April brought us some pretty special events...one was the colt starting class that Buck Brannaman put together, for the clinic at Don and Val Chase' home, in Riverside, Ca. A full 13 colts were started, and it was grand. This is the only colt starting class in Southern California. The morning I attended, was an incredible testament to what good horsemanship is all about. Some folks were more skilled then others, some new to this style of horsemanship, I take particular delight in seeing their progress, as they start to understand how to offer their horses a better deal. Astounding, and rewarding..to say the least. Buck was equally in tuned to the riders, and their horses. Gets after some for pickin' on their ponies, and asks others to step up..not an easy task to manage a horsemanship class with so many riders, but by gosh, that is just what happened..everyone agreed. Progress made. Ahaaaaaaaaaaa moments.. Always looking for the try in both horse and rider. I was blown away by the distances traveled by so many, in this economy, it is perhaps more of a stretch then in past years, but if you wanted to get the most "value" for your money..this was THE place to be. As you look thru some of the photos, I will say that I only attended 1 day, so if I missed you it was not intentional. A big thanks to Shane for riding the little paint horse, helping him sort out his feet, and his mind, in the horsemanship class. As with everything "horse", skimping on groundwork shows up later so, Buck stressed the need to do just that...and not rush a horse, and the folks I observed were really putting things together, for themselves, and their horses. Been a long time since I have been to one of Buck's clinics, not since Jerry Sterling passed away, a few years ago, and I can see the great progress that has been made by so many in these past few years..whoooohoooooo...great stuff..loved every minute of it.
Thanks for inviting me Val, it was a great clinic...well attended, a ton of spectators, and a full colt class, and horsemanship class..excellent!

love,
p.