JR’s Journal – Wil E Coyote!

   September 18,  2004 JR and I are going to participate in our first Level 3 clinic with premier PNH 5 Star Instructor, Dave Ellis. I decided to practice a few things that Dave had us do last year. I was riding the immortal Velvet in that clinic.Here's what we had to do. In the 40 acre hay field, we had to do drop to a walk lead changes around the perimeter of the field. This is a flat field. When you are in the middle of this tract of…

Nova’s Notebook – Birth Event 2004!

Nova was born in 2004.  I was attached to her legs when she came out.  I've been attached to her ever since in many ways! I slept in the barn for two weeks.  I slept in the tack room hiding from Sage.  I had a camera and the TV was at my bed in the tack room.  It was cold at night. That's when God whispered to me these words, "electric blanket."  Oh how wonderful that was!  I was teaching a class at work.  I would come in shined up…

Nova’s Notebook – Daddy!

I didn't own Nova's sire then.  I own part of him now (I won't tell you which part!).  Nova was one of the tests we used to determine that he might just be a homozygous champagne stallion.  Since 2004,  scientists invented DNA tests to prove the same thing. Let me tell you about champagne horses!  They have a metallic glint in their hair. They shine in the sun and even in moonlight. Their eyes are amazing.  Nova and JJ have green gold eyes.  The best part about champagne horses is that their…

Nova’s Notebook- “Bossa Nova” Trailer Loading

We have a L1 Beginning clinic this weekend and it's 11 month old Isabel's turn to start her first step in the journey to saddle horse.  Jenny loaded her twice when she was 4 months old and then she came home soaking wet with fear.  She did get to ride with Sage, whom she had just met. So, today my husband and I took Sage, Isabel and Bossy Nova out to the trailer.  I fed Sage in the trailer and put another pan for Isabel.  It took her about 5…

Nova’s Notebook – Bossy Nova!

Little Miss Nova is the ruler of all she sees, except her mom.  Nova doesn't try to boss around her mom...but she does everyone else. Her favorite playmates are the two year old black geldings.  She doesn't much care for 9 month Isabell, because Isabel doesn't play. Last night, the two geldings and Nova got out into our back pasture which is being rented by the turf farmer.  As the turf guy drove through the gate, he was assured by my husband that the horses were under control...and there went Salty,…

JR’s Journal – Fox Trotter Show Starring Velvet and JR!

 If you have any desire to win a trail class, always practice the gate before the horse show starts. Yep, that’s one of the answers to life. Everything else about life I learned in Kindergarten.I had qualms about taking JR to his first horse show. I felt like crying. That's the signal to stop whatever it is that is making me stressed out. I decided not to go. Whew, that felt better. Jenny asked me if I was going to take Velvet. I said “NO. I know what Velvet can…