Methow Valley Riding Unlimited

3x5 Folded Card

2012-01-16T11:16:00.001-08:00

Family Portrait Thank You Card

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Glad Tidings

2011-12-25T17:39:00.001-08:00

December 2011

Methow Valley Riding Unlimited has enjoyed another productive year of promoting meaningful connections through quality horsemanship experiences and community service opportunities. Some of our highlights include:
*35 young people receiving weekly horsemanship lessons, from May through October, enjoying the camaraderie of building friendships and confidence around their fascination with horses.
*18 second through sixth graders from the Methow Valley Public School Resource Room participating in 10 weeks of the Let ’Em Ride program. Designed for children with special needs and made possible through funding from the MV Public School Funding Alliance and MVRU, this program builds self-esteem, horsemanship skills and connections with people, animals and nature.
*18 5-8 year olds enjoying 2 summer day camps with horses at Moccasin Lake Ranch
* The generous gift of a lovely, well-trained Haflinger driving pony along with her harness and cart bringing to life our dream of a driving program.
* Volunteers and mentors of all ages working towards our goals of growing healthy, happy, contributing community members.
*8 incredible, well-trained, generous and multi-talented equines staying sound and happy in their valuable work.

If you have helped make this happen, we are indebted and grateful to you. If you would like to be part of the joy we are creating, please feel free to offer a contribution.

Wishing you Peace, Comfort and Joy

MVRU 2011 Horses of the Year !

2011-11-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

Two beloved mares have been acknowledged as official SuperStars by our students and volunteers! The lovely 12 year old sorrel Quarter Horse, GINGER, was voted 2011 HORSE of the YEAR! Reserve Horse of the Year, by only 2 votes, was earned by the 21 year old, Morgan/Welsh cross pony, Midnight. Both horses have given over 200 lessons and guests rides this season. We are so fortunate to include these well schooled, impeccably mannered, willing in our valuable string of fine horses. Ginger is owned and generously loaned for MVRU classes by Gaye Pigott of Moccasin Lake Ranch. Midnight is owned and generously loaned by the Butler family.

CHICORY

2011-10-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

Chicory is a lovely Haflinger mare recently donated to MVRU by the generous Gwenyth Bassetti of CDB Farm in Goldendale, Washington. She is a safe and sane, experienced driving pony and deluxe bareback ride!

Fall Session 2011

2011-09-20T22:13:00.000-07:00

Fall Session classes are under way! 25 lucky kiddos and several of their moms and other adult riders have begin taking regular weekly horsemanship lessons through MVRU at Moccasin Lake Ranch. September and October are such great months for riding in the Methow Valley.

Fall Session 2011 has begun!

2011-09-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

JUNE

2011-06-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

Summer Sessions started on Monday with a grand total of 25 students in 5 hours, looking forward to a busy summer with this crew and our faithful, four-legged friends!

2011-05-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

Gretta and pony, Pippin practice trotting in the sunshine, finally starting to feel like summer 'round here!

SUMMER SCHEDULE

2011-05-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

SUMMER SESSION 2011 will run for 6 weeks between June 13th and July 25th. (NO LESSONS on JULY 4th). All weekly classes will take place on Mondays. Tuition : $210.

Other opportunities for horsemanship lessons include day camps and private lessons through Moccasin Lake Ranch.The registration deadline for weekly classes is JUNE 6th. This means that registration form & tuition must be received by June 6th! All late registrants will be placed on a waiting list.

LITTLE STAR HORSEMANSHIP CAMP I: June 21, 22, 23, 9am to 1pm. This introductory horsemanship camp is being offered as a Little Star summer camp. It is open to children 5-8 years old. Registration and tuition payment must be done through Little Star Montessori School. This camp is expected to fill very quickly so don’t delay!

more details for the MOCCASIN LAKE RANCH CAMPS to come...

Camp I: July 19, 20, 21, 22, 9am to 1pm. *to secure your spot in this camp for 9~13 year olds send a $200 deposit to: MVRU PO Box 58, Winthrop, WA 98862. Checks made payable to Moccasin Lake Ranch.
IF Camp I fills quickly and we can fill another we have a tentative plan to add

*Camp II: July 26, 27, 28 9am to 1pm *dependent on registration...

PRIVATE LESSONS: As always, private lessons and trail rides at Moccasin Lake Ranch are available throughout the summer by appointment. Call 996 9881 or email: annieb@mvriding.org for information, pricing, and scheduling.

Keep in mind... enrollment in all programs is limited and we expect classes to fill quickly. So register NOW and be as flexible as possible! Full tuition is due upon enrollment unless other arangements have been made with the Program Director prior to registration. MVRU is committed to providing quality horsemanship programs to individuals, regardless of their financial situation, therefore we have a scholarship program available to those in need, applications available upon request.

FOR REGISTRATION, APPLICATIONS, AND GENERAL INFORMATION CONTACT ANNIE AT: annieb@mvriding.org, or call 996 9881. Hope to see ya'll out there!

SPRING

2011-03-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

Spring is coming. Get ready to start riding! Info about Spring Session to be posted on MVRU website soon ...

2010 MVRU Reserve Horse of the Year

2011-03-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

Voted 2010 Reserve Horse of the Year by MVRU students, volunteers and staff ... big, bold beautiful Buttons ! A gentle giant proudly owned by MVRU.

2010 MVRU Horse of the Year

2011-03-08T19:43:00.000-08:00

The sweet and sane, gentle and responsive, ever-dependable Quarter Horse mare, Ginger was voted 2010 MVRU Horse of the Year by students, staff and volunteers. This versatile horse is as handy in beginner lessons as out moving cattle around the ranch. She is owned and generously loaned to MVRU by Gaye Pigott of Moccasin Lake Ranch. We are grateful and blessed.

Get Ready to Ride...MVRU Fall Session 2010

2010-08-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Fall Session will run for 6 weeks between September 13 and October 26th. Tuition for riding once a week is $200. Those of you who would like to ride twice a week will need to set up additional lessons by appointment w/Annie B. Full payment is due with registration unless other arrangements have been made with the Program Director PRIOR to the deadline.

The Four Fridays for 4 & 5 year olds will be September 10 & 24 and two Fridays in October tba. To enroll in classes complete the enclosed registration form and return it TODAY ! The absolute deadline for fall registraion is September 6 … however, we recommend signing up immediately in case classes fill prior to the deadline! Any forms received or postmarked later than September 6 will be placed on a waiting list.

Registration Form

Click here for more information.

Little Star Horse Camp

2010-06-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Little Star Horse Camp at Moccasin Lake Ranch ... TOO much fun!

Let 'Em Ride Grand Finale!

2010-05-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Let 'Em Ride Program allows these special kids from Methow Valley public schools to receive coaching, support and mentoring, helping them gain self-esteem and confidence while learning about horses and horsemanship at Moccasin Lake Ranch. This program has been made possible through a partnership between MVRU and the MV Public School Funding Alliance.

We enjoyed a beautiful May day for the last outing of the 2010 Spring Let Em Ride Program. We had scavenger hunt trail riding and trust activities culminating with t-shirts and popsicles! What a great day!

Spring Young Riders Clinic 2010

2010-04-12T17:23:00.001-07:00

Four Methow Valley teens and their five event horses braved rain, gale force winds and cold temperatures in Kennewick on Easter weekend to train with other Young Riders from the state. The event was held at Carol Curry's Tulipsprings Eventing facility. Jacqueline O'Keefe and Kameron Smith of Winthrop, and Tulie Budiselich and Johnnie Duguay of Twisp were coached in stadium jumping and cross country jumping by Jonathan Elliot, and dressage with Jean Moyer. It was a very successful first outing for the Moccasin Lake Ranch Team.

Tired of waiting??

2010-03-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

The riding season has begun!
Moccasin Lake Ranch is open for Private Lessons.
MVRU Early Bird lessons begin April 5th ! Regular Session begins April 19th. Register now so you don't miss the deadline! For more info check the Enrollment Page of our website: www.mvriding.org For private lesson appointments call 996-9881 or email annieb@mvriding.org.

Spring Session 2010

2010-02-28T23:05:00.001-08:00

Mild winter + early spring = time to ride!! Spring Session will begin in April. The registration deadline is March 26 so keep checking back on the Blog for Registration Forms! Early Bird will run for 8 weeks, from April 5 through May 28th, for $250. Regular Spring Session will run for 6 weeks, beginning April 19, for $200. And, back by popular demand, Four Friday mornings for 4 & 5 year olds, for $120.

Spring Training 2010

2010-02-21T23:56:00.000-08:00

Winter seems to be giving way to spring here in the Methow Valley. Many of our horses are back in training, getting their brains and bodies fit for upcoming lessons, clinics and competitions. Moccasin Lake Ranch opens for Private Lessons March 1st. MVRU Spring Session begins in April. Check back soon for more info !

Winter in the Methow

2010-01-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

2009 Horse of the Year

2009-12-10T18:03:00.000-08:00

Each autumn all the riders, volunteers and staff at MVRU get to cast their vote for the most wonderful, useful and well-loved horse in our programs. In 2009, as always, it was a close contest between the top 4 equines - Little Black, Buttons, Ginger, and Finesse. Rising to the top, Finesse, has been crowned Queen for this year! Last year's winner, Ginger, followed closely on the heels of her black friend.
Words can only begin to describe what is so unique about the character of these mares ... they are versatile, dependable, intelligent and generous. These traits combined with thoughtful, diligent training, physical soundness and athletic ability have produced two outstanding school horse who also excel outside the lesson 'arena'! Their combined skills include impeccable ground manners, leading and round pen work, long-lining for hippotherapy, lunging beautifully, excelling as bareback and beginner horses through first level dressage, jumping, Training level eventing, trail riding, cutting and working cattle.

Fall Session 2009

2009-11-15T21:12:00.000-08:00

An Equestrian Journey

2009-10-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

When I first bought Bandit, my horse of 13 months, I knew that it was going to be a challenge. I had just recently grown out of my old pony, who had taught me so much over the years, and was feeling ready for a younger, bigger horse that could take me up through the levels. After five visits to Seattle, 34 horses, and countless disappointments, my mother and I decided to go out on a limb and look at a super green, just recently turned 6 year old horse. It was pretty much love at first sight. I think that I knew when I got on him an immediately started picturing us running around a prelim course, that he was the one for me.

For the first 5 months he probably had a total of 4 days off. I couldn't wait to go out and ride him. He is one of those horses that if you have a good ride it will make your day, but if you have a bad one your day is ruined. I love the feeling of the good days, it is what I ride for. Once school started it was hard to fit everything in. You had your homework and ski training, oh and also you wanted to go see that football game, but I would get up at 5:00 am and ride until my mom would come out on the porch and yell at me to get ready for school. I would arrive to class dirty, sweaty, and beaming(most of the time). Over the winter he went into training in Seattle with a really good rider who allowed me to persue my skiing goals. Not to say that I didn't lay awake often and wonder if he missed me. When spring came around I was thrilled to realize that over winter he had just gotten better, and more consistent. The later spring however was very difficult. I struggled with behavioral issues, and the idea of selling was brought up. This scared me so much that it then became vital in my mind to ride him with high quality and make it known to everyone with doubt that this horse was worth the wait. It was hard, but was worth working for.

Just last weekend we traveled to Whidby Island, and competed in our second sanctioned horse trial. We had our best dressage yet with 37 penalties. Also, I was awarded the honorary Raspberry Pie, by Annie for having such a good ride. He was fabulous out on the cross country course. We got into a good rhythm and it just felt as if all the loose ends were coming together. I don’t know if there is a better feeling than a good cross country round. You don’t want it to ever end! He refused nothing, but unfortunately was too fast. Due to “Intentional Delay” at the end of the course, my bright idea to add some time on the clock, we received 20 penalties. I didn’t mind, it just told me that I should move up a level to where the you can go faster and still be in the optimum time. We had yet another great ride on the last day, show jumping. It was a cold and rainy morning and I was worried in the warm up that he would be a little stressed. The second we passed through the start flags however, we both got it together to ride a clean show jump round!

Bandit and I have had a very difficult/rewarding relationship so far. By no means are we even near perfect, but I have tasted the potential he has and the pure joy that comes from knowing that you have had so much influence on one horses training. I can see myself loving this sport forever. It is probably one of the most rewarding things I have been a part of and hope to be a part of for a long time. Building not only knowledge but a bond and growing together has so far been wonderful!
by Jacqueline O'Keefe, 15, Winthrop ... product of MVRU horsemanship programs and Sport Rider

More Summer Horsemanship Camp!

2009-10-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

In mid-July a dozen lucky 8-10 year olds had fun and gained skills in our third summer horse camp. Practicing skills of grooming, tacking up and riding English, Western and bareback, they got to ride up to Moccasin Lake for a swim !

Little Star Horse Camps

2009-07-27T19:20:00.000-07:00

Twenty-six young folks, ages 5 to 8 years old, got to come 'horse around' for 6 days in July during the Little Star Summer Horse Camps hosted by Methow Valley Riding Unlimited at Moccasin Lake Ranch. They groomed horses, brushed tails, tried vaulting, riding in English saddles and Western saddles, learnd about ranch chores, feeding and turnout and ALL about their favorite ponies and horses. They walked, trotted and cantered, rode through sprinklers to keep cool, gave ponies baths and celebrated Marley's 10th birthday. What a terrific group of young horse enthusiasts! Many thanks to all our great helpers, instructors and horses, who made it all happen.

Spring Eventing Clinics

2009-07-14T21:58:00.000-07:00

Event riders Tulie and Annie B and Johnnie Duguay had the opportunity to attend great clinic in May. Johnnie and her wonderful Thoroughbred gelding, Chino, participated in a clinic with Californian trainer, David Acord, at the beautiful Deep Creek Farm in Deep Creek, Washington. Tulie and Annie attended a clinic with Olympic Gold Medalist, Leslie Law, at Tulipsprings in Kennewick. MVRU school horse, Finesse, and Tulie wowed everyone with their technique and athleticism! We all felt fortunate to have these great schooling oppotunities in Washington State.

Let 'Em Ride !

2009-06-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

Over a dozen lucky kids from the Methow Valley School District spent 5 afternoons at Moccasin Lake Ranch in April and May, honing their horsemanship skills, building self-confidence and making connections with community members. This program, for qualified students, has been funded by the Methow Valley Public School Funding Alliance since September of 2005. Students learn to care for the horses and do ranch chores, while also learning more sophisticated horsemanship skills including how to halter, lead, groom and tack up their horses prior to riding. They are exposed to bareback, English and Western riding, and 'vaulting', balance and gymnastic exercises performed on the back of a moving horse. A collaborative effort by MVRU, the MV schools, Moccasin Lake Ranch and community volunteers is what makes this program work.

Spring Session

2009-05-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

Wow, Spring Session has almost come and gone. For 6 weeks we have had dozens of riders of all shapes and sizes walking, trotting, cantering, jumping, cleaning hooves, cleaning tack, vaulting and trail riding. Lots of progress, lots of fun. Great horses, great folks.

Spring Young Riders Clinic

2009-04-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

Four young riders from the Methow Valley spent Spring Break honing their equestrian skills at an inspiring eventing clinic in Kennewick . Johnnie Duguay, Jacqueline O'Keefe, Tulie Budiselich and Kameron Smith all began their dressage and jumping training in MVRU horsemanship lessons and now train for the sport of eventing with coach Annie Budiselich at Moccasin Lake Ranch.
Thirteen Young Riders from around the state, ages 10-17, attended the 3 day clinic hosted by Area VII Young Riders at Tulipsprings Eventing Facility. Clinic instructors Lexi Lind of Redmond and Jean Moyer of Fox Island focused on improving dressage and jumping techniques. Annie B was allowed to have some fun, too ...

Spring is HERE ... finally.

2009-03-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

Winter has surrendered to spring, bringing warmer days and nights. All the school horse 'team' is now getting tuned up for Spring Session. If you haven't signed up yet, check out the info on the Enrollment page of our website.

We LOVE our Crumb Rubber !

2009-03-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

Spring

In October of 2007 Moccasin Lake Ranch purchased and installed 44,000 pounds of crumb rubber footing in the riding arena. This upgrade took place, primarily, for the benefit of our wonderful equine friends and teachers ... think of it as Nikes for horses! The new surface reduces joint stress, extending and improving the useful years of our horses. In additon, we have found that it extends our riding season by about a month in the late fall and allows us to start earlier in the spring. Look at this photo taken on the first day of Spring!

Spring is Coming !!

2009-03-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the MVRU Blog! We are excited to use this BLOG to keep everyone up to speed on what's happening at Moccasin Lake Ranch. A few eager, hardy souls have been riding since February first, on those days when the arena is neither a skating rink nor a swimming pool! We are lookiong forward to getting all the horses in shape for spring riding classes. Moccasin Lake Ranch will open for private lessons on March 1st. MVRU Spring Session begins in April. Check the Enrollment page on our website for Spring Session sign-up info.