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Get Gritty Cowgirl

Black Friday Special!

11/26/2021

Black Friday Special!

Today only, get the kindle ebook version of my book, 10 Things Gritty Riders Don't Do, for FREE!

Get your copy at https://amzn.to/3FNSqRx

Enjoy!

~Chevy

P.S. This is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!

Grit & Gratitude (Both are essential for horsemanship, and life, success!)

11/25/2021

What do grit and gratitude have to do with each other?

Isn't grit all about sticking to your goals, doing the work that has to be done, and persevering through the tough times?

And isn't gratitude about showing thankfulness, appreciation and reflecting on what you have now?

Well, yes.

So, how do the two connect?

Don't just be a Rider. Be a Thinker!

11/24/2021

This photo was taken last weekend as we were gathering our cattle to wean calves. I am riding my mustang, Reva. Yep, I competed with her at the Midwest Extreme Mustang Makeover back in 2009, and today she earns her keep as a ranch horse.

When I was training two wild BLM mustang mares for the 2009 Midwest Extreme Mustang Makeover, I learned a very important lesson about horse training: that every moment is a training moment.

This was especially true for these mustang mares, who were basically blank slates, and every interaction that I had with them was teaching them something, whether it was good or bad. This meant that I had to be more than a trainer or a rider. I had to be a Thinker! Every moment, every action, I had to think about what I was training, or un-training, them to do.

Practice Savoring the small victories

10/18/2021

How to have more good rides with your horse

10/11/2021

I Confess-I'm a Recovering Equine Micro-Manager!

10/2/2021

In this video I share with you the key mindset shift that has helped me overcome micro-managing my horses.

How about you? Are you a recovering equine manager?

Reminiscing

9/23/2021

This time last year #RanchHorseBreezy and I were on an adventure in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I had been selected as a Volunteer Roundup Rider for Custer State Park's Annual Buffalo Roundup! I have so many awesome memories from this trip, and it built my confidence in so many ways!

Once you've hauled over 1,000 miles, just you, your horse, and the road (and only put one little dent in the trailer fender), your self-confidence increases.

Once you've galloped your horse alongside a herd of thundering buffalo, your confidence increases.

Once you've scaled some really rocky trails, your confidence increases.

When you step out of your comfort zone, you find great adventures. You see beautiful sights. You meet amazing people (camp site neighbors are the best!)

Best of luck to all of this year's Roundup Riders!

~Chevy

Gritty Riders Don't Compare Themselves to Others

7/18/2021

Gritty Riders don't waste energy comparing themselves and their horse to others.

Be Curious to Be Confident

3/1/2021

In training horses, if we can encourage curiosity, we can teach our horse faster without causing fear. If a horse feels safe enough to be curious, we know that they trust us.

Breezy is an especially curious horse. He is always getting into something, and likes to investigate new objects by picking them up in his mouth. By taking an extra minute to let him sniff a new obstacle he is much more likely to calmly cross it than if I were to hurry and try to force him over it.

Curiosity is something we encourage in our horses. Why then do we suppress it in ourselves?

As a Mom, I have a theory.

Three simple tips to transform the February Funk to Focus and get on track to achieve your horsemanship dreams.

2/13/2021

As I write this, it is below zero with extreme wind chills. Not exactly inspiring weather to get out and ride!

February is always a tough month. Gone is the excitement of the holidays, and January’s energy to new year’s resolutions has been sapped away and frozen. Did you know that by February over 85% of people have given up on their new year’s resolutions? While the days are getting longer, February has an energy of exhaustion. We are tired of winter. We are tired of cold. We are tired of snow. Simply, we are tired.

If you keep your horses at home, I feel you. After feeding and chores on a frigid February day, I want to do is thaw the icicles out of my hair and eyelashes, put my frozen feet in front of a heater and wrap my popsicle fingers around a cup of hot cocoa and snuggle under a blanket and not come out until June!

Then I look at the calendar, and see that show season starts in three months.