We are currently getting ready for the first horse show of the year at Stoneybrook in Newfield. With 4 horses and 6 riders to enter, we should have a busy day!!

On May 2, there is a show to benefit the Cornell University Western Equestrian Team for 2011, at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds.

There are english,  western and game classes and two Open Pleasure Stakes classes, something for everyone and every level.  If you’d like more information, just drop me a line or a phone call!

What else is new here? A new lesson horse should be arriving at the end of the week, so more information to follow on him if it comes through. I’m still looking for one more nice western lesson horse to accommodate the Cornell Team next year. Even though we have plenty, Dusty and Otter are getting up there in age so I need to find some younger horses to step in.

The outdoor pen is ready to ride in, the trails are ready and dry, so spring has sprung!

I’ve got 3 lesson horses here for the month, so I’m busy, and my knee is still recuperating, but soon everything will be back to “normal”, whatever  normal may be!!!

Welcome to Spring in NY, get out there and ride!!!

Finally, here is a nice pony for sale:

Just in time for show season!
Prince is a good all-around small horse/large pony who can jump, has done hunter pace and can be careful enough to do walk-trot with my 5 year old. He always places in the ribbons and has won many shows with my 10 year old.
http://www.youtube.com/user/lodiqh#p/u/9/QyKDqwZL96U
He won reserve champion in the walk trot division with my 5 year old last year in her first show. http://www.youtube.com/user/lodiqh#p/u/14/91envyA8Rps
He can do courses and has been known to jump 2-3′ courses, but will rush to the jump and will need a more experienced rider for this. He also trail rides and loves to be outside. He was worked regularly all winter long and is ready to show. He will be perfect for a 4h pony or to do 4h or similar shows. He is a great first horse. He is currently barefoot and is a very easy keeper.
Serious inquiries please. Please email for more information.

GAB First Attraction at Lake Placid

I spent some time looking through some “old pix” and found a few of good old “Elliott” who took me to the AQHA Congress twice….he taught me alot and in part put me where I am today.

And here is a newer picture. This is “Earresistible” aka Jazzy Mule. She’s a 4 year old pony mule. Jaimee is going to be taking her to her first mule show in June when we attend the Ohio Open Mule and Donkey Classic show.  It’s a new show, open to mules and horses. We are taking Jazzy, Sissy, Buster and Gracie. Ed and Brian are accompanying Jaimee and I on this “mini vacation”.  Should be a good time….Jazzy is for sale and is going to make someone a nice kid’s mule. She has about 60 rides on her and is also started over fences. She’s a mule who loves to please and the more attention she gets, the happier she is…..

Jaimee’s show string has been working hard this winter to be ready. Grace Under Fire, Zippos Fulfilment, and the newest addition, Jazzy the mule are just about ready to go.

We’ve been working hard this winter as well with lesson giving for those hardy souls that have stuck it out with us. Many of them are ready to show as well.

Sissy, my mule, should be ready to show in driving classes as well as halter this year. I had my knee replaced in February, so that slowed my down quite a bit, but things are finally starting to come together.

We have set the dates for Camp, the last two weeks of July are slated to the two weeks of fun to introduce new riders and build the skills of more experienced riders, as well as a time for fun and friendship..

So, contact me for more info. about horse training, lessons and more. We can help you meet your goals, whether trail riding or showing.

This year’s “show team”:

Jaimee Roundy and Grace Under Fire, Zippos Fulfilment and Earresistible.

Tina Turk and Arco Chrome Molly and Zippos Fulfilment

Kim Williams and Makin’ Instructions

Whitney Denison and Prince Caspian

Macy Covert and Junior Mint

Mackenzie Covert and Junior Mint and Cody

Ralph Schroeder and Rain or Morgan

Louise Angers Schroeder and Reno or Dusty

Jenna Gooch and Cruiser

Jada Gooch and Harley

Others to be announced!

Sissy, Jazz and Molly help celebrate the New Year!

Well, 2009 is almost over! Was it a good year for you? Looking forward to 2010 and the new experiences, challenges, opportunities it may bring?  

I am really looking forward to the end of a pretty good year and with the thought that 2010 will be a great year! Southwind is growing, business is going well and everybody is having fun! 

Ears to all of my clients, friends, family, associates for a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The last month has been tied up with taking Sissy to the North Carolina State Fair and to the North American International Livestock Exposition. Sis won the yearling halter at North Carolina and placed second in the Two and Under halter in Louisville.  She has begun her driving training, ground driving nicely, we will hook up the cart soon.  I have lots of horses in training currently, so have plenty to do. Jaimee is also busy with lessons and a couple young prospects of her own. Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only a little over a week away!

I bought another show mule prospect, a three year old named Jazz, I’ll begin her training next week as well. Southwind has also received two very nice, older horses that we are using lightly for lessons for beginners, we’ll have more information on them shortly, with pix.  They are both very nicely trained and are going to be very valuable here.

The barn is full for the winter with boarders and training horses and it looks to be a very busy winter. That’ s fine for me, it will make the winter go faster so spring will hurry!!!!

Well, will update this blog spot more later!

Summer Camp 2009: Today was the final day with 11 campers all under the age of 13, average age was 10. WOW, what an energetic group. Everything was done in high gear with high energy! We luckily had Keli Stewart to help, along with Mackenzie and Brad Covert. Jaimee and I so appreciate all their help. I’m sure we could have done it without them if we had to, but Thank God they were there!!!!!
We had some great kids, cooperative kids, kids that wanted to learn to ride and simply be around horses. Only 5 of them were regular lesson kids, so we introduced 6 more kids to horses, and I’m sure it won’t be their last experience, based on the enthusiasm!
So, next up? Chemung County Fair with Buster, Jackie and Sis, Haflinger show with Sandy, go see the BLM adoption process at Cornell, get the hay baled and pretty much continue the day to day process at the farm!
A shout out to Louise, my friend who just had open heart surgery, GET WELL SOON and get your butt back on a horse!!!!!

Jaimee is still doing the hunter shows with both Buster and Sandy, as well as taking Sandy to the NYS Haflinger Association fun show in June. She did well, and they attempted all the game classes as well, earning a couple blue ribbons. We also both did the wheelbarrow race, and couldn’t compete with big guys with little kids in the wheelbarrow!!! But we had a great time!!!!

Summer is starting and camp will be here before you know it. The week of July 20th, from 9-3 daily we will have lots of riding, crafts, learning about horses and just basic fresh air fun! Come join us! Ages 7 and up!!!

Sandy and Jaimee getting warmed up for english pleasure

Happy Camper, Dorothy, during camp 2008

This is Arc'o Chrome Molly

Now for another addition to the clan. Jackie, aka, CC Trendy Chick, was graciously given to me for a long term lease to use for lessons by Lisa Williams of Lyons, NY. She is rusty and a bit spooky, but is doing well since she has had quite a few years off. She has however been on a short trail ride, and she was wonderful, so she’s gonna do that easily. Dorothy is working on her ring work at the walk/jog and we are teaching her to neckrein so that maybe she can do some western lessons, as she’s got a cute jog and lope. Of course, her trot and canter are beautiful.  Thanks, Lisa, we’ll keep her at work and take good care of her. She is a sweetie

Jackie

 An old friend, Louise, and her husband Ralph recently returned here to restart their riding careers. After some horse accidents, Louise was very scared, afraid to ride her own horses and enjoy an activity that both she and Ralph longed to share together. Well, after some very long sessions of just sitting on a horse and relaxing, Louise overcame some big fears, and she and Ralph are enjoying their horses. Good luck in the future both of you!! You did a great job!

Lousie and Reno

Until, next time!

I’ve been pretty busy the last two months with training horses and with the crappy New York weather it sure is hard to stay motivated. Again the last two days have had windchills in the 20’s. It’s April 12th, when will it end!!!!????

I’ve got a saddlebred, a Dun, a Red Dun, an APHA and an AQHA horse all in training right now, so I’m busy. Not to mention keeping the OTTB’s going and the lesson horses going. And I wonder why I don’t have time for Diesel, my own gelding. Somebody needs to buy him as he’s a great horse and really needs to go to someone who can spend some time with him. Along with the lesson program, Jaimee and I are busy. The red dun mare is for sale, so if anybody’s interested, there’s a picture of her below.

I guess Jaimee is planning on having at least one week of summer camp this year, so contact me if anybody’s interested.

We got a nice AQHA mare given to us to use for lessons, I’ll go pick her up tomorrow and get her going for the lesson program, or for a kid to lease here  and ride.

Everyone is starting to plan their show season, Jaimee is headed to Stoneybrook sunday for our first hunter show of the year, with Buster and Sandy, hopefully I can get those videos transferred to youtube without my computer having a snit.

Well, until next time, keep thinking positive thoughts and get those horses ready for the season! If you need help, you know where I am.

Here are a couple more of the “new” things at Southwind. First is Sandy, AKA Sandy Beaches, AKA Ophelia, a registered Haflinger mare that we’re using for lessons and Jaimee has big show plans for her in 2009.  Sorry, the picture is somewhat dark. The sun doesn’t shine in NY in the winter!!

Sandy and Jaimee during a leisure moment

Next up is “Lilly”, the Covert’s new pony. Macy is a little leery of the pony, so we’ve been finding people to ride her, this is Dalton, she’s 4 1/2, and she had a ball today trotting around on that pony, we couldn’t get her off!! What a seat that kid has, she was so close to falling off so many times and yet she stuck like glue!

Dalton on Lilly

And last, but not least, is Whitney, Dalton’s older sister who, along with her mom, has been riding here about two months. She started out on Buster and then Buster had a back injury so she had to try other horses. But today, Buster returned to his normal work load and Whitney was thrilled. We are thrilled too, as we were worried about his back as he’s pretty valuable around here! But, HE’S BACK!!!!

Buster and Whitney after a nice ride