Out with the Old ~ In with the New

The beauty of the old year has faded

The dawn of a new year approaches

May there be a guiding light, love, happiness and prosperity
throughout the New Year for each of you.
~God Bless~

The Bridges Project Graduation

Five and a half years...really?!?

What a ride!!

September 21-23 was the final 3-day clinic for Colt and I in the Mike Bridges 5 Year Bridle Project. For those who don't know, we've been going to Central Oregon every spring and fall to learn from a true master horseman. "The Project" is a course that Mike developed to train a horse "his way" making finished bridle horses in the traditional California Vaquero Style.

One of my fellow riders is a wonderful photographer, and she offered to take photos "before and after" of the horses. They definitely built up some body!

~Photo credit to Cindy Sloan~
Date: 09/09/2009

~Photo credit to Cindy Sloan~
Date: 09/08/2010

~Photo credit to Cindy Sloan~
Working on flying lead changes.
Date: 09/08/2010

I really can't describe the feeling of completing the course, but the words accomplishment, satisfaction, amazement, comradery, fulfillment...these all come to mind.

Not only do you get to know your horse on a whole new level, but the friendships between the other riders...and their horses, too...are life changing.


Was it worth the time, effort and money?  Absolutely!!  The part I like most about his program is that he doesn't wait for you and your horse. He sticks to the program and moves forward whether you're ready or not. It makes everyone work all that much harder...and we get things done!

~Photo credit to Cindy Sloan~
Final clinic: Sept 2014

~Photo credit to Cindy Sloan~
Final clinic: Sept 2014

~Photo credit to Cindy Sloan~
Final clinic: Sept 2014

~Photo credit to Cindy Sloan~
Final clinic: Sept 2014

Thank you Cindy for the awesome photos!!!

To celebrate the occasion (there were two Projects graduating at the same time), the meeting room at the Sisters Rodeo Grounds was rented...catered dinner, live music and dancing...and of course the graduation/awards ceremony!! What a fun time!

The beautiful award; hand crafted silver knife by silversmith Rusty McCullough!

I do have to say there was a big "sigh" in my head for making it through.

So, where do I go from here?

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

April 19-21 2015...Project 7 begins...with Pierce!!!

Oh yes...we're gonna do it all over again!

Holidays? What Holidays?

OK, so Thanksgiving and Christmas have come and gone...as quick as Santa's blink of an eye. I was here, but I'm not sure what I did since I didn't get the Christmas letter done, any cards mailed, or all of my crafty gifts finished...

Sigh...

I'm not really into the term "resolution" as in New Year's Resolutions...but I hope to be here blogging in 2015 more than I was in 2014...I may have said that last year too...

Sigh...

What else...I'm gonna pick up that camera more often too!! The world goes by all to quickly...and I really didn't see any of the details!!! That's why they call it a "capture"...right?

So, I'll leave you with a capture of Rastus in the fresh mornin' snow today~




Belated Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas~