Spindletop 2016

Each year the Historic Outdoor Living Museum at in Beaumont Texas has an Equestrian Day and I have had the privilege of being invited to participate for the last 5 years.  Bluebonnet Farms from Bellville , TX also participates and they graciously bring several American Saddlebreds to show, including the horse I rode aside whose name is Chip.  I actually trained Chip in sidesaddle and showed him a few times!  We are old friends.  Assistant trainer Austin Hazlewood rode an up and coming show horse in training who had never been off of the farm.  He was so impressive!  Mr. Perwin, owner of Bluebonnet Farms came with his lovely wife Ada and he exhibited his driving horse Ipod.  The children and parents who came had lots of questions and had a wonderful time!

This is me waiting for Chip to be tacked up.  By the way, at this point I had no idea if Chip would allow me to ride him with the parasol...

After I mounted and got comfortable, the photographer opened up the parasol and ever so slowly handed it to me.  We did this early when there were only a few spectators.

 

Chip never flicked an ear, even once when I was adjusting my reins and tapped him on the neck with it!  Such a wonderful horse!!

It was quite warm for an early November day...quite warm!

Spindletop Outdoor Historic Museum is a place where you walk around the restored 'Boomtown'  You can walk through each building..a Post office, Print shop, General Store, Doctors office etc and get a taste of what life was like back then.

This is Mr Perwin.  SHHHHH don't tell him I told you - but I think he is now over 90...but that does not stop him from driving this fancy boy named Ipod.

This is Austin Hazlewood - assistant trainer at Bluebonnet Farm and his young charge - I believe he is a 4 year old gelding who is in training to be a 5 gaited show horse.  He preformed beautifully for the crowd.

Dream A Little Dream...

...or Dream BIG!!  Which do you think I do???  Well - I am going to share something with you that is dear to my heart:

I am immersed right now in building our house, BUT do I ever have plans for the farm after the house is done!!!  I really Really REALLY want to have a riding academy for young girls to learn how to ride aside!!  In our State, there is a sidesaddle riding club, but it is for Paso Fino horses, a non-trotting breed.  Well, trotting is the most difficult art of riding aside, especially if you have a fancy trotting horse!  Now, if you think all of this is a big dream.. hold on because - I want to find a way to share the horse riding experience with those who cannot afford it.

Right now - all of this is just in my prayers, but if God says Okay - He will Deliver!!!!! 

AMEN!!!

Sucker Punched!

.. Not sure anyone reads this blog anymore.  You see, I have laid aside showing both aside and astride while we build our dream house, a project a long time coming!!  If you want to see more on that, go to www.equusvilla.blogspot.com where we are charting the progress on that project...

Anyway - we do have an assortment of adorable horses here at the farm that I still pleasure ride.  It has been a while since I have ridden sidesaddle though - and feeling guilty about that, I asked my  husband Don if he would watch over me as I rode my daughters horse, Southern Revival sidesaddle last Sunday.  He agreed.  Rev, as we call him can be as amped up as any American Saddlebred... but on the other hand, he can be a gentle as a lamb and he is my #1 pick for my Grandaughter to ride.  Yes - he is that level headed!!..and to think he was a stallion for 11 years.

Lots of my sidesaddle riding muscles are in pretty poor shape, so I was not asking much out of Rev.  He was not sure about the first direction canter since I could not give  him the leg queue, but out of 3 tries, he got in twice!  we trotted too, but not for long - my fault not his..

Back in the stall, I was starting to untack him.  I noticed some flies as I removed his bridle and started to put his halter back on and then..WHAM!!!!  All I remember was the sound of the back of my head hitting the stall wall and feeling wet.  My brain was screaming at me to MOVE!!  Don was above me helping me to get up and asking me what happened.  I honestly had to think about what had happened before I could answer him!

As I raised my hands to put Rev's halter back on, he shook his head to get the flies off and that was it.  His massive facial bone hit my cheek - hit me so hard it threw me across the stall.  I hit the wall and slid down to end up sitting in his water bowl!  The flight response set in and my brain was trying to get me out of that stall...Don heard my head hit the wall and said he thought he heard a kick, which sent him rushing over.

Poor Rev really did nothing wrong and was just standing there as still as could be - probably trying to figure out what had happened as well.  For over 30 years I have owned and worked with horses.  I am not stranger to their strength, but I have to say that I never imagined the strength of just a toss of the head to shoe away a fly would have sent me flying through the air!!

I am fine... my face is a slight color of green and there is swelling.  Funny thing is that I feel the swelling more on the inside of my mouth than the outside.  A bit lower and I would surely have lost a few teeth.  A bit higher and I would be in the hospital dealing with an orbital fracture.  As it is, I have a good strong cheek bone and a real life expereince to know what it must be like to be a prize fighter!!

Throw Back Thursday...

Today I am going to tell you about my very first horse.  Not horses that were on my Grandfathers farm .. but the very first horse I bought and cared for on my own..

His name was Trojan - aptly named because of his enormous size as in the Trojan War Horse.  He was a Tennessee Walking Horse and a full 17 hands high at the withers.  The horse behind him was standing on higher ground.  He is the strawberry roan colored horse on the left side of this picture.  This was a typical sight .. as he was the favorite neighborhood horse and rarly only had 1 rider!

I met a man where I worked whose Father needed to sell a horse.  Trojan was living in a sand lot all by himself.  It just all felt right when I went to see him.  He was not registered... so when I first saw him, I was told he was 8.  When I agreed to buy him a week later, he was 10.  Then when I picked him up - he magically turned 12... (ahem)... No comment...

No worries - I had that wonderful feeling deep inside me that this horse was mine and I was right.  He was a great family horse...a gentle old soul.  Although he was not affectionate towards people - not liking to be fussed over, he was the most obedient and gentle natured animal we could ask for.  He was the highlight of every birthday party we had and everything I could ask for in a trail horse.  I learned a lot from Trojan.  I learned how to care for an aging horse whose teeth were useless or gone.  I learned how to manage a horses feet with and without shoes.  I learned how important it is for tack to fit the horse as well as the rider and so much more..

Recently at a family dinner, our daughters reflected of the things they loved the most about their childhoods and the 2 things mentioned first were growing up in the country and having the horses.  From there they launched off into multiple memories of sneeking out in the middle of the night for 'tackless night rides'; the time they felt guilty for riding him in the heat of the day - so they brought him into the house .. allowing him to cool off under the ceiling fan in the den!; .. or the many rides with their friends as pictured above..

Towards the end of his life, he survived a massive heart attack and lived an additional 5 years as 'yard art' before he passed away at the ripe old age of 30.  We had the priviledge of loving Trojan for 18 years.  He had a stroke and could no longer stand for any lenght of time without falling.  Our hearts broke as we had to make the decision to have him put down.  To make matters worse, it was just 6 months prior to moving to our farm, so we were unable to bury him here...but he will forever be in our hearts. 

Thank you Lord for such a Blessing - one packaged with 4 hooves and an orange mane and tail!  We could not have asked for a better companion for our daughters!!

BLESSED NOT BROKE!!!

I laughed when I read this - but honestly, I want to change it to say,

"WELCOME TO RIDING ~ YOU ARE NOW BLESSED!"

 

I hope  you have a few minutes, because I want to tell you a story... so go and get a cup of whatever you like, sit back and enjoy:

I think I was 48 years old when I started my sidesaddle journey.  I have loved horses all my life and started riding saddleseat seriously when I was 34.  I am so thankful that I did not let my age, or the perception of my age get in the way of my sidesaddle aspirations because it has opened so many doors in my life and it is one of those doors that I want to share with you today... the door of new friends.

When I started my journey, I started writting this blog.  I used it as a place to store information for myself as I was unable to find an accredited instructor to help me learn.  I really never thought many would read it .. but I was wrong.  I have met so many wonderful ladies who have given me their time and attention in helping me to learn .... and in turn, I have been able to offer myself to others who have contacted me about learning to ride aside. 

I helped one young lady write a class presentation, guided many about the woes of purchasing 'cheap' sidesaddles, offered several of my own photographs to be used in presentations and books to further sidesaddle riding and in a few cases, where I have met ladies who are local to me, have offered my horses and sidesaddles for trial.  I just love riding aside and want to share it in any way that I can.

One such lady I met on Facebook.  Her name is Elaina and she came as an experienced dressage rider who had started her journey, like me, by herself.  She owned a vintage sidesaddle, had a willing mount but just wanted that extra person there the first time she cantered aside.  We talked for some time and I invited her out to the farm.  It was such a rare pleasure to meet a young lady interested in riding sideaddle.  She is an old soul in a young body and we hit it off instantly. 

I saddled up Oliver, introduced them and we headed out to the round pen.  Elaina rides Quarter Horses, so my first directive was to assure her that Oliver's high head carriage was natural and he was not going to rear up  on her!  Now, my sweet Ollie has the worst sidesaddle trot.... but the nicest canter.  After a few walking circles to get her comfortable, I explained this to her and asked her to trot.  In no time, Elaina was sitting back and at ease.  It was easy to tell that she was an experienced rider.  Again, I explained if she could handle his trot, the canter was going to be very easy.  She looked anxoius as she tipped his head and asked for the canter.  I think Oliver took 2 strides before Elaina had a huge smile on her face and realized I was telling her the truth!  I just love moments like this!!!  Elaina could have easily done all of  this by herself on her own horse, but sometimes you just need an extra person for moral support.  I really did nothing more than stand there and cheer for her.

With that one experience, Elaina went home and started riding her horse Reo aside with new found confidence.  She worked diligently and decided to enter him in an open show in a couple of Hunter Classes, riding aside ....and it was in this show that Elaina won her very first blue ribbon!!!  I could not be more excited for her if I had really been the one to teach her how to ride!

We kept chatting and tried to come up with a time we could ride again, this time with her bringing Reo with her to Equus Villa.  Last weekend every thing fell into place, including the weather!  This time though the tables were turned... you see, this time Elaina was helping me do a couple of things and taking on the instructors roll.  I have introduced my daughters horse, Southern Revival to the sidesaddle, but had yet had the chance to ride him outside of the round pen, nor had I ridden him in a skirt allowing him to experience the feel the fabric along his side.  Not only were we able to do all of this, but Rev was so comfortable with it all, we decided to go trail riding!!  Our farm is nested along with many other farms encapsulating about 1000 acres with many trails between the boundries.  Rev used the confidence of Reo's gentle nature to take in all the new sites without fear and we were able to trot and canter along the way.  So sad there was not a camera to document this amazing day... but wait - because it got even better. 

After we returned to the barn, I untacked Rev and was able to try something new.  Elaina let me ride Reo!!  He is a very very nice dressage mount who is trained to do a lot of upper level moves I have only experienced visually.  She instructed me as we did moves foreign to me like extended trots and sidepasses.  I somehow managed to get  him so sidepass backwards!!  Reo was so sensitive, that he tattled on me when my legs would accidently touch his side thinking I was asking him for a canter.  What a wonderful horse Reo was.  He was so patient with me, even after our long trail ride!!! 

Thank you Elaina!!  ..and I am still grinning!       

What a Wonderful Day ~ Aside and Astride!

Yesterday Joy came out to the farm to ride Rev...She warms him up in the round pen and then goes out to the backside of our farm where there is a long straight away - about 1500 feet long..

Rev was feeling very very good..

..which put a pretty big smile on Joy's face as well.

The reason I posted so many pictures ..

is because anyone can take 1 good picture of a horse at the right moment to make them look like a million bucks....

..but Rev is the real deal...

he looked this great the whole time..and his 'rocking horse' canter is a blast to ride as well!

 

He is such a good boy - that when Joy was done, we took him back into the round pen for a quick tack change.. yes - you guessed it, into a sidesaddle!  Rev has never been ridden aside, but you can tell he has the mind for it. 

..but - just to be safe, we started out very slow. 

I did not ask for the trot Joy rode. 

..and after a few minutes of trotting, I asked him to lift into the canter.  What a wonderful horse this is.  He is talented enough to give you the thrill ride of your life...and will settle down to let my Grand daughter ride him and is more than willing to let me ride him aside!

 

 

I will never forget the first time I saw him.  Thank you Lord for pointing him out to us, as he shown that day when Joy stepped onto him.  Southern Revival - "Rev", our newest family member; we love you!!

A Few Of My Favorite (Sidesaddle) Things....

Favorite Saddle and Riding Suit:  Owen circa 1930.  Habit is a historic reproduction with knee pocket in the skirt.

Favorite Gloves : Roeckl Riding Gloves.. a bit pricey - about $50.00 a pair but are so superior to any leather gloves I own, they are always my first choice.

Favorite fiction book and biography - with a sidesaddle sideline:  Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Favorite sidesaddle artist - hands down: Alfred De Dreux

So Much To Be Thankful For!!!

God is SOOOO Good!!! 

I am most thankful for Jesus giving His life for me.  Just as the people  used to bring an innocent lamb to be slain for their sins... the owner would walk the lamb up to the priest, the sinner would place his hands on the lambs head.  In that action the sins of the man were transferred onto the innocent lamb.  At the same time, the innocence of the lamb was transferred to the man and the man was now considered 'clean' for one year and then the lamb was sacrificed.  The next year the same action was required and every year after.  Jesus' sacrifice was so great - it not only is good for ever and ever, but it covers all who accept Him. 

I am so thankful for my wonderful family!  My husband who has a never ending source of patience and such a giving nature; my oldest daughter Emily who is the best Mom to our Grandchildren and such a pillar of strength; my son-in-law Daren who is such an involved Christian Dad and just returned from a 6 month deployment to the middle east with no bitterness in his spirit; our Grand daughter Madison who thrills me with her smile, intellegence and inherited passion for horses; our Grand son Trestin, who despite being all boy, is not too self conscience to throw his whole self into hugging you hello and good bye; our youngest daughter Joy, who is one of the most positive, strong, forgiving and hard working young ladies I have ever seen.  I am thankful for my brothers, James; who is an ever present help when I need him and a good shoulder when life gets a bit bumpy; Tom who is so loving and giving and an amazing counsellor; his wife Adelaide whose happy spirit inspires me and makes me feel so welcomed that I know I could talk to her about anything!

My family is rather small.  All of my Grandparents and my parents have gone, so (gulp) my generation is the oldest in our clan, but I could not be more blessed!!!

Prospierty, the farm, the new future house, the animals, the crops and all the other material blessings - along with so many hidden blessings are like the icing on the cake. 

THANK YOU LORD FOR EVERYTHING!!!

What are you thankful for this day? 

Just Giddy!!!!

Guess What???  One of my very favorite web sites called The Fuller View :
http://thefullerview.tumblr.com/

that is authored by an amazing photographer David Fuller, used a photograph my daughter took of me warming up Sport on his web site!! 

This is the photo

Not sure if I am more excited for me or Joy!

A Very Good Trainer...

..makes sure all the tack is nice and clean...

oversees the horse getting tacked up so both horse and rider are safe..

..knows how to tie the perfect knot...

 

 

Tells great stories to keep his nervous riders calm..

..is able to give a riding lesson off of the horse

Assists in getting the rider aboard her horse
..can walk and coach at the same time..

 

..is willing to run beside the rider when they warm up - even if that means running in the mud..

 

Will warm the horse up for the rider if needed..

 

 

Makes sure the rider gets into the show ring and stays to coach them from the side lines..

 

If they win, he is ready to run in to help the photographer get the perfect picture...

 

..and if they don't, he walks back to the barn offering words of encouragment the whole way.

...and in my case, he is even willing to show your horse if you cannot get off work to show him yourself!

Tommy Benton is an amazing horse trainer, riding coach, exhibitor and friend... and I am (by far) not the only one who knows this!!

Yesterday..

Joy and I flew to New Orleans to go see Sport and Rev.  Here I am ...

 ..and here is Joy.  Gosh Rev has the best hocks of any horse I know!

We got to ride and I picked up the ribbons from his last show.  He also won a beautiful full length garment bag with a Saddlebred logo sewn onto it...and it is not a cheap one, but very nice heavy canvas!!

We used to fly into Baton Rouge, but there are only 3 returning flights on Saturday and they are always very heavily booked...

  Since we did not have to leave New Orleans so early - we got to play in the city for a while.  I have never been there.  Here is the historic district.  We found lots of great places to shop (like that is hard for us anywhere!)  ..and I bought a beautiful battenburg lace fan ...and USED IT!

A Little Celebration Gift To Myself!

...for our first win together!!  Turning our memory into art.

I found this huge shadow box frame at Hobby Lobby.

More TASHA Photos

One of TASHA benefactors is the American Heart Association.  Here is some of the great show decor.

My friend Erica did our hair and make up.

Ready to show - Joy and I.

I am challenged when it comes to tieing a tie... so Bill Marple helped me out and had me in stitches!

Here is our trainer Tommy Benton.  He looks so dashing on a horse..... and off!

Tractor Supply was a major sponsor of our show, so here we are doing some promo shots.  That is me armed with Fly Spray!

Joy (behind the camera) and her puppy Jax.

I will never forget this show.  It was not just the first show where I won a championship class, but I did it on my Sport - the horse I bred and raised!  Thank you Sandy and Tommy.