The 1st Week of Michaella Walker Horsemanship at Grand Oaks Resort

This first week at the Grand Oaks Resort,  Florida  has been absolutely beautiful.  The
weather couldn’t be any better.  It’s some where in the mid sixties to the mid seventies
during the day.  The evenings are cool and brisk, quite refreshing.  New Years was
uneventful.  Ricky and I were to pooped to pop the poppers.  I do believe I was in “lala
land” when the 1st hour of the year struck.

Believe me, I was dreaming about getting started with the horse sand my best approach for working
them weather they weren’t accustomed to.

In the morning I decided over breakfast that the horses would have the day off.  They
needed some pasture time before any serious training started.  I worked out a plan that
would progress their stamina and keep them sound in body and mind.  The rest would
be up to how they performed and how fast they would supple.

When Ricky and I arrived in the morning, I realized Grand Oaks Resort was as beautiful
as I had remembered it, with its majestic oaks and rolling landscape.   I knew this would
be the perfect place to start a blog.  I wanted everyone to experience this journey with
me. I welcome anyone to come visit, respond and  vertically enjoy along side of me.

Getting the horses out to pasture and all the saddlery organized in the tack room.

Meeting the Grand Oaks staff was third on my list and what a pleasant surprise it was to
turn the corner and see an old friend.  I had been affiliated with this equine facility for
many  years before  B. Thomas Golisano, Gloria Austin’s ex husband bought it. The
previous owner Gloria Austin is a very good friend of mine from way back when.  At one
time I was “coined” her ambassador.  For a short time I helped bridge the link between
her and the neighborhood horse activists.  I organized fundraiser rides for The Leg Up
Organization and what ever else we could think of to gather people from the community
to enjoy the facility.   All of this is history, but some of the people I worked with at that
time are not.

I was so pleasantly surprised, when I ran into Kacey Fashik, and found out she was the
Equine Manager.  One of the other real surprises, was that an old Cutting Horse
friend,Tom Warner was now the General Manager.

Gloria Austin had sold the facility to her ex-husband and he had launched a new vision for this facility.

B. Thomas Golisano an entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader & now Florida rancher
- notably known as Chairman and Founder of Paychex, Inc., a national leader in the
payroll and human resource industry acquired The Florida Carriage Museum Resort, a
400+ acre ranch in the heart of Florida’s historic equestrian countryside. Tom and his
acquisition team have embracing a new business plan for the resort that is creating a
fabulous equine resort geared for drivers of all levels, riders of all disciplines and horse
lovers from around the world to come and enjoy.

Have you ever been to Grand Oaks Resort or a similar Facility.
If so share your experiences below.