New Visions Aug 2024

“It is better to lose in the Olympics than to win in Little League”

- Jerry Jesness

Big Dreams

When I started giving lessons at Calling Bird Farm I imagined three visions that would let me know that I was living out the mission of Calling Bird Farm.

Mission:

At Calling Bird Farm LLC we embrace horse enthusiasts and help them develop into confident horse owners able to ride, train, and care for a horse within 1-2 years.

Visions:

-Transforming from wide eyed beginners to confidently taking care of and enjoying a horse of their own in 1-2 years. Achieving feats like bridleless, bareback, liberty, and beautiful balanced movement as the norm. Horses are calm and sensitive willing partners with clear leadership and appreciation.

-Barn Family supporting each other watching each others’ lessons, making friends in group classes, and having fun at barn parties. Creating a culture with our own traditions, in-jokes, and shared sorrows and joys.

-Smiling and efficient team at horse shows, exhibitions, trail rides, and other activities. Bursting with camaraderie. Cheering for strangers, volunteering at events, supporting the barn, and making friends.

And on the whole, these visions have absolutely come true. While none of my students have gotten a horse of their own, we did recently have "Bridleless Week" (like Shark Week but cooler), we ride bareback regularly, we've done Liberty work, and I've incorporated more Straightness Training expectations to support beautiful proper movement. The horses are calm, sensitive, and willing partners. The students all demonstrate clear leadership and appreciation.

We do have a Barn Family with a culture of knowledge, horse awareness and support, friendship, and fun. At our latest barn party I observed students giving leadline advice, gentle feedback to siblings and others about proper whip use, and helping put things away or asking what they could do for the party!

We have gone to shows together. Fellow students show up to help and cheer their friends.

......Everything has come true!

So I'm encouraged to make NEW big visions.

1. CBF is a Straightness Training Barn

I love Straightness Training. I have fallen in love with using all of the pillars to daily help my horses' body mind and soul. I have seen all of them literally get taller and stronger with just the Novice work.

Students are smoothly combining ST exercises and concepts into their riding and horsemanship. If a horse is stiff they go back to the standstill exercises to get mental and physical suppleness. They reward the smallest try. They find the essence of the exercise to develop the horse. They are fascinated with the benefits of each pillar and share their knowledge freely. When they get their own horse they have the needed knowledge and skills to help that horse blossom as well.

When CBF takes on a new lesson horse a team of students share the process of certifying the new horse to Grade 2 ST standards.

CBF hosts clinics to share ST by letting interested horse owners learn the exercises and concepts on professor horses.

Firefly will be certified to Grade 2 and Jackie will be Grade 1 by the end of 2024. In 2025 Firefly will complete Grade 3 and Jackie Grade 2. Perhaps Cutie and King will complete Grade 1 in 2025 if their owners are ready to dive in.

2. USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze awarded students

USDF rider medals are perhaps not the best metrics, but they are a respectable and available option for students who believe in the merits of classical dressage.

I achieve my Bronze medal in 2025 and continue as far as I can go up the levels to develop my horses.

Students have set their sights on achieving USDF Rider Award Medals and are invigorated to put in the hours needed to hone those skills.

3. Barn Library homework - "ticket to the show"

Riders must regularly check information in the Team Library to answer homework questions in order to get, as Jaime Escalante would say, "a ticket to the show" - the ability to enter the lesson arena. This may be a quiz on the parts of the horse, a theory question on an exercise, a recitation of a poem or piece of prose that could be a good motto to pull out when needed.

4. Incorporate HorseSense Learning Levels Liberty Curriculum and combine the levels into one list, not separate lists for Mounted and Unmounted Skills

The curriculum includes all HorseSense Learning Levels skills and Straightness Training skills. Students must demonstrate all skills at a level before proceeding to the next level.

If you are a student, keep checking in for the forthcoming Barn Library!

If you are not a student, check the Resources page