PICTURES FROM GERMANY TRIP POSTED
8 JANUARY 2012
Lori made an educational trip to Bavaria in October 2011 to study with Ralf Schmitzer at his Classical Riding Academy. Click below to view over 200 photos from the 10 - day trip!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Deseos Arabians instructor and trainer Lori Torrini is currently in Germany training with Ralf Schmitzer at his Classical Riding Academy. Lori departed arrived in Germany on October 17 and will return to the U.S. on October 26. Anna Blake of Infinity Farm and Jim Barrentine along with some help from students Hannah and Jenna of Deseos Arabians are conducting lessons and running business as usual at the ranch until she returns. You can learn more about Ralf by visiting his website at:
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Anna Blake, Riding to Music clinic got off to a windy start and the wind only got worse! Besides that it was COLD:( Just after finishing the in-hand warm-up everyone and their horses agreed to reschedule. Thank you Anna for making the effort, we look forward to the "Do Over"! Enjoy a few pictures from what we did of the clinic taken by Lori Cavanaugh who was kind enough to make the drive out to be our official photographer. Her contact information can be on her page of our website. Follow the link below to view the pictures.
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Enjoy pictures of students with their horses during the July 2011 "Starting the Untrained Horse" Workshop
Photography courtesy of:
RRHR "Brody" arrived on Friday, June 10, 2011 to stay with us for training! We already enjoy having him as our guest. Brody is in a beginning Dressage training program and will be with us for 6 months:)
3 June 2011
WIND, WIND, WIND!
Wind has been such an issue this year that we have already had to cancel more lessons than ever before. No one is happy about this, including us! Hopefully weather allows the summer lesson session to stay on track and we can stick to the posted schedule.
With no way to accurately predict what the weather is going to do please ALWAYS check with us prior to coming out for your lesson. We will post cancellation notices on our Website, Facebook, and send out Email Notifications. Pleasemake sure that you call us prior to your lesson if you are unable to check these other sources. Thanks!
May 9, 2011
Apache and Lori completed the third and final Ralf Schmitzer clinic of his spring visit to the United States. Lori attended his Theory Session on May 7 which included a discussion of bits and how they fit into and affect the horse's mouth. Apache struggled to find his rythym and learn what was expeted the first two days but finished strong on day three. Whispering Winds took great care of him during his stay and now that he is home misses all the attention he received there!
May 5, 2011
Lori and Apache completed Ralf Schmitzer Classical Training Clinic 2 at Whispering Winds Farm in Monument, Colorado. Apache continued to learn new things and worked very hard each day. Apache was boarded during this clinic at Whispering Winds and was a perfect guest!
May 1, 2011
Lori and Apache completed Ralf Schmitzer Clinic 1 at Demander Equestrian in Elizabeth, Colorado. Both learned a lot and are looking forward to clinic 2! Everyone at Demander Equestrian was very welcoming and made everyone feel at home.
April 14, 2010 - Sadly little Maquinna "Quinny" died this morning in her stall with her mother, Portia, watching over her. Quinny was conceived in a neglectful environment and her mother was not properly cared for during gestation. Quinny battled complications from the start. Her poor mother's unhealthy pregnancy was due to neglect by the humans in her life before she was brought to Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue. Quinny put up a brave and strong fight but could not overcome the unrelenting health issues with her lungs.
UPDATE: April 3, 2011: So far, Portia's foal, Maquinna, seems to be doing better each day! She has a tough road ahead keep up the positive thoughts.
March 25, 2011:Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue has a new baby. Portia, part of a Standardbred herd rescued from negelct in 2010, foaled early this morning. The baby is small and weak with fluid in her lungs. She has a 50/50 chance of survival. Baby and mom are being monitored around the clock. Positive thoughts are appreciated!
March 3 - 7, 2011: Lori attended a 5 day Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Instructor Certification Clinic at the Urban Farm in Denver, Colorado. CHA is a non-profit organization dedicated to high standards of safety and sound horsemanship practices. They certify instructors internationally. They also certify facilities that meet CHA's high standards of excellece. CHA has a standardized curriculum for instructors and students with manuals, certificates, and other program materials available for use in group riding programs or for private lessons. During the Instructor Clinic, the days were long and busy but very enjoyable. Each day was spent teaching, riding, evaluating, grooming and tacking horses, attending seminars, or writing lesson plans, and one day there was a 100 question written test. The instructors were excellent and attendees were great to work with. The Urban Farm was accomodating to attendees and the horses were great to put up with us all week. Lori was able to certify in Level 1 Western and Level 3 English during the clinic. CHA levels of certification are Assistant, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Assistant Clinic Instructor, and Clinic Instructor. Certifications may be obtained in Western, English (flatwork and/or jumping), Riders with Disabilities, and Trail Guide.
First Photos of 2011: Girls Gone Wild!!!!
Click on the Link Below:
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Lori arranged for Classical Dressage trainer Simone Windeler to visit Calhan for the day where she gave a series of private lessons for select students and guests. Everyone enjoyed the day, in part due to plentiful snacks on hand, the warmth of an indoor arena (thanks to Anna and Pete!), good conversation, great instruction, and good riding. We look forward to working with Simone more in the future! Great job to Lori and Apache, Hannah and Bayberry, Sharon and Sierra (she even got into the trailer!), Debbie and Pfaser (1st place for the most whinnies in one hour), Jenna and Sueño, and Sandi and Neo (aka Black Beauty). Special thanks to Jim for shuttling horses back and forth!
. . . and beaking news . . .
For Lori's birthday today, Jim gave her permission to adopt Illyria! Brisa, Illyria and Lori are pleased not to have to break up their trio:) The adoption through Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue will become official on January 1, 2011. What a great way to start out the new year! Thanks Jim!
Ralf Schmitzer Clinic Fall 2010
September 17 - 19, 2010 I and my Arabian gelding Sueño particpated in a clinic taught by Ralf Schmitzer. Ralf and his wife have a Classical Training Center in Germany. Local classical dressage instructor, Simone Windeler, trains with Ralf and faciliates his yearly trips to Colorado where he holds clinics at Whispering Winds Farm in Monument. On Saturday evening Ralf presented a lecture on bits and how they fit in, and affect the horse's mouth. The lecture was very beneficial and well worth attending. Ralf did a wonderful job putting together photos and graphics to illustrate important learning points. My lessons all three days went well and left me with a renewed desire to continue to train and further my learning in classical dressage. Ralf's teaching style is quiet and methodical, taking care to work on every small detail of your riding while always keeping the comfort and well being of the horse in mind. Ralf took the time to help me with saddle fit for Sueño, which due to his short back and wide shoulders has always been challenging. Ralf generally comes to Colorado twice a year and I will definately take advantage of his visits in the future. Sueño wasn't too thrilled with arena work but did enjoy the bundle of carrots Ralf gave him at the end of the weekend! Special thanks to Simone Windeler for making it possible to meet and train with Ralf, and for translating during the lessons. Thank you to my husband, Jim, for supporting me during the weekend and for taking care of my horse so I could benefit from watching other lessons.
Gerd Heuschmann meets Susan Harris 3-Day Clinic
I completed an outstanding 3-Day educational clinic August 13 - 15, 2010 with Dr. Gerd Heuschmann DVM and special guests Manolo Mendez and Susan E. Harris. The clinic was well worth the money, I would do it again in a heartbeat! My Horse Sueño, my husband Jim, and I got so much benefit from this clinic and from my riding lessons with Dr. Heuschmann! The knowledge I gained will make our riding better, our horses happier, and give us more and better information to share with our students. Subjects covered included biomechanics of the horse, proper saddle fit, cavesson training, and riding to produce a relaxed horse with a swinging back and natural self-carriage. The training and entire experience was priceless! - Lori
Monday, May 24, 2010
Extreme winds caused damage today to our horse barn, goat shelters, small arena, and goat pen. All of the animals are OK.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Lori's 19 1/2 year old Norwegian Elkhound, Chiquita, died today at home. Lori obtained Chiquita 17 years ago from the same ranch she bought Bey. Chiquita, Bey, & Lori spent many hours in the mountains at the Air Force Academy exploring trails together.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
It was 17 years ago today that our now 29 year old Arabian, Bey Rahflection, joined our family! Lori and Bey are pictured below in 1996, the year they started Deseos Arabains in Falcon, Colorado.
May 19, 2010
-Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue is in need of monetary donations for Joe's veterinary bill. He was injured during the night at a foster home and is currently at the hospital. See our Rescue Round-up page for details. May 9, 2010
May 14 & 15, 2010
- Lori and Jim attend LAR (Large Animal Rescue) training in Pueblo, CO
April 2010
- Lori became part of the Board of Directors for Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue.
April 14, 2010
- Geraldine Rem was sentenced in horse abuse case from July 2009. Read the details at:
