Chastain 1997 - 2015

It is with a very heavy heart that I announce that I went outside to feed this morning and was shocked to find Chastain had passed on. He was only 18 years old, but had several medical issues throughout his life. He was my very first sidesaddle horse and although I never took him into the show ring, he helped me to learn the basics. (Notice the ill fitting saddle!!)  Rest in peace sweet boy.

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!!

TASHA and a New Horse to Work Aside!!

..well - okay .. he is not new, but Southern Revival will be tested out soon as a sidesaddle horse.  So let me back up and tell you about the TASHA show:

I rode Sport astride in the Amatuer Park class.  I have not had a chance to ride him in a month... a MONTH!  Joy and I tried to get on a flight to LA. a couple of weeks ago, but due to the holiday traffic, there were no empty standby seats.  That is why I felt a little off when we showed in the qualifier class.  I placed 3rd out of 6....and honestly, I am not sure I diserved 3rd place!

Sunday I showed him back and took Reserve Champion.  My ride was so much better - I did not even care about the ribbon.  The point is, every time I show this horse, I am doing more of what I am suppose to be doing and worring less.  Home town shows are more fun too... so thank you to all the folks who put the TASHA show together!

Joy showed her horse Southern Revival - we call him Rev.  She also took 3rd place in the Park Pleasure class.  Actually he is a show pleasure horse, but Tommy had so many horses in that class, he bumped her into the next level for this one non-rated show.  There was a lot going on in the ring that bothered a lot of the horses.. someones trailer parked close to the ring seemed to unnerve a few and many were put off by a photographers flash on a tri-pod, not the one on his camera.  Rev reacted to that flash and had another spooky spot that he wanted to stop and snort at each round before proceeding.... gotta love him!  

Rev is an amazing boy.  He is one of those horses who waits to see what is asked of him before he delivers.  For this reason, our 7 year old Grand daughter has also ridden him.  He does not have a mean bone in his body and it really does take a lot to rattle him.  So now we are going to see how he does aside.  I know Joy would also love to put her foot into Sports stirrup. 

We brought Rev home to the farm and sent Bella Equus home with Tommy to break.  She is a coming 3 year old out of Sport's mommy and had a bit of a growth spurt this fall.  Nothing big mind you, but I could tell that she is ready to learn something.  She was worked lead/halter as a baby being shown in a futurity class.  Here at the farm, I have worked her in the round pen and she will wear a sirsingle, side reins and a beginners bit.  You can tell when a horse likes their training.  Can't wait to see what Tommy tells me about her in the future and hoping she will work out to be Joy's next project!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I must add another piece to this story... Sunday morning on my way out the door and down the outside staircase... yes, my hands were full .... yes - there was ice on the stairs.... yes I was not thinking about anything except getting to the show and swoop.....
my feet flew out and I bent my knees.  My right shin hit the next step and my left knee hit the one after that.  I twisted my body so that by the time I stopped on the concrete sidewalk below, I was flat on my back and looking up the stairs at my feet.

"You just broke both of your legs".. Satan whispered to me.  My heart was racing and both of my legs were burning in different places.  I laid there for a few moments before I even dared to move my toes.  Little by little I realized that although I had a gash on one leg and a swollen left ankle and right knee, I was indeed still intact enough to show my  horse!  I decided not to even look at my legs until the days end.  I gathered all of my things - strewn all over the stairs and walkway and put them into the truck.  I went back upstairs - took 2 Tylenol and loaded up the horses I was hauling that day and off we went!

OH MY GOSH - OH MY GOSH - OH MY GOSH!!!!!!

I just heard from Tommy and Sport just WON his championship class!!!~!~!!  Tommy said there were 9 horses in his class!!!!!!!  YIPPIE!!!

THANK YOU SWEET JESUS!!!

remind me to one day tell you all how miraculous it was that I came to own the brood mare!!

So Many Updates..

Well, I have not been posting much on my blog recently, not because there has not been anything happening; but because what has been happening has not really had to do with riding sidesaddle.  It does not mean that things are not moving forward in the "whole" journey, but since this blog was suppose to be about riding aside, well... most of what I have to post about currently is about up and coming horses not currently or not yet being ridden sidesaddle.  So with that here we go:

EQUUSSPORT

Sport is still in full time training with Tommy Benton.  He is still only being ridden 3 gaits and competing in the Park Pleasure division.  I rode him at TASHA and we won both the qualifier and the championship classes.  My first championship win EVER!  So cool that is was with a horse I bred and raised!!   Next show for Sport is in Chattanooga, TN. with Tommy riding.  He is still quite sensitive in the mouth and when we were warming up, I was asking for the canter.  I must have grabbed him in the mouth, because he lurched forward in a mini rear.  Maybe by the end of the year, we can start working him as a 5 gaited horse again ...

SOUTHERN REVIVAL

Joy showed this stallion for the first time at TASHA as well.  He is not a finished horse and we have been working hard to keep him moving forward in the full bridle.  When we started, he would stop if you touched the curb bit instead of just lower his head.  Although we made great progress at home, he really fought her in the show ring.  He showed 2 times and we decided to send him back with Tommy as well.  He has not yet reached his potential and needs to be finished so we know where to show him.  We also made the very difficult decision to geld him.  He is a magnificent horse and although a part of me would love to see what he could produce.... the other 9 horses we own have first priority.  Rev just seemed quite distracted.  He was a perfect gentleman in the show ring, but if he is going to be trained and shown... we just need his full attention!

We went to visit him after only being with Tommy for 2 weeks and I could already see a difference.  Gelding surgery has yet to be scheduled.

OLIVER

He has become my practice sidesaddle horse here at home.  I thought about taking him to TASHA, but knew I would not be able to make the costume changes needed in good time.  I also wanted to focus my full attention on Sport.

"EDWARD"  don't know his registered name

Edward does not belong to us.  I brought him home from the TASHA show since Tommy was taking Rev back with him and did not have enough room on the horse trailer for both horses.  .... Try explaining THAT to a suspecting husband!!!  He was sent home with me on a free lease for Joy to ride as a practice horse.  He is a very big but sweet boy.  He is a slow picky eater that needs to gain some weight too... NOT a normal horse for our farm!!  5 seconds after he got here, he threw a shoe, so I will take some pictures soon and let you know more about him.

MY GENIUS BRITTANY

During the time Rev was at our farm, his presence threw every one of our mares in to full blown heat.  Among the mares flipping their tails, winking and peeing ... was a mare I bred late last summer.  We were expecting a foal in July,  but she obviously did not take.  A part of me was sad... but a tiny part was a bit relieved too.

BELLA EQUUS

Is now a 2 year old, but she is so small in stature that I am going to wait to send her off for training, maybe a whole year.

CHASTAIN
SWIZZLE LYNN
EQUUSIT
EQUUS ESPRIT
DOMANCE VILLA

... are all pasture rats.... or as my husband likes to call them, YARD ART!

I Promise To Come Back Soon

.. but there is a LOT going on at the farm and in our family right now that needs attention... but I will leave you will this stunning photo of Sport from the Big D Charity Horse show.. Tommy said he was winning the large class until someone one threw shoe, the class was stopped for quite a while and when they started back, Sport was acting silly and bucked at the canter.  While he did not get last place for acting badly.. from what I hear, he only beat out the horse that reared up.... tisk tisk tisk.... shaking my head ...

I am suppose to show him astride at TASHA next weekend.

now - I have to ask you.... would this not be stunning in a sidesaddle?

My Boy....

Two of my friends also have recently sent their horses over to Tommy for training.  They we able to go and visit this week and took this adorable picture of Tommy working Sport!!  I am one proud Momma!!

Friesian Horses Aside

There is no denying - this is one beautiful breed of horse!!!

..but put a sidesaddle on one, and you increase the beauty quota by multitudes!  Here is a horse with a long enough back to accommodate the sidesaddle and a long enough neck to not be miniaturized by the height that the sidesaddle raises the rider.

JUST BREATH TAKING!!!

A Wonderful Day!

Today I arose at 0430, readied myself and left for the airport.  After checking in for my flight, I found out it was running 50 minutes late.  I work for the airline and travel standby.  I waited patiently until my name was called.  It was going to be a full flight.  I was the last passenger called.  Once I got down the gateway and was at the entrance of the aircraft, the pilot called the gate agent and said due to the large amount of checked baggage and weight, the number of passengers on that aircraft had to be reduced... so I was the first to go!  Ha...

I raced across the airport terminal to get to the next departing flight, waited patiently and was thrilled to be boarded - again on a very full flight.  I took my seat, unzipped my purse and pulled out my daily devotional called Jesus Calling.  I am behind in my daily reads, so I decided to read what it said for April 1st.  You won't believe it:

"I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me. Basic training includes learning to live above your circumstances, even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life."

I rolled my head back and laughed out loud catching the attention of the gentleman sitting beside me.  I just pointed to what I read.  He laughed too and asked me if I was a believer.  Ohhhh Yes!  I exclaimed.  He was an assistant pastor of a church in San Antonio.  We had a wonderful time exchanging stories of family, horses, and faith.

Once I arrived in Baton Rouge, got my rental car and drove out to Maranatha Stables, I saw that Sport was already groomed and ready to go.  He looked magnificent!!!  Tommy tacked him up with a wonderful Freedman cutback saddle.  He wants me to buy a new saddle and is letting me try out the different ones he has.  What surprized me is that he also had the full weymouth bridle on Sport....the very thing that had caused all of the strife and stress with him! 

Keep in mind, in the past, every single time I tried to ride Sport with the full bridle, it was so chaotic, the grooms would change him out of it and back into the training bridle.  The former trainer could ride him in in, but I could not.  In the training bridle, I was instructed to ride with a good hold on him, especially on the bottom rein.  In the full bridle though, if I made any contact, Sport would become so upset, he would toss his head and even start jumping off of his feet. 

Now, here I was being asked to mount him and ride him in this astride saddle, which to me almost feels foreign since I have been riding aside for so long.  I was quite nervous and very very reluctant to make contact with the bit, but tried very hard to do what Tommy told me to do.  We walked half way around the arena and I was instructed to trot.  I clucked him forward and slowly took a light hold of the snaffle bit.  The curb rein was so loose, it was dangling.  Tommy told me to take the slack out of it...and I did.. about 1 centimeter at a time!  I was so very cautious.  Sport worked hard for me.  He trotted with beautiful animation and enthusiasm around and around the arena.  We changed direction and trotted again.  I started to relax a bit and was more comfortable feeling the snaffle bit - still reluctant though to use the curb.... maybe next time.  We cantered 3 times as well, with wonderful success.

"Tommy, I want to ask you a very important question and I need you to know that there is no wrong answer." 
He looked up and nodded at me.
"Do you believe that what happened to Sport is a result of me riding him sidesaddle?"  I looked intently at him for the honest answer I knew he would offer.
"I do not believe that.  I believe that too much was thrown at this horse at one time though.  He was not working well in the full bridle, he was asked to be a 5 gaited horse and he was asked to carry a rider aside very close to the same time and I just think it was too much for him to handle, which is why he started to rebel."

Tommy went on to explain that he understood how badly I want to ride sidesaddle, but that his first responsibility was to his riders safety.  Sport was in such a bad place when he arrived at Maranatha that he was on the verge of becoming a dangerous horse, offering to rear...or worse.  He told me that in his entire career he had 2 riders experience horses not only rearing, but flipping back on them.  He knew I understand the dangers of a horse flipping on a rider who is riding aside! 

With that he laid out a plan.  Since Sport did not have a totally clean ride at Pin Oak, the next horse show, Tommy will once again show him for me.  Next up will be me in an astride saddle for about 6 or 7 shows, whatever the equivilent of about a year is.  By then Sport should have regained his confidence and not be so sensitive in his mouth, or resentful for a mistaken  off balance pull.  Then, he said would be the time to reintroduce him to the sidesaddle.  He went on to say that Sport is extremely talented and with a bit more finishing will not be out of place at the world championship show!!  (shhh - don't tell - but I kind of already knew that!!)

A lot more was discussed - but I was so comforted by what Tommy said and by the way he handles himself and the horses... I gave him a huge hug and thanked him over and over!

I felt very comfortable with this plan.

My Ollie is Back!

After almost a year recovering from a terrible quarter crack that was all the way up to his hair line, my Ollie is back!!!  I gave Madison a lesson on him when she visited last.  Madison is my Grand Daughter who is 6 - a very small 6 year old and even when he was limping a bit, he never seemed to mind giving her a 15 minute lesson.

Anyway - with that last lesson, I noticed he was not limping at all - so after the lesson, I switched out saddles and gave him a try.  He was wonderful.  I called the farrier and had him put some plates on Ollie and last weekend, I rode him sidesaddle for the first time!  Yippie!!

I still think - just because he is an older boy, I need to get his hocks injected, but now I have a sidesaddle horse at the farm to practice on and even take to local shows!

Oliver is Sound Again!!

I have been using Oliver to give Madison riding lessons when she comes to visit us.  She is so light and her lessons so short and infrequent, that even though he was still recovering from him quarter crack, I felt it was not doing any harm.  Oliver is a horse who loves human interaction, so he would anxiously await at the gate for us.

Well, this time as Madison was riding .... and getting quite good at it too I might add.. I did not see any inconsistency in his gaits or cadence... After Madison was done riding, I did a quick saddle change and took him though all his gaits in both directions and YIPPIEEEEEE!!!  Oliver is again sound!!  I am not going to ride him again though until Josh can make it over and get a shoe on him..just for a bit of extra support.

My Boy Equusport!!

I went to Baton Rouge today to see Sport...so since I am going to tell you all about him - I thought I would also share the finished portrait photo.  I cannot tell you how well Jeanne has captured Sport in this work of art.  See that look on his face?  He gives me 'that look' all the time!

I was a bit concerned about what I would see today.  It was the first time I was going to visit Sport since I moved him to Maranatha Farm.  I had spoken to his new trainer only on the phone at length once, about 1 week after his arrival.  The news then was worse than I had hoped.  I had hoped that Sport's vacation would have revived his enthusiasm and that he would again become the happy horse he once was.  That was not the case.  The first 3 days Tommy worked with Sport, he was at the pivotal point of either going down hill very quickly, or starting to turn back to the positive.  He was throwing his head, jumping off the rail, spooking at everything and anything and even trying to go up on Tommy.  He was so volitle that Tommy would not let anyone else attempt to ride him.  

After that first conversation, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.  I was so sad.  I knew we had to back up Sport's training, but it was then that I learned just how far back we needed to go.  Also per Tommy's request, I placed a standing order with Smart Pak to put Sport on a quieting compound to help him deal with the stress.  I told him to do whatever needed to be done.  This horse owns a part of my heart and I wanted what was best for him, even if that meant I would not get to show him this year at all.

We ended the phone conversation at that.  Now you know why I was nervous - this just being 3 weeks later.

When I got to the farm, I entered Sport's stall.  I whispered softly to him and scratched his neck.  I missed him so.  When Tommy arrived, he entered Sport's stall, said loudly, "Hey Buddy" as he slapped him on the back a few times.  Sports head went up, his ears were up and in every other way - he looked like he was smiling and very happy to see Tommy.  My heart jumped!

Tommy tacked him up and led him into the round pen.  He placed the reins over the back of the saddle and told me that he only does this on Monday's because Sunday is the day of rest for the horses.  Sport trotted around on the rail with perfect manners, first one direction and then the other.  Tommy walked him out and led him over to the mounting area.  He got on him and started to walk him around the arena.  The whole time  he was working him, he was telling me of what he discovered about Sport - what works and what does not, what was doing with Sport now and what his plans were for the future.  I so appreciated this.  Best of all, from the second he started to trot, Sports head was in a magnificent place, high with his chin dropped - and the best of the best.... Tommy only had a light hold on the reins!  

It was so amazing I was jumping up and down (like a fool!) and I screamed "I love you Tommy!"  To me - he had already accomplished a miracle!!!  He continued to work Sport by trotting and cantering him in both directions.  I had to think back.  At the last horse show, it was decided not to show Sport in a canter class, because he was just too unpredictable and way too strong - especially for me.  I had to have a death grip on the curb rein on a training bridle to keep his head in a moderate position...no where near as nice as where he was carrying his head today.  I felt such a sigh of relief.... my boy was coming back.  He was bright.  He was happy and if all of that was not amazing enough, I rode him too ... all 3 gaits...and it was FABULOUS!! 

So for now, my 5 gaited horse is just working on being content and happy doing 3 gaits.  He is still working in a training bridle, but will soon start again in a full bridle, and I am shelving the thought of riding him aside... at least for a while...but the key phrase here is that I now again have a "happy horse"!!!

    

I Love a Horse That is Old Enough...

..to know better.  Did that make any sense?  When you work with a young horse and they do something wrong - you have to analize it - you have to ask yourself questions.. like why is he doing this.. is he confused, is he scared and just reacted to something - is he hurting - or is he just being a butt head (as all horses are every once in a while)..

So when you have a horse who "knows better" one who has completed all his training .. has been there and done that, you come down to 2 choices... either he hurts or he is being a butt head!  Guess which answer is the correct one 85 % of the time ...or higher?  hee hee...

Well today - Joy came out to ride Revival.  Last week he was amazing .. so amazing we both beat ourselves up for not having a camera.... but not today.  Today, I had my best camera ready to go!  (that should have been my first clue...)  It was a beautiful sunny day but windy and the wind was cold.  It was the kind of day where you had to wear a jacket, but if the wind was not blowing, you would have been comfortable in a tank top!

Joy warmed him up in the round pen.  I am so glad we built that!  Then we took him over to the side to ride the long straight aways.

Did I mention it was windy!!!

For some reason today, Rev did not want to go down the fence line and would fight with Joy, trying to bully her into giving up, but Joy held her ground...

..and made him trot up ...

 ..and down ...

..and back again..

..and when he still misbehaved a bit - we took him all the way back to the end of the straight away and do circle work ... then - he worked like a champ.  What a stinker!...but quite a beautiful stinker!!!

I am not sure I will ever be able to trot this horse aside.  His hocks are just amazing , and this is what he does without shoes...

Joy Came Out ..

..to the farm today to ride Revival, but she could only stay for 3 hours.  It sounds like a long time, but it really is not.  We moved Bella, a 2 year old I am starting, into a stall where she is learning how to stand tied.  Joy rode Rev in the round pen in the full bridle to warm him up.  Then we went into the long straight away that runs along the fenceline bordering our neighbors property.  It is a perfect place to get a long straight workout.  Rev was very excited...very happy and very animated.  As he trotted by me, I tapped on the fence.  Oh my what a stunning sight he was!!!  Next time Joy is out, I will surely have my camera ready! 

We are expecting poor weather tomorrow - so sadly I will not get my turn to excercise him.. at least not down the straight away.  The round pen is made to be used right after a rain with its wonderful drainage.

Bella wore a simple headstall with a fat rubber bit for the first time today.  I turned her out into the round pen wearing it for an hour... I cannot say that she was overly pleased about it - but wear it she did.  After doing this a few more times, I will put a sursingle on her to get her used to the feeling of a girth.

I have heard different opinions about the rubber bits.  I have used them as the first thing used to introduce a 2 year old to a bit...slowly next moving to a very gently fat snaffle bit.  What is your opinion?

Part 3

Paradise Punch

It was not long before Punch's owner arrived at the barn.  By then they had brought Punch up from his stall only to discover that he had lost one of his front shoes.  Tommy sent one of the girls to go back and look for it, but it was no where to be found. 

Punch is a beautiful bay horse in really good muscle tone.  He had a kind eye but he did look a bit concerned.  I knew he was not in full time training, so I am not sure how often he was brought up from the other barn to be ridden or worked.  In the tacking stall, he was figity.  He bit the side of the wall and removed a sliver of wood.  I cringed and Tommy took notice.  He told me Punch does not crib or chew his stall.  That was good to know since our barn was a creation from my heart and although it has been in use now for 12 years, it is still in very nice shape.

They tacked Punch up and brought him into center ring, walked him past me and into the round pen to warm him up.  The young lady leading him, placed the reins around the back of the saddle to keep them from falling forward while she lunged him.  Imediately, he reared straight up.  I bit my lip. 

When he came back down, the girl moved him forward and about the round pen.  He went from a trot to a canter and back to the trot.  He lunged forward and then slowed his speed dramatically.  He did not stay on the rail, often cutting straight accross the center.  I understand why some horses need to be lunged before being ridden, Oliver at the age of 15+ still needed that, but the disorganization of Punch during the exercise concerned me.

After 10 minutes in each direction, Punch was brought out and Tommy asked me whom I wanted to ride him, referring to either myself or Joy.  I laughed a bit and said, "You!"  He gave me that look and put the young lady on him who was lunging him.  Punch would not stand still to be mounted.  That was a huge negative for me since this horse would need to be worked at our farm, sometimes by me... who is here all by myself most days.

Once aboard, the young lady took him over to the rail.  They walked about half way around before starting to trot.  Although she was a good rider, Punch was very distracted by ....well just about everything.  He again did not stay in gait.  He spooked by a large pile of shavings in the corner and surged and slowed just as he had done in the round pen.  The young lady trotted him in both directions and then came into center ring.

Tommy asked Joy if she wanted to ride him.  Honestly, in my opinion, it was already over, but Joy was game and able to get on mount the moving target.  To the rail they went and it was much more of the same.  Going the second direction, she was able to rein him in a bit and he had moments of looking more in sync, but shortly after that, a spook and surge almost dismounted Joy... which is why I almost fainted when she asked Tommy if she could canter him!

Wisly, Tommy told her she would have to start in the round pen and then he went on to say that this horses canter was stiff the first few strides.  Joy looked at me and we burst out laughing as we both mouthed the same name, 'Larry'.

Larry was a lesson horse Sue Roby owned.  We knicked named him "The cement trampoline" because his canter was as such... so jarring the first 2-6 strides, you could feel your brain rattle about in your skull!

Canter they did in the small round pen.  I cannot even remember if she cantered him after that in the riding arena...I just remember her getting off and me signaling to her this was not the right horse for us.  By no means was I saying he was not talented, or unfit or even mean spirited.  He just was not finished enough for us.  He really either needed a few more months of full time training or someone with more experience than Joy and I to finish him.  I hated telling his owner this, but I knew it was the right choice.

I then took Joy aside and asked her how she felt about Southern Revival.  She obviously thought he was way out of her price range, but with a bit of discussion, we made an offer and he came home with us that very day!

This is Joy's first ride on Rev at our farm the next day.... cold, windy and very muddy and still Rev was the perfect gentleman. 

Part 2

Joy

That next weekend I invited Joy to come with me to Bluebonnet to take a riding lesson.  This would be her last chance to do so, since I was going to take Sport home that day and I was unsure of what the future held for me as far as training was concerned.  I also wanted Joy to get the chance to ride Sport under supervision.

Joy and Emily grew up with pet horses.  We had 2 wonderful geldings, The Trojan War Horse - a huge 17HH Tennessee Walking Horse and Sparticus - a 16.2 American Saddlebred, that would cater to any and all of the girls wishes!  Both horses were so large, the girls used to ride about the neighborhood and pick up their friends along the way.  It was not uncommon to see 3 riders on one horse and sometimes with nothing more than a halter and lead rope haphazzardly knotted about the horses neck!

It was not until the girls were in high school that I started to take 'real' riding lessons.  I invited both of them to join me and each took a lesson, but only Joy was bitten by the "Show Bug".  Emily was content to pleasure ride.  In a short amount of time, Joy's riding skills improved and it showed not only by the amount of blue ribbons she won, but by the fact that our instructor used to use her to warm up horses for other riders, even the unruly mounts.   It was a truly wonderful time - you see, at this age, sometimes Mother's and daughters don't have that much to talk about.  Horses though were a common ground we could all enjoy on an equal basis.

Time flies though and both of my daughters went away to college.  Joy would accompany me to Paradise Farms every once in a while and was even asked to show the farms stallion El Dorado's Stonewall Jackson, in a 5 gaited class held in Oklahoma City, to which she did; but that was about the last time she rode.... until this very weekend.

A lot of riders were at Bluebonnet that cool morning waiting to take their lessons.  Keri Ann was there by herself since Sandy was in South Africa coaching the Saddlebred riding team.  We all waited our turn to ride.  I was called first to ride Sport sidesaddle.  The cool weather and the fact that he had not been warmed up by anyone else caused Joy's mouth to drop open when we started to trot.
"That is not the same horse I saw you ride at TASHA Mom!"  she exclaimed.
I just smiled.  

After riding for about 20 minutes, I came into the center of the arena to dismount.  I told Keri Ann that I wanted Joy to ride Sport astride, if even for just a few moments.  It was not my intention that she ride him before taking her lesson on Hershey, a more low key lesson horse (evidenced by his name) but Keri Ann did not want to put Sport up only to take him out again.  We did a quick saddle change in the isle and Joy got a leg up.  Joy's eyes were wide open, but I knew she could handle him. I gave her a quick instruction of keeping hold of the curb rein of his training bridle and off to the rail she went.

When she clucked and asked for the trot, Joy was a little unsure and her body was a bit too forward, but just a few strides in, she corrected her lead and her posture.  Half way around the arena and she looked like she used to look when she showed - excited and confident.  I thought it would be a huge let down for her to ride Hershey, but she just soaked it all up and had a blast.  Hummmm - and again the bug BITES!  The only disappointment was that I was hoping she could try to ride sidesaddle.  Alas - Time was not on our side.

 Maranatha Farm

Joy agreed to come out to the farm weekly to help me work Sport and to get an older mare, Swizzle Lynn, ready for my Grand daughter to ride.  I knew Joy was interested in riding a nicer horse than Swizzle, but I was not willing to share Sport with her.  In our area, there are a lot of really nice horses that can be purchased for next to nothing if the owner knows the horse will be going to a good home.  It is a sad fact of our economic woes.  I did not even get the chance to start inquiring before I received an e-mail from a woman who had a gelding by the same stallion that sired Sport whom she was willing to sell for a fraction of what she had in him.  His name was Paradise Punch and he was a 6 hour drive away in Louisiana at a training barn called Maranatha.  Punch was said to be fully trained and had been shown by his former owner and trainer a few times.  He looked to be a good prospect for either the Park or Show Pleasure division.  This sounded exactly like what Joy was looking for since she could not afford to put a horse into full time training.

I called Joy and talked to her about the horse and to verify her desire to ride again was not a passing fancy.  We made arrangements to go and see Punch and I was also excited to visit with Tommy Benton, the trainer and owner of Maranatha, whom I had always had a lot of respect for.   It would be a 6 hour drive from the farm.

Joy got to the farm at 6am and after hoking up the trailer,we were on the road by 6:20.

The weather was terrible.  It was both foggy and rainy and although progress seemed slow, we did make it there by noon.  Maranatha is beautiful.  The main house was off to the left with a stalling barn on the right of the main entrance road.  The covered riding arena and additional stalls for horses in training was further back.  We parked and walked into the stalling area.  I was shocked by all of the activity.  5 kids were riding and taking lessons when we arrived, from youngsters to teens.  Horse were being ridden inside and out and a young horse was being worked in the round pen, and yet it was completely organized.  Tommy greeted us and told us that Punch's owner was delayed.  That was no problem for us as both Joy and I love to watch horses being worked and it gave us a chance to check out all of the horses there.

Southern Revival

We took a seat in some chairs that were center ring.  I watched and tried to decipher who was doing what.  One horse really struck me as being high quality, but it seemed that the young lady riding him was only exercising him, not taking a lesson.  The horse fussed with the rider and went around the ring with his head here and there.  He had an stunning physique and even plodding around the arena was trotting level.  When I inquired about it, I was correct, the riding was not taking a lesson.  I asked Tommy if while we waited, Joy could ride 'that' horse.  He agreed and called the rider in.  As all of this was being done, he filled me in on some details of this horse and how his owners had some life changing circumstances which caused him to be used as a lesson horse, rather than a show horse.  His name, Southern Revival.  Bred to the nines by the 8 time WC Revival and out of a trimmed mare Limoges who was also a ribbon winner at the world champion show.  His age, 11.  His show experience, only shown 3 times recently at a local show.  His status, a stallion...

"Wait... what????... a stallion? "  I questioned.  "He is being ridden by kids as a lesson horse, in an arena with a bunch of other kids, some riding mares???  Whatttt???"

I was amazed.  I had only heard about stallions like this.




Joy got a leg up and took Rev, as they called him, out to the rail.  Rev flat walked without any anxiousness.  Tommy asked her to trot.  She clucked and Rev moved right up into it.  Joy set his head and my eyes were fixed on the pair.  His hocks were just breathtaking, reaching up to his belly.  Majorie, another trainer, came into the ring and started to instruct Joy.  She had a lunge whip with her and as Joy made her second round Majorie snapped the whip not at Rev, but down by her legs, just to make the popping sound.  Rev squatted down and raised up that his front legs were rising far above level.  I, standing there with a camera around my neck was literally unable to take my eyes off of this pair as they circled round and again.  All of a sudden I heard a girl call out to one of her friends to come and see Rev.  I looked and realized that every person in the barn was now in center ring watching Joy and Rev.  They TRULY looked like a pair you would see at the World Championship show.  They continued to trot and canter in both directions.  Rev never wavered.  He never spooked, backed an ear or took one misstep.  I was so distracted.... I did not even take one picture.

...to be continued...

Meet Our Girls

Meet Joy and Emily! Joy is on the left and Emily on the right.  I am so very proud of them both.

Emily is the older sister, married to Daren, who serves our country in the Air Force.  They are the parents of our Grand children whom I speak of and post pictures of often; Madison and Trestin.  They currently live out of state, so we get precious little time with them.  

Joy lives in the Houston area.  We used to take riding lessons and show together.  Emily enjoyed riding purely on a pleasure basis.  Our instructor, Sue Roby (who quite often would speak exactly what was on her mind) used to always tell me that it was such a shame that we did not have more money... because Joy was a natural equitation rider.  In the Saddlebred world, equitation horses were among the most $$$!  I agreed with Sue, but it was what it was.    

That was 12 years ago.  Time really flies!

Well both girls went to college, graduated and continued on their life course.  Joy bought a motorcycle and after a short time, started to modify it so she could race.  Not a big surprise to us!  That passion seemed to be short lived and she up and sold her bike.  After accepting an invitation from me to come and take a lesson at Bluebonnet, she accepted.  This was also the day that I pulled the horse trailer and brought Sport home.  It was the first time Joy had ridden in years and it was the first time she had ever ridden Sport.  

It took Joy about a 1/2 of a lap to get her riding coordination back and her pursed lips started to spread over her face into a very broad smile.... almost a SMIRK.  Ahhh yes - I thought ... she has once again been bitten!.. 

When we returned home, she walked with me to the back pasture.  We assessed the horses and decided to bring one of the mares up and work for Madison (Grand Daughter).  I also extended to her the opportunity to ride Sport while he was at home AND if she wanted to buy a horse, I would consume the cost of keeping it for her at our farm... well it did not take her long... because she is now the proud owner of a beautiful stallion..... yes I said STALLION!

May I introduce you to Southern Revival:

I will follow up with a more detailed story of just how we found this boy a bit later!

My First Horse..

Unlike many of you, I had to wait until I was an adult to get my first horse and to take my very first 'real' riding lesson.  My Daddy was a Neurosurgeon...a brain surgeon, so do I need to tell you what he thought about horses?  He did everything he could to disuade me from my horse obcession...to no avail!

I married young and we bought our first starter home shortly after our wedding.  2 years later, we were in the market again for a house in the country.  I hated living in the city!  When my Mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday just a year later, I told her fencing!  Rolling her eyes at me, she obliged!  With that and a small conversion of a tractor garage into a run in shed, we were almost ready for our very first horse.

A friend told me to just spread the word that I was looking for a horse and opportunities would come faster than I could imagine...and she was right.  I will just tell you the story that ended in success.  Keep in mind, I was looking for a family horse, a pet.. a gentle old soul.  A man at work whom I barely knew told me his Father was looking to sell his horse, a Walking horse gelding along with all of the tack and supplies.  One visit and I knew this was the one.  He was 17hands high and aptly named "The Trojan War Horse".  His uniquely colored strawberry roan body made him stand out in a sandy pen with no grass.  He was a quiet horse, not overly friendly and he did not walk all over me.

The downside, he was not registered and the owner was asking more than I wanted to pay because he was only willing to sell the horse with all the tack.  After some prayer, I felt that sense of real peace and I made arrangements  to make payments on Trojan.  Funny thing... he was 8 when I first went to see him... but by the time he was paid for, he has suddenly morphed into being 12..in a mere 3 months!

No matter, he fit into our family as if he had always been with us.  He was a gentle giant.  One of the girls would leave our house on him, only to return with 2 more kids in tow.  Trojan did not mind.  He would bob his head from the right to the left with each stride, his bright orange mane bouncing from one side to the other.  He did not move a muscle, even when a friends young child ran right under him!  Many a night, I found the girls had snuck outside, jumped on his back from the fence... no saddle, no bridle .. no matter.  Sweet Trojan was always willing.

Trojan lived to be 32 years old and I suppose that is only true if he really was only 12 when I bought him.  He cared for my girls through their entire childhoods and we all cried buckets of tears when he had to be put down.  Trojan suffered a stroke that left him unable to navigate his huge back end.   5 years prior to that he has suffered and survived a massive heart attack.  He lived on that sand lot before we bought him for so long that his teeth were worn down to nothing.  He could not even chew hay.  We made a warm mash for him twice a day that he licked.  He was such a treasure.

Now for a funny story.. many years after Trojan passed, my daughters told me that once, when they were quite young, they rode him when it was very hot outside.  They must have run him quite hard because when they returned home, guilt overshadowed their fun when they saw how heavily he was breathing and how much sweat was pouring off of his body.  In an attempt to make it up to him, they brought him into the house so he could stand and cool off under the ceiling fan! 

This picture (not mine) reminded me of that story:

Want To See Something Adorable?

This is Sport right after he was born!

Even at this tender age of being moments old...

......before even having the chance to unfold....

...... or inhale a lungs capacity of air....

.......he was -
.......to me -
.......utter perfection...

Pinto's...

..I have a really soft spot in my heart for Pinto's, especially American Saddlebred Pinto's!  This is a picture of Michelle Mcfarland, the woman whom there is so much to write about concerning ASB Pinto's, I could not fit it all on this blog.. but lets just say she is THE Lady!

 But - this is a blog about sidesaddle.. so I just wanted to show you that Pinto's have been a lovely part of riding aside for a very long time!!!

Oh my - what a pretty boy he is!

WOW!!! is all I can say!!!

I KNOW.... she is not riding aside... but I could not resist.. look at this atletic boy with his owner.. what fun!!!

This is Racing Stripe.  We bred our best mare to this stallion.. and yes, I was hoping to get a pinto baby... but alas, although she is cute, she just has one polka dot above her hoof!

 Funny story about this stallion though.  When he was born, laying on one side, the owner was sad thinking he was a bay and said, "Oh well... no spots"

Until her husband turned the foal over and saw the stripe running up the foals hip.  He responded by saying, "you may not have gotten the spots you wanted, but you did get a stripe!"  That basically is how he got his name!