CHAMP Trail Horse Obstacle Clinic

 

(Warning: Long post with lots of photos!)

Last Saturday I audited a Trail Obstacle Clinic hosted by Corrales Horse and Mule People (CHAMP) with trainer/instructor/clinician, Mike Sikorski.

(Photo taken from Mike Sikorski’s website)

I was there with my friends from Walking in Circles Horse Ranch Rescue.

Several of our volunteers were riding their rescued horses during the clinic and I was excited to see them working together with their horses and learning new things. And of course, to take photos, too.

Mike and his wife Kathryn take in quite a few of the unwanted horses from the horse rescue for a few weeks to a few months for gentling and training, and they have helped many of these horses find a new home. They also participate in and ride in the ACTHA CTRs. They’ll both be riding in the June 12 and June 13th rides, that I have listed on my side-bar.

I thought I’d share many of the photos I took last weekend. (These are also for the CHAMP’s folks and WNCR Horse Rescue folks, too. Feel free to take the photos you’re interested in, or if you want a higher resolution/better quality, e-mail me and I’ll send the photos to you.)

 

A volunteer and her mare from Walking in Circles Horse Ranch Rescue. 

 

 This is Steve Henry, the President of CHAMP. In addition, my dear friend Dan Cooksey(Check out his blog), is the CHAMP Newsletter Editor. He and his sweet wife Betty own an Icelandic gelding and a Rocky Mountain mare. They weren’t able to make it to the Trail Obstacle Clinic, though……because…they were in Hawaii! (Just a lil’ bit green with envy, I am) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Another volunteer and his horse from Walking in Circles Horse Rescue. They have a very close bond and communicate very well together. It’s beautiful to watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Sikorski helping an owner with her horse who has always refused to wear a bit. 

 

The horse did get away from him when she became overwhelmed and bolted, but she was caught and Mike worked with her some more in the round pen, and it didn’t take long before she was willing to accept the bit and be calm for her owner.

 

 

 Mike’s wife, Kathryn was also there to instruct riders and their horses as they took on the trail obstacles.

 

 

 A gorgeous, sweet mustang mare waiting to be adopted at Walking in Circles Horse Ranch Rescue. She has already went through training at Mike’s place. This rider was trying her out for the clinic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the volunteers from WNCR riding her rescued gelding, Jackson, a Thoroughbred/Saddlebred. 

 

 

 

 Jackson would probably go anywhere and do anything for his young owner. They have a wonderful relationship that is very special to watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                    The End!