Rika (the grey) and her mom Star at our level two Parelli clinic last July.

Rika is a five year old grey Quarab mare.  She was born on April 14th, 2004.  Yes, right before tax day making it easy to remember.  She’s the first foal that my family actually bred.  I was given her during the final stages of Star’s Pregnancy.  At the time I wanted a chestnut filly because my first horse, her grand-dam, died a few months prior.  However I think she’s quite striking with her light grey body and contrasting black hair.  

Her mother is Rocket’s Morning Star, a foundation bred 13.3 hh AQHA.  Although technically pony height her proportions are very much foundation Quarter horse.  Star is currently my aunt’s levels horse, and she really is a nice horse.  There is however a definite mare-a-tude that goes through their dam line, all three horses that my family’s owned exhibit it quite clearly–

Her sire is ,Flamboyant I , is an Arabian Stallion by Class Cat.  “Barron’s” grandsire is the ever so prominent arab stallion Muscat.  Barron has quite the arab personality and is a classic RBE, with a high spirit level.  Lucky for me Rika inherited her mother’s LBI horsenailty innately, but she can also go extremely RBE, fun…  Now that shes getting more confident in me it’s happening less and less, and when she is RBE it’s a less intense version, and I have strategies.  Gotta love that figure eight pattern.  Back to Barron–  When I was younger, and before Rika was born, I rode Barren frequently in Dressage.  Looking back that was really bad.  I was only 12 when I started riding him, and had no business being on a RBEstallion.  I did however have a special bond with Barron, which is probably why the only time I fell off of him was when I lost a stirrup at the canter and he spooked.  Now years later I know not to ride a horse that I know is unsafe. 

 

As a LBI verity is Key to Rika, and she adores trail riding.  She’s a very good trail horse with a great head on her shoulders.  On the trail a new horse emerges, once with stamina, motivation, and “go”.  She’s a blast to trail ride with.  Rika is also a teacher of emotional fitness. When I first got her we had arguments because I was not Savvy , at all, and got frustrated because I didn’t know what to do with her.  Of course Rika always won these arguments, shes verrry persistent.  Less is more is absolutelytrue and key when playing with her.  Once she gives a try it is very important to acknowledge that somehow or she feels unappreciated and stops trying altogether.  I am quite pleased because she truly seems to be enjoying our play sessions now, and comes to meet me when I approach her pasture.  Parelli has changed our relationship for the better, I would never be able to accomplish a fraction of the things we are doing without Parelli.  Our journey has just began, and I hope our partnership will grow, as well as our relationship because they are comeplety tied together.

Rika adores trailridng, arena work is soo boring--