Meet Kat

"Kat" is a 10 year old gelding that I am looking into buying. It started out an idea I had to borrow a horse from a friend while she is pregnant. She is due to have a baby in November and I didn't think he would be getting much attention. I asked a few people about him before I made my decision. Kat has a reputation of being a kind hearted babysitter. My friend bought him a few years ago and he was "loping the barrel pattern." Since then, she hasn't put much time into him. He had seven outs on the track and taken slowly after that. I decided I would give him a honest shot at the barrels. I have had to work on some health issues (kidney & liver soreness, ulcers, feet) and I still need to take him to chiropractor & equine dentist. I have only ridden him 3-4 times since I've had him. I think he is almost ready to start riding again. He is so kind and honest. I am excited to see what he will do when he is healthy. Kat was in a small pen with no where to exercise. I have had him turned out on green pastures hoping that he will remember what it is like to be a horse. I am glad that I have him and that he is living life again. I hope that he works out okay so that I can keep him.

Check out his pedigree at www.allbreedpedigree.com/inspiring+jazz

~Ruger~Remi~Digger~Birthday~

I would like to introduce my newest addition Ruger! He is a 2008 grey crop out paint horse that my grandpa gave to me. I am really excited about him. Pawpaw Joe has always had a few nice horses and I've joked about wanting one. Well my wish came true last weekend. He handles pretty decent but needs some round pen work. He has no respect for my space and thinks he's the size of a chihuahua. I need to get him gelded when it cools off some. He is massive. The day I was planning on leaving to go get him a lady called from Shreveport,LA, wanting to try Digger. They ended up taking her home that day. She is going to be trained for a 9 year old girl to rodeo on. I believe that Digger has a forever home with people that are going to take great care of her. Their trainer was awesome and really impressed me with Baleigh as well as Digger. I was excited to see her go to a good home. Best of luck Baleigh Campbell and Digger. I got Miss Remi an exercise saddle from Cashel. I am hoping it will help me with my posture and be comfortable for her. Its pretty neat so far, but I don't plan on riding it away from the house. I will also add some pictures from my birthday yesterday. We went shopping in Granbury and ate at Babes. It is my moms birthday also. We had to wear Chicken hats and flap our wings. I hope you enjoy!

Oh July is almost over!

That means that my birthday is coming up soon (8/8)! I am scared of birthdays anymore. They are not as fun as when you were little...! Going to be the big 25! July was a very funfilled month. Justin and I went on a trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico a couple weeks ago. It was great we got to watch the horse races, gamble a little and just relax. I didn't want to come back to this hot and dry land. I was excited to see my family, horses, and dogs though. I was sad to see that Equibrand warehouse was still standing though. There were so many pretty horses there and I wanted to take them all home. Hopefully we are going to go back for the All American in September.

Remi had a month break and you can definately tell. She has quite the little grass belly. I've been riding her for about a week now. I set up a little work area in the old cutting pen at my parents house. It's really good for the both of us. Jill and I went to Lone Star Arena yesterday and exhibitioned our horses. I will try to get those videos on here soon. Remi did great, I need some work still. Jill was schooling me on how to keep her hind end collected. Now I have something new to work on. I'm going to make a horse out of her yet. Hehe. Poor girl, I'm so glad that she tolarates me.

I was planning on getting a horse from my bosses brother in South Dakota. He is a 6 year old by Tricky Cash. Things changed today though. My mom went to visit my PaPa Joe in Dayton. Back in April he had told me about a yearling race colt he had. I have always asked him for a colt and now he is actually going to let me have one. He is a gorgeous giant! I can't wait to see him in person. I plan on going to get him this weekend. He is out of an old race mare that he has and he hasn't got back with me on the sire.

I will keep you posted on the horse situation. Who knows with me. They are fun to collect. Like Breyers or My Lil Ponies.

Ok, I've been a lazy blogger..

The Gang
Digger

Pistol and I
Justin and Andi

...and I decided I had better write a blog because Jill is becoming really good at it. All is really good in Stephenville. I have been riding my horses a little bit and working a lot. I took Remi to a Joyce Loomis-Kernack clinic a few weeks ago in Boyd, Tx. That was the first barrel horse clinic that I've ever attended and I really enjoyed it. I learned a ton. I know now where I am at with Remi and what I need to do to get her going back in the right direction. I also figured out where I am making mistakes and how to fix them. Joyce was awesome and really easy to learn from. She has been really good about keeping up with our progress. I let her have a break after the clinic because everyone was out of town. Justin didn't feel safe with me riding while everyone was gone. I rode her last night for the first time in two weeks. She was a little fresh, but pretty much the same ol' Remi. I disked/drug the cutting pen that is at my parents. I am converting it into a work area for my filles. I am in the process of making some poles and Dad is bringing me a bunch of cones from work. One of the things I have to work on with Remi is keeping her in a perfect circle.

On a different note, Justin and I are doing great. He was gone for a few weeks working. We are leaving Wednesday to go to Ruidoso for a few days. It will be a fun trip I am sure. I bought him (ME) a new chihuahua a few weeks ago. Her name is Percy and she is a doll. She weighed 1.5lbs at her first check up. I haven't re-weighed her yet, but I bet she is around 2lbs

Anywho. I am about to go ride. I will try to post on here more now that my computer is up and running. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Fourth!!! I want to take time and thank all of those who have served and are serving our country!

Yay.. we did so much better

Remi & I did so much better tonight. I had 4 exhibitions to begin with and then I took Autum's two. We did some 1-3-2 barrel exercises and then we made a couple lope/trot runs. This video is her second lope through. I think her first one was good also, but Maddi forgot to film it. She makes me so proud. I know that all of the problems were a result of my riding/training. Things are starting to look better.

Whatta weekend!

Let's see... where to start. On Friday I took Remi with me to work. Ken Bray fit her for a Martin saddle and I ended up buying it. Remi had to stay tied to the trailer all day which was great for her. We were planning on going to Decatur after work but I realized that Kehl had left his saddles in my trailer. I left Granbury and drove to Stephenville. I unloaded Remi for a bit before I took off to Decatur with her. Friday night we didn't do much because I got there late. Saturday I went to Alvarado. Mainly to get Remi out and work her somewhere new. I worked with her on her turns and walked her around among the other barrel racers. Saturday night I went back to Decatur to see my Justin. We had dinner at Outback and headed back home. Sunday Justin had to leave really early. I slept in and headed back to Stephenville around 9. I started some laundry when I got home and then Tricia, Kelly, & Tori showed up. We all went to Mi Familia to have drinks. It was a lot of fun to get to see them. Justin met Kelly and I at Bull Nettle when he got to town. He had to work at Nascar all weekend.

I love that Remi !! We are having a few problems right now, but hopefully we will get them straightened out soon. I am going to try and take her to Lone Star Arena tomorrow. I might take Maddi & Digger just to get them out. I need to get a little more serious with them on the pattern. I am starting to put a little more pressure on Remi and its making a difference.

~Happy Trails~

Our "No Good, Very Bad, Day"

I loaded Remi & Duece on Thursday night and hauled them to Lipan for the first time. Duece was mainly there for moral support and to get ridden if I had a chance. I am watching Duece for Justin while he is out of town working. I was rushed to get there anyway because I was on the 7 o'clock page and I left Granbury at 5. I pulled into the facility at about 6:45. I went out and exercised Remi a little bit before we walked up to the arena. There were only 7 girls there, so I decided to take a couple extra exhibitons. Her first exhibition she went in on the wrong lead and threw the whole exhibition off. Poor thing, she didn't know what lead she was in and I didnt help her any. It was our first time there so I should have trotted her in the first time to get used to the scenery (Mistake 1). She was listening really well though and responded. The second exhibition she listened okay, but I was riding like a pansy. I was proud of how she handled her first barrel seeing how it was the first time I actually asked her to run in a little bit. She didn't finish her turns on her second and third though. It was a good practice though because allowed me to see what areas I need to work on. I was frustrated for a while after I left there. I think it was because when I watched one video I realized the people that were filming, laughed. I know I shouldn't let things like that bother me, and hell, at least she filmed. It just gives me more reason to try harder. I had shaken it off by the next day and realized she didn't do as horrible as I thought. I can't expect her to be perfect. Afterall, I am not close to perfect and I know that I am to blame for at least 75% of her actions. I was riding her in a Goosetree Simplicity bit in the videos. I bought a short shank Cervi 3 piece with a dogbone on Friday. I am going to ride her at the house with it this weekend and she how she does. Its really windy here. I am trying to get the house and barn picked up this weekend. My x-roomy left it a mess. Have a great weekend.