Back 9 Farms

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!! Great Job everyone. I am so proud of all you guys.

I must correct Miss LeeAnn on one thing though because I am most proud of Dottie. Christy got 2nd in Adult Poles. This was her first time running Dottie in Poles and she ran a 20!!! but knocked down a pole. And she still got 2nd. Way to go Dottie! oh and you to Christy.

oops - you are so right!!! I couldn't believe that she knocked down a pole which added 5 seconds but still got 2nd! I guess I saw the +5 and wrote down 5th! I probably made more mistakes in those 50 something places I wrote down!!!

I have not posted in sooo long and since it is 10 to 5 in the morning and I have not slept all night I might as well make a post! I think our crew just keeps getting better. I am very proud of everyone, especially the parents, I know the nerves you get when you child enters that ring, there is nothing you can do but watch and worry. I do! But they were prepared well and did a fab job!

On to other news, we have 5 babies and 2 are overdue, the others 4 will arrive as summer camp begins or just before. We have lots of palaminos this year and only one sorrel! They are fun to watch and are curious about these two footed folks who want to rub on them. So if you have not visited lately, stop by with a scratch for the babies!

Great job everyone! I am not surprised to see that everyone keeps getting better and better...even Dottie! Glad that I got to see some of you for our very short visit, but very sad that I missed so many. Hopefully, life will slow down a bit and we can make another visit. Did Molly go to Gibson County? If so, how did she do?

I am glad to here that everyone is doing very will at the barn. I think about you guys all the time. Just wanted to let everyone know that I am selling buck. So if you hear of anyone that wants a good horse for barrel and pole let them know. I just don't have the time to ride anymore. I am also selling my saddle and all of his stuff with him. I don't really want to selling him by himself without selling the saddle and his things. I am wanting $1500.00 for all. You can contact me at 731-613-3152. Thanks. You guys have a great season and summer.

Martha Josey's Ranch is as awe inspiring and awesome as I thought it would be. We didn't bring home any prizes, but Christy and I had a great time. Dottie and Jill had trouble with the ground and came home sore. We learned a lesson for next year.

If you ever have the opportunity to go to Josey's, you need to go. It is inspirational to say the least.

I just talked to Rita and the NBHA show for this weekend is cancelled. There is a 4-H show at PPP Saturday and an open show afterwards. I think that is where we are going.

Mellisa, Is buck your buckskin gelding?

Well, I finally have a baby announcement!! Bell foaled last night around 11pm. She had a beautiful buckskin and white spotted colt. I was hoping for a little filly, but they're both doing fine so I really don't care that it ended up being a colt. I'll probably be turning them out in the round pen for the next several days, so if you happen to be driving by, slow down and look...he's soooo pretty!

Congrats, gramdma!!! I know you are so excited! sounds like a great summer project!!!

BTW, Sam, Buck is Melissa's buckskin that she ran season before last.

OK - we finally have some more results from shows!!(they have been few and far between thanks to Mother Nature and all her rain!!!)

Annette, Kenzie and I went to Chesterfield Friday night and met Carla and Shane there and we all had a great night. It is a late show, but the folks there are super nice and the competition makes you bring your A game! But a ribbon won there is definitely worth the trouble!!!
Quarter Halter - Carla 2nd, Shane 4th
Pony Class - Kenzie 2nd
Jr Walk-Trot (horse 4 years and under) - Annettte 2nd, Shane 3rd
Open Walk Trot - LeeAnn 2nd, Shane 3rd, Annette 4th
Children Walk Trot - Kenzie 5th
Adult Western Pleasure - Annette 3rd, LeeAnn 4th
Hunt Seat - Shane 4th (I think!)
Levi also placed in some gaited classes on a horse he is riding for someone else - but I was very bad and paid not a lick of attention to those results - sorry, Levi!!!

Then Saturday Night was Gibson County
Pony Halter - Kenzie 1st, Chloe Lott 3rd
PeeWee Halter - Lyssie Simons 1st, Taylor Singleton 3rd, Linda Simons 4th
Youth Halter - Alexis 1st
Adult Halter - Andrea Gibson 1st, LeeAnn 3rd
Gaited Halter - Hannah Miller 5th
PeeWee Hunt Seat - Lyssie 2nd, Linda 3rd, Peyton Judkins 5th
PW English Equitation - Lyssie 2nd, Peyton 3rd, Linda 5th
PW Walk Trot - Taylor 1st, Linda 2nd, Lyssie 3rd
PW Western Pleasure - Lyssie 1st, Linda 2nd, Taylor 3rd
PW Western Horsemanship - Peyton 2nd, Taylor 3rd, Lyssie 5th
Youth Hunt Seat - Alexis - 2nd
Youth Eng Eq - Alexis 1st
Youth Walk Trot - Meghan Tauzier 1st, Alexis 3rd
Youth Western Pleasure - Alexis 1st, Laura Miller 4th
Youth Western Horsemanship - Meghan 1st, Alexis 2nd, Rachel Carrington 5th
Adult Hunt Seat - LeeAnn 1st
Adult Eng Eq - LeeAnn 2nd
Adult Walk Trot - LeeAnn 1st, Annette 3rd, Andrea 4th, Rhonda Livingston 5th
Adult Western Pleasure - 1st Annette, 2nd LeeAnn, 3rd Andrea, 4th Rhonda
Adult Western Horsemanship - 1st LeeAnn, 2nd Annette, 3rd Andrea, 5th Rhonda
PW Poles - Linda 2nd, Lyssie 5th
Youth Poles - Justin 3rd
PW Flags - Linda 2nd, Lyssie 4th
Youth Flags - Marley Oliver 2nd, Justin Reese 5th
Youth Speed - Sara Saddler 5th
Pony Barrels - Taylor Singleton 2nd, Kenzie 5th
PeeWee Barrels - Taylor 4th
Youth Barrels 2nd Rachel, 4th Sara

I think htat is 60 ribbons by my count!! And we were short a person since Christy was at a family reunion in Missouri!

On another note - we did have an issue during speed. Justin was riding Duke and flying down the home stretch when Duke stumbled, fell wih Justin underneath him, which resulted in a clean break to Justin's arm about an inch above his wrist. He had surgery today and is home resting now - but that certainly puts a damper on his summer!! (Mostly becuase he will have to adjust how he plays those video games with only one hand!!LOL) We are certainly thanking our lucky stars that he was not injured even more and that Duke is OK. It goes to show how a top notch rider and a wonderful horse can still have a rough go of it and get hurt!

We have a weekend off on this coming one since it is the 5th Saturday but will be right back to it the 1st weekend of June. Horsecamp also gets rolling in a week! I will be hopping on a jet to France on Tuesday and will be gone 9 days, so everyone have a great week!!!

WOW!!! Way to go Back 9. Justin is fine and Miss LeeAnn is right - He is very lucky!!!

This not only puts a damper on his gaming, it also knocks him out of a few barrel races. We are going to Mississippi this weekend for the June Jam Barrel Race. I guess Christy will have to take up the slack and ride Dottie and Jill. I am sure that will not hurt her feelings!!!!!!!!! LOL

We had a great time in MS and came home with a little money. (That always makes things better). Marne was 3rd in the 2D on Saturday and 5th in the Average on Jill. Christy was 3rd in the 3D Saturday on Jill and also won money on George!! This was her first time ever riding him. He is a blast to ride.

But I am very angry with him right now. On the ride home from Marne's last night, he tantalized Dottie so much that she got her back leg over the partition. She is doing ok now, but the NBHA State show is this weekend and I don't know if she will be ready for that. We will see. George is in the doghouse right now. He better run fast this weekend to redeem himself!!

I almost forgot. We went to the District 4-H show last weekend. Dottie was awsome!!! She daylighted the field by a second in the barrels. Christy brought home a beautiful trophy. She also ran a 23 (with Christy holding her back) in poles to win another trophy for 3rd. And last but not least - Zeva brought her to another 3rd place finish in Western Pleasure. Christy had a great weekend and brought home 3 trophys. Justin wasn't feeling up to riding, but is going to ride Jill in the Ranch Riding at the State Show.

Dottie is almost back. She ended up 3rd in the Finals of the youth 1D and 2nd in the Open 1D with her slowest time of the weekend. She was a trooper, but started feeling the effects of the incident by Sunday (Finals Day). Christy did awsome on all the horses she rode. She would have won the 1D saddle on Jill but kicked the 2nd barrel over coming out of it. The beat the rest of the field by 2 tenths!!!!!!!!! It was an awsome run. And she even quit pushing after she knocked the barrel. Jill is certaintly coming into her own. She has grow up and is filling out. They are going to be hard to beat the rest of the summer.

OK why is no body blogging but me????????? Hello out there. Is anybody home?????

Hello, Annette, I'm here in Russellville, AR, looking for a little bit of home. Ready to come home later today too. I know it's probably a flurry of activity at the barn with summer camp going on. Hot too! Looking forward to Gibson County next weekend. We haven't heard from LeeAnn on here but I know she's been busy.

She has been busy as a bee with the summer campers. Linda too. It has been hot!!!!!!!! and that takes alot out of a person. They are both tired at the end of the day. But they keep going strong.

Be careful coming home and see everyone at GCSC next weekend. Don't forget, the show will start at 4.

I thought I would give everyone a shout out as I have not written in a while. I agree with Annette though - everyone is so quiet. How are Rachel and I suppose to keep up with everything when you guys don't write? We do miss riding and being at the barn and shows. Hopefully we will be back soon.

I want to let those of you who warned me that donkey's have attitudes are right! I surprised Rachel last night by bringing her out to see Rex. I guess Rex was mad at us for not visiting and not bringing treats when we finally did because gave both of us reminders. First Rex stomped on my bad foot and would not get off no matter how much I pulled. I finally had to pick his foot up to get mine out from under his hoof. Of course it had to be the foot with the stress fracture so I am back to limping again. If that was not enough he then turned on Rachel. She was petting his nose and ears the way we always do and he decided to bite her. Rachel started screaming Rex had her hand and I could not get him to let loose. I finally grabbed his lips and front teeth and pried then apart to get her hand out. The indents from his teeth were so deep. We iced it and then I was able to take a look at it once we got home. Rachel cannot move her finger at all and it hurts down into her hand. Rex had made dents in the joint where the finger joins her hand as well as the next joint up and everywhere in between. I put a splint on it which she says helps but she says the pain is not getting better. The doctor said that was all we could do for it unless she has damage into her hand. We are going to watch it for the weekend and see if additional treatment is needed on Monday.

OK OK OK!! Here I am!!! busy is not even the word for what I have been!!! And once summer camp is over and I help with the afternoon feedings, I am WHOOPED!!! You guys know how much I hate the heat! I might have to take up whining about it...ok probably not, but it really is hot!!

Summer camp is going very well. We have had great kids so far. And I have had some super volunteers - a big shout out to Marley Oliver, Alexis Montgomery, Sydney Taylor and Lauren Reames. Laura Miller also helped the 1st week. And even Keesha Whitehead has shown up a couple of times with Chrissy. So that has been a big help during those crazy times when we are trying to saddle up 15 - 20 horses!! We have one more week of regular horse camp and then it is time for advanced camp. It is crazy to think that June is already 2/3 over!!!

I didn't post the results of the Henry show a couple of weeks ago, so here they go:
Non-gaited halter- LeeAnn 2nd
Showmanship - LeeAnn 3rd
Buckaroo pleasure - Mackenzie 2nd, Taylor Singleton 3rd
Adult western pleasure - LeeAnn 4th
Open western pleasure - LeeAnn 4th
Western horsemanship - Marley 2nd
Adult Walk-trot - LeeAnn 5th
English Pleasure - Alison 4th
English equitation - Alsion 4th
PeeWee Poles - Mackenzie 5th
Open Poles - Marley 5th
PeeWee barrels - Taylor 3rd, Mackenzie 4th
Youth Barrels - Marely 3rd
Open Barrels - Taylor 3rd, Marley 4th
Open Flag race - Marley 3rd, Alison 4th, Mackenzie 5th

Last night Annette, Kenzie and I went to Chesterfield again. It is a fun show for us. We get to see Shane and Carla and play and not worry about anyone but ourselves!! Joy and Rachel also came to give their support and are a big help with Kenzie while I am in the ring - so thanks guys!! I know that Shane placed several times, but I did write anything down, so I don't have a clue what placings he had!
Pony class - Kenzie 2nd
Open walk-trot - LeeAnn 3rd
Jr walk-trot (horse 4 & under) Annette 2nd
Children's walk-trot - Kenzie 4th
Adult Western pleasure - Annette 5th
PeeWee Barrels - Kenzie 3rd

This is really a tough show! The competition is stiff in every class and the arena is really tough. Last night we had to battle children playing right by the fence bouncing on poles and ramming toy trucks into the fence, which resulted in Remi bolting half-way across the arena during the walk-trot class! Zeva handled it like a pro and never missed a beat! Annette was really pleased with Zeva's performance in the walk-trot class. We are not sure why she didn't place, but that just goes to show that it is not about the ribbon but about challenging yourself to do the best you can!! Annette was not as pleased with the western plesure class, but came out with a ribbon anyway. I was pretty pleased with Remi during that class...except that he felt that he had to take a potty break during it and came to a dead stop from a lope to poop!! So that DQ'ed us, but then again, I can't be too mad - I can't run and poop at the same time!!!LOL

We will be at Oakfield tonight, so I will post results from that one tomorrow. Think good thoughts and hopefully we will come home with a passle of ribbons!!!