The Saddle B(r)itches

Here is a rare picture... A bunch of B(r)itches all in the same place at the same time! We were gathered together to celebrate our friend Lyn's birthday. Karin decorated her horse trailer and hauled it to the horse show.

There are some ladies missing... We missed you! I am looking forward to many more (warmer) good times with you gals!

Left to right: Kathy, Karin, Lyn, Pat, and Denyce in front.(Shoot D! - I still don't know how to spell your name! sorry!)

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Horse Affairs 2009

I took several photos today with my cell phone at the Horse Affairs that I thought I would share.

9 month old Gypsy Vanner colts. Only 7500.00!

Cody with Richard Shrake

One of the most exciting things that happened was that Cody and I had several minutes with Richard Shrake before the Horse Affairs even opened. We were just walking down the aisle, and I was wearing an exhibitors badge (I was helping with the Arabian horse exhibit) and it caught Richard's attention. We stood and talked to him for a long time and Cody shared about starting and training his horse Speedy. Richard shared some of his first training memories, from when he was about Cody's age.

Later Cody and I attended some of his seminars and Richard kept talking to Cody. "Cody do you hear I am saying? Do you understand what I mean Cody? You have to...." He was very grandfatherly to him! He signed a book for him saying, "See you in the winner's circle Cody." What a nice guy.

I introduced myself to Julie Goodnight before the show opened too. I was so surprised to see her there and not a crew setting up for her that my mind went blank. I meant to tell her a few ways that her show had encouraged and helped me... but all I could stammer out was, "Hi Julie, I love your show. Welcome to Boise."

I felt like a pimply teen aged boy trying to ask his first crush to the dance. Gah.

I did shake her hand, however. I don't think I will ever wash it again.

Julie Goodnight teaches about Horse Psychology

Here's a candid cell cam pic of Stacy Westfall. I choked so badly when I introduced myself to Julie Goodnight that I didn't even speak to Stacy. I hope tomorrow before the show opens I have the nerve. I need one of my B(r)itches friends to egg me on I guess...

StacyWestfall

Here Cody points out some really cool longhorn horns for his Dad. I had my eyes fixed on the chinks below the horns. Wow I really want a pair of those!


And last but not least, (although probably the smallest), there was a baby service monkey being cared for in the booth across the way from the Arabian horse booth where we were.

As a rule I don't like monkeys, but this tot was so very, very cute!

What are those beady little eyes planning?

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Selling some Tack and Crossing my Fingers

I have the opportunity to send Speedy to a trainer next week. Her name is Corrina. She does a lot of work with Blazers and understands their temperaments. I have seen her ride and I have seen horses that she has trained. I am pretty excited about sending him to her.

I talked to her a few weeks ago bout putting some time on Speedy, working on his loping and on some finish work. Corrina said she didn't have any time until April... Well last week she said she had a cancellation and could I bring Speedy next week! Sure... except I don't have the money together yet! I have told my husband that I was going to earn my own horsey money this year. Now I am having to put my money where my mouth is! (Pun intended.)

So, I am selling some tack on Craigslist and crossing my fingers that at least the saddle sells so that I will have some "horsey" money to spend! I have gotten several calls already this morning about the small stuff I have for sale so I am pretty sure it's going to happen!

If this works out we may use Corrina to help with Star's training too.

Here's another pic of my great-niece brushing Speedy.

My Friends

I thought I would share a picture of some of my favorite horsey friends. This is Sam and his "mom" and "dad", Lyn and Wayne. We had just finished riding lessons at the indoor arena and were blanketing the horses for the trip home.

It was a miserable cold day when this picture was taken... but we were out trying our best to enjoy our horses and it shows!

This summer when I am tempted to complain about the heat I will look at this picture and be thankful!

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A Small Visitor

I love sharing my horses with horse crazy little girls! Today I had a pint-sized visitor who came and helped me do all of my chores, and then (of course) she got to go for a ride!

This is my great niece. I can't believe I am old enough to be a "great" anything. I remember as a kid that all of my "greats" were ooooooold people!

This is Caddy, one of my favorite hens. Caddy is an old lady - 6 years old!

First she brushed Speedy up, and he tried to eat her hat.




All I had at the house was a bareback pad, so she didn't get to ride "all by herself" but she didn't mind. I hooked up some reins for her, although the reins didn't really serve any purpose except for her to feel like a big girl. Her grandma (my Sister -in-law) got some pics with a big smile, but this was the best she got with my cell phone.

My niece is concentrating hard in this picture! She really wasn't scared at all. In fact, I would like her to be a little more scared. She is so brave!

Speedy is saying "Lets go!", or maybe he is trying to eat my mitten, or maybe both!

I lead her around for about 1/2 an hour or so. This girl LOVES horses! She kept reaching down and patting Speedy on the neck. This summer I am going to try to talk her parents about letting me enter her in a leadline class.

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How to Catch A "Wild" Horse

This is "Perfecta". She isn't really wild, but she has a a Series of Unfortunate Events in which she became basically unhandled. She learned how to outfox her owners and subsequently got the reputation of being wild, spooky and dangerous.

Perfecta is a Polish Arabian. When you meet her, you know right away why she was named "Perfect". I can imagine that her breeder took a look at her conformation and her sweet personality and said... "She's just Perfect!!"

After Perfecta was sold by her breeder, somewhere down the line she wound up in the hands of people who had 15 or so horses and starved them all. Then she was given to her next owner, "If you buy Elizabeth, I will throw in Perfecta for free." When they tried to load Perfecta into a 2 horse straight load she resisted and was hurt badly. Later, another person was able to get her loaded in a 3 horse.

Her new owner was a novice, but she did a great job of putting Perfecta out on pasture and feeding her in the winter so that today she is a plump little mare.

But, Perfecta learned that she could avoid being caught. People tried to force her to do things and soon she had a reputation of being "wild".


The truth about this little mare is that she is one of the most willing to please horses I have ever met!

Lyn was called to help catch her for her owner. She spent some time with her and was able to catch and halter her within 10 minutes on the first day.

The owner gave Perfecta to a friend who hired a "Cowboy Trainer" to help her catch and load her new horse. That night her owner called Lyn in near hysterics. The "Cowboy" (yes, I am using that term v e r y loosely) had locked his arms around the horse's neck and thrown her to the ground, injuring himself in the process. Now he was chasing her around and Perfecta was frantic.


Lyn had the presence of mind to tell the gal to tell the "Cowboy" to "Stop, we will be over tomorrow to help load the horse". It was a long night for Lyn. She didn't know what she would find the next day.

By the next morning the friend who was to be the new owner backed out of the deal, and Lyn had decided that she wanted to give Perfecta the chance she deserves.

So I went over with Lyn that afternoon, along with another friend and my daughter to see about picking up Perfecta and bringing her home.


It took Lyn over a half an hour to catch and halter Perfecta. But she didn't chase her or really even get her really excited. She just worked her magic, quietly an effectively. Perfecta tried so hard, never taking her ears and eyes off of Lyn. This horse wanted to be caught and to be connected with a human. I have never seen a horse try so hard to overcome it's fear.

Eventually, Lyn had her haltered. She did a little bit of groundwork with her, and then led her right out the gate and right into the trailer without a single hesitation.


She's not a wild horse at all. She has training. She has just been misunderstood.

Welcome to your new life Perfecta!

A Saddle B(r)itch Rides in the Star Parade

So here is one of my B(r)itchy friends riding her horse Bijon (okay, I don't know how to spell his name.... somebody let me know and I will edit this!)

She has been working hard to get her horse "parade worthy". I am so proud of her!



You go Denyce! Keep up the great work!

Three Amigos

A couple of weekends ago Lyn and I took our "Two-Year-Olds" out to another show. Tom took Star into the ring and Lyn showed Doll. Cheish had the opportunity to show a cute little half Arab yearling named "Cricket" in his very first class.

It was also Tom's first time to take a horse into the ring. He did a great job just relaxing and letting Star be who she is. Here they go! Lyn and Doll are just ahead of Tom and Star.

Unfortunately, Star thought she needed to stand backwards in the line- up!

Doll took first over Star. Both horses and their people had a great time.


Cherish had a great time showing Cricket. He was the only horse in his class. He wasn't too sure about being in that big 'ole arena all by himself! But, for his first time out he handled himself pretty well!

The Big Show

Recently Katy helped Lyn show some horses at a Class A Arabian show. As a treat, Katy got to take along her horse Tawshi.

Between the two of them they both showed the horses in two different Sport Horse In Hand classes.

Lyn's horse "Bluenote Satin Doll" won Reserve Grand Champion!

Here Katy is handling her:

And here is Lyn's other mare, "Shuga Kane":

Aren't they beautiful!


Tawshi didn't win any ribbons, but that little mare is worth her weight in gold to us! She was a perfect lady for her girl! This was Katy's very first Class A Show.


Many many thanks to the Saddle B(r)itches who came and helped out, and to those of you who just showed up to support these ladies and their horses! Pat, we owe you! Thanks for your hospitality! There's nothing like a good meal and a restful night's sleep before a big show.

And Lyn, thanks for letting us hang out with you! We love you and your horses!

Horse Camping

We had some unseasonable warm weather this weekend. On Saturday it was over 90* during the day and it was supposed to be in the mid 60's that night, so my oldest daughter and I decided to "camp" out in the pasture with the horses. We threw a bunch of blankets into the bed of the pickup truck, put on some warm jammies and drove out into the pasture.

Easiest camping trip I have ever packed for!

I think Star was wishing she was a dog or a cat do that she could snuggle in with us. At least 4 times during the night I was awakened by her laying her head on my side, or with her horse breath blowing softly into my face. I really didn't mind being awakened so many times. Star never offered to even open her lips to grab the blankets. She just wanted hugs.

In the picture below she is reaching over me and gently nuzzling Amelia, who is purring and enjoying her attention.

Star is such a sweet, sweet horse.

Two Pretty Fillies

Heartsong Star and Bluenote Satin Doll. Star is a Morgan, Doll an Arabian - both are 2 years old.




Thanks to Karin (Photographer Extraordinary) and Kathy (the Lady in Red) for these pictures! You BrITCHES are the best!

Star goes to her first show

Star went to her very first show last weekend! My friend Lyn took her two year old Arabian filly "Doll" as well. We had so much fun together with our horses. After that day, I can totally see myself as an old lady someday taking miniature horses around to shows. You don't have to ride to have a blast with your horses and your friends!

We entered them both in Halter and In - Hand Trail.


Here is Lyn with Doll, who was recently crowned "Reserve Champion Sporthorse In Hand, Mare" an the Des Arab class A show - (more about that in a later post!)

A couple of the SADDLE BrITCHES came along to cheer us on!

Star side passes...
And Big Smiles for a great job by Doll and Lyn!

Pretty Star standing at the trailer:

A Guest Blogger

Yesterday I made the mistake of walking away from my computer while I was typing my blog entry. When I got back, this is what I found:

Yesterday at my riding lesson I cantered more then I have since I was 16 years old. I also made a significant progress in conquering my AOF. As I was riding my horse, I was actually having a dream at the same time. I was an animal that was part bird and part lion. I was soaring high above all the horse barns of the world looking for deprived, skinny horses. But to no avail, all I could find was an Arabian horse farm. What a sad sight. I wish I could help, but couldn’t. So I called for my side kick, D. She came in a whoosh and fed all those Arabians and they instantly became nice and plump like all horses should be. Then, I awoke and found my self on my own plump horse Delight. What a dream.

A Wee Visitor

We had a sweet little visitor to our "farm" today.

She is my great niece - am I really that old?


I actually kinda like being "Auntie Char". I am practicing for when the grands come along.

But don't tell my kids I said that!

This girl was born with the horse gene. I pity her parents when she grows older. I think they should start saving for the inevitable riding lessons now while they still have the chance!

Her grandma (my sis - in - law) bought the wee cowgirl a brand spankin' new pair of cowboy boots just for the occasion today, because she has finally out grown the ones that her "great" uncle Tom bought for her.

My daughter spent a long time with her showing her how to brush Tawshi and how to pick out horse hooves. She learned 3 new horse parts today: the mane, tail, and hoof.

Then it was all smiles because she got to hold the reins and guide the horse all by herself. *wink*


Gosh, isn't she just the cutest! I just wish she didn't live so far away.