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.

News from the homefront.

Hello.... All is well with Andi! Basically I've been working, riding, working on house, and hanging out with Justin. Work is the same. It has been really slow lately. Today we ran out of orders to ship around lunch time. It was pretty boring. Everyone was looking for work to do. The horses are doing well. I have been riding Remi a lot away from the barrels. I've hauled her around to some team ropings with Justin & have been working on her basics again. She is doing great, as always. Sunday afternoon I seen that Miss Maddi & Digger girl were out in the arena with the barrels. I rode over to make sure things were going okay with them. I suggested that I help her so that she would know how to "train" her correctly. She responded with "what is hard about kicking and pulling?" WOW here we go! She did actually listen though and worked Digger the correct way. I need to encourage the CORRECT method so that it won't be TOO hard to fix Digger. Digger is very well broke though and very flexable. I will try to get a video of them soon. I loped Remi through a couple times. She listens to me so well that I really need to pay attention to what I do with her on the pattern. I felt horrible because on one run I checked her a little early on the third and she ran over the barrel. I plan on hauling her to the barrel race in Lipan tomorrow. Hopefully we can get there in time to exhibiton. I need to actually make a run on her during exhibitions one day to see how she works/clocks. I know that she is ready.. but for some reason I'm not. I talk about doing it then I lope in there. Sloan is doing great and starting to look better. He is going to be a pretty boy when I get him where I want him. Justin and I brushed a lot of hair out of him the other day. He is smart and takes to new things really well. I have just been tying him up a lot, leading him, & swinging the leadrope over him. Pistol has been getting on my nerves lately. He won't stop chasing the cows and steers. I am working on borrowing a shock collar for him. Paco is great, but it would be AMAZING if I could get him potty trained. He has really calmed down a lot and is starting to mature finally. Justin left today for New Mexico. He will not be back until next Tuesday. They are working at the PBR. I plan on cleaning some things up around the house this week. My roommate moved out and there is a lot to clean up around there. Justin helps out so much. Last week he mowed the yard for me and raked the leaves.

Remodeling Update

Well the bathroom is looking great!! We finally finished it last week. Well I say "we," but my Mom did most of the work. She is really handy and has more patience than I do. I will add a picture from my phone but will try to get some better ones from my camera soon. Last night we started painting my room. Mom and I moved all my furniture out and started painting around 8. I was pooped at about 11 and passed out on my bed. I woke up surrounded by Paco (of course), belts, cords, and other miscellaneous items that are not normally in my bed with me. Today we ran to Ft. Worth to the Apple store because my brothers phone quit working. We stopped by Sams and did some shopping. I got a new shelf for my bathroom. I am so excited that the remodeling is finally taking place. The carpet crew should lay the carpet early this week in my room. Excuse the mess, remodeling creates clutter!

Everyone else is great. I will also add a picture of where Justin is working this weekend. He works for US Smokeless Tobacco. They are in Sweetwater at the Texas Rattlesnake Roundup. Pretty crazy stuff I tell you.