A First in a Long Time

I love dressage.  I love showing.  I love having a good horse I can go down centreline with and smile and have a good ride on. 

For the last nearly 2 years, I haven't had that. Last time was the Killerney Canada Day Show with my Sam riding 3rd level!

On May 5, I got to trot down centreline for the first time in nearly 2 years.  Although the day's tests consisted only of Training and First level tests on the Old Man and Norton's very first tests ever, it sure felt good to head down there again!

I was so impressed with Old Mr. Buck.  23 years old and he was convinced he was a youngster!  He was so alert and wanted to go go go!  It was the first time in about 7 years that he had shown.  He was no stranger to the dressage arena, having shown up to 4th level and training Intermediare with me in a prior lifetime.  He still pulled out scores in the 60's for his tests!  Sure his canter was stiff, but he gave me 5 x 2-tempis in the warmup the night before!!!  heheh what a good kid!

Norton was not overly confident in the ring for his first test.  He wasn't interested in really riding into corners or softening and swinging.  That's ok, we have to start somewhere.  His second test was better.  We did get into most of the corners and had some moments of relaxation.  The judge had some good comments for us as well.  She liked him, thinks he'll make a lovely dressage pony in the future too.  <3

Another first in a long time was being in front of the event photographer's camera lense!!  One of my favorite faces to see at a show, Linda Finstad of A Sharper Image Photography was in attendance with her camera.  She did up an edit on facebook just for me! 

Happy to be back!!! xoxo

Mane Event, and a Crazy Good Weekend!

No, didn't get into a clinic, but still took a pony down and still had a rediculously good time!

Absolute highlight of the weekend?  Being able to have long, hot showers all by myself 3 days in a row!!  Being a Mom and a wife, sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest difference.

Anyways, had a retarded good time with my very good friends, Renate, Selena <3, Michelle, and a lot of other people I haven't seen in quite a while.  There were even more that I didn't get a chance to sit and talk with, although I would have loved to. 

Ritchie handled himself like a gentleman, so proud of my little man!  He became good friends with Selena's famous Fjords; Bergen Simon and Bergen Seepo! 

Awe Fjordie love with Seepo! <3

Selena Dickmann had wonderful crowd-pleasing performances with her boys!  Her Roman Riding was just AWESOME!!!  Along with Selena, the X-Dream Team also has Darcy, who is horse handler extraordinaire!  Had such a blast hanging out with these ladies. 

Friday and Saturday nights I went over to my sidesaddling buddy's place for the night (and a LOT of wine) and hot tubbing.  We had a sidesaddle play day as she asked me to bring Plonk (my 1915 Champion and Wilton saddle) with me. 

Sidesaddle kitchen party!

I also had the opportunity to spend some time with the Performance Standardbred booth.  My friend Charlene and her boy Leo (Westosterone) were part of the demos, and also participated in the Johnathan Field clinic series.  It was so awesome to see how far they've come together <3 

And the Jackie Johnson Trick Training Clinics were fantastic, as always.  I got some really good tips on the trick training I'm working on with Norton, and where to go next with them. 

Of course, I'm planning to go back next year.  If you're in Alberta, BC or Saskatchewan, I would recommend you make plans to do the same!

Trip to the Dentist

So we didn't get into any clinics at the Mane Event.  That certainly doesn't mean my trailer and I are not going to be down for the weekend!  Nooooo.  Miss that?  Heck not a chance.  I'm going to be taking Ritchie down for the whole event (to stand in the stall and go for walks and just take in the general atmosphere.)  When it's all done, he's heading down south with one of my favorite peoples, Selena Dickmann from Little Bow Fjords.  Selena will be at the event with her pair of trick Fjords and is taking Ritchie for a few months of training, sacking, tacking and backing.  Today, poor little fella was pulled out of his paddock where he'd spent the majority of the winter with his buddies, and loaded into the trailer, which he had not seen since September at the RPSI inspection.  Off we went to the vet's.  It was pretty evident, once we got there, that little feller was not feeling very confident.  A little help by sedation assisted in his relaxation factor and into the clinic he went.  He had a good float, something it looks like he will need regularly, and his wolf teeth removed.  He just had the two uppers, but, to the dismay of my dearest vet (who ROCKS), they were quite large.  Eventually perserverance won through and he is now wolf-tooth-less.  A full set of vaccines, including west nile, and aresol strangles vaccine, and he's ready for a quick deworming this week and a new adventure with Selena! 

Can't wait to start this new adventure!!! xoxo

Ah the horse market

It's something I really haven't done in a few years, put a horse on the market.  Now I'm not talking just the regular broke WTC, good horse, kind of the normal $2500 - $4500 horse.  I'm talking about Norton (aka BG Northstar, aka SUPERSTAR).  His breeder and I have decided to put him on the market. 

Now, Norton's pretty special.  He's a triple registered gelding to start, with a National Championship title, lots of show experience, and he's got a pretty good personality.  BUT he's also a trick horse! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx_4nS3vJeE

This is clips from his very first trick demo, at the Farm and Ranch Show for 30 school kids.  It was an impromptu demo, we'd just been playing around in the round pen, but he does love to show off. 

The only other people I know of who sell trick horses are the amazing Katelyn Carter (http://www.shantyarabians.com/) and the fantabulous Selena Dickmann (http://www.freewebs.com/weldergirl69/littlebowfjords.htm). 
What is the market value of a horse who is fantastic under saddle, in the show ring, and does tricks?! 

Well, we've put him on the market at $12,500 and I guess we'll see what the market says. 

I think I'm going to miss that boy when he does sell, but I know someone's going to have so many adventures and so much fun with him!  And I'm going to continue on doing exactly the same thing with Jose!  <3

Northland's Farm and Ranch Show

What a weekend!!!  Holy way to start show season. 
Northland's Farm and Ranch Show is held in conjunction with the College Rodeo Finals and it sure was an experience for my little Norton and myself! 

On Friday we decided to help ourselves to the round pen set up in our hall (Hall D) and gave some trick demos and went for a little ride.  We caught 30 school kids who were watching the 4-H Alpaca show and did a demo special for them.  It was pretty cool to have 30 kids wave at Norton and have him wave back. 

I was all sorts of proud of him for managing the crowds, the ALPACAS (without even blinking at them) and the really scarey entrance to Northland's main arena, under bleechers!!!  For a little man who's had limited exposure to that kind of show, he was just a superstar!  I couldn't be more pleased.  There is lots of video to come of him and his demos but, for now, here's what his breeder, Bob Williams, caught in our main arena demo of dressage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhLP0EmJA6A

Just wish he would've waved at the end... oh well. 

Post more as they get uploaded :)

A Big Honor

See?  I told you about enjoying the quiet days!

I got a call on the weekend asking me and Norton to join the Aurora Arabian Horse Association at this year's Farm and Ranch Show held at Northland's at the end of the month.  We've been asked to come and do dressage/sidesaddle demo but, sadly, since I am still between sidesaddles, we will have to just go for dressage (and TRICKS!!!)  We are scheduled to be on the grounds for both Friday and Saturday for demos and to be part of the "booth" so we're available for the everyone to come meet him.  I hope the stall's big enough for him to do a few of his tricks.  He's getting so good and playing dead!! 

I am really honored and quite excited for the opportunity to get out so early in the season and get him some more exposure.  I just hope he's as good a boy as I know he can be!  Now if only he'd get to sheding that darn winter fur! 

http://www.farmandranchshow.com/

Fluffy Bunnies.

No, not the actual rabbits - although they are cute.  I am not a rodent person but I'd have a rabbit, outside.

Anyways, not actual rabbits. 

At this time of year, the Fat and Furry shows start happening and what a blast!!!  They are my favorite kind of show.  You bring your fuzzy ponies out of the pasture, ride em a bit at home, brush em out, clean your tack, find something fun and cute to wear and off ya go to have a blast!  For the Easter Weekend, I'm going to take one of the boys (yet to be determined which) and out I go!  I think if the sidesaddle's here by then, I'll take the old man out.  If not, the young feller could use some show miles under saddle.  Either way, a great time to be had! 

And now that we're towards the end of March, I did go to the tack sale and I'm sooo proud of myself!  I didn't go table shopping at all!  The only thing I allowed myself to buy was a set of stirrup leathers, irons and pads, which I got for $5 total!  The new location allowed for a lot more vendors this year, which also ment a lot more competition for sellers as I'm pretty sure there was the same amount of buyers this year.  I did manage to move a lot of stuff; however, I'll tell you nothing but one fly sheet went for the price I'd put on it.  It was really hard to SELL things.  Even used blankets for $10 I couldn't move!  And they were fully intact useful blankets!  Best thing I saw there was an amazing old sidesaddle built in Scottsdale (area).  The skirt and safe on this thing was one solid piece of leather, not sewn together, with amazing floral tooling all over it!  The seat was a green suede.  It looked just incredible although I don't think it would've sat me well. 

Well, I guess it's a good idea to enjoy the last of the calm before the impending storm of weekend shows that's about to come!  Weeee!!!!