Let's take a walk down memory lane. My life with equines started in 1952. In 1952 I asked my Daddy if I could have a pony. He acted very sad and told me that he couldn't afford to buy a pony. He cleverly told me to ask my grandfather...as a joke.. .never suspecting that his life was going to be a series of pony-hell from then on. "Yes" my grandfather said, "I'll buy you a pony. My mother found Cricket and she was in foal. Pony in foal with hand…

Cones...those orange things that lay around the perimeter of most any arena. We think of them as arena cone-litter. People with horses have invented a lot of things to do with cones. We do cone-weaving, cone-circles, cone-sidepassing. Some horses even have perfected cone-squishing and don't forget cone-eating! In the versatility challenges, cones assume many a different role. Cones become cone-portant because they mark transition spots or patterns. In the last Pine Dell Natural Versatility Challenge, we had cones to mark the transition from walk to trot/center and another cone to…

Pine Dell Farm 2010 Versatility Challenges Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion awards in the foreground donated by Pat Harris of No-Frills Embroidery left to right:  Karen Moulins, Pine Dell Farm owner and Challenge committee; Susan Engle, judge and Challenge committee; Belle;  Roger Emile, Grand Champion; Hope Robinson, challenge committe;  Jewel;  Patty Miller, Reserve Grand Champion I had a grand idea in 2009 and that was to have Versatility Challenges at Pine Dell Farm.  This is our second year and we added a High Point Championand Reserve Champion to the mix.…