"We spoke to Glenn about what type of horse I would like and because he knows me, has seen me interact with horses, and also is well aware of my fear factor, he suggested he had three horses at the time, any one of which might
be a good match for me. Glenn made sure to make it clear the match had to be a good for both me and the horse.

So, I went to look at the horses on The Horse Ranch website and very quickly picked Jewel. Because I wanted my new partner to be at a certain level in training we decided she needed about five or six more weeks of consistent
development before she would be ready for me."

But Glenn was already in tour mode so Dixie offered to take Jewel on as a project for me. I was thrilled!
Glenn would be giving a Stage 1 and 2 clinic in Stettler, Alberta at the end of September and invited me to take the clinic on Jewel. That way both he and I could see if we were a match. That timeframe worked well for me and I
quickly made arrangements.

In the meantime, Dixie took time out of her already crazy busy life looking after the whole ranch, two children and the business to make sure Jewel was ready for me at the end of September. Dixie played with her, rode her,
taught her tons of things and even took her into the Open House at Glenn's parent's ranch. She stole the show! Here is some of the email Dixie sent to me afterwards:

Yesterday we had an Open House at Glenn's parents farm for the grand opening
of their new CoverAll arena. We showed all the horses, by individual mare
family, leading the mares and foals, and riding all of the ones who have
been started - varying through Stages 1-5. Then myself, Ryon (who works for
us and is part of our horse development program) and one of Glenn's students
(Tanya who took our three month course and is going to Brazil with us in
November) did a demo with individual horses, showing what we could
accomplish online and riding. I showed Jewel and she was a star!! Stole
the show. I had bathed her and braided her mane and she was absolutely
gleaming with good health and had such an intelligent attentive look about her the entire
time. I did all of the riding portion with the cherokee bridle (string
looped in her mouth) and she carried it like an angel and we did all sorts
of things, backup, sideways, yield front quarters, hind quarters, picked up
a tarp of the fence and draped it over her shoulders while I
rode. Received a ton of compliments from the crowd and Glenn. She loved
the applause I think. It was great exposure for her, to be hauled over to
the farm, and be ridden in a new surroundings. All in all, a very rewarding
day.

Then the clinic in Stettler arrived and it was time. I road Jewel the first night but only for five or ten minutes. It was great though! She did the best side pass I'd ever had a horse do for me! And I cantered after not having cantered a horse for about two years (well, except for our 25 year old quarter horse gelding) and was thrilled. But I wanted to be sure so
spending the next three days with her sealed the deal! Of course she was the best horse in the clinic (my opinion of course!) and we got along very well but I was waiting for the riding day. I'd been playing so much on the ground
for the last two years I really wanted to be able to get on and ride again. I mean "Ride" with a capital "R". I hadn't done more than a trot on our young 16.3 hh Dutch Warmblood or 16.2 hh Thoroughbred mare off the track.

I really wanted to be able to have some fun again on the back of a horse! I was so high after riding I was saying things to Ryon that were just gibberish! As you now know, it's a match! Now she is hanging out with our
other three horses here in beautiful Peachland, BC."

...Cheryl Russell, Peachland, BC.