May Mare-of-the-Month - PA Precocious "Coco"

The girls have been speculating all week about the Mare of the Month for May and this time, I managed to keep it from them though I am not sure how Coco snuck by. Coco is dubbed the "Triple Threat" in our barn - as she has won in Saddle Seat, Gymkhanas, and Hunter Pleasure. Oh, yeah, and she jumps like a dream with perfect forms and great strides!

Besides being incredibly beautiful, Coco is one of the most athletic and versatile horses in the barn. Coco has flourished under Julia's love and guidance and this duo has competed successfully in several divisions. This pair has won a Gymkhana High Point in Open competition and consistantly wins in the Jumper classes. This mare is even one of our best swimmers and when Julez showed her Saddleseat, she lit up the ring.

Coco is by Hucklebey Berry and out of a BOH Bit O Bask daughter named Bit O Muffin. Bred by Performance Arabians and was owned by Ventura Farms, I'm glad she found her way to our hearts.

There is no question that Julia is her kid. Coco came to us with a life-long issue of bridling and yet, petite Julia has to climb on a fence to bridle her and she stands quietly. During lessons, they take my breath away. Even the kids stop to watch them trot around the ring.

Everytime I see "Coco-Pelli", I am so grateful to the Gonzales-Reichman family for making this mare available to us.

I also see that Coco loves her life and enjoys the different adventures we ask of her - trail riding, barrels, hunter pleasure, jumper courses, saddleseat, even bareback relay races, this mare loves her life and we love having her in the barn.

First Visit to Paramount Ranch Old West Town

It was a lovely Sunday morning. The trailer was empty and there were only four kids at the barn so we thought, let's go somewhere! Not quite hot enough for Malibu Creek, we decided to try Paramount Ranch to see the famous Old West town and explore new territory.

Paramount Ranch is gorgeous! It's nice because they allow dogs and the first trail presented us with a very decent water crossing.

The Old West Town, used in many old movies, is really interesting and in great shape - perfect for photo opportunities!

There is a huge lawn area for people and dogs (no equestrians allowed) and many people stopped us to ask about our horses.

There were also many logs for jumping - it was a nice surprise! I hiked to be the personal photographer and the girls took Dakota swimming in the watering hole after the ride.

What a very mellow, fun, great day and the perfect way to spend the morning after having 18 riders and horses in Pony Club on Saturday!

Our Girls Represent Their Schools in Equestrian Sports!

Ashley Lane, Hannah Kulik, and Julia Broome represented their schools in the first ever, USEF sanctioned Interscholastic Equestrian League tailored for Arabians and other Saddle/Pleasure types of breeds.

The new "Saddleseat/Western School of Greater Los Angeles" (SWSL, http://www.myiel.org/) offers the girls a wonderful opportunity to compete with other students as a team for their schools. Hannah and Ashley, both 7th graders, represented AE Wright in the Freshman Western Division and Julia showed Saddleseat in the Novice Division for her school, AC Stelle.

They were even featured in the newspaper though the facts were not exactly accurate. Still, enjoy the picture! :) http://mtnviewsnews.com/v03/htm/n16/p06.htm

Spring Break Camp Week!

We had an awesome time focusing on horses instead of homework! Spring Break Camp was a nice taste of what the summer has in store for us!

We enjoyed galloping through the fields of Ahmanson, until the bugs set in!

All day with the horses, pleanty of time for baths, grazing, lazily riding bare-bareback, braiding manes & tails...ahh, this is the life!

We went to our favorite Hidden Hills spot, the Spring Valley Arena and enjoyed nice jumps, better footing, shady benches, and a beautiful arena surrounded by trees.

The weather soared to the hundreds on a couple of days which was a little rough - just more baths and less hard work for the ponies, who actually seemed to mind less than we do - Arabians, horses of the desert.

On jumping day, we practiced strides and jumping bare-bareback. It was tons of fun!

Even six year old Marguerite thrilled us with a few laps of cantering without a saddle or pad.

We made beautiful spring crafts and it was sun to call the pizza guys from summer and order, "the usual" for the Friday party.

We ended the week with a trip to Malibu Creek for a swim with a record nine horses and 12 kids. It was a wet, wild, and crazy time.

April Rider of the Month - Emma Nairin!

There has been so much buzz in the barn since we've introduced the new "Rider of the Month" program. Whether it is the honor of being recognized for all of their hard work or the fact that get to sit "shotgun", the girls are all coveting for the title.

This month several kids have come to me with praise for this month's Rider! She depply cares for her horse - and other horses in the barn. Once her horse is taken care of, she keeps busy feeding all the other horses in the barn. She also showed up in inclement weather (with rather cute rainboots, I might add!) to help feed, change blankets and much stalls. All of this with a genuine enthusiasm and a smile on her face. She not only lights up the barn for me but for the other kids as well.

Last month she made a decision to pull her horse from her classes at a show because it was in her horse's best interest. She has also fallen at a horse show (or two) but gets right back on with a determination and a smile. She choose to skip the "easy" horses early in her riding career to challenge herself and has committed to Dessa through thick and thin. She even comes to take care of her when she can't be ridden, foregoing rides with her friends.

Of course I am talking about Emma Nairin, who not only fit into the barn right away but became an integral part of the Plum Tree family. Riders young and younger ask about her when she rarely misses a day - and I am even bummed when she is not there.

Emma daily displays her character of kindness, courage, responsibilty, love, and friendship. Girls, you were right to "nominate" Emma for Rider of the Month in April as she has certainly earned it! Emma, we love you!

April Mare of the Month - JV Sonnet+/ (aka Sonnet Bonnet)

When Lela came to our barn and wanted some ways to help, we asked her to body clip some of our favorite mares. Our beautiful mare, Sonnet has been hiding under her winter coat all season and when we returned to the barn after lessons to find her fully clipped, her presence and elegance took all of our breaths away. At 21 years young, she is still stunning.

Sonnet holds a special place in my heart. She was delivered to us two years ago on the same night I found my beloved mare Candy dead in her stall. That day was a difficult, dark time and all my energy was put into saving her orphaned filly. About 11 pm that I evening I received a call from the hauler that Sonnet was on her way. I fed the filly, drove to Hidden Hills, and put Sonnet in her bedded stall. Sonnet was beautiful but looked worried and I think we were both exhausted and drained that night. Still, we found comfort in each other and she became a light in my life that still shines in a special place in my heart.

Her relationship with Ashley has only strengthened my respect and love for her. Ashley had lost two of her horses and Sonnet quickly filled the bond. The two became inseparable and Ashley spent the entire summer riding her bareback in a halter and leadrope.

April is a significant month for Sonnet. Her birthday is April 10, 1988. April was the first month she came to lived with us. It is also the month she came home from a long stay at Alamo Pintado last year after a colic scare. April will always remind me of Sonnet Bonnet.

JV Sonnet+/ is by the great sire, Pure Polish Bask++ son, Barnaby. She is out of a gorgeous mare named JV Sonata, who is by MS Santana, an outstanding son of Bask++ in his own right, and out of Four Winds Lyric, a *Wiraz++ daughter out of a Crabbet bred mare.

Sonnet is a National Winner in both Western and Hunter Pleasure and has produced two amazing foals, including AK Canzonet+//, an incredible Multi-National Champion herself.

She is also the kindest soul. Best friends with Poe, and any babies in the barn. With her nurturing character, she has brought out those same qualities in Ashley. Not only is Ashley the first one to greet you in the barn, but Sonnet is the first horse to welcome you to the barn with rubs and kisses.

Sonnet is a irreplaceable part of our barns and our hearts. We are grateful for every moment with her. Much Love, Sonnet!