Shiloh Ranch News

www.Shilohranchtexas.com August 2005 Office: 979-836-0599

 

Dear Shiloh Ranch Friends, Clients, and Students:

Greetings to all, from Shiloh Ranch, looks like school is back in session and lessons have started up again.

Amazingly, since the first of the year we have been very fortunate to receive 4 gifted, very nice horses:

Cha Cha, Tara’s former barrel horse, SOLD

Dolly, a gold Palomino Missouri Fox Trotter, SOLD

Sundance, Sorrel Tennessee Walker, SOLD

Sugar, gorgeous feminine palomino filly, trained in Western Pleasure, SOLD

 

One New Staffer Joins Our Team

 

Amy Reynolds, is from Smithville, TX, she is 19 years old. She is currently attending Blinn in Brenham, and has plans to transfer to A&M. She formerly worked at the 4R Ranch in Smithville. She started riding at ten, and is still in the saddle. Amy does an especially great job with our youngest students and enjoys working with the baby horses.

Please help us in welcoming the new staff.

 

 

New Students at Shiloh Ranch

Samantha Mask is a precious 9-year-old little girl who loves horses. She has been coming out to Shiloh Ranch taking lessons since last year, riding Matt, one of our best horses. Samantha decided that she was ready to try something new, so she was introduced to barrel racing, and is now taking lessons from Sheana on the fundamentals of barrel racing and she absolutely loves it. Samantha looks forward to coming out every Friday to ride Cherokee, our top mare at the ranch, and learning how to turn those tubs a barrel racing term us cowgirls love to use. Samantha is also taking on a new chore here at the ranch; she has become a barn rat, helping out around the barn, a dream that has finally come true for a little girl who loves to be around horses.

 

 

 

Paul & Heather Palmer, along with their two sons, Trip & Hunter, recently welcomed a new addition to their family. They purchased Cheyenne, now called Corona, a beautiful paint gelding. They are currently taking lessons with Corona and making excellent progress. Just to keep Corona company so he doesn’t get lonely, they also have borrowed Dub, a retired, bay (cutting horse) gelding from Shiloh Ranch.

 

 

David & Carla Vanderweide, along with their son Matt who is 11 years old, recently bought a ranch in Ledbetter where they are planning to start a ranch retreat. David is an orthopedic surgeon while his wife Carla is a registered nurse who grew up in Baytown. They are looking to purchase two great horses, Billy a 9 year old half Arabian Bay gelding and maybe Pat a 7 year old bay gelding to get them started. They are currently taking lessons with their very nice 4 year old paint gelding Romeo they brought to Shiloh for de-spooking and additional training.

 

Harvey & Julie Steinhagen of Brenham have 8 rescued Thoroughbred horses.  They are currently taking lessons with Tom and making excellent progress as they learn to halter, lead, learn the 7 games and one day ride these beautiful horses.

 

Camryn is a 4 year old cute little girl who is currently taking lessons here at the ranch. She is progressing nicely and mostly riding Domino, our pony.

Bonnie Hyman is coming out again for her two granddaughters Hailey and Sara to take lessons.

Tikaa Cone has signed her daughter Rialey Cone up again for lessons.

Retta Parker is making great progress on Noble, her American Saddle bred, and her friend Val is taking lessons on Retta’s other horse Lilly, a beautiful black & white paint mare.

Diane Kettler & her two kids Henry and Ruth Ann started lessons last month.

Lexa Oelze’s grandkids, Madeline and Olivia are returning from summer vacation and starting up lessons with us again.

Niko, a Dutch geologist, has had his first three lessons with us here at Shiloh and coming along very well. It won’t be long until he has his own horse. Niko has his own ranch near Brenham.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Horses For Sale:

Elvis: Deep bay Arabian. Lots of energy, fun to ride, great for trails. For an intermediate rider.

Pecos: Deep Chocolate 6 year old gelding. Started under saddle, very good in the 7 games.

Sandy C: Sorrel 8 year old Quarter Mare. Extremely nice disposition, great for trail riding, and very fun to ride.

Yearlings: We currently have 1 colt and 4 fillies left for sale all different colors and pedigrees.

Weanlings: We also have 05 babies, 1 colt and 4 fillies for sale ranging in all different colors and pedigrees.

 

 

IN OTHER SHILOH NEWS:

 

Jane Barnhill & her daughter, Betsy, will be out looking for horses for Betsy and her daughter, Carrie Newman.

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH KIRK, SHEANA AND AMY:

Kirk has been out away from the ranch working with Pecos, Lil’ Bit, and Cinch. Pecos is a 8 year old deep chocolate brown gelding quarter horse cross. Kirk has been doing the 7 games and also has been riding Pecos and coming along very nicely. Lil’ Bit is a 5 year old cute sorrel gelding that has been coming along well with the games and currently being started under saddle. Cinch is a 2 year old very nice looking, Palomino Quarter horse. Cinch was imprinted at birth, handled frequently, and taught the 7 games when he was a weanling/yearling. He has been on trail rides and making great progress.

 

Sheana has been training Rascal, a 2 year old Sorrel gelding, who was imprinted at birth and has been handled frequently throughout his 2 years. He was taught the 7 games when he was a weanling/yearling, which made him a breeze to start under saddle. Rascal is now being ridden on the trails and he is coming along great! Sheana has also been riding a finished barrel & pole horse named Cha Cha, she is an 11 year old registered, bay Appendix Quarter horse mare, who is coming along nicely as a trail horse.

Amy has been mainly focused on giving lessons here at the ranch and she’s very effective at it. She has also been putting additional hours on some of the horses that have been at the ranch and need additional training and time in the saddle.

 

NEW UPDATES ON PECOS, CINCH & RASCAL !!!!!!!!

Since my last report Kirk was just getting Pecos off to a few good rides.  Since that time Pecos has had about 16 rides and 30 hours of training.  He is progressing along very well, he's been out on the trails, crossing creeks, bridges and riding on and off the ranch.  Pecos recently went on a 3 hour trail ride down a little country road and did excellent !!!!!!! He's going to make a great trail horse.....

Kirk has also been busy working with Cinch these days.  They have been working on and off the ranch, riding the trails, crossing creeks and riding the wood trails.  Cinch has had about 30 hours of training and he's progressing very nicely. 

Sheana has been hard at work putting hours and training on Rascal.  They have been on and off the ranch, in the wood trails and down the road.  They recently had a 3 hour trail ride down a little country road and Rascal was just PERFECT !!!!!!

 

 

 

CONGRATS TO THE GRANDMOTHERS!!!!!!!!

 

Congratulations to all these grandmothers for continuing their grandkids lessons at Shiloh Ranch.

Lexa Oelze has two wonderful granddaughters, Madeline & Olivia who returned from summer vacation and are back at Shiloh for lessons.

Mrs. Commander has two wonderful granddaughters, Bobbie and Mary, 11 & 12 years of age that are visiting her for two weeks and have been coming to Shiloh for lessons.

Evelyn Metzger has a 10-year-old granddaughter Claire who has also started up lessons again here at the ranch.

 

HORSES SOLD !!!!!!!!!!!!

Magic, recently went to a new home, his new owner is not only a great rider, but one of our own barn rats here at Shiloh Ranch, Kelsey Stelwagen.

Star & Buttercup, are 2 weanling babies from this years crop.  There new owners are the Tollivers, who surprised their 2 girls with 2 new babies.

Billy, went to his new home in Austin, Texas.  His new owner is now Chris Webber who will enjoy riding Billy on a 1,000 acre ranch.

Champ, was one of Shiloh Ranch's personal riding horses here at the ranch.  He went to a wonderful family of 5, the Fields, who will love riding him as much as we did.

Cha Cha, went to a girl named Jennifer Kelinhanz who barrel races and will be competing on her.

Sonny, is a 3 year old beautiful golden palomino that came from Oklahoma to Shiloh Ranch and was recently purchased by Charlie McDaniel.  Charlie and his wife Lana, are establishing a new, very large ranch on 2447 east of Chappell Hill.  Both are planning to have horses.

 

CONGRATS to all the new owners who purchased a great horse from Shiloh Ranch !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shiloh Ranch News

www.shilohranchtexas.com            September 2004              Barn Office: 979-836-0599

 

 

Dear Shiloh Ranch Friends, Clients and Students:

 

 

As I write this, school is starting and this has triggered a little group of home schoolers to start or resume their lessons….a very nice group to work with.  We also have a few new adult students since the last newsletter, and numerous new horses to work with.  We have a new horse of Retta Parker’s that is a little different than what we work with.  He is an American Saddlebred and he is very tall.  Sawyer, Teena’s baby, was bought last spring, and has now been taken to her new home around Sequin. 

I am very pleased with the new fall team.  The members of our team are Tara Christian, Kristyn Herzog, Sheana Craven, and Amanda Johnson, they are a great bunch of young women.  Please pray for Sarah Lawley, and her horse Dennis, who is having major foot problems.  He is truly the “love of her life”.  Sabrina and I are also collaborating on getting Christy Rains to come down for a “Fluidity” clinic in January or February.  We have plenty of interested candidates. The ranch e-mail is tpc@shiloranchtexas.com .  We are currently building an e-mail database. Please e-mail us your email address so we can send ya’ll information, and updates. 

-Tom

 

                         Shiloh Ranch Has Been Invaded By Barn Rats!!

                                                                     (The two-legged kind of course)

 

            For those of you who don’t know what an official Shiloh Ranch Barn Rat is, they are young girls 11 years of age and up that love horses and want to be around them as much as possible.  The duties of a barn rat include: grooming and saddling horses, catching horses, helping feed, cleaning stalls, and other chores around the ranch.  They do this in exchange for something with greater value than money; riding horses! Once they finish chores they get to assist on trail rides, or just get to ride along while we train horses on and off of the ranch.  The summer months are when the population of barn rats rises here at the ranch.  This is when the girls are out of school, and the most popular time for trail rides and lessons, so we are very busy.

    The Barn Rats that have helped us this summer are: Danielle Lenz, Maria Senftleber, Elizabeth Stark, Alyssa Cummins, Kylie Novak, and Callie Chase.  But there is only one Barn Rat that has been here every day, rain or shine,(except for one weeks deserved vacation), and that girl is Kelsey Stelwagon.  Kelsey is in the 8^th grade at Brenham Junior High School.  She is very hardworking and will do anything to help out.  She is a great girl to be around, horses are in her heart and always will be.  Since school started she can’t be here during the week, but she will be here on Saturdays-guaranteed!! So if you happen to come by the ranch on a Saturday, just look for a little blond girl on Domino, our paint pony, and tell Kelsey hi!

           

                                        

 

                                    The Accidental Parelli Fan

 

I was facing the empty nest without a sport. Downhill skiing just can’t be done year round, so I decided to try horseback riding, a camp favorite.  Where does one go in Brenham without a horse?  Shiloh Ranch was the place.  Our family had taken some students to ride at Shiloh one Christmas.  So, I called them up and started taking weekly lessons.  Then it dawned on me; I get the same adrenal rush from loping and trotting that I get from downhill skiing.  It is such a challenge and is so much fun.

            I went to the Christi Raines Seminar (a PNH teacher) at the Washington County Fairgrounds in

the worst possible weather (actually wearing some of my ski clothes) and for the first time saw the connection between riding and the ground games of Parelli Natural Horsemanship.  I started watching the videos and recording Parelli on RFDTV and asked that my lessons be half ground games and half riding.  What a difference! Who would have thought that you could turn a horse by turning your head? The seminar also convinced me that horse ownership is not for

me.  Gun and Rod Subdivision has it’s restrictions, so I want to be the stranger on your horse.

            Doing Parelli Natural Horsemanship is like returning to my days at Camp Arrowhead.  I am gaining confidence in my riding ability and having great satisfaction as I achieve certain riding goals.  I have truly found horsemanship to be a form of downhill skiing when done the Parelli way.

 

Lucy Moorman

Brenham, Texas

             

 

Natural Horse-Man-Ship is so old, it’s new again; and it’s so simple that even adults can do it.-Pat Parelli

 

                                        Listen to the Professor

 

At the end of 2003, my husband Paul and I were looking for a place to ride. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have discovered Shiloh Ranch!  I hadn’t ridden since I was a teenager and Paul had never been on a horse, so Tom started by going through the basics with us. He also introduced us to the ideas of Pat Parelli’s Natural Horsemanship, and gave us one of Pat’s books to read. Pat’s materials are inspiring – it is amazing to see the videos of him working with horses!   Paul and I enjoyed ourselves so much at Shiloh Ranch that we started coming every week for lessons. Tom and the rest of the staff  at Shiloh Ranch were great at providing variety in these lessons. We did some ground work with the horses and worked on riding technique. I discovered that it’s hard to eliminate my old habits from riding English, but I’m working at it! We also did some trail riding in a variety of locations, which was really useful. When I had a horse as a child, I lived in the high desert in New Mexico, where there was a lot of open land and the horses could generally see much farther. Trail riding here, with the tall trees and animals rustling in the underbrush, is very different!

            About four months ago, I was very lucky to be able to buy my horse, Punkin, from Tom. She is a sorrel/overo Paint who is wonderfully responsive and a lot of fun! I have been working with her on the seven games of Parelli Natural Horsemanship (or, to be more precise, I have been trying to learn the games, since Punkin already knows them).  Punkin is amazingly perceptive and attentive when she is playing the games – sometimes I think she can tell what you want before you ask for it. I recently moved her from Shiloh Ranch to College Station, so now I get to work with her every day. Hopefully we will dazzle everyone at Shiloh Ranch with our teamwork next time we go back for a visit! Paul just bought Velvet, a Tennessee Walker, from Tom. Paul is really thrilled! He has been riding Velvet for about six months, and I think Tom knew it was a good match when he saw the big smile on Paul’s face every time he rode off across the meadow.  Velvet is still at Shiloh Ranch, so Paul gets to take more lessons there right away. We are working on getting a horse trailer so Paul and I can take more lessons together at Shiloh Ranch. We have really enjoyed the friendly, fun atmosphere there, and I’m looking forward to going back!

Shiloh Ranch News

www.Shilohranchtexas.com      March 2005     Office: 979-836-0599

 

 

Dear Shiloh Ranch Friends, Clients, and Students:

 

Happy day, spring is here!  Babies’ are arriving daily and the stallions are very romantic.  After a difficult January and February (record rains), and on top of ’04, a very wet year, things are drying out and getting better.  Bluebonitiers are all over the county and some are even riding horses!

            On a sad note, we lost Bruno (adopted Boxer).  Happily we now have a new Boxer pup to replace him and his name is Kade.  Tug is teaching him all of the tricks. 

            Amazingly, since the first of the year we have been very fortunate to receive 4 gifted, very nice horses:

1. Cha Cha, Tara’s former barrel horse, for sale
2. Dolly, a gold Palomino Missouri Fox Trotter
3. Sundance, Sorrel Tennessee Walker, for sale
4. Sugar, gorgeous feminine palomino filly, trained in Western Pleasure

On April 2^nd, I am going to Ft. Worth to the Ray Hunt benefit, sponsored in part by the redounded Pat Parelli.  We have already had three outside mares bred to Zip, and one to skip.  We have had several off-ranch trail rides, and we are currently planning one for next Tuesday, April 5^th, at the ox-bow ranch.  We have had a great group of barn rats this winter: Chealsea Mickelson, Rachel Girts, and Kelsey Stelwagon. 

      We have had the extreme pleasure of giving Kirk Wilson a horse of his own, a beautiful Sorrel mare named Sonora.  He is very excited to have her.  We have started our two year olds, Cinch, Rascal, and Lil Bit, under saddle and they are coming along nicely due to the PNH approach and infant imprinting. 

 

Happy Trails!!

 

 

 

One New Staffer Joins Our Team!!

        We are happy to announce that we have one new staffer to join our spring team of Sheana and Kirk. Her name is Amy Reynolds. 

 Amy is from Smithville, Tx, and she is 19 years old.  She is currently attending Blinn in Brenham, she plans to transfer to A&M.  She formerly worked at the 4R Ranch in Smithville.  She started riding at ten, and is still in the saddle.  Please help us in welcoming Amy. 

 

Learning Horsemanship and Values at Shiloh Ranch

It has only been a few months since my children and I began taking riding lessons at Shiloh Ranch.  My daughter, Lauren, got us hooked on horses one by one.  I believe her first word was “Horse!”  We aren’t sure how or why her horse passion began. Her Montessori school offered riding lessons starting at age three; long after her horse passion began.  Lauren took the reins and hasn’t let go since. I took lessons locally in Houston for a while but I was uncomfortable with the teaching approach.  I found it harsh and simply against my nature to try and use brute strength to manage a situation. I was naturally apprehensive around horses; growing up in Detroit my horse interactions were limited to seeing mounted police during festivals at the local parks.  My early lessons in Houston only intensified this apprehension, as the horses were very unpredictable, and at times down right mean.  I persevered, determined to not be scared. My daughter’s passion grew and her natural grace and ease around horses told us we would likely have a horse in our future.  We first met Sabrina and began taking lesson’s with her briefly.  She introduced us to Parelli natural horsemanship.  The techniques made sense to me and as my skill level grew so did my courage.  Sabrina encouraged us to continue our lessons at Shiloh Ranch, as it is much closer to our home.  I was reluctant at first as I was finally feeling comfortable around horses and wasn’t sure the change would work for me.  Sabrina’s instincts were correct.  We have all enjoyed Shiloh Ranch.  The Shiloh staff is so well versed in horsemanship that they easily match our skill levels and lesson with the most appropriate horse.  When my son saw how much fun we were having he started taking lesson’s as well.  We have learned so much in our short time of training.  I think the most important things I have learned at Shiloh ranch go beyond the fundamentals of horsemanship.  I have learned that horses can sense my nervousness or uneasiness and will match that energy.  I have learned that by relaxing myself the horse and I have a much more enjoyable ride   I have learned that the more I trust my own instincts, the more I am able to trust the horse to use his instincts in a trustworthy way.  I have also learned that as I set appropriate boundaries with the horse I am much more at ease setting boundaries with people. I have learned that consistency and respectfulness are the keys to forming a solid partnership.  I am also reminded every time that I ride, I need to set my sites on my goal and take the lead or someone else will set a path for me and take me where I had no intention of going.   I have also learned that there is no such thing as skipping steps.  My rate of improvement and enjoyment is directly related to the amount of time I spend with or on a horse.  I am grateful that my kids and I have the opportunity to learn about horsemanship at Shiloh ranch.  It is so wonderful to drive out to Chappell Hill unwind, and turn off the cell phone.  My kids are becoming engaged with something that doesn’t have flashing lights, a sound track, batteries or a controller. I think we are learning some pretty solid values on the back of a horse. I was put in a precarious spot during mating season when my 6 year old wanted to know why the horses in the pasture were playing tackle football! I wasn’t ready to teach that lesson. That aside, I really appreciate the enthusiasm and hard work that goes into making this experience so enjoyable for all of us.  

  Tina Fernandez

 

Flipping Over Shiloh Ranch

 

Samantha had always dreamt of horses, from the time she could first play dress-up in cowgirl clothes and ride her stick pony around the house.  At the ripe old age of five she began a gymnastics career that would last through the competitive season of 2004.  At that point, she realized her passion was the place where real horses, rather than those of the pommel variety, were stabled.  Her first lesson was at Shiloh Ranch in January 2005 and she now dreams of owning her own ranch someday.  Of course, at 9, she has lots to learn.  Her favorite horse is Matt, whom she looks forward to greeting each Friday.  Her favorite thing to do with Matt, as she is learning the ropes, is playing around in the jump area (just walking over the low ones for now).  She also loves to bring carrots and apples to give to the horses after her lesson.  Even this little exercise is teaching her about horses.  Ten horses nudging for a bite can be a bit overwhelming for someone less than four feet tall!  But being a little ex-gymnast has its advantages, since her strength and balance have come in very handy on the back of a horse.  Size is never an issue, it seems, as long as those stirrups are pulled way up.  She looks forward to the day when she can become a barn rat like the older girls, but for now contents herself with counting the days between Fridays when she can return to her favorite place in the world: Shiloh Ranch.

Tori Mask

 

 

New Babies Arriving each Week

 

            Our first-born was a Red Dunn filly on March 16.  Her Mother is Lady Cash, a Great granddaughter of Secretariat, and the sire was Skip, our gorgeous Palomino stallion, by Skipper W.  Teena foaled a nice sorrel, filly with a blazed face on April 7.  This filly is out of a solid paint mare, and by Zip, our paint stud.  They are both beautiful fillies and they are enjoying the nice spring weather.  They were imprinted at birth and are still being handled frequently.  We are now anxiously awaiting the arrival of babies out of Shy Print, Mini Beth, Aspen, Doc Bar Baby, and Shiloh.  They are all due now until the middle of May, so come by and take a look.

 

 

Shiloh Staff Updates

 

Kirk Wilson is not only doing some maintenance around the ranch but is now also riding and training horses, and guiding trail rides.  He is really enjoying this and is doing well.  Sheana Craven is back at Shiloh Ranch!  She moved back to Brenham from West Texas.  She is now back in the saddle full time.