Hallo von Bad Sassendorf, Germany!

TTU's Team

Texas Tech University students and I have been here for the past few days teaching, training and eating!

The camp was hosted by John and Diana Royer at Five Star Ranch. They are not only excellent hosts with a fabulous facility but both accomplished riders on their own, and they will be making their American show debut at the 2010 National Reining Horse Association Futurity. The general interest at this barn is western, with a focus on reining. Levi and his team used this interest to form the four-day camp for the almost 30 participants.

Day 1

Making sure everyone was on the same page, the trainers taught and practiced bending and counter-bending for the majority of the day. They worked the shoulder, ribs and hips at the walk and jog. After the lunch, Alicia and Levi talked to the group about bits.

Day 2

Warming up with the same bending exercises, they quickly split the group and had them practice lead departures in one arena and learning the correct way to stop and turn in the other. TTU likes to keep the concept of forward motion and shoulder control in all of their workouts, and by the end of the day, things were finally starting to click for the participants. Will Wallendorff gave a nutrition lecture in the afternoon that focused on the basics of maintaining a healthy horse.

Day 3

After warming up the horses, the participants broke back into groups. In the large outdoor arena, Alicia, Ashley and Sarah took the group through a horsemanship pattern and an out-of-the-arena trail course that included a gate, sidepass over logs, uphill jog-overs and a serpentine. Levi and Will taught stops in the covered arena. After lunch, I gave my spiel on the AQHA and the many grand benefits of being a member.

Day 4

TTU spent the last day working on individual horse and rider teams as much as possible. They really took the time to work on specifics that the participants wanted to practice and/or learn.

Camp Highlight: Sarah asked John what he was training the [Arabian] horse he was riding for. His response: “Survival”

Texas Tech students will be heading back home to Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday. They are all very appreciative for the opportunity to travel and teach here in Europe and wanted to say “Thank You” to all the amazing hosts they had along the way.

I am headed to Sweden to meet up with Texas A&M.

Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned.

Happy Horsin’

Mercedes Sotelo
AQHA International Intern