Jill Anderson

I have been asked by a good friend to teach her grand-daughter Katie riding lessons! Ive seen her ride once…bareback, and OH MY GOD is she a natural! Reminds me of myself at her age;)

I am not asking to be paid, altho my friend offered—simply because I know i can do this & do it well, so it’s a tiny step towards getting my name out there so to speak:)

I told her she needs to tell her grand-daughter that I AM being paid for these lessons….for some reason people put more value and effort into things if they are paying for it-strange but true lol!

I have already printed some lesson plans, (how to properly groom, tack up etc.) and plan to give Katie homework, and quizzes as well.

I told her Grandma yesterday that I dont plan on just teaching her how to ride, but rather everything she will need to know about horses, and having one of her own.
She will learn about the names of the asst. body parts of the horse, names of most breeds, all about vaccines, tacking up & grooming her own horse, and aLOT of ground work.

I am having trouble finding things online that I can re-configure to meet my personal needs as for the lessons & lesson plans, etc.

If anyone knows where i can find good info on teaching I would really appreciate it!

I want to also make up “reward certificates” to give her when she does well, and probably will find cheap horsey “goodies’ for her when she’s done extremeley well!

This kid is a total natural, and all she needs is confidence, and to learn about the things we all need to know about her (our) horses in general…

again ..any ideas are welcome, this is my first time teaching in over 20 yrs!

Thx:)
JIll & Montana (ride ON!)

Last night I took My Arab Montana out after 2 weeks off (he was getting over a bad cold/flu) so he was full of it but I figured that was coming, especially as I observed his bucking, snorting, farting and other antics while lunging him in the round pen lol ;)
Had one of the best rides ever-went with 3 friends, we left a little before sunset & set out thru the Santa Ana river trails then went east up into the hills between Norco & Riverside CA.

Saw the sun go down painting an all pink, orange & yellow sky. Rode thru an area that was once a marsh but the river has since long receeded where there are nest boxes set up all around where the water once lay. I have often wondered what type of birds they were built for, and tonight i was in for a surprise. A lone male Wood duck was perched on one of the nestboxes, and stayed as if a statue while we silently rode by in awe of his beautiful paint by number looking colors! A Red Tailed hawk perched above us allowed for a great close up view of it before it launched off & headed to it’s roost for the night.

Then as we rode along enjoying the time with our horses & each other as friends, we stopped & watched as full moon rose, lighting our way as if by magic while we rode alll over in the hills. My horse nearly glowed under the moonlight, being a very light flea bitten grey color & all of us agreed it was more beautiful than words could ever describe!

There was a most delightful warm breeze coming up as I watched a giant white Barn owl swoop over us, lit up almost illuminous by the moon. Out hunting mice & other rodents for dinner in the desert hills, it soared around us for awhile like a glowing mist then headed northwest toward the river.

We didnt get back to the stables until after 10:30 p.m. but it was one of the best rides Ive ever been on, and mostly it was sooooo good to be back on my own horse again!

He rocks:)

Until next time, keep riding you all:)

Jill & Montana