back in the South and enjoying Southern Hospitality to the fullest!
Need horse help? Contact me at 517-703-6765
Happy Trails............

Let's start with the basics...Learn how herd dynamics play an important role in how you train your horse. Learn how horses think. I specialize in problem solving, beginner horsemanship and colt starting. Feel free to email me with questions or if you want to book a clinic. I give huge discounts to barns or groups wanting to learn natural horsemanship skills.

Head Shy Horse

Nevada Reign

Introducing......... Nevada Reign

New Arrivals

Look at the new youngsters that I get to start and foundation. This is Kali and Kyle and they are Gypsy Vanners. They arrive the day after Thanksgiving from North Carolina. Their new owners are so excited and so am I! :) Don't they look sweet!

High Point Show Series

On Sunday I was asked to help assist in a local high point horse show. I was thrilled to have been asked and the weather here in Florida has been beautiful so I told them I would help. After two classes and my input on who should win and why, the judge handed the reins to me and said, " you got it Joan, you go ahead and judge the show." So, I judged my first big show. It was so much fun, I loved it. I know what a well trained horse looks like and how they should move. The hardest part was being friends with so many of the folks who showed. The best part was a few horses at the show have been in my training program. I have got to tell you that they were always in the top two if not finishing first. I was not leaning in favor towards them either because the other two judges had no idea what horses at the show I had trained or worked with in the past and though I had the final say on the winner, they made sure I was correct. I could not have been more proud of them or my work. Yahoo! Just another way of confirming that Natural Horsemanship works!! Thank you God for that pat on the back!

And last but not least, I have made the difficult decision of not applying for the Mustang Challenge in Ocala, Florida in March 09. The main reason besides finances and sponsorship for my decision is because of my leg. I should have been on bed rest for three months, not training a wild Mustang named Blossom. But, I had to do it. I had to finish what I started and get Blossom to the point that someone could adopt her. When I got home from Texas I got caught up with my kids and house by taking two weeks off and not riding. Two weeks was not long enough and the doctor said I need months. So I got to thinking, if I got a 3 or 4 year old Mustang at the end of January and got bucked off than that could pretty much send my training career south for a long time if not permanently. Now, that's not to say that a horse in my starting and foundation program will buck or to give Mustangs a bad rap, as a matter of fact I have never had a horse buck on that first ride, but that's because I
was always able to take my time if need be. But with these Mustangs we are under the gun, 100 days from wild to mild. Mustangs are intelligent horses but I think I will sit this one out. :(

Thank You

Thank you Ted from Brevard county.

What a nice surprise.


I did work extremely hard this summer to make it to the top 10 in the competition and I really appreciate your support!

Joan

Freedom Stables Anniversary Party

This Saturday, October 4, From 2-6pm I will be at the Freedom Stable Anniversary Party doing a demonstration on horsemanship. It should be a very good time. Food, live music, and best of all HORSES!

Freedom Stables is run by pastors Jim and Gina Hage. They are a remarkable couple saving peoples lives through Jesus and horses. When I was asked to speak I thought about how much God has blessed me through horses and horsemanship and that now would be a good time to give back.

My demo will be on ground work. Sensitizing and desensitizing exercises that will help a horse from 2 weeks to a old adult. It is the first steps taken in my training program. The ground work establishes trust and confindence in the horse at the same time I'm establishing trust, leadership and respect.

Freedom Stables
500 S. Range Rd
Cocoa, Fl 32926

Take 95 to 520 exit, exit east on 520, take 520 to Range Rd, take a right onto Range Rd and Freedom Stables will be on the left.

Newspaper

Hi Everyone,

Please look for Blossom and me in Florida Todays Sunday paper. They sent it to print Tuesday and it should be a good article on Mustangs and the Extreme Mustang Makeover.

I was asked by a friend, "Where do you go from here?" I have to tell you it feels pretty empty not going out and seeing Blossom's cute little face and hearing her neigh. But, I'm keeping busy....

I have had calls about horse training, but I really need to give my leg a chance to heal properly, so no riding for now. There is also a Ranch in Myakka, Fl which is a few hours away that has a large herd of Mustangs that I'm interested in going to visit....that would be really cool.

Good News...EMM emailed me and all the Mustangs at the event where adopted!
That's great, again they reached their goal: educating people about Mustangs,
entertaining people and saving the lives of more than 280 Mustangs! Yahoo!

Here is the link to the article..I would say that it is very accurate and it was well done. There was one little thing in the article about the most difficult part of training Blossom was putting weight on her back in a short amount of time. I think there was a misunderstanding. It should of read the most difficult thing about training the mustang was putting weight on my LEG in a short amount of time! I was not required to ride Blossom in the competition. Since vets and other professionals said she was much older than a yearling, I did begin the process of putting a saddle and weight on her back, which she accepted early on in the training program. I just thought if I was going to have a Mustang why not teach it as much as I can in the amount of time I'm allowed. Blossoms new owners will have a much easier time with training and costs when it is time to start riding Blossom :)

Thank you again everyone for your support and help!!!

Mustang gets a makeover

Extreme Mustang Makeover Yearling Edition Round Up

I want to personally thank everybody who made going to the Extreme Mustang Makeover a reality for Blossom and I. Without the hard work and dedication of local supporters in Brevard County it just would have not been possible for me to attend the event.

Thank you everybody who believed in me and my dream to tame a once wild Mustang.

CONGRATULATIONS to Valerie of Forth Worth, Texas for adopting Orange Blossom.
I'm sure Blossom is in a good loving home, will be handled right and will bring you years of happiness and that is all that I could of ever hoped for.

God Bless the Mustang Heritage Foundation, the world renowned clinicians, volunteers and all its sponsors that helped make this Extreme Mustang Makeover successful for the second year in a row and thank you trainers for your hard work and dedication to the American Mustangs. You guys are brilliant awesome people.

Extreme Mustang Makeover

Wow, what can I say. Blossom and I did very well. We placed second in conditioning out of 53 plus horses. We made it to the top 10 and we were tied for 8th but recieved 9th. All that hard work payed off. I could not be more pleased with the results and compliments I recieved as a trainer from some of the best horsemen in the world. Chris Cox was the MC, Ken McNabb was a judge, John Lyons..etc...it was just to cool be judged by these people and have them talk to me on their level. I took a lot of pictures and will post them in a couple days...so please check back. I got really good scores (I think) from some top horsemen. John Lyons handled Blossom and said I had done a really good job!!! How cool is that!!


The next event will be in Ocala, Fl at Lynn Palms training center. Guess who signed up for another Mustang? That is right, me.

Mustangs are incredible. They can jump across fire, jump in the back of pick up trucks, spin, rope cows, dressage, cowboy mounted shooting, do tricks...etc..in less than 100 days.

Yea, competition was tough! Blossom was the real winner, she took me to the top!

Congratulations

We are all real proud of you,
and hope your having the time of your life,
live it up.

Love
Your Family

The Extreme Mustang Makeover Results Are In

Blossom and I made the top ten and placed a tie for 8th but the judges voted and we recieved 9th place. But you know what? That was alright with me. It was an awsome adventure and the competition was tough. I am honored to have placed in the top ten.

Time Draws Near For Me & My Brown Eyed Girl

6:00pm Central Time
We are ready to rock and roll.
It is time to

SHINE!

We made it to the Finals

Wish us luck, Today is the day Blossom and I have been training for.

WHOA!

We are going on to the finals On September 19th!