Equine Institute - Combined Training One Day Event

After Northwest we packed up the ponies and Traveler's son - Timbuktu - and headed to Cle Elum for the One Day event.  Timbuktu did it - he was a little nervous being his first event of the season and the second one in his life - but we managed to complete it and place 7th!  He did well in dressage - we made it through cross-country with only one "scary" fence and stadium with it's one "scary" fence.

Next up my daughter, Luna, and my neice, Dayna, competed in the Intro Dressage test and placed 1st and 2nd!  Way to go girls.  Luna received a 37.5 (eventing score) on her mini, Podo.  The dressage judge had to take a picture of Luna and Podo they were such a cute pair!

Dayna and Marty were terrific in the dressage arena - what a great team.  We have one weekend off and then I take the kids and ponies up to the SASHA show.  Nothing cuter than kids and ponies.

NWEC May Classic - Open Novice

 Started the season out at the Northwest Equestrian Center's May Classic - Open Novice Division.  We had a great time - placed 6th with a ribbon and a prize.  Here we are doing our dressage.

This is our favorite part of dressage - the salute!  And then on to cross-country - we soared over the fences.  By far the best part.

Here we are after stadium.  Double Clear and resting to find out our placing.  Now on the the next.

Traveler's Stadium Round

Vaulting Clinic!

Spokane Pony Club hosted a Clinic on Vaulting and my kids were so excited to be able to attend.  Luna and Bella absolutely loved it and now Luna wants me to buy her a Gypsy Vanner so she can vault off it! 

Luna standing up.....

Practice Time

 Pony Club

 Great day, great time - ready to try it again.

Day for the Kids

Turned out to be a beautiful day today - Luna wanted to ride Timbuktu so she is now "in charge" of him - handling him, saddling him and getting ready to ride, so he learns to listen to her and not only to me.  They already are having a great time together.  Here they are giving each other a kiss.

Of course Luna feels ready to get out and ride him cross-country, but I told her that she had to be able to prove to me she can ride him in the round pen before I let her out to ride around in the pasture.  Luna rode Timbuktu walk / trot for 2 hours today.  First hour was in the round pen - she can get him to listen to her and walk, trot and halt.  This is great training for him as well - to learn to listen to a smaller rider.  

Bella was not about to be left out - so she rode Podo, our faithful mini and Luna rode Timbuktu.  It was quite a hoot - Bella trotting around the outside of the round pen and Luna trotting around inside.  I didn't want to be left out either, so I saddled Khatmoondhu and we ALL rode together, independently, in the pasture.  This is a dream come true - Luna (7), Bella (5) and myself, riding around on horses together.  I have only waited 7 years for this to happen.

 What a great day!  Here is Bella with our two minis - Podo and Comet.  They will be heading in two weeks to the Little Buck Series Horse Show / Gaming event.

Lucky Me!

Home on the Range

Call me crazy - but two days after Tulip Springs I repacked the trailer, got up at 4am - again- (at least sans kids) and headed out to do our first endurance race of the season.  This trip was at least only 5 hours, round trip.  I brought Traveler's 5 year old son, Khatmoondhu - he competed in the limited distance competition - 25 miles. 

This was also the first time we went to a ride without a "buddy".  I decided it was time for him to grow up a little bit and he able to think and hold his own without a constant companion.  He did much better than I initially expected - and boy did we have a bunch of "de-sensitizing" happen out on the trail.  At the start of the race he had to cross a rushing irrigation canal - and HA HA - we had never done water before.  Not like that.  I just put him right behind the horse infront and we paddled our way out and across the stream.  Then there were trains - like right next to us, lots of scary rocks, and lots of very scary black angus cows.  We did it, we made it and surprise, surprise we placed in the Top Ten and received overall "A" scores on the vet checks. 

Wanted to stay and see how we did for Best Condition, but I had to turn around and head home to pick up the kids from the babysitter. 

I am anxious to see the final results and keep checking the AERC website, but according to my watch we did it at a 10mph clip.  Pretty good for his first time out.

Tulip Springs - Back in Training

Training season has officially begun - packed up 2 horses, 2 kids and hauled to Tulip Springs at 4am last Wednesday.  Took about 3 hours to get to Kennewick, WA at the cross-country training facility to clinic with Karen O'Neal.  What a great time - Traveler was thrilled to be out in the sunshine and out of the indoor arena and taking jumps at a gallop.  I had a wonderful time - it was fun to be back out.  We compete at our first recognized event over the Mother's Day weekend and so it is good to be back out and in training. 

 After riding my little behind off for 2 hours, I saddled up Traveler's 4 year old son, Timbuktu and returned to the cross-country course to ride in the beginner's group.  He was a very good boy for his first time being out on a large cross-country course with many "scary" jumps and obstacles.  He jumps like his father and has little springs in his hind-end.  My goal is for him to become an child's eventing horse.  Timbuku was not quite sure what to think about the water complex - but once he was in it, he didn't have any problem going in & out and jumping in.  I actually had a hard time getting him out of the water!

 It was great fun - great weather and we were a safe and happy time.  The kids had a blast playing "horses" with the other kids there and climbing around on the jumps.  Timbuktu debuts this spring at the unrecognized Combined Training event in Cle Elum the weekend after Traveler.  Oh boy - here we go!

End of the Season!

Well, it's certainly been a LONG time since I posted.  Let me update you on the rest of our season. 

First, the great news.  Traveler won the CSI "Horse of the Year" award for Combined Training for the second year in a row.  YAH!  I can hardly wait to see what our prize is!  :)

Traveler and I spent September competing and he placed 11th in the Open Novice Championships at Aspen.  I was so proud of him, he was awesome!  We had a great time.  Then we headed off to finish up the season at Northwest.  Our Novice team placed 1st and Traveler & I placed 7th.  We got prizes and a ribbon and we sailed through the cross-country course.  Another wonderful time.  Here were are cooling off and leaving the dressage arena at Aspen.  

Traveler and I coming off the first jump at NW.  Easy as pie.

Stadium at Northwest.  

Stadium at Aspen.

Traveler, after competing all 3 Days at Aspen.  See the ICHO banner?  I would like to thank the International Curly Horse Registry for sponsoring us to compete in the Aspen Championships.  

Traveler and I took a break between events in September and I headed over to the Equine Institute Combined Training event in Cle Elum with Traveler's 4 year old son, Timbuktu and my 6 year old daughter Luna & her little mini, Podo.  They competed for the first time in dressage and she did great!  We were a little worried that Podo might jump out of the ring, since in practice sesssion whenever he gets "done" with dressage he just pops out over the rail.  But he stayed in the arena and they rode their best test ever -she came home with a trophy!  Good job.  And everyone loved Podo - except for a couple of big TBs. 

I decided it was time for introduce Timbuktu to the "real" world and he participated in his first ever Combined Training Event.  He had never jumped a complete stadium course or cross-country course ever in his life and he was AWESOME.  He placed in the Top 10 - did just fine in dressage, great in stadium and after the first two jumps in cross-country, he had it down.  I called Mark and told him to start breeding every horse he could find to Traveler - because his get is AMAZING!  Totally took everything in stride, stayed calm and collected (he had never been ridden around so many horses jumping, cantering, going this way and that way...) and jumped when I asked him to.  What more do you need in a horse?

 Timbuktu's first jump on the cross-country course. 

Season's over now - the horses are on "break".  What an incredible year for us at Traveling Moon Ranch.  Traveler competed and finished all of his recognized 3 Day Events - even rode at Aspen in Champioships.  His two sons are following in their sire's great hoof prints - Khatmoondhu completed 2 limited distance endurance races with overall "A" scores.  Timbuktu competed and finished his first ever Combined Training event.  And the kids won tons of ribbons throughout the year at local horse shows with their little steeds.  Great year!

Traveler wins AWARDS!!!

I have just returned from American Bashkir Curly Registry conference in Reno, Nevada and I bring great news!

DCC Traveler, our breeding stallion at Traveling Moon Ranch was honored with the following awards:

2011 National Performance Horse - Grand Champion.  Out of the entire registry - Traveler is the #1 performance horse.  WAY TO GO Traveler!!

2011 National Versatility Horse - Grand Champion.  Again, Traveler was the #1 horse in the area of versatility - he can do it all - endurance racing, expos, demos, shows, clinics......

2011 Frequent Rider Program, Competitive Division, Grand Champion - for his ability to compete in Endurance Racing.

This stallion does it all!  and with a great attitude and outstanding athletic ability!!

I also managed to hang up all of our ribbons - that I have won in the past for competing not only with Traveler, but also with his two sons - Timbuktu and Khatmoondhu.  Watch out for the Curlies - they clean up.

Stanton Farms Horse Trials

This past weekend Traveler and I competed at the Stanton Farm Horse Trials and had a blast.  We packed up the motorhome with my two kids and my niece and my husband piloted us from our ranch to Stanton Farms.  The first day was dressage - Traveler had his best test ever and we ended up in 4th place after Dressage.  Yah!  Always a good way to start an event - in the top 5.

Next was Saturday - cross country and the reason one competes in the sport of Eventing.  The course was maxed out for time and the first jump was fierce.  Maxed out in height and width.  Half of the riders in my division were eliminated on the cross-country course, it was that difficult.  We ran like the wind to make time and Traveler soared over ever fence.  It was terrific - the wind in my hair, Traveler's mane flying and we took every jump perfectly.  He absolutely loves cross-country.  We were 3 seconds from getting a time fault for going too fast!!!  Here we are going over the red barn.  They had fake chickens and pigs in front of it - didn't bother Traveler at all.  All he saw was the jump and off we went.

The ski-jump.....

 The water complex.....

And now for stadium.  We finished cross-country in 2nd place and next up for Sunday was stadium.  If we dropped one rail, we would be knocked down to 3rd place.  The pressure was on.  Traveler entered the ring ready to jump and jump we did.  Traveler and I flew around the fences and cleared every fence.  

We ended up taking 2nd for the Stanton Farms Event and Traveler and I couldn't be happier.  He was a great horse and a true joy to ride.  I can't believe how far we have come!!!

 Good boy Traveler!!!

Show Time!!

Fast, fun and furious show times at Traveling Moon Ranch - whew!  It was a whirlwind day with 3 kids and 3 horses and non-stop activity from the time the show started at 9am to 2pm.  I was switching horses, show numbers, bridles, saddles and frantically painting hooves.  We did it and the kids "cleaned up" at the show with a total of 14 ribbons.  (Well, two were mine.)

This last week my niece, Dayna, came over to visit and spent a week of "Curly" Horse Camp at the Ranch. Her week of horse activities ended in a horse show on Saturday - she handled my 4 year old Curly gelding, Timbuktu, and my two daughters showed their little mighty mites - Comet and Podo.  They are about the cutest and sweetest minis you ever did see.  And yes, they ride them.  And jump them.  And Dayna rides and jumps Timbuktu.  There were hooves a-flying all last week over jumps.

We loaded up the motor home, packed up more show gear than you can imagine, hooked up the trailer and remembered to load the horses and headed off to Mini Acres in Colbert, WA for the horse show.

We arrived, got all the show numbers, reviewed the schedule and started grooming the horses.  Bella, my 4 year old daughter, loves her little mini, Comet.  Start brushing, Bella! 

 Luna, my 6 year old daughter, is loving her mini, Podo.  You start brushing too!

Dayna was ready to brush, comb, paint hooves and get the horses ready.  She proved to be a great show helper and assisted me with my girls and their horses to keep the whole process moving right along.  Doesn't Timbuktu look handsome!

I was able to show Timbuktu in 2 classes - and we started the show with the Adult Halter Geldings class.  Timbuktu is an amazing horse - he was calm but alert and demonstrated enough of a spunky, curious attitude to get the judge and all the spectators to fall in love with him.  He is quite the ham!  Here we are trotting past the judge.

Timbuktu presented himself nicely for the judge and would you believe it?  We placed 2nd in our Halter class for adults.  Good boy!

Timbuktu and I are proudly displaying our 2nd place ribbon.

And then the craziness began with at least one, if not two, kids and horses in the following classes.  And since all the kids were under the age of 11, each child showing in the class had to have an adult shadowing them in the arena.  At times there were six of us in the arena - all the kids and myself, my husband, Mark and my mother.  Thanks guys for your help in making this show a great success.  

Dayna started by showing Timbuktu in her age group at Halter geldings.  They not only won 1st place, but went on to the Halter Championship class and received the coveted Reserved Grand Champion ribbon.  Unbelievable!

Bella and Luna showed their horses in the mini Halter class and demonstrated great horsemanship skills.  The minis strutted their stuff and the girls walked away with 2nd and 3rd place ribbons!  Way to go girls!

Then it was time for all of us, and I mean everyone single one of us, to enter the arena because all the horses were being shown in the Solid Color Halter class.  Timbuktu placed 4th in a class of about 20 horses with handlers of all ages.  And little Bella and Podo placed 2nd!  Wasn't I surprised? The judge seemed to absolutely love Bella, perhaps, because she was by far the youngest person there showing a horse and she took her job very seriously. 

We are not even done yet, and look at all the ribbons so far.  I was able to briefly snatch Timbuktu away from Dayna and show him in the Hunter in Hand class.  He was awesome.  He jumped every jump and didn't hesitate at a single fence.  What a great horse.  We placed 1st in Hunter in Hand.

Now we are trotting out for soundness after the jumping class.  Quick!  Hand off the number back to Dayna because she has a Hunter in Hand class next.

I was the most proud of Dayna during her round of jumping in the Hunter in Hand class.  She was able to present Timbuktu to every fence and he jumped every fence for her as well.  This was a hard class and Dayna did it.  Well done!!

The girls also rode in an equitation class - all three of them, and so again, it was "all hands on deck".  And they won 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Now for the last class of the show for us - Costume Class.

Whew - costume class was a great success and we all came home with lots of ribbons.  The horses and girls  demonstrated great horsemanship and sportsmanship skills and I was very proud of them.  And also of my mother and my husband.  What troopers they were too!

 Home again, unload, unpack and pass out!  Until the next time......