Ok - wow - so it's been like over SIX months since I've posted here.... BUT I've been very busy riding and riding and riding, and taking care of life stuff!!!
So, Gus & I went to our very FIRST reining competition the end of April - and did quite well for our first time - even though he was a bit of a crazy loon and very very naughty - but we managed to get a score in 3 out of 4 of our classes and even place 2nd in the green rider class!!! So - keep thinking positive right!
This weekend (memorial day weekend) - we competed at our first Ranch Horse Show - and did very well - going into the western riding class for the 1st time - and receiving a 1st place under one judge - and going into the ranch reining and reining classes - and having decent go's - with even ending up with a 1st under one judge!!! WOW........ it was ALOT of fun! Gus & I tabulated enough points on Saturday to win the weekend Amateur All-Around Buckle (very cool!).... Other members of the barn that went and showed did very well too!! Lena & Dennie won the Open All-Around Buckle for the weekend, and Megan & Jake placed 2nd in the ranch reining for their very first time together too. Sarah & Jack placed very high and won a couple of their classes - and it was her first time with him - he was riding awesome - great job Sarah!!!
Congrats everyone!!!
The next ranch horse show is July 11 at Dodge County....
I have decided that we are not ready to take on the World Show this year.... I would like to go down to TN and seriously have GREAT rides, and the intention of winning the all-around title. Gus & I are just not consistent enough in our manuevers to warrant the expense of going this year - especially as the world show is in only 3 weeks - and we just got done with only our 2nd competition with the reining.
Next show will be June 27 & 28 with the Midwest Cow Horse & Reining Association at Deerfield WI.
I will hopefully have some new pictures to post too!!!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, November 24, 2008
News!!!
Wow - snow on the ground today - it was pretty - (yeah it was!!!).... though - that could be IT far as I'm concerned!!!
Lots of things left undone this fall that needed to be finished around the barn - but R. has worked many 60 hour weeks and we have been short of cash with my continued unemployment (lay off) - so I have "officially" stopped worrying about it - and have been practicing that.....lol....
We are having electrical problems at the barn - with several electricians out to shake their heads - which has not been helpful at all. With the arrival of cold weather - dragged out the tank heaters and plugged them into 3 different water tanks. Two of the tanks have repeatedly been shocking the horses as they drink - as you can imagine the problem with that... At first I was told - the "heater" is bad.....ok - I can buy into that - so off to TSC and bought all new heaters.... NOPE not the problem - still getting what is being called "stray voltage" into the water. Replaced outlets twice - even ran extension cords to the one and only outlet that is NOT doing this - NOTHING has worked........ Frustration levels are high... currently the heaters are not plugged in - and I'm praying for continued decent weather until this is resolved.... One thing I'm sure of - is that I'm feeling damn sorry for the combined total of 14 horses that this is happening to.
We put on a "barn fun day" this past Saturday - boarders and friends were invited over to play egg & spoon, musical stalls, simon says and egg stomp. We had a good time and the weather was decent. I'm hoping to have more of theses over the next several months - so any ideas of fun "horse games" - greatly appreciated!
I did purchase a new horse last week. He is a 2007 registered AQHA sorrel gelding - name is Doctor Sizzle. Kids have named him Alexander - but Randy has been calling him "Doc"....so not sure what name he's going to end up with. He's very friendly and quite big already. I'm very excited to have him for this coming year. I plan on starting him under saddle this February and maybe doing some bigger shows by the end of summer.
Charisma is under "vets" orders to be ridden all winter. Actually - ride the snot out of her is what I was told to do. So I normally don't ride much until mid-February or so - but this year will be keeping in shape along with her.... so if anyone wants to come ride with me in January.......lol.....
Gus is officially on vacation for the winter. I spent about 4 weeks this late fall riding him pretty heavy - and we progressed to doing a fairly correct - if a little slow on spinning. His roll back got pretty snappy. Gus got introduced to the cows and we actually cut a few. We also made alot of progress in learning how to do lead changes....now if I can get rid of the "buck" that seems to accompany them... ha ha.... I'm sure in time that will come. Dennie intends on borrowing Gus to use for a riding clinic in December for the ranch trail classes.... I might have to go watch my horse!!! I intend on taking Gus to a few of the American Ranch Horse shows next year... should be fun doing something a little different.
Kid news:
Kara is doing extremely well in school - I'm SO HAPPY!!!
Bo is doing only what he needs to to get by - I give UP!!! Bo's father has strongly stressed that he feels Bo is doing fine in school and that I should not curtail any extra-curricular activities etc etc..... never mind the kid has only TWO classes and is barely squeaking in a C-.....sigh.... However - to elaborate further is to also say that Bo's DAD is NOT willing to share in the duties of carting Bo back and forth to these extra deals..... I'm the continual "BAD GUY" in this scenario - and I get the "you don't like" teenage crap......sigh....... and yes - your right in saying that BO STILL DOES NOT HAVE HIS DRIVERS LICENSE!!!!!
Ok - enough rambling for tonight....
I promise to post more often..... seriously.......
Lots of things left undone this fall that needed to be finished around the barn - but R. has worked many 60 hour weeks and we have been short of cash with my continued unemployment (lay off) - so I have "officially" stopped worrying about it - and have been practicing that.....lol....
We are having electrical problems at the barn - with several electricians out to shake their heads - which has not been helpful at all. With the arrival of cold weather - dragged out the tank heaters and plugged them into 3 different water tanks. Two of the tanks have repeatedly been shocking the horses as they drink - as you can imagine the problem with that... At first I was told - the "heater" is bad.....ok - I can buy into that - so off to TSC and bought all new heaters.... NOPE not the problem - still getting what is being called "stray voltage" into the water. Replaced outlets twice - even ran extension cords to the one and only outlet that is NOT doing this - NOTHING has worked........ Frustration levels are high... currently the heaters are not plugged in - and I'm praying for continued decent weather until this is resolved.... One thing I'm sure of - is that I'm feeling damn sorry for the combined total of 14 horses that this is happening to.
We put on a "barn fun day" this past Saturday - boarders and friends were invited over to play egg & spoon, musical stalls, simon says and egg stomp. We had a good time and the weather was decent. I'm hoping to have more of theses over the next several months - so any ideas of fun "horse games" - greatly appreciated!
I did purchase a new horse last week. He is a 2007 registered AQHA sorrel gelding - name is Doctor Sizzle. Kids have named him Alexander - but Randy has been calling him "Doc"....so not sure what name he's going to end up with. He's very friendly and quite big already. I'm very excited to have him for this coming year. I plan on starting him under saddle this February and maybe doing some bigger shows by the end of summer.
Charisma is under "vets" orders to be ridden all winter. Actually - ride the snot out of her is what I was told to do. So I normally don't ride much until mid-February or so - but this year will be keeping in shape along with her.... so if anyone wants to come ride with me in January.......lol.....
Gus is officially on vacation for the winter. I spent about 4 weeks this late fall riding him pretty heavy - and we progressed to doing a fairly correct - if a little slow on spinning. His roll back got pretty snappy. Gus got introduced to the cows and we actually cut a few. We also made alot of progress in learning how to do lead changes....now if I can get rid of the "buck" that seems to accompany them... ha ha.... I'm sure in time that will come. Dennie intends on borrowing Gus to use for a riding clinic in December for the ranch trail classes.... I might have to go watch my horse!!! I intend on taking Gus to a few of the American Ranch Horse shows next year... should be fun doing something a little different.
Kid news:
Kara is doing extremely well in school - I'm SO HAPPY!!!
Bo is doing only what he needs to to get by - I give UP!!! Bo's father has strongly stressed that he feels Bo is doing fine in school and that I should not curtail any extra-curricular activities etc etc..... never mind the kid has only TWO classes and is barely squeaking in a C-.....sigh.... However - to elaborate further is to also say that Bo's DAD is NOT willing to share in the duties of carting Bo back and forth to these extra deals..... I'm the continual "BAD GUY" in this scenario - and I get the "you don't like" teenage crap......sigh....... and yes - your right in saying that BO STILL DOES NOT HAVE HIS DRIVERS LICENSE!!!!!
Ok - enough rambling for tonight....
I promise to post more often..... seriously.......
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
News - Long in Coming
Hi Everyone!
I follow and read Kathy's blog quite often - she stuns me with her insight to herself and life in general. She's a hard act to follow.....lol....
I haven't posted since I was laid off from my job. You would think with not working 25-40 hours at a real job - that I would have more time - leisure time that is.... I actually am so more busy - that I rarely have time to just sit. My daily computer time has come down to an occasional check of my email and to pay my bills on line.
As previously posted - Dennie Matney has come to work out of our barn as our resident horse trainer. He has brought many more horses with him - which has increased my work time in the barn. With being laid off - I couldn't justify "paying" someone to clean stalls. I've done that for the last two months. However - I've got Dee doing stalls again 2x per week - as I've decided I just need a break from it.
We've been having alot of fun with Dennie being here. Most of the boarders have gotten to know him enough to take lessons and do some training with their horses. He's working on getting outside horses in the barn from the local area. But mainly his main focus is his cutting/reining show horses and they seem to come from all over the country.
I'm learning some new training techniques and really sharpening up my personal riding skills with him here. As some of you know - I have dreamed for years of having a reining horse to show. So, in some ways, this is a dream come true for me - to have access to the knowledge available to me to learn and the occasional chance to ride on of these talented horses.
My last show is this upcoming Saturday - the Wisconsin State Horse Council Championship Challenge - Gus & I are qualified in 5 events. After the show is over - poor Gus....lol....I chuckle as I write this - is going to work (cuz he really doesn't need time off right??!!!) - to learn the basics of being a reining horse. He actually has many of the elements of training already there - we can do slow and fast circles, we can do roll backs, and we have a pretty good spin in the making already. We have to teach Gus how to do lead changes and to slide.....how hard can it be???? Well - I'll keep you updated on that.
Goals for next year are already in the making - I'm hoping to do some reining/cowhorse events with Gus - he will be taking some much needed time off from the pleasure arena. Charisma will be heading for the Quarter Horse circuit. She has come back really well after the surgery - and I did take her to one QH show, where we placed 7th out of 18 in our first time - promising enough to make the investment.
I have sold Dafnie to Kris Bond here at the barn. I am shopping for a new pleasure horse for next year to replace her. I'm going to try to not rush and get the "right" one (yeah right... he he)....
Until later....
I follow and read Kathy's blog quite often - she stuns me with her insight to herself and life in general. She's a hard act to follow.....lol....
I haven't posted since I was laid off from my job. You would think with not working 25-40 hours at a real job - that I would have more time - leisure time that is.... I actually am so more busy - that I rarely have time to just sit. My daily computer time has come down to an occasional check of my email and to pay my bills on line.
As previously posted - Dennie Matney has come to work out of our barn as our resident horse trainer. He has brought many more horses with him - which has increased my work time in the barn. With being laid off - I couldn't justify "paying" someone to clean stalls. I've done that for the last two months. However - I've got Dee doing stalls again 2x per week - as I've decided I just need a break from it.
We've been having alot of fun with Dennie being here. Most of the boarders have gotten to know him enough to take lessons and do some training with their horses. He's working on getting outside horses in the barn from the local area. But mainly his main focus is his cutting/reining show horses and they seem to come from all over the country.
I'm learning some new training techniques and really sharpening up my personal riding skills with him here. As some of you know - I have dreamed for years of having a reining horse to show. So, in some ways, this is a dream come true for me - to have access to the knowledge available to me to learn and the occasional chance to ride on of these talented horses.
My last show is this upcoming Saturday - the Wisconsin State Horse Council Championship Challenge - Gus & I are qualified in 5 events. After the show is over - poor Gus....lol....I chuckle as I write this - is going to work (cuz he really doesn't need time off right??!!!) - to learn the basics of being a reining horse. He actually has many of the elements of training already there - we can do slow and fast circles, we can do roll backs, and we have a pretty good spin in the making already. We have to teach Gus how to do lead changes and to slide.....how hard can it be???? Well - I'll keep you updated on that.
Goals for next year are already in the making - I'm hoping to do some reining/cowhorse events with Gus - he will be taking some much needed time off from the pleasure arena. Charisma will be heading for the Quarter Horse circuit. She has come back really well after the surgery - and I did take her to one QH show, where we placed 7th out of 18 in our first time - promising enough to make the investment.
I have sold Dafnie to Kris Bond here at the barn. I am shopping for a new pleasure horse for next year to replace her. I'm going to try to not rush and get the "right" one (yeah right... he he)....
Until later....
Monday, July 14, 2008
Back from the campground
Our camping weekend was fun - even with lots of rain & lightning on Friday night - as of course - we were not traditionally camping - but had however rented a cabin.
It was very peaceful and relaxing and I think the kids had fun. Well, as much fun as a teenage boy has with only his mother to play with...lol...
Bo & I did take a small canoe out for a bit - after Bo flipped us over in the beginning and filled it with water - we still had fun.... and I of course reversed who was getting in the canoe first... ha ha...
We did however miss attending any of the Marq. Cty fair - that was a bummer as I was trying to eke out some time to see my friends exhibits.
Oh, and as I had forgetten to mention in my previous post - Randy & Charisma placed 1st, 2nd & 6th in their classes.
We are meeting an equine nutritionist from ADM feeds to go over my existing feeding program. I will report back on that.
It was very peaceful and relaxing and I think the kids had fun. Well, as much fun as a teenage boy has with only his mother to play with...lol...
Bo & I did take a small canoe out for a bit - after Bo flipped us over in the beginning and filled it with water - we still had fun.... and I of course reversed who was getting in the canoe first... ha ha...
We did however miss attending any of the Marq. Cty fair - that was a bummer as I was trying to eke out some time to see my friends exhibits.
Oh, and as I had forgetten to mention in my previous post - Randy & Charisma placed 1st, 2nd & 6th in their classes.
We are meeting an equine nutritionist from ADM feeds to go over my existing feeding program. I will report back on that.
Monday, July 07, 2008
News!
I didn't keep a good diary when I was kid either!
Anyway....
The barn is happy to welcome Dennie Matney as our new resident trainer/instructor. Denny originally is from Oklahoma. He has been training in a barn in Northern Minnesota and is hoping that our winters are less cold. And in comparaison to 40 below zero for weeks on end - we might be the winners!
Dennie's specialty is reined cow horses and reining events. He also will start colts to ride. I asked him on his training style and he replied that he was a mix of Clinton Anderson/John Lyons with a dose of common sense. I'm thinking - good answer!
He is hoping to moved down and settled in by the end of the month. We have 3 stalls to finish up for his horses and arrange the turn-out situation so that he has a place to turn his horses out too.
Other news - Charisma is doing well and has been riding for the last few weeks. We took her to her 1st show this past Saturday at Portage. It was Randy's 1st time showing her, and Charisma's 1st time out this year. It was also Charisma's first time going in the Hunter Under Saddle classes. She is a beautiful mover - which makes up for her serious lack of height. These days most of the "hunter" horses on the breed circuits are well over 16 hh tall. Charisma stands just over 15 hh.
So I videod instead of picture taking.... and maybe I can figure out how to get a still off the video tape..... or not.....
Kara is still doing Karate - she has graduated to a green belt - and will probably stay in that class for the summer. They have shortened and re-arranged the class times due to summer - and if Kara continues being interested - then she will go to more in the fall.
Bo is gone to his dad's for the summer. He is coming back on alternate weekends. Though he'd rather go hang at his friends houses than me - but I suppose that is typical.
We are planning a trip to a local campground for the weekend. That way I can come home and clean stalls and chores. We were planning on going to South Dakota this summer - but due to unforseen expenses from flooding and rising fuel & hay costs - there is not enough $$ to make the trip the most fun it could be. We could probably still go - but I dont want to go and now that we can't afford to go out to eat or see some of the things that we'd really want to see while we are there.
So - any "in-Wisconsin" vacation ideas - other than Wisc Dells - would be greatly appreciated!
Until later!
Anyway....
The barn is happy to welcome Dennie Matney as our new resident trainer/instructor. Denny originally is from Oklahoma. He has been training in a barn in Northern Minnesota and is hoping that our winters are less cold. And in comparaison to 40 below zero for weeks on end - we might be the winners!
Dennie's specialty is reined cow horses and reining events. He also will start colts to ride. I asked him on his training style and he replied that he was a mix of Clinton Anderson/John Lyons with a dose of common sense. I'm thinking - good answer!
He is hoping to moved down and settled in by the end of the month. We have 3 stalls to finish up for his horses and arrange the turn-out situation so that he has a place to turn his horses out too.
Other news - Charisma is doing well and has been riding for the last few weeks. We took her to her 1st show this past Saturday at Portage. It was Randy's 1st time showing her, and Charisma's 1st time out this year. It was also Charisma's first time going in the Hunter Under Saddle classes. She is a beautiful mover - which makes up for her serious lack of height. These days most of the "hunter" horses on the breed circuits are well over 16 hh tall. Charisma stands just over 15 hh.
So I videod instead of picture taking.... and maybe I can figure out how to get a still off the video tape..... or not.....
Kara is still doing Karate - she has graduated to a green belt - and will probably stay in that class for the summer. They have shortened and re-arranged the class times due to summer - and if Kara continues being interested - then she will go to more in the fall.
Bo is gone to his dad's for the summer. He is coming back on alternate weekends. Though he'd rather go hang at his friends houses than me - but I suppose that is typical.
We are planning a trip to a local campground for the weekend. That way I can come home and clean stalls and chores. We were planning on going to South Dakota this summer - but due to unforseen expenses from flooding and rising fuel & hay costs - there is not enough $$ to make the trip the most fun it could be. We could probably still go - but I dont want to go and now that we can't afford to go out to eat or see some of the things that we'd really want to see while we are there.
So - any "in-Wisconsin" vacation ideas - other than Wisc Dells - would be greatly appreciated!
Until later!
Friday, June 06, 2008
Congrats!
Congratulations to Kris Bond & her horse Rain - for winning their very 1st place at a show. They've worked hard for it!
Shannon Ryan has left the barn due to the rising costs of fuel. I'm working on getting a replacement in but I am figuring that this will take some time to accomplish. The barn has been much quieter since she left last week!!
School is coming to a close on Tuesday - so Summer is officially here! Which we knew of course, not due to the temperatures, but due to the increasing BUG count of mosquitos and deer flies... YUCK!
My horses are extremely pampered, and are inside during the hottest parts of the day with their FANS on....lol......right now i turn them out all night if its cool enough, and for a few hours in the early morning. If its warm and muggy the mosquitos are terrible and they just want right back inside anyway!
Gus and I are having a fairly successful show season. A few classes that didn't go as planned, but overall, we are having a good year.
Kara has graduated to a "green" belt in karate - so she continues to learn. She was wishy washy about continuing, but then changed her mind, and actually has been really "participating" in class - though in the last month - she has been the only one in the class - so its been a string of "private" lessons.... lucky us!
Bo will be leaving for his Dad's after school is complete, and besides the occasional weekend, will not be home until the middle of August.
I had an interview this week for a really neat job at the Wisc Wildlife Federation. I'm hoping for positive results and will know more sometime next week.
Shannon Ryan has left the barn due to the rising costs of fuel. I'm working on getting a replacement in but I am figuring that this will take some time to accomplish. The barn has been much quieter since she left last week!!
School is coming to a close on Tuesday - so Summer is officially here! Which we knew of course, not due to the temperatures, but due to the increasing BUG count of mosquitos and deer flies... YUCK!
My horses are extremely pampered, and are inside during the hottest parts of the day with their FANS on....lol......right now i turn them out all night if its cool enough, and for a few hours in the early morning. If its warm and muggy the mosquitos are terrible and they just want right back inside anyway!
Gus and I are having a fairly successful show season. A few classes that didn't go as planned, but overall, we are having a good year.
Kara has graduated to a "green" belt in karate - so she continues to learn. She was wishy washy about continuing, but then changed her mind, and actually has been really "participating" in class - though in the last month - she has been the only one in the class - so its been a string of "private" lessons.... lucky us!
Bo will be leaving for his Dad's after school is complete, and besides the occasional weekend, will not be home until the middle of August.
I had an interview this week for a really neat job at the Wisc Wildlife Federation. I'm hoping for positive results and will know more sometime next week.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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