Week 1 Round-up

Wow, that was week one. I would have love to post some news earlier, but the internet broke down. Now we are in Seymour, sitting in a cafe and connecting with the world again.

After 3 days in Dallas we headed out to Truscott where the ranch is.

Dallas Downtown

On the way from Dallas to Truscott

After one lunch stop in Wichita Falls we arrived after an app. 3 hours drive at the Ranch.

Lunch stop in Wichita Falls

The drive was really nice and there is so much land and a wide open space we don't have in Germany. No town, no hills in the way.


The Colt Start is really exciting and I advise everybody to do it, if you ever have the chance. It's such an experience in every way. To me all what I learned so far within the Parelli program makes even more sense. "...Principle to purpose...".
Especially the better understanding of the difference between taming and starting. We are still in the taming process. Imagine that most of the colts had little to no handling except some branding.

Thanks also to Eugenie and Jerry Bob (owners of the Circle Bar ranch) who host us for the 3 weeks of the course on their ranch. The size of the ranches are big comparing the the farms are rural places in Germany: from 16.000 ha to 200.000 ha...Well, everything is bigger in Texas.

Bankhouse. First bank of Truscott. The place where we (Courtney, Erin and me) sleep in.

We stay in a bankhouse which was once the first bank of Truscott. Very historical. I will add a pic of the old safe they have. Historical piece of art.

Thunderstorm on the first day at the ranch.

The first evening we had a thunderstorm and we were allready instructed what to do and where to go just in case of. There are also rattlesnakes and I am glad I did not face one so far. It's a different place and I have to say that in Germany all seams to be very "cosy" comparing to their weatherconditions (sun is burning...) and the rattlesnakes. Ok we have crouded places and smog....

The first 2 days it was rainy and muddy so we had more of a talk from Pat and the instructors, shared our stories and started to get to know each other. We also had the chance to see the ranch cowboys driving cattle from one place to another place horseback.

On the 3rd day the weather was better (no rain but sun) and we headed out to the horses. It was quiet and experience and still is that these horses are not tame. They come from different local ranches (Circle bar, Pitchfork, Muleshoe horse and other breeders) and breeders. We are 30 participants and there are 70 colts to start. Nobody has always the same horse. The horses that catched you in that moment is the horse you play with for that session which gives us the chance to play with different horsenalities and different stages of taming process.

Cowboys finished their job by driving the cattle to a different area.

We have breakfast, lunch and dinner together and the food is great! In the evening there are opportunities to chat or to play pool or poker in the lodge which is a beautiful decorated former church. 

Lodge

Playing Pool in the Lodge. See the Poker table in the background.

All the instructors including Pat are so patient with us, let us find our own pace of learning and share all the experience and knowledge with us. Looking forward to the 2nd week of the course.

John, Maurice and Ryan demonstrating how to make contact with the colts.

Laundry in Crowell

Wearing a pad and saddle for the 2nd time.

Colts in the big round corral.