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For Sale Foals Mares Coming Foals

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Pony buyers interested in the Pony Pro program should know that our ponies will remain at Mt. Dragon Pony Acres in Joseph, OR until sold, at which point, our hauler will transport them to Bend, Oregon to take part in the program. Here in Joseph, we have approximately 30 ponies available to be started under saddle, along with a handful of trained ponies. Take a look below to see Kali's thoughts on good training and to find out what you can expect from an Evans Pony, should you be interested in having a pony started in conjunction with purchase.

Our trainer, Kali Vanagas (Kay-lee Van-ah-giss) is located in Bend, Oregon. Kali graduated summa cum laude from OSU-Cascades with a 4.0 and is certified by the Positive Coaching Alliance. She’s an active member of the USEF, USHJ, WPCSA, and ANNH. She’s currently working on two books- one on games for kids and ponies and another on equine facial expressions. Kali began training for Evans Welsh Ponies in May 2007. She has both started colts specifically for our farm and for buyers. Kali does an outstanding job working with kids and ponies of all ages and is especially good at helping moms and daughters enjoy the pony dream together. Kali’s business, Pony Pros, and Evans Welsh Ponies are teaming up to offer prospective buyers a pony pony purchase package that will guide them through the most daunting steps of pony ownership. As part of her Pony Pro program, Kali will meet with you to help you decide which pony will best meet your goals, go with you to pick out tack for your new pony, recommend books and DVDs to help you feel more confident about your pony knowledge, and offer her continued involvement as a riding instructor/trainer. “I want buyers to feel like they are supported throughout the purchase process, as well as after their pony arrives,” she says.  Kali’s program is designed to keep a complicated transition into ownership from overshadowing the excitement of finding your new best friend. At Mt. Dragon Pony Acres, we have approximately 30 ponies available to be started under saddle, along with a handful of trained ponies. Take a look below to see Kali’s thoughts on good training and to find out what you can expect from an Evans Pony, should you be interested in having a pony started in conjunction with purchase. Kali feels that a “well-trained” horse or pony, is a pony that… Is easy to catch because she meets you at the gate Is a pleasure to groom because she likes to be loved on Has good “draw,” or wants to be with people Likes treats but won’t take your hand off Bathes, clips, and hauls without issue Will turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, leg yield, sidepass, back up, shoulder in, shoulder out, two track, and counter bend, both on the ground and under saddle Will do everything on a lungeline that a horse should do under saddle, including transitions between the gaits, changing direction, navigating obstacles, and halting Requires only a snaffle bit or halter to ride Has a soft mouth and sides Can be ridden bareback Has cruise control, ie., keeps a steady pace Will halt from a canter and canter from a halt Understands neck reining and direct reining Can go on the bit or on a loose rein and always have a soft feel Understands how to round her back, lift the front end, and step under with the hind legs Understands hand cues, leg cues, weight cues, seat cues, and voice cues given singularly or in conjunction with one another Does flying lead changes without rushing or crossfiring Is easy to collect and extend Doesn’t mind being ridden sitting, in two point, or without stirrups Does not become over-stimulated or agitated by fast work Can be ridden all day or multiple times in a day with a good attitude Is safe at home, on the trail, and at shows In regards to jumping- doesn’t rush, doesn’t refuse, doesn’t run out, when given a fair chance Is fun and safe for all levels of rider A pony started by Kali will be introduced to many of the tasks listed above and will have the motivation and direction to continue its training in any riding discipline. Contact Mt. Dragon Pony Acres for more information on purchasing a pony to be started or trained and finished by Kali Vanagas. Kali has been horseback riding since age 7 and competed on the “A” circuit in hunter/jumpers. She strongly believes that coaching for both horses and people should be a positive, character building experience. “Building character means helping others to access their innate gifts using guided discovery. Dictatorial instruction is outdated an ineffective,” she says. Kali operates with the double-goal of excellence in the sport and the development of life skills. “I’m not the type of trainer who yacks and yacks at the rider or continually nags at the horse,” she says. “My goal is really to teach horse and rider to learn from each other to such an extent that my job becomes obsolete.” Kali began specializing in ponies in 2004 because she loves ponies’ sense of humor, their self-esteem, and their unwillingness to be intimidated into work. “Working with ponies is a lot like working with Mustangs or mules,” she says. “They only work with you if they feel there is something in it for them. You have to be honest, fair, and, above all, creative.” Kali has been fortunate enough to work with many different pony breeds over the years and loves the Welsh breed because of their athleticism, love of children, and innate ability to read body language. Kali puts a lot of emphasis on “bombproofing,” or building the pony’s confidence. She tries to introduce the horses she works with to at least one new thing every day. “I feel that a confident, fun to ride horse should be able to cross bridges, wade through water, walk through ditches, jump logs, walk under low branches, walk across tarps, and put up with all kinds of loud, quick-moving things like sheet metal and plastic bags,” she says. “I truly believe that the time you spend helping horses overcome their fears is time spent building communication and camaraderie, which will make the horse more responsive to your leadership under saddle." Kali prides herself on being a natural horsemanship performance horse trainer. Growing up in the hunt/jump world, Kali says, she found that there had been much less attention to studies in horse behavior than there has been in other disciplines. Kali is working to demonstrate that natural horsemanship is not just for Sunday riders; it can give competitors a big hand up in the show ring. “Horses who work with humans because it is fun and rewarding perform better in all areas of life, whether trail riding, driving, showing, or gaming,” she says. The way Kali trains involves an amalgamation of methods gleaned from previous horseback riding instructors and methods developed by researching the work of world-renown trainers like John Lyons, Buck Brannaman, Richard Shrake, Montry Roberts, Clinton Anderson, and Pat and Linda Parelli. In her recent years, Kali developed a love of all riding disciplines from Western Pleasure to Dressage. Her main focus is not on a specific training regime or riding discipline, but on finding the method that is simplest for each individual horse to understand and makes the horse excited to go to work each day. “Everything I do is centered around trying to have fun with the horse and trying to make the horse give me its all,” she says. Even though she grew up riding hunter/jumpers, Kali feels that a good horse should be a good horse no matter what saddle is on it, and, equally important, is the fact that a good rider is a good rider no matter what saddle they are riding in. Kali likes to ride both English and Western at shows and on the trail. She often rides bareback and bridleless as a means of challenging the horse’s calmness and responsiveness at the same time, while also allowing her to focus on training weight aids. “Riding bareback or bridleless, or even doing both at the same time, allows you to view your training for what it really is. If you’re doing a good job with the training, riding bareback and bridleless is an amazingly liberating experience. It’s the ultimate test of horse-human communication.” “I’m looking forward to many years with the Evans Welsh Ponies,” Kali says. “They’re such gentle, talented, quick-learning ponies. I feel lucky to be their trainer and I hope that anyone purchasing an Evans pony with my training feels very fortunate to have a fancy pony with a good start.” Evans Pony Package Details * Pony Pros will assist students with finding the perfect pony, having their pony delivered, getting insurance, fitting tack, and getting their pony settled in in its new home * Students commit to 12 weeks/3 months of lessons to help them get a safe start with their pony Initially students take 3-4 lessons per week * Lessons gradually fade out to increase students’ independence and self-reliance * As lessons fade out, we phase in use of our online forum and homestudy materials to increase our students’ self-directed learning * At the end of the program, students and ponies may continue with Pony Pros or choose a new training program   Contact Kali for more info on the Evans Pony Purchase Package.

These ponies and more are currently available to be started by Kali Vanagas!

"Sam" (see below video & slideshow) 2002 Section B Welsh Pony Gelding $2,500	Evans Saxon 2006 Section B Welsh Gelding $2,500	Evans Ambrose 2006 Section B Welsh Gelding $2,500
Evans Warwick 2006 Section B Welsh Gelding $2,500	Evans Darby 2006 Section B Welsh Gelding $2,500	Evans Armand 2006 Section B Welsh Gelding $2,500
Evans Domenico 2006 Section B Welsh Gelding $2,500	Alder Forget Me Knot Section B Roan Welsh Mare $5,000	Darby Black bay New Forest/TB cross mare

View Sam's YouTube Video	View Sam's Slideshow

 

Ten Pine Laceys Golden Girl 2001 Section B Welsh Mare SOLD! Congratulations to Karen Lochhead of Boulder, CO and her three wonderful daughters. Lacey will so enjoy being a part of your family!	Ten Pine Spring Fashion II 2004 Section B Welsh Mare SOLD! Sold to Ali Strawford of Boulder, CO. Congratulations to Spring and her new little rider, Phoebe!

Ten Pine Spring Fashion II (Spring) and Ten Pine Laceys Golden Girl (Bell) are doing great out here in Colorado. The ponies match the kids’ personalities perfectly. Spring and her new owner, Phoebe, age 6, are both distractible, sprightly beings who do an amazing job of centering each other. Bell, and her new owners, Ellie, Mia, and Bridget, ages 9, 7, and 3, are mellow, reflective, and very attuned to each other’s needs. The kids and moms are learning to be great trainers and the ponies have responded to them with love and enthusiasm. It’s great to see such different pony personalities flourish with the right match. Both the ponies and the families have exceeded my expectations and it makes coming out to the barn each day a real treat.

Slideshows of Kali in action with two Evans ponies!

Ten Pine Spring Fashion

Evans Morovia

Request More Information from Kali! Your Name Email Address Telephone Contact Via Phone Email Comments? Questions? Tell Us About Your Dream Pony! If you don't receive a response within 48 hours, please call us at 541-432-6895 or email us.

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Kali Vanagas	Natalie Killebrew	Michele Martinez
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Kathleen and Grady Rawls
P.O. Box 528, Joseph, OR 97846
Phone: 541-432-6895
E-mail: MtDragonStud@eoni.com