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For years I kept a handwritten notebook training diary under the front seat of my truck. I started doing this back in the 90's. Even then I did the majority of my riding all alone with no feedback. I often felt like I was spinning my wheels, getting nowhere. I decided back them to keep track of what I was doing, what I was accomplishing with my training, my results and failures. Occasionally when I got discouraged, I would page back in my training notebook and see where I was a month or year ago, and reassure myself that yes, I was making progress.

In 2004 Corky was born. I decided to chronicle her training from weaning date onward, and to do so on my website for my own records. I started off fairly small, with the occasional diary entry. I had no idea there would be so many others in the same boat (riding and attempting to train alone) that would be interested in reading my daily drivel! Over the years the readership has grown by amazing numbers, and I love getting comments and messages from everyone as they read something that interests them or that they might have some additional advice to give me.

I have strived to be frank and honest in my writings (much to the chagrin of others!). What's the purpose of sugar-coating things? No one wants to read about a supposed "perfect" horse. That horse doesn't exist (except in some peoples' minds!). We've all been there - had hard-to-train horses, successes and failures, training mountains to climb, hardships, and disasters. Hey, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?



Come join the fun!

Start at the bottom and read your way upward...
2012 Training Diary page 1
(January/February)
Getting ready to break Tango under saddle!
2011 Training Diary page 6
(November/December)
Tango wears a saddle, and Corky gets back under saddle!
2011 Training Diary page 5
(September/October)
Preparing for Congress (am I crazy or what?)
2011 Training Diary page 4
(July/August)
Fun with Longe Line!
2011 Training Diary page 3
(May/June)
Show season is beginning, and it's time to get miles on the yearlings
2011 Training Diary page 2
(March/April)
Yearling ups and downs, and getting Corky back into shape.
2011 Training Diary page 1
(January/February 2011)
Dealing with injury, and training two yearlings!
2010 Training Diary page 2
(July-December)
Reality sets in and goals are reconsidered, and I do a lot of muddling around trying to figure out my own training mishaps. Oh yes, and the great joy of raising a newborn and creating training experiences for him.
2010 Training Diary page 1
(January-June)
Setting goals, trying new training techniques, and experiencing unexpected heartbreak.
2009 Training Diary page 2
(May-December)
Coping with the sadness, more training mountains and molehills.
2009 Training Diary page 1
(January-April)
Preparing for Taylor's first foal, another heartbreak, and more training fun!
2008 Training Diary page 3
(Oct. 11-Dec. 30)
A very different Congress...and learning to move on.
2008 Training Diary page 2
(April 28-Oct.6)
Taylor is pregnant, Corky and I do a professional photo shoot, and we show a bunch in preparation for Congress.
2008 Training Diary page 1
(January 1-April 27)
Training ups and downs, and starting Taylor on her breeding career.
2007 Training Diary It's the big year - three year old futurities...and an amazing Congress experience!
2006 Training Diary Corky's 2 year old year - the fun days of breaking and training under saddle.
2005 Training Diary The year that started it all! Staring with Corky's weaning, into her yearling year. Longe line training, showing at the futurities, culminating with the longe line at Congress.




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