Orchard Cove Stables and Liz Graves Clinic

Hello Everyone!

Well, James and I spent this past weekend at Orchard Cove Stables in Townsend. Most of you know that our member, Heather Webb and family own this great facility. Orchard Cove was hosting renown gaited natural horsemanship trainer, Liz Graves. It was a great time for all who attended. Liz has a very calm, natural, way of teaching and she broke off the group into two riders at a time. So, those who brought their horses to attend were able to get a very one-on-one with Liz, with each session lasting about an hour. It was very informative, and sometimes "eye-opening", as she pointed out the differences in each horse, and how, what, etc., to do to understand the gaits, etc. You might be surprised how some horses are so multi-gaited, they can really do them all---and it is okay. You just learn to bring out which gait is desired, and more so, which is easiest for the horse. Liz helped with saddle fit/info, bits, and other informative tack information. I could go on and on. If you get a chance to audit Liz's clinics or participate, you should do so. As in most clinicians---you are given so much of their hard-earned knowledge; however, if you don't agree---that's okay. You will still learn so much.

There was a young lady who had not ridden in some years, and had recently purchased a three year old Rocky Mountain. Liz first, as I personally agree, pointed out the horse's body has not finished growing (bones, muscles, etc.), and she should limit her riding time. BUT, when Liz was showing her how to get a response from her horse by turning, ever-so-slightly, her body, her leg movement, etc., to cue her horse to bend, turn haunch out, etc.---well, the young lady, Connie, just grinned. You could see the light bulb go off over her head. She just could hardly contain herself that with the simple steps Liz had shown her (and the rest of us), that her horse would respond so correctly.

Freda Webb furnished us with great lunches---I'm sure Heather didn't mind on that one as she was busy riding her mare! At one point we ladies were discussing jeans, and Freda got up to peer at the back-end of Liz's jeans---you had to have been there! Liz good-naturedly joined us in that one!

I have to add, Liz fully believes in James' profession as an Equine Physical Therapist. There was a big black TW that obviously was showing outward physical signs of needing that type of treatment. Liz asked James ( with an okay from the owner, of course) to work on the horse, and after doing so, that beautiful TW went back into the ring and was a completely different moving horse---all for the better. The crowd's reaction was wonderful, as Liz gave James the opportunity, on her time, to show just what his Total Body Technique can do. Even more so---James helped another horse.

After James and I had just arrived on Saturday, our member Lea and daughter Megan came rolling in with Lea's brand new trailer. The pictures in this slide show James and Lea trying to figure out the awning. At last---success!!
While auditing the class, we sat along with members Renee and Irene and plenty of fine horse people (we didn't hold it against them that they rode TW horses).

Saturday evening about six of us went on a bit of a trail ride. Lea made mention that with the time we were riding, the bears were active---oh goody!

We all agreed that we had a great time and made new horse acquaintances. Seemed like we all already knew each other and everybody seemed very comfortable. Of course, with a setting like Orchard Cove Stables and the Webb family---what more could you want!

Enjoy the little film clip below. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was too busy enjoying everything.

See you guys at Circle E in October!

Moira