When I bought Barbie, my eleven-year old Arabian mare, I didn't know what I was getting into.  I'd been riding Arabian horses for 12 years, but this was a problem I couldn't crack.  I didn't think she was a mean horse, but she was so frightened of things that she could be a dangerous animal.  After one ride Mylessa not only confirmed my basic beliefs about the horse, she was able to get her past one of her major obstacles: the trail to the right of the gate.  "I can work with this horse," she said softly but confidently. 

 

Mylessa worked with my mare for one month.  People who watched them in the arena and on the trail commented on how beatifully they moved together.  When I watched her ride I knew two things: first, the horse was worth keeping; second, Mylessa was one hell of a horse woman.  The next month she worked on my riding.  It was almost like starting all over again.  Mylessa's approach with her horses is firm but gentle.  Occasionally she can be a bit of a drill sergeant with her clients, but it's a drill worth going through if you are serious about horsemanship.  Mylessa is also very positive with her people.  She has an uplifting spirit and is a real confidence builder.  Thanks to her I am finding my seat, learning to use my hands correctly and learning to understand my horse. 

 

In the same manner that she often applauds a client's successes, I say, "Yeah, Mylessa!"

 

Frank Nastasi, at L-Bar-S Ranch