Our Girls at the AHASFV Amateur Show

Taking the girls to Youth Nationals for the Youth Judging competition was a wonderful experience and one of the highlights of the year. The girls represented Region 2 beautifully and earned Top Ten in the Judging. They also decided they wanted to step up their showing and bring horses to Youth Nationals next year.

The girls have been working hard with trainer and friend, Jim Lowe on achieving these goals. To gain show-ring experience, the girls have started showing Class A and the AHASFV Amateur provided the perfect opportunity to support our Club and gain more show hours.

The girls arrived in their pajamas, excited for the adventure to come. Here are Hannah, Julia, and Ashley greeting their horses on the chilly morning of the first day of showing.

We were lucky enough to borrow show clothes and show horses and so far, showing Class A has been a great experience, a ton of fun, and has provided the kids with more goals and focus. The ride has been incredible so far and we are so grateful for Jim and everyone who is helping the girls reach their dreams.

Showing at the AHASFV Show was especially special, being surrounded by so many friends and so close to home. Region 2 Director, Jeff Reichman was on hand to help behind the scenes, friend, Courtney handed us our ribbons, and our Judging Coach Mark Stinson was available to help with tack & outfit changes and also sat with the girls during classes for the some Judging practice.

It's fun for Jim's groom Junior to see us in the show-ring since he has joined us on trail rides!
We are also lucky enough to own PA Precocious, aka Coco. Julia and this great mare have won gymkhanas and jumping in Open competition and her quality and versatility have also made her shine in the show-ring.

We are hoping to expand her repertoire with Show Hack and Sidesaddle.

This show also provided a unique opportunity to honor another one of our great mares, Gracie (aka Khlassy Lass). With Gracie's 25th year in celebration and her breeder, Kit Hall as the judge of the show, we thought it would be really special to reunite them for a picture and since Gracie is one of our best flag horses, it was the perfect opportunity.

Hannah rode Gracie and proudly carried the American flag. Ashley rode her mare, Sonnet, another great flag horse, and it was one of our proudest, touching, and most memorable moments of the show. Here's what was announced...

Please join us in welcoming the AHASFV Youth Group President & Vice President. Both of these girls represented Region 2 in the Youth Judging Team this year and received Top Ten and Ashley earned Reserve Champion in the Hippology. This was the first year of competition. Congratulations to Hannah Kulik & Ashley Lane on these accomplishments.

These AHASFV Youth would like to take this opportunity to celebrate one of their beloved mares, Khlassy Lass+, aka "Gracie". This beautiful 25 year old multi-champion mare is proudly carrying the American flag this evening. Gracie is sired by the great First Class and out of a Real McCoy mare. She was bred by the honorable Kit Hall, who is the judge of this show.

The girls would love a photograph of breeder Kit Hall with their mare Gracie. Thank you, Kit Hall for breeding such an amazing mare that has given us countless hours of happiness.

The Youth would also like to thank all of the exhibitors of this show and Region 2 for their support throughout the year. You have all helped to make the dreams of the AHASFV and Region 2 Youth come true. Thank you, all!

Overall the girls had a wonderful time and are looking forward to the next big horse show!

Team Penning in Hidden Hills!

From the show ring to the cattle arena, our horses do it all! Our amazing youth decided to try something else new; Team Penning!

Ashley rode Aristocrat mare, Crimson, who spent most of her life as broodmare but has excelled in everything from jumping to dressage and has even won several gymkhanas at open competitions.

Julia rode her mare versatile, athletic mare, Coco, who now adds Team Penning to her illustrious list of disciplines!

Hannah rode her mare Sonata that she has exclusively trained to a variety of disciplines, to see if she could add team penning to the list.

Brooke rode our Half-Arabian jumper, Pardons Lil Penny who I think may have actually lived with cows at some point of her life.

The horses and kids both took to it like fish to water and all the adults were asking to be teamed up with them!

It was incredible to watch our mares maneuver through the cattle even though none of them had even seen them before!

Everyone did fantastic but Crimson was the super star! At age 21, she was a natural! She even tried to bite a cow that would not move. The cattlemen loved her!

The girls earned 3rd place and more importantly, the respect of the real cowboys!

It was some of the most fun we have had all year! Can't wait for May 2010!!

November Mare of the Month - Corporate Serenade!

Two long years ago, I lost my beloved mare, Candy to colic and was left behind a beautiful, premature filly to care for. Though one of the hardest times in my life, so many amazing things came from that tradegy; friendships strengthened, the children grew stronger, and faith was restored.

One of those was the coincidence that Jim's mare, Sera lost a foal within hours of my mare's death. That divine intervention saved my filly and I will never forget the love shared with the Lowe family during that time.

Jules & Callaia

Recently, I heard that Sera was going to be for sale and I felt the need to save her and keep her with us. It was a hard time to take on another horse but an even harder time to let go of what I love and believe in and so, Sera came home to us.

She was reunited with the filly she saved, Callaia and also taken back to the only place she feels is home. It was a wonderful reunion for all of the horses.

This month, I would like to honor, Sera and reflect on all the miracles and blessings in our lives.

November Rider of the Month - Payton Koch

November's Rider of the Month is Payton Koch. Payton is an absolute joy to have around the barn. He is a tremendous help and role model for the younger kids and the little ones in the barn look up to him. Payton is honest, loyal, and really funny. He makes me laugh every time he is in the barn. He also rides his bike barefoot!

Payton began his riding career only a few shorts months ago on May 3rd. He also left for Canada for the entire summer but in his 3-4 short months riding, he has successfully shown in hunter pleasure, Saddleseat equitation, as well as learned to jump!
He has even experienced a few spills but has not let that discourage him, in fact, Payton has such an incredibly grounded approach to riding that I am sure he will have many years of success. He has also committed to riding without having his own horse. Payton is extremely flexible and will ride what ever horse is available without complaint.

Congratulations, Payton, I love having you in our barn!