Newsletter - Atwood Ranch Naturally

ATWOOD RANCH NATURALLY
December 2007 Newsletter
WE’RE MOVING
ATWOOD RANCH NATURALLY, young horse program, specializing in the
development and sales of yearlings and two-year-olds, is excited to announce
our relocation to the Atwood Ranch facility in Orland, California! In changing
locations we are better able to expand our Parelli Pre-School set-up.
Furthermore, we can develop relations even sooner with the broodmares and
foals, as the Orland facility also houses the Atwood breeding program. The
move will take a couple months to complete but we look forward to plenty of
Parelli students and professionals visiting the ranch during 2008.
NEWS FROM THE RANCH
IN JUNE, we were pleased to have 5 Star Parelli Instructor, Dave Ellis, visit the
Atwood Ranch along with Jody Grimm. They came by while Pat and Linda were
here playing with yearlings and two-year-olds prior to their appearance at the
Western States Horse Expo. At the recent Savvy Conference in Pagosa Springs,
CO, Dave selected as his new partner a two-year-old named AR Colonels Safari,
who Kalley used in the colt start demo with Pat on Day #1 of the conference.
Congratulations to Dave! We know we’ll see him and “Handsome Dan” for years
to come doing great things.
While on a tour of the Sacramento area teaching at various clinic
locations, Rachel and Don Jessop came by our Elk Grove location to visit Kalley
and see her incredible progress with the yearlings.
David Lichman, 5 Star Parelli Instructor, also visited the Atwood Ranch
this summer with his daughter, Tova, and family to play with horses and learn
about our young horse development program first hand.
Ann Kiser, Parelli Professional from Oregon, recently stopped by for a tour
of the Orland ranch and selected a new AR partner, Chex Crystal Clear.
Congratulations to Ann!
Thank you one and all for visiting the ranch and for stopping by our booth
at the recent tour stops in Reno and S. Jordan, UT and Belton, TX. You are
spreading the word via your support and enthusiasm about the Parelli PreSaddle Training™ Program we have established and about these beautiful, well
educated, well bred horses we are offering for sale.
LEFT PHOTO: AR Colonels Safari, David Ellis’ new partner and, right, Colonels Connection, new partner for Sheila
Hinkle, Northridge, CA
RIGHT PHOTO: David Lichman plays on-line with one of the Atwood Ranch two-year-olds during a visit this summer to
the ranch.
MORE EXCITING NEWS
OUR OWN KALLEY KRICKEBERG, Program Developer, received her black
string from Pat Parelli at Savvy Conference this past September following an
awesome demonstration with the Atwood Ranch yearlings. The session evoked
laughter, tears and a standing ovation! Congratulations, Kalley!!!
NEW PARTNERS
How I came to Atwood Ranch Naturally
By Craig Allen, Hooper, UT
Hi! My name is Craig and I have been practicing Parelli Natural Horse-man-ship™ for
3 years. I am in level 2. I am also an active member of Back Country Horsemen of
Utah. I lead trail rides and pack trips for my chapter. My levels horse, Chief, is a
Missouri Fox-trotter whose innate characteristics carry him along the trail at a pace
well above the 2-3 mph favored by my mules and my fellow chapter members who are
predominately mounted upon non-gaited horses. This mismatch has been bothering
me for some time, as I really hate to ask Chief to go against his nature on practically
every ride.
Thus, I found myself in the horse acquisition mode. What a frustrating experience! I
soon came to realize that any horse I bought would have to be a 'project' and that
each one would have to begin at level one. I also realized that I would never know all
the history that had been written on the horse's mind or what taught and learned
behavior would be revealed at exactly the wrong time.
With these thoughts in mind, I attended the Parelli Tour Stop in Salt Lake City. As
usual, Pat and Linda blew our socks off! At one point the local and tour professionals
came out to show how ordinary people can get extraordinary results from their
horses. One of the professionals was Kalley, who was playing with a baby. It struck
me that the yearling was pretty much doing all the games on the ground just like the
other adult horses. Then, Pat announced that Kalley was playing with a yearling from
Atwood Ranch and he explained a new initiative to take well bred horses, send them
to Parelli Pre-School and offer them to Parelli practitioners at an affordable cost. “This
is the new way to buy and sell horses,” he said.
A bell went off in my head. Here was the chance to have a 'project ' horse with a
perfect start!
So long story made short, I went out back to take a look. I was immediately struck by
the fact that Catherine was sincerely interested in telling us about the program and
about what I needed in a horse. She told me about Atwood Ranch and I was already
making plans to take a trip. I looked at the 10 babies on their way to be showcased at
the Savvy Conference the next week. I asked Catherine if one of them suited my
needs? If one of their horsenalities seemed to be a fit. She thought about it and said
there was one she would recommend, but that it would be best to speak to Kalley.
Catherine showed me a pretty bay filly named Boots. Then, she introduced me to
Kalley.
Kalley also talked to me about how I wanted to use my horse and I am sure she sized
me up as well. Then she went down the line of babies and said, 'I think Boots would
be a match for you.'
Well, that is when I was assailed by doubts. This little filly was looking at me with eyes
filled with trust. She was calm, confident, curious and accepting and I suddenly
realized the awesome responsibility I would be taking on for her future. Did I have the
time? Did I have the savvy?
I left, I came back, I left again. I returned.
Someone else was asking Kalley to take Boots out and play with her. I watched as
she played the 7 games with purpose. Then, I took the first step. I asked Kalley if I
could play with Boots. She said yes and when she transferred the lead line from her
hands to mine I was more nervous then when I was assessing for level one.
Boots was a sweetheart, she sensed my nervousness and tried hard to make sense of
my first hesitant attempts at the friendly game. We got the communication established
and, with Kalley's coaching and encouragement, we played for the first time. I brought
Boots back to the rail, dropped her lead rope and picked up her feet. She accepted
me. Kalley was proud of her student and I was equally impressed.
I asked the lady who was watching ' Which one of us is buying her?'
She said 'I guess you are.'
I looked at Kalley and said ' Consider her sold!' We shook hands and there were
smiles all around. Then, I turned and looked at Boots. She was calmly standing,
taking it all in. While my friends were congregating around her, a small girl came up to
her nose to pet her. She lowered her head to accept the pet.
Totally calm. Totally trusting. Totally awesome!
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
For those interested in becoming a part of this exciting new program, we have a
position opening in horse health. Duties and responsibilities are broad reaching
and involve not only the yearlings and two-year-olds, but the broodmares and
babies as well. For a job description and application please email
info@atwoodranchnaturally.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
We recently went to Belton, TX for the Parelli tour stop. We had our slide show playing
of the young horses and their journey through pre-school, shared with folks about our
new program and gave out information. It was a pleasure meeting lots of you! Our
plans did not include taking yearlings this time as we were nearly out of equine partners
after our appearance at Savvy Conference that had completed their Parelli Pre-Saddle
Training™ program. Now though Kalley will begin developing a group of yearling colts
and, in the meantime, she has a nice group of Atwood Ranch two-year-olds she’s
starting under saddle, too.
Many of you have been asking about our Open House and now that we are relocating,
we will plan to hold it at our beautiful facility in Orland, CA sometime in the Spring.
Watch your emails for an invitation/announcement and we hope everyone can attend.
We will plan to give tours of the ranch and breeding operation. Kalley will do a demo
with several of the young horses and answer a few questions, as we share our passion
for these young horses.
The Bay Area Savvy Players are planning a field trip to experience the Atwood Ranch
Naturally Young Horse Development Program. We look forward to having them at our
new Orland facility as well.
Q&A
Question: My levels horse is 15 years old and starting to show signs of
lameness. I can’t afford to purchase another PNH Level 3 horse to finish up my
testing. Any advice?
Answer: The best advice for someone in your situation came from Linda
Parelli and that is to make your next purchase a young horse. That way, as your
current levels horse gets older, you have another one you are developing who
can slip into action should your older horse need retiring.
There are a couple great benefits to a young horse purchase. First, the
pricing on a yearling is far less initially than that of an older trained horse. Buy
the best bred horse you can afford, with the best mind, attributes and horsenality
suited for you, as he’ll be your partner for life. Secondly, you have the advantage
of investing in his education over time. It’s kind of like buying the Mercedes on
the installment plan! You’ll end up with a solid, well bred horse that’s worth a lot
but that you didn’t pay a lot for up front.
The important point to keep in mind is that the cost of a horse’s vetting,
shoeing, feeding and education are basically fixed costs, meaning they are the
same whether it’s spent on a so-so horse with baggage or a young, well bred
horse with a Parelli foundation. Why not start with something special and build
from there? It makes perfect sense!
CONGRATULATIONS GO TO……
… Sheila Hinkle on the purchase of Colonels Connection, “Gunner”, who will be
working with PNH Professionals Maurice Thibault and Susan Nelson in
southern CA. Sheila had the opportunity to come out to the ranch and ride with
us for a couple days.
… Dyan Apostolos, who also came out to the Elk Grove ranch and had on-line
and liberty play sessions with several yearlings, has a new partner AR Playin
Sassy, nicknamed “Josie”. Josie moved in with her new pasture mates with
ease and we wish them the best.
… AR Amazing Gracie has moved to WA to partner up with Jerry Schmidt,
husband of Parelli Professional Mary Gallagher. Jerry got to know “Gracie” at
Savvy Conference and with Kalley’s guidance selected a perfect fit. Good luck
to both of you!
… as mentioned, David Ellis found a new partner in AR Colonels Safari. We
anticipate seeing that partnership for years to come at Dave’s clinics and on the
ranch.
… Pat Parelli has a new partner, too, in AR Colonels Smart who we
affectionately nicknamed “Evolution” in memory of his full brother “Revolution”.
There’s another partnership for life and a great prospect for Pat in his string of
Super Horses! AR Especial is another horse Pat recently acquired from the
Atwood Ranch and he made his first appearance at Savvy Conference as well.
... Peter and Jackie Dufresne, old friends of Pat’s, also caught the bug at Savvy
Conference and went home with AR Lotta Class, “Powder”. Congratulations!
… Monica Quarmby of Florida has a new yearling filly, AR A Chick With Chex,
who we call “Dixie”. “Dixie” appeared at the Reno and Utah tour stops as well
as Savvy Conference and was a star at every performance. Monica and Dixie
will form a beautiful bond!
… Kalley Krickeberg, our own Program Developer, selected AR Ribbons N
Bows, AKA “Sunshine” for her new partner. Many of you saw their phenomenal
long line driving demo at Savvy Conference and were awe-struck!
… also as mentioned, another congrats goes out to Ann Kiser who found a new
partner in Chex Crystal Clear. You’ll see this big, handsome bay gelding, “Bart”
assisting Ann at all of her upcoming clinics.
… and of course, this month’s highlight story about Craig Allen and his new bay
filly, “Boots”, AR My Boots R Stylin. Best of luck to this pair as well!
Photos compliments of Coco, Molly Moore and PNH friends
ATWOOD RANCH NATURALLY
www.AtwoodRanchNaturally.com
info@atwoodranchnaturally.com
new address:
Atwood Ranch Naturally
4400 County Road 200A
P.O. Box 757
Orland, California 95963
(530) 865-1525