Sunday Funday

Our horses celebrating the sunshine & grass
Sunday started off another wet day which meant there was lots of work to be done. As the day wore on, it brightened up and the sun came out.

Horses and kids running up the hill

The streets of Hidden Hills were filled with horses as everyone was taking advantage of the nice weather before the next storm rolls in.

Happy, grazing ponies
After feeding, repairing fences, and mucking we took some horses out to the Back 40 to graze.

Jordan & Callaia
They all loved it and ran around grazing, bucking, and rolling! Kids and horses ran up the hills and enjoyed their freedom in this huge space. It was a beautiful and glorious day!

Callaia & the girls
We took the stall horses on a ride and then headed to Buck Light and Callaia's barn to play with those ponies who were also enjoy a sunny day of turnout and simulated grazing.

Emma was able to meet Callaia and I think she also fell in love with Boo.
The boys
The boys ran around with Dakota and we all had a wonderful time. Now if we could only find time to clean out the car!

Rainy Day, don't go away!

We are appreciative of the much needed rain here in sunny southern California however it certainly interferes with the riding schedule.

Grace & Jordan w/New Rosie
Not that the horses mind, we have had several lessons and trail rides where we were caught in the rain (even saw a rainbow once!) but I worry about the little riders in the inclement weather.

Bless the mulch!

Some kids just can't get enough of the barn! Jordan and Grace were up early on Saturday and even though there was no Pony Club, they were up for going to the barn to help with the chores.

New Rosie, old blanket
The girls shoveled mulch, helped muck the stalls, moved shavings around, and street-rode and hand-walked the horses locked in stalls. They were also a huge help is blanket checking and replacing. There is always something to be done at the Plum Tree!

Callaia needs a bath.

In the afternoon we met at the Plum Tree again and then headed over to Callaia and Buck Light's barn to tuck those guys in.

Callaia, easy on your legs!
It was a nice day and we are thankful for the green grass that is growing on the "back 40".

Jordan & Grace w/BLight & AKing
Thanks so much for the help, girls!!

xoxo for Boo & Callaia

In Loving Memory - Cameo

Cameo was a hot, little 25 year old Barbary+++ daughter that blessed our barn for much of last year. Cameo was a Champion English Pleasure horses in her day. She was incredibly sweet, kind and loved Julia. They became best friends and Cameo gave Julia confidence and taught her how to really ride.

We will always remember the great memories we shared and I have visions of Julia riding around on her fuzzy blue bareback pad, galloping over the hills. They shared a unique bond and loved each other until the end. I am grateful they were able to say goodbye to each other.

It is an obvious choice that we take this time to honor her life and name Cameo as our Mare-of-the-Month for January. In our sorrow, we will cherish our memories with her and find comfort in the love of friends, familes, and our other horses.

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"Don't cry because it's over,

Smile because it happened."

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Martin Luther King Day Holiday Camp

This entry should really be called - "Lela come back!" There were 16 kids, almost every horse in the barn was out and some boys even came to visit the camp. The boys were very well behaved but made most of the girls crazy.

The day was a LOT of fun and it was great that every horse was worked, schooled, and played with but it seemed like a controlled chaos! And not always controlled. :) At one point we had 16 horses in the arena.

It was more tolerable because of all the adults who came to hang out. Safety in numbers. The entire Kulik family was there, as was Geffen's Saba, Ron & Ashley even made appearances, Colleen Shapiro stopped by (ah, adult conversation!), and Lilian was the pillar at the end of the day.

It took all of us to get all of the horses home and we even had to round up a few neighborhood kids! Here are some pictures from our amazing day! It was great having Ashley back in the saddle. :)

(P.S.) Lela come back!

Visting Callaia & the boys!

It seemed like this day was never ending but the girls were fired up to go visit and feed the horses.

The kids in this barn can NEVER get enough barn time!

We chased Callaia, Buck Light, Allion King, and Boo around the arena. Dish helped too!

Afterwards Hannah and I fed while Julia walked Callaia arond the arena. Jordan's lessons with her have really improved her manners.

Now I just want to go home for a long hot shower! Pony Club, Lemonade Stand, and all this. I am exhausted!

Selling lemonade for the Region 2 Youth Judging Team

Members of AHASFV Youth Group planned a lemonade and bake sale to help raise funds for the Region 2 Youth Judging Team. R2 would like to send 10 kids to Youth Nationals in Albuquerque this July.

It was an intertesting day - business was a little slow but we still managed to raise $100 for the R2 Team. Thank you to all the kids that helped make the day a huge success!

Another Great Day In Ahmanson

Brooke, Jordan, Hannah, and I joined the horses and Dish for another great trail ride in the beautiful Ahmanson Ranch. Jordan rode Snapper, Hannah was on Jade, Brooke rode Lola, and I was on Poet. Dakota ran along side and remained close to us all.

Brooke and Jordan had a match race with a photo finish to the end. Both mares enjoyed the gallop and had fun running down the trails.

We stopped to photograph a family reunion and Dakota got in their picture, front and center. The day was beautiful, the weather warm and perfect and the wind died down long enough for us to the enjoy that magnificent location right in our own backyard - we are so lucky!

Angel goes to her new home...

It is no secret that Hannah claimed Angel as her own as soon as she started riding with us two years ago. Even though she has her own pony, she continued to ride Angel and has had many adventures with her - camping, beach trips, Ahmanson rides, and who could forget those crazy Trail Ride Tuesdays last year.

It is also evident that Angel loves Hannah just as much and I am thrilled the Kulik family has taken her to their new barn. I know they will have many happy years together with lots of fun memories. Congratulations, Hannah & Angel!

Windy Day Pony Club

It was such a windy day, the girls wanted to stay at the Plum Tree and ride there. Of course to add to their excitement they wanted to create a cross-country course.

We used logs delivered with the mulch and anything else we could find to make to fences. Everyone had a great time except the little kids who got bored watching the big girls jump. It was a fun day and ended with an AHAFSV Youth (http://www.ahasfv.org/) meeting that was a huge success!

Welcome Royal Rouge to Our Barn!

We were thrilled when our friend, Dorann La Perch told us about Royal Rouge. He is a beautiful golden chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail! Julia said he is the smoothest horse she has ever ridden.

He love to be out in front on the trails and he seemed happy to be at the Plum Tree from day one. Royal went around to the horses and introduced himself polietly and he always loves to be around us, the people. We are so excited to create many happy memories with him!
Jordan Leads Royal down the trail.

Region 2 Youth Judging Team visits Cal Poly!

Our carloads of kids headed out to Pomona to visit the horses at Cal Poly University and enjoyed a tough training session with trainer Mark Stinson.

It was tough to be put on the spot and even our loudest girls were quiet and timid in the beginning. We all learned so much, even the grown-ups and their horses were all so beautiful.

The day provided some incredible information and training opportunities. Mark gave a great lecture and it was wonderful to apply our classroom lessons on real horses. This was invaluable and our best trianing session yet.

Some of the girls (actually most of the girls) now want to attend Cal Poly as students.

2009, Here we come!

We welcomed the New Year with a trail ride to Ahmanson. It was a beautiful day; perfect weather and the horses were happy to get out and stretch their legs after so much rain.

We cantered past the farm house, walked leisurely down the valley and enjoyed cantering to the Oak Tree Trail where we galloped up the hill. It was so much fun. Dakota loved it and did a great job keeping up with us.

I can't imagine a better way to welcome 2009. Ashley, Julez, and Hannah, it was the perfect day!