Monte Foreman and Pat Wyse have been teaching what I call the Balanced Ride method for years. The main thing that makes this method so different from other modern methods is the riding while learning. You can do groundwork, but it’s really all about the ride. How the horse feels, what he’s doing, how you get a sense for what is happening with the horse. It’s all about the relationship, the partnership that you and the horse have, in the moment. If you don’t have that, you’re not really experiencing the extraordinary ride that is Balanced Ride.

I also recommend and use saddles from John “Boz” Bozanich and his family, a former Monte Foreman instructor. This guy knows how to make saddles that work with the Balanced Ride method, not against it.

If this type of horse training in Nevada City sounds like something you’d be interested in learning more about, give me a call at (530) 913-4110 or or email me at your convenience. I’d be happy to talk about how I have helped others with learning how to ride naturally and balanced.

- Anessa

Well, Barcelona made it through the night just fine. One of us had to be there with him, but he settled down and finally we could leave.

Today should be interesting. We are just about to start the Legends level competition. Ingrid and I are excited and nervous. The other levels have run already today, and now I’m 18th in line. Gotta run.

We are having so much fun. We called the Chamber of Commerce in Wichita Falls, about 150 miles from Ft. Worth. They found us a great hotel, a “horse hotel”called Hotel Infinity on Beech St.! It’s got a place to work Barcelona, a round pen and just plain great people. We met some others who are also competing in the Extreme Mustang Challenge – from Montana, Nevada and Oregon – also great people.

We’re meeting up with them in morning and going to caravan into Ft. Worth, five or six of us. Right now we’re trying to find a Walmart to pick up a couple of things before we crash for the night.

We heard about Tom King, the guy who’s riding 1100 miles to Ft. Worth…pretty amazing.

“The fun is about to start”, Ingrid says. We’re heading in to register tomorrow, about the only thing happening. We’re number 1750. We’ll get a number for Barcelona, slap it on his rump and we’re good to go. It should be fun!

We also figured out a way to get photos uploaded to the site, thanks to Joanie at the Wichita Falls Walmart. Look for those sometime on Wednesday. Craig has to sort through and grab a few to post up.

– Anessa

Tonight I am tired. Ingrid drove some but I got bored when I wasn’t driving, and hot too, (south side an all) so I drove most of the way to Amarillo. The cell phone helps, but it is so flat here! I’m more used to the mountains.The weather is really good, too. 70 degrees and no wind – can’t beat that with a stick. It’s been a good trip.

Barcelona has dropped some weight. It concerns me a little, but it will be OK. I’m making sure he drinks enough water. He’s looking good, and that’s what matters. He’s traveling real well, for the first time traveling this kind of distance. Hopefully we’ll find an arena tomorrow and ride him after we get into Ft. Worth.

I hope we can get some photos up soon, maybe with my phone or with the camera. I’ll get Craig to help me with that.

– Anessa

We made it into New Mexico and pulled into a “Welcome Stop”. We decided to give Barcelona some air and a little walking around time, since he hadn’t been out since we left Nevada City on Sunday.

I took him around a little and Ingrid snapped a couple of pictures of him with the traffic behind him. But they “the authorities” didn’t like the fact that a mustang was out of his trailer tromping around (just walking), so we had to put him back in. Oh, well…he got a little breather anyway.

– Anessa

8:30pm Sunday

We finally got on the road around 4pm today. Wow, what a full day! Ingrid and I had first thought we were going to get out of Nevada City before noon at least, but no chance of that. We both had a bunch of stuff to take care of.

Our first fuel stop was just south of Reno, Nevada. So far, so good. I had my trailer’s axles and brakes looked at and bearings repacked yesterday so I could be sure I wouldn’t have any problem on the road.

I will try to keep you updated on our trip through this blog, and hopefully, with Ingrid taking photos, you’ll get to see some photos up from our trip as we go along!

– Anessa