Trick-or-Treating for Horse People!
October 12, 2010
Halloween Horsemanship Clinic
October 31st 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Coyote Ridge Farm – 10233 N. 75th St.
10:00 a.m. – Start promptly
There has been a great response to the clinic so we are on for one long day on Halloween. The format will be Horsemanship with Amy in the riding arena from 10-12:00. This is a chance to work on anything that you would like with Amy.
Noon – Chugwater Chili and tortillas.
1:00 p.m. – Ride the course
After discussion with Amy, we decided the best way to approach the course is have the whole ride go over it with Amy and work on any challenges that present themselves to your horses. There are younger horses, so we want to take it slow and make it a positive experience. If a team wants to run the course for a timed race afterwards for the record book, they can do that too.
We will have the legendary whipped cream pie race so don’t wear your best cowboy shirt! Plus some other fun challenges, water, timber maze, jousting on horseback.
Contact Kathie Hibbard (hibbard@mesanetworks.net) or Amy (amy-steve@bridle-bit.com) for a registration form. Please also email Kathy and confirm your attendance.
Get In On The October Fun!
October 12, 2010
Hi All,
Fall is upon us! Here are the happenings for October…
Cattle/Stockmanship Horsemanship Problem Solving
Group lessons:
- Tuesdays, Oct 12, 19, and 26….lesson begins at 1 and goes until 2:30. Join us for lunch prior to at 11:30…email or call for details.
- Thursdays, Oct 14, 21, and 28….lesson begins at 1 and goes until 2:30.
Don’t forget to check out the “Clear it out before Christmas Sale” (30-75% off in-stock items!…20% off custom orders!) in the tack store while the selection is at its best! We also stock and sell the best line of feed for horses, dogs, cats, etc….ADM Alliance Nutrition…visit their web site for more details and let us help you with your horses nutritional needs.
We will have some openings for training coming up later this fall… and we also have options for private lessons (here or at your place) and private clinics with your group of friends.
Let’s set something up today!
Happy Trails,
Amy & Steve
Bridle Bit Training and Tack, LLC
19442 W.C.R. 76, Eaton, CO 80615
http://bridlebit.wordpress.com/
970-978-9724 – cell
970-454-3061 – phone/fax
A Wild Adventure: Extreme Mustang Makeover
July 1, 2010
I’ve spent the last few months helping an extremely talented and good-hearted young woman, Mary, on her journey through the Extreme Mustang Makeover. This experience has been amazing and it has been fantastic to watch Mary and her horse, Easy, gain confidence and trust.
Mary and Easy build trust on the ground during their 90 days together as a part of the Extreme Mustang Makeover
Mary was part of the Ultimate 90-Day Wild Mustang Training Competition which challenges trainers to take a wild horse from the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro herds to train and compete on. Nearly 40 horsemen found themselves in Fort Collins, Colo., where the competition took place with a freestyle finals on June 12 at the B.W. Pickett Equine Center on the campus of Colorado State University.
Mary and Easy built a bond through Mary's skill around horses and Amy's careful coaching.
Here is a description of the experience in Mary’s own words…
I am so thankful to Amy LeSatz at Bridle-Bit Training and Tack LLC. for sponsoring me and my mustang, HesaEasyBoy. With the right combination of knowledge, training, feed, facilities and tack/equipment–Amy, and her husband Steve, are fully prepared to set a horse up with the best foundation.
Mary built Easy's confidence on cattle during sessions with Amy. He proved to be really "cowy" and he and Mary had lots of fun!
February 2010 I was one of 50 applicants accepted to be a trainer in the Extreme Mustang Makeover. I had 90 days to train a wild mustang, never before touched by a human, and compete against the other trainers and mustangs. I have never before competed in these events (trail, reining and cow work) nor had I ever trained I wild mustang!
With the skills Amy helped them build and with Mary's talent and eagerness to learn, Mary and Easy competed against nearly 40 other trainers in the final competition.
With Amy’s coaching and lessons, Easy and I made 14th overall from our combined scores against nearly 40 other trainers and mustangs. It’s truly been a privilege to ride and work with Amy and Steve. – Mary
Competing for the first time in the Extreme Mustang Makeover, Mary and Easy placed 14th overall out of nearly 40 riders and their horses. Congrats Mary!!!
By the way. I not only sponsored Mary and another talented horsewoman, Jessica, during this year’s challenge, but also ended up bringing home a couple “souvenirs” to remember the experience by.
- B.I.G. (left) and Rich, formerly Fro (right).
Trained by Logan and Lanny Leach of Tucson, AZ, B.I.G. placed first in the mustang challenge and Rich placed 10th overall. I plan to keep B.I.G. for a “kids” horse….he is going to be so awesome for the grandkids (no pressure on my daughter)! Rich, I will ride for a while and then resell. He will make a wonderful “all around” horse and will be awesome on the trail. Both horses are kind and sensible and a joy to be around.
What a wild adventure, indeed!
Happy Trails,
July Clinic Update!
June 29, 2010
2010 is half over, don't miss a minute in the saddle with Amy guiding you and your horse!
Hello Friends,
Below is the updated clinic schedule for July!
Can you believe the year is half over? Don’t miss out on these chances to build the best possible partnership with your horse.
Great news! The web site is back up! We have a few typo’s and updates to make but are super excited to finally be back “online”!
Happy Trails,
Amy
amy-steve@bridle-bit.com
970-978-9724– cell
970-454-3061 – phone/fax
July 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22
Group Lessons – 1 ½ hr
Horsemanship, problem solving, trail, cow working & more!
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO
July 3-4
Smorgasbord Clinic…Choose which part(s) you want to ride in!
1/2 day of horsemanship
1/2 day of cow working and stockmanship
1/2 day of trail
1/2 day of cow working, stockmanship and ranch roping
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO
July 24-25
Individual and Group Lessons
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO
July 29 – August 1
Cowgirl Retreat
Location To Be Announced!
FYI
Bryan Neubert will be in Platteville July 9-11 doing a colt starting and horsemanship clinic. Contact Kristi Plutt @ 970-785-6449 for more info.
I am going to be traveling to Longmont starting in July to do private and small group lessons. Please contact me if you are interested in receiving more info regarding location and dates. The location and indoor barn are awesome, lots of room to ride in the arena (shaded from the sun!) and on the trail around a beautiful lake!
CONTACT US ANY TIME TO SET UP A PERSONALIZED LESSON OR TO ORGANIZE A CLINIC!
Jump In The Saddle!
May 14, 2010
Celebrate the nicer weather with your horse!
Check out your chances to learn and grow as a rider in May:
Group Lessons – May 18, 25, 27
Horsemanship, problem solving, trail, and cow working…and more!!!
10-11:30 a.m. - $30.00 except for cow working – add $5.00 cattle charge
Clinic – June 16 – (this coming Sunday!!)
Cow Working/Stockmanship
All day! $175.00 including cattle
Rare, Weekend Private Lessons – June 29
Don’t miss a chance for a rare weekend private lesson day! Schedule yours today.
4-H Ranch Horse Clinic – June 30
Open to 4-Her’s and their families
Happy Trails!
Amy & Steve, Bridle Bit Training & Tack, LLC
19442 W.C.R. 76, Eaton, CO 80615
http://bridlebit.wordpress.com/
amy-steve@bridle-bit.com970-978-9724 – cell
970-454-3061 – phone/fax
May Clinic Update
April 27, 2010
Amy listens to you and your horse to help you achieve the best results possible.
Hello Friends,
Below is the updated clinic schedule for May! I’m excited and ready to help you build the best partnership possible with your horse. Winston Churchill said, “No hour of life is wasted that is spent on the saddle,” and I agree. See you horseback soon!
Happy Trails,
Amy
amy-steve@bridle-bit.com, 970-978-9724 – cell, 970-454-3061 – phone/fax
May 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 & 27
Group Lessons – 1 ½ hr
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO — Contact Amy
May 2
Horsemanship/Stockmanship/Cow Working Clinic - Level I
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO — Contact Amy
May 8
Horsemanship/Trail/Introduction to Cattle Work
Level I – Morning, Level II – Afternoon
Windy Creek Ranch, LLC – Longmont
Contact Liz Johnson, 303-678-1469 or Amy
May 15-16
Horsemanship/Stockmanship/Cow Working
Level I – Saturday, Level II – Sunday
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO — Contact Amy
May 30
4-H Ranch Horse Clinic – Open to all 4-H Members!
9a.m.-Noon, Intro to Ranch Horse,
1-4 p.m., Advancing in Ranch Horse
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO — Contact Amy
Wanna come and play?
The cows are ready and waiting for you to come work them this weekend at the Cow Working clinics, April 24 & 25. Saturday’s Horsemanship/Stockmanship/Cow Working I clinic has 2 openings left and Sunday’s Level II clinic has 3 openings.
Call or email to let us know you can join in on the fun!
Amy
Bridle Bit Training and Tack, LLC
amy-steve@bridle-bit.com
http://bridlebit.wordpress.com/
970-978-9724 – cell
970-454-3061 – phone/fax
April Clinic Update
April 11, 2010
2010 Bridle Bit clinics will offer a variety of opportunities to connect with your horse.
April 13, 15, 20, 22 & 27
Group Lessons – 1 ½ hr
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO
Contact Amy
April 17
Horsemanship I (Morning) & II (Afternoon)
Windy Creek Ranch, LLC – Longmont
Contact Liz Johnson, 303-678-1469 or Amy
April 24-25
Horsemanship & Cow Working I – 1 day (Saturday)
Horsemanship & Cow Working II – 1 day (Sunday)
Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO
Contact Amy to reserve your spot today!
970.454.3061 ~ 970.978.9724 (cell)
Bridle Bit in the News!
March 18, 2010
Riders learn art of ranch horse work at fairgrounds
Longmont, Colorado
3/15/2010
By Scott Rochat
© 2010 Longmont Times-Call
LONGMONT — Slowly, gently, the young rider nudged her horse toward the calves in the corral.
Not quite slowly enough. The herd began to move away nervously, making it difficult to “cut out” one calf without scattering the rest.
“OK, that’s too much pressure,” instructor Steve LeSatz of Eaton called out. “You want to tiptoe into the herd, go as slow as you can, and pick the cow that’s already looking to the outside.”
Cody Shanahan, 9, practices her roping skills during the 4-H horse clinic taught by Amy and Steve LeSatz Sunday at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont. Lewis Geyer/Times-Call
Another try. This time, success as the rider picked her cow and led it away, leaving the others in place.
“Excellent cut! Nice work!”
It’s not quite as dramatic as barrel racing or bull riding. But ranch horse work has an elegance all its own. This is chess played from horseback, where position means everything and a careful approach is essential.
On Sunday, a new generation of riders was learning the tricks of the trade at a clinic on the Boulder County Fairgrounds. No charging, no racing — just quiet, practical riding and roping.
“Instead of chasing the calf, you try to set it up,” explained LeSatz, who teaches the clinic with his wife, Amy. “Say you’ve got a sick animal … you want to try to lead it out, nice and slow.”
It’s done in teams, one rider separating out the calf while another makes sure the rest of the herd stays in place. And it’s not as easy as it sounds. A little too forceful here, or a wrong step there, and you can wind up having to chase down escapees.
“Got past you, didn’t he?” volunteer Sabrina Gerringer teased as a stray slipped around the rider and began to run for a few seconds. “But now you know you could have made a beautiful front-end turn and cut that guy off.”
Roping is practiced on the ground and from horseback — or at least sawhorse-back, in the case of the youngest participants.
“It’s a little harder on a horse, because you don’t want to hit your horse in the head,” said 9-year-old McKenzie Stockdale, coiling her rope for another try.
“It’s kind of easier on this one,” 9-year-old Tristan Smith added from atop the mock horse. “He doesn’t have a neck.”
The hardest part for many young riders is simply putting it all together, LeSatz said: keeping track of the horse, the cows, the rope and the changing situation.
“We try to give them a piece at a time, and then put it all together again,” he said. “It can be a years-long process.”
Given that, starting out just right can make a big difference. And so far, Jennifer Golsan likes what she sees.
“For a rider just starting out, it’s very, very helpful,” said Golsan, a Berthoud resident, as her 14-year-old daughter, Alisha, joined her after the morning sessions. Both Alisha and her horse are new to ranch work riding, she said.
“It’s good to have a kind, knowledgeable instructor, so my daughter can do well and her horse can, too,” Golsan said.
Scott Rochat can be reached at 303-684-5220 or srochat@times-call.com.
Spring into Riding!
March 11, 2010
March 2010 Clinics
Contact Amy to reserve your spot! 970.454.3061 or amy-steve@bridle-bit.com.
March 14 – 4-H Only March 16th, 25th & 30th
Stockmanship & Ranch Roping – 1 day Group Lessons – 1 ½ hr
Boulder County Fair Grounds Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO
March 19 March 20-21
Individual and Group Lessons – 1 day Spring Tune Up! – 2 day
Last Resort, Wellington, CO Bridle Bit, Eaton, CO
March 27
Horsemanship I & II – 1 day
Windy Creek Ranch, LLC – Longmont
