Back 9 Farms

Linda, Tim, LeeAnn, Carrie and myself are going to the North American Livestock Expo in Louisville, KY next month to watch Dandy in his first AQHA show. We are so excited!!! Jackie is going to rope off him. We will let you know how it goes.

News from the Farm

Nicki and Sally have been home from the trainers for about a month. We turned them out to let them think about their training. It is about time to start riding them. Sadie and Dixie are coming home today. They will take a break for a while and then go back to work.

Squiggy is in KY with Jackie, and Sally and Nicki will be going soon as prospects for the 2009 Ranch Horse Challenge.

George is in KY with Marne and doing great!! Hopefully he will be as good or better than his big brother "Jack". Jill is going to OKC in December. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Sugar Baby came home from Marne's and Christy is riding her. She did great at PPP for her 2nd show and Christy's 1st time running her (2nd time riding her).

Well, I guess that is about it for the barn. Have a fun Halloween and be careful!!

SHAME ON ME!! How could I forget the newest addition to the barn. Miss LeeAnn has a new pleasure horse. His name is Remi and he is a beautiful bay. I guess it is time for me and Koda to start barrels, because she is sooo gonna kick my butt next year!!

Congratultions Back 9!
Way to go!

Rachel sorry to hear you had your Halloween decorations stolen. That has happened to me before and it is hard to understand why people do things like that.
I got our pumpkins carved last night. We have three this year and only one is a typical pumpkin with the scary face. The other two show our true side. One is a horse running and the other is the face of a donkey. They turned out great! I only wish I could keep them because I really like the way the donkey turned out.
Happy Halloween everyone.

What's the deal!! It is awful quiet on here. I come here every day to "NOTHING". Come on - lets talk!!

One week and counting. We are leaving for the North American in 1 week. Then Dandy ropes next Wednesday. We are all so excited. I will keep you posted.

Back 9's Weekend Adventures

Justin, Linda, Lyssie, MacKenzie, Sara S. and Rachel C. all went to a 4-H Team Penning Clinic at PPP last Saturday. They had a blast and also learned something.

Justin took charge and Duke was very excited to run the cows. (I think he was just excited to run)

Linda was along for the ride on Skip. He is such a good boy. I think Linda and Skip like barrels more that cows.

Lyssie suprised us all with her determination and attention to the cows. Her and Little B were a team to be reckoned with. I think they have found their calling!!

Sara did fine but Lucy was not so cooperative. She thought those things with numbers around their necks (that would be the cows) were going to eat her. Sara was a trooper and rode her through it.

Rachel and her new horse Dusty were awesome. They were penning machines as mom watched with white knuckles. Saundra is not ready for Rachel to go fast, but Rachel and Dusty have different ideas. Go Rachel.

And last but certaintly not least. Our little "herd holder", Mackenzie and Diego the hit of the clinic. On her last run Mackenzie was standing in the middle of the pen with her hand up (as if to be saying "STAY") to the herd of cows. It was classic!!

All of the kids penned their cows and learned lots.

Kevin Hosea gave the clinic. He was very patient with the kids and did an awsome job explaining the finer points of team penning.

Until next weekend - by the way, that will be at PPP.

It HAS been really quiet in here!! Where is everyone?
The team penning clinic was really fun. The kids all did really well. I think that it is so good for everyone to go out there and try different things with their horses! It makes you a better rider and keeps your horse from getting burned out on whatever discipline you enjoy the most. Go out and trail ride your show horse! Enter a pleasure class on your barrel horse! Try a trail class with your pleasure horse! Take your trail hose to work some cows! I think it is so good to do something different. One thing I can't stand is a discipline snob that thinks their particular discipline is the only thing worth doing. I mean, there are so many things to do with horses, why not do lots of things?!? Of course you and your horse are going to be better at some things than at others, but why not have some fun!
And if you have a good, broke horse, then he will do whatever you ask of him at whatever speed you ask it! That is what an all-around horse is all about. We have some great examples of that at our barn. Look at Duke - he can place in a plasure class, and then kick butt in barrels! And even an old lesson horse can do it all - Rachel has done a great job showing Brandy this year and doing well in all kinds of classes and has walked away with at least a placing in almost every type fo class out there! And Kenzie's pony Diego has the potential to do well in everything from halter and pleasure to hunt seat and speed. So get out there and try something new with your horse!
On another note, I want to welcome Shane, Carla and Levi and their horses to the barn. We are excited to have all of them with us and look forward to lots of good times with them!!
4H is going to get rolling soon at the barn with practive for hippology starting up. Holler at us if you are in at least the 4th grade and would be interested in partcipating.
Everyone have a great week!!!!

Do we really even need to mention all of the typos in that last post? I sure do wish this thing had spell check!!!

once again....i missed the typos. Congrats to everyone on the clinic. I'm sorry I missed it. it sounds like fun was had by all- even the horses. On a different note, Emma's musical is this weekend- she has been practicing hard. I'll let you know how it goes.

Tell Emma to "Break a Leg". Isn't that what they say in show biz?

Video it and post it on utube. We would love to see her. I bet she is all grown up now. I guess it has be almost 3 years since I have seen her.

George is making his debut this weekend!!! Marne is taking him to Martin Friday night. He is such a good boy - hopfully he will be fast too!!

Jenny,
I can't picture Emma as a teenager. In my mind, she will always be 8 years old!!! Tell her good luck, I mean break a leg!! We will be in Louisville next week on Wednesday. It would be great if you could sneak down and spend the day with us!!! We will be watching Dandy in his first AQHA show. It would be a bit of a drive for you, but not as far as Jackson!!!

By the way, the final results for the Gibson County Saddle Club show season for our barn are as follows:

Pony Halter: 1st Mackenie Johnson
Western Halter: 1st Lyssie Simons, 3rd Rachel Gokel
PeeWee Walk Trot: 1st Rachel Gokel, 2nd Lyssie Simons, 3rd Peyton Judkins
Adult Walk Trot: 1st LeeAnn Johnson, 2nd Annette Reese
PeeWee Western Pleasure: 1st Rachel Gokel, 2nd Mallory Chute, 3rd Lyssie Simons
Adult Western Pleasure: 2nd LeeAnn Johnson, 3rd Annette Reese
PeeWee Western Horsemanship: 1st Rachel Gokel, 2nd Lyssie Simons, 3rd Mallory Chute
Adult Western Horsemanship: 1st LeeAnn Johnson, 2nd Annette Reese
PeeWee Hunt Seat: 1st Rachel Gokel, 2nd Linda Simons, 3rd Lyssie Simons
PeeWee English Equitation: 1st Rachel Gokel, 2nd Lyssie Simons, 3rd Linda Simons
PeeWee Poles: 1st Rachel Gokel, 2nd Peyton Judkins
Open Flags: 2nd Justin Reese
Youth Speed: 3rd Justin Reese
Open Speed: 1st Justin Reese, 3rd Annette Reese
Pony Barrels: 2nd Mackenzie Johnson
PeeWee Barrels: 1st Linda Simons, 2nd Peyton Judkins
Adult Barrels: 3rd Annette Reese
Open Barrels: 2nd Linda Simons

What a great job by everyone!!!!!

Jenny,
How did Emma's musical go?

Another great weekend at PPP. Christy and Little Linda came home with the money. Justin had 2 great runs, but (as ususal) was just out of the money. There's always next time!!

Miss Linda and I went to Martin Friday to watch George and Jill run. It was George's 1st time anywhere. He did great. I think we have another awsome T3. Jill clocked the fastest time, but Marne kicked the second barrel and over it went. That was a little disappointing, but the run was awsome. Jill is "BACK". She will be running at the Future Fortunes in Tunica this weekend. And off the OKC in December for her final futurity.

It has been an interesting 1st Futurity for all of us. We were blessed to have Jill. She didn't make any huge windfalls, but is as consistent as they come. She is going to make someone a "GREAT" horse. Not only does she have a sweet temperment, she can fly.

We are off to the North American tomorrow after school. I can't wait!!!!!

I'll let you know the results Thursday.

Miss LeeAnn, it's time for another thread

Hey guys!

Sounds like all is well at the barn. Emma did great in the musical. she got a standing o both nights. this just might turn out to be her "thing". she was a natural....and although I would like to take credit for her voice.....I really don't know where she gets it. Boo has been sick for about 3 weeks. I'm hoping for a little sanity now that the musical is over. Thanks for asking about Emma~

Congrats to Emma!!! I am so proud of her!!!

I will have to wait until I am at home to start a new thread. My computer at school does not support the editing software of this site, so I will have to log in at home.

I am so excited about going to the North American! I am sure we will have a blast!!! (I dunno - me, Annette, Linda and Carrie...sounds like trouble to me!!!) And Jenny, if you can break away for a few hours and drive down, call us!!!!

Tell me again when you guys are going. I know it is Louisville, but I forgot the date and time. Let me know specifics (hotel, show location, date, time, directions etc.) I hope it is not in the next day or two because Emma just started with a stomach virus (yeah, it's that time of year again). Hope to see you soon!