Kate's First Show

Last Sunday I took Kate to her first show. Kate is my project horse, and while she has many positive attributes, she IS a training challenge. She's got a bossy mare attitude you can see a mile away, PLUS with her age she's going through the rebellious teenage years. I think she's going to be an amazing horse someday, but heaven help me get through the next couple of years with her!

Nevertheless, she did do amazing for her first show. (Minus cow-kicking my assistant at one point)


She was so laid-back about being posed in photo set-up that Lilah got to sit on her:


The show had four judges for each class. I went into three western pleasure classes (hence the cowgirl outfit) and got ribbon placings in two out of the three.


I also had an amazing turn-out of people to come watch. Originally I was just going to sneak over to the show by myself, then decided to ask for an assistant's help, then told the owner of the barn, a couple students, Kate's former owner, ect... and next thing I knew I had a grouping of about 15 people cheering me on. I feel like a special girl!

(Left to Right) Mckenzie, me, Lilah, Annie, Jessica, and Blake

I showed Kate under "Kiss Me Kate." Her registered name is Oklahoma's Max Factor. I think I need a show name for her!

I'd like to get her to more shows soon!

Halloween 2010

This year's halloween was a lot like the Christmas season -- long and drawn out. We celebrated several different times with different activities, starting with Foundation Riding Academy's first annual Halloween Horse Show. I had 17 riders show, followed by games on horseback, and then a costume parade. Sweet P. dressed as "Hippie Halloween" and won Judge's Favorite, and Barry went as a "unicorn with a fairy rider." He won best All-Around. I was busy running the show so unfortunately I didn't get any real pictures.

Like her two cousins, Lilah choose this year to be a kitty-cat. This is her getting ready to go to "school" (daycare) a few days before Halloween:



We attended two different pumpkin patches this year and carved our pumpkins as a family:

Lilah did not like the "goo" (pumpkin innards), so this is how she spent the carving time:

We had a nice dinner at my sister's house the night before Halloween and then attended a "Harvest Party" at the school she works at. Lilah rocked the potato-sack races, and enjoyed the inflatable bounce house:

10/30/10

On Halloween, Nana and Paco came over. Nana took me on a legendary Costco run (my hopefully annual-only stock up on house supplies and food) and then we were joined by the Willis family for dinner at our house.

Then it was onto trick or treating with Nana amd even Addie's grandma in tow too!

Addie and Lilah:

Vancouverites definately like to go overboard for any and all holidays. This is a house in our neighborhood:

It was much more impressive in person. We took Lilah just so she could see it all! :)

After everyone had gone home and Lilah was to bed, Nick and I did our yearly tradition of watching a scary movie. It's the one time of year where we'll watch one!

I'm glad Halloween is done and over with now. It seems now that we have Lilah (and the other kids at Foundation Riding Academy) that our lives get busy celebrating the holidays. Now it's onto Thanksgiving, and then my favorite -- CHRISTMAS!!

Pizza at Paco's

The other night we drove to the grandparents with pizza in hand. After a yummy pizza dinner, we enjoyed some quality family time. Lilah got her bangs cut (Thanks Nana!) and she showed Nana and Paco her new card game:

Look at Me!!

Look who's big enough to use the bathroom sink without a stool!! (sniffle, sniffle)

Fall Riding

One of my favorite times of year is the fall. I love the crisp days and all the beautiful colors. I also love taking advantage of the last few nice days to hit the trails!

One of my other favorite things is a solitary ride on my favorite equine partner. I won't mention names (he-he), but she enjoys it just as much as I do. Thanks to my wonderfully supportive who lets me sneak out for these rides.



I recently also organized a friends trip to Beacon Rock. (Which sounds like a place NOT to ride horses, but they do have GREAT trails that go for miles)

Andrea's in front:

Susan and Hombre:

The view of the Columbia River Gorge:

Happy Trails!

Pomeroy Farms

Before our friend Emily had her second baby, we decided on one last outing -- an all-families trip to the pumpkin patch! Emily picked Pomeroy Farms, a beautiful farm nestled in the quaint countryside outside of ...... well, I'm not sure. It was definately further out in the country than Nick and I antipicated, but well worth the drive!

We got together with the Willis family as well. Between the three families, we have four beautiful girls (counting Baby Mira, Lilah's obsession)

Addie, Naomi, and Lilah


A Green Pumpkin!



The Daddy-Os: Chris & Nick

Matt (Naomi's Daddy):

Group shot of all the girls:

And the girls with a new friend:

The farm had other activities as well. We went on an extended hay ride, and played with wooden cut-outs:

Of course the girls tore through the hay maze:

And Lilah got eaten by a clown:

Cheers!! (And CONGRATULATIONS to Matt and Emily on the birth of their second daughter, Mia, who arrived a few days after this trip) :)

The Surprise Horse

After a year of running my own business, I got started on buying and selling horses. To be honest, I've developed a reputation for always knowing horses for sale -- now I've just gotten more into the selling part myself. To date, since the beginning of 2010, I have sold 11 horses, bought five, and hopefully permanently secured a long-term care lease on one. (Sweet P.)



One of my most recent purchases was a Draft/Morgan mare, purchased at an auction, bidding against the meat buyer. (Because of her bulk, the meat buyer was VERY interested in taking her to slaughter) I had a chance to look at her before I bid, but there was no information on her. I would like to think I know a good horse when I see one, but I also realize I lucked out too. As it turns it out she was broke to ride: (there's only one way to find out....)



And she was pretty to look at too!


She also had a clever sense of humor. I left her one night tied up while I rode another horse. She did not care of this idea, and calmly dismantled everything within her leg/hoof radius. She even turned herself around (she should be IN the stall area), and this is what I found when I returned to her: (It's hard to see all my grooming brushes strewn everywhere -- but they are there littering the floor!)

I called her "the draft mare" in order not to get attached. She came with no name, but others called her "Surprise", because it was a surprise this is the horse I picked to buy at the auction. But I lucked out in the end -- I owned her for three weeks and sold her for twice what I paid for her. Wish I could do that with every deal....