True Arrow Ranch

This last month the girls in the Monday lesson group with horses at home participated in a riding challenge and boy did they ride to the occasion 😉

Proud of all the saddle time ALL the girls put in. It really showed up in their horses and skills. Congratulations C for putting in the most ride time!

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who have served and sacrificed.

In honor of Memorial Day we did heavily, horsemanship modified murph today,

Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor the men and women of the United States military who gave their lives while serving our country. It’s more than a long weekend or the start of summer — it’s a time to pause and recognize the sacrifice made by soldiers and the families who carry that loss every day.

One tradition connected to Memorial Day is the “Murph” workout, created in honor of Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005 while protecting his team. The workout includes a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and another 1-mile run. It’s intentionally difficult because it reminds us that freedom and service often require endurance, grit, sacrifice, and perseverance.

Horsemanship connects to those same values. Good riders and horsemen know that growth doesn’t come from shortcuts — it comes from consistency, discipline, courage, and learning to keep going even when things are hard. Horses teach patience, humility, teamwork, trust, and responsibility. Just like in the Murph, success in horsemanship is built one step, one rep, and one ride at a time.

The games and challenges we did today were meant to be fun, but they also remind us of something bigger: working together, pushing through challenges, supporting each other, and showing respect for those who served before us.

🇺🇸 Some pictures from one of the “stations” 🇺🇸

We love getting to help people enjoy their horses!!

Check out this cute appy who got his first ride from his 10 year old, who handled him like a pro! Then her mama got to enjoy him today.

What a fantastic and fun weekend at Lets Go Show!

So many “first times” and growth for horses and riders! Nothing comes from staying comfortable for too long. This group really impressed me with their try, desire for excellence and their support for each other!

I’ve known many of these horse and rider for years, I know first hand the time and effort they’ve put in. Seeing faces light up after lightbulbs moments, nailing lead changes, great trail runs, hearing your name called in placings and celebrating each others wins is incredibly rewarding. And why we will keep working hard and be back again. 🫶🏼

🟠🟠🟠𝟐𝟓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 🟠🟠🟠
-(𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒃𝒊𝒆𝒔)-

1. Hesitating to allow the horse to calm their mind is not going to hurt your score as much as the freakout will.

2. Learn to rope- its not negotiable, its a part of Ranch Riding. Nobody says “I wanna learn reining but I don't want to slide”

3. Accuracy is always preferred. If you’re not accurate in how your horse places their feet, allow yourself room and play it where it lies. Do not adjust twenty baby steps later before a sidepass.

4. If riding in split reins, wrist watch to the sky. Don’t rotate your hand all around

5. Spurs aren’t required, a responsive horse kinda is…

6. Take mistakes on the chin, whether or not you school is up to you. Do not slump and pout like a child, it happens. Make your mistake and continue with your run. Sometimes a penalty or two are made back up- do not quit riding.

7. Don’t do the “trainer stare” at the horse’s head, he aint changing colors

8. A new rope is usually harder to handle than one with a little use

9. Look at your drag a couple times to be sure (show off the horse’s autopilot)

10. The simplest way is usually the best way

11. Count your lope strides well in advance to the lope logs- it helps

12. Look at the next part of the weave in serpentines- this REALLY helps

13. Overtrain transitions and poles…you’ll be ahead of so many if you do this before your first show

14. Being imperceptible in how you cue and ride is neat, but don’t give me the impression (as a judge) that you’re sweeping things under the rug. A cool, calm, casual riding style that incorporates each cue in a balanced manner will always score well.

15. Training on show day is not usually the best idea. Reminding the horse of something they know…that should almost be policy.

16. Schooling in the ranch classes must be quick, within the confines of the pattern, and respectful to the show. It is not “beat your horse time”. You will be kicked out.

17. When new to Ranch Riding, do what is written in the pattern, no more. A 90 degree turn after a backup could be an inclusion of a maneuver. Don’t embellish without the experience to know what’ll get you OPed and what wont, do what's written.

18Read the association's rule book, there are many rules that are written for that local club and their people- age, bit requirements, division requirements, etc. A little reading could help you better prepare your horse and just stay in a snaffle if that's what your horse does best in.

19. While its common practice to be sneaky in the rail class, and often the slick riders do not get caught- its best to avoid doing so. If the judge has shown a good deal themselves, they'll notice the “sneaky child” body language… or better yet, their scribe snitches on you.

20. Its easy to do 8 steps inbetween simple lead changes, be disciplined and ask for only one trot step. This way, if you do 2 or 3 steps by accident, you’re not incurring penalties.

21. Adjusting reins in preparation for a maneuver is smart... (subtly)do it.

22. For the gate, make sure to clear it with your knee and if your arms are long enough, the rear cinch. This will ensure a tight, swift gate ex*****on worthy of credit every single time (without crunching it on you or your horse)

23. Good moving horses do well in Ranch Rail. Disciplined horses do well in Ranch Riding. Broke horses do well in Ranch Trail. Find a way to balance all attributes for a great all around ranch horse any judge would love.

24. If riding in romals, imagine holding a cup of coffee. Dont rotate your hand all around

25. In a two rein, consider actually using it. It’s design was not for the purpose of cosplay

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈!
Johnny Flores
WRHA Judge, AQHA Pro Horseman, Team Wrangler
818-939-1338

Once a month the evening lesson groups practice something in the cattle realm. For some it was their fist time swinging a rope, others were just brushing up skills. But then we worked on putting the calves in different places in the arena.

Cattle move and respond to body language and pressure like horses. So not only is it fun and engaging for the horses. But I’d argue it makes these girls better horseman because they are learning the feel of give an take, applying and releasing pressure and that the fastest way to do it is slow!