3:10 Ministries

Dancer, Dancer, Dancer

2009-01-20T19:41:00.001-08:00

Here is Dancer the wonder horse! He is doing so great!

2009-01-04T16:34:00.001-08:00

12/23/08

Silas

Goals:
1 One rein stop
2 Disengage hind quarters
3 Walk, trot

Notes: Road Silas today. He did fine . Defiantly has more whoa than go. When I asked him into a trot he tried to buck me off. He really gets a lot of air when he bucks, hope to get some good PICS. Anyway, I was able to pick him up and continue with asking him to trot. He did and we were able to end on a good note. I think the biggest challenge is going to be to get him to move out. This was ride #4 hope to move him to arena by ride 6, so we have room to move. You may want to put that day on your calender I think it will be interesting to watch.

Dancer

Goals:
1 One rein stop
2Backing
3 Side pass
4 Walk, trot
5 Disengage HQ

Notes: A+ Need to move to arena.

12/23/08 - 1/1/09

Silas

Goals:
1 Developing feel ground, and mounted
2 backing
3 side passing
4 Disengaging hind quarters
5 Move to arena

Notes: Silas is doing really good. Have seen several big changes in him. 1) He has started following a feel really well. (Matching his life with my life). Walk, trot, and started baby steps into a canter. All this has been ground work in the pasture and mounted work in the round pin. We have made 1 trip to the arena which went very well, we walked, trotted a bit worked on backing and side passing. He did good, was very alert. Spooked at dogs in the woods but was very easy to bring back to thinking stat of mind. All and all a very good week. Silas is on ride # 10.

Dancer

Goals:
1 Ride, expanding his territory
2 Keep developing his feel and softness

Notes: Dancer is doing great. Have been riding quit a bit in the pasture, which has been good. Got a couple of jumps under our belt all in all has been a good week . Dancer is on ride # 12. Note: He tried to buck me off yesterday, it was only a small tantrum. He was more or less voicing his opinion about the amount of direction changes we were making at a trot. I asked him to send me a written memo next time he had a problem, instead of talking out in class. HA, HA

If you can't beat the mud enjoy it !!!

2008-12-21T16:46:00.000-08:00

Here is Dancer and Silas after playing in the mud last week. We decided we couldn't beat it so why not join it :). We are now hoping for lots of sun shine to dry things up!

Dancer and Silas 12/19-12/20

2008-12-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

12/19/08
Rain

12/20/08

Silas

Goals:
1 Third ride round pin
2 One rein stop
3 Disengage hind quarters

Notes: Silas did good all around. Very calm, and cool no real issues today as far as right brained behavior. Work on lateral flexion, one rein stop and dis. Hind quarters. Good on all counts. Still real mouthy with the bit. Don’t understand, acts like it’s the first time he’s ever carried a bit in his mouth. Nothing dramatic just a lot getting use to it. All in all he did very good. Hope for a little dry weather so the footing gets better. Although I’ve just decided to use it as a training tool to get them to become more sure footed. It seems I get a greater level of focus from them.

Dancer

Goals:
1 walk, trot
2 one rein stop
3 backing
4 Disengaging hind quarters
5 Side pass
6 going from walk to trot using life in my body

Notes: Once again Dancer has proved to be a great learner. A+ on all goals. A little stiff on backing but we have a good start.

Silas and Dancer 12/11-12/18

2008-12-18T18:03:00.000-08:00

12/11/08

Silas
Goals: 1 Check circle game and sideways for rearing
2 Lite ground work under saddle

Notes: Rained all night last night, arena standing in water. Silas showed a big change today. Much more relaxed. Ate all feed and hay today alone. Great! Did some lite ground work under saddle, he looks good in my rope saddle. HA, HA Anyway, he was very relaxed and responsive. He did not rear at all, big plus. Did not push him too much due to bad footing, so I took the opportunity to reward him for being calm and collected and thinking. Went and explored pasture. Good change, he was relaxed and started grazing I could see that his confidence in me to lead him was the key to him relaxing. So with that, I move him from a patch of grass, to patch of grass, asking him to take little steps back, sideways, forward, he seemed to welcome the time to follow and leave the details of the exploring to me. It was fun to watch him make the little changes.

Dancer

Goals: 1 Lite ground work under saddle
2 2nd ride
3 One rein stop
4 Start disengaging hide quarters

Notes: Once again Dancer did great. Saddled good from both sides. Climbed on and off both sides. Walked and trotted great. One rein-stop, good. Also, got one step both ways from his hind quarters. Will build off that next time. Don’t know if we will get through this without seeing a little attitude from Dancer, I can tell he just needs a few days to think about it. I’m excited to see what the little guy comes up with. He’s fun to play with.

12/12/08

Rain

12/13/08
Silas

Goals: 1 Explore whole pasture
2 Pegs in town She played with Silas

Notes: Silas did great - Explored whole pasture. He was calm cool and collected. Also did a little ground work in the arena with sideways game. Was looking for sideways at a trot, I got 3or 4 good step both ways and will build on that. My goal is to up the speed without him blowing up.

Dancer

Goals: 1 3rd ride
2 work on walk ,trot bending to a stop
3 yielding hind quarters
4 Backing
5 taking direction

Notes: Dancer did well. Walk, trot good. Starting to respond to the life in my body when bending to a stop. Yielded hind quarters full circle both ways. Took a few steps back. Will build on that. Started give some direction and he’s responding well.

12/14/08

Silas

Goals:1 Build on sideways game
2 Explore and work in pasture
3 Make first ride in round pin

Notes:Took 7 or 8 Good steps sideways at trot, went both ways several times. Took first ride in round pin. He was very stiff and unsure, moved him out at a walk, worked on bending to a stop and worked at a trot. He was not real responsive to pressure. Head was up most of the ride. Very unsure but by the end he had relaxed head down, L and C. Quit on that note and will start building from there.

Dancer

Goals:1 Ride in round pin
2 Work on basics, Bending, Stop, Backing, Dis. Hind Quarters
3 Move to arena follow the rail

Notes:Dancer did great. No real problems as of yet. Achieved all goals.

12/15/08

Silas

Goals: 1 Ground work under saddle pasture
2 2nd ride round pin
3 Walk trot one rein stop

Notes: Silas did good today. Ground work under saddle at pond. Showed no right brained behavior, seemed to be excited to be out exploring. At one point he started to leave but I think he was just wanting to explore on his own. Just started changing his direction to put his focus back on me and he reconnected. Went up to round pin for 2nd ride. Mounting went fine. He is not confident with a rider, not right brained at all, seems to be very calculating. Very bracy, will give his face but stiff, that’s ok. We can work with that. Also, does not take direction. Will treat him like a colt, and start with step one. All in all has a great big trot. I think he is going to be an unbelievable horse when he comes out of his shell.

Dancer
12/16 - 12/17
Rained out

12/18/08
Silas

Goals:1 Exercise

Notes: Rain for what seems like weeks now. Had to stall Silas because of mud. Took him out this afternoon to move around a little bit and kick our heals up some after being cooped up. Silas did fine, had a little cabin fever, but stayed calm and composed. Moved around the pond quite a bit. The big challenge for the day crossing the spill way. It was about 1 ½ foot wide and maybe an inch deep. That was a big deal. WOW!!! We had to unpack a little baggage there. But we made it. He’s not quit ready to jump any water hazards just yet, but we’ll get there. I know he has potential because he cleared that one by about 8 feet. HA, HA

Dancer

Goals: 1 Exercise

Notes:Did good, had plenty of attitude. Bucked on line a bit. Got aggravated that I was asking him to trot. Tried to take off running at a full run dragging me behind. Was able to keep my feet and stay with him thank God, otherwise he would have had the last laugh because I was running through ankle deep mud. We made it out on a good note.

Dancer's First Ride

2008-12-10T09:58:00.001-08:00

12/8/08
Silas
Goals:
1 one on one ground work in arena
2 move ground work from arena to pasture
3 jumps, pond, ext.
4 end results of today’s session - build trust on ground in my leadership.
Notes: Worked in arena at morning feeding, basic ground work, still dealing with right brained behavior had to A and R the feed bucket. Dogs were also playing in the woods, also hung feed bucket under stage, dogs would get on stage, horse did not like looking eye to eye or having them over him. Afternoon session ground work in pasture, horse did fine at jumps just exploring new territory, started going right brained after he got out of sight of arena and other horses, extremely heard bound. Worked at pond, out of sight of other horse until he relaxed. Had to use phase 4 twice. 1st time he reared, bucked and totally turned and left. 2nd time he started to leave total right brained because dogs we running on hill in the distance. But also, at times when he rears and bucks he seems to be left brained, challenging me.

Dancer
Goals:
1 one on one ground work in arena
2 move ground work from arena to pasture
3 jumps, pond, ext.
4 end results of today’s session - build trust on ground in my leadership.
Notes: Worked in arena and around jumps. Horse did good just a little rude, real easy to correct. Would like to start riding tomorrow.

12/9/08
Silas
Goals:
1 Going to keep exploring pasture
2 expand his threshold to be away from heard
3 Feed him alone again morning
4 work sideways game
5 over head work around jumps
6 horse has to see us as a heard of two
Notes: Today went good with Silas. Game planed was changed. At morning feeding there was a noticeable change, he was much more relaxed actually ate his feed, and was wanting to stay with me . So I took the opportunity to sit with him and build on some much needed trust. Spent most of the morning sitting with him. Let him have the day to relax sense this was the 1st time, sense he got here, that he’s quit pacing. Had a short, but meaningful session. Work on circle game and sideways sense that’s where the rearing has been taking place. And yes it was there and we were able to deal with it and end on a positive note. I plan to address that again to see if we have made an impression. Hopefully he will start making a change so we can start riding soon.

Dancer
Goals:
1 Ground work
2 Ride in round pen
3 work on one rein stop
Notes: Did a little ground work with Dancer. The horse is bomb proof. Saddle him and got on. He did great walk and trotted both ways great. Work on one rein stop a few times and quit. He’s got a great little trot, a pleasure to ride. Will work in round pen again tomorrow and one rein stop. Then will move to arena and follow the rail. He’s a fun little horse!

12/10/08
RAIN

Dancer and Silas - Arrival

2008-12-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

12/7/08
Silas
Notes: Right brained extrovert, worked with him to calm him down. Used a lot of approach and retreat. He was very pushy and rude. Got his attention by moving him around and making him think; disengaging hind quarters circling, and backing. Started playing squeeze game with pony until he relaxed and settled down.

Dancer
Notes: Did not work with Dancer. Watched Debbie work him, left brained extrovert He’s pretty pushy, just needs some boundaries set.

Church Demo !!!

2008-10-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

We got one under our belt! I can hardly believe we did it - well God did it :) John and I were so nervous but God was so faithful. It was awesome to see God take something that has been on our hearts to do and make it a reality. God has been speaking to us through our relationships with our horses and for quite sometime we have desired to communicate what we have been hearing to others. And last Sunday we got the chance to do just that. We had a great crowd, who were so supportive and encouraging. Thank you to all who came out and too all at Brewers Baptist Church who helped put it all together. We are now hopeful to get to try this again and potentially do this more often.

2008-08-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

news letter July 2008

CLICK ABOVE PICTURE TO VIEW JULY'S NEWSLETTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bible Camp 2

2008-08-02T13:07:00.001-07:00

Wow, it is hard to believe we finished the second camp! It went very very well. We had quite the group this time around, doubling with fifteen campers! So, we were especially thankful for everyone that helped out and made this possible - Toni Brewster came up from Grady AL with her niece, Sydney, and brought three ponies and we also had our teenagers, two girls from church ,Amy and Abby, and also the lovely Lakyn Darnell. Dalton also made it up for the last day, which was a nice helping push to the finish line. This camp was similar to the first one with bible lessons, crafts, swimming, swinging, and horseback riding; but this group definitely liked to ride a bit more than the last. So, needless to say, Toni and the ponies got there work out. Our relay race was especially fun this camp, as we added the "pass the lifesaver" event. All in all I think the kids had a great time as well as did we putting it on for them. Once again it is awesome to be apart of what brings joy to The Lord's heart!

Bible Camp 1

2008-08-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Our first Bible Camp! Oh what a labor of love :)!! It was completely exhausting but so wonderful all at the same time. We had seven campers and three teenage helpers - Kathrine, Amy, and Zack - whom I could not have done without. The kids seemed to have a great time, we had bible lessons, crafts, swimming, swinging, riding, and more. All the lessons were designed to let creation reveal something about it's creator. We "listened" to the woods, the water, the horses, and the plants. Swimming turned out to be more of a mud bath - as you see in the pictures, but it was a cool treat after being out in the hot summer sun all day. We really enjoyed having the kids out and are looking forward to going at it again!

Salt Lake City

2008-08-02T05:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a trip! I can’t tell you how good it was to take a trip to simply seek God. It has been a long time since I have gotten to get away from regular life and totally focus on spending time with the Lord and hearing from Him.
For a little background info - I was invited to go to Salt Lake City, Utah with our youth group at church (Shade’s Valley Community). There were seven girls going with the youth director, Shae Wall, to attend a huge conference called “Challenge”,and they were needing another female chaperon. I was so excited I immediately said yes. But I had no idea what the Lord had planned, and I was a bit nervous, for I really didn’t know the girls very well. But regardless I was excited to get to know them and take a trip out west.
So, off we all went on June 28th - we flue out of Birmingham and got to our hotel just in time to get ready for the first evening event, where we were joined by nearly 5,000 other teenagers from around the country! We had quite the full itinerary over the next week, breakfast was at 8 am followed by what they called a “Rally”, which consisted of praise and worship and a guest speaker. Then you had a breakaway session with your individual groups to discuss the talk that was given. After that it was about time for lunch. For the afternoon you had two choices, to participate in a community service project or attend breakout sessions (small lectures on different topics). We did both, but as you see in the pictures some of our community service projects included picking up trash, packaging meals that went to an orphanage in Africa, and washing windows for people. It was really awesome living out the gospel in a very physical way. So, as the afternoon came to a close we had a prayer time after dinner followed by another Rally and breakaway session. Then at about 11 pm we fell into our pillow, well at least Shae and I did :), and got ready to do it all over again the next day!
It is really hard to nutshell trips like this, God was so amazing in so many different ways. The conference itself was amazing, the theme was to get the kids to live out Jesus - the real Jesus. Not just the quaint Sunday school Jesus, but the powerful, passionate, unconditional loving Jesus - the untamed Jesus, that we all so desperately need. And then to not just be a hearer of the gospel, but to show people the gospel in flesh form. To be so loving and so generous that people ask why, literally laying your life down so others would trust in Him. And above all to dare to be different, to step out and take a risk for the sake of another. I was there to be a leader but I needed to hear that as much as anybody. It was refreshing to see other believers being bold for the sake of the cross.
But personally I had a sweet moment with the Lord while in Salt Lake. For this season of my life has seemed to be a bit dryer than others, and ironically it has been a season of serving others and giving of myself more than any other time in my life. So, in that I had been a bit confused as to what was going on and I had really been missing the time I used to hear God consistently speak His love to me. I use to have days that He would show me His love and how precious I was to Him so much so that it was almost too much to take in. So, as I sat in the Rally the first night praying, my heart was longing for Him, just to hear Him, to feel His presence; then He gently, but very clearly spoke to my heart. He told me that my joy would now be in seeing others come to know Him like I had come to know Him. Not that I wouldn’t continue to grow but that I had come to a place that I knew my Father’s love and I had experienced His healing. And it was time in that maturity to “mother” others to know Him. And my heart filled with joy as I looked at those seven girls that I didn’t even know and they were (for the week) my children in the Lord, to give to and pour into. And with that mindset I enjoyed the next week with the girls, I had a blast getting to know them, seeing them seek God, and talking with them as opportunities came up. It was an amazing trip and I am so thankful I got to be apart of what God is doing!

John's Wyoming Trip

2008-07-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, how do you nutshell a trip like this. You can't! But I'll try. Richard Boatwright, a long time friend from Madison GA, asked me to go on this trip to Wyoming with him. The plan was to take two horses that Richard had been training to a mutual friends ranch in Elk, Mt. Wyoming. Through helping on the ranch for a week we hoped to season the horses to ranch work and then take them to Billings Montana to a Ranch horse competition and sale. The money from the sale of the horses would pay for the trip and maybe make a little money at the same. Well let me tell you did God have some unbelievable surprises waiting on us. From our time together, to our time at the ranch, to the experience at the sale; all I can say was God blew us away -- with Himself. It was such an amazing trip that it made it hard to come back to "real life". We hope to go back in September to help gather and ship, but we are still waiting upon the Lord for that.