Tell us all about your horsey year!

[MyMagic]

The year is drawing to an end and it's a good time to think about all the great things we accomplished with our horses...whether it be personal goals, show success, whatever... Tell us all about it! Who wants to go first?

[Champagne Wishes]

I'm up!! My mini gelding Shorty and I accomplished our first time driving in the show ring. It was only at our county fair, but he did so well!! We learned a little about each other during those 5 or 10 minutes! I was so proud of him.
Our daughter and her gelding Sam placed 2nd in the mini and pony halter class right behind a 6x Top Ten Stallion. Shorty and I placed 3rd. I was so proud them. It was also Sam's first successful year adjusting to the stalls at the fair. Again, I was so proud of them!
Ten days ago I brought home my first filly. Thank goodness for friends!! I am on cloud nine with this little girl. As I hang over her stall door at night watching her eat, I can hear her calling me wierd and asking why I'm watching her.
We also finished our first actual mini pasture. Our big horse had to share.
We also celebrate our big horse Rabbit's 32nd birthday. We are so blessed to still have her and she is such a honey the way she watches the mini's.
OK that's my summer in a nutshell. May not seem like much, but those of you that know my history, I did well. And I'm so proud of our boys!!

[Heidi Sr.]

Cruz got the MPHA year end award Grand Champion in NA Hunt Seat Equitation. he gets all the credit as he has more talent than his owner. :)

[ssspottedhorse]

I didn't really accomplish anything this year, but I did buy a horse that I'm really excited about. I'm looking forward to doing more with him next year.

[bcsnqhs]

YAY Heidi,,wtg. See you this next year at MPHA. Well my year was great because I had Carlin always there to show me life is great. I wish I could have shown him,,he was so ready for LL,but my life sucked and stress had to make me focus on closing doors and yet my accomplishment was him and his attitude. I have the trailer but didn't have a truck. But my reward was him showing me how he is a champ in all situations and then at new place he showed me he is going to be a great trail horse. MY new accomplishment is new mare Roxy,who's showing she is the sweetest thing on earth and also a great trail horse. My personal goal after 3 weeks having here was met--she follows me now.
Indoor arena is being built this week so it's going to be a good winter polishing her up to show and Carlin will be 2 so I'm not rushing him for riding but if next summer has In Hand Trail for 2 yr olds he's gonna be in it. And definately you'll see Roxy showing.

Sue,Carlin,Roxy and Barry

[Somersetfarms]

I had a first time experience with breeding, it was a tense learning period. Not something I want to do again anytime soon. The result though is a beautiful, healthy filly named Black With Pearls (she's official now, I got her registration papers a few days ago). She was born on May 4th and is smart, friendly and curious. I've ponied her along on rides with her mom, I've been picking up her feet since day one, I pet her and squeeze her, and pick on her, and she loves every minute of it. When I stop she comes back for more. She is everything I was breeding for, disposition, trainability, conformation, not to mention pure beauty. She is growing like a weed, I no longer can lean over her back, so instead now I am squating under her and pushing up on her belly (those of you who know me can probably picture what I mean), there will not be a touchy spot on this horse.

I haven't done as much trail riding as I would have liked, but I have done quite a bit of short rides around here and on my own private trails. :)

[Jamie]

Well I had an up and down year, but it ended great. Ive had a lot of health problems and wasnt able to show a lot. I did make it to the MN Masters, and Party went Grand, and was Res. Grand in the Champion of Champions class, which was a great honor.
Then last week we competed at the AQHA world show in oklahoma city. It was my very first time, and we made it in the Top 10, It was an amazing experience, the people were great and very nice. AQHA gives out great prizes and makes it a lot of fun, amid the horrendous stress.

It has been a life long dream, I remember when i would get my journal and daydream about EVEN going to watch, never thinking I would really every show there, AND win a prize. I get choked up even thinking of it.

[Sunday Girl]

I've accomplished so much this year with Cho. I've really gotten a lot more confidence while riding and have been willing to try things I never would have THOUGHT of doing last year. We went on hacks around the property, we made it to every schooling show at our barn that I was in town for and managed to get 1st places at all but the first show :) More important than the ribbons, we improved on every test.

I also cantered her, and although it was only briefly it's something we'll be working on over the winter.

Yesterday I was thinking about my lesson with her on Wednesday. She tends to "spook" at certain places in the arena to evade me, and before I would have just avoided the "scary" end of the arena so we didn't have to deal with it. Now I confront the situation head on and we deal with it until she STOPS the spooking/evading.

There are days that I'm definitely left frustrated, as I know where she could be in her training if a trainer was bringing her along. But, I also realize that in bringing her along mostly myself we have both made a ton of progress and it has been much more rewarding than having someone else do it.

[AMJ]

My personal goal was to HAVE FUN. And I did -- an absolute blast. And I am now showing without being nervous. I wanted my herd work to improve, and wanted to learn to ride more loose.I made dramatic improvements on both, the latter thanks in part to finally finding, ordering and 6 months later getting, my dream saddle. Other than that, it's always really fun to watch my son's confidence soar as he attains show success.

[Champagne Wishes]

Congratulations!! I bet that's a day you're not likely to forget real soon!

Jamie said:

Well I had an up and down year, but it ended great. Ive had a lot of health problems and wasnt able to show a lot. I did make it to the MN Masters, and Party went Grand, and was Res. Grand in the Champion of Champions class, which was a great honor.
Then last week we competed at the AQHA world show in oklahoma city. It was my very first time, and we made it in the Top 10, It was an amazing experience, the people were great and very nice. AQHA gives out great prizes and makes it a lot of fun, amid the horrendous stress.

It has been a life long dream, I remember when i would get my journal and daydream about EVEN going to watch, never thinking I would really every show there, AND win a prize. I get choked up even thinking of it.

[Dare2Dream]

Mine has been a rollercoaster, for sure, but a good one.

It started out rough, Chip cut his leg twice, needing stitches the second time, just barely missing severing his tendon, thankfully. Gracie came up lame the same time, having trouble in her hocks and a mysterious front foot issue that all seemed to resolve with help of vet, chiropractor, farrier and friends advice.

Chip did his first over-fences classes with my friend, Lennie, showing at the 18" and 2'3" (and winning a few times) hunter over fences classes. I took him in an O/F class the first time in September, he is definitely a fun horse to show.

Gracie and I had the most amazing breakthrough of all. I completed my first horse trial on her, it was just a "mini" horse trial, all 3 phases, but in one day. We did beginner novice (2'7" fences) and got sixth place at the trial out of 18 riders. I was so proud of how my previously "flakey" and "sour" horse boldly and carefully got us safely through a somewhat slippery cross country course. I'll never forget that feeling, it's once I've always wanted to feel... exhilarating, adrenaline-rush, but a team all at the same time, the way she felt like "where's the next fence?" after every jump. She was feeling joy, and so was I. I also did the over-fences division at the hunter's pace for the first time this year, and Gracie and I jumped several 3' and 3'3" fences without a second glance (after the first one where I nearly died with fear, haha)

This year I celebrated 8 years with Gracie (on June 22nd) and 5 years with Chip (his birthday, more or less, April 22), I couldn't be any more thrilled with either one.

Gracie's intense personality has somewhat softened over the years, she now snoozes in the cross ties and grunts and moves her head and lips with pleasure when I brush her, rather than just tolerating it. She went from being the "mare from hell" to avoid to people telling me they can't believe how unbelievably sweet she is and how NON marish she is. Chip only has eyes for me when I'm around, which is very flattering. He's a barn-favorite, definitely one of the sweetest, funniest horses around.

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[Sassy]

This year I improved in my gaming classes. I have quit riding the brakes and let my horse run more, I think we did real well. This wintyer I want to try to lose some weight and keep it off so he won't have so much weight to carry and see if we improve more. My gelding is turning 15 this year and does not appear to be slowing down. I did not get to trail ride much last year and would like to go more this coming year.

[ss]

My year is ending kind of with a bang. I've been taking jumping lessons the last 4 weeks with an instructor I love-challenges us, has a focus for the lesson and maintains it. My previous instructor lost her zing- lessons were jump this, then that, then that, I'd like more than a traffic cop since I"m paying for it! Plus the group I was with becamse kind of negative and my gut was telling me to stay away. I did. this left time for lots of trail rides- especially on my newest horse. Still in the getting used to each other phase. Did a lot of "cowboy" work with him- had a guy come and help with improving ground manners and softening him up in hte bridle. He'd been ridden by kids the last 5 years so was very stiff. He has come along great! Started dressage lessons a few weeks ago and he's ready to accept contact and work. Super fun. Gregor has been a star- he's in super shape- lots of hill on my trail rides!! Been jumping fantastic and moving better than ever. Had a shoeing adjustment this spring and he's loving it. Pretty darn good for a 15 yr old qtr horse! Plus- he is the sweetest horse in the world. He took 2 total non-riders on trail rides this summer and never took a wrong step. I love that horse!! Made the decision to put my paint down-he broke his coffin bone 2 years ago and is still in pain. Done everything we could think of to help-shoes, no shoes, chiro, accupuncture, massage....... The frozen ground certainly made things much worse.
My best part of the year is I am feeling back to normal. Suffered without knowing lots of side effects from a concussion. It's so wonderful to feel happy and silly and to want to play again.