Then she rode in
a barn of about 25 Warmblood broodmares who were retired from jumping events. She helped to take care of them and to raise
their foals.
Right before she went to the University,
in 1998, she met Honza Blaha (www.honzablaha.cz ) and rode with him for two years, learning Parelli Natural Horsemanship.
She continued her PNH studies in the USA. She audited and participated
in clinics by Parelli Instructors and former dressage competitors David Lichman (www.davidlichman.com) and Karen Rohlf (www.dressagenaturally.net). She officially passed her PNH Levels 1&2 in 2004 with Buck, Jimmy Grantham's
gelding. "Appreciations to Jimmy!" The following year she took a Course at the Parelli Ocala Center
for her Level 3 studies.
In 2005 she met
Donna Register and got interested in Horse Chiropractic. She took a chiropractic course with Dr. Kamen in Texas and assisted
Donna for a year in her practices.
In
2006, thanks to her interest in reining, Mirka met her husband David Pitts, who expedited her learning of equine business,
horse care, training and show savvys!!! Soon after, Mirka started showing
and trained her first reining horse, PR Smokin Tom Cat . "Big thanks to Jimmy Grantham!!!" With
Tom Cat she won the 2007 Buckskin World in Amateur Working Cowhorse, placed Reserve in the Open Working Cowhorse, Top
Five in the Open Reining and Reserve in the Amateur Reining.
In the spring of 2007, Mirka was invited to ride with Clint Haverty (www.havertyranch.com), who has been inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame! "It was a huge
opportunity of my life. It was a great learning experience and I cannot thank both Liz and Clint enough for their valuable
time and sharing! I am still amazed at the quality of horses they have bred from their Top Stallions!"
In the fall of 2008 Mirka and Magie placed 5th out of 22 at an NRHA
show in Jacksonville, FL.
In 2009 she had a
great opportunity to ride with and learn from George and Lisa Aldridge and their trainer assistant Chase Button
at Aldridge Farms in Webster, Florida. "I have learned so much to improve my horsemanship in such a short
period of time only because they were so willing to share their knowledge!"
In March 2009 Mirka officialy passed her Parelli Level 3 with Magie and in 2009 were
awarded a Level 6 ribbon by Pat Parelli at the Lakeland Celebration. Mirka is continuing
her Natural Horsemanship journey as she explores the unknown areas in Level 4 and 5!
"I am a lifetime learner who loves challenges to better
myself."
Thanks to www.angryfilly.net, S. Renee' Mayne, a local photographer, for great reining photos
of Magie and Tom Cat on our website.