Happy New Year

We had a WILD December to end the 2008 season. First a week of arctic temperatures and then the biggest snowstorm in 40 years! Since we don't see alot of snow around here, several of the horses really didn't know what to do with it. They walked around in only a small portion of their paddocks, creating paths in the snow. With all the cold weather, the water pipes froze and getting water to the horses became quite a chore. However, once the power went out and we had no well pump, it got even more interesting. We owe a big THANK YOU to Chris and Mike Feves for allowing us to come up to their farm and fill up garbage cans with water from their well. Mike plowed the driveway for us so we could get our truck through.

Thank goodness it is over, and hopefully the rest of the winter will be a bit more normal!

I'd like to introduce you to our "community". Hopefully we'll get some pictures to put up here as well!

Martha Caldwell has 2 horses here, Fritz and Diva. Martha bred both of these horses herself, and she did a fantastic job! Fritz is showing PSG, and he is very impressive. Diva will be 3 years old this year, and will be likely started under saddle this spring. Fritz also is ridden regularly by Sandy Grossman-Tobin who half-leases him.

Monica Borrell also has 2 horses in the barn, Tully and Gen. Monica is relatively new to dressage. She and both her horses spent the previous several years in the jumper ring. Going from hunt seat to dressage is actually a hard transition. Monica has been learning how to develop a correct dressage seat, and her horses have been learning how to accept contact. This is hard to tackle at the same time! Tully is also half-leased by Jen Miller-Davis, who rides him in all her spare time from her medical residency! Jen has had a long break from riding, but she is getting her "riding legs" back really quickly!

Lonnie Sexton and her horse, Eternity, joined (I should say RE-joined) the barn in July. Lonnie welcomed a new baby girl, Lauren, in August, and was back in the saddle after just a few weeks! She and Eternity are picking up where they left off. Maybe we'll get Lonnie back in the show ring again if she is done having children!

Jackie Anderson brought her horse, Killiarc, to the barn in the Spring. Killiarc has successfully shown at I-1, but is now rehabbing from a tendon injury. He and Jackie are doing well, and we keep our fingers crossed that his rehab continues smoothly.

Holly Schlepp purchase a new horse, Rex, this fall. Rex had a career as a jumper, so he is now learning how to accept contact, listen to the seat, and understand "bend". Holly has been riding for several years, and she and Rex seem to be a perfect match. Rex might just win the award for the "cutest" horse.

Alex Carey purchased the horse "William" from Green Meadow Farm in September. William is a PSG horse with alot of talent. Alex purchased William and then headed off to college, so she doesn't get to see him very often. She was home at Christmas, but because of the snowstorm didn't get out here much. Bummer! Once Alex gets home from school in the spring, she'll be probably riding non-stop. In the mean time, I am working to get William to Grand Prix, and Tina Johnson half-leases William. (Although she managed to take a tumble recently - hopefully she'll be back in the saddle again in February!)

Kathy Porterfield also has a new horse (seems to be a pattern!). Her name is Welka. Welka came to the barn the day before our 2 week snowstorm started. Poor thing! What a crazy welcome to a new home! Kathy was riding my horse, Percy, while we were horse shopping, but now she has a new, wonderfully talented horse to dote on.

Lisa Daws is the newest member of the barn. Her horse, Larry, just came to the barn a few days ago and is settling in just fine. Larry is also rehabbing from a tendon injury, so we have all our fingers and toes crossed as he starts the slow road to full recovery. Lisa is also riding Fritz, William, and Eternity, so she can get her "real" riding time in!

We will have a new horse in the barn in a few days. Erin Warren is bringing her horse, Cessna, to the barn so he can be started under saddle. Cessna will be 4 this year, and he is a big moving, flashy, tall, and super sweet horse. I'm excited to get him here!

The last 2 horses in the barn, Percy and Ali, are mine. Percy is a Grand Prix horse that I have had for about 6 years. Percy is one-of-a-kind.... those who know him understand why I say that! Ali is my baby ... I bred him and have been anxiously waiting for him to grow up so I could ride him. Ali has been under saddle for about 4 months, and is doing great.

Hopefully now that we've introduced everyone, we can get some pictures and/or videos up here as well!