Poster Boy Plays Well With Others

This horse loves my dog. The Great Dane you see sitting next to him was given to me by one of my mentors Bunnie Dunstone. She is the most amazing woman I have ever met. She rode her horse from Mexico to Canada. She is the one who took me into the backcountry on horseback for the first time. That was some twenty years ago, and we try to go back into the Sierra every summer for a week long trip. It's always Sharon, Bunnie and me, I look forward to this trip all year long. It's my favorite thing to do in the whole wide world. Bunnie has been there for me in every way of my life. I try to emulate Bunnie in the way I live my life and the way I treat others. She really is my Angel.

Here I am with Bunnie at the 2008 EMM in Sacramento.

Poster Boy's early saddle experience and more recent hobbling

Saturday, April 24th, 2010



This is some video early on. I would like to touch on the fact that I tried really hard to have him ready for the first saddling. He still went to bucking. I started by pulling the rope around his belly, next a bareback pad, then finally a small kids saddle. I think it's a good idea to have him on a lead rope when you ask him to move off with the saddle on. That way if you run into trouble you can help him by disengaging his hind end and shutting the bucking down as soon as you can. Don't let him get troubled if you can help him. Poster Boy only bucked on day one of his first saddling and I was there to help him. Sorry I didn't get the bucking on video. I know you all would have liked to see that. Hobbling is also a good tool to teach them. It teaches them how to stand quietly and have patience and if they were to get caught in something they hopefully would understand to not panic and to give to the pressure. He is really good at the hitching rail, stands quietly while being saddled and groomed, something he loves very much. No trouble at all picking up his feet, and he got an "A" from the farrier when he had his first trimming.

PB on a Long Desert Ride with Mr. Big

I feel so blessed to be able to live in the beautiful sierra mountains. The big mountain in the background is called Mt. Tom. It is over 14 thousand feet. This is the backyard of Millpond Equestrian Center, the ranch where I work.

I was trying to show some of the spring wild flowers. We have had a really wet spring and the desert is popping with lots of colors.

This is my dear friend Jan and her mule Mr. Big. Jan is an amazing mule and horse woman. She is so modest about her knowledge and I'm always trying to pick her brain about horses. She works and manages Rock Creek Lodge in the Eastern Sierra, so if you are ever looking for a great meal and a great experience I highly recommend this 5 star restaurant. All the food is homemade, healthy and unbelievably great! The only way in is by snowshoe, cross-country ski or snowmobile.

Did I mention I love this horse? If I could buy him I would. I am hoping someone that I know will buy him. He will make someone a fantastic horse. He is very friendly and loves people, kids, and dogs and is really smooth to ride. He loves to go on long trail rides, doesn't care if he's in front or back of the group. As long as I'm on his back he's happy and confident.

Poster Boy Explores the Double-L Ranch Trail Clinic and Show

Horses are always so curious and gentle around kids. Check out the kind eye on Poster Boy!   Maddy and PB are enjoying a beautiful moment.

My very good friend Linda Laird had a trail clinic and show at her ranch and invited PB over to come and play on her awesome trail course. There were about thirty horses participating. We had a great day. PB is very brave. He stayed the night at her ranch and didn't seem to be too concerned at all. Linda also puts on an excellent Extreme Trail Challenge in the fall each year with lots of great prizes.

Thank you Double-L ranch for all your support. You guys rock!

fun fun fun

Pink flamingos in the bush, yikes!!

That is my good friend Laura Herman. She traveled over from the west side of the Sierra and was the judge for the show. PB was schmoozin' it up.

Riding with Protection

This video shows my 5th ride on Poster Boy. I know I look kind of geeky with all the padding but after all my hair fell out from chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer I don't really care what I look like. I'm wearing hip pads, a spine protector and a helmet. My son lent me the pads that he uses for extreme, big mountain skiing. I've broken my back and my collarbone on separate occasions from getting bucked off of other Mustangs I've trained and these pads, with the hard plastic inserts can really make a difference when it comes to protecting my body. I sure ain't getting any younger. I also use proper boots and thick leather chaps to protect my legs. The helmet can be a life saver. Poster Boy is a 1000 lb. animal. He can easily knock me over with his head, push me into a post or a rail, or even kick me in the head. You can never take these animals for granted. They are wonderful, sweet and gentle but also have, by nature, a preservation, flight mentality. I try to anticipate potential hazards and the padding and helmet are just extra safegaurds.

Poster Boy responds really well to my cues and is making quick progress in terms of learning what I expect from him while riding. The enclosed round-pen keeps outside distractions to a minimum while I train him to understand my requests.

I'll be venturing out into the western arena with PB now that he is comfortable with me on his back, then we'll explore the ranch, and ride out onto the trails in foothills of the Eastern Sierra.