A JOURNAL: 2016
Spring Equestrian Retreat
This is a FOUR DAY/ THREE NIGHT event that happens annually at Bar SZ Ranch in Paicines, CA.
DAY 1: We packed
up and loaded the horses at 5:30am. Feeder bags in place to help keep them
happy on the five (we had some stops along the way) hour ride to Bar SZ Ranch!
We got our three horses settled in a beautiful pasture which was shared with
four other horses (so seven total as it is a BIG pasture) and a small cow
(seriously-it was AWESOME) and then got all the registration booth, house
logistics and dinner preparation done before the guests arrived. Tim, Michelle
and the Bar SZ team were a big help as we dealth with some “on the fly” issues
that pop up when having an event like this. It was a VERY long and very full
day for us to say the least. Annie got to come face to face with a cow and her
breeding showed true. Jack the Cow was a charmer and pretty mellow (if you have
never been licked by a cow…well…it is an experience). She had zero fear of the
cow and enjoyed playing tag with it. They all ran around and generally had a
good time. Sadly Laurie and I didn’t get to saddle up because we are in charge
for the weekend, had registration to deal with and had to prepare (and then
clean up) the evening meal.
As folks arrived we got them set up as to where they and
their horses needed to go, we covered the basic flow of the day and answered
questions as needed. Then it was time to prepare dinner! We had set up “meal
teams” where three to four people came together and prepared a meal based on a
recipe/instructions provided (we did this for all nine meals). Laurie and I
along with Mark Miller had the first meal of the event. So we got to work!
Doc’s Bar and Doc’s Pool Hall were REALLY big hits. The new
Bar SZ Ranch merchandise was also a big hit!We got to enjoy a nice pasta dinner
under the lights and the stars. Music played, the camp fire crackled and for
the most part everything went well. We did have one “complaint” to deal with
but it will be addressed in the morning because 10:30pm is not a time for
action in a non-emergency. Never a dull moment went you run an event like this.
Looking forward to a mostly low stress few days! Tomorrow we have workshops,
obstacle challenges and more. Should be a great time! It’s just about midnight.
So we are closing up the ‘bar” and calling it a night.
Flames Remedy
Experience: She loaded up and traveled well as always. Once we got to the
ranch she was set up in her housing for the weekend which was a large pasture
which was shared with six (6) other horses and Jack the Cow as noted above. Lot
of romping and playing and showing off her athletic ability as well as meeting
new people. We allowed everyone to settle in and enjoyed watching all the
antics, munching grass and working out the pecking order of the new herd. You
can learn a great deal about a horse simply by REALLY watching how it moves,
reacts to pressure and how it socializes. Annie seems right in the middle of
the herd order this weekend.
DAY 2: The
weather was Beautiful and FULL of activities that folks could take advantage
of. Highlights of the day: Susan’s Wirlger’s workshop on refinement and taking
communication to a new level on the ground and under saddle. Several awesome
trail rides (they happened all day) and playing with the cattle when you came
across them on the trail. Since this is a working ranch you never knew where
the herd of cattle were. So if you came across them and wanted to play with
them you could (as long and it was slow and easy). We also had the Obstacle
Course Challenge (Round One), Knife/Ax Throwing, Target Shooting and general
revelry throughout the day Meals included a Breakfast Casserole, Potato Bar
Lunch with all the fixings, Red Beans and Rice (with and without Andouille
sausage) was the dinner. Folks played pool. Tossed darts. Took turns “tending”
Doc’s Bar and….well the list goes on and on. Again, FULL is the operative word
and it hung out with FUN.
We all gave our horses a “job” and did lots of training
while we had a blast. The fellowship was pretty awesome too. It always amazes
us that this many people can come together and form a family is just a few
short hours. Events like this create a bond and a sense of community which is
always interesting to see develop.
Since folks could do as much or as a little as they wanted
to EVERYONE got what they needed. As usual by lunch on Saturday the event
created its own pace and rhythm. It is not easy putting together an event like
this but it all comes together and becomes something wonderful. We have people
wanted to reserve their spaces for next year already! Yes, it is that cool.
With so many opportunities to work together the horse/human
teams all grew in confidence and skill. Folks called it a night a little
earlier because they left it all on the trail, in the arena and on the
challenge course! The horses all did great! Cannot brag about all the
horse/human teams enough. With so many different skill levels coming together
it was really hard not to improve and grow. Sunday is going to be another
REALLY full day and we have some great things planned. Now it is time to head
to bed and recharge!
Flames Remedy
Experience: Round pen and groundwork review in the morning. She was not
keen on being taken away from the herd and was a bit of a pill. New place, new
people, new horses all added to her not focusing well at the beginning. We have
to remember that she has not had much travel time or exposure to new places and
new people. Because of this she is currently taking a bit to settle down when
she is taken from horses and places she knows. We will have to continue to
expose her to more group settlings and more places over then next few months in
order to help her build her self-confidence. We rode in the arena a bit and
even though she was distracted we got some work done. She was worked with by
“new to her” folks and overall did pretty well. When we felt like her brain was
full we ended on a good note and called it a day.
DAY 3: Today
starts with laughter, a great Pancake breakfast and Advil. Everyone is moving a
little slower but the SMILES are huge! After breakfast we had another great
workshop with Susan Wirgler which built upon the work done yesterday, followed
by a nice trail ride. Mark Miller ran the thrown weapons and shooting ranges.
After a Taco Bar lunch we started playing with cattle. This is always a
highlight of the Retreat for folks! First we had a cattle drive where folks had
to actually go out and find the herd and then, as a team, bring them all to a
designated area. Keeping the herd together and picking up any strays takes some
skill and REAL awareness! Once that was done, we sorted babies out from mammas
and had to move the mamma cows to a different location. Then we did some ranch
sorting and penning in teams which is always a blast. Giving the horse a job
like that just opens their minds and tests your relationship as well! After
dinner – BBQ Teriyaki Chicken, salad, grilled corn on the cob, corn bread and
more – we had a really cool raffle and announced the winners of the obstacle
challenge. After dinner some folks headed over to ride in the lighted arena and
ended up plays some unique horsey games. Others hung around the campfire,
danced and had a fun social evening. Some of the adult beverages folks brought
to share were both unique and fun! Margaritas to moonshine and even a Sirracha
Sauce Stout beer. Yes, it was a really nice party!
It was another FULL day for horses and humans. It is very
hard to put into words how amazing it is to have a group of folks, some of who
are strangers, come together and by breakfast at Day 3 become a family. We are
already working hard on our 5th ANNIVERSY Spring Equestrian Retreat
in 2017 with Tim and Michelle and the Bar SZ Ranch team. Folks will not want to
miss it! Tomorrow we wrap up another Retreat with more rides, more learning,
more food and more FUN!
Flames Remedy Experience:
After a short round pen session Annie got to participate in the Sunday
Horsemanship Workshop with Susan Wirgler. Ronan and Argent were there too. She
was handled by Michelle Boreland who trains all the ranch horses. Annie would
be awesome and then a distracted/witch out if other horses can at her (see the
group experience commentary above) then back to awesome. It really came down to
her default mode when confronted with new and in her mind “scary” stuff. Back
up and get out of the way. Michelle was GREAT with Annie, praising her when she
did well and focused, hustling her feet when she got distracted or thought “her
way” was better. This session was a reality shift for Annie. Other folks WILL
work with you and other folks WILL be the Boss of you. Deal with it. Together
they worked on transitions, backing, bending and a variety of exercises. It was
really awesome to experience. After the workshop we headed out to the trail for
about two hours. Lots of miles, saw and engaged cows, played “lead horse” and
“sweeper”, got exposed to gunfire (from the nearby shooting range) spooked at a
rather large snake (it was a gopher snake) where her default was to back up
quickly (Michelle got her over this and back in the right mind set), played on
some low level obstacles, crossed water, crossed a wooden bridge over a ravine and
more. Overall she was a good girl but we were able to expose some hidden gaps
in her experience that we now know to address and fix (or just be aware of).
After the ride she got nice long drink and to relax tied up in the shade of the
covered arena for a bit to contemplate the lesson before getting turned out
into her pasture. This event is taxing on an experienced (meaning life
experience) horse. Annie has not had much of this and it is our job to provide
it for her to help her self-confidence grow. Also we have to remember that we
are getting her in shape too. She is looking awesome but we know it takes time
to build up to dealing with the new stuff we toss at her. Anyone who thinks of
taking her home will need to continue this sort of program of new exercises,
new experiences, long rides, wet saddle pads and concentrated training.
DAY 4: The last
day of the Retreat is always bittersweet. After a great Breakfast Burrito breakfast
Susan Wirgler gave a demonstration of round pen exercises that can help horses
who, like Annie, get concerned about being in smaller spaces with other horses.
Ronan and Annie were used. Through a series of maneuvers, patience, awareness
and transitions Susan had both horses loping towards each other around the pen.
She established her leadership and these two horses followed her lead. Then we
tacked up and headed out on another awesome trail ride to another section of
the ranch!
Some folks had to leave early (which is always sad), some
folks just hung out after breakfast and enjoyed learning to throw axes and
knifes, some took a short nap, some folks packed and prepped for the journey
home and some folks were planning on staying an additional night! Something for
everyone!
After the morning trail ride we got ready for a Mystery Meal
lunch which has been a tradition now for four (4) years. We take all the left
overs of the weekend and lay them out buffet style! Pasta, Teriyaki Chicken,
Pork Carnitas, Red Beans and Rice and more got laid out and enjoyed!
Once lunch was done folks broke up into group. Some headed
to the trail, some out to the obstacle challenge course, some to play with cows
and some to work in the arena. It has become a tradition that this happens.
Kind of everyone taking on long last look at Bar SZ and etching the memories
and the new friendships into their minds as they plan to return next year!
The event slowly starts to wind down. About 4:00pm. We have
a wrap up meeting with Tim, Michelle and the Bar SZ Team (plus anyone who wants
to hang around for it) and go over some basic details for the next Retreat
which is our 5th ANNIVERSARY EVENT! It is going to be a great
Retreat! We left the ranch about 6:30pm tired but happy. Another Spring Retreat
is on the books. We are looking forward to 2017! Tim, Michelle and the team
ROCK. We are blessed to call them friends and they are examples of true
professionalism, courtesy and grace. With the creativity and enthusiasm which
was present at the Wrap Up Meeting we KNOW that t 2017 is going to be the best
one yet!
Flames Remedy
Experience: She had a very unique round-pen session, she did a long trail
ride, she hung out with cattle, she worked with several people and even ponied
an enthusiastic young gal of eight years around. In short she was MUCH improved
over yesterday in the arena with the larger group, calmer on the trail and
great with the little girl. She got to sit and soak it all in one last time
before we loaded up and headed home. Got in around 11:30pm. She unloaded well
and was happy to be home. We will continue to progress her forward with
training and experience. Three trainers all saw the same things and we feel
super confident that we, along with our network of folks, will be able to
really help fill in the gaps in Annie’s life experience and training. We have
added details to the program/plan and cannot wait to see the results. Annie
came to us and got tossed into the deep end. She is rising to the challenge and
we are seeing her true potential. It is not always easy or pretty and sometimes
it is downright ugly but it is a journey not a race and we are happy to be
sharing the trail with this little mare!
Some pictures of the event and Annie (we have lots to go through so more will be added later.)
Annie: On the left.
Pushing cattle (that is Ronan's head)
Annie: Arena Work w/ Michelle
Annie: hanging out with Laurie
