NEW THINGS HAPPENING AT THE WHITEWATER CLUB

Spring 2013  What a Wisconsin winter, one week goes from almost 50' to 9' within 2 days and it seems like spring has refused to come to Wisconsin at all!

 Our CHClub is working on the Character of God Unit. In this Unit we are studying some of the character traits or attributes of God. The girls are learning what some big words mean, like omnipotent (all powerful), omniscience (all knowing), omnipresent (exists everywhere), immutable (never changing) and more! Learning about the character traits of God not only helps us to be amazed at how great and awesome our God is but helps us to trust Him.

 We are also looking at the different personality traits of horses using the Parrelli Horsenality® chart.  The day we planned to do some horse evaluations it poured buckets of rain, but the girls did the surveys with several of the horse owners here at Hidden Falls Ranch Boarding Stable.  On two other days with decent weather we were able to do some horse observations, once in the cold and snow and once in the mud (See pictures)! We watched how differently the horses reacted to new objects; a large exercise ball, a purple sled and another time a large cardboard box. The horses really showed their “horsenalities!” Starlight bolted and stayed a long distance away from every object introduced and even whirled away when she was way out in the pasture, while Josiah, Jhenhi and Foxy where more curious. Josiah loved the ball and started playing with it, but he was fearful of the big box. Jhenhi wanted to play with everything, in fact she was the only horse in the upper heard to approach the box, and after she started play with it Foxy came forward to check it out too. The playfulness shows the “left-brained extrovert” Horsenality® type and the fearful insecurity shows the “right-brained extrovert.”  When Noelle put the box in the lower herd Fella just walked over to see what it was, so did Gabe, but he was definitely more cautious. When Preacher (a Tennessee Walker for sale) saw it he came right up to the box and started messing around with it.

According to the Perrelli Horsenality® chart, discovering a horse's dominant personality trait helps a trainer and rider to deal with the horse's strengths, weaknesses and needs. With the playful personality, you need to keep things moving and interesting, these horses are the easiest to train because they are smart and love to interact with people.

Seeing Fella be so calm was a big change from when he first came to the ranch 9 years ago.  He'd been abused and was especially fearful of men and was suspicious and resistant to any rider. I worked with him and helped his new owner, Noelle (12), learn how to deal with his little routine of resistant moves.  I told her she needed to be firm and consistent, but loving. We had to be very patient to teach him anything new. Now we know his personality trait is the “right-brained introvert” whose main need is “comfort”. Well, in one year Noelle's love changed him considerably, even our veterinarian noticed the difference. (Although Fella still eyes the vet with suspicion!)

The other CHC Projects are: to learn a song or write a poem that mentions at least six of God's characteristics, to take part in a field trip to see different horse breeds and their different personalities and do horse surveys. We will then compile the surveys we took and see how different breeds may show certain personality traits more than others. The girls Bible reading is a large part of  the book of Isaiah and the book of Daniel. Most of the girls have completed their memory work, the following verses present several of God's attributes, can you pick them out? (Check out CHC on Face Book for the answers.)  Isaiah 40:28-29 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” NIV®

This verse even encourages us to realize, because of His love and mercy He wants to strengthen and empower us! So when you are worn out and weary of the way things are going ask for His strength and power to help you, I know I do every day. Seek Him and be encouraged!

 If you would like to know more about Christian Horse-lover's Club Inc., or if you know a Christian horse person who might be interested in starting a CHC Inc. club in their area, please check out the rest of our website or see us on Face Book or call Kim at (262)-473-5624

 Summer 2012

We are so thankful our Chc Inc. club in Whitewater had such a great summer doing the TRUST & TRAILS Unit!  We did our devotions first and then went out to work with the horses.  Each girl learned how to "Lunge for Respect," A Clinton Anderson ground work exercise to gain the respect and trust of a horse.  We used the exercise to lunge a horse between the fence and a barrel, getting the horse to accept a tight space.  In July, my husband Robin , set up an obstacle course for the girls to take the horses through.  First we had them do a walk through to look at the obstacles and then they rode through or over them.  These activities taught the girls how to deal with a horse when a new and scary object begins to make their horse nervous.  The practce activities also helped each girls build a relationjship of trust with their horse by calmly helping the horse to understand when his rider says "It's Okay!"...means It really is OK!  The girls and their horses went over a tarp, a pile of branches (which some horses tried to eat), a pile of logs, mock railroad tracks, a bridge and yes...the horse eating mailbox!!!  Funny how upset some horses can get by a mailbox!   The other exercises were riding a safe distance from each other, rider's communication, to pass each other safely and learn other mahneuvers used on a trial ride such as an emergency stop.  

The girls memorized Proverbs 3:5-6 and Psalm 20:7.  The devotions studied these verses as well as, a look at following God's will.  His general will, that which is in the Bible and God's specific will, which each Believer must seek the LORD to discover what God's plans are for them.

More to come.

Spring 2012

Our Whitewater CHClub worked hard to complete the CHOICES Unit this Spring so they could receive thier charms at the Awards Ceremony in June.  We had a great day for the Awards Ceremony.  It was quite hot so we stayted indoors to give the parents an overview of the PRAISE & THANKS and CHOICES Units.  We sang two praise songs and the girls recited the CHC Pledge and their memory verses.  

Afterwards, we went out to the round pen where the girls demonstrated the Project/Activity they worked on in the PRAISE &THANKS Unit.  Alyssa I and Alyssa C. took turns helping each other practice posting on Foxy Lady.  One girl lunged Foxy at a trot while the other practiced posting and then they swithced positons.  Mikaela worked on several projects and chose to show us how she works with Fella to stand still for mounting.  It took a while and some patience from Mikaela, but finally Fella stood nice and still while she mounted.  

We had a fun and successful trip to Freedom Fest in Janesville, WI.  We set up a table and brought Foxy Lady for people to pet.  She was such a good girl, even when the roller coaster started and the big red fire engine parked right next to us!  We did something extra special, with my daughter Amber's help, we be-friended two sweet young girls from the city and took them on the rides and ate lunch with them.  We talked to many people to get the word out about CHC Inc., hoping to find a Christian horse-lover willing to start a CHC Inc. club in Milton and Janesville.  We definately met many horse-crazy girls.

This summer we are having fun doing the TRUST & TRAILS Unit (one of my favorites!)  We have several new girls who've joined this summer, so I have been working with them to quickly teach them the basics of riding.  The whole club is working on some ground work exercises that teach the horse to trust them, to think and not react wildly.  They are also learning the one-rein emergency stop, calm down cue and the hip-over.  Each girl must be able to do these manuevers quickly before they are allowed to go on a trail ride.   I am so grateful for my two helpers this summer, Geena and Jaylene!

We have a camp out planned to practice and do a short trail ride and in August we plan to go to the Southern Kettle Moraine Horse Park in Palmyra WI.

We will tell you more of our adventures soon!