ATWOOD RANCH NATURALLY December 2007 Newsletter

WE’RE MOVING

ATWOOD RANCH NATURALLY, young horse program, specializing in the development and sales of yearlings and two-year-olds, is excited to announce our relocation to the Atwood Ranch facility in Orland, California! In changing locations we are better able to expand our Parelli Pre-School set-up. Furthermore, we can develop relations even sooner with the broodmares and foals, as the Orland facility also houses the Atwood breeding program. The move will take a couple months to complete but we look forward to plenty of Parelli students and professionals visiting the ranch during 2008.

NEWS FROM THE RANCH IN JUNE, we were pleased to have 5 Star Parelli Instructor, Dave Ellis, visit the Atwood Ranch along with Jody Grimm. They came by while Pat and Linda were here playing with yearlings and two-year-olds prior to their appearance at the Western States Horse Expo. At the recent Savvy Conference in Pagosa Springs, CO, Dave selected as his new partner a two-year-old named AR Colonels Safari, who Kalley used in the colt start demo with Pat on Day #1 of the conference. Congratulations to Dave! We know we’ll see him and “Handsome Dan” for years to come doing great things.

While on a tour of the Sacramento area teaching at various clinic locations, Rachel and Don Jessop came by our Elk Grove location to visit Kalley and see her incredible progress with the yearlings.

David Lichman, 5 Star Parelli Instructor, also visited the Atwood Ranch this summer with his daughter, Tova, and family to play with horses and learn about our young horse development program first hand.

Ann Kiser, Parelli Professional from Oregon, recently stopped by for a tour of the Orland ranch and selected a new AR partner, Chex Crystal Clear. Congratulations to Ann!

Thank you one and all for visiting the ranch and for stopping by our booth at the recent tour stops in Reno and S. Jordan, UT and Belton, TX. You are spreading the word via your support and enthusiasm about the Parelli Pre-Saddle Training™ Program we have established and about these beautiful, well educated, well bred horses we are offering for sale.

LEFT PHOTO: AR Colonels Safari, David Ellis’ new partner and, right, Colonels Connection, new partner for Sheila Hinkle, Northridge, CA RIGHT PHOTO: David Lichman plays on-line with one of the Atwood Ranch two-year-olds during a visit this summer to the ranch.

MORE EXCITING NEWS

OUR OWN KALLEY KRICKEBERG, Program Developer, received her black string from Pat Parelli at Savvy Conference this past September following an awesome demonstration with the Atwood Ranch yearlings. The session evoked laughter, tears and a standing ovation! Congratulations, Kalley!!!

NEW PARTNERS

How I came to Atwood Ranch Naturally By Craig Allen, Hooper, UT Hi! My name is Craig and I have been practicing Parelli Natural Horse-man-ship™ for 3 years. I am in level 2. I am also an active member of Back Country Horsemen of Utah. I lead trail rides and pack trips for my chapter. My levels horse, Chief, is a Missouri Fox-trotter whose innate characteristics carry him along the trail at a pace well above the 2-3 mph favored by my mules and my fellow chapter members who are predominately mounted upon non-gaited horses. This mismatch has been bothering me for some time, as I really hate to ask Chief to go against his nature on practically every ride. Thus, I found myself in the horse acquisition mode. What a frustrating experience! I soon came to realize that any horse I bought would have to be a 'project' and that each one would have to begin at level one. I also realized that I would never know all the history that had been written on the horse's mind or what taught and learned behavior would be revealed at exactly the wrong time. With these thoughts in mind, I attended the Parelli Tour Stop in Salt Lake City. As usual, Pat and Linda blew our socks off! At one point the local and tour professionals came out to show how ordinary people can get extraordinary results from their horses. One of the professionals was Kalley, who was playing with a baby. It struck me that the yearling was pretty much doing all the games on the ground just like the other adult horses. Then, Pat announced that Kalley was playing with a yearling from Atwood Ranch and he explained a new initiative to take well bred horses, send them to Parelli Pre-School and offer them to Parelli practitioners at an affordable cost. “This is the new way to buy and sell horses,” he said. A bell went off in my head. Here was the chance to have a 'project ' horse with a perfect start! So long story made short, I went out back to take a look. I was immediately struck by the fact that Catherine was sincerely interested in telling us about the program and about what I needed in a horse. She told me about Atwood Ranch and I was already making plans to take a trip. I looked at the 10 babies on their way to be showcased at the Savvy Conference the next week. I asked Catherine if one of them suited my needs? If one of their horsenalities seemed to be a fit. She thought about it and said there was one she would recommend, but that it would be best to speak to Kalley. Catherine showed me a pretty bay filly named Boots. Then, she introduced me to Kalley. Kalley also talked to me about how I wanted to use my horse and I am sure she sized me up as well. Then she went down the line of babies and said, 'I think Boots would be a match for you.'

Well, that is when I was assailed by doubts. This little filly was looking at me with eyes filled with trust. She was calm, confident, curious and accepting and I suddenly realized the awesome responsibility I would be taking on for her future. Did I have the time? Did I have the savvy? I left, I came back, I left again. I returned. Someone else was asking Kalley to take Boots out and play with her. I watched as she played the 7 games with purpose. Then, I took the first step. I asked Kalley if I could play with Boots. She said yes and when she transferred the lead line from her hands to mine I was more nervous then when I was assessing for level one. Boots was a sweetheart, she sensed my nervousness and tried hard to make sense of my first hesitant attempts at the friendly game. We got the communication established and, with Kalley's coaching and encouragement, we played for the first time. I brought Boots back to the rail, dropped her lead rope and picked up her feet. She accepted me. Kalley was proud of her student and I was equally impressed. I asked the lady who was watching ' Which one of us is buying her?' She said 'I guess you are.' I looked at Kalley and said ' Consider her sold!' We shook hands and there were smiles all around. Then, I turned and looked at Boots. She was calmly standing, taking it all in. While my friends were congregating around her, a small girl came up to her nose to pet her. She lowered her head to accept the pet. Totally calm. Totally trusting. Totally awesome!

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

For those interested in becoming a part of this exciting new program, we have a position opening in horse health. Duties and responsibilities are broad reaching and involve not only the yearlings and two-year-olds, but the broodmares and babies as well. For a job description and application please email info@atwoodranchnaturally.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

We recently went to Belton, TX for the Parelli tour stop. We had our slide show playing of the young horses and their journey through pre-school, shared with folks about our new program and gave out information. It was a pleasure meeting lots of you! Our plans did not include taking yearlings this time as we were nearly out of equine partners after our appearance at Savvy Conference that had completed their Parelli Pre-Saddle Training™ program. Now though Kalley will begin developing a group of yearling colts and, in the meantime, she has a nice group of Atwood Ranch two-year-olds she’s starting under saddle, too. Many of you have been asking about our Open House and now that we are relocating, we will plan to hold it at our beautiful facility in Orland, CA sometime in the Spring. Watch your emails for an invitation/announcement and we hope everyone can attend. We will plan to give tours of the ranch and breeding operation. Kalley will do a demo with several of the young horses and answer a few questions, as we share our passion for these young horses. The Bay Area Savvy Players are planning a field trip to experience the Atwood Ranch Naturally Young Horse Development Program. We look forward to having them at our new Orland facility as well.

Q & A

Question: My levels horse is 15 years old and starting to show signs of lameness. I can’t afford to purchase another PNH Level 3 horse to finish up my testing. Any advice?

Answer: The best advice for someone in your situation came from Linda Parelli and that is to make your next purchase a young horse. That way, as your current levels horse gets older, you have another one you are developing who can slip into action should your older horse need retiring.

There are a couple great benefits to a young horse purchase. First, the pricing on a yearling is far less initially than that of an older trained horse. Buy the best bred horse you can afford, with the best mind, attributes and horsenality suited for you, as he’ll be your partner for life. Secondly, you have the advantage of investing in his education over time. It’s kind of like buying the Mercedes on

the installment plan! You’ll end up with a solid, well bred horse that’s worth a lot but that you didn’t pay a lot for up front.

The important point to keep in mind is that the cost of a horse’s vetting, shoeing, feeding and education are basically fixed costs, meaning they are the same whether it’s spent on a so-so horse with baggage or a young, well bred horse with a Parelli foundation. Why not start with something special and build from there? It makes perfect sense!

CONGRATULATIONS GO TO……

… Sheila Hinkle on the purchase of Colonels Connection, “Gunner”, who will be working with PNH Professionals Maurice Thibault and Susan Nelson in southern CA. Sheila had the opportunity to come out to the ranch and ride with us for a couple days. … Dyan Apostolos, who also came out to the Elk Grove ranch and had on-line and liberty play sessions with several yearlings, has a new partner AR Playin Sassy, nicknamed “Josie”. Josie moved in with her new pasture mates with ease and we wish them the best. … AR Amazing Gracie has moved to WA to partner up with Jerry Schmidt, husband of Parelli Professional Mary Gallagher. Jerry got to know “Gracie” at Savvy Conference and with Kalley’s guidance selected a perfect fit. Good luck to both of you! … as mentioned, David Ellis found a new partner in AR Colonels Safari. We anticipate seeing that partnership for years to come at Dave’s clinics and on the ranch. … Pat Parelli has a new partner, too, in AR Colonels Smart who we affectionately nicknamed “Evolution” in memory of his full brother “Revolution”. There’s another partnership for life and a great prospect for Pat in his string of Super Horses! AR Especial is another horse Pat recently acquired from the Atwood Ranch and he made his first appearance at Savvy Conference as well. ... Peter and Jackie Dufresne, old friends of Pat’s, also caught the bug at Savvy Conference and went home with AR Lotta Class, “Powder”. Congratulations!

… Monica Quarmby of Florida has a new yearling filly, AR A Chick With Chex, who we call “Dixie”. “Dixie” appeared at the Reno and Utah tour stops as well as Savvy Conference and was a star at every performance. Monica and Dixie will form a beautiful bond! … Kalley Krickeberg, our own Program Developer, selected AR Ribbons N Bows, AKA “Sunshine” for her new partner. Many of you saw their phenomenal long line driving demo at Savvy Conference and were awe-struck!

… also as mentioned, another congrats goes out to Ann Kiser who found a new partner in Chex Crystal Clear. You’ll see this big, handsome bay gelding, “Bart” assisting Ann at all of her upcoming clinics. … and of course, this month’s highlight story about Craig Allen and his new bay filly, “Boots”, AR My Boots R Stylin. Best of luck to this pair as well!

Photos compliments of Coco, Molly Moore and PNH friends

ATWOOD RANCH NATURALLY www.AtwoodRanchNaturally.com info@atwoodranchnaturally.com

new address: Atwood Ranch Naturally 4400 County Road 200A

P.O. Box 757 Orland, California 95963

(530) 865-1525