Week 1 & 2

It's been a busy first 2 weeks for Melly getting 2024 wrapped up and a great start to 2025!

While this is the first full length update, we will have one to you each Saturday so you stay up to date with her progress and exactly what we're working with her on and how she is doing!

I do my best to make these detailed and thorough so you are fully up to speed with how things are going. With weekly updates, the changes can at times feel smaller because it takes time and consistency to really see the bigger changes. That is why we do photos every week in the updates, and video every 2 weeks so that way you can see the overall bigger changes that are taking place.

Our main focuses over the last 2 weeks have been on developing more focus, awareness, confidence and skill development in her Ground Work, Round Pen work as well as getting our first rides with Melly going.

I'll take you through a detailed explanation of our process here because a large part of our focus has been on the mental and emotional development first with Melly that way she is set up for success as we go to further her skill development.

As you've experienced, she can be quite pushy, and what I refer to as a tourist... Meaning when you're handling her or working with her, she is constantly looking around and not paying attention to the person handling or working with her. With a horse as big as she is, this definitely is a safety concern on the ground AND this mindset transfers directly under saddle which can lead to even more dangerous scenarios.

So to set her up for the very best of success and help her develop skills mentally, physically and emotionally that she can take with her where ever she goes, we start in our ground work and round pen work developing first her focus then the more she focuses the more she can relax and when she's focused and relaxed the more she can develop her understanding/skills.

Through the ground work, round pen work and even ridden work we are doing Melly is learning is when she gets more focused on what we are asking of her, she can be more present in the moment and she doesnt have to be constantly thinking about whats going on around her. Ultimately this is what horses naturally want- to be present and at peace. And when we can set that up through our work with them, they can find our aids and guidance helpful to them so they look for that in moments of uncertainty. I take the time to share this because its critical to understand the thought process behind what we do because this is how we want our horses to think of our requests and aids- we want them to find them helpful.

In these first few weeks, our top priority is showing Melly, not only are we here to help her become more safe and reliable, but also through this work we are asking her to do- she can look forward to it because it builds her confidence and our approach is not to just train on her but to help her develop the skills within her and help her along the way. Thats really what it takes to develop a dependable and reliable horse because she can take those skills with her when she goes home to KY and when you come down, we'll show you how to maintain and continue developing your skills and partnership together.

This week shes made solid progress, staying more focused on the requests being made whether thats yielding her shoulders, her hind end, backing up, or maintaining a proper bend on the circle.

At the core- its not just WHAT she does, it is HOW she does it. And with us being clear and precise in how we expect her to do what is asked of her, this requires her to pay way more attention to not just what shes doing, but how she is doing it. And we are very precise in what we ask of her because we want her to do what we ask to the very best of her ability so she can have the skills she needs to be safe and dependable with you!

On the circle (as you'll see in the videos), we're looking for her to
✅ be looking the direction of travel that way her nose is in the same direction as shes been asked to go,
✅ her inside front foot reaching towards her nose
✅ her inside ear staying focused towards us
✅ as well as an overall focused & relaxed demeanor

In the round pen work, we've are able to build on the ground work concepts plus also work on additional skills that further her skills to be a reliable, safe and confident partner. Some of that has been her carrying herself forward without having to constantly be asked to go as well as her overall willingness as well as being more precise in her changes of direction, speed control and even working on her hind feet handling.

All of this preparation work is to ultimately prepare her for the ridden work.

And as we neared the end of this week, we were able to enjoy a couple rides on Miss Melly this week!

We kept the rides basic and focused on the same elements we've been asking of her on the ground:
- willingness to go forward
- staying focused
- softness through each part of her body (head, neck, shoulder, barrel and hip).
- and most importantly- not just what but HOW she was doing what was asked of her.


Our top priority is preparing her to be successful for you to enjoy when the time comes for her to head back to Kentucky.

And when it comes to developing a horse from the inside out- truly focusing on their mental and emotional development- you cannot rush it because they have to be able to make those changes in how they think from the inside.

So far shes making steady progress, getting better each day and showing up ready to work a little more each day. It's early in the process and we got a lot of work ahead and we are very appreciative of you trusting us with your girl.

If you have any questions at all dont hesitate to ask!

Oh and yes, we've got her in a full hair care routine! How could I forget haha. Her tail, feathers and all hair are doing well! I think its safe to say shes enjoying some warmer TX weather!


-Colton Woods