Purple Reign

 Riding instructor Garry Stauber was joking when he told my 7-year-old granddaughter Adriana that the song "Purple Rain" was written because of the purple reigns she got to use today. We all got a chuckle out of that.

  It is the truth though, that it takes two to tango horse Tango - Addy learned neck-reigning today which is the western-style one-hand control of the horse compared to the English-style two-hand reigning.

 Not all that easy even if you wear red cowgirl boots and dream of being a barrel racer at the California Rodeo Salinas .

Only horses and Garry Staubers stories about the time when he rode from Mexico to Oregon can drag Addy away from her computer Monkey quest games. I am glad she gets to interact with animals outdoors at the DreamPower Horsemanship ranch in Gilroy where taking care of your horse is part of the instruction You take care of your horse even if you are not tall enough yet, to wipe your horse's upper face. At least you have to try as hard as Addy did and then ask for help. DreamPower Horsemanship offers therapeutic riding lessons for at-risk youth, special needs kids, veterans with p.t.s.d. and everyone in between who has to overcome a traumatic experience in the past just like our Addy has. I am so very grateful for this 100% non-profit charity which does not only heal their patients but also is a save haven for rescue horses and a peaceful place for volunteers.