Hi there:

I am undergoing a mid life crisis at this time. Ha ha. I have sold all my barrel racing gear and a barrel horse. I have taken my other barrel horse to an english trainer and she is putting 60 days on him. We are training him for dressage. I am in the process of buying my dressage saddle and show clothing/gear, etc.... It is soooo much fun.

My horse is a 16.2 appx. QH gelding off the track. He is huge!!! He is taking to dressage like a duck to water. A much better discipline for him than barrels or the race track. He has regular QH papers, because he earned a ROM on the track. He is absolutely lovely and my trainer has high hopes for us as a dressage team.

I see where you have been instrumental in bringing dressage into A.Q.H.A. This really excites me as I think my horse has a lot of potential, but we come up against a brick wall competing against all the
warm bloods. I plan on joining USDF, my local dressage assoc. and I am already an A.Q.H.A. member. That way I can submit my dressage scores to AQHA.

My question to you is, do you think that AQHA will eventually have dressage competitions at it's own
sanctioned shows? I would love to see that happen. Is there anything we as AQHA members can do to help see that happen?

Thank you,
Michele Spears
Cottontown, TN.

-- Lynn's Reply:

Hi Michele!

Your email really makes me smile! Good for you, you are going to love the
Dressage training and competitions!

I see that in maybe 5 years, you will see Dressage as a specialized event
and then you will see them at AQHA shows. It will follow like the Arabian
breed where a show will have Dressage a full day before a circuit starts.
You will see Dressage classes in an AQHA regular show list.

Keep up the great training! Go for it!

Lynn Palm

Holiday Greetings to All!

Thank you so much for selecting me as one of the Quick Tip winners! I've thoroughly read the Training Outside of the Box eBook several times as its information has been very timely for me. Although I don't have much land to do trail riding, Angel (remember the chestnut, tail-flagging, high headed, white-eyed gelding ????) is now calm and steady enough to walk through some neighboring woods and fields by himself so I plan to do much more training outside of the ring - even if it's just in the yard. I'm hoping to send you a video of the fall dressage show we attended and perhaps some video of ring work at home that you can assess - I'm hoping that you will see a very different horse than you saw two summer ago!. I am seriously considering attending the dressage school you're offering next summer as I'm preparing to move from the intro ranks to training level soon.

Hope to see you next summer!

Diane Pieper

Lynn,

Wow what an incredible experience for all our kids to meet you and watch you in person. We are having trouble getting the picture of you with all our kids, but here is the picture of you and Arielle. I just wanted to thank you for being so great with our whole crew and it meant the world to Arielle to get to meet you.

I stopped by the end of Sunday to thank you again but Marie was packing up and you weren't there. Arielle was a little off all weekend, she is incredibly smart and loves the horses but having not had any seizures since july she had 2 grand mal seizures on Thursday. I know you signed everything in the world for her but if you could print this off and sign it to her it would give her something to hang on to during the rough times.

Thanks again
Maria Perry

Lynn and Cyril,

They just announced the Minnesota Quarter Horse Association end of year results and thought you might be interested.

Cisco and I were:
Reserve Champion Amateur Select All Around
Reserve Champion Amateur Select Showmanship
Reserve Champion Amateur Select Horsemanship
Champion Amateur Select Trail
Reserve Champion Amateur Select Equitation
Third Place Amateur Select HUS
Reserve Champion Amateur Trail
Third Place Amateur Aged Geldings
Reserve Champion Open Aged Gedings
Reserve Champion Open Trail

Guess we did OK considering that we showed less this year and when we did show we went in fewer classes. Early in the year Cisco was still recovering from his injury and I was recovering from the time off.

Keep in touch.

Jay J Cain, PE
White Bear Lake, MN

Hi Lynn,

I attended your clinic in Colorado Springs, Co, in Sept. I want you to know I learned SO MUCH about position and I have used that to my advantage at the Appaloosa World Championships these last 2 weeks.

In the clinic I had my 4 year old Appaloosa gelding. (Zippy) This clinic has already meant so much to furthering his training and your comments about him stay with me daily.

I also have another older horse that I am currently doing equitation on. (Cokes Dream) I do both Hunt Seat equitation and Western equitation on him. He is 17 years old now. This year at the Appaloosa World show (Oct 31, 2004) he and I took 6th place in Hunt Seat Equitation and 10th in Western Equitation. My instructor has been so impressed at my position on my horse and of course, my horse is working so much smoother because of it.

I am so thrilled with these placings and I can truly feel the difference when I ride.

Unfortunately, I was unable to show the 4 year old "Thyme on His Hands" "Zippy" at the world show due to him getting a bad case of hives at the show. I did, however, take advantage of having him there and rode him in various coliseum arenas. He has greatness ahead of him and these arenas will become very familiar.He was just as calm in those arenas as you saw him at the clinic.

I look forward to more clinics in the future.

Thank You So Much
Barb Prisuta

Lynn.....

We would really enjoy seeing the program you did on RFD with Rugged Lark again. You were in a the big pasture and did some bridleless work and some trail work and just generally having a great time with your special equine friend. My 10 year old grand daughter and I really loved seeing the connection between you and Lark.

Rose Edwards

Lynn: since I told you I would let you know how Lark and I did at the Hunter/Jumper show this past weekend, here goes: We took a second in hunter under saddle the first day and then won the equitation class. Second day, we were fourth in low hunter under saddle, then were out of the ribbons in the open hus because we struck off on the wrong lead from the trot (my fault) going to the right--and right under the judge's nose. I didn't stay for the equitation because the show was so big, my class would not have been until around 9pm last night! (It didn't end until 11:30 on Saturday night after starting at 8am!!) Oh well-- she learned alot--lots of jumping horses in the warmup thundering by and over fences that she got used to. She does get tense and want to pick up speed in the show ring-- especially with big classes and lots of horses--any suggestions? When I would take her to the outside warmup area, she had the most beautiful, cadenced, relaxed canter on a loose rein. Is it just a conditioning issue of getting her out more? Oh, and most importantly, she did NOT trip or stumble!! Hope things are well with you--I know you've had an awful lot of sad news lately and I'm sorry. You have been in my thoughts. I'll see in Fla in February. Eleanor

Eleanor A. Maynard
Attorney at Law

Dear Lynn,

I was so sadden to read your last Newsletter regarding the passing of Rugged Lark. My thoughts and prayers are with you. It is amazing what an influence these animals play in our lives.

I wanted to let you know how my show at the Appaloosa World’s in Ft. Worth, Texas went. I received the following placings;

35 and Over Non-Pro Western Showmanship 4th
35 and Over Non-Pro Hunt Seat Equitation 3rd
35 and over Non-Pro Western Equitation 12th
Non-Pro Western Riding 7th with a score of 204.5

I was also 5th place for the overall High Point 35 and over Non-Pro. I am very happy with my accomplishments at the World Show and many times during that week of showing I would hear your voice in my head on the many lessons I learned at your clinic. Thanks again for all your support!

Lynn Ogden and Cody

Antioch, Illinois

Thank you so much for the recent (and previously shown) episode on RFD-TV where you gave the tip on how to thin a mane. I’ve struggled with this for years. My poor show horses suffered through many regular sessions of painful pulling. One of our current horses just hated it...even though I did it in short sessions after a workout, when the hair came out fairly easily. After applying your technique for about a minute, he stopped fussing and after about 5 minutes, had almost fallen asleep!

I no longer suffer the guilt from imposing the torment on him when trying to make him beautiful. Thank you so much.

Alice Perea

Hi Lynn and Family:

I have written to you a couple of times since I have returned from your Dressage II training program in Ocala last winter. I do not know if you personally answer your E-mail, but I have not gotten any response. Have you gotten the notes? You may put parts of this in your newsletter if you wish. The seminar in Ocala really inspired me to add Dressage Principles to my training/riding in a much bigger way. I have gone to 2 dressage shows and have shown in the Training level 3 and 4 tests and have placed in each class. We have gotten scores in the high 50s. (only 4 tests so far).

I have been working on getting "softer" for Rosie as she certainly likes this. I continue to use the large hollow snaffle with the loose rings that I started to use when in Florida. I am using it for dressage and for hunter showing and general training. We went in her first over fences classes at a recognized paint show at Lexington Va. and took first place under 3 judges and second place under one judge in Open working Hunter. ( 6 in class) and we won first under all four judges in the Amateur Working Hunter class and the Novice Hunter Hack and the Amateur Hunter Hack.

She no longer gives me steering trouble between fences as she was doing before I applied your principles of Dressage to riding her in Hunter classes. Also for the better? Or Worse? the internal medicine practice where I have been practicing for 13 years was closed the first of October by the local Hospital Company that owned it. It has been a devastating thing for many of the patient's in our community as they are having trouble finding another suitable physician.

However for me I think in the long run it will be better. I will be on a sabbatical (not working) from October first to Jan 3 , 2005. Wow! I have not had so much time off since high school. I have been riding 5 days a week and sometimes riding 2 horses/day. The Hunter trainer where I ride most of the time says the increase in my "saddle time" has really helped my riding (as you said it would). When I go back to work in January, I will be in Lynchburg Virginia in a much larger group with a much better call schedule so I should be able to get more riding time in on my days off.

Please let me know when and if you will be giving a clinic with any riding spots in it in Virginia or the local part of NC I would love to attend another training session with you. Since I will just start my new Position in January, I will not be able to get a vacation in Feb 2005 so I will not be able to come to Fla. this winter to ride. I will be coming to Fla. in December to visit in-laws though, and if we get near Ocala, Maybe I can stop by for a few minutes.

I am sending my wishes to you Cyril and Marie, and you Mom. I hope your Mom is doing well and has gotten over the medical problems she was having last February.

Please except my condolences regarding the great Rugged Lark's death. I know he was one of the major Loves of your life.

I'm trying to "Follow My Dream" as you suggest.

Susan E. Funk, MD, and RockindocRosie

Hi,

Meri is doing very well! In August we were the top youth competitor in the Showmanship Challange at the NHQHA show (3rd over all behind 2 amateurs out of 17 youth/amateur entries) and we won 300 dollars!

But anyways, I have a question for Lynn. Last year in Horse Illustrated she had an article about teaching your horse how to bow, and there were pictures of her and Wills bowing and stuff.

I have been teaching Meri how to bow and she lifts up her leg when I tap her forearm, but she doesn't get that she has to move her back legs out to be able to bow down all the way. She almost falls becuase she will not move her legs back no matter how far down she is. I was wondering if Lynn had any suggestions on how I could get her to firgure out that she has to move her legs. thanks, and I hope all is well down there!!!

-Lauren Kasnet

Hello Lynn,

Well very good news. My little quarter horse just got 60% in his first recognized dressage show. It was second place in the very big world of warm bloods. He did training level test 2.

I will send you a video of the test because it was so relaxed and accurate. Never thought he would do this well but his attitude is a dream and he tries anything we hand to him. I dont know your contact in the aqha board but the association needs to see how well their horses can do . Yes I have had alot of help from good trainers . But basically, until my back got hurt, I did the work myself.

I found out there were 5 quarter horses at the show. We made an annoucement in the barns (there are about 6 of them) that quarter horse owners at this show should submit their scores. Unfortunately I was so busy with the class and volunteering as ring steward I could not go around to find the other quarter horses. This is a really big show.

Hope your clinic went well.
Karleen

Mrs. Lynn,

I attended the visit to your barn Oct. 18 with Dr. Ed Johnson and the Louisiana horse group. I just want to say thank you for your time, hospitality, training tips, and business advice. Most of us on the trip train horses, give lessons, or deal with the public, either as educators or trainers, and your advice was very interesting. I especially thank you for making us feel so welcome in your home, and speaking from the heart.

I can see why you are a big name in the horse world! I wish you continued success, and I again thank you for your hospitality.

Howard J. Cormier
LSU AgCenter
Extension County Agent
Vermilion Parish
(Work)-337-898-4335
(Cell)-337-296-6819

Hi Lynn,

I have been keeping up-to-date with you via your website. I am so thankful you are all safe and sound after the hurricanes ... and your traveling too!

I have kept in touch with Connie Green. I cried with joy when I heard about her success in a driving show with her Lark mare. Wonderful news, wonderful person.

I personally went through withdrawal pains (not including the one in my rump) and bouts of sadness when I left Royal Palm Ranch. It was a week long "high" because of the incredible, personal care taken by you and your staff to ensure that everyone felt truly special. A week at a spa could not have made me feel better. Thank you for the heighten level of awareness I have for my riding. What I experienced during my week with you, Cyril and the whole gang, surpassed all my expectation. Oh, "hello Luciano." OK, I'm happy now.

Beasty Boy and I have been riding regularly and your videos tapes run daily. He is such a good boy when he's not confused...thank you so much.

Now, a question, I want to learn more dressage but also keep pursuing Hunt Seat Eq. Should I continue with Versatility or consider Dressage for my next school? Please advise me on your thoughts.

I think I am going to attend the Jacksonville Expo on November 20-21. Can't wait to see you there! Until then, blessing to all.

Fondly,
Dina Dallas

Cyril--
I just wanted to send you a note to let you know how much Godot and I appreciate your help last week. He has really caught on and feels like a completely different horse!! He is really listening to my seat aids, and feels incredibly light in the front end and very active and in front of my legs! The stretch to the left has even made leaps and bounds!!! I am so happy we found you...I feel Godot responded very well and had fun in our sessions. It's important for me to keep him working happy, and I know he liked you--he reads people well and rarely gets close to any instructors--I thought he may try to fit in your pocket at times!!
I have been talking with Tyra about upcoming dates for the fall and maybe Florida.

Thanks again. You are awesome!
Anne and Godot

Dear Lynn and Cyril,
I had such a good time, also Bill, who I didn't think would because this vacation was mostly for me. He really enjoyed visiting with Cyril especially and also with your Mom. How is your' Mom? She is a delight and be sure to tell her I am going to make her recipe for the ramen noodle salad famous!! I have been making riding/driving a priority everyday. I have set the Chicksaw, Ok. Sept. 11th and 12th my first show out with my Lark mare. I will only attempt Pleasure Driving for now. Believe it or not we have been doing real well with the right lead. (I know that's hard to believe.) Thank you again for the beautiful bronze. I have it proudly displayed on coffee table where no one could possibly miss seeing it. I talked with Wrangler people when I ordered jeans and thanked them also. They sure spoke highly of you. I am looking forward to getting the video and reliving last weeks activities. I really feel like I learned a lot and I have been using the courses Cyril drew up for us. Please say Hi to Marie-Frances, Karen and Amy, who worked so hard
to help make our stay so easy and fun. I'm sure this week you are working hard again with the new session. Best wishes and hope to talk to you soon.
Fondly,
Connie Green
Most Improved Rider at our Versatiltiy School 2004

Hello Lynn;
I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed your "West Point" Clinic. It was very educational and I do hope that you and Pam will be able to schedule another visit sometime in the near future. My granddaughter (who also attended) has started watching your longevity videos (she has 6) and is putting the principles into practice at Pams school. She is currently riding a 3 yr. old AQHA mare "My Dreamy Zipper" that knows more than she does, but Alicia is a quick study and she's catching up fast with your help and Pams hands on instruction.

I want to thank you again for your inspirational message concerning "Western Pleasure" training and horsemanship. You are truly a breath of fresh air, and I applaud you for staying true to your principles. We will do so as well with Alicia.

I have taken the Liberty of posting your Schooling dates at my facility as well as some general contact information. We'll be looking forward to your news letters, and updates, and will continue to post them along with your website with your permission.

Sincerely,
Gary B. Moody

Hi Cyril!
Finally, I have some good news to share. I took three Dutch fillies to the Dressage at Devon last week. We showed in several in hand classes and did very well. It was the first time I'd done anything like this and got a lot of complements from the experienced handlers. Of course I did so well showing these babies off because of all the agility work I learned from you and Lynn. Thanks so much for helping me! My client was so pleased! Our best class was Dutch Warmbloods two years and younger - we got third out of twenty some.

I also took Porter to a couple of shows this summer. We went to two huge shows in Pennsylvania and did very well. At our hunter/jumper show we got first overall in equitation (shocked myself on that one) and second in jumping. We also went to a dressage schooling show. We decided at last minute to go and I learned my test minutes before we went in. I was realy just going to support a friend. Anyway, we showed Training Level and placed fourth out of thirty four riders.

So that's my news! Can't wait to train with you again.
Kelly Nolte

Dear Lynn,
Well, could hardly wait to get home from Oklahoma, my first show out with my little Lark mare, and let you know how it went. There were 5 each day in the pleasure driving class, all already world qualifiers, and one lady was a trainer, now an amateur.

The first day I placed 4th, Lark did well but I was nervous and felt intimadated, but I remembered what you said about have fun, so I decided to not worry about her size and just show her off. "I won the class and got my first point". Bill said, "you have to e-mail Lynn as soon as we get home and let her know". He was more excited than I was I think!!

Thanks again for the driving lesson and the confidence you gave me. Also must tell you we were the only cart and horse that could hook up outside and drive into the arena and I sat in middle of my cart seat and did not have to lean out all the time to see if my horses' head was too low. Wish you could see video. She just floated thru class.

Love, Connie Green
P.S. please say Hi to all, Cyril, Mom and girls.

Hi Lynn and Cyril,

How are you guys? I was on your web site and I read your letter on the front page asking what we've done this summer. After getting home from your youth school (in June), I've been riding everyday practicing for the Aloha State Games horse show. The state games is a two day show, english day one and western day two.

The show was on July 24 & 25. Gunnar and I did very well. We got a 1st place in junior pleasure, equitation, open pleasure and a 3rd in open equitation on the English day. In the western show we got 1st place in junior equitation, novice equitation, novice pleasure, we got 2nd place in novice trail, junior reining and 3rd in our junior stock seat medal class. We had a good show.

On July 17th Gunnar and I went in our last performance horse show before the futurity (year end finals) in November. We placed 3rd in ametuer reining.

The pictures are of me and Gunnar at the Aloha State Games show.

Talk to you soon.

Aloha,
Dember

Lynn,

I must tell you that yesterday I followed your lead and worked my gelding in the pasture. We did everything that you taught us in the clinic. We walked and trotted up and down the hills, walked and trotted around trees and in circle and cantered up and down. Both of us enjoyed it as it was a good change from ring work. I have ridden in pastures before but this time it was both enjoyable and constructive for both of us. I can hardly wait to do this with my mare. She needs to be taught to open up and this will really help that.

Thank you and Ceril so much for the clinic. Both Chris and I were impressed with the fact that you never rushed us and answered all the questions that everyone had and made sure that everyone got to work on the exercises until you and they were satisfied.

Meg Bailey

Lynn & Cyril~

How are things going? Hope everything is going well and that you guys enjoy your break. I can't wait until I come gain next year. I learned so much in that week that it has kept me quite busy.

Jenn suggested that I write to you and tell you how Ginger and I did in the show this weekend. In the halter class we got grand reserve champion, in the howmanship we got first, in the English equitation and pleasure we got second. Hopefully our other shows will prove as rewarding as this one.

Thank you both for all of your help with me and Ginger during the school. Talk to you later.

- Katie Kray

Hi Lynn and Cyril,

Thank you so much for all your help-our girls did really well at our 4-H State Horse Show (just got back).

Of the 11 girls you worked with in March-9 went to Area and 7 qualified for state. Those 7 did very well at State -Lauren Welborn age 11 placed in 4 of her 5 classes, Ricki Albritton age 12 placed in 2, Caitlyn Ryen placed in 1. Of the Senior members-3 of the 4 qualified for Southern Regionals-Alex Swain and Amy and Laura (but it is in Monroe LA in 2 weeks and we all decided we could not go-money, distance and problems keeping our horses sound - but we are very proud of their achievements).

And I thank you especially for all the help with Amy and Laura-Laura was the 7th highest Senior-she and her grey were 2nd out of 78 in Hunter Hack, 3rd out of 78 in HUS, 7th in Eq out of 74 and 6th out of 27 in Western Riding. Amy was 2nd in Western Riding(that was the first time she had ever done that class and Laura's 2nd-you taught them alot about that class too-thank you!), 8th in Horsemanship out of 60 (it was the exact pattern you had worked with Amy and Laura on when they came for a lesson), 6th in Eq and 12th in WP. The State of Fl can take 42 Seniors to Regionals-and 3 qualifed from our group you worked so hard with! We thank you so very much for helping our girls achieve their goals!

Thank you so much -Amy and Laura look forward to more lessons with you and Cyril when you head back south.

- Beth Bohan

Dear Lynn;

Hi there, awhile ago you answered my question about riding with arthritic hands and gave me some great advice on the subject. Anyhow,you said to me that I should look into riding with my left hand,and I just wanted to let you know something that happened after I took your advice, it's kinda long to explain but I will try to keep it as short as possible.

I started with a new coach this week, he is a great teacher, and I explained to him that I have a problem riding with my right hand so he suggested also that I ride with my left, so I did. And lo and behold, the most amazing thing happened...

As soon as I asked him to jog, I could feel my weight shift ever so slightly to the left, and my horse transitioned into the most beautiful jog I have ever felt, before, my transitions were sometimes rough, and when I entered the ring at practice and went in a clockwise fashion,he would always pull away from the rail... after about 4 laps around the arena, my coach asked me why i thought my horse was not pulling away from the rail and he explained to me that in that little shift of my weight, it pulled me down more on my left side and that I was even more balanced over my horse... I was leaning more on my right side... enough that my horse noticed the difference!!!!

So did I,I experienced a whole new rhythm with him,it was what I had been looking for and always felt that it was out of reach.Who would of guessed that just this little change would bring so much difference. Thanks again Lynn for all of your help, I now am riding with a new sense of accomplishment.

In closing,i just wanted to let you know that I ordered the video Dressage Principles for the Western Rider that you suggested I get,am looking forward to learning along with you!

Thank you again for all your help,
Staci