Hey! Remember Me?

Greetings virtual friends!  I recently had a very dear friend remind me that it's now been over a year since my last blog entry.  My goodness how time has flown!  Incidentally, this friend has not entered in her own blog  since before my own last post... just sayin is all! 

So!  How are ya?  What's new in your world?  Exciting plans for this year?  Yes, us too! 

This past weekend was a big one for us.  Two big events, two different horses and only one of me.  Man I wish I could clone myself BUT the second best thing is certainly to have a best friend who is enough like me to be able to take one of my horses to his very first show.  Let me back up and tell you about it. 

Northland's Farm and Ranch Show

Photo Credit: Natural Dynamic Photography

Jose Japaleno, my incredible Standardbred gelding, and I were invited to perform a mini clinic with Horseplay and Harmony at the 3-day trade show.  Caylyn and I had an incredible time with our boys and Riley and Jose performed like champs for the crowds.  I'm so fortunate to be part of such an incredible partnership, with my horse and with Caylyn in our venture. 
Northland's was a fantastic host and set things up for us to be incredibly convenient and safe.  The horses were stabled directly across from our booth, the round pen only 25 feet away, water station and rest rooms just at the end of the stall ally too!  My barn baby was incredible and played and amused herself for the duration of the show.  What a good kid! 
We were followed on the first day by a gentleman from Northland's with a video camera.  I would assume that somewhere we will appear in some promotional material for them in the future.  It will be cool to see!  On day 2, a reporter from the Western Producer came and spent time with us, talked about our horses, our clinics and what we do.  We'll have to keep an eye out for an article to show up there too!  All in all, one incredible opportunity and we're so proud to have been able to be part of the show. 

Maple Leaf Meadows Schooling Dressage Show

Have I mentioned I'm one of the most fortunate people in the world?  I have an INCREDIBLE and supportive husband, a WONDERFUL and beautiful daughter (who will be 5 in just over a week!!! OMG) and two SUPERB and AH-MAAAZING friends!   It just happened that Maple Leaf Meadows was hosting one of their fantastic schooling dressage shows on the same Saturday that Jose and I were at Northland's Farm and Ranch Show.  I couldn't resist the opportunity to get the Ritchie boy down centreline and Renate offered to take him for me!  YES!!!!  The boy is just coming 4 in June and we're aiming to show training and first level this summer and see if we can get his lifetime stallion scores. 
Renate had only been on Ritchie about 6 times before taking him down centreline for this show.  We put them in Training Level test D (CADORA) x 3.  First test, first thing in the morning and, he was tense, poor fella.  Certainly can't blame him.  He then had a rest while Renate and Sarah went to the Pony Club Tack Sale - another event I wish I could have attended, but forfeited.  Upon their return, Renate took Ritchie down centreline for 2 back-to-back tests and he relaxed considerably.  The judge's comments were on par and scores were fair - Thank you Sarah for taking pictures and videos of all the tests for me!  All  in all, I couldn't be more happy with the show, the horse and the whole experience!  Only thing that would have made me more happy would be to ride my horse at the show or, at the very least, be there to see it myself.  Regardless, I'm grateful to capable and skilled friends for helping me and my horse out! 

That's the biggest news.  Jose's been accepted to ride in the Balanced Rider clinic at Mane Event at the end of the month, I'm looking forward to that opportunity.  We have 3 mares currently in foal to Ritchie.  Both my Arab mares are in foal and Jose's half sister, Promise is carrying her maiden foal.  We are so excited to meet them all in the next few months!  In the mean time, HAPPY RIDING!  :)