Monday, July 26, 2010

killer bees sting a lasting sting......killed two beloved horses.

Yes its true....the unthinkable nightmare, on June 21, 2010 I got a call from my ranch manager, "Get here now, there are bees attacking our beloved Scoop and Charger, and Charger is down."
That's all I had to here. I jumped in my car and headed toward the ranch. My mind was going a mile a minute, what does this mean? Can bees kill horses? I honestly could not fathom what I would walk into. All I could think of is this has to be bigger than I can imagine for me to get this frantic call.  What do you do?
I remember seeing all of those 911 T.V shows and remember seeing a lady attacked by bees, the fire dept. was called and they where trying to save her with there fire hoses.
So...on the way to the ranch I called 911 and our emergency vet. Dr. McNeil.  I remember asking the vet "can bees kill a horse?" When I heard the dreaded answer yes, I said please come right away, this doesn't sound good.
When I got there it was complete ciaos.  The details of that night are still too difficult for me to share. All I can say is a fire in a barn would of been the equivalent.
As I try to write this tears fill my eyes, Even the fire dept. was afraid to get out of the truck, the scene was like a movie, I couldn't believe what was happening. The movie "Jumangie" comes to mind.
All I can remember saying is please don't tell me we cant save these horses. As the night unfolded Charger and Scoop gave up their lives to the bees.
Little did I know that Africanized bees and come onto my property and set up camp, robbing my friendly honey bees of their hives. I heard later that there was over 500,000 of them.
Why they chose to attack the horses that night we don't know for sure, but I do know that the horses gave their lives in such a noble way, possibly saving us humans and other horses.
The story doesn't stop there, my dearest friends owned these incredible horses and had just brought them over to my ranch with high hopes of rising to the next level of their horsemanship journey. We had such great plans.
I have been fighting the city and county to help me remove these bees, their only reply has been its your problem.  The financial devastation is over whelming.  The only answer I have been able to come up with is to lean my property. To excavate the bees we are looking at possibly over 50,000.  buildings and trees that they dwelt in have to be torn down so they will not come back.
I have given permission to lean the property so they can be properly excavated and no one else will be hurt, but this has left my ranch that I have fought 10 years to keep in jeopardy.
As you can imagine it has not been safe to be there with the bees still in force and any income I was trying to maintain is gone. It could take another month to insure safety. 
I know how independent and self assured all us horsey women are, but I need help. I am asking for donations at this time to help me sustain what I have left  for a short while. I know its hard to give for all of us right now, but even if a enough people gave $25.00 it would help until I can get my business up and operating.
 Please imagine what you would do if this was you just for a minute. The grief of the horses dieing, the devastated owners , dealing with the county and trying to still feed the horses who are left.
You can go on my website cowgirlsdontkry.com and donate. There is a donate button on front page. I am hoping as a horse community we can stand with each other in crisis. Not one of us could ever plan or prevent a devastation like killer bees, but like the horses they where noble that night and died with dignity, we should learn from them.  Thank you.........Christa Lynn

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Learning the equine language

I believe its up to us to learn the equine language, just like spanish or even sign language.  So many times we try to put our way of thinking on to the horse, expecting that he knows what we expect out of him with out our clear communication.  What do you think????????

Thursday, June 17, 2010


First Video of the Christa Lynn Series

New Horse Training Video series!!!!!

Hey Cowgirls and Guys,
Dont miss this chance to check out whats new and exciting in the horse world of communication.
You are probably wondering what makes this video series any different from all the others you have seen?
After working with so many incredible horseman and women over the years I have watched many students succeed, I have also watched many students walk away frustrated as so much of the information was way over their heads or they didnt have enough time in a clinic to make the impact stick, only to get home and feel like they didnt make any changes and are exactly where they left off.
My horse training videos are about communication, not technique. Understanding how your horse views his world, and how we can inter into it and make a lasting change through understanding.
I am not saying technique is not important but once you really understand how to communicate from your heart and mind then any technique can be applied.
I would love to have you check out my new website cowgirlsdontkry.com. My new video is available now. Hope to hear from you. Christa Lynn

Sunday, March 28, 2010

New video release........


New video release coming soon........

finally, its hear. My first video. I have been instructing for 15 years and have hours and hours of video of my horsemanship instruction. I have taken the best of all of my knowledge and have put it in my first video...
I am so jazzed to finally get to show the world what has been in my heart and come through my hands to the horses and students.
Its good guys.....The video is schedule to be online by May 1st.

Thanks for all your support...i have really enjoyed finding such artistic horsewomen through this blog. I am impressed.
Stay Tuned, Christa Lynn

be my friend on facebook. Christa Caudle Schaffer

Friday, March 5, 2010

Dressage in a wheat field......


Ive always been in awh when I see dressage. The highest level of horse training, expressed through horse and rider. I have always ridden western and am a true blue cowgirl, but I still love the elegance and finese of dressage.


When my first colt arrived 18 years ago I noticed very quickly that when he ran and played he had the most beatiful extended trot. He was my first try and crossing a quarter horse with an arabian. I realized that the incredible arab had given him the extended trot.


I raised him a trained him myself, I have to admit he was my ginney pig through all my years of learning to train. He was a great student or maybe i was.

One day I was riding him out in this beautiful wheat field , it was dusk and we were on our way home. Suddenly I noticed his intention began to well up underneath me. He rocked back on to is hind end and lifted his front end and begin to extend his legs so far in front of him they were rising over his shoulders.

I envisioned my self in a Olympic dressage ring flying across the middle, the really neat aspect was he was trying to trot above the wheat field beneath him so it felt like we were flying 3 feet above the ground.

the smile on my face was so big i thing tears of joy ran down my face just to experience the collection and impulsion under me, and that moment I knew that riding through that wheat field was really the moment we are all looking for.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Tell me about your favorite horse......


Tell me about your favorite horse and why???