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Spanish Mustang: Dasco Duo Rides Wild River

The Dasco Duo, me and my co-worker, took our horses to Wild River State Park for a beautiful 8.4 mile ride through rolling meadows dotted with wild flowers and fluttering butterflies, along the St. Croix river, over bridges, and through mature woods accompanied by songbirds (and hordes of the Minnesota state bird-mosquitoes!).

Indy boldly blazes the trail.

It was fun to ride over two bridges my Dad had designed when he worked for the DNR.

We spotted two deer (or one deer we saw twice). Had we been close enough to label it we would have known for sure!

The Dasco Duo field testing the Brady BMP71 trail marking system.
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Spanish Mustang: Indy’s First Commercial

By Jennifer Klitzke

Mid-life crisis hits Jennifer and Kristin, two middle-aged Dasco employees, and they both buy horses to relive their fond memories of decades gone by as trail guides.

Dasco employees Jennifer and Kristin head out for their first trail ride with their new boys.

It didn’t take long before their husbands began to complain about the growing expenses, so they brainstorm ways to make horses more affordable,”Hmmmm, what if we sport our Dasco shirts, maybe Ken (Dasco’s owner/CEO) will sponsor our horse events?”

“Yes, and let’s bring along Dasco Label’s portable Brady BMP21 label printer and create serialized labels to mark our trail!”

“Genius!” Kristin exclaims, “Yes, Brady’s durable and long-lasting thermal transfer labels will surely hold to the rocks along our path and remain affixed even in the hot sun, rain, and wind. Imagine how these labels will perform on your cables, wires, lab samples, parts, products and electronic components!”

Kristin’s addicted to Whiskey (her Arab/QH gelding).

After two glorious hours riding through a mature pine forest, Jennifer said, “Yes, we only got lost once, yet thanks to Dasco Label’s Brady BMP21 trail marking system, we found our way back to the trailer!”

Jennifer loves riding her 2006 Mustang (horse that is)! Sorry Kevin.the.crazy.co-worker.who.prefers.a.four-wheel.model. If you haven’t been acquainted with Kevin one of Dasco’s solution consultants, give him a call toll-free at 1-877-855-2235. Working with Kevin is a hoot!

Relieved, horses Whiskey and Indy thought, “Thanks to Dasco Label’s Brady BMP21 trail marking system, we could have been toting those horse-crazy ladies around all day!”

Buy yours today! The Brady BMP21 is even on sale through July 31, 2012.

http://www.dascolabel.com/showproduct.aspx?productid=16774

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Spanish Mustang: Indy’s First Dressage Show

Riding Indian’s Legend at Walker’s Triple R schooling dressage show.

Last week I was horsin’ around with my TWH mare at the Minnesota Horse Expo, this week was Indy’s turn. I took him to his first dressage show at Walker’s Triple R. We were lucky to get a break between monsoons for the show, but the show was moved indoors due to the lake-sized puddle covering a quarter of the outdoor arena!

Indy didn’t get rattled with the mirrors that reflected his handsome stature. Maybe he felt like he had company in the indoor. The footing was perfect and the walls held us in from bulging through that left shoulder!

I was so proud of Indy. He took first place in Intro A and B with scores of 67.5% and second in Intro C with a score of 59%. He could have won that one too if he had taken his right canter lead!

Everyone loved him including the judge who wrote, “Super horse, nice job allowing him to find his balance and use himself. Great potential to move on.”

The judge commented to me in passing, “You’re going to have a blast with this horse!” Another riding instructor with her student said, “You will have a tremendous horse once he gets more experiences.”

It felt good to get confirming feedback from like-minded people. I see Indy’s talent too, and in the two months I’ve had him, I’m already having a blast!

 

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Spanish Mustang: Progression to First Fence

Last week, we began with cavaletti spaced four feet apart.

First we walked over the pile of cavalettis.

Then we trotted over a pile of cavalettis and I encouraged Indy to canter afterward. He had some difficulty taking this lead and the cavalettis have really helped.

Canter over the cavalettis.

We did this in both directions.

This week, we proceeded to ground rails and an “x.”
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Spanish Mustang: Indy’s New Home

By Jennifer Klitzke

It was love at first sight! The first time I saw Indy, I just had a feeling it was meant to be. Indy is beautiful, smart, sturdy, athletic, friendly and fun. He’s a five-year-old Spanish Mustang who has hundreds of trail miles under his belt with Stephanie, his previous owner. Indy was professionally trained by Gary Kuopala (gkhorsetraining.webs.com). I’m looking forward to our adventures together with Indy.

Our first trail ride with Indy.

My husband and I picked up Indy and took him on his four-hour ride to his new home. He trailered calmly and quietly. Within his first week, he transitioned well with the new routine and made friends with the other horses. We’ve ridden Indy nearly every day since the first day we brought him to his new home. In his first week, Indy took two trail rides, worked and rode him in a round pen, over cavalettis, a small jump, and we also in the large arena.

Indy is getting used to a new language of dressage. We are riding him from the inside leg to the outside rein and keeping him between our aids. Indy is a smart boy and learns quickly. Our first week of riding, we have been working on turning, rhythm, and riding on a light snaffle contact. At times he leans on the bit, so I just lengthen my contact so there is nothing for him to lean against.

I love how round Indy’s frame is!