Current News 3/17/08 - 11/1/08

Our Current News page was taking too long to load so I decided to divide it into 2 pages so that people who want New Current News can get it quickly, and those who want all the Current News can go back and read! I hope this makes it better for everyone! Enjoy!

11/1/08 We had a great week this week! The weather was cooler but everyone's spirits were high! Lots of people came out for lessons and helped us pay all this wonderful new help we have. Seems like feast or famine, when I had 6 horses to ride every day - no help; now I only have my own and I have loads of willing happy helpers - go figure! The folks are wonderful though, makes me feel comfortable and covered again. Chris, who does the morning, has been showing up and doing great. Ben, a good friend of Brad's started last week cleaning stalls last week - boy does he do a lovely job! He had worked at Springs over 20 years when he got laid off last year. With a wife and 2 kids in college, he had to find some way to make money fast. He opened a produce stand up the street. They added cold drinks and it was a big hit all summer. Unfortunately the fall is not a great time for selling produce and they were needing something, anything to earn enough to eat and get by. He has been so grateful for the little work I did have. It renews your faith in people to see others working as hard as you do to make things work - a few more lessons taught each week is worth it to me to help a family survive in these tough times. Raphael is our lucky number 3 in the group. He is the great Pedro's brother. Pedro worked for me several years and was phenomenal! I had little hope someone else could fill his shoes. Raphael started doing the weekends and did awesome - great to come home to a spotless farm :) He had been living with friends in Gastonia when they lost their apartment. Raphael slept in the bunk house on the couch before I realized he had no other place to go. He asked (I miss a few things he says because he speaks only Spanish) if it was ok for him to stay in there - I had agreed (I don't know what I thought he was asking). Anyway he had spent 2 really frigid nights in there before I realized it. We talked and decided that we will clean out the room in the hayloft (where I lived for 2 years before the house came) and it will be his home. If you have anything up there, please get it so we can make it nice for Raphael. For now he is staying in the house so he doesn't freeze (the bunk house is way too cold at night).

We also were blessed this week with glorious new carpet in most every room of the house! Summer's grandfather spent many days installing beautiful new tan carpet in all the bedrooms and the TV room. The living/dining room was the only area too big to fit remnants that her dad already had left over from other jobs. We need to order carpet for that area, but all the other areas look and SMELL absolutely amazing! A huge 'Thank You' goes out to Summer's family for their hard work and carpet - it will really make our lives much much better!

Tommy and I were talking last night about combining the places for the winter. Lessons have really dropped off in Lancaster and with most of the showhorses on vacation, we have few horses and work at our expensive place in Lancaster. We think if we combine (we have the stall room in Indian Land right now) then Tommy will be available to teach Trail, Showmanship, Western Pleasure, whatever you need at our location much closer to most of you. He will still do a couple days a week in Lancaster to keep those clients happy and growing, hopefully by next winter things will be as booming in Lancaster as they do in Indian Land. We are planning winter shows, the first one December 13, and more Showing Naturally Clinics to play with the cows and the playground. We may also do a Christmas/Winter Camp if you want it - we are open to fresh ideas on how to better serve you (and pay our bills)! I think a Swap Spot here on the website would be a great place for us to exchange stuff and a little money - it could really help support all of us in our effort to be more thrifty. I'm also scouring the internet for the best deals on Natural Horsemanship equipment (I can't use the 'Parelli' name for stuff that is not official 'Parelli' equipment). I want to make packs that you can purchase to play with us - we will find the best equipment at the best prices so you can feel great about what you are purchasing.  We are exploring new ways to make ends meet - just like you - if you have any great ideas, I'm delighted to listen! I plan to be here for many more years to come, I must evolve to stay in business like everyone else. I'm actually sort of happy the big real estate boom has quieted for a moment, because with developers sniffing around offering crazy prices, I was concerned about how much longer we would reasonably living in Indian Land - but now I think we will get several more years before we are 'forced' out. I love my little place; I love the people who are my friends and neighbors; I feel like I can survive there no matter how far the economy drops. We are working our budget to do everything in our power to keep our Lancaster farm, but I will not sacrifice everything we have built if the $2,250/mo gets too heavy a burden. Indian Land is paid for, it is safe; the rent in Lancaster is high if we aren't using it enough. I'm amazed at how big a difference 20 miles makes for lessons and boarding. I suppose our clients (and everybody else too) are cutting costs and fuel is a big one.  We do have many horses turned out down here, not to mention our cows, Bonnie and Clyde. I'm thinking there may be a haymaking possibility here too - we will investigate all the options. I have faith this is a time to help us really look at what we are doing and just make it better; things always work out for the best!

I hope you had a Happy Halloween and have a great weekend! My daughter, Charlotte, has a birthday in the next couple days, I must come up with something to celebrate her becoming a teenager :) Happy Birthday Charlotte! I love you!!!!! 

10/27/08 What a whirlwind weekend we just had - not the whirlwind I had hoped or planned. I had planned to go to Perry, Georgia to another Reined Cowhorse Show. I was going to get to spend more time with my friend (mentor and phenomenal horse trainer) Ric Steed. I was way pumped! I saw this as my final prep for the Working Cowhorse and Reining Sweepstakes that I'm entered in at the Fall World Championships next week. I'm very nervous and needed the last minute help - my last visit with him revolutionized my style and program, and I have helped  many of you with his amazing insights.

Friday morning I came up to help a delightful PNH visitor, Marti Szur (sp), who had driven in from Va and spent the night on her way to the Parelli Center in Florida where she is taking courses for the next 3 weeks. Her darling horse Toby had been nervous on the trailer the day before, so she was hoping to get some sedation for him. I came up early to give him a shot - thank goodness I did because I got a panicked call from my helpers that Bo, the arab stallion I have been training, was down in his stall. We quickly arrived and found him trapped in his new blanket upside down in the stall. Once the blanket was removed, he got up but quickly laid down again. I gave him a shot of Banamine which helped nearly immediately. We stuck around and watched him all day, but by 3pm he wasn't much worse nor was he much better, so I called Dr Hobbs back and gave another shot of Banamine. Although the owners had been here a big part of the day, they had to leave to go to church. When she arrived he had few gut sounds, so she oiled him. Little reflux and low heart rate still indicated we were ok. Tommy and I stayed and watched him while she ran to 2 other calls. He was still not really getting better. When she got back around 8pm, we pushed for iv fluids. She was concerned about putting the catheter in because it must be monitored constantly. We had already shot our entire day and had been doing nearly constant monitoring anyway - she put it in. He became more restless the more fluid we got into him. His heart rate was slowly climbing, so we all made the call that he needed to go to a hospital that could do surgery if needed. Greenock Vet Hospital in Midland  NC is much closer than Ga or Raliegh, so we called them. Dr Puckett was wonderful and agreed to take us, he would leave his dinner date and meet us at the hospital.

We loaded him in the trailer hooked up to another 3 liter bag of fluid and rushed over to Midland. Dr Puckett was there with his helper Nancy, but unfortunately there was no other vet there. He explained that normally there were many vets, but one just quit last week and the other large animal vet was out of town (she called right as we arrived) - we were all understandably disappointed.  When he examined Bo he found his heart rate was 92 (100 is a dead horse) and he felt surgery was needed fast. I explained that Dr Hobbs had said that Bo's heart rate would increase when she applied the stethescope to him each time, if she waited for a few moments it would come back down. He waited and it did drop to 80 (still bad, but not dead at that moment), his bloodwork came back pretty bad - we were worried. I got the owners on the phone and listened while the vet explained the severity of the situation. He also explained that as easily stressed as this horse was, he wasn't sure how well he would do on the trip to Raliegh. Ann, his owner, got back on the phone with me and asked what I would do - I said I wouldn't move him again, esp not 3 hrs; I would put him on heavy fluids and pray. She agreed and we left him set up in a stall with 4 huge bags of fluids flowing wide open into him.

We prayed allot on our way home. Dr Puckett had little hope, but we were all surprised at how stoic he had been all day  to be so sick. We arrived home after 2am with a barn full of horses still to feed. Just as we thought our day/weekend could not get worse, the power in the barn had been cut off. Not only is the power our lights but it is all our water, so there was no water in our house either. Fortunately we had a full trough to water the horses in the barn all weekend; but the house was not so lucky. No showers, no toilets - nothing. I am doing online banking (new at it) and I have 6 power bills (2 houses, 2 barns, 2 outdoor lighting accounts - Indian Land and Lanc), apparently the Lanc barn had fallen through the cracks and since we were not home by 9pm Friday night we had to wait until Monday to have it reconnected. We also couldn't go to Indian Land and spend the weekend because all the carpet has been removed (carpet people say it is by far the worst nasty pet ruined carpet they have ever seen - the dirt under it was so sticky and full of urine that they had to get a scraper to get it off the floor) and there is no furniture or anything.

Saturday I called Dr Puckett because we hadn't heard anything; I was worried it was because he had died. Dr Puckett was amazed but said they had gathered a surgical team to operate that morning and all of a sudden he went to the bathroom! He felt he was doing much better and could come home Sunday. We were overjoyed! This was another moment when prayer pulled one through!

Unfortunately prayer didn't get our power back on and we saw how much we really enjoyed showers and toilets and drinking water. I suppose we could have gone out to eat, but when you feel nasty dirty you really don't want to go anywhere. So we stayed home and Tommy took care of the Lancaster horses. We all decided to leave Bo at the vet until his owners could get him Monday - good thing - because in all the stress he had developed ulcers and needs to stay until tomorrow (Tuesday).

We are so grateful he pulled through. It really shows how quickly things can get worse even when you are right on top of them. I am so grateful my new helpers Chris and Rafael were both here and jumped right on the problem. They deserve much credit! Thank you.

10/20/08 What a wonderful weekend! Everyone had a marvelous show! It was a fabulous way to end a really great year! Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout the season! Congratulations to all of you for your huge improvement and your big wins!

Madison Woschkolup, Jessica Moore, Natalie Moore, Avery Fisher, Jessica Weiscarver, Suzanne Ebert, Jennifer Paschal, Lynn Everette, Nadine Lohr, Jennifer Weiss, Emily Alvarez, Bekah Strunk, Amanda Seaman, Amanda Lawton and Judy Harvey.

Some of you had to finish the season a bit early, but all of you made us incredibly proud this year! We enjoyed more success than ever before this year and it was because of your great talent and dedication! Great job!!!  Good luck next year and enjoy a well deserved break from APHA competition. Thank you :)

Thank you to all our wonderful Mane Clients! We did more manes this year than ever before! We appreciate the opportunity to do your manes, it allowed us to purchase a living quarters trailer this year, which has been such a blessing to us (and our clients too). My plan was that we could budget 1 weekend's mane proceeds to a trailer payment each month. We found a lovely used Keifer trailer from Dale and Teresa Canipe and You enabled us to purchase it and pay for it each month. Thank you!

D. John Deas, Jaime Lipchens, Laren Dubin, Justin Watkins, Billie Underwood, Bear Smith, Carley Veldman, Tim and Shannon Gillespie, Garth and Sonessa Gooding, Kevin Ester, Blake Carney, Britney Musgrave, John and Linda Glenn, Karen and Jessica Wadell and many many more! Thank You!!!!

10/14/08 Things are really looking up and coming together. This is the fourth week since we lost our full-time help and I finally feel organized and going truly forward again! Chris Marshall has been helping us in the morning almost three weeks - she has got it now! That morning feeding person makes all the difference, if I have her, we can do the rest. I am not really ready for anyone else new, I tried a friend's son last week (who had begged for the job); he cleaned the stalls once, said he was coming the next day and never showed up again! It truly has been ok without so much help. Summer and I cleaned everything up last week for the insurance guy - it really looks great around the barn! I have gotten many compliments on the way everything looks - the combo of throwing out all the extraneous junk, getting the lawn people to do a serious job reclaiming the yard and our detailed efforts - what a huge difference a month makes! We will be losing our playground set soon, I was told. If anyone has any equipment that they are not using, we would love to put it to use. The new playset has gotten much use, it would be a shame not to have anything out there anymore...

We are gearing up for our last really big show as a group for the year - Arden. It will be four judges this year and we anticipate a good crowd. Good luck to all our family who are making a final appearance for the season!

Tommy brought the new dogs in Sunday night and they are really nice! They are by far the best socialized shelties we have ever bought! Tara Taylor from Duck, WV sold them to us and she was concerned enough about them to deliver them (driving 8 hours round trip) to meet us (Tommy) and make sure she felt good about it. Originally I was just buying Cassie, the female who looks just like Bella when Bella got here. Tara was really worried Cassie might run off (she saw everything about Glory) so she insisted we take Cassie's friend (and ex-husband), Frankie, too. Frankie has his flaws; he is much bigger and quite long and he has incredibly messed up teeth; but he is a beautiful blue merle (awesome color and coat) and his personality is what we wish all shelties had - friendly, happy, smiley, outgoing ... he is not shy at all. Little Cassie is very friendly too, as she sits on my pillow packed up to my side now as I type. They are fitting in beautifully! Thank you Tara!

10/12/08 Today went great! Everyone did amazingly well! Our newest members really rose to the occasion and showed me what they are capable of! Holly, Mariah, Emily and Summer really exceeded my expectations of them! Kelli, Jessica, Bekah and Madison showed why they are the Varsity Team - great job! Bekah even spent the rest of the weekend at a huge band competition (which she won - of course), got home after 1am this morning, and still looked and performed like a champ! Sue and Stef were wonderful 'grown-up' Showing Naturally and Bali and Johnny were the best I've ever seen them in such traffic! Last but definitely not least, the helpers and dancers were amazing! Great job Amanda, Jane, Avery, Savannah P, Savannah S, Lindsey, Amy, Madison and Zoe! You were entertaining, fun and great help! I will post pictures as soon as they arrive!

10/11/08 We had a super, although small, Showing Naturally practice last night. We have added some new elements to spice up the show! I hope our practice will be much bigger and more complete today. We had a couple people 'on the fence' 2 of those people showed up last night and we are including them - Holly and Sue. See the first page to click on Chetola's website for directions.

I hope you are enjoying the avatars. Summer and I worked very hard to create characters that were cute and informative :)

Will slept over last night and I invited him to our demo - hopefully he will come and see what we have been doing!

Robin took Beauty for a successful check-up yesterday! Hooray for all of her family! Beauty seems to be well on her way to recovery! Thank you for your prayers! Prayer works! See the story of "Ears" below if you have any question that prayer is the answer to your problems :)

Last thing is we are expecting new family members this weekend and I'm so excited! Two new shelties are coming from West Virginia. We were not planning on 2 at all - but Tara, their old owner, was worried that the female might try to leave without an old friend coming too. After this fiasco with Glory I do not want to take any chances, so we are expecting Cassie and Frankie. Cassie looks like Bella (a little smaller), and Frankie is blue merle. I think they are both 3 yrs and have had 1 litter of five puppies together. Wish us luck, please!

10/8/08 I spent a great deal of today cleaning and straitening around here because Jackie Starnes, my insurance agent, was scheduled to pay us a home visit. He had instructed me that the underwriters had said "clean up" after my last set of pictures (updating my file). We have spent alot of time (and $) the past 3 weeks doing just that and I do think it looked very nice when he arrived. Summer had just set the blower down and I had thrown away the last piece of trash as he pulled into our driveway.

He was very nice and gave us many compliments on the place (he acted surprised). I suppose it must have been messier in the photos than I realized. At the end of his visit he took some pictures of his own, accepted a big check and left with a smile on his face. Boy was I relieved and grateful! We must have insurance - and I was completely honest with him about all we do (insurance is no good if you stretch the truth desiring a cheaper rate, but when you need it they find out you were fibbing).

I did figure out my newest website challenge - an avatar! It finally works :) I will do my best to create some more to help inform you of prices and stuff. It's pouring rain now - no Showing Naturally practice tonight :( I hope it stops so we can practice Friday, we need to go through the whole routine before this weekend. Lynn is here so I must go out and help her pull Sonny's mane for Arden next weekend.

When we were in Colorado we had a wonderful Cowboy Church on Sunday. Our preacher brought many tears to my eyes when he told us about his precious mount getting horrific laminitis/founder out of the blue. He prayed over her when the vets told him to put her to sleep - no hope whatsoever. His faith healed her! I wanted to share his email updating us on her condition. Her name is "Ears".

10/7/08 Things are getting better around here every day. Our new morning girl is slowly learning the routine. I hope she can get it all before she decides it's too much and quits. The new stall cleaner Josh did not show back up after only one day. He seemed nice and got things done pretty well, but no sight of him today. Oh well someone else will come along that's right eventually. We have got it under control until that time, who knows we may decide we like doing it better than dealing with helpers...

The show went great! Everyone won lots! Natalie was soo sweet! She had won a bright pink hat that I really liked. When Tommy won Circuit Champion in Hunter Hack (quite an accomplishment since he just started jumping a month ago) he told me I could get a pink hat like Natalie's. Natalie couldn't stand that Tommy wouldn't get to choose his own prize so she went up and got me a pink hat with one of her awards so he could get his own. It was so cute! Thank you Nat :)

Jennifer Paschal and Clark won 8 year end high point awards! I couldn't believe it when she told us - that is truly incredible! Congratulations!

10/4/08 We are at the Clemson SC PPHC Fall Futurity horse show. Amazing that between classes would be the first time in nearly two weeks that I get to check emails and update the website. So sorry to all our Current News readers! I have just been working SOOO hard to keep everything working smoothly on the farm. After 2 weeks things are really getting easier (Tommy has been doing the hardest part). I had a group of friends' horses in to ride and I just did not have time to work on the computer and ride/teach/feed. I do think that we got all of them well ridden. I have had many owners come to ride - they have done great! Several have now gone home (as scheduled) so I think I will be able to keep this updated better this coming week. I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has pitched in helping me get through this transition! And thank you to Lauren and Amanda for taking care of the horses this weekend while we are so far away! It's great to have you home if only for the weekend :)

9/26/08 It is raining today and I am grateful to have a day to catch up on my computer and paperwork. We have decided that because gas is nearly impossible to find that we will cancel our Open Show scheduled for tomorrow. I have been confident that the shortage would neither hit Lancaster nor the diesel pumps - boy was I wrong! There was no fuel anywhere on my way home last night and it was apparent, even if we decided to have the show, we would not have the fuel to transport the lesson horses to Lancaster for it. The rain today (and predicted for tomorrow) confirms that this is a good idea. I also decided to change the location of our Showing Naturally practice on Sunday to our Indian Land location so the folks with gas have less driving. It will also NOT be a required practice in case you cannot find gas.  I hope this will help all our parents feel a little less stress.

I got the most beautiful and unexpected gift yesterday from Jodie Strait. A box came to Summer's house addressed to me.  She promptly brought it down and I opened it to find a gift from Pro-Flowers. A beautiful pair of lavender mini-rose bushes in a wicker basket - I love it! She was thanking me for the encouraging words I gave her at last weekend's Latta show. How incredibly thoughtful of her to send me such a gift! Thank you Jodie! May this also tell all of us how much our simple words can impact someone. A few honest kind words can really brighten a friend's day. Remember to say those positive things instead of just continuing with your day - it could make a huge difference!

I must say I didn't realize how much Lauren was doing before she left. I had no idea how much there was to remember with all the different feeds and supplements. I really miss her company but I also really understand and respect all she was doing for the past few years. I am happy she is finding happiness in her own life - but we really do miss her in ours :)

9/23/08 I'm so sorry I haven't kept this updated daily or updated the blog. Lauren has taken a new job and we are working long hours to absorb her stuff into our days. Thank God for Tommy, without him I would not be able to do it. He has taken over most of her chores with a positive attitude showing me that we will really be fine. This is a better situation for Lauren in her new life and we wish her all the best! I do hope she can continue to help us on weekends. Life is constantly changing and how we bend, flex and adjust is a great indicator of our character. I am working hard to pass this test - Tommy has already gotten an A+.

Our show at Latta this past weekend went great. I will update later because everyone has arrived for morning lessons. Have a great day :)

9/17/08 We have been crazy busy since I got home last week from Parelli.

We had a Showing Naturally Weekend this past weekend. We had a light turnout for the clinics on Saturday, they went well but I hoped for more people especially with the number of people who have been asking for more Showing Naturally instruction. I hadn't pushed or advertised it, maybe this was my error. Oh well we had fun and learned allot in our 2 sessions. Sunday went very well. The cow work in the morning was really fun! The cows were much more into it this time (they haven't gotten to play with us in quite a while) and they were moving! Everyone got to do some real herding work and we all left with smiles and lots of adrenaline pumping through our veins. The actual Demo Team Practice went great! We had an excellent turn-out for it of lots of capable riders and horses. I decided to create a list of requirements for our demo team. I think it will make it more fair for everyone. We have many great riders who have new horses; and many up and coming riders who also want to participate. I think having written requirements will help everyone know when they are truly prepared and ready to perform. I also think the requirements will keep us all polishing our basics - you cannot be fancy until your basics/fundamentals are solid and correct. I think we all get 'slack' and skip over stuff we feel we can already do. Nearly everything that goes wrong comes from a hole in your foundation/fundamentals/basics.  The better your foundation is, the better everything else will be! The requirements are listed on the Showing Naturally page and so is the next practice. Please remember the practices are required to perform in the demos :)

This week the weather has been crazy - hot, cold, raining, humid, sunny. We have had horseshoers and the dentist here all week. I haven't had time to update the website, answer emails or anything. Sorry for that. I will do better. I have several new interesting training horses to explore. We have been hustling like crazy to get everything done - no time for anything else :)

I haven't heard anything from Parelli yet, I hope no news is good news. Surely if I were doing anything out of my box they would have already set me down. I will continue to keep things pretty low until we get more information - I do not want to mess anything up now. Keep your fingers crossed that we can continue to expand and do more neat stuff in the future with them!

9/8/08 We had had a wonderful trip! So many friendships renewed; so many new ones started. I enjoyed the fellowship much more this year - there are so many wonderful people in Parelli Natural Horsemanship! So many people passionate about more things than you can imagine. Amazing beautiful causes - I wish all of them great success in all their efforts!

I actually got to meet with the national director of the Humane Society yesterday. He wants to create a model program to 'retrain' the horses in their care with PNH to help them become adoptable - amazing, my same concept! He was so excited to meet someone who could bring his idea to fruition - I was delighted to meet someone who really understood, saw the need, and appreciated what we have to offer! They are based in Maryland but work closely with the USERL which has members close to us. They want to create a website to advertise the retrained horses for adoption. They also want to bring into 'fashion' adopting a horse just like adopting a dog or cat. We can make a really big impact on this problem with our knowledge and experience. It promises to be a great opportunity for all :)

I'm not sure what is going to happen with Showing Naturally. Pat and Linda both said they loved what we have been doing. But there are big issues within the organization with the use of their 'brand' without a proper license from Parelli. Although Pat himself asked me to create the Showing Naturally Program, he didn't run it by his business partner, Marc, or attorney, Doug, first. I must meet with (live or on a conference call) all of them to discuss Showing Naturally and see if there is a way for me to continue. I do not fit neatly into any of their current 'boxes', so either they will create a new box or not... Whatever happens, I have faith it will be 'right'.

9/5/08 Today was amazing! The conference is huge and filled with excited Parelli people. I have seen so many friends I made last year - it's unbelievable what bonds we can make only meeting for a few days each year! The demonstrations were nearly all on the ground today - but what cool new inspiring stuff! Callie outdid herself by doing a demo riding her horse working with 4 yearlings at liberty!

During her performance Pat's new assistant came to our seats and asked me to come with her to speak to Pat. Of course I followed and when Callie finished, Pat took me aside and asked me to come to his private party tonight. I was thrilled and since it started right after the show - I brushed my teeth (I had a little travel kit in the car) which were covered and feeling crunchy from all the dust.

When I arrived (alone - I suspect another test to see if I would mix well and talk to all the new people) there were not lots of people but within an hour the house was packed. It was a beautiful home, decorated in lovely western style - wood, rocks, hide-covered furniture. I thought it was interesting that the magazines in the bathroom were Horse Illustrated - I must check this magazine out. After I got over my initial shyness (you know how I am) I met lots of passionate interesting people. I met people from the national Humane Society who were excited about our Kids Helping Kids and Horses program; I met a neat woman from Ballise who after a successful Arabian show and selling career, is now bringing  horses and the horse experience to the most at-risk children in the cities. Using modern technology, she is using a horseback riding simulator machine to the inner city malls and streets. I got a special introduction to Walter Zetl, Pat and Linda's dressage trainer and dear friend. He was so cute and sweet, he is a total inspiration at 79 years old to be still following his dreams so passionately! I was so impressed with everyone. There were so many, I can't name them all... but I found a group as excited about their lives as I am about mine :)

At the end of the evening Pat found me and invited me to join his attorney, Doug, and him in his study. It was a lovely small room and Pat and I sat on a couch across from his attorney. He started by telling me how much he loved what we had been doing and now we really needed to get together to get all the brand license  stuff worked out. They have worked very hard to establish the Parelli brand and it cannot be used without rules and boundaries. Actually I was happy to have some direction and welcomed the direction. Pat explained I would be meeting with his top people to work out my place in PNH. Doug added that he really likes the website :) He is the person who must investigate all internet uses of the Parelli name - he has been on our website alot.

I walked out encouraged and floating. I found Linda and thanked her. She too said she loved what we are doing! It was a very successful night :)

9/4/08 We made it to the plane and we are in the air. Feeling queasy - glad I'm not married to a pilot anymore - motion sickness is a drag. Lynn got us in first class and it's really nice! Big leather seats, pillows, free drinks - much better than driving! Maybe next year we will be bringing horses to ride in the 'show'? I'll enjoy the first class now in case I don't get to again :)

My nerves are doing much better now that we have actually left. I think I do much better with forward motion, waiting for something to happen is harder than actually going forward and doing it.  Please be kind to Tommy and Lauren this weekend, they have put up with alot this past week from me. I really appreciate their patient support :)

9/3/08 I'm excited about our trip tomorrow. I haven't heard anything back from Linda P yet. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that everyone in Parelli likes what we have been doing :) I have gotten some really encouraging notes from many of you - thank you very much! While I'm gone please call Tommy at 336-469-0676 if you need something right away. The horses have all been super this week! They have made me feel good about our program before I leave to go learn much more! I hope everyone is ready for all the new information I will come home with - I'm excited to learn and share :)

9/1/08 First my prayers go out to everyone still in New Orleans and to those who trusted enough to leave. May you and all your homes be safe!

I'm really keyed up about this trip to Colorado this week. I'm nervous about what will happen with my Showing Naturally Program! After Pat asked me to do it, I have had no other communication from them. I just pray that what I've done is what they had in mind! I hope they will be pleased and give me a green light to continue using their name 'Parelli'. I suppose if they do not agree, we will continue under our own name.

I bit the bullet and wrote an email to Linda Parelli last night. I included my vision from March/April, what we have done already, and what we still hope to do. I gave her a link to this website so she can see all the videos - and everything we are about. I hope by being completely open, she will be able to make a decision based on facts (good or bad) about whether we are what they want or not. I'm holding my breadth, but I do feel better because I feel like it's done and out in the open - all that is left is their opinion and a meeting if they choose.

We are going to pick up MUCH hay today! I must go now! We are planning to be back for lessons this afternoon! Everyone please be patient with me this week - I'm really nervous about this weekend!

8/31/08 I'm excited about the comments coming in on the Blog! You are great writers! Thank you for participating! I posted a new question today!

Things have been pretty quiet here since the rain. We had good lessons Thursday. Friday was good. I had a meeting with my dear friend Stephanie Slaven who is a Life Coach. I know it may sound crazy, but I was nervous about going to Colorado and meeting with Pat this week. I want to be really prepared and ready to show him he chose the right person to head Showing Naturally. I wanted to bounce my ideas off someone who knows how to make things happen. Stephanie was amazing! (as always) She quickly pointed out where my focus needed to be (not where I had it) and how to create the professional presentation I desired. I'm so grateful!!!! The small fee I paid was priceless to me - it may make the difference of continuing in this direction or being politely replaced. She works with lots of neat people helping them achieve success in their lives - check her out at:

8/27/08 Today with the continuing rain I got time to catch up even more of my 'to do' list. I finally got to create an actual Blog! Everyone always tells me this is a blog - after learning about them today, I suppose it is. But I wanted to create a blog that You could respond to and read others responses to. My friend Michele Webber has created a Family Enrichment Toolkit that is truly phenomenal! She told me about it after her daughter told her I taught using the same concepts she used. I can only hope to one day follow her ideas - they are pure and much better than my efforts. But she presented me with a kit to use during camp complete with Honor Plate, Table Thyme Cards and her CD.

Although it may sound complicated it is really quite simple; serve a meal on the Honor Plate to someone who has displayed exceptional character that day, week, etc. Everyone talks about what that person has done and it builds the receiver up by everyone recognizing him or her, and it encourages everyone else to strive to get it next time. We didn't use it during camp because I was worried that the kids who didn't get it would be discouraged, unlike in a family situation when there is always another chance/day/meal in the future. But I do think I can take a photo of it and post it next to something great here in the current news so everyone can celebrate (and it gives us time to honor everyone - not just a single week).

The Cd was amazing and truly inspired me to become better at recognizing good character not just actual 'wins'. It is well worth everyone listening to to get a different perspective than we normally have these days.

The Table Thyme cards were the most inspiring piece in the kit for me! The cards have cool questions on them meant to be asked of the whole family at the dinner table. Michele said many Dads take a few cards in the car so they can come up with interesting conversations to have with their kids! My idea for the cards is a blog - pose a question every day and let an even greater audience respond to it! Everyone is by their computers so much anyway, it would be a way everyone could think about something bigger (than our boring day to day stuff) and express their own feelings about it! Please take the time to read the first question, and if you have time, please respond.

I will also post other things like the questions I asked here yesterday, so you can comment on them. Let's have fun with this! Check out FPF Blog!

8/26/08 It has been pouring rain here all day, turning our pastures green and providing us with some needed time to catch up on much bookwork. While working to finalize a few things, I posted a new video on You Tube for our 2008 World Show. I wasn't totally done but I wanted to get what I had finished posted. It takes awhile to upload so I pushed the button, then went to lunch with Sue and Stef. When I returned it had finished so I sat down to watch it. It was working and I was intrigued by other 'Parelli' videos so I began to watch them too. See our Video page and scroll down to the new videos. While there I saw some titles on horse abuse and clicked. Although I thought I was informed about the horrors of abuse slaughter I was wrenched from the deepest parts of my soul watching the footage! There was even a documentary taken in an english slaughterhouse that I had to turn off before even half of it had played. I suppose I thought I knew what went on, but apparently I didn't.

What is the 'right' thing to do with unwanted horses? It's such a difficult question. We have a colt here right now who is not safe. We are faced with the decision of what to do with him. We truly believe he will hurt someone one day if he gets sold either privately or at a sale. Is it right to put off our problem horse on an unsuspecting person? He has been raised in a private loving home, with love and care lavished upon him his whole life. He has never been mistreated in any way, but still gets angry and explodes with a hair trigger. I do not know the answer. Maybe a pasture mate or groundwork only home will appear, but it does really make me think about the issue in an entirely different way. I pray the best solution will come to me.

If you have never explored the issue there is plenty to inform you on You Tube. I was committed to creating the Kids Helping Kids and Horses program to help educate horses coming out of rescue so they will have value and training and they will (hopefully) not end up in rescue (or worse) again. After watching this footage (which was way too graphic to post on my website) I am fired up and ready to get on with this project. I cannot do it alone. Children are the future. By educating children we will multiply our troops. Showing Naturally is the key to ending the suffering! There are many more children out there who would love the opportunity to work with and help save these beautiful creatures - for them we need scholarships to join the ranks! Alone none of us can make much impact, but by working together and including as many people as possible, we can make a big difference!

Investigating the prospects of a non-profit for our program sounds good but at least a year in coming. We need action now! I think we can set up a new bank account to hold our funds (so it stays completely separate) and offer 2 options in which you can help right now: 1) a Horse Sponsorship for a horse from a rescue organization to come for training for 1 or more months. Horses would be listed on a special page here on our website for people to see and adopt. 2) a Showing Naturally Scholarship for an underprivileged or at-risk child/teenager to come in and be part of our Showing Naturally activities. Maybe for 1 camp or clinic, maybe much more. The donation could be broken down to very small amounts so even other kids could participate. We need to do something! Kids and horses are forgotten and abused every day! We can make a difference and change lives! I need your help and ideas to create and fund this important program! Thank you for reading all this and be careful if you do watch the footage - it is way graphic.

8/25/08 We had a wonderful weekend in Latta Park. Much of the joy we had was the application and success of the new techniques Ric Steed showed me last weekend. I have steadily presented to new concepts and everyone has grabbed them and put them into practice with amazing results! Thank you Ric!

We had so many really good trips this weekend that it becomes difficult to choose what to highlight. I was proud of all our horses and riders! Everyone made improvements! Bekah probably had the biggest change. She and Roxy performed solidly all weekend garnering many points along the way! Tommy had his debut in Hunter Hack on Clarke (his first time too). They did super and got 2 seconds for their efforts. It was a really big show, especially for a 2 judge show, and I was delighted with everyone! Keep up all the great work!

8/17/08 I took off with Dixon, Bella, Frosty and Julie to Perry, GA this weekend to a Reined Cow Horse Show. It was great fun! I got to spend lots of time with a bunch of my friends both old and new! It was awesome getting to see Joey McCrae (who helped me get started in the reining and cowhorse with Angel). I stayed up Saturday night talking with Joey, Doug and Allison (his clients) until late about all our (old) Anderson friends - caught up on all the goings on there.

I did get an opportunity to hang out and work with Ric Steed and his entourage more. Ric is an awesomely talented horseman and a really fun guy! I met him at Pat's in Florida and got to see him in action in Unadilla and in Fort Worth. He was 3rd in the Senior Reining and World Champion in Senior Working Cowhorse this year at the APHA World Show. He and Pat are working on a program to unite the natural horsemanship with performance horsemanship and Ric has the keys Pat needs. Ric kindly welcomed me into his group and helped me all weekend. He has worked for the past 9 years on a horsemanship program that simplifies the most challenging maneuvers. He let me ride his horses and helped me on them as well as on Dixon. I had the best reining pattern I had ever had on him this weekend. I can't wait to get more help, he coached me on a bunch of cow stuff (I realized I really need help reading and responding to the cows effectively). I think his ideas are going to dramatically help all of us! He is just completing a series of dvds on his philosophy; he will offer to include Pat in his program, it would be amazing if Pat did grab on and embrace Ric - PNH would progress exponentionaly in the performance horses. Even if Pat doesn't see, we will continue to follow and learn. Good luck Ric!

8/15/08 We had a full last week of camp. We had loads of fun! Thank you to everyone who came and everyone who helped! We had a plethora of counselors, 10 in fact! They included Kaitlyn and Shane Robilard - it was wonderful to get to spend time with them before they left again for college. Mariah was back for the whole week and provided us with much assistance teaching and giving demonstrations. I got to work with several of the counselors and their horses one evening, including Mariah and MacKenzie, we made great progress and the girls had big breakthroughs! I love these nights that we all become so focused and get so much done!

Another camp season successfully completed! Now we must get our fall schedule worked out. Please call Robin to get your spot firmed up for the fall and winter.

Ashley Hayes came back to see our camp environment today with her friend Rose. I enjoy her energy and ideas and really look forward to working with her on our 'Kids helping Horses/Horses helping Kids' program. We planned for me to visit her facility Friday to meet her kids and see what she does too.  I'm excited about the new program and all the possibilities .... life looks really bright for our future!

8/12/08 It was my birthday today and after telling people several times 'no party' , we had a huge awesome party complete with 2 cakes, a blinking tiara and wand! It was really fun - thank you to everyone!

8/10/08 We had a great show! Everyone rode great! The judges were a bit old-fashioned and we didn't place as well as we hoped (apparently diagonals didn't count) in the english; but in the western everyone did super; Madison had her best western show yet; Jessica smoked everyone on Woody; Natalie gets better all the time - they better watch out next year in Novice Youth and 13 & under; Avery and Lacey are gelling into a 'team', they had their best trips to date; Jennifer Paschal won High Point Amateur and Res Open Horse looking as good as they looked in Texas; Jennifer Weiss put in a series of solid trips - they are getting to be very hard to beat

8/7/08 Today I got an email from Debra Carl who is organizing a 'Parade of Breeds' and Horse Festival at Chetola Farms in Monroe, NC October 12 and would like the Showing Naturally to come perform! I'm ecstatic! I immediately put it on our calendar - we had a 4 judge show in VA but Tommy can take those wanting to go there and I can go promote Showing Naturally. Interestingly Debra is with the US Equine Rescue League and I briefly told her about what Ashley Hayes and I came up with yesterday - she wrote back that she was 'blown away' and was going to pitch it to the regional director of the USERL! How exciting! We are out there making a difference now, but we can be so much bigger and help so many more horses and kids! We have a great opportunity here - I will keep you informed!

8/6/08 Today was another scorcher and I rode so much I got sick and couldn't bounce back - no lessons again. Sorry! I really did get sick from pushing too hard riding after lunch - not good when everything doesn't stay put.

I did have an amazing visitor today. Ashley Hayes came over to talk to me about some new programs (I was flat out on the couch in the apartment when she arrived - very embarrassed). She is fascinating! She does Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (I can't spell it, sorry) at her farm in Lincolnton. She is also a Level 3 Parelli Student with big ambitions. We talked about developing a program to take horses who have been rehabilitated from rescue groups (but yet untrained) and creating a halfway house when they can come and learn skills to make them adoptable. We would use youth (both at-risk and non-at-risk) to train and educate them using the Parelli training. We would fund the program through federal and private grants and provide a place for both kids and horses to grow and blossom. I think this is a marvelous program for Showing Naturally to develop. We could award scholarships to deserving kids who couldn't afford to have lessons - and those that can could feel great about working with these underprivileged horses helping them to find a new home!

I think this is a great addition to our growing program. We could do some real good here! we could make a difference to both horses and kids! Let me know if you would be interested in participating! I'm ready to get the ball rolling! Thank you Ashley!

8/5/08 Today was really hot and really fun! Sue, Stephanie M, Mariah, Lauren, Kayla, Emily and Amy all came over to play Parelli Games. We played first in the ring and got quite a bit accomplished; then we headed out to the cows. It was hot but we still had fun! Johnny, Sue's horse, was CRAZY for the cows! He was voracious when he was after them. I think we have found his 'true' calling! I had never met Moriah's horse Sundance; I got to see Parelli training in action! He was wonderful! His bowing was really cute, but his bareback/bridleless with the carrot stick was really amazing! He flowed so confidently - I was impressed! Kayla, Emily and Amy got out with the cows like experts (they had done it before during camp) and I was proud!

It got way too hot and we all had to go inside. The thermometer got up to 100 degrees and we had to cancel lessons. It was a hot fun day! Thank you to all that came over - I enjoyed you!

8/01/08 We had another wonderful Showing Naturally Camp Week! It is such a pleasure getting to work with so many young motivated horsepeople! We had a special guest, Mariah Helms, with whom we got much more time than expected. Mariah is a Level 3 PNH student with big dreams of becoming a Parelli Professional Instructor and I plan to do everything I can to help her achieve her goal.

My friend Joey brought a mare over that he wanted to sell. She came with all sorts of warnings but after thoroughly looking her over, I found VERY sharp teeth in dire need of the dentist and a spot on her back that his saddle had been rubbing until it had developed some scar tissue. Other than those 2 things, it appeared we had a lovely horse. Mariah took a special interest in her and we named her 'Portrait'. After only 2 days Mariah and the other councilors were not only riding her, but walk/trot/cantering her safely all over the farm. She is a big black mare (a bit sunburned right now) with a pretty blaze and white socks. Truly she has the makings of a lovely horse! She will go through the program (Joey accepted my offer) and I will offer her for sale to a good home when we get her all fixed up (or maybe I will just keep her, who knows). I'm excited to start a new promising project! I will keep you informed.

Lyric went home this week. He has made huge changes and it was wonderful to see his steady improvement. He is going home to be a trailhorse which seems a perfect job since we have found he does best out in our Parelli Playground! Good luck and we wish you all the best!

7/27/08 The show went great yesterday. The english wasn't nearly as big as usual with everyone out of town (I think a few were tired from camp too) but it allowed us to add some fun bareback and bridleless classes. They were awesome! We need to do that again! I'd like to actually organize a whole show for games and neat stuff - I've got to look at the schedule. We got tons of good feedback from the Parelli Playground (our back fiend with new obstacles). I really think if we did an 'Extreme Cowboy Race' it would be really fun and well attended too! All very in-line with the PNH philosophy - we need to get these two activities together (maybe the same day?).

We had a rider who really demonstrated grit, courage and determination in the face of one of her biggest fears. Zoe Sandall has been riding her Mom's horse Jackson the past few weeks during camp. She has made huge progress with this extreme right brain gelding, even riding him bareback all over both farms. Jackson and Zoe have history - Jackson was originally her horse until he spooked and lost her. Zoe worked really hard to rebuild her confidence with her new horse Kid (with whom she has done a lovely job). Her mom, Susan took Jackson and has done her best to heal his fragile mind, but she too has been unloaded by him several times during big spooks. Even their old trainer Reggie Sustare came apart from him quickly at a show last year when he saw a troll under a bridge at a show in Lancaster. Susan and I have persevered through many setbacks, but we were really seeing huge progress since Zoe picked him back up. Yesterday it all started as innocently as ever; Zoe wanted to see a pattern and we passed her one from the stand (she was on him). She read it and reached to hand it back - he saw that paper out beside him and flipped out! He took off trying to outrun the monster upon him. Zoe smartly pulled the paper into her and turned him in circles until her stopped. Just when we thought she had ridden through the wreck, the paper fell to the ground and he leaped sideways so fast and so hard I couldn't believe she stayed on him. But she slid sideways and in his panic she could regain her seat, she hid the ground. The fuzzy saddle 'seat' slipped to the side with her and was flapping continuing to frighten him until it too came free. He stopped.

Zoe was brave and did not cry, but didn't wish to get back on either. I explained that he had a huge safety issue - he was petrified of the paper - he was not trying to unload her, just the monster paper on him (remember Pat's 'sabertooth butterflies'). She needed to remount and give him solid strong leadership. She needed to show him that he was mistaken to think he needed to fear when she was around, she would always keep him safe. He needed to see that his response was not reasonable and he needed to let her 'drive'/lead, she would say if he needed to be afraid. This is easy to say when you are standing on the ground and were not the one who just came off. It all came down to trust - would Zoe trust me enough to let me lead her? Would Jackson accept Zoe as his leader although she must have had some feelings of fear in her? Zoe did a tremendous thing - she got back on and followed my instructions implicitly. She rose to the occasion (even though I'm sure she had to dig down deep into a mental/emotional place many of us never find) and she succeeded on so many levels! She trusted my experience; she trusted that Jackson truly was afraid; she trusted her own leadership skills - Jackson rode all afternoon and well into the dark until the end of the show! Congratulations Zoe for showing such character! You proved to everyone at that show, your family, me but most importantly, to yourself that you can do it! Well done!

We were delighted that our friends Shane and Cindy Young, their son Jacob and their clients came and joined us! They drove 100 miles to practice for the AQHA Youth World Show and The Masters! The Balcoums were also here practicing for the Congress with their Small Fry! It was exactly what I hoped to create - an environment people can use for a variety of purposes (getting started, winning locally, accumulating PAC points, etc) including preparing  very fancy horses for very high level competition. They brought some fancy fancy horses including one mare who was Res World Champion and Congress Champion last year in the pleasure. We need to see this quality to keep our eyes looking forward to improving our game to the next level. Amber (her owner and rider) was delightful and gave all of us a taste of how it could be. Shane and Cindy are gifted horse trainers who are serious about producing winning western pleasure horses at the biggest shows in the country. It was cool to see them excited about their current string and to see how they get them broke (and doing it with us). Cindy rode a fancy bay horse who was scared of his shadow when he got off the trailer; she softly rode him all over the farm, and before she left he was quiet and settled. Shane rode an incredibly talented 2 year old and their was a moment he loped up the side and all the rhythm and softness in his body and mind took breath! What Fluidity he has! It gave me a new model to emulate. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!

7/25/08 We have had a super week this week! Camp went really well and ran smoothly. Thank you to everyone who helped make it successful! I got to take a bunch of pictures today, so hopefully by Sunday we will have a new slide show for you. I'm excited about having our pictures in slide shows, I think they are more entertaining ways for you to view our pictures. I really like the Slide deal but the kids introduced me to Media One and once I really understand it, I think the shows will be amazing! Tonight I just couldn't figure out how to change my Itunes music files into MP3 files. I had to give up for awhile (it gets aggravating), maybe the kids can show me tomorrow. Yesterday we were trying to figure out how to add the video Susan Sandal took. She took hours and we cannot figure out how to put any of it on the computer. Maybe Sunday will be the day I crack the code. We must get ready for our show tomorrow. May have more pictures from that too :)

7/23/08 We had a scary thing come up at the end of last week, Robin Woschkolup's horse Beauty was diagnosed with a life threatening fungus. Apparently this fungus normally lives in Florida and Louisiana but somehow it made its way to her. A tiny pimple came up on her belly while we were in Texas and it has turned into an open bloody mess. Dr. Stephanie Hobbs was shocked when she saw it last week and referred her to Bonnie Brae in Tryon. She went in for surgery yesterday which went well. The doctors said they were aggressive and felt cautiously good. She starts some antifungal shots today. We are all praying for her recovery.

I have spent many hours this week on the phone with both state and federal vets and DEHC. My concern is for the welfare of our children and animals. The outcome of all these calls is this is a freak occurrence. There have been only 4 cases maximum (there is some question whether those were or not) in 10 years on people in the United States (this is slightly more common in Thailand in the rice patties); animals (dogs and horses) have a slightly higher rate; but one must have some immune system depression and an open wound to be susceptible.

Dr Cox (our federal contact) just called and gave us a big sigh of relief. She said that truly this is incredibly rare and takes the absolute perfect set of circumstances (temp, humidity, an open wound, etc) to occur. Also this organism has no cell wall and is easily killed by soap and water. She said we should make sure horses and humans get a soap bath after exiting any water/mud and this will not occur.

So we will go forward and before we trail ride through any mud or go into the pond, we will carefully observe to see if horses or humans have a sore or cut, if so they will not participate (sorry); there will also be a firm rule of soap and water bath after camp every day (for both overnight and day campers). We will also treat the water in our pond with an antibacterial/fungal treatment (during the times we are using it). I realize this is probably not best for the living creatures (fish, turtles, etc) that live in it, but I must do my best to protect us. I realize this may seem like overkill but one sick individual is too many.

7/21/08 I made a huge oversight in my reporting from the World Show. I did not mention how well Kristen Castaldi and her new horse Tyson did in the 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle. Kristen and Tyson looked beautiful in their class. We were all very proud and wish her all the best in her next venture - college! Tyson gets to go with her, so we expect to hear great things from them in the future!

7/20/08 Although you won't believe it, I have spent over 15 hours creating some new Slide Shows for you to watch! Check them out today! Look at the Videos page.

7/19/08 Wow! What a crazy week full of emotion! We had our first Showing Naturally Week and it was more successful than I ever imagined it could be! The kids (and adults) absorbed everything we offered and really touched our hearts with their appreciation! Showing Naturally Camp slide show .

We began with On-Line Groundwork which really grabbed the kids and the horses. Sidney's horse Boaz really needed some backing training and we got it done - he backs beautifully now! By the end of the week even the tiniest campers could move their horses smoothly using their carrot stick and rope halter!

I had a few gasps when I announced that bareback riding would be a big part of the program - by week's end almost every rider was riding all over the farm bareback! A few riders never even got their saddles dirty - they rode bareback the whole time! 'Freestyle' was our most popular Savvy by far. 'Finesse' was a bit unconventional with concentrated work out in our new Playground (back field)! Avery's grandfather Mike came over last week and turned an overgrown fenceless pasture into a dramatic playground with his fancy new tractor. Her dad Bryan came Saturday and brought us several old tractor tires which he filled with dirt, creating new pedestals for the playground. Then Joey (from next door) offered us a BUNCH of free dirt. I never turn down some free dirt (that stuff is expensive) and once the area by the barn was filled, he put it out in our playground. I mentioned that I had visions of 'steps' on this certain grade between some trees - I had no idea he would get up early and take his bobcat out there and construct them himself! They were awesome and I think all the new additions were well used!

Everyone got to be successful with Liberty with the addition of the round corral. I worked with each camper individually until it got too hot; Tommy helped the other half the next morning. It was touching to see how both horses and humans woke up when they realized they really could achieve great things! Tommy was really amazing with the more challenging horses. He hopped up upon a barrel and talked them right through even the toughest spots. All were grinning when they exited the pen!

The spot that developed the greatest confidence was our pond. We got all the horses (and owners) swimming and having great fun! We had some that jumped right in (some that jumped right into their Mom's lap - like Treat with Wendy) and some that took a bit more coaxing (2 hours max). But once all were inside even the most timid had their shell melted away to reveal excited motivated equestrians!

Quite possibly the most fun was had with our cattle - they were well worth all the effort! Ben and Caitlyn were our star cowhands and I thank them for pushing me to get out there and figure out how to 'play' with our newest family members. We quickly realized that our cows needed to become more motivated and involved to allow us some fun. We made up a game after Bonnie and Clyde lay down and refused to move. Dwayne told me they would come when called with a bucket of grain, so we made targets out of feeders and put a little grain in them. When then set the kids loose and had them push the cows to the targets. We thought they (Bonnie and Clyde) were stupid because it took them a while to reach the first target; but we quickly decided they were cattle geniuses when they realized feed was at the end of each run. Pat Parelli himself would have been proud of the way we became more provocative (one can apply his principles to nearly everything in life).

Of course I got to do a couple fun demonstrations. The campers are always kind enough to give me their attention; a few even ask intelligent questions to make me feel important. I got to ride Dixon Wednesday; I got to spin and slide, lope slow and fast, even got to change leads - it was great fun! Friday my sweetie drove up to FPF and got Skip so I could drive him for the campers. Skip was as wonderful as he always is. I think he even inspired some new ideas in both kids and their parents!

Thank you everyone who participated in our first Showing Naturally Camp! We have plenty of room in our next few weeks of camp for more campers. You will love our new format! We are more creative and fun than ever before! We would love to have you!

7/17/08 We had quite big news from our friend (and working neighbor) Joey Catoe today. We have put all our efforts and energy into finding Glory but we did have another escapee last week.

I had the big idea that I wanted cows for us to play with in Parelli Camp, so I asked my friend Dwayne Fultz to pick us some appropriate prospects. I requested cute cows with small horns that would move, but not be mean when we pushed them. He arrived last Tuesday with a small bull and cow for us. They were perfect! They were roping 'steers' who were 'over' that and ready for new horizons; I do not think any of us imagined how many new horizons were in their near future.

Tommy told me cows were like water, you can never keep them in any pasture; I thought he was exaggerating. But by Wednesday (the very next day) the bull was missing. I figured he was in the back pasture, and we were so busy looking for Glory that I gave him little thought at first. By Saturday I began to fret so Tommy (who did get credit for being correct) went looking for him. At dusk he thought he heard him across the railroad tracks behind our house mooing; we would look more Sunday. But on Sunday there was no sign. We were puzzled. Campers and their horses were arriving and my attention was focused on them. I felt great disappointment because our one cow was too tiny to push around alone.

When Joey rode over today, I was busy teaching and wondered what he needed. He exclaimed "I have good news and bad news! The good news is your bull has been seen; the bad news it was on Chestnut Lane, then running down Main Street, then at the Police Station, then captured at the Fire Department." Unfortunately he didn't know what had happened next. He did have the number for the fire department and we called. The chief did say a bull was caught there last Thursday and was hauled off to Bull Jail in Tradesville. He was thinking it may not be my bull and asked for a description, "he is brindle, black with brown stripes, 2 back white socks with black spots in them, a star on his face, and one horn going a little up and one horn going a little down" I said (good thing I had studied him so closely). The chief said "I don't think it was your bull, this one had both horns pointing up. But you may come and look at the pictures to see if you like."

Tommy couldn't believe there could possibly be another loose bull in downtown Lancaster and if there were, perhaps this town is more country than we even thought. Joey led us over to the Fire Station several miles away. When we arrived the chief was gone but fortunately his helper was there. He too thought the description was close but still it was probably not my bull. He did tell us the original report was that a steer was loose; but when it got there he realized it was actually a small bull - 'he checked'. The pictures did confirm it was ours and we got the number to the son of the guy who took the bull home.

When we got home I called the son he promised his Dad would call, but he too thought it wasn't my bull out in their pasture. When Joel Laney, the Dad called me I was ready to have Clyde back and be done with all this identification. He exclaimed he didn't think it was my bull, I told him I identified his picture at the Fire Station - and actually it was. He said he was turned out with his cows and wasn't sure he could get him up. I told him Dwayne could come with his horse, dogs and rope - he quickly decided he would try in the next few days to get him up. He didn't really soften until I told him that our Bull (Clyde) had a very depressed wife (Bonnie) at home, who was missing him terribly. I don't suppose he had ever heard of a bull having a wife; he laughed and seemed more likely to make an effort to catch our bull.

The next day Joel did call. He had my bull up in a stall and I needed to come pick him up quickly. Lauren graciously offered to let us take her truck and trailer to pick him up at lunchtime. The directions were sketchy but we hoped we could find it anyway. Our big landmark was the M & R Minimart. Perhaps people more familiar with Tradesville (which has no actual town) might know what the M & R Minimart is, but with not only no store sign - but not even the first beer or cigarette sign; let's say it was difficult to identify. We did however find the dirt road and the driveway. Nobody was at the barn when we entered this scene which could have been 50 years ago. Cute old red barn with 2 stalls and hayloft full of junk and random cages; 1 stall with 5 curious goats and 1 foundered hackney pony who was offering us big money to break him out; the barn aisle was home to more cages with breeding pairs of mini-rex rabbits preparing for their next batch of cottontails; and one last stall with my bull fully agitated, hungry and covered with flies.

We had left the truck and trailer on the washboard road for fear it wouldn't make it across the small pipe and would end up stuck in the deep ditch on either side. We saw immediately that Dwayne's idea of shaking a bucket of food and calling our precious (now possessed) bull,  was not going to work out. So we gave him (Dwayne) a panicked call for help. He was riding but agreed to get off and come help us if I could tell him where we were. I felt less stupid when he, an actual resident of Tradesville, had no idea what or where the M & R Minimart was. He would be there as fast as he could find us. I was also getting nervous about being at a stranger's barn with no male chaperone (I always think I can handle it - this time I envisioned a possible crime. I accepted this farmer might pick me off, but the younger faster girls could sprint out to the main highway for help if need be).

As we slid the phone closed, a golf cart approached with a cross between Hulk Hogan and Santa driving - it was our farmer Joel. He looked none too amused at the entourage of girls we brought in various stages of undress (one older one had already changed into her bikini and saw no need to change before we left). He mumbled something I didn't catch and motioned for me to bring the trailer to the barn. Apparently he hasn't been around too many women trailer drivers because he rolled his eyes before I prepared to back into the hole at the end of his barn. I was determined to show him and I stepped on the gas and put that trailer perfectly into that doorway in one try.

When I got out he had positioned the other girls in the large hole next to the trailer and given the instructions "no matter what, don't let him through, make a human wall". Perhaps it was all the sundry cages or Clyde's poor mood, but I didn't have much faith he would just look at us and see a sturdy wall. Maybe Joel was psychic or maybe he could see another rodeo coming on, but he looked around and started handing us every pointy stick he could find. Broken brooms and rakes were our new defense and I flashed back to the scene in Braveheart where the farmers bore homemade spears and were massacred by the other more prepared army - our bull was well armed with his pointy horns, our broken broom handles were no match for him if he took a notion to leave. Before I could utter a sound 'Santa' had cracked to stall door and Clyde charged out to do his battle. A well placed sunbeam must have rendered him blind for a moment because he took one look at us and our pointy sticks and turned around to do battle with Joel! Joel backed off and again mumbled some unintelligible something. He re-approached Clyde and sent him hard toward us, we stood our ground and he jumped into the trailer.

We stood there amazed at how intimidating we must have been, when a huge crash came from the trailer. Clyde was angry and had rammed his head under Lauren's partition sending the heavy thing flying. Poor Lauren had had enough and she was sure he was coming through the side of her new trailer. In all the chaos my phone rang, it was Dwayne, he had made it to Beauford Crossroads and needed more directions. We told him 'we had it under control', maybe an overstatement. We were worried he would tear up the partition now directly under his cloven feet. Joel cracked the door and Clyde's angry grimace met him. Joel lifted his torture rod and Clyde retreated so we could pull out the heavy partition uninjured. Now we had to face how much this fiasco was to cost - getting Clyde out of Bull Jail - Joel stopped and scratched his head "forty bucks seem fair? I did have to go all the way to Lancaster to pick him up, and you know fuel prices..." I told him it was fine. I had only $50 in my pocket and the truck was now below the red line, so we tossed him a couple 20's and took off with the partition stuck in the back of the truck.

We made it safely back to Beauford Crossroads with their sportsbar and gaspump, we were feeling well satisfied about our trip. When we arrived home there were great cheers from all the campers. We drove the truck out into the pasture to turn Clyde loose. But first we fetched a gate to block the huge hole we had found in the fence (Tommy had said 'oh yes that's where Sizzy tried to commit suicide by hanging her legs all through the fence, I cut her out'. Perhaps he could have told me before I put my expensive stock in there the first time!). Once blocked, the girls opened the trailer and Clyde burst from the confinement. Bonnie looked up as if she had seen a ghost and let out a soft moo. Clyde threw back his crooked horns and let out a moo to rattle the windows. They both took off running toward each other and I could almost hear Lionel Richie singing some sappy song as they reunited. It was unbelievable, they we letting out soft moos and scratching each other all over with their horns. Dwayne called to see if we had made it home safely and I could almost hear his voice crack as I described the scene (he is more usually cowboy than romantic). Successful was our trip.

7/16/08 We have had a Glory siting! Joanna from the Panhandle Citgo saw her last Thursday running down Harrisburg Road. She and another man stopped their cars and tried to catch her because they were both worried she would get hit; unfortunately they didn't succeed and she bolted behind the Founders Bank. Please continue to look for her in your travels! I am hoping now that she has taken up with someone and they just haven't found us yet.

7/15/08 We have an amazing group for Showing Naturally Week! We have big plans for the week!

7/12/08 Life was happening in other places while we were in Fort Worth and I would like to share some of the wonderful accomplishments of our 'family' members who were representing us in other locations:

Sandra Craig   " Tia and I went to the Region 15 Arabian Horse Championship show over the fourth and you can tell Tommy that we got plus point scores on our lopeovers in both Open and AAOTR trail. Doing the trail clinic and the open show really helped me warm my out of shape horse up for the show. I've attached a picture of us, "all cleaned up" with our winnings. We were Reserve Champion in H/A Trail AAOTR, Top Five (3rd in points) in H/A Trail Open and Top Five in Western Horsemanship AATR 18 & over." 

Courtney and Cassey  Courtney's mom Mickey sent me a text that said Courtney and Cassey won 1st out of 38 in Hunter Under Saddle at her 4h State Horse Show! Great job! If you send more info, I'd love to post!

Jessica Olsen won big at the Appaloosa Nationals! She was High Point 14-18yrs, High Point English Rider, High Score Reiner, Overall High Point for All-Ages! She won 7 trophies, a laptop, saddle, halter, 3 buckles and tons of cash! Congratulations on your final show of your youth career! I'm so proud! I was with her in 1997 when she rode in her first year at Walk-Trot (she ended up 3rd in W-T High Point that year). You've come a long way Baby!

Cindy Moser sent us great news! My new QH (Gracie) and Alex did fantastic at the State 4-H Horse Show.  They won Champion in the Western Pleasure Senior rider class, Champion in the Western Show Hack Sr. rider class, Reserve Champion in the Western Pleasure Sr. horse class (there were 61 horses in the class) and 7th place in Western Riding.  They came in 3rd place overall in the Western Sr. Division out of about 40 some kids.  If Alex would have done showmanship and the pattern classes, I have no doubt that they would have been number 1.   But he hates any class with a pattern and chose not to go in those classes.  They will be going on to the Southern Regionals at the end of this month.  Congratulations!

7/11/08 Our week has been a whirlwind of searching and thunderstorms. If I have to stop and knock on another door, maybe once I won't cry like a freak for the people to just stare at and respond 'I don't even know what kind of dog that is'. It will be worth it when we find her. I have been so desperate to find her I have called 3 animal communicators. They have given us several good clues: 1) she went into labor and felt things were too crazy and busy so she had to leave to get quiet to have her puppies, 2) she can see and unpainted wooden fence or fencepost and can hear water, 3) she can hear people calling her but she is hiding in a thicket/woods and is so 'whacked out' she won't show herself, 4) she may be 2-3 miles northeast of the farm, 5) she is near a red car or pickup truck, 6) the night she left she was blindly running down a dirt road, 7) all felt she was still alive and has had her puppies. Any help (no matter how unorthodox) is welcome! I just want my beautiful Glory back! I am offering a $500 reward for her safe return. I have new flyers to pass out tomorrow; if you can help by putting them in stores or mailboxes, we really appreciate it! Yesterday Tommy spent his whole day driving from animal shelter to animal shelter checking for Glory in all the pens. He visited 6 total, he has a new understanding of truly how many homeless animals are out there - it was staggering!

If you have any other good ideas about how we can get our precious girl back - please pass them along - or please put them into motion. Thank you Susan Sandell for alerting your Humane Society friends who put out an email for Glory! The more people who get involved, the more chance we have of a happy outcome.

7/7/08 Lauren woke us up this morning in a panic because Glory didn't come back inside last night after going out to the bathroom. After 2 weeks of giving her special puppy food and canned food, baths and all the special attention she could desire, Lauren was left stunned by Glory's disappearance. She (and all her sidekicks:) ) spent all day searching and fretting. I was devastated but tried to turn that into productive searching all to no avail. Please pray for her safe return!

7/6/08 We drove all night and through tons of horrible thunderstorms. Avery rode home with us and was the perfect passenger. We rolled on in at almost 6:00pm - it was the longest trip home in years - but all the water on the roads kept our speed down to avoid having an unpleasant accident. We (stupidly) decided to skip picking up the dogs from Lauren and just get them tomorrow morning. Little did we know Glory would bolt tonight! If I had it to do again, we would have taken her with us (it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be for the dogs in the trailer, they seemed to actually prefer staying inside out of the heat), or at least rushed home to pick her up as soon as we could have.

7/5/08 We enjoyed a bit more rest before getting up to take out some bands and put in braids between classes. We got to go around and pick up new collars for the pups - names and numbers; plus pictures of my driving debut. We even attempted to do some shopping but we were too cheap to actually spend our hard earned mane money.

The disappointment of the evening was the freestyle reining class - my highlight each year. The stressed economy seemed to hit this class the hardest. Youth and amateur riders filled a tiny class of 8. We held our breath to see Rick Steed and his 'Rockstar' performance. Unfortunately like many winners Smart Master Plan has a family who supports him, and I understood they decided to ride him after his big cowhorse win. Well the freestyle reining relied on the solid connection between Rick  and him. Having another rider seemed to break this bond and he didn't give the performance we had all hoped. Rick is the consumate competitor and picture of good sportsmanship; he kept showing until he left the gate. He even graciously came back to receive his ribbon.

It was all over so early we decided to go ahead and leave; so off we were by 10:30pm.

7/4/08 Jennifer showed in her second class today and we were holding our breath to see how it would turn out. She has been working so hard going to school and working her job that she hasn't gotten much time to come up to ride (she lives in Atlanta). We have gone through so much and we have learned so incredibly much this past year that I cannot imagine what it must be like for her to meet us once or twice per month to show. We are overflowing with so many new ideas, techniques and information, I'm certain it must be overwhelming!

Last night we all ran into that wall in the Watt Arena; Jennifer was trying to practice to get ready, Tommy was trying to help her get Clarke as current as possible and wires were getting crossed. Last week I think the Castaldi's and I had the same discussion - trends and requirements are constantly changing and to keep up with all the changes one has to be studying intensely all the time. All the changes the associations are attempting to make are truly to make things better and more natural for the horses. It is getting better all the time but if you are not out there watching and comparing and asking questions, you will be left behind.

Jennifer was doing her best to absorb all these changes; fortunately for all of us, she is a quick study and although she seemed to have been placed in an impossible cut, she rose to the occasion and SHE MADE HER CUT! We were so happy (no one was as delighted as Jennifer's Mom who celebrated all night long - she was so cute!)!  The Finals were right after her cut and she ended up with a beautiful Finalist ribbon garnered from a beautiful ride! Congratulations! Her age group is so incredibly tough and deep, Finalist was like winning it all! A delightful end to our family's showing this year :)

7/3/08 Today was quite a learning day for me. I had Senior Working Hunter this morning at 8. Practice was 5am. He practiced awesome, Skip is quite the professional, jumped all the color, did all the numbers, we were ready. I was 5th in the order. Turned out to be a good thing I was early because when it was about to start we (the riders) noticed the jumps going up; we asked about it; Robert said he was raising them to 3'3" and lengthening the lines too. We all silently panicked. I do not think many of these horses have ever done a 3'3" course much less with the longer lines! Skip certainly hadn't. We practiced at 2'6"/2'9"; normally the jumps are 2'9" to 3' max. I decided not to freak and just gallop more - Skip is brave, he would jump. He seemed to recognize they were higher and really hunted down to the first jump and jumped the heck out of it! Unfortunately I must have practiced Hunter Hack too much because when we went by the gate and I closed my leg to send him up the next line, he fussed and sulled like he expected to stop and back after passing the gate. I spurred him, he jumped and I sent him hard up the long 5 stride line. I was ticked but at the moment couldn't understand why he hung up by the gate. He jumped boldly down the next 6 stride line and sulled again when we went by the gate; this time he really meant to stop (he did it last year in the same spot and I thought he was sore or too tired or something) I hooked him hard with my spur, he changed leads but went on up to the in-and-out and jumped it well. There was a long approach to a big wide oxer at the end, fortunately it was toward the gate - he jumped more than a foot over the top of it. He jumped so well Chuck Briggs was following Tommy out asking questions about Skip - Tommy explained he need not even go there - Skip was not for sale at any price - 'Charlotte is insane over that horse. Will not help to flash money - at all'.

I was disappointed and confused when I left the ring, not understanding why two years in a row we had the same problem. But that fast I realized it was MY fault for not practicing courses on him! I do as few jumps as possible to save his feet (horses only have so many jumps in their feet in their life - per Rosemary Thomas my childhood trainer). He literally has gone an entire year before jumping another jump at the world. I am crazy over Skip and overdoing him is not likely to happen. Anyway I realize that I practice much more Hunter Hack (2 practices) and jump way more jumps in those practices than I ever do in the Working Hunter. Even at home I did few multiple lines in a row. I got him thinking 'do a line and stop'. I am mad at myself for wasting 2 years making the same mistake but at least I won't make it again next year - and at least I won't be blaming him when it is my own fault. Those darn horses do exactly what you train them to do even when that's wrong! We did get 2 awesome photos (won't come for 8 wks), poor Skip he may be 20 yrs before he gets to win again. It does keep me looking forward to the future, I can't wait to better prepare and try again next year :)

Rick Steed, my friend from Florida that I met at Pat Parelli's, smoked everyone in the Senior Working Cowhorse this afternoon! Rick is so soft, natural and accurate - he did lovely dry work and when they turned that crazy cow out - he gave everyone in the building a lesson! He was amazing and Smart Master Plan couldn't have been any more a part of him that if they were one body! His boxing was textbook, his circling awesome but taking that lightning fast Brahma cross down the fence he showed total power and control! You knew you just saw history! Congratulations Rick! Thank you B. J. for making us feel like we were part of your team! I talked to Rick about getting his help with Dixon and my Working Cowhorse this fall or winter - he said to bring him whenever! I'm extra excited now!

7/2/08 Stress is filling the stalls today. D. John shows in the Senior Western Pleasure Prelims this afternoon. Maddie is doing awesome but one never knows what will happen with the judging. We must have braided half of the Junior Hunter Under Saddle Finals today - we look forward to more World Championship manes later today! Our manes have been smokin all show - we have done over 80 manes and more than 20 buckle winning necks :)

7/1/08 What an early morning again today! We had to be ready for Jennifer to show at 6:30am in the paid practice class. She looked really good and when she went in at 8am for her Classic Am Junior Western Pleasure she did a great job! Clarke looked really big compared to all the tiny western horses, but he held his spot on the rail and looked the part. When she came out we had to turn it on and I had to unband and braid him for the very next class, the Junior Hunter Under Saddle with Tommy riding. I even surprised myself, I got him done in one cut! Unfortunately Clarke is a master of what he has practiced most recently and didn't appreciate going english right after he just did the western. They had a lovely first direction, but once they changed directions, Clarke had had enough and didn't want to trot from the canter. Oh well we knew he was grouchy about changing like that, at least we gave it our best shot.

After a few hours rest it was time again for Senior Pleasure Driving. I got nervous thinking about how crazy the Amateur class had been; I didn't feel I had enough experience driving to be in that kind of traffic. They scared me when they started calling us and seemed like we were going to miss the class. I hooked him at the stalls and drove him to the arena as our warm-up (nobody does that because many horses are so spooky in the cart). When I got there everyone else was already there lined up. The equipment judge came over and said they had had a meeting about my outfit. They had decided they would let it pass (long sleeves are required and I had 3/4 sleeves), they said it may not pass other places but they would let it by today. We were allowed in for a 5 minute warm-up, it went by so fast because I was incredibly nervous. When they called for the class to begin, it appeared everyone got on the rail like a western pleasure class and stayed in line. I decided at this moment, I didn't care if I were last, I was not going to mess anyone else up and I would blend with the others. When they called for park gait (slow trot) I stayed right in line; when they called for road gait (fast trot) I didn't push too hard because I didn't want to risk cantering. By the time we reversed I was feeling much better and let Skip go much faster in Road Gait. I was really having fun when we had to stop and line up - I think this will be a new thing for us! We had to back and wait as they called the individual placings. I expected to be last; everyone else was an expert and I really could have gone faster the first way; so when they went to announce the results I was prepared to go out first. Unbelievably for me (and them too) my number wasn't called - it was not me! - I did get 10th and was so proud. I had tried something brand new (and at the World Show) and done just fine!

6/30/08 We actually had a day off from showing today! Just Pleasure Driving Practice tonight, which went much better. We are building much more confidence in all our driving stuff from hooking up to the road gait. I'm excited to get to show tomorrow! Jennifer got in and she seems ready to show this year! Good luck!

6/29/08 We we were up all night braiding again, Tommy let me lie down 1 1/2hrs so I could be ready to ride at 5am practice. My eye was off after riding so defensively yesterday, but it came back and we were ready. Karson was better today in practice, but it was still iffy if he was going to go in and jump all alone in several hours. We did our best but didn't get our expectations too high - getting over the jumps was our goal.

Skip showed first. I was pleased with my go; he rode exactly as I planned - very broke, very smooth. He did want to stop early but I kept my leg on to the cone. I thought we easily had a top ten pattern. Unfortunately the judges were choosing bigger loftier jumpers and patterns - mine did not match. Although we did the strides, our flying change, everything acurately, they were choosing something else. I was disappointed  but felt we had done our best, if I speed Skip up he just looks faster, not more lofty. Next we got Karson out who was showing his fatigue by now. Warming up I kicked him into gear and we jumped the jump in the schooling area well after a few passes. They even jacked it up to 3' and we jumped it confidently. We were ready and headed for the tunnel/shoot. Our turn came and when we entered the ring I could feel his nervousness hit him hard; I took hold of him with both my hands and legs and we went, growling, over the fences. We did not make the four strides (we got 5) but we jumped both jumps and made a good stop. Our Junior Hunter Hack was much smaller than the 35 in the Senior Hunter Hack so they called us all back in to the finals. Others had actually more problems than we did, and they declined to even return. Although I knew I wasn't going to 'win' I was proud that we reached our goal and I entered with my head held up and did good flatwork. We got a Finalist ribbon and it meant alot to me especially after all the difficulty we had had. It gave me hope for next year. Jerry Erickson (one of my heroes) complimented Karson on his type and jumping style, asking me if we were doing working hunter later in the week. I smiled politely and said maybe next year. I do want another shot with him, we will get good at this class!

D.John showed Maddie (Sip of Quervo) in the Bridless Sweepstakes to another World Championship! They were awesome and totally won the class hands down! Jennifer Cornett took her back in to win 3rd in the Classic Amateur Senior Western Pleasure! Congratulations to both of you!!

6/28/08 Today is our big day to try Utility Driving - problem no hat or suitable outfit. I did buy a dress very quickly before we left, it looks more like a tent but I was pressed for time. Kim Clark had brought a hat to share with me but when her bus broke down the hat did not make the U-Haul and now I have no hat. Karen Waddell came to our rescue with not only a gorgeous hat but also a beautiful dress and jewelry to match! What a friend to take me up into her incredible trailer and dress me head to toe for my class. She instructed me to wear sneakers with my black dress - all the real drivers do. We were getting advice from all sorts of other driving people - we obviously needed help because everyone was more than willing to advise. Tommy made me a driving whip by buying a short lunge whip, cutting off the long part and attaching the popper to the tip (it looks authentic - at least to us). Bengi went shopping and bought a show shirt and tie to be my header (safety person).

When the class came Skip and I were ready. We did our pattern well (although we did break to the walk in the serpentine cones) - shockingly well really! Skip stopped and stood perfectly for the slicker and mailbox, did perfect backing, even the straight-and-narrow went great - I was so happy! We were 8th and although it was a tiny class, I was proud to have completed the course (and not embarrassed myself or my friends). I met so many drivers who were too nervous to do utility driving (probably 30 driving horses showing in pleasure driving), I felt great about doing it at all. We went and took a great picture at KC's.

After my picture we went inside to watch Amateur Pleasure Driving and I was re-terrified - it looked like chariot racing! There were so many carts going so fast so close together - I wasn't sure I should even try to do my pleasure driving Tuesday. We needed practice! But first we had Hunter Hack Practice for Skip and Karson (Jimi). I jumped Skip first who was very good. We went through the pattern a bunch of times to make a specific plan for tomorrow. Karson proved to be a bigger project. After his jumping last week didn't go well, we had quite a mountain to climb. And boy did it feel like that! We worked so hard to get him over at all, then over and over to get the strides correct. I think I did 3 practices(10 min each) before he seemed like he was ok. When we finished we were  doing it safely and correctly, I was happy we had more practice in the morning before the actual class.

6/27/08 Another 7am show morning! Tommy and Woody got up and were in a totally different frame of mind today - they were ready to take on this course. They went in and had an amazing pattern but with 50+ Senior Trail horses one or two ticks were enough to knock you out. Four tiny ticks over more than 100 poles seemed phenomenal but it wasn't quite enough. We went back feeling quite content and accomplished - we are getting ever closer to a win in the Open Trail!

We had Utility Driving practice this afternoon and since Skip and I had never even done Utility Driving before we signed up for 4 20 min practices. Good thing because we needed every minute to learn how to do it at all. It was much harder than it looked watching from the stands last year. We struggled through and hoped we could put it together the next day.

6/26/08 Our first day to get caught up on our open and amateur horses. Tommy had Trail practice this evening. The course was really hard and Woody was 'over it'. They did practice after practice until Tommy felt better. We will keep our fingers crossed for tomorrow.

We had our first pleasure driving practice - it started as a bit of a joke - I was barely moving but completely petrified by how fast we were going. My 'stone face' was not here because everyone said I looked as if I were going to jump out of the cart. Skip was very good and was even offering to go faster, but I kept stopping him. I hope I will get more brave before my class or I will look like a turtle in a class of hares.

6/25/08 7am Trail kept our week of no sleep going. Jessica Moore showed the 13 & U Trail early! Tommy put some extra riding time in on Woody to get him as ready as possible for what looked to be a very tough trail course full of lopeovers and tons of turning. It would have been impossible without Tommy understanding and breaking the course down into understandable pieces. Jessica and Tommy made a plan and yet again, Jessica rose to the occasion and floated through the course like she had done a hundred before! The lopeover wagon wheel to the right was cause for stress but they executed it with great style! The only place she had any trouble was in a lopeover where Woody looked up at the dolphins and broke in the turn, Jes loped him right back off perfectly and even with a break was called back! We were so ecstatic when she was called out a Finalist in a class of 60+!

We went back after yet another photo op to practice Horsemanship with Natalie, Jessica M and Ethan. It was sweltering in our arena but they persevered and we felt confident when we were done.

Jessica and Ethan both did good patterns, but I think we were all relieved when we didn't have to learn another pattern for finals. It seemed like an eternity before Natalie got to show that night after 11pm. She truly did a marvelous pattern (good enough for top 5 easy) but alas her reins were too long and she grabbed with her free hand for just a split second in her final maneuver. We were all so tired we didn't see it, but were shocked when she didn't get a call back. Fortunately the score sheets were posted and we got to see for ourselves why we missed a big prize. Natalie did an amazing pattern- better than we could have ever expected - a slip like that under such pressure is easy for anyone to make.

We were so proud of all our kids, they far exceeded our wildest dreams - thank you for a wonderful ride!

6/24/08 Today started so early we never got to bed We had an incredibly early hunter hack practice. I was really concerned about it - but truly everyone really stepped up and had a super practice! All the horses jumped well and got the strides - I was so happy and encouraged! I was still concerned in the back of my mind because although they do let us practice over the actual jumps, it is in a different arena - I was worried for Avery and Jessica W whose horses were not very confident.

We were ready to show early (the schedule had us ready by 8:30) but the new Youth Working Cowhorse class took forever and we were all crashed out in the arena waiting for Hunter Hack to begin. Jessica and Dakota showed first. Outside he was jumping great but would buck after the jump. I didn't understand why we were having the bucking issues? She went in and nailed the jumps and the strides but right before she stopped he kicked way up in the air and blew it. We felt she would have been in the top 5 without the buck, but with great flatwork she still made Finalist. When Avery and Jessica W came up I braced myself for what was about to happen... actually both horses schooled really well outside giving me hope for what was to come next. When they went into the holding pen something came over the 4 of them. Jessica and Karson went first, unfortunately the nerves came over them and it didn't work out. Avery was up next, I was petrified about what was about to happen (I had no faith Ace would jump at all - I just wanted Avery to be ok). Avery had new found strength come over her in that holding pen because when Ace said he wasn't jumping she picked him up and willed him (sideways) over those jumps! It was unbelievable - I was crying when she came out - Avery thought I was mad or something - I was so proud of her for digging deep and making him do that. We got no ribbons out of that Hunter Hack but I was satisfied everyone had done their best. We were all completely drained after those classes but we had to step up and help Ethan get ready for his Western Pleasure class. It went really late but he gave it a strong effort, it wasn't enough but he did well. I think we were all exhausted at nights end.

6/23/08 The long hours are wearing on everyone but we had to cowboy up for a huge day today! Very first class was Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle with Karson and Jessica Weiscarver at 8am. She brought her "A" game and looked phenominal! She even got 2 1st's, 1 2nd & 1 3rd in her first go - she WON her cut! The next go Karson was a bit tired but still looked amazing - she ended up with Finalist and a trip to the photographer.  Avery and Ace were in Nov Hunter Under Saddle too. I never saw Ace and Avery look as good as they did here! Although they didn't make the finals, it was an amazing ride! As fast as that ended we had to sprint back up to get Natalie and Woody for Walk-Trot Equitation! Natalie really 'brought it' too because she was dead on the money with all her diagonals and turns. She too made the finals and won 8th! We were screaming and crying everywhere and flew to KC to get more pictures before we had to go to Hunter Hack Practice. Avery, Jessica W, Jessica M and Kristen all went for Hunter Hack Practice and it was a real eye opener. The yellow flowers freaked all the horses out and left me questioning whether we should be doing this at all. By the end Kristen had decided to forgo her class and the rest were happy we had another practice tomorrow before the class. Right after that practice we were off to do more Equitation with Jessica M, Jessica W and Ethan and Ethan still had a Hunter Under Saddle. It all becomes a blur, but I know we kept doing patterns and making finals like we have never done before! Tommy and I were so incredibly proud, we couldn't have imagined it better!

Correction made 7/21/08 (Like I said this day was a total blur when I sat down to write about it) I made a huge oversight in my reporting from the World Show. I did not mention how beautifully Kristen Castaldi and her new horse Tyson did in the 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle. Kristen has worked very hard on her own at a private farm to take Tyson and make him into 'her' showhorse. Although he was successfully shown at the World Show as a two year old, Kristen and her mom said he came with many things to work on to make him the All-Around horse she dreams about. With only 2 lessons in the past 4 years, Robin sold her music equipment to take Kristen and Tyson to Texas for her final year showing in the youth divisions. Kristen and Tyson looked beautiful in their class but it was incredibly crowded and they didn't get seen enough to make her cut. We were all very proud and wish her all the best in her next venture - college! Tyson gets to go with her, so we expect to hear great things from them in the future! I appologize for this oversight.

6/22/08 Today Jessica Moore and Ethan Hefner had Novice Youth Horsemanship and they did beautifully! Both performed lovely patterns and made it back to the finals! We got to take 2 Finalist photos afterwards! It was a crazy rush to get them changed and to the Parade of Teams right after their class but it worked and our team looked great! I think the Carolina Team even got 2nd place overall! I think it was the best placing they have ever had (certainly since I've been going)! Congratulations! We are on a high tonight!!!!

6/21/08 This show has started fast! We barely got any rest and here we go showing. This morning at 8am Hippology took place. I'm not sure what happened with that but all the people we thought were doing hippology changed when they arrived. I know Jessica W, Avery, Bekah and Madison all left to do it; I'm not sure which if any of them actually did it. Oh well at least they were there and ready. Natalie did an amazing job in her Walk-Trot class. We had her as the total winner, but the judges picked the strong english girls and Natalie was 3rd. We were all sooo proud! Every name they called we screamed "That's not you!" It was really fun! It was a huge class and 3rd was awesome - our friends thought she won easily too - Woody did decide to visit with another horse when they reversed - who knows - we were ecstatic! Jessica did a great pattern for her Equitation. We were certain she would place, but in such a huge  tough class we were delighted to make such a strong showing. The girls did Knowledge Relay and were super - I never heard exactly how super - but they were happy!

6/20/08 We have finally arrived! What a trip! Truck ran rough but made it. I was grateful for how well it did do because at 3:30 this morning we got a distress call from Scott and Kim Clark whose rv/bus had broken down in the middle of nowhere Alabama with 3 horses, 2 girls, 2 big dogs and Derek. Bryan got to them first, and they were unloading hay and feed in the pitch black on the side of the highway. We also unloaded our first spot of all feed and hay, but we were afraid to unload Karson and Clarke on the interstate to put an extra horse on the trailer after we saw how much difficulty Bryan was having reloading Ace. We decided to just take Skip off and load him backwards into the escape door in the front of the horse part of the trailer. This did require him loading from the right lane of the interstate, and if he refused he could be hit by a semi - quite scary even for a horse like Skip. He hestatated but after I insisted, jumped on and we loaded Mouse on the back. Bryan took  Tiger Talk and Shadow with him and we pulled out leaving Scott with about 20 bales of hay and 15 bags of grain. Bryan, his dad Mike, Avery and their passenger Niki from the Netherlands (who thought we were all crazy and our country was way too big) took off and went on to Fort Worth. Scott gave Tommy $200 to find special power steering fluid for his bus. Unfortunately Alabama and Mississippi at 3am in the middle of nowhere are not the best places to find special automotive products; so after the 3rd podunk gas station/truck stop clerk looked at us as if we were on crack, we called Scott and he told us to go ahead. They ended up staying there over 12 hours waiting for a tow truck (which charged them $1200 to go 10 miles!!!!). They then rented a U-Haul to bring all their stuff and our hay and feed on to Ft Worth. Fortunately Alan and Shannon Fisher stopped and got the girls because the U'haul was very full with Scott, Kim, Derek and their 2 huge dogs.

Everything else went fine. Bryan way beat us, we never gained on him at all once he got out in front. The GPS really helped during that last few miles where I always get lost. We pulled in to no line, got our stalls, got our shavings and moved in quickly with all the wonderful hands to help us. The Porta-Cool man was there delivering fans and I investigated one. It was $660 for the 2`weeks. Pricey yes, but I thought it would make a huge difference so I got one. I did think others would pitch in to help pay for it (I was incorrect) but if I was left with the whole bill, I thought it would improve the performance of our horses and riders it would be worth it.

6/19/08 I freaking out! After 3 weeks at the Lancaster Dodge dealership my truck was still unfixed, and the owner called us Friday and said he couldn't fix it and we needed to come pick it up. I was furious! Less than a year old, fewer than $25,000 miles and over $800/mo should get one a functioning truck! We rushed it to Lake Norman Dodge where we bought it Monday. Mike, the service manager was confident he could fix the problem by Wednesday. We were relieved and mad at ourselves that we wasted 3 weeks in Lancaster. The original problem was the check engine light came on one evening on my way home. Lancaster had called and claimed to have fixed it 3 times but when we arrived the light was still on. Unfortunately the light was off when we first picked it up yesterday, but today it is right back on! Unhooked it seems fine, but once it is hooked up it is very rough changing gears, especially downshifting. We are out of time to take it back or to have Tommy's truck fixed (it has an oil leak). I certainly hope it will be ok on our journey. Why do we buy new, way-expensive stuff if it breaks down?

6/18/08 I'm back so soon! Jenny sent some pictures from camp last week I had to share! Also I want to encourage more people to come to our next summer camp week (wk 2) Showing Naturally Week. We still have openings and it will be an amazing time! I have some really exciting fun stuff planned! Hope you can make it! These photos are a glimpse of what you will be doing!

6/18/08 Wow! We have been going crazy all week getting ready for our trip to Fort Worth tomorrow! I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped me get things together - Lauren, Jenny, Bryan, Tammy and everyone else! Without great friends my brain would explode! I'm really excited about the trip - we have been practicing and I think everyone is ready to go do a wonderful job in all their classes! I even got to go up to Scott and Kim Clarks farm to practice Pleasure Driving with Derrick B. last Saturday - it went amazing! I love my horse Skip, he was as perfect and broke as I could ever have hoped. Even Derrick was surprised how well it went! I'm excited about getting to try the driving this year - no expectations but fun! I will post pictures as soon as we get some for you to have a good laugh! I'm still without an outfit - fortunately for me Kim Clark has offered her black and white hat from the derby complete with feathers - I'm so grateful because the hat deal scares me. I now just need a dress with long sleeves to go with it - we shop today (I think). Wish me much luck :)

Camp went great; lessons have gone well; we are more ready than I have ever been going into this World Show. My truck which has been a real problem is fixed (they say it is) and Lauren and Jenny have gone to pick it up this morning - thank you! Lake Norman Dodge really pulled this out because it has been at the Lancaster Dodge place for 3 weeks with no end in site. Each week we were told it was fixed, yet when we arrived the engine light was still on. They even sent us home with it claiming it was fine - wrong - it sounded as if both the transmission and the engine weren't going to make it home after we hooked the trailer to it. Finally the owner called Tommy and admitted they didn't know what was wrong or how to fix it (maybe that would have been nice to know 3 weeks earlier) and maybe we needed to take it to another dealer. I was grateful he gave up instead of continuing to not fix it but he left us very little time. Mike at Lake Norman met us Monday morning confident he could have it fixed this week. I bought it there and although a bit far away, it will return there for its maintenance from now on. He said he would call us Tuesday morning with some answers; he called Monday just after we got home and it was fixed yesterday. One day to identify and fix a problem that has been so elusive 3 weeks wasn't enough in Lancaster. Moral of the story - use experienced professionals with everything you do whether horses or trucks - it will be faster, more accurate and less expensive in the long run!

Today we have a million things to do but I'm working on getting an 'air card' for my computer so I can use it while in Tx. Send me whatever emails you need answered soon, today just in case the air card thing doesn't work out.

Tonight is our last night of lessons until we return. We have openings at 5,6 and 7 tonight. While I'm gone Lauren will be caring for the horses. You may come out and do practice rides for $20. If you can tack and untack/catch and turn out/ rinse off by yourself, you may drop in and ride anytime, please have a driving adult with you to supervise. If you need help with any of those things, please make arrangements with Lauren to be there to help you. You may email her at jimithing@comporium.net .

Lastly I want to thank everyone who came out for the newspaper photo session on Tuesday. Natalie from the Gateway Newspaper came back out to get more photos. She came last Thursday to Lancaster to do a story on us. It went so well on Thursday (photos of the trailride and swimming in the pond) that her editor wanted some pictures of our Indian Land location too. We had a ring full of great riders Tuesday doing all sorts of neat stuff - great job. Although Skip wasn't as cooperative as usual I think it went well. Thank you everybody!

Hope to be updating this in Texas. If not, I will have tons to tell - get ready!

6/13/08 It is lunchtime on our last day of the first week of camp - what a week! We have had a wonderful time! Everyone has made great progress and I'm thrilled with all our campers and counselors! Lauren did an amazing job keeping everything under control! She not only kept her regular job on time and good; she fed all of us lunch each day and even offered 'overnight camp' in her home! Everyone enjoyed it immensely - thank you Lauren! We had a wonderful group of counselors step up and work hard all week! We had good driving support and even a wonderful close  pool to enjoy (ours is slowly filling - hope it will be ready for the next camp week). Fortunately we got to go to Michele, Emily and Amanda's pool which was not only beautiful but also 5 minutes away! Michele gave us her time each afternoon and opened our eyes to new healing techniques for both horses and humans. Much too much to outline here, I can't wait to learn more of her natural ideas!

Yesterday we had our ever popular 'Big Trailride Day'. We hauled over 20 horses down to the Lancaster location to enjoy the day. The trailrides went off without even the slightest issue - amazing! The swimming in the pond took my breath away! I had never attempted to put this many novice horses and riders into the pond at the same time. We paired the newer riders and horses with experienced counselors - it worked perfectly!!! Everyone had the most unbelievable experience! Even Treat (who we never expected to get into the pond) enjoyed the water! Great job everyone! We had an exciting guest, Natalie from the Gateway Newspaper spend the morning with us, researching and taking photos for an upcoming story. We cannot wait to see the pictures! If you get the Gateway - please save us a copy if it comes out while we are in TX.

We are steadily filling our next weeks of summer camp. If this start-up week is any indication - we have much to offer to everyone! You will not be disappointed - we have had a blast!

We will have lessons Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week in the evenings only. We leave for Fort Worth Thursday. Lauren will be staying here while I'm gone to take care of the horses and farms. We will be leaving the schoolhorses at the Indian Land location so you can come out for practice rides. Please touch base with Lauren if you would like to come out. She does keep several of our students during the day - if you would like to come out and spend more time, you can arrange that through her as well. Practice rides are $20/hour of ring riding, all riders must have a driving adult present while riding. Of course students who either own or lease horses do not have to pay for practice - if you plan to stay without your parents present, please touch base with Lauren first.

6/9/08 Today is our first day of camp and it has gone really well! We had 12 campers and 5 counselors plus Lauren and me, really good ratio - nobody gets bored. We had several people who brought their own horses so we did some Parelli groundwork before we rode. Everyone did great! Fortunately we could have only 2 groups;  it was really hot and if we had enough campers for another group, they may have melted. Lauren's mom is letting us use their pool until ours fills up, it was cool and refreshing, thank you a bunch! We did Lyric as our demo horse today, I think he inspired a few riders to get better at their Parelli and give more horses a chance. Lyric did great especially with the huge audience. He even allowed the group to step up and pet him. I was so proud of his curiosity and his positive attitude. I hope he will be riding nicely by the end of the week; if so I think he will open many eyes to new possibilities.

Katie sent us some pictures of Cody's new foal, Dash. He is so cute! Daddy was a Paso Fino, mom is APHA , we are not sure what Dash will be like. Good luck Katie with this new project!

6/8/08 We just spent an entire day (nearly 12 hours) moving the 18 horses back to Indian Land and going to Columbia to pick up Miss Glory who appears to be with-child.

The horses were so hot but the deep grass was too tempting and they gave me a fit trying to catch them - I was literally dripping with sweat each time I had to go out and follow/chase them down to go back home. Lauren was wonderful and helped me all day (on her day off) and without her help I would have not made it! We drove into the driveway with the last load at nearly 10pm, again we hosed them off and let them out with their friends. We left the tack in the trailer, the campers can help us unload it tomorrow morning.

We did finally make it to get Glory today. She looks amazing! Helen outdid herself with the care she gave her in her nearly 3 weeks with her. Glory is fatter, glossier, fluffier - she looks the best she has ever looked! Thank you Helen!!!! Helen said she could feel Glory's body already changing - only 6 more weeks and we should have beautiful tiny Glory/Prancer puppies!

6/7/08  We had a great show today despite the incredible heat. It was sweltering and so dusty you couldn't see across the ring yet everyone kept positive attitudes and we kept showing! It was quite a demonstration of willpower; for the few who came and declared their aversion to riding in the heat,  they missed out on a great time! Madison Woschkolup won the Hobby Horse Horsemanship Class and the $100 gift certificate! We had some wonderful new faces and really excited to see some familiar faces we hadn't seen in awhile, it's great to have such a wonderful group of people join us each month to play!

Teresa Moore called and told me a funny story they had happen today in their new pool. Their pool was already full and they were in it enjoying the fresh water on this scorching day. Apparently Jessica leaned over the side to get something. They were smart and got the blowup pool (erected and filled much faster than mine) but just like me, they did no site leveling before they set it up. When Jessica was reaching, the side of the pool went down a bit and the water started to spill out. Once a trickle started, a tidal wave followed and Teresa said she had to grab Jessica by the ankles to keep her from being washed away! She said Bengi is getting some sand to level the site before filling the pool again, we sure hope our metal frame will keep this from happening here. Good luck Moore family!

6/6/08 Bengi had a marvelous idea today!  After we did a special private World Show practice for Natalie and Jessica, Bengi and I went to Walmart and bought a huge pool. The past few years his parents have graciously allowed us to enjoy their swimming pool with summer camp each afternoon, unfortunately for everyone this year the pool is broken and in need of a repair so expensive it isn't looking like it will be getting fixed. He recommended I purchase this pool he had seen at Walmart that was supposed to hold 18 people. He drove and we both bough pools, I got the 18 person 24' pool, he got the 18' one. We brought it to my house to assemble - a job which was supposed to take 60 min. I don't know who actually ever built that pool in 1 hour - but it wasn't us! The pool was huge! And the frame assembly got the best of me. It was so incredibly hot, we were dripping from sweat and it felt as if we would never get all the way around! I barely made it and Tommy showed up at the moment I thought I would fall out with a huge blender (we have no pitchers) full of lemonade. We drank the entire thing in what had to be a record. Country Time never tasted so refreshing! After that Bengi assembled the pump and I built the steps. No telling how many days it will take to fill this monstrosity (today Lauren pointed out how each time we have turned off the hose and left that hose in the pool, it has drained the water back out). It will be wonderful when it does fill up, I actually think we can 'swim' in it - you will be shocked how truly big and nice it is - it's not the old, dirty, germy above ground pool. We have a complicated pump and chemical program - it is just like a 'real' pool and I'm as big a pool snob as they come. I will really enjoy getting out in the evening to swim laps (can you believe it).  Lauren's parents have graciously offered to allow us to use their pool until ours fills up. Pretty cool really, we used to go there back when Lauren was coming to summer camp (when she was in high school), thank you for then and now!

6/5/08 What a hot week we have had! This Saturday's show will be hot too so we will make concessions as far as attire. You do NOT need your riding jacket/coat, we want you to be comfortable and not overheat! We need volunteers to help in our 'office', as ring stewards, gate people, announcer, etc. If you can do the entire English or western portion of the show, you may receive free entries for the horse and rider of your choice! In this day of conservation, here is a way to save up to $75/day! If you cannot do the entire English or western show, we still appreciate whatever you can do! We are a team/family here, thank you for working together to keep these shows running smoothly. The fire department is coming to water the ring - we truly need it! Please bring your tents, umbrellas, sunscreen and anything else that helps keep the sun off of you. Our new room is not completely finished, but we will have it up and open this weekend. You will be able to go in it and enjoy the air conditioning! Our concession stand will now be located in the new room. Everyone will also be able to peruse the tornado damage - insurance adjusters and repairmen have been here, so not much longer to see the destruction.

Glory will be coming home Sunday! She has been cleared to come back - hopefully she is pregnant with many beautiful puppies. Lauren and I will travel back to Columbia to Sprightly Shelties to pick her up. Helen, the owner of Sprightly Shelties, has bred Glory to her gorgeous tiny Prancer. Although we expected Glory to stay a week at most, she will have stayed nearly three weeks to insure a happy time! Check out the website because Helen does have two beautiful puppies for sale by Prancer.

We are really excited about Summer Camp next week! We do still have openings if you are interested in getting into the fun. I have planned an amazing program - have not advertised or taken my brochures to tack and feed stores like I should have. We have great people signed up, but there is still room for you and your best friends! Maybe one day I will get my advertising program up to speed with my riding programs. One can only be good at so many things at once :) Regular Camp will be at our Indian Land/Fort Mill location (Thursday everyone incl the horses will be transported to Lancaster for trail rides and swimming in the pond riding the horses); the two Showing Naturally weeks will be entirely at our Lancaster farm. Regular Camp is a day camp, if you would like to spend the night, you may for $25/night. Campers will be staying in Indian Land in Lauren's home with her at night, she has a large great room that campers will fill with sleeping bags and fun! Showing Naturally camp INCLUDES overnight for every night. Campers will stay in my home in sleeping bags too. There is no extra charge if you would like to bring your own horse to camp with you - of course we can provide you a wonderful mount as well. We have had lots of questions about this, I hope everyone understands now. Please sign up today to insure you and all your friends will fit into the week of your choice!

Tommy let me work yesterday on Lyric, a buckskin and white tobiano gelding who came in for training. He has been a bit challenging. A fascinating study, I think he will make a wonderful demo horse for the campers to get to see next week! He needs some clever imagination to bring this stoic but sometimes explosive individual out of his catatonic state. I think we will all be better horsemen for getting to work on this one successfully. He needs a mental and emotional makeover, I think once he feels good mentally and emotionally he will be fine physically (he will ride just fine). I think many horses are approached physically when they may need something really different and special; these horses act out in big dangerous ways earning titles we would not want for them. Occasionally when we are sensitive enough to realize this, we can change our approach and make a profound impact in the horse's life.

I truly believe Lyric's life changed yesterday with this new approach.  I love challenges like this, but they are draining and I cannot do many of them at the same time. I wish more people could come and learn how to address these individuals so more of us can help these horses. With the slaughter plants closed, it is our responsibility to get better since we have no easy answers for the 'flunked out' horses. Unfortunately today these horses get starved and abused then hit our overfilled rescue organizations who cannot keep up with demand. I do have some clients and friends who volunteer with these programs. Bless them! Please come to our Parelli Days, this is truly the key to rehabilitating these lost souls! We can change the lives of many horses and people with what we can do - please challenge yourself to learn and apply your skills in a positive way. We voted (or said nothing against it) to shut down these plants that made disposal of our 'horse waste' easy and quiet - now we must step up to take care and improve the lives of these horses who were destined for slaughter. We have several horses at our Lancaster location in our back field who need jobs and people. I hope this summer they can be 'adopted' and trained so they can be useful and find new homes. Good training is the finest gift you can give to a horse. Well trained horses are always in demand and can find homes - it is the poorly, partly or untrained horses who have the darkest futures. We can make a difference - let me help you learn how to turn these lives around. Take our ideas out into the world and teach them to others and help horses and people become more than expected!  If you have an organization or know someone who does and would like me/us to come and donate a day to teaching your volunteers more techniques, I would be delighted to do it! I can bring our advanced/Varsity Showing Naturally to help, you will be inspired by seeing how simple thinking 'outside the box' can be - you will be more inspired by how effective it is too!

Have a great day!

6/3/08 We had a great horseshow at Arden! I learned we have many 'Current News' readers out there - Hi to You! Thank you Jodie Strait for letting me know you enjoy our daily updates - I enjoy leaving them!

New Summer Lesson Schedule starts this week! We move lessons to later times so you do not suffer in the heat (about 90 degrees this week). Also with the later times, we can continue lessons during summer camp weeks. If your lesson was at 3 or 4, you are now at 5; if you were at 5, you are now at 6; if you were at 6 or 7, you are now at 7. We will not be having lessons while we are in TX; you may come for paid practice rides if you like. Lessons during the 2 Showing Naturally Camp weeks will be in Lancaster. If you do not want to drive to Lancaster, I do not expect everyone to attend - just wanted to offer you an option. Morning lessons are more precarious. Normally we do not have any morning lessons during the summer; we cannot have them during camp weeks. I will do my best to fit you in in the evening if you would like to continue during the summer. 7pm is the best choice for our regular daytime clients. I will be adding more Showing Naturally Days (open to kids of ALL ages) for the summer once we get all our show schedule settled. Hopefully this will give you a good place to continue if the evening isn't possible for you. Please send me an email and I will do my best to find everyone a time that works for them!

Our FPF family did awesome at the Arden APHA show. Many stepped out and tried new classes successfully! Keep up the good work! All of you keep improving and representing us well! I'm proud to be your leader! Tommy is enjoying having such strong capable clients as well! He can now see the importance of regular riding to the bond between horse and rider in the show ring! We are enjoying having each other to support us. It is much easier to be in multiple places at once when you are 2 people instead of just one!

We are gearing up for our trip to Texas in a couple weeks! We will be offering some special advanced training sessions for those going (and those who are really focused on high goals). I will post dates, times, events here asap. If you are going - be here! You will wish you had all the practice you can get when you get to Ft Worth! I will also be posting price breakdowns for our clients for the World Show so you can budget your money. Fuel has increased so dramatically, our current (and last 3 yrs) hauling rate doesn't cover the fuel cost much less tires, maintenance and cost of our rigs. After the World Show our hauling rates will increase according to the increase in fuel cost. We are sorry but we cannot continue at this rate. We will offer more fun stuff close to home so if it is too expensive for you to travel, you can still have fun with us!

My truck had the engine light come on last week. We took it to the Dodge place in Lancaster to be fixed. Although they said it was fixed, when we hooked the trailer to it, it sounded as if the transmission or the engine was about to blow. I must go now to take it back. Why can't these people actually fix stuff the first time - it really inconvienced all of us this weekend!  Thank you soooo very much to everyone who stepped up and helped us haul all the horses to Arden! Robin, Bryan, Jennifer and Dave all stepped up and hauled extra horses so we could all get there on time and get home safely! Thank you!!!!!

Almost forgot - when I got to the barn yesterday Lauren told me we had 4 kittens! I had no idea the kittens Lauren had gotten us were old enough to produce kittens of their own! Anyway I thought I would be looking at tiny helpless babies - not so - they are up, eyes open, walking around! Apparently they have been living in the wall! Amazing how nature can survive! There are 2 white kittens, one is really puffy; one grey 'target' stripe; one min tortoise shell calico. Lauren has said she will be taking the parents for spay and neuter as soon as they can go so we get no more accidents. I will keep the 'target' grey one, but the rest are up for grabs - ask Lauren, she will do all deciding on them. I will be taking my kittens in Lancaster and this one for 'fixing' when they are ready. I ask if you do adopt on you do the same. Thank you!

5/26/08 We had a super day today! Lauren, Richard and Amanda helped Tommy and me move a bunch of stuff to our new room/barn apartment in Lancaster. Thank you to them for all their help! We haven't been using the 'lounge' in the bunkhouse so when Bob added 'his club' to our lease, I decided to convert it into the room I hoped for. We will have not only a cool place to hang out and watch TV; the room has a full kitchen and bathroom plus a big loft that we will be putting beds into so our dear friends and clients will have a free place to stay when they come. I am also thinking we could use more tack room space at FPF in Indian Land. We will now have enough open space that riders can bring a saddle stand and a tack trunk and keep them in the bunkhouse. We needed more space for clients' tack and stuff - who knew both things could work together? We got much of the furniture in place; the pictures will take a bit longer. When you come to Lancaster, ask to see the new room - I'd love to hear your comments and suggestions! See everyone tomorrow!

5/25/08 We had a wonderful Trail Clinic with Tommy today! I got to participate and completely enjoyed every minute! We did individual obstacles in the morning and complete courses in the afternoon. We had about 10 riders and got lots of practice! I learned so very much - especially about finding the 'spot' for lopeovers! He explained it in a different way that clicked with me - the backthroughs were equally as enlightening! If you have problems with Trail - take his clinic!

Our doggerette Glory sent a note from her honeymoon in Columbia with Prancer. She is doing well! They have consummated their relationship and she doesn't wish to return home. Hopefully once her 'twitchy' time has passed she will call and request a ride. She sent a photo taken in Prancer's kitchen. Good luck Glory! Hope you come home pregnant!

5/24/08 Just got home from a successful Showing Naturally Clinic today! Thank you to everyone who attended - you did amazing! I'm so excited to see so many of our family members getting soo good! We had great groups for both the beginners and advancing groups! Although the weather threatened rain (even started several times), it warmed up and cleared up - it turned out beautiful! Although Debbie never showed up with the food - the riders seemed not to notice and kept going until moms, dads and grandmas drug them away.

We presented our newest member of the FPF family, Princess, an adorable pinto mini from next door. Everybody went crazy over her and even with no prior training (she would kinda lead) she stepped in and made the perfect demo-horse. Lauren even commented how much easier it was to understand the movements watching me work with her, she is tiny enough everyone could see my body position and cues and the horse's responses at the same time! She said although Skip is awesome, he blocks the view for many onlookers. She actually seemed to learn faster than our regular students (horse students of course), she was on the pedestal right away, even jumped the crossrail on her first squeeze! I can't wait for everyone to see Roxy's little mini-me very soon!

5/20/08 We had an incredible disaster this afternoon - a tornado hit our Lancaster barn today! It ripped the entire roof off part of the barn! It flew up and over the rest of the barn taking the huge cedar posts with it! Even the hose flew over, still attached! We called Bob (my friend and landlord in Lancaster), he was as shocked as we were! Fortunately nobody and nothing else was hurt - we are grateful! Bob had moved his truck and his tractor recently - thank goodness!

5/19/08 Little Miss Glory has been feeling 'twitchy' so I took her to meet with her new husband 'Prancer' today! We expect her to stay in Columbia with him for about a week then come on back home. We are hoping for puppies in about 2 months! These will be TINY as Glory is 10" and 6lbs and Prancer is 11" and 7lbs! You can check out other Prancer puppies at 'his' website www.sprightlyshelties.com .

5/18/08 What an amazing weekend we all had! Tommy took a wonderful group to Pelzer - they kicked butt and took names! Jennifer Paschal won nearly every Amateur class at the whole show; Madison and Jessica smoked them all in the youth; Natalie excelled in the Walk-Trot! Everyone came home with a weekend High-Point Award! Great job Tommy and FPF family!!!!

 I took a fun group to a Craig Johnson Clinic - it was amazing and we learned bunches! Lynn, Avery, Bryan and I rode long and hard with a focused group that Craig directed effortlessly. Carol Burns organized the clinic at Daisy D Farm in Gastonia for the third year - Carol does a better job every time! It was wonderful for me to get to enjoy learning from and riding with some of my best friends again this year! We got quite a treat when D. John rode Jennifer and Gerald Cornett's World Champion Sip of Cuervo in the clinic with us; getting to ride with great horses and horsemen is what makes you reach for higher goals! I would highly recommend anything with Craig! Check out Craig's website at www.craigjohnsonreining.com/  and seriously consider his new DVD series 'Let It Rein' - wonderful information and instruction, Craig makes everything simple and easy to understand and execute! Well worth double the price!

5/11/09 Happy Mother's Day! I'm sitting up in our trailer listening to the rain pour down on us. Tommy went up to feed and to check on Dave - make sure he isn't out there setting up the trail course. We had a wonderful day yesterday! EVERYONE did GREAT! Emily got her first top call (first place)! Lynn rode Sonny the best she has ever done in a show - good placings! Jessica W jumped Carson successfully for the first time in a show - World Show is in view! Jessica Moore did 'the numbers' in her jumping lines - I was so excited! She needs to be able to do them to be competitive at the World. Avery did 2 clean Hunter Hack patterns too - great job! Nadine really put in great trips and was well rewarded by the judges on Jet. Roxy and Bekah improve at each show! Amanda Lawton nailed a bunch of points in Hunter Under Saddle for the first time on Duelly. Mello and Jennifer Weiss looked and performed really awesome too! Jennifer Paschal dominated all she showed in on Clark - keep roll going all the way through Texas! Kristen and Tyson get better every time they show up - World Show looks good for them too! Madison W showed great patience with Miss Kitty all day; MK decided she was 'in love' with any horse that looked her way, Madison kept her emotions calm and kept showing even though MK seemed to be everywhere else! Lauren did an excellent job bringing Kips Easy Rider back out into competition! The biggest joy for Judy and many more of us was watching Natalie ride Woody beautifully!  Our entire family made us very proud!!!

Our Showing Naturally had new 'tricks' up their sleeves this weekend! Sue Hanson graciously brought us a big green ball and a pedestal to use for our performance. The kids and horses loved them!!! Lightning and thunder delayed our practice Friday night but once we got to start, it went great! Saturday's weather was wonderful! We had a big audience and a bunch of special helpers including Savannah, Kaitlyn, Millie, MacKenzie and many more of our 'dancing' friends! Tommy did perfectly on the music; so did Bengi, Chuck and Bryan with the obstacles! We got to perform for a big crowd and a free hotdog supper followed with Bengi's homemade ice cream stealing the show! Emily Alvarez stepped up from the Junior Varsity to complete our lineup - thank you! Everyone did great! We even had 2 Showing Naturally of All Ages - Lynn Everrett and Sue Hanson! Our team members were Kelli, Amanda, Bekah, Avery, Madison, Jessica, Lynn, Sue, Emily,  Lauren and Natalie - great job! Thank you to everyone for all their help and hard work!

5/9/08 Wow! We have had a busy week! Thank you to all the great lesson clients, I think we may have had a record week in lessons! The horses were all really good too. Our Showing Naturally practice went awesome! I'm totally looking forward to the new additions to our routine! Rhonda Parks came through for us again with beautiful new shirts and cool Seven Games signs to use during our routine! Sue Hanson brought over a huge green PNH ball and it was a huge hit! We have added a 'soccer game' to our demo! Lynn Everrett had a neat poster made up for us to advertise Showing Naturally at Latta!

Please everyone come out and support our team Saturday afternoon at Latta! We need dancers and helpers plus people to cheer us on! Please come out! We need You!

Good luck to our huge group competing this weekend at the paint show at Latta! We have 25 stalls booked - Amazing! Rob Waddell even joked that if we did not come they could not hold the show! I encourage everyone to participate in the clinics being given Friday night starting at 6:30 to benefit the youth, Tommy will be a presenter! Got to go get ready to leave - have a super weekend!

5/4/08 Judy Harvey came to visit her horse Chip for a week from West Va. Today, and for the very first time, she worked on groundwork and rode bareback! Good going Judy! Judy even said Tommy demonstrated bareback and bridleless for her on Clarke - way to go Tommy! I can't wait to see the progress by the end of the week!

5/3/08 Our Customer Appreciation Day went great! We did miss Cindy and Vicki (Vicki came by for a few min), we did not know the kids games they wanted to do - but we made do with lots of riding and fun! We had 18 riders here to practice for Showing Naturally! 8 were our Varsity girls, but the rest were JV and new! We had some super practice and then some super learning! Spreading the word about Natural Horsemanship is happening, although I wish we had more 'outsiders', we did have one brand new girl, Faith with her pony Black Beauty! Thank you for coming Everyone!

We were excited when Bryan and Avery Fisher brought their new horse Lacey to play! Lacey is a beautiful sorrel/white overo mare by Zippos Sensation who has been successfully showing in the Jr Pleasure at the APHA shows! Congratulations Bryan and Avery on such a fancy new horse! Bryan has graciously offered a lease to Kelli Sandel on Ace - we are all certainly hoping this works out - it would be wonderful for everyone involved!

5/2/08 Congratulations Holly Orel on your purchase of Mouse today! He is lucky to be moving into such a wonderful family! I am excited because now we get to enjoy Skyler, a beautiful grey large pony that is sadly outgrown! Skye will have a wonderful time here with us and I'm sure someone will fall in love with her and just have to have her! When good horses and ponies come around, we like to keep them 'in the family'!

5/1/08 Things are going great for all of us! Please keep checking here for information about happenings! Showing Naturally Team Practice on Friday 5-7pm and Sat 10-11am with Demo at 12pm. Clinic Lesson Sat 1-3pm open to everyone (outside participants welcome and encouraged!) Let me know if I need to bring you a horse by leaving a message at FPF line 803-802-3888. See you soon :)

4/26/08 Our show went great!!! Beautiful day! Good turnout! We had fun with our buddy Shane Byerly as the judge! He is highly recommended. Madison dominated the english; Bekah and Jennifer dominated the western events! Mark and Melissa Hausman came by and did some reining (and other stuff too) classes. I enjoyed watching them and hope more reiners will show in the future!

4/25/08 Tommy got up REALLY early and drove to Ga to pick up Dixon. He got to see his wound which he says is much better than we expected. We are feeling much relief and appreciation! How amazing it is that medical inventions are available to all of us that can truly save our horses' lives! We are so fortunate! Thank you to everyone for all your prayers and positive thoughts!

He picked up 2 horses from D John on his way home. One is 'Kips Easy Rider', a sorrel tobiano gelding with a show record like no other! Although Kip may have a few years on him - he looks great and he is ready to get back out there and stomp the competition! We are hoping Lynn Everette will be the recipient of his awesome show talents - if she chooses not to partake, Kip would be an absolute dreamhorse for the showrider wanting a partner who knows his job! 'Lady' is the second of the two. She is a pretty sorrel AQHA mare looking for a new home. Lady was purchased by D John as a broodmare (she is bred really fancy!) but he has been so busy riding and showing that he hasn't gotten his mares bred. He has been riding Lady and really thought she deserved a life as a family `riding horse. She is light, smooth and responsive to ride. Jane rode her a long time - loved her!

4/23/08 Hannah Cooke officially owns Inky today! After searching and going through several horses, Hannah and her family arrived for her lesson with her latest trail mount. Inky went home with them 3 or 4 weeks ago to see if she might work for their family. She arrived back looking happy and relaxed - truly the best I've ever seen her look! She and Hannah just floated around the arena! How exciting for Hannah, her family, Inky and me! We have several options working for lesson replacements for Inky, but I know in my heart that she will be incredibly happy with Hannah; and Hannah and her family will treasure her! Every horse, human, dog, whomever deserves to be loved and appreciated to the fullest - congratulations Hannah and Inky!

4/22/08 We got an invitation today for Showing Naturally to perform at our APHA (paint) show in Latta Park next month - how exciting! Lynn and Tommy really came through for us - thank you! I am working with Candice to get a performance at the APHA World Show this summer in Fort Worth TX. Hopefully this will confirm to more people that we have something to bring and contribute positively to their (APHA) shows! Keep your fingers crossed! We are on our way up!

4/22/08 Dr Shuler from UGA called today with a positive update on Dixon. He is doing well and we hope he will be released Thursday or Friday. Although his cut has taken much care, they were able to tap his hock joint yesterday and found no 'leaks' - yeah! Time and diligent care will heal this wound and we hope to be riding him again in 3 to 4 months. I applaud the amazing vets in Georgia and if you get a severe laceration - go there! He said Dixon is putting his weight on the leg (wasn't weight bearing when we took him) with very little pain medication. I'm so grateful to everyone! Now to get to work to pay this enormous bill (which was worth every penny) ...

4/20/08 The 4 judge show in Arden was filled with many entertaining memories! We had a great show, with everyone enjoying big wins! Madison Woschkolup was our 'Most Improved' by placing in every class she entered! Lauren Elhers-Koch showed her mare, Belle successfully for the first time - even putting an APHA national point on her in Western Pleasure! Lynn Everrette and Sonny had their best 'trip' ever! Natalie Moore brought Woody out of his premature retirement with a bang - big prizes in the Open Walk-Trot and High Point Walk-Trot! Jessica Moore shined brightly in Equitation and Horsemanship! We had many more great highlights - Nadine rode Jet ten-ft-tall-and-bullet-proof; Jennifer learned the highs and lows of big heavy white tails; Kristen Deese survived her first entrance into 3rd gear (even won Nov Youth Trail); Kristen Castaldi was good on her Tyson; Jennifer Paschal shined brightly Sunday after she had to leave for a wedding before showing Saturday; Jessica Weiscarver happily showed Carson to more great placings ...... We learned that the 'Midgets' need to be out several hours before bed - lest we suffer ALL night long! It was a great show - Thank you everyone!

4/19/08 Jillian Gallindo competed in one of her many National Barrel Horse Shows this Saturday with much success! With a large crowd (both lovers and haters)  in attendance from multiple districts, Jillian stole the show! Her sorrel gelding 'Doc' has changed dramatically during the past year under Jillian's guidance and today they both brought their "A" game to town! She made 3 clean runs; she had the fastest run in the entire Youth Division; and she was 3rd in the 2D Open Class! She won so much money that day, friends were offering protection and asking for loans! Congratulations Jillian, let them spin their heads! Great job Grandma Judy for getting her to this level! I am soooo proud!

4/17/08 The doctor in Georgia gave us a good progress report on Dixon this evening. Although they haven't tapped the joint to check, they feel there is most likely no joint involvement and he should recover. He is already starting to bear weight on his leg with minimal pain medicine. They would like to keep him for a few days to do more antibiotic joint infusions and to observe his progress. We expect him to come home near the beginning of the week :) I'm grateful for all of you thinking and praying for him.

4/16/08 Tommy and I were stunned when this morning my horse Dixon (whom I rode earlier this month with Pat Parelli)  backed into the electric fence and kicked at another horse in Lancaster, severely cutting one of his hind legs across the front of his hock joint. The electricity must not have been working and he kicked right through the fence and hung himself when his legs attempted to come back. As soon as I saw it I knew we needed to get him immediately to the University of Georgia Vet Hospital for treatment. They have a new technique that puts a tight wrap above the joint, squeezing off the blood flow from the horses body; then they insert a needle attached to a tube and bottle filled with powerful antibiotics. They squeeze the bottle and the antibiotics flood the laceration (cut) with heavy doses of medicine. This is the best way to save the life of a horse with  possible joint involvement.  The vet gave us as positive a report as possible for this stage - he doesn't think the joint is damaged but they have a test to do tomorrow after the swelling goes down to know for sure. If the joint is involved, the prognosis is not good. Dixon is at the best facility with the best vets we know working on him. I must believe all will be fine and this is just an opportunity for me to show him I will take care of him and he can trust our relationship. I was planning a big summer for him, but this has a probable 3 month recovery time; I suppose it is not 'our' time yet. Skip was amazing at the MARES event and perhaps he would enjoy all the fun himself! Dixon is lucky to have a big brother like Skip to take over for him! We must all stay positive and pray for a speedy recovery - I have faith all will be healed. Thank you for all the well wishes today!

4/13/08 Tommy and I both had super successful clinics on Saturday! Tommy had another Showmanship and Equitation/Horsemanship clinic at our farm in Lancaster; while I traveled to Blue Moon Farm in Kings Mtn to help my friend Paige Livert and her clients with some Parelli.

Tommy said his clinic was WELL attended! Much was learned by everyone! Along with our great regulars were some new faces - we enjoyed everyone! Tommy said in the future he would like to offer 2 different times for Showmanship - Beginner session and Advanced session - to keep everyone busy and learning. Tommy exclaimed Bekah and Avery got Most Improved Awards! Thank you everyone for coming and improving each time - it keeps us really motivated to keep improving!

My clinic was super fun! I had some kids in the morning who had never done any Parelli before, and had horses who really needed some. It was my first big moment to present Showing Naturally to kids (and their horses) I had never met. I created a progressive 'lesson' that started with some old-fashioned leading with respect and ended with squeeze game over barrels. It was amazing to work with these girls who took my ideas and techniques and really changed over the three hours! I can see where Showing Naturally is a perfect program to help every kid enjoy the horse they have more! The afternoon session was filled with adults already familiar with PNH and the seven Games. I began by watching them work, then offered 'keys' to the tricky details - like pivot foot - they picked them up immediately and made me feel great! After they showed me they had it together, I had to come up with some 'puzzles' to challenge and inspire. I started with the figure eight cones and chose an especially fiesty 'Sophie' to demonstrate the pattern. Sophie was quite the comic and used the time to prove to me and the other horses that she was not only intelligent but she also used that intelligence to make fun for herself and the horses around her. Talk about a horse to test one's emotional fitness! Fortunately I recognized Sophie's clever antics early and made a game of it - she would have had me steaming if not. Sophie would knock my hat off, step on and kick the cones until they were not useable, she would pull me off my spot - and after I changed from using cones (which she kicked across the arena) to using heavy metal barrels, she still trumped me by putting her head down to the ground then spinning around the barrels so fast she knocked me off my step and knocked the barrel over in one fell swoop. Laughter errupted from the horses not only in the ring with us, but also the horses in the stalls open to us and in the pasture! Sounds insane I know, but we all heard and saw it; the horses were watching and the entire place literally errupted when I came off that block! I gave her credit and laughed too; I then got off the block and moved around to help the exercise work. Sophie completed it well and so started a number of 'really weird' happenings. All in all it was fun, entertaining and enlightening for not only the students but for me as well. I look forward to returning there again!

4/12/08 Our demonstration was the BEST in the whole event!!! Everyone was amazing! I was incredibly proud! All of you totally exceeded my expectations! They were bareback/bridleless and the crowd went wild over all their stunts! The Cupid Shuffle was to die for! I got sooo many compliments - Lauren really organized this dance into a really great event! We must have had over 20 participants! Our team was; Tommy, Charlotte, Jessica Moore, Avery Fisher, Kelli Sandel, Madison Woschkolup, Bekha Strunk and Amanda Lawton on horses and countless others led by Lauren on the ground! I'm grateful for everything all of you did - Thank You!!! See MARES photos!

4/10/08 All week our girls have practiced for the MARES event this Saturday in Marvin. They have a great routine to the Cupid Shuffle and their other stuff will amaze you too! We welcome everyone to come out and support our Showing Naturally first demo! We need helpers for our riders and to pass out dvds, brochures, etc. Helpers will get a free FPF tshirt while supplies last! The MARES event is a local event showcasing horses and horse activities in our area. They have many cool demos scheduled - you and your family will love it! Tickets should be available at the gates on Joe Kerr Rd. More info call Vicki Lawton at 704-617-4403.

The Cupid Shuffle will ROCK!!!!

4/6/08 Lauren and Niki drove Monty to his new home in Maryland this weekend. He arrived to an excited Sara who took him on a beautiful long walk around his new 135 acre farm! Monty has a fairytale home - we are so happy for him and for Sara! On her way home Lauren dropped by a corgi breeder in Chattanooga TN and traded one of her female puppies for a new male puppy to breed to Katie and Isabella. He is soooo calm and cute! We welcome him into the fold!

4/4/08 Megan Martin purchased Victory today! Congratulations on your first horse! We are very excited to see how far this new pair will go together! Victory is a solid paint gelding who was trained by some of the best reining trainers in the country! He is a NRHA money earner! He has really enjoyed learning to ride english and starting to jump. This beautiful talented gelding now has a new owner and a new job in which he can excel! Best wishes to Megan and Victory!

4/3/08 Jimi Carson was released to us today in good health! The staff at Bonnie Brae was really great and nursed him back quickly! With a couple days of rest, he is ready to go back to work! We are so grateful to everyone for his speedy recovery! Bonnie Brae in Tryon NC and Bill Hay, DVM are highly recommended by Jimi Carson and us! He couldn't wait to get out and get his purple blanket back on - he was freezing and ready to go as soon as he saw Tommy and me! Jessica will sleep much better tonight. Thank you everyone!

4/1/08 We were delighted to hear how the other members of our family performed over the weekend - Madison Woschkolup, Bekhah Strunk and Molly Baker went to the Union County Saddle Club Show, showed, kicked bottoms and didn't need to take names! Mads won every english class she entered, Bekha stomped them in the western, Molly won money and trophies! Tracey McFarland tried out some new techniques and brought home a trophy too! Congratulations!!! I hope you three are with us at the 4 judge show in Arden this month!

3/31/08  Hollywood Spirit, aka Carson, aka Jimi, was rushed to Bonnie Brea Vet Hospital on Sunday with a suspected colic while at the Camden APHA show. Upon arriving vets thought he looked much better than they expected. Once examined they suspected an enderitis (stomach flu) instead of colic. He was put on i.v. fluids and improved steadily. This morning his report was good and we expect him home in a couple of days. Jessica Weiscarver (his owner), Lauren (his former owner), Tommy (his trainer) and I (his former trainer) thank you for all your well wishes and prayers, you pulled another one out!

3/30/08 Although we expected great weather with the warm temperatures of Friday, our final show in Camden SC at Camden Equestrian Center tested everyone's determination. Saturday and Sunday were both cold and rainy - Sunday was brutal. There were exibitors there from all corners of the country for the Top Ten in the nation APHA show. California, Oregon and Florida were only a few of the places our competitors called home. We had a super upbeat group ready for the challenge! Jennifer Weiss, Jessica Moore, Natalie Moore, Emily Alvarez, Jennifer Paschal, Jessica Weiscarver, Kristen Castaldi and Lynn Everrette all represented us proudly on Saturday with great success! Jennifer and Mellow (aka Golden Honey Fleet) were our biggest winners with 2 circuit champion awards - their first at a big 4 judge show! Sunday started with pouring rain and freezing temps. Disappointed neither Lauren Elhers-Koch nor Judy Harvey got to show their horses for the first time. Jessica Moore, Natalie Moore and Jennifer Paschal toughed it out and gave great performances in spite of the conditions. Amanda Seaman took her 2 year old Connor for his first trip to a big show - he rode great for her all weekend - congratulations for a major accomplishment! I was proud of all my family - great job!

3/24/08 We had another wonderful show with amazingly beautiful weather! It was the first of our Summer Open Show Series and we added some neat new things! Cindy Moser has been hard at work finding us new sponsors and gave out buckets full of neat stuff donated by Cindy and her husband Kenneth as 'door prizes' throughout the day including one filled with a live easter bunny! We also had neat horse collectible playing cards (the kids knew exactly what they were) donated by the Waxhaw Tack Exchange that were given out with ribbons for the Novice Equitation Class winners. We raised $95 for the Carolina Paint Horse Club Youth Scholarship Fund from our two new practice classes. But the biggie came from Hobby Horse - a $100 gift certificate and fancy ribbons for the winners of the Novice Horsemanship class. See part of the article below from Salt Block Gazette:

 "Abby Peterson from Waxhaw, NC wins the first Hobby Horse Rookie Reward class held at Fox Point Farm of Lancaster, SC at the March open horse show.  Hobby Horse Clothing Company, well known for its outstanding western show clothing was the sponsor of this class.

In lieu of the donations that Hobby Horse has made in the past to national equine-related associations and scholarships, this year’s new program called Hobby Horse Rookie Rewards provides beautiful ribbons and a gift certificate to the first place winner of a special horsemanship class for novice riders in approved shows.

Abby, an eight-year-old, second grader at Sandy Ridge Elementary School won the horsemanship class at Fox Point Farm riding her American Quarter Horse, Zippintil Dark. Abby received a $100 gift certificate, as well as a blue ribbon from Hobby Horse Clothing Company"

The show was a wonderful success with everyone leaving feeling like a winner! We welcome new sponsors and if they would like to donate special prizes, we would love that too! A complete listing of our current sponsors soon.

3/24/08 Our dear friend Stormy Heathen passed away Easter Day at home in Rockingham, NC  from complications of HYPP, a genetic problem. He had a major HYPP attack 3 weeks ago and had been started on all medications to prevent another. Our hearts and prayers go out to Elizabeth Deese and all her family.

3/17/08 Pat Parelli invited Charlotte to come to Florida to ride with him privately last week! Dixon and Charlotte traveled to his gorgeous Ocala farm. It was amazing getting to ride and talk with him a great length about her greatest passion - Kids and Horses. He is interested in developing a global Showing Naturally Program - he asked Charlotte if she would like to be the "Den Mother" of this program!

Photos are: 1. four-in-hand training. really cool idea, Pat said really hard, each bike has reins to steer golf cart; 2. The mules Cocomo Joe and friend; 3. Sailing Smart; 4. Pen inside a pen, awesome idea; 5. Robo steer we played working cowhorse; 6. The Rig, Pat's bus plus custom trailer; 7. Casper; 8. Pat's personal training barn and perfect practice pen; 9. Pat's stand with heat and netting for bugs; 10-16. Pat has reminders up all around the barn to keep everyone focused! I loved them! Want my own!!!