LS Ranch Naturally

08/31/2026

Hi folks. I wanted to visit a bit more about a pattern that I like to use to set my horse up for the next move. It’s a Counter Bend. Which is similar yet quite different from a Leg Yield. As I explained in this short video clip my counter bend softens my horse, especially his mind, and sets him up for our next active move.

Most horses won’t yield they body in a bend when their mind is tight; so playing with bends regularly helps my horse soften his mind then his body, put his attention on me, and prepare for a transition. I don’t use a counter bend to move laterally because when going somewhere, I like my horse strong and capable. Once again, my counter bend softens my horse and helps him prepare for a transition.

The full video is on my Video Library which is down at this time. Patreon is helping me restore it. Should be up by days end.

Take a look and let me know what you think about it. I’ve been told that most folks have little use for it. I get along well with it.

See you down the trail. Dave

08/20/2026

Hi folks, August has taken off like gang busters.
Jody & I just finished two four-day advanced clinics. First in Norfolk MA at Chris Tobin and Jane Elias’ Trinity Stables with the focus on getting more quality responses from your horse using less pressure. Each day we worked with a different pattern and varying methods to complete the pattern. Everyone experienced a newer level of response and feel, and increased level of confidence.

Jane provided Jody & I with a special treat. On our free day right after the clinic Jane took us to a different facility where 12 folks that we had never met were waiting for a ½ day session learning Pat Parelli’s 7 games. It was great fun for all of us, especially me because I seldom get to teach the very beginning basics to folks who have never played with them before. Everyone was amazed at what they could accomplish in just 3 hours with their horse on-line.

The next day we headed to Caledonia IL to Chrystal Hansen’s Black Diamond Ranch for four days of Horse and Rider Versatility clinic, experimenting with the skills necessary to participate in Working Equitation, Cowboy Dressage, Ranch Versatility, and more. Each day was different from Jody’s great Liberty session to my Ranch Riding mock competition to military quadrilles. Chrystal is in the early stages of developing her facility and it’s already super. We can barely wait to see everyone next year.

07/20/2026

Hey folks, we just finished up 4 wonderful days up in Port Angeles WA at Mary Gallagher and Jerry Schmidt's Freedom Farm.

It was great fun and learning more at the same time. A little different format this time designed to accommodate the riders who could only make it 1 or 2 days. It was pretty interesting when a new one would show up, then be gone and another new one showed up, then was gone. Later one who was here earlier showed up again near the end. Really interesting and fun for me to structure each day as a stand-alone day while actually progressing towards the finale.

The morning sessions were working on becoming more clear to our horses as we asked for a bit more than usual; then in the afternoon we'd let the cows show us how well we did in the morning by yielding and moving in the direction we had in mind.

Oh, and Jerry Schmidt let me ride his newest project which is an absolutely fine mustang. I advised Jerry that if his horse ever went missing, Don't look for him at my place. (ha)
Here are a few photos, Take care and I'll see you down the next trail.

07/14/2026

Hey all you folks up in the great North East Jody and Dave will be at Trinity Stables in Norfolk MA August 7 thru 10.
It's a great place to ride in and the people are wonderful.
Come Rise With Us, You'll have a great time.
https://conta.cc/4bKMqv1

Email from David Ellis Jody Grimm & Dave Ellis in Norfolk MA at Trinity Stables 166 Hemmingway Pl. August 7 thru 10, 2026 Jody Grimm Parelli 4 Star Professional Jody advances her Finesse skills by co

07/05/2026

Hi folks. A pretty neat thing happened here at the LS Ranch last month. A student, Maya Higa, who started riding with me when she was 14, and who helped me with my Patreon video library (actually set the whole thing up) came by with her folks and they spent 2 days visiting with me about Parelli Natural Horsemanship and about some of my horsemanship beginnings.

This is a first for me. I’ve discussed with students and friends about various stages of my horse life; but have never had someone sit down to hear about most of it. And they were videoing the entire time. Jody and I enjoyed their company. Maya and her mom Vicki Had ridden with Jody and I for many years.

Maya has moved on to a very successful life as an “Influencer” (that’s a new one on me) with podcasts and FB posts, and a successful animal sanctuary having started with birds. She has taken the time to assemble a video of her time here and has posted it on You Tube. Most of you have heard bits and pieces of this material; but she put it together in a really nice way.

If you would like to watch the video, it’s at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmBlv4vLqSU

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Maya,
And I’ll see you folks down the road. Dave

06/28/2026

Hi folks, I hope the first few days of summer have been to your liking. I’ll quote a friend of mine, Dave Stamey, of cowboy songs fame. He says,
“The saddle I ride is old but it has served me well
leather like old to***co buffed and smooth
It fits me like a friend with no secrets left to tell”
And so do mine. Over the last few years, I’ve seen that some of my friends (saddles) have gone waiting for someone to do something with them. Some were used back when I had many different kinds of horses to ride and many different challenges to help them with.
All of my saddles are custom made to my specs and were built for varying horses backs. Well that was then and this is now. I’ve settled into two nice saddles that serve me well with my horses and my mule. So, I’ve decided to part with two of my ole friends and make them available to someone who would take them in and cherish them as I have. The particulars for each saddle are in the photo comments along with a suggested price. These two saddles have kept me safe for several years; but they were made so well, and have been cared for so diligently that they have many more years of service in them. Both are “working saddles”, made to withstand the rigors of roping, packing, competing, and having fun.
If you would like more pictures or additional information, please email me at [email protected]. I don’t get along well with FB messenger, so use my email.

Thanks much, see you down the trail. Dave

06/13/2026

Hi folks, I hope you’re enjoying summer weather before it’s summer. It’s 105 here at the ranch today. I just got back from a successful clinic in Buffalo Wyoming. The focus of the clinic was helping your horse with the necessary movements and responses needed for the currently popular recreational equine competitions like Working Equitation, Cowboy Dressage, Ranch Versatility, etc.

While I was there a ranch family that has been riding with Jody & I for many years came again to ride. They initially started with mom and a daughter. Pretty soon the daughter grew up, left home and the next daughter began riding with Jody & I. This daughter is now a junior in high school and a good rider who is working towards becoming a good horseman. The entire family works their ranch from horseback and it shows. Mom and this daughter can really ride and speed is no problem.

Within their daily activities, they came upon a five-year-old Buckskin that was having a tough time of it. Somewhere along the way he got loose from his handler, found a bunch of wire, and tangled himself up. Both back legs were severely cut in many places. The result was that after healing, he was extremely skeptical of anything. People, big movements, loud noises to the point that his owner was going to put him down. Mom suggested that they bring him home to see if the things that they had been learning with Jody & I over the years could help him, and daughter could improve her horsemanship along the way.

They brought him to the clinic for a couple of lessons with me. On the first lesson, it was apparent that he was not very responsive to the daughter. I asked if I could play with him. As usual “NO CAMERA”. The lesson was very western with much jumping, pulling, and excitement. It ended wonderfully. The horse could handle external excitement and learned to look to the human for comfort. It was extremely rewarding for me and all who watched. I asked to play with him the second lesson and this time someone videoed. What was very interesting is that the horse so much changed his attitude toward people that the second lesson was pretty quiet. Still some little things worth watching; but not the big blow up from the first.

The daughter worked with him for the third lesson very successfully, and it’s apparent that they are going to be able to continue on themselves and help this nice horse make it in their world.
Here are a couple of clips from my second session. The entire session is on my library on LSRanchNaturally.com.
You can go directly to the video at https://www.patreon.com/LSRanchNaturally/posts/dave-at-83-still-161013457?collection=750259

I’m looking forward to seeing this nice horse next year at our clinic and seeing how this young lady and her horse are progressing.

I’ll see you down the trail.

05/20/2026

Today my 2 boys, Chase and Boon took the next step into Californio style horsemanship by accepting for the first time a full bridle. Both were very content with the bridle which is a Spade Bit, and went through several patterns that we have been using preparing for this upward transition. Both horses have been in the Spanish Hackamore for many years.

Both horses will be in the “two-Rein” for several more years or until while using only the bridle reins, I don’t need to assist with the bosalito.

My other two mares, Willow and Harmony, have been in the “two-rein” for 3 or 4 years and are currently working with just the bridle rein assisted by an occasional feel on the bosalito.

This process is considered by most bridlemen to be the best path to a truly finished bridle horse. The journey has it’s difficulties; but the end result is an amazingly soft and responsive horse.

Once again, this is the Californio/Great Basin method of developing a bridle horse. There is nothing wrong with the “Texas(?)” style of transitioning through a transition bit from snaffle into the bridle. This builds an “active bit” style horse while the Californio style builds a “signal bit” style of horse. Both are good, I just prefer to follow the Californio journey.

I’m having fun, I hope that you are and I’ll see some of you down the road.

05/14/2026

Hi folks. Couple of weekends ago a group of advanced riders came to LS Ranch and rode with Jody & I under the tutelage of Lester Buckley. We all were earnestly looking to move our horsemanship forward within the 4 days that Lester was here at the ranch.
It was an extremely rewarding clinic with all of us exploring upper-level horsemanship, some for the first time. We played with such maneuvers as haunches-in, shoulder-in, upward and downward transitions maintaining frame, two-tracking, three-tracking, beginning pirouettes. These and more advancing from our current horsemanship capabilities. We all saw much improvement within ourselves and with our friends riding with us. Lester took much care helping with foot-falls, rein positions, leg positions as we learned more each day to set our sights high with our horses.

We all came away with a higher standard of horsemanship, softer horses while maintaining snappy and smooth departures. It gave me the opportunity to improve my Classical Riding skills which I exclusively use with Cowboy Dressage. Can’t wait to do it again.
Here are a few photos.
Take care and I’ll see you down the road.

05/06/2026

Just one month away to get your name into Terry for Dave's energy filled 4 days of Versatile Horsemanship. Dave's promising very little "down time" this year. Lots of things to cover in just 4 days.

https://conta.cc/4ewM0Ld

Email from David Ellis Dave Ellis back in Buffalo WY at at Spear Z Spear arena June 8 thru 12, 2026 for 4 jam packed days Horsemanship Versatility Dave Ellis Parelli 6 Star Professional Dave has been