redshowpony

We’ve been working on our congress book  “good luck” page and Corinne had a great thought today - I think its going to be neat, I am taking a little break on working on it but will have it done in the next couple of days.  Though I liked the original one too, we’ll have to find something to use it for later :)     Got done riding just in time for some light rain tonight, nice and breezy.

Corinne also found out today that Jake was the runner up all around winner for the OPEN division at tristate a couple of weeks ago!  She didn’t realize she was in the running or could have added a class or two.    Busy weekend coming too!

Thanks to everyone calling and emailing  - and stopping me in the driveway!! - about boarding and showing with us, such kind words -  I wish we had room for all of you!   Though this fall we can have some big trail rides and we have our bonfire pile started already - we can invite everyone over.  We aren’t even ready and really, the plan is to have a bunch more horses for us!   Its funny I see people advertising left and right and we aren’t but I have people stopping me in the driveway especially when there are so many other barns with empty space just within a few miles.  We are lucky to have a good circle of friends I can count on when we are away showing  and show with a great group of friends through TriState too.   The barn is getting closer to completion every day, its wild coming in the driveway each day and seeing the progress.   Spent the evening laying out the inside tack room, etc.    And also for those who asked, Kahle is 10 years old.   Some had asked after seeing her pictures with Neko.   Neko is such a good girl.  Birdie too!  They are so funny, they don’t wear halters anymore, just to move from pasture to pasture or to tie for grooming, etc.  They see the halter and they know it means grooming or saddling — you just hold it open and they dive their faces right into it.   Guess you can say our horses love their jobs.    Hopefully will have time to get the website caught up as well, have a couple of changes to make.   Corinne is busy planning the schedule for futurities in september and for after congress, I believe we are headed to the pre-turkey circuit in Virginia and then some hunter and reining over the winter.  Got all these trailers sitting around here now…will be nice to be able to run in different directions when you only need to take a couple of horses to a certain place.

With Kahle — Neko and Kahle did showmanship for the first together today (never even practiced together except for before the class…and finished 5th!    I will post the video later…it was big and kept dying out so I’ll try when the traffic is down a little.  And then…they rode together als0 — finishing 5th of 11 in the riding class!  Her eq pattern did upload here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHp63jr4vWk

And then…..Corinne and Neko also walked away with several firsts again today!  They won the all around yesterday and Neko got another chair, and today they won the HUS and ammy equitation!!!   Congrats!

Kahle and Neko

Kahle and Neko

Congrats again Neko– high point all around Tristate AQHA

Another chair!

Neko winning her HUS class

I don’t know why my camera makes the pictures look like the ring is so huge and cuts out all the other horses. I don’t know if its because I tried to zoom in?   Anyway, you can see the real size of the ring and the real amount of horses in the class in the videos on youtube.     Sometimes the pics make it look like there was only one or two in it.

Congratulations to Jake and Kahle– best showmanship pattern they have had to date — 5th place!  Also pinned 5th in riding today.  Neko also had a good day…

Congratulations! All around champion -- she won the high point!

She won her english pleasure and rode western today, 2nd of 13 in her horsemanship, 5th in pleasure with Corinne.   Neko and Brenda got 3rd in showmanship!   Good girl Neko!

Here is a snip of her western:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2h_utrFD_E

Neko winning her english class

Neko is the gray horse in the back of the picture…the other gray horse is Katie Hanson (she was 2nd)

Neko english

And getting a clean lead change too.  Great job!  Good luck Kahle and Jake — moving up a pony club rating on Wed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZFATxgt3Pc

Neko practicing western

tristate this week  yay!   will be a small show though, everyone is going to other places, Alex and Andrea and Eddie and gang are going to Tennessee and others spread out in other directions so hopefully we’ll get a decent turnout for the show. I imagine the biggest class will probably be in the 20’s.  hope there are more jumpers too!

decided not to go to the show today. there was a chance of rain and then after we looked at the show bill again there were only a couple of jackpot classes so we decided we’ll go to one a little bigger and better represented and have tristate this coming week anyway.  What a good girl!!  She is about ready to show over fences now. Hard part is keeping the kids from swiping her away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-O3lgjkAn4

Pretty Neko -- will be showing at Horse on Course for fall circuits!

Jake loping

Jake worked a little too. Good day.  Can’t believe Neko is so comfortable doing courses already.  Seems like yesterday Jake was learning.  And won’t be long until Birdie’s pictures are here jumping too.  been trying to talk corinne into flying down to watch the nsba show for a couple of days but with the construction going on and getting ready for things coming up, just not a good time. :(    Been looking at babies and prospects, trying to hold off until the super sale to see what there is there, really have the itch for a new baby, nothing better than being with your horse from the beginning.  I never figured out those people who go from horse to horse to horse because their trainer insists this one is “IT” and then all of a sudden it isn’t ‘happy in his job’ so the trainer gets them a new one and on and on but to hear them talk its always the horses fault.  I can’t stand the big lip service people. Guess that’s why on my facebook page my number #1 is put up or shut up!    I dont know it all, will never even get close, but I know enough to know I don’t know and I go get good help and then practice, practice, practice.   I like being around people who want to go and learn and like to practice too.  Zero degrees to 98 degrees.   There may be times limited in what we can do with weather extremes, but we can still get something done.  And our horses like to play silly games (like the broom polo) which is always fun.       ‘those good at making excuses are seldom good for anything else”….Ben Franklin

never saw such a pretty bulldozer as the one building my barn!

Jake and Kahle practiced good tonight, english and western.  Kaitlyn and Neko worked a little and Corinne and Neko worked on flying lead changes on the flat (no figure eights to help her get them! ) - Neko is starting to get really good and soft at them already.  Such a good girl.  This is just practice, it looks much prettier of course when Corinne rides more like she is showing than helping  but Neko isn’t rushy or sloppy, looking good. The horses just keep getting better and better!!!!  We must be doing something right.    Kaitlyn and Gracie have been working no hands showmanship.  Kaitlyn had a nice ride with Neko too.  Kahle is looking forward to showing all around with Jake — games and western - it will be her first time to do everything.   Good luck to Alex and Eddie and Andrea and everyone headed to NSBA.  Can’t wait to go next year!   Supposed to rain this weekend so we’ll have to see about the show…if not, we can still always go take a jumping lesson.  Have to listen to the weather I guess.  Neko’s changes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEbeMNyBiq4

Barn materials and construction equip arrived — yay!!!!  Going into construction mode in earnest this weekend.

We decided to take the kids up to a small local show on Sat up at Scott Twp. Probably only taking a couple of horses who are working on some things, the shows there are small and should go fast but the kids would like having a mix of different things and they can show in the all around stuff and maybe swap horses a little.  Its close to home, the show will go pretty fast and the kids will have fun being able to do a bunch of different stuff. 

waiting to see what the weather holds, either jumping lesson at BarGee’s (bee-u-tee-ful farm if you’ve never been). Corinne worked there through school so we were lucky enough to get to know it.   anyway, maybe jumping lesson, or possibly saw an open show not far away with high point awards, would like to get some video of Neko doing western since we missed it at last show, guess it depends on the weather cooperating.

and just because…the video from the other day, Corinne through in a horsemanship dead sit down stop.  Can you imagine when Neko is wearing reining sliding plates?  should be good for at least ten feet with a good run!   Birdie has that great stop too.  Actually Birdie can lope practically in place, I will have to tape her. When we were in the practice pen at TS a couple of weeks ago, a lot of the western horses were passing us so I am excited to see maybe next year if Birdie can go western too.   I’ll tape it when we practice her next and put the video up.   Things just keep getting better around here.  Congrats Rhonda and new baby Fern!  Can’t wait to meet Stormy’s little sister.  Neko’s horsemanship sit down stop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGAH_y3hbKE

We let Jake and Birdie  hang out in the big field while we were riding - only Birdie was confused how people were practicing but she wasn’t….so Kahle and Honey were riding around warming up and Birdie followed them everywhere –even over a warm up fence!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plo36IkTad4

Corinne and Neko….I wanted to tape Neko working western and loping but when Corinne showed up in breeches and tall boots to ride, I kinda knew it wasn’t happening!   At the end she threw in a couple of steps, this isnt really Neko’s lope (as you’ll see when I finally get to tape it) but Neko knew to come down from hunter headset/speed even in her english saddle and just a snaffle.   That reminds me, you would think aqha would reward the senior horses who can lope around in a plain fat snaffle. I think its backwards that a fat snaffle is not an acceptable western bit for a senior horse. We should get extra points that is all we need to do it in!  Hopefully next couple of days we can get the western saddle on, Corinne said she couldn’t really lope because the english saddle doesn’t let her sit back enough.  It is very pretty to watch even if I don’t like western pleasure, she just looks so comfortable and goes so slow but not that four beat-y stuff you can’t even tell what lead they are on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGAH_y3hbKE

Neko practicing hunter style

Neko and Corinne practicing. Neko is learning to be such a pretty jumper! Tomorrow I'll try to talk Corinne into riding western so I can video her loping (though she never wants to now that we have jumps all over the place)

Cross county pace

Kahle stealing Neko for a ride

Kahle and Neko - Kahle is 10 and is all legs!

Kahle and Jake warming up to jump. My friend Kara turned us onto the neck collars years ago -she used them instead of halters. Corinne found leather ones in neat colors - that's what you see on Jake's neck. No halter marks either.

Neko jump practice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciQamxDkb-Q

Jake and Kahle practicing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K8ognkriUU

good practice today. Honey also worked on showmanship.  Pancakes for dinner last night — yum!  Was a really nice day today.  No jumping for Birdie yet.  Too young.  Thought about trail riding but with the rain yesterday, didn’t want to risk it being muddy so we’ll pass today and practice in the big field.  Who knows how high the streams were we’d be crossing with all the rain too.  Neko is starting to understand that for jumping her head needs to be higher and she needs to move out but when she is at aqha on the rail, she drops down round and goes super slow, almost by herself.   She is such a good girl and fun to ride.  We are really excited with the big field and jumps spread out. We can also ride all the way around clear back behind the tree line and we are putting trail obstacles and different things throughout the field.  And the bridge is really cool!  Neko had to wear plain black bell boots today (bor—ing).  I saw bell boots online that light up with each step like those tennis shoes do — they were $54 dollars for the pair…but I am thinking I have to have a pair……

Tony (actually Alter QH so Shawn and Clay and group included)  is our neighbor for the year at TriState (and last year too actually)…we have a lot of fun.  (and Ralph Thomas five stalls down, Prescotts on the end and Julie Jo across the aisle!)    Mr. Anthony Ki Urban cracks me up.  Lookout Tony — prank alert — Tristate!!!   Will have to facebook him and see what barn they stay in at congress  (though I am not giving up our barn, we always request the same one and we love it).  And our neighbors are none too shabby — Amber and Seth from Eaton Clark along with Ashley and Ivy and gang.    Alters should come up and stay with us!!       Hey Tony - if you get another jacket this year at congress - i dare you to send me a picture of you in your jacket and a TOWEL!!!

Got our ropes on standby in case you need backup — Jake loves to play with cows too. CONGRATS  to Kahle and HONEY who went to Pony Club this past weekend — and did a great job even if Bonnie forgot the camera!    They have two ratings coming up and we’ll get pictures.  Good Girl Honey!    Congrats to Sam and crew also — having a great show in Delaware.

My spoiled ponies spent the day under their favorite shady tree — with a big electric FAN - yes outside!  They love it.

Preparing for the next show, four days - Tristate as well as Aug 1 for the girls who are showing at the youth show for practice for congress.  Hope there is at least a good breeze!

Jen getting ready for the fair too — keep up the good work Jen.  We are also planning for all of us, Jen, Carrie, Morgan and the whole gang to get out to another local show for practice and fun, we keep getting invited to the foothills so we’ll have to see what we can squeeze in.   Also can’t wait to get to the new grounds for the NVWQHA next year –its just a little farther but like a resort.  Regional experience end of month in Virgnia (my second favorite grounds) but we are not going this year so we can try some other things and keep all the days for the 8 days at congress and I have a work function happening as well.   Kristy will have to pack the wonder van into a wonder suitcase!!!   And Rhonda and Stormy coming this year too!!!   Shout out to Jill and my girl Shawnee and Cassandra and Ginger and Cort — can’t wait to see you guys.  We have a million trails here - will be fun to have Cassandra and Carolyn come out to ride - even if I have to go get them, we should ride all day and then have our bonfire and cookout and everyone stay over, can sleep in the trailers if there are too many.

Have to still post the last foothills ones to go with the posts (my photo memory is filling up here so I moved to facebook)….posting on our www.redshowpony.com facebook page.  won’t forget my camera for the next one!

and Neko just because

Kahle and Jake are at Pony Club Camp this week….have fun!!!

and everyone said….AMEN to that!

Corinne is a dork because she got her entry forms for the NSBA world show in Oklahoma City in August and we talked about taking Birdie and Neko but she was worried about budgeting the money for it when the opportunity came up so quickly, since congress entries are due then and we have three horses going and with all the construction with building rings and barns and all so she decided to pass this year and get it on the schedule for next year.  (of course, all things are pending change…especially if Alex or someone has an empty stall or two for the trip!).  Anyway, then her bill this past weekend was almost $1,000 just for tristate since we had three showing and I was thinking, man, we could have skipped tsqha and saved that for nsba worlds!  But then I guess we’d have missed Ralph singing and dancing so I will have to tell him he owes me now.  Come to think of it, Oklahoma in August….yikes!!   But definitely next year if we end up not going this year (the entries haven’t closed yet).  I would definitely need extra hands if we went though - thank goodness the kids are out of school — I’d have to be kidnapping them for a week to come help me!

There were three huge turkeys and seven little baby ones in the front yard today. I took pics with my phone, will have to see how they come out.  Also, some of the blueberries are now ripe — had my first handful today — YUM!!

The style of barn we are building, only ours will have windows on the stalls and is bigger, and a few other features

with the light ridge on the roof and sidewalls, it is very light and airy inside, that was the reason I chose it.   enough shade and fans for no bugs but still bright and happy inside.  The horses are going to love it.  I am most excited about our new jumps though and having a 200×100 ring - we can leave some jumps and trail obstacles up all the time and we’ll still all have room to run around.  and Buffalo Trails!  We can go down bareback and walk the creek - there are parts deep enough to swim the horses a few strides!     Just think, we’ll be able to pay a group rate and get clinicians to come here - I won’t have to haul out so much for lessons= paying a group rate would cost as much as my hauling but without the hassle.  I think I will ask either Michael for jumping or Don Jox as our first!  And of course Justin for roping.  Adam for games.  I can think of a million!   Maybe a big trail ride/cookout too, that would be fun.

Tom, this is for you…we need to get you on facebook this week because I am closing this blog.

Pics to come, Bonnie took video…..

Congrats to Kahle and Jake — 2nd and 4th in showmanship today!!   Very nice job!  Fourth and sixth in the horsemanship…little bobble, but it will get better with a little more experience.

Congrats Corinne, Jake, Neko and Birdie —Jake circuit champ hack, Neko reserve champ eq (by one point) and Birdie placed in the open class with all the trainers under both judges even though she had a couple of mistakes!! It was so hot and she was so tired, they cantered forever. We we very, very proud of her.  Even with mistakes, she still pinned over horses who didn’t have mistakes.   Birdie also placed under all four judges in showmanship, no less than 5th (my mistakes, not hers - I haven’t shown showmanship since more than a year ago so pretty happy I still pinned over so many!  We are so lucky even when we make mistakes there is a silver lining.).  And Jake — open 1/2 point in open pole bending!!!  He won - he had only gone in to practice for versatility, we didn’t expect him to win.   We had a really good show.   Congrats to Julie and MJ — tied for circuit champ and first points in halter too!   The party/cookout was fun — oh my gosh, I had no idea when they brought out the karaoke that Ralph Thomas would not only get up and belt out a song but a little dance too!    There were some pretty funny things going on.  And Tony — forever to be known as The Streak.  Wyatt Atkins (my roping buddy) was fun as always, John was in rare form…good to see everyone.  Lindsay braided Birdie Wed night which really  helped us out as we were there late.  Having three horses showing is hard when you only have four people!  Neko’s did a great job in showmanship too and even pinned in halter. Neko was such a perfect girl, Jake was Jake and Birdie was perfect albeit tired. They were so happy to get home. And when I came in the driveway home tonight — acres and acres of fenceposts waiting for their fence — what a beautiful sight.  Jake and Kahle leave for Pony Club Camp tomorrow.   Little open show this weekend for the kids and Iris to get her feet wet.

I am getting the hang of facebook so probably going to disable this blog shortly, but Tom, this is for you until we get you up on facebook.

Kahle and Jake - showmanship -on course - finished with two fifths -- great job!!

in the horsemanship class of eleven

In the lineup

Getting the trophy from John -- Great Job!

Nice job you two! No placing less than 5th under both judges all day at first AQHA show!

Next week little open show for practice - and Morgan will be showing!!   Iris will be out - second time off the farm ever and first time at a show atmosphere.

My baby's breath bush (I never saw a live bush before, now I have a HUGE one)

A small part of my blackberry patch...about three weeks from pies!

these 8 inch diameter balls get covered in purple flowers

Giant blueberry bushes --- look at all the berries! They should be ready in about two weeks

Buck in the Yard

I was taking pictures of some of the different plants and berry bushes in the yard when I heard a snort — turned around and here was a buck!  I was trying to zoom in but he left…he was a four point from what I could see!

this is a butterfly bush

Clematis vines outside my kitchen window

the cattle in the property behind us, their pasture is about 300 yards behind that tree

Holly bush with a burning bush behind

Inka by the parking fence and lillies

More lillies

Some other kind of airy yellow flowers

part of the grape arbor

snapdragons

Long stem yellow tea rose

Sunflower patch -- they are over five feet tall!!!

The Birdie and Neko carvings Kristy made sitting on the porch

sun setting in the back yard

And with that sunset, going to try making a facebook page and closing this….we’ll see how it goes. Hopefully I can post more pics and not use so much bandwidth from the site.  So catch us on Facebook (redshowpony) and follow the progress of the farm and all the upcoming events.

Thanks to the great turn out for the Indiana County 4H club at Carrie’s barn — 10 kids focusing on showmanship and a bunch of parents and onlookers. The kids did a great job and had a nice pot luck after.  Thanks, Carrie!