Our own Jake Shoemark started AR Snowy River Chex (Buddy), John Baar rode AR Ill Be Moonstruck (Jane), while James Roberts was aboard AR Colonelslildate (Harriet).  Kalley Krickeberg was on AR Sanabelle Chex (Dawn) while Berin MacFarlane started AR Litas Shirley (Leila).  All these athletic, young horse specialists did an outstanding job!  We couldn’t have asked for a better start under saddle.  The horses were well prepared through our preschool program & ready for the next step in their young lives. 

More in next month’s Newsletter about the fabulous partnerships that evolved as a result of this event.  All the AR two-year-olds we brought went home with students & professionals from far & wide — California, Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio & Texas!  Congratulation to the new owners & to these AR horses.

AR Nellie Rey Cat

We are thrilled to offer our best pricing ever for the month of May!!!  Yearlings & two-year-olds, as well as any three-year-olds & up are all 25% OFF FOR THE MONTH OF MAY ONLY!  Wow!!!  Deposit & payment must be made, purchase agreement signed & delivery arranged my month’s end.  Take advantage of this incentive now, as all the Atwood Ranch horses who participated in the Colt Starting Naturally event sold on the spot!

photo by Jo Danehy

The Colt Starting Naturally event is coming to Ft. Worth, TX the weekend of May 6-8th.  Atwood Ranch two-year-olds will be participating in the event, as well as being previewed during the breaks in the main arena.  Come see the difference between ranch raised horses with little human contact and those who have been handled with the Parelli Pre-Saddle Training.  All the horses we bring will be available for sale at the event, so don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.  Rarely do we have such a selection of young riding horses who have had the benefit of our yearling preschool and now a natural start under saddle.  Special pricing will apply on these horses only at this unique event.  Get your tickets at www.parelli.com .

Atwood Ranch, nestled in the northern California hills, is looking for individuals experienced in horse health & reproduction to join our progressive team.  We place great attention to detail in all aspects of our operation and are looking for those with the same mindset.  Level 2/3 horsemanship is required, along with knowledge of health care and a strong work ethic.  These team members are involved in herd health & maintenance, foaling out, reproduction, feeding/nutrition and mare & foal handling under the guidance of our veterinarian and horse developer. 

Apprenticeship positions are also available under Jake Shoemark, Head of Horse Development.  Level 3/4 horsemanship is required, along with a strong interest in young horse development.  These individuals are primarily involved in foal early learning & the development of yearlings through our Parelli Pre-School Program under Jake’s guidance.  This role also includes the Parelli education of our broodmares & some stallion handling, as well as ranch gelding maintenance & occasional participation in colt starting.

This is a unique opportunity to be involved with the only Parelli sponsored breeding and young horse development program in the world.  Qualified applicants can email their resume, letter of interest, letter of recommendation from a Parelli Professional and short horsemanship video link to info@atwoodranchnaturally.com .

photo by Jo Danehy

To date we have 18 foals on the ground with plenty more to come!  Each is imprinted at birth and early learning starts the morning after.  With Jake’s guidance, we have a progressive foal development task list which keeps the foals on track and progressing each week.  It’s a wonderful time of year here at the ranch and visitors are always welcomed.  Visit us on Facebook under “Atwood Ranch” (the “Atwood Ranch Naturally” page is inactive) to see photos, stories and videos of the new foals.

Several wonderful partnerships have occurred as of our last posting!

AR One Especial Time

Carol & Linda Arledge of Winters, TX purchased AR One Especial Time, aka Blue. Blue had been through our preschool program then had gone on to David & Jody Ellises ranch to be started under saddle. Carol & Linda love to ride and work on their family’s 5th generation ranch.

AR Ill Be Powderific

AR Scootin Sassy

AR Scootin Sassy has the perfect new partner in Catie Casentini of Wilton, CA. Sassy went on after preschool to be started under saddle by Maurice Thibault, then on to Cezanne DeCristoforo who had the perfect student for her. Catie loves to trail ride with her family and appreciates Sassy’s calm demeanor.

AR Powder River Smoker

Randy & Cindy Harris, Tara & Trevor Carter’s parents, recently purchased four Atwood Ranch broodmares to expand their herd. All four are in foal so Spring will bring some beautiful new Atwood bred foals to their pastures!

AR London Skyline

Parelli Professionals Peter Fuller & Chris Cook recently partnered on a 2010 gelding named AR London Skyline, a Mr Skyline Peppy offspring. Their plan is after his completion of our preschool program, they’ll start him as a two-year-old with the hope of developing a reined cowhorse prospect for the future.

Plus, we are in the process of adding all the Atwood Ranch young horses to our wall.  Each horse has a page of his/her own with a bio, statistics, photos and progress reports that Jake and the Development Team will be adding each week.  You can select your favorites and follow along with their development.  It’s a work in progress and thanks to the team at Parelli Central for helping us get this up and running. 

Visit www.parelliconnect.com