Easter Games

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Barking Horse Farm

On Easter Sunday we set up an obstacle course in the Arena. Volunteers and guests from Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Holland, Australia, and the USA took part in the event.  Here are some the pictures from the day.

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The “DJ” played each contestant’s “theme song” and provided “insightful” commentary.  We had to pick up  a ball, mount and dismount, put on a shirt over your head and take it off, walk backwards, go over a tarp, slalom and circle barrels and finally go over a jump for the big finish.

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Kerri April Trek to the Beach

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Barking Horse Farm

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We just got back from the trek to the beach with Kerri April. This turned out to be a women’s trip with 15 women! I will let the participants tell you about it in their own words.

“This was the trip of a lifetime.”

“What wonderful hosts you have been. We won’t forget you or the ponies.”

“How incredible this week has been. Thank you for an adventure of a lifetime.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your vision.”

“Wow! What an incredible trip!”

“What a wonderful trip. You are doing a great job.”

“Perfect once in a lifetime opportunity!”

“I can never thank you enough for your creative courage to hold such an incredible adventure. It is a moving experience that opens new meaning and heartfelt change.”

Thanks to every one for making this trip so great and thanks to Kerri for sharing her knowledge of horses and her teaching skills. Her high expectations of the horses and the students lifted everyone’s level of ability as we strived to improve our horsemanship.  What a great workshop!

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4* Nita Jo Rush workshop & Trek

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Barking Horse Farm

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We want to thank Nita Jo for her energetic, detailed, organized and articulate methods of teaching. She was a great help to all her students (including us and our horses) along the way. It was a very special trip with many of the riders over 60 and one rider over 70! What a great group, so adventurous and positive through out the whole ride. Some very special momments were shared and the group was  bonded and united. It made us feel great that we could provide the setting for these connections. Thank you everyone for sharing, learning, and caring.

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The Cabalgata in Acosta

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Barking Horse Farm

March is the middle of what Costa Ricans consider their summer. The days are hot and dry. All through out the country side the rural towns hold a fund raising event they call “Cabalgatas”. These are group trail rides that travel through private farms with a stop midway for a music and dancing and a party dinner and a raffle at the end of the ride.

On March 4th, our  season’s volunteers, Elston (texas) and Lara (Germany), this month’s intern, Nicole (Holland), and our riding guest Cheryl (Arkansas), myself and my Costa Rican neighbor and riding friend, Rafa, rode two hours to the town of Acosta. There we joined in the festivities. What follows are the Photos of the trip. We was a mix of excitement and fun!

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4* Parelli Instructor Nita Jo Rush, Feb 17- 25, 2012

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Barking Horse Farm

Come let me be your ”user-friendly” guide to new and deeper understandings of horses and Parelli, of horseplay and riding, of “love, language, and leadership.” Let ‘s go together on both the mind-bending horse-man-ship journey and the adventure of the trek. Come laugh, learn, and play as we escape winter!

4* Parelli Instructor Nita Jo Rush will be teaching a 2 day workshop then riding on a 5 day trek through the Costa Rican mountains to the Pacific coast beach of Playa Bandera.

There is still space for this exciting and educational event. Practice the Parelli you love while exploring one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.

Please contact us for more information and to make a reservation.

barkinghorsefarm@gmail.com

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Check Out our Article in the Savvy Times!

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Barking Horse Farm

Parelli Article

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The Cabalgata for Mari Cruz Belen

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Barking Horse Farm

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One of the nicest horse events that happen in Costa Rica is the Cabalgata. This is a fund raising event on horseback. Horse owners are invited on a trail ride through private farms,they are given a meal, and they have a chance to win horse equipment at a raffle. These are organized by communities to raise money for a school, or a community center among other things. This particular event was held to raise money for Mari Cruz Belen. Mari Cruz is a Special Olympics Cyclist from our town of Puriscal who has been chosen to go to Greece to compete in the Special Olympics Competition.

The horses (and riders) from Establo San Rafael and Barking Horse Farm were invited to attend so Brenda, Liz, Olivia and our two horse interns Erin and Kristin decided to go and show our support for Mari Cruz. We headed out from the farm and climbed up to the ridge on the back roads. When we got there we noticed the rain clouds forming in the distance and sure enough, just as the horses were setting out on the cabalgata the skies opened up in a deluge of tropical rain. It rained through the whole ride! We couldn’t take a single picture to show what a picturesque route the cabalgata followed. Of course, as we arrived back at the festivities the rain stopped. We all enjoyed the local food provided for the participants and we won prizes in the raffle!! We all rode home happy and, thanks to our colorful rain ponchos, not too wet.

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New Photos of Jan Trek and David Lichman Workshop

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Barking Horse Farm

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This was a great trip because we rode with all very accomplished Parelli riders. We ended the trip with a two day workshop with David Lichman. We are currently putting together the trek and workshop schedule for 2012. We are happy to be having 5 star Parelli instructor DavidLichman back for a 4th time in January and 4 star Parelli instructor Nita Jo Rush for her first trek and workshop in February. We will have the exact dates as time gets closer. We are in the process of arranging the schedule for a trek and workshop with other Parelli instructors in March and April.  Stay tuned for more details.

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Riding Beau Bridleless

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Barking Horse Farm

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We are having a great time riding Beau with out reins in the ring. He stops with only the leg commands and stays relaxed and calm in all the gaits. This is great for a right brain introvert that he is. Doing this has also helped him stay calm and pay attention when he is out on trail rides. We love Beau!

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Photos from our most recent Costa Rica trek to the beach and the David Lichman Parelli Horsemanship Workshop.

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Barking Horse Farm

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Barking Horse Farm and Establo San Rafael combined horses to take a large group (11 horses in all!) On this trip our riders were all high level Parelli students and horse owners. It was a real treat to see the Parelli training that we give to our horses truly appreciated. And it was even better to see such high level riders in action. We learned so much from everyone about riding techniques, knot tieing, bare foot trimming and hoof boots, and lots more. I want to thank everyone who went on the trek for making it such a memorable experience!

As always, the David Lichman workshop was a great event. For some of the participants it was their first time attending one of his workshops, while others were returning students. David gave us all individualized attention and everyone progressed and learned lots and had fun too. To quote one of the new participants, “David is not only a great clinician but an excellent teacher.” David, we all loved your jokes and the inspiring music too. We look forward to seeing you here in Costa Rica next year.

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