November 16, 09
For most of us, the show season is coming to a close. Oh sure, the "big dances" are still left to do. The AQHA World Show, the NRHA Futurity, and the NCHA Futurity. We all look to these events to show us the best of the best in our events of interest. You can bet there will be days I'm glued to the computer enjoying the web casts and seeing what we can all strive for.
I've been hearing a lot of negative talk regarding the horse market. For sure, it's very hard to sell a horse for what we have in it, or feel it is worth. But lets keep in mind, this is not exclusive to the horse market- everything is struggling to hold value. I, however, am naive enough to be optimistic. I know the spirit and dedication of people in the horse industry. We will find a way to do what we want to do. We will all have to make adjustments, for sure, but horse shows that offer the opportunity to show affordably are larger than ever. Good horses are still selling for a fair price. These are signs that the horse industry will persevere.
With that in mind, I'm already excited about 2010. Horses in the barn are being prepped for next year. It looks like we will attend a few more NRHA shows, possibly some breed association shows, and of course many ARHA shows.
Congratulations to all of the Dowell Performance Horse customers on their success in 2009. On the next newsletter, I'll post some of these as they become official.
The holiday season is staring us in the face. Let's all remember to be thankful for the blessings in our life, and enjoy the season in it's truest spirit.
October 5, 09
There are definite signs of fall. Cooler temperatures, horses wearing sheets and blankets and some of my favorite shows are coming up. I love this time of year, even though it also means winter is not far off.
September was a relatively quiet month. Went to Columbia, MO to judge one of the Missouri Ranch Horse Associaion shows. I love judging their shows. The shows are always well run, there are plenty of good horses, and the people all seem to have a good time. It adds up to a great atmosphere. This show was no exception and the very last class was one of the best I've seen in awhle. The youth reining was one of the toughest classes of the show. Each run raised the bar for that class just a little more. It was very exciting to watch-and a challenge to judge.
It's Quarter Horse Congress time-many of my friends are heading up there to show soon. I wish them all the best of luck! I'll be staying closer to home and looking forward to the next KTRHA show later this month. VolRHA has their futurity next weekend, and Oct. 17th is the date for The Mane Event. The Mane Event is a local horse fair that I am fortunate enough to be a part of. In addition to some other duties, Major Wadhams and I will be part of a perfornance that evening. We will be doing a freestyle reining demonstration. It wll be a repeat of the run that won the Scott Stevenson Memorial Freestyle Reining.
At the barn, the younger horses are starting to look more finished. Melody Bear doesn't seem like such the awkward adolescent anymore. She has matured more physically, and is putting more strength in her stops, and has more confidence in everything she does. I'm looking forward to showing her as a four year old. The older horses are probably looking foward to a winter break. Stacey's yearlings are getting more time and attention- it'll be time to start them soon.
The end of the show season is in sight. I hope everyone is achieving their goals and accomplished the things they wanted to. While, I don't mean to rush out 2009, I can't help but look ahead to 2010. Looking around the barn- it is certainly something to look forward to!
August 17, 09
Settled in here in Franklin and doing lots of riding. The 09 show season seems to winding down, with just a few shows left this year. I'm already getting excited about 2010! The young horses are coming along so well. Stacey's two year olds by Bear, Wimpy's LIttle Step, and Smart Spook are starting to really show the depth of their talent. All should excel next year, in whichever direction they are taken.
The next KTRHA show is less than a week away, and should be a good show. The Young's will be taking Smart Lil Macolena and SR Melody. BJ will show her 2 year old, Son of a Bear, and Morning will take Major Wadhams, and Bobby will be riding his paint stallion, "Tex". Right now, all the horses seem to be riding very well, so it should be a good weekend.
Some may remember a horse Jac of Diamons that I rode last winter. She is a three year old by Like a Diamond out of Solano's Melody, (also the dam of SR Melody). Drew Collins is now riding her and took her to her first futurity in Harriman TN a couple weeks ago. She put in a nice clean run and tied to win the futurity. She is still owned by Stacey- although I'm not sure for how much longer!
Many of the horses will be going home after the show. It's always a little sad to see them go, but it's almost part of the season change for me. As the shows slow down, I'm sure the older horses are ready for a break, and it's fun to really focus on developing the younger ones through the winter. A changing of horses is just like the leaves turning and the days getting shorter to me.
Just came back from judging the VolRHA show in Harriman TN. That group always puts on a good show and was looking forward to judging one for them. I was honored to be asked. There were some new faces, and some very nice rides. One of the things I struggle with judging, is keeping the horse trainer in me quiet! It's very hard not to think, "Ohhh, if only that rider would....(fill in the blank), it would look so much better". Or it's hard not to stand there and want to get ahold of one that is misbehaving for the youth rider. While I have to put those thoughts aside and focus on evaluating what is going on that day and that moment, I don't totally dismiss them because I always learn something from them.
One little epiphany I've had lately is that fear of failure is not the same as hunger for success. While both can produce results, it is most certainly a different path for each. I, for one, am trying to make sure I'm reaching for success, and using the failures along the way as lessons,
I'll close with that food for thought. Until next time, happy riding!
July 12, 09
Changes have occured at Dowell Performance Horses. The business has moved to Franklin KY to Stacey Jones' J Bar E Ranch!! This is such a fabulous facility and I'm so excited to be here. It is a convenient location just off I-65 south of Bowling Green, KY. The barns are beautiful, safe, and everything is designed with the horse's well being AND efficiency in mind.
Just after/during the move, the ARHA World Show occured as well. It was a good show, with Jagged Heat, aka "Mouse" earning a World Champion Title in 3 yr old geldings for his new owner Beverly Flowers. Mouse left the show and went to his new home. I'm sure we will hear more great things about this gelding.
Sand In My Zipper was third in the Open Four and Over Stallions, and 3rd in the Amateur Stallions 3 and Over. He also earned a Reserve World Championship in Jr Ranch Riding. He returned home where owner Gerald Holcomb could enjoy him more.
Melody Bear earned a fifth place in the large, tough, JR Ranch Riding class. Thanks so much to Morning Reda for doing such a great job presenting her on a catch ride. Morning also earned Reserve World Championships with her yearling stallion by Wimpy's Little Step. A nice accomplishment for sure, but we all are anxious for him to get riding age! Morning also had top ten finishes with Major Wadhams in the reining sweepstakes and ranch riding sweepstakes. What a talented horse to be so competitive in both events. Major was on loan to Brianna DeCausemaker for the Youth Horsemanship 14-18, where they too had a top ten finish. Brianna did a wonderful job riding through a challenging horsemanship pattern on a horse she barely knew. Congratulations to all of them!
Becky Frost and her gelding Ima Ugly Stick made their presence known as they won the Amateur Reining, the Junior Reining and the Reining Sweepstakes. Talk about consistency. Congratulations to Becky on her very well deserved success in the ARHA pen and also at NRHA shows. Many people wish they could accomplish what she has done, but few will put the thought, sweat, and commitment into it that Becky does. A good friend, and truly an inspiration, I'm always so happy to see her do well.
Looking ahead, there are several projects on the horizon. The first Showing Your Ranch Horse DVD is due out, and orders are already coming in. This has been such an exciting project, and has sent me way out of my safety zone! I think it has good content, and hope it will be a useful tool to many people.
July 24th I will be in Edinburgh Indiana at the IRHA show. I'm really looking forward to this as that is a fun-loving group of people there that go all out to put on a good show. The next few shows are judging shows for me, then it's back to entering the show pen on a horse!
June 7. 09
May was a hectic month full of good things. We started with the May show in New Castle IN. Sand In My Zipper stood Grand Champion Stallion and won the Jr Ranch Riding Class! It was great to have Katie Hayes along, and she enjoyed her weekend winning the youth ranch reining, youth reining and horsemanship classes. Her horse, Blonde Dunit is always fun to watch- he just attacks his stops.
The next show was the VolRHA World Show Warm Up in Murfreesboro TN. This was a BIG show, and well run. Sand In My Zipper again stood Grand, under both of the judges, and went on to win a large, tough JR ranch riding class under both judges. "Tuffy", as he is known around the barn is really coming along, and I hope to add ranch reining and reining to his show days soon. Jagged Heat, aka "Mouse" went along and stood Grand Champion Gelding under one judge, and reserve under another. While I was not able to show him in any riding classes due to other obligations, he rode around the show grounds great. He was so good, he was purchased by Beverly Flowers of Munfordville, KY! We certainly wish her and her trainer Amanda Bell, the best of everything with this nice young horse. Because Amanda was committed to another horse for the ARHA World, Ernie will go on with his plans to show Mouse at the World show.
Jaynie Turner and FSF Whatzhot ventured out into the show pen again at this show too. They stood Grand Champion Amateur Mare under one judge and Reserve under the other. It was great to see them out there again!
The next stop is the ARHA World Show. I think we are prepared to make the best showing we can. Tuffy, Melody, Mouse and Yeller will be going.
One other project that has been in the works is a partnership with Phil DeCausemaker of Coolshot! Photography. We have started the "Showing Your Ranch Horse Series". This will be a set of DVD's that will individually cover Ranch Riding, Horsemanship, Showmanship, Ranch Reining and Conformation. They are not training dvds but showing tips. The first one cover's ranch riding and has two parts. The first part discusses what traits most judges are looking for in a good ranch riding horse, and the second part goes into how to effectively show your horse. How to stay out of the crowd and get seen better.
This has been an exciting project. It has certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone, as I'm really not comfortable in front of a camera. Fortunately, I am VERY comfortable talking about anything to do with a horse, and I really believe in the information on the dvd. I hope it will be well received- the response has been very postitve so far!