Hello Barn Buddies!!

Below is the welcome letter from the January 2014 Newsletter. Click here to download the complete PDF version.

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Is anyone getting spring fever? With all the nice weather, I know I am. There sure is an excitement in the air at the barn for the 2014 riding season!

But before we get too excited about the new year, it’s always best to reflect on the previous year. So to begin with, last summer was our first real opportunity to play with our B2 Trail Course. For those of you who don’t know what B2 stands for it is Bad Betty’s Trail. My mom (Betty Nagle) has always had a passion for trail class and has done very well over the years competing in this class. She has always wanted a course on the ranch, so last year we got real serious with clearing some brush and designing a course. It will always be a work in progress, but we are very pleased with how the course is coming together and would love for you all to come and try it out this summer.

We also need to celebrate our 2013 new and accomplished Jessi Club Members and Barn Rat Leaders. These programs are designed for kids (3-18 years old) who are interested in improving their horsemanship and personal growth. We are so excited to welcome our many new members and we are so proud of those who earned their year-end awards for completion of all the program requirements. Good work kids!

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.
Jack Welch

Sue and Jacob, her sweet potato!

Sue McMurray needs to be congratulated on winning our 2013 Versatility Award. Sue is a very disciplined, hardworking rider, so the award was well deserved. I am so proud to say that we finally convinced Sue to believe she is a trainer! Look for more about Sue in her interview with Davalee.

One last thing to mention about last year before we move forward to our exciting plans for 2014 is our Family Camp over Memorial Day weekend. This is an invitational clinic because it requires participants to pay for their clinic with their sweat and labor. And boy do we work them! The folks that attend this clinic need some pats on the back and a huge thank you. Davalee and I couldn’t do what we do without you all. Along with appreciation for all the hard work, we also need to thank you all for having the best attitude and sense of humor. I swear, all of our stomach muscles were killing us from laughing so hard after last year!

Now let’s look forward to 2014 riding season and what new things we have for you!

As for those who follow us on Facebook already know, Davalee and I, plus a few friends went to Rancho Murrieta, California, to check out the Cowboy Dressage World Show. We had gotten wind of this new competition and liked what we were reading, but we needed to see it up close and personal before we leaped into it ourselves, let alone leading our customers down this path. Well, needless to say we were hooked! We loved what we saw! It seemed to encompass everything MM Training & Consulting is about. We really embraced the philosophy and we appreciated how the founders really looked closely at the dressage and the western disciplines. They pulled from each discipline what seems good and right and discarded everything that seems to make the horse world less than admirable and inviting. Read more about our trip here.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

In closing, please check out Davalee’s blog on our web site www.mm-horsetraining.com. And most of all please come and join us for lessons and/or our Jessi Club Day & Barn Rats Play in May and September. We will have demonstrations, consultations, and fun riding time.

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Jessi Club

We are so excited that our Jessi Club is growing strong! We at MM Training are proponents of starting them early and right.

JC is for children 3-10 years old. The program is designed to combine the basics of good horsemanship and good character. We believe they go hand-in-hand.

JC motto:

Just Have Fun!
Give Your Best Effort!
Show Your Team Love!
Be Safe!
& Have a Good Attitude!

If your child would like to join the Jessi Club, please contact Marcia for more details.

Barn Rat Leadership

Our Barn Rat Leaders are our kids (11-18) that are serious about taking their horsemanship to the next level. These teens are given leadership training and hands-on experience helping other kids with their horses. When the teens pass on what they have learned to others, it increases their own learning and growth. Please contact Marcia for more details.

Mission: Our mission is use the relationship with the horse and Godly principles to increase teens emotional and relational intelligence. This solid foundation will give teens the tools to become strong, influential leaders.

Governing Philosophy: The BRat Program has specific values we strive to incorporate into their training and lessons.

Program Description: The BRat Leadership Program consists of two sides, Horsemanship and Leadership. Participants will be instructed to be working on and achieving goals from each side.

Tough & Tender Club: Taking Life and Horsemanship to Another Level

I don’t know how many times I have heard adults at the barn say they wished there was a program like MM Training’s Youth Programs or the Ann Beckner Lessons for them. Well, we have heard you loud and clear! We have designed the T&T Club for those that believe life is a journey and personal growth is part of that journey. And that it is uniquely tied to the growth we can make in our relationship with the horse. Our current T&T members have started their challenge. Please look for their progress in the near future on Facebook and our blog. And if you are interested in the T&T Club please join us! Let’s let 2014 be our best year ever!!!