Darlin The Blind Barrel Horse - Rikki Lee Horsemanship

✨ F E E L ✨

“Hey, I’m uncomfortable.” Said no horse ever.
“I don’t trust that whatsoever…” said no horse ever.
“I don’t like YOU.” Said no horse ever.

They say all of this ^^ through physical language. Not vocal. And THAT takes you to ‘feel’ the difference between a career breaking moment vs a learning experience.

The amount of times I’ve had someone curse me a new one by saying “your horse is not for beginners” when they wanted a relaxing horse to ride, is far too many to count.
Some need jobs.
Some need more stimulation.

They’re very similar to kids- I believe.
Some learn slower, some learn faster.
Some need exposure to determine if it’s their career / goal.
Some have it naturally in them.

⭐️Trainers don’t make the horse⭐️
We just uncover what’s already there and share it with those who don’t know how to unveil it.

Sometimes folks get mad, and that’s okay.
Because at the end of the day it’s about the horse.
It’s about feel.
If you be quiet and feel with your horse , you’ll have your answers.
Redemption Ranch - Rikki Lee Horsemanship

Darlin The Blind Barrel Horse - Rikki Lee Horsemanship

Ft. Darlin my blind horse below in GA

🌻 DARLIN 🌻

Miss darlin has her first debut in the stateline arena series in GA this past Tuesday.
We are riding in the buckle series, no longer seasoning! Very proud of her.

I rarely ever get nervous or anxious, but for some reason this round I was. I kept feeling the overwhelming feeling of every time we got started, something happened to prevent her from running; health issues, injury, etc.

But as she ran with no fear, I felt the subtle reminder of “walk by faith not by sight”, if this mare can have this much confidence- surely I can!

I love you miss darlin ❤️
Cheers to a whopping 30 seconds recorded hahhahaha she was in low 20’s last year. First actual run since winter, so I’m not complaining. It was clean, controlled, and technically savvy!

Glory to God!!

🏅 Testimony > Test 🏅

The 2024 season is approaching, and many have already started.
Some are having to restructure so many things last minute.
Others, don’t have the horse they thought they’d have this season for whatever the reason.

Wherever you’re at starting this season, remember why you started.
Remember where you used to be.

It’s easy to sit down and over analyze the issues at hand, the “why is this happening”…. Trust me. I know.

Every season I have a truck issue, a horse issue, or trailer preventing me from doing it. It’s so incredibly defeating to work so hard to only have something happen to prevent me from doing what I love.

The devil only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The Lord comes to give life.
John 10:10-29

Keep your chin up, breath, and remember why you began the race. 🫶🏼

-Walk by faith-

If I had listened to others, she wouldn't be here.
If I had listened to others, I wouldn't be here.

We both fought for life.

I believe we all have horses or a horse in our life who has touched our very soul... so much that they have given us life.

This mare and I will be traveling to Shelbyville, TN at the end of the month to speak on my horsemanship Redemption Ranch - Rikki Lee Horsemanship as well as share how God has truly touched my life through this blind horse at the amazing American Mule Bluegrass Festival 2022

I was invited to be a clinician and to speak--that blew me away, as this is my second year to be an invited Clinician at an event.
Glory to God.

My clinic will be titled "Ride By Faith, not by sight" based on Darlin the Blind Barrel Horse.... Because she has and will continue to touch so many lives.

This horse has had SO many views tossed her way, claims such as 'she is a waste of life', 'that's inhumane to keep a blind horse riding', etc.... but anyone who has met this horse or who sees her run knows she has a passion for what she does - she LOVES to work....

I have had many jabs, and still do by other professionals, people, etc... but keep going, because this is what I love. this is my passion. But I will be going a different route as of next year, but continue to work with the public- on a different scale. I will be pursuing my barrel career with my horses (codi and darlin) and my team.
God is so good, and I am so blessed.

I continue to walk by faith , not by sight. I know who holds the reins of my life. Just as Darlin knows who holds her reins.

I am so blessed, and grateful. ❤

Darlin The Blind Barrel Horse - Rikki Lee Horsemanship See less

🌻 Meet Billie Jean Dream "Darlin" 🌻

Darlin is celebrating her 12th birthday this year. She was sadly kicked in the head as a yearling by her mother, according to the first owner. She was then put from home to home and found herself at a rescue. I got her at a BS of 1, the vet told me "don't get attached, she wont make it". The horse who came in with her passed away from undernourishment 3 days after arrival. But, she survived.

She recovered and healed and so began our training!

I noticed she wanted to please, she wanted to do something with her life.
She was truly the most wonderful horse to ever train, the trust was remarkable!
And unreal.

I took around a barrel pattern once at a trot, and she fell right onto it... like she saw it. But instead she felt it.

Darlin took to the pattern naturally, because she is from world champion bloodlines. YES! You heard that right. She is the last daughter of the world champ barrel horse sire "HESA GAY DREAMER" and dam "MITO ZERO QUEEN" . It's in her blood!

Sadly, she got diagnosed with EPM in 2020, and it took the life out of her. The percentage of her ever riding again were slim to none, and the chance of her not making it was there. My goal was to get her healthy, regardless of riding.
2 years later, she has overcame EPM and is back at it! truly a miracle that only God could do.

Glory to God!

This 2022 season, we are doing exhibitions and getting out feet wet in the show ring.
We hope to inspire many to never give up and to always walk by faith, not by sight. Because God is holding your reins to your life, and all you need to do is trust him.

Darlin The Blind Barrel Horse - Rikki Lee Horsemanship updated their website address.

Stella

She has truly touched many hearts over the past year, and to some it's just incredible to simply touch her.

Tonight I saw my student want to pet Stella, and it made my heart melt. Here's why.....

This mare is wild. Period.

Not wild from the wilderness.... but wild as in truly her own being. She truly trots to the beat of her own drum.

For that I admire her.

Now, some days she is easy to catch. Others I have to run her into the small corral and then work her and catch her. Today I laughed and said, "Stella, you'll always be wild at heart, worn't you?" s she runs by me and bucks. Moments later I walk up, throw the lead over, halter, and lead her into the stall.

And you know what? That's okay. She's a young 7 yr old mustang who's been through legit hell and back.
She may always be this way, but that's okay. Because that is who she is. Some horses you can work through this, but others it is who they are.
Period.

She is a one eyed wild child who is the true idol of Boss Mare.

And she continues to touch the lives of many even if she isn't rode or doing fancy foot work.

I am truly leaving it in the 'hooves' of Stella.
And so far, she's simply loving her life and simply being a horse who is cared for, touching the lives of my barn, and sharing her story to the world.

God bless you Stella!!

🔹 The Faith to simply move forward 🔹

The blind horse has never seen me... yet she trusts me 100% with the direction I point her in.
Why is it so challenging for us to trust God, one we have not seen with our own eyes, when He tries to direct us in a direction?

Take note from a blind horse.

Darlin has been getting back into work, and boy is it making me feel SO good. I honestly get rather emotional every time I leg up on her, because I always look back to last year when she had a percentage of not surviving EPM... Let alone even be rode again.

So each time I ride her now, I cherish it.

Working on the lope and refining it on a fully blind horse is challenging. She tends to want to just GO- why? Because she trusts me. When I say "go", she does not hesitate. Oh, the trust...

There is a message within this...

To have faith to move forward.

Moving forward without fear is something we humans lack greatly. And a message I have found the blind horse teaches well. You see, we like to see what lies ahead before we make a move.. and especially before we take off running.

We hold the reins with our horse.
God holds the reins to our lives.

Why is it SO challenging for us to trust in Him when He says, "Go." ? Blame it on our past, blame it on our instincts, or blame it on our lack of trust. Whatever we blame it on, take note from a blind horse.

A horse is prey. They constantly observe what could kill them- literally. So to have their major source of survival removed is truly mentally altering. But then to trust someone they've never even SEEN TO GUIDE THEIR LIFE.... now that's trust.

I have proven to Darlin that I can take care of her care, so she trusts.
I have proven to Darlin that I can guide her safley through obstacles, so she does not hesitate.
I have proven to Darlin that I can provided security to her, so she is calm in scary times.

God has proven to me that He does take of me, so I choose to trust him.
God has proven to guide me safely during trials in my own life, so I choose to not hesitate.
God has proven to be my security during scary times in my life, so I choose to relax when the waves come crashing in.

Take note from a Blind horse.
It just may help you 'see' life a bit more clear....

-Rikki Lee -

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸

Freedom is never simply given. Sacrifice must be given.

Thank you to all who’s served and to those who didn’t make it back in the battle for freedom.

Thank you to those who are still serving 🙏🏼

God bless America!

📸: Rikki Lee Photography

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."
-Albert Einstein

We all have problems, but what we do W I T H with the problems is ultimately up to us;

A. Use the same thinking when we created the problem
B. Change our thinking and find a way to fix it, vs feed it

What you don't feed dies.
What you feed thrives.

Remember that.

🔹 A P O L L O C R E E D 🔹

“I walked away from my grave. I was supposed to lay there to rest, but instead I left an empty grave behind as I ran to my found life.”

If you have the slightest amount of fight in you, then you CAN overcome.

Apollo Creed is my 13 year old Fresiain X gelding. I got a call from a rescue in Indiana In regards to a feral blind horse back in 2017. So, my sister and I drove up and picked this guy up. He looked okay, wasn’t horribly underweight. And we managed to catch him and load him up.

This gelding was SO afraid at first, he kicked me (and got me) several
Times, wouldn’t allow us to touch him, and was not halter broke by any means.

After a few short months, I was able to gain his trust with showing him he can trust us during his ERU flare ups (being blind) for survival and shelter. That was what really helped.

After a few years, he was thriving as a blind horse (when he was).

Then in 2019, his world flipped. He lost his seeing eye horse... well, both. His dearest friend Savvy passed away unexpectedly from her age. Then, his other best friend last away from age. Both mares passed away within a week of one another.

He grieved.
He gave up.

He lost all of his weight, had no life in him... I tried for one year. I tried. I worked with a few vets, nutritionists, attempting to gain his weight- but he refused.

And then he went completely blind last spring. Permanently.

That’s when things changed.

My vet recommended he be put down.
And for the well being of Apollo, I had to.

I had his grave dug, I had flowers ready to rest on his grave... I went down to spend time with him, and that morning he called out to me for the first since he lost his two girls. I slid his blanket off, and his coat was darker. His eyes has fire.

He wasn’t done fighting.

So, I said “no. I can’t let you go.”
I walked him to the grave that was awaiting for him, and we both said “Not today”. And the two of us walked away.

He then took off RUNNING for the first time after his girlfriend Darlin.

This gelding is thriving, folks.
Thriving.

His confidence is there, he is ready for the next steps.

It’s been a LONG PROCESS taming a feral ERU horse and dealing with grieving alll at once.

He will be started under saddle this summer 😁

Be proud of this guy.
He is a walking testimony that if you have the slightest amount of FIGHT in you.... you can overcome .

I am very excited to say I am now booking clients ☺️

Offsite and onsite training available for you and your equine friend.

30-90 day training available for problem solving, c**t starting, and bind horsemanship to assist with your horse(s) nee life as partially blind or fully blind.

Booking now for the 2021 year

🔹 The Impossible | Training Pain Out Of A Horse 🔹

This collage speaks- no- screams volumes.

Because the left (first photo) is this little mustang being lead out of her stall for the first time by a halter since arriving. She was SO reactive. The moment you'd touch her she would tremble and shoot away. Though, with training, she did progress greatly with being calm and understanding... however something was still just not all there. A part of me thought perhaps there was just too much physical abuse to her that it was going to take far longer than the time given in the challenge.

Many people have stories of Stella the Mustang, being so scared and timid. During her time in my program she was able to be easily caught, groomed, loved, etc. But certain things just wouldn't click for some reason.

In December, just 8 months of having her here, her eye literally blew out from an ulcer suspected to be caused by blunt trauma to the head.

She lost her eye due to it.

WHICH.... in turn.... made her behavior change. She wasn't as reactive, she was MORE willing than ever, and truly calm.

I was shocked.

The ulcer was actually causing pressure within her socket, so naturally it was painful. No one knew until it was too late. So naturally, the pressure / pain is gone- and shes more willing.

Though we've had some struggles re learning, it's been far easier.

A GREAT reminder that you cannot train pain out of a horse.

They are the way they are for a REASON....

Its our obligation as horsemen and women to listen and try to figure out 'why'.

I have several videos to upload in regards to Stella the mustang!
She is such a great teacher to all and has truly helped me in my horsemanship journey.

Oh, the right photo (last) was just a few months ago :) you see her willing on a loose lead in the outdoor arena.

⚜Where it all began ⚜

Back in 2011, I was a young whipper-snapper taking in all the education I could take in.... Horsemanship.

I had one horse at that time, then we looked for a horse for my sister- which we bought ourselves as young girls. We came across a small Polish Arabian who was around 7 years old. The woman's words were "aggressive horse". She was asking close to $800. Well, at that time I had a really nice saddle... we went to go look at this mare, and I noticed several things that were wrong in this situation; the bit was way too loose, the saddle did not fit, the horse was all wound up- etc. This mare was rearing, pretty scattered. I looked to Katie, my sister, and said "This is a good horse... let's get her."
"Oh, and by the way," The woman says- "She's blind in one eye."

We brought her to the place we boarded and this mare was nothing but a gentle horse. Truly.

Karona, was her name. We then studied the breed and realized how close nit these Arabians can be with their people. This mare then became apart of our family, truly close.

I trained her for novice barrels, free reining, and working ranch.

We rode bridless not just in the ring, but outside the ring.

She opened my eyes (ironic) to the need of horsemanship in the blind horse field in the industry.

At that time I was still growing a horsewoman, so searching for a totally blind horse was not in the equation.... God decided when that time were to come.

Thank you, Karona, for starting this fire in me. Even though you were not a totally blind horse, you opened my eyes to the need for education for both the horse and human in the blind horse aspect of the industry.

- Rikki Lee-

HELLO again! :D
Thank you for your continuous support and love!

Here's a little message I'd like to share to get things rolling on here:

Specializing in working with partially blind, fully blind, and going blind horses from feral to completely broke and transitioning into a new life of blindness / partially blindness.

I have worked with blind horses since 2014, rescuing my very first fully blind horse at a BS of 1, and not only rehabilitating her- but training her from the ground up was the most rewarding and educational experience I've ever had.

Now, I own 2 fully blind horses, and a one eyed mustang (in the photo). I have worked with multiple horses with lack of vision from rescues to clientele.

I am so excited to be back on this!

I have received quite a lot of emails and calls in regards to blind horse(s), and I am seeing the need again. With my move it had set me back. However, now I am able to offer it to the public again.

Thank you for your support and continuous love for these blind horses!

-Rikki Lee

Good morning

The Blind Horse
By Rikki Russell


WOW. 2019 has been just insane with moving, settling, building, and growing with my husband and I's business here at the Ranch, and honestly we are just getting started!

I want to take a moment to talk about just the blind horse...
Now, I am working on video that'll do a lot more explaining than this post - but for now I'll hit the basic points.

- GOING BLIND; Some owners have the gift of helping their horse transition into their new life of being blind. In some cases we truly cannot help the horse, and are forced to make the 'right choice' for the horses well being. In other cases, the horse takes a few bumps into the wall, changes in the herd, then ta daaaa, they are just fine.

- BLIND; Some cases some horses have already gone blind and are simply on their new path / career. Allowing us to assist and direct.

In ALL cases, you'll find that there are hiccups and bumps in the road. Especially when it comes to weight.
When horses get injured or stressed, they do tend to drop weight or have weight fluctuations. Typically they will use nutrients towards the injured location; thus the weight fluctuates.
Now we have had our fare share of seeing stress in many shapes and forms here. From moving to horse(s) going blind, to a herd bully to losing a beloved pasture mate who was the glue to the herd...

Miss Darlin, my 100% blind mare below, had gone through some very challenging times this year. But with those challenges, came strength. As did Apollo.

Darlin is pastured 24/7. As you can see she is trucking along down in the field. this photo was of a few months ago.
We are very very thrilled with the progress that Darlin and Apollo have shown over the Summer. It was looking rather sad for Apollo with his grieving over Savvy, but he has blossomed greatly.

-

🙏🏼

Good morning!

It has been a while since I have posted or been active on here.
Ya'll know I am human, everyone is (hah!), and I like to talk personally on here sometimes because horses show us how to better ourselves and remind us of what trust and strength truly is.
With that being said, this year has been full of ups and downs for the ranch. More ups than anything. However, we've been working on building, getting paper work in order, and figuring out what needs to happen with the herd.

I will be working on a video this week to further explain the future goals, what is going on with the blind horses we have here, and their individual stories.

Thank you for your patience, thank you for your support.
This year has been full of ups and a handful of downs. But way more ups. :)

The two horses below are Darlin on the left and Apollo on the right.
Both went through a VERY challenging time this past winter / summer grieving over their best friend, health, and even herd bullying.
I have documented the work and am very thrilled to explain all that has happened because it will be educational to you all and hopefully give you hope for your horse(s).

Thanks again!

-Rikki Russell

Today is a new day!
A new beginning.
So, let’s take a deep breath, and start again 😁🙏🏼

**UPDATE**

Hello SR Blind horsemanship followers! I am sorry for stepping back and not posting / communicating.
We have been battling the flu ontop of everything else happening here...

I had lost my grandmother, which hit me very hard. It was not easy to go through.
Then, we lost two of our beloved senior mares weeks apart due to the harsh winter. They were VERY old, both more than likely in their 30's, and not able to sustain with the weather. It was very very hard on us.
Then, another family pet passed on.

so please forgive me for not being active. I apologize for those who've been awaiting my assistance- I WILL contact you. I have pulled through, and am stronger now and ready to move forward.

So, onto new better / brighter days!
We will continue Apollo's journey this week as he is doing AMAZING!

Super thrilled to share his journey.
Thanks, and God bless!

A small leave of absence.

I apologize for not posting much regarding our blind horses here. It has been a bit of a rough month in March of losses.
My grandmother, our family dog, my sisters senior mare "Savvy", and unfortunately this past Friday we had to say an unexpected goodbye to our beloved senior rescue named June.

She laid down and was too weak to get back up on her own. She was closer to 30 from what we have found out, and she did not come out of winter strong.

So please send prayers our way as we grieve over the countless losses we have faced in March.

I will be back on this page tomorrow to up date Apollo's journey and Mouse.

Thank you.

🎊🎈🎉🐎🥂🥂

Sir, Apollo.

Where is he now?

We've taken quite the long pause here over the winter. Due to us moving, we had to let our herd just adapt to the new place while we made it efficient out here for us to even have the horses onsite.

with that, came a few challenges with a few horses.. Apollo as one.
He's been blind for 6 months total. He did great at the old place, then once we moved I noticed things got a bit worrisome for him. We have cows right next door which was a different smell and noise for him. Not only that, but we had a huge blind horse here who was extremely insecure and pushed Apollo off of his beloved Darlin, leaving him to find security in a different horse. Apollo's world got flipped upside down... causing him to really be a nervous nelly.

So, it's time to take action. Life happens, folks. It does. Moving happened faster than we anticipated, but we are sure glad we did.

Apollo is showing very common signs of a horse who's insecure without vision right now. So, instead of working him just myself, I am going to document him from his current state to - well- wherever we end up. Because these are common signs that people will experience with their own horse, so I may be able to help by doing this.

The goal is to help him gain confidence as a horse and confident with me. To hopefully encourage his chances of finding his forever home....

I have 'episode 1' of the journey we will have with mister Apollo. :) Will be posted hopefully today!

Stay tuned.