In 2009, Mirka had the 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
she was awarded a Level 6 ribbon by Pat Parelli at the Lakeland Celebration.
In the spring of 2010 Mirka officialy passed
Parelli Level 4 Finesse Savvy with Magie.
Mirka continues working to master the higher levels of Parelli, but she also continues
to broaden her knowledge base by studying the theories and techniques of other important natural trainers such as Mark Rashid, Carolyn
Resnick, Imke Spilker, and Temple Grandin.
"I am a lifetime learner," says Mirka, "who loves challenges to better myself."
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 she trained her first reining horse, PR Smokin Tom Cat . With
Tom Cat she won the 2007 Buckskin World in Amateur Working Cowhorse, placed Reserve in Open Working Cowhorse, Top Five in Open Reining
and Reserve in 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," says Mirka. "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 placed 5th out of 22 at an NRHA show in Jacksonville, FL, where
she rode her horse Magie.
In 1998, Mirka met Honza Blaha (
www.honzablaha.cz ), who introduced her to Parelli Natural Horsemanship. She was able to study with
him for two years, and those two years shaped the rest of her life.
Mirka continued her Parelli studies in the United States,
where she audited and participated in clinics by Parelli Instructors and former dressage competitors David Lichman (
www.davidlichman.com)
and Karen Rohlf (
www.dressagenaturally.net). Mirka officially passed her PNH Levels 1 & 2 in 2004. The following year she
took a Course at the Parelli Ocala Center for her Level 3 studies.
In 2005 she met Donna Register and became interested in Equine
Chiropractic Care. She took a chiropractic course with Dr. Kamen in Texas and assisted Donna for a year.
Mirka is a natural-horsemanship trainer who specializes in starting and developing both young and problem horses.
Born and raised
in the Czech Republic, Mirka started riding when she was 12. She worked in different barns for free in exchange for quality time with
horses and riding opportunities. She was able to ride Thoroughbreds off the race track as well as young Draft horses. She also had
the chance to ride at a barn full of Warmblood broodmares who were retired from jumping. She helped care for those mares and raise
their foals. Back then, you could spot Mirka in the nearby woods and fields, riding horses bareback with only their halters.
