A Great One Lost

Last week was such a busy week for me, as I am sure it was for everyone. Two Thanksgiving dinners to attend, had to decline a 3rd.  Friday we visited with friends in from out of state. Saturday we rode all day and I gave a lesson, Sunday barn chores and a sick baby.  I am still trying to recover from literally NO sleep all night.

But that is nothing compared to the loss my friend experienced last week when her great horse Go For Tears former AQHA World Champion barrel horse had to be put to sleep.  Sue, as he was affectionately referred to, had been batlling illness for a month and she made the tough decision to end his pain and suffering.  He was such a fighter and so tough right to the last moment.  Sue had an almost human personality.  He won too many awards to mention.  I loved watching my daughter hop on him bareback and ride when we would visit Jennifer.  Sue will be GREATLY missed.
                                Jennifer and Go For Tears at the Houston Livestock Show Rodeo

Back on track

Yes I have been on a hiatus from blogging...and I miss it!  I will be back in the real world and blogging again tomorrow.  I also have a lot of reading to catch up on as well.  I need to find out how to add tabs to the top of my blog that link to different pages, so if any of you are tech experts on how to modify blogger please help.  Until then have a great rest of your weekend!

Stay tuned....I will be right back :)

Menacing Mule

Oh my what a morning.....  Background to this story several years ago my dad, for whatever reason, decided to breed a quarter horse mare to a jack and raise a mule.  Which he did.  About the time this mule was born he was diagnosed with cancer and for about 6 years battled cancer, many operations, radiation, chemo...very aggresive treatments.  He was unable for these years to really do anything but feed the horses and mule that he had.  Fast forward to 2009 and we have this 7 yr old, only broke to lead, stubborn, smarter than a human, mule.  Her latest antic is to just get out of the pasture and back in as she pleases.  We can not figure out how, possibly jumping the fence we just dont know.  She gets out and it drives our Australian Shepherds crazy...herding instinct kicks in and they insist on herding her somewhere.  So here we have mule, dogs barking and chasing, mule running through yard and down the road ( we live on a dead end one lane road so not really a traffic hazard).  It has been going on for 2 weeks and is very annoying to me not to mention to my husband who loathes the mule I named Mabel.  This morning it all about went wrong.  Mabel had gotten out again during the night and when hubby went to feed the horses the dogs began to herd her as they always do.  Mabel didn't want to be herded this morning and turned on the dogs and trampled Josey, our red Aussie.  Josey ran into the woods and my hubby is fearful she went off to die.  Mabel knowing she was in trouble retreats down the road and somehow back into the pasture while hubby looks for the dog.  All is well as Josey showed up with just a slight limp and Mabel is back in the pasture for now....but something has to give or Mabel is going to end up on a trailer out of here in search of another home if she can't stay behind the fence.  Anyone else ever dealt with a mule or any animal that is so contrary??????

Wordless Wednesday...cause I'm sick!

I have a cold or possilby sinus infection and feel terrible today.  So I will just post a picture of my toy Australian Shepherd Gracie...the sweetest little dog ever.

Neglected Blog and GREAT News!

Yes I have neglected my blog for almost a week!  I can't believe I have been so bad.  It has been busy but there is good news to report.  Chase was cleared to ride on Friday!  The doctor of course said he must wear a helmet and cautioned us about him being careful and several other things that might still effect him.  But he was clear to ride.  On Saturday morning we headed out to an IBRA barrel race in Tennessee to get Chase back into the swing of things.  His day started out well.  He ran a friends horse in the youth, that he had never ridden and was in the first divison.  He ran his horse in youth as well and clocked a first division time out of 36 horses...not a bad comeback.  But there was more to come.  He came back in the open and won the second division out of 107 horses!  And there were some pretty big names there!  It was awesome he was a half second off the winner. It was a great day. 

Then it came time for my run.  Since returning from my maternity leave I have stepped it up and really allowed my horse to run.  I have overcome a lot of the nervousness that I previously experienced and the past two shows I was really running well.  So I am ready Saturday to ask for speed...not just let him go on his own but ask him to run hard.  I did an exhibition run where I pushed him a little but I wanted to save some horse for the race, he is 20.  Now it is my turn and I decide I am ready...there is quite a long alley way and you actually start in the parking lot at this arena, run into a building.  So I let him go from the parking lot, kick all the way down the alley....I am thinking in my mind to not let him step out of the first barrel like he didn in his exhibition run...next thing I know he drops to turn and I dont and I am hanging off the side looking up at the horn!  I have that moment where I say ok should I let go or try to save this....I saved it.  I ddin't hit the ground but boy was I CLOSE....and embarassed.  Now I know everyone comes off at some point.  But it is still embarassing.  I really hope my next run I dont let this sit in the back of my mind and cause me to take a step back, rather than continue my progress forward.....guess we will see on Saturday.

WPRA World Finals

The WPRA World Finals begins today in Tulsa, Ok.  The best rodeo gals in the business will be racing and roping for world titles.  The WPRA website is advertising a webcast of the entire event for $4.95.  I have spent this morning trying to purchase it so I can watch but they seem to be having technical problems and I am unable to purchase at this point.

It is a lousy weather day here...cold and rainy so hopefully I can get this webcast going.  Otherwise I will have to do laundry and other vile household chores!

Can we add 4 more hours to the day? Daylight time would be nice.

I just can't seem to get anything accomplished!  My house is a wreck and there are still 2 stalls in the barn that need cleaned badly!  I am facing some real challenges managing my time with a 5 month old.  She is pretty spoiled and requires a lot of my time and attention.  But at the end of the day I feel so guilty that things aren't perfect, or even close to perfect after I have spent the entire day at home.  Where does my time go!  I get up around 5:30 or 6:00 every morning and get everyone up and off to work/school.  Then baby wakes and I feed her and get her back to napping by around 7:30 or 8:00.  From there I spend time on the net, reading blogs, working on projects and posting to my blog.  That usually takes about 2 hours.  Next I get Reese up and head to the barn to feed.  I am usually back home by 11:00.  From there Reese is usually asleep again by noon.  I try so hard to not disturb her, she is a light sleeper, that there are certain chores I can't do such as run the sweeper and anything in my bedroom or bathroom (oh yeah she is still sleeping in the pack n play in our room.  I just can't move her to her room yet.  It is on the other end of the house.)  At this point I have a couple hours to do house work and then back to the barn.  What suggestions do you guys have for managing my time????  Evening is probably my busiest time, riding, cooking, homework and at anytime that I can get someone to play with her I am scrambling to clean in the kitchen and do some of the nosier chores.  HELP!  Suggestions needed.

AQHA World Championship

Good Friday to all.  Not much going on here today except me attached to the computer all day watching the AQHA World Championship show being webcast.  Today are barrel and pole preliminaries.  I will get to see my favorite horse, Rare Fred, run in the senior barrels today.  I just love the style this horse has and his presence.  He is my dream horse.  Also I am watching for my sons friend Will Bingham in the poles and plan to root on all the other Kentucky crowd.  Good luck to all!  Enjoy your weekend I likely wont post again til Monday we are hoping to hit the road and go to a barrel race tomorrow.

Following the NFR Barrel Racing Qualifiers

As the NFR approaches there are all kinds of last minute details being finalized.  Unfortunately for a couple of the ladies they have had to go searching for a ride.  Tammy Fischer's horse Roundpen is out due to an ankel injury but it was announced yesterday that she will be riding Cause Hesa Bully owned by Nancy Adkins.  This is exciting news for Nancy.  Tammy is sure to be a sentimental favorite this year.  She lost her son earlier in the year but kept riding and made the final 15...now an injury to her horse...she has a lot to overcome but I am sure she will in grand style.

PJ Burger is also looking for a ride as the horse she rode most of the year Perks Master was taken out of her barn (possibly sold I am not sure what the story is but he was ridden last week at the NBHA World by one of the Steinhoff girls).  PJ hasnt made an announcement yet but we are all anxiously awaiting.

I love the NFR and cant wait to watch!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy 5 month birthday to our precious little Reese.

A Girl and Her Horse

I will be honest and say nothing makes me happier than to see her ride. I always wanted a little girl and of course I wanted her to love horses as much as I do.  For so long Madison was so afraid and just didnt have that drive to learn to ride.  But in the past few months that has all changed.  She wants nothing more than to ride and can't wait for the next horse show.  She really listens to her step-dad, John, when he helps her and that makes me proud as Madison doesnt really like to take instruction from anyone at any other time.  She is independent, opinionated and stubborn and I have no idea where all that came from (;) Here are some pictures I shot of her while riding.

Halloween Review

Trick or treat went fairly well at our house considering the weather did not cooperate at all. Mr. Weatherman said rain would move out by 3pm...someone forgot to notify Mr. Rain. It rained on and off the entire time...but since we had decided to do trick or treat at a local park where my BFF was camped out it made for some dry accomidations for Reese while the others made the candy gathering rounds. Here are some pics.....