Well, lots to catch up on. Millie and I finally showed in our first class in our first season of showing together. Believe me I am not a Tim or Lisa Stanton, but we put our best foot forward and no-one was more surprised than me to win our first class - Green As Grass at Fletchers Horseworld - Wow.

I took Alan along to comiserate with me, but instead I had to tell him to close his mouth his jaw had dropped so far. It was really exciting and unbelievable experience - who would have guessed?

Millie of course was great, relaxed, and confident - all I had to do was ride her through the pattern. She is awesome, a realy sweetheart and talented to boot. Me, well it was and is still a bit of a blur, but Lisa took a video so I have jet to sit and really watch it. Weather wasn't bad either, it cooperated and we didn't have the rain we expected although it was too muddy to ride outside.

Sunday went as well and we placed Second. There were approximately 12-14 in the class so thats pretty good.

Great support from the Barn Group and everyone in the ORHA - it was really encouraging. The Stanton's Group - ROCK!!!!! I have to thank Tim and Lisa for the preparation that goes into their students venture into the show arena - its not an overnight event and indeed takes years of preparation. If you are thinking of showing, don't rush into it, take the time to learn about the sport, the horse and yourself - its worth it. Sure things can go wrong on any given day, but if you are prepared it makes the world of difference.

Too many times these days we want a quick fix, but you won't be happy, be prepared.

Congratulations to Wayne who also ventured into these past two shows and was great. This past weekend at Ilderton was a challenge just from a weather point of view - it was freezing cold on Friday and the horses were "up" and unbelievably hot on Sunday and the horses were tired. I really enjoyed Wayne's support and enthusiasm.

Onwards and Upwards - we show again in August

I took the plunge last weekend and plucked up the courage to show Millie. Its about time, I have spent long enough practising and needed to put it to the test. Don't get me wrong there is always room for pactise and improvement, but it was time!.

We did ourselves proud and came in first on Saturday in Green as Grass and second on Sunday. Some Kodak moments, but some I need to work on. On Saturday as we rounded the corner to my first stop, Millie knew what she was doing, but I chickened out and in no way could I even consider it an attempt to stop. You've all done them and seen them - half hearted attempts by horse and rider for whatever reason. Sunday, well I definitely lost the class, no-one to blame, but myself - I stopped short of the final marker - what a dunce!! Couldn't tell you how it happened except I must have relaxed and poof she stopped.

You know the best thing - Millie was awesome - all the errors were mine! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, although extremely nervous, but she was wonderful and showed me the ropes. Its quite exhilerating.

Theres a different feel to the show when you actually compete, even though I enjoy seeing my horses ridden and shown by professionals, it kind of legitimizes everything. People are very supportive and encourage you while you are riding your pattern. I don't mean the hooting and hollering, but standing on the side lines saying "your doing good", good job. You have no idea who it is that is encouraging you. Your barn mates are always encouraging - The Stantons and their Group of riders are wonderful!!!!! I couldn't do it without them.

I want to congratulate Wayne who also showed in his first on Saturday and Sunday with me. He had a hard time in the warm up on Saturday and I don't know if it affected him, but Sunday he came ready and boy was he ever - he was a demon in the warm-up and showed to third place. He actually enjoyed it too and plans to join me again in two weeks.

Talk to you soon

I thought I should introduce myself and my passion Reining Horses. My only regret is that I didn't discover the sport of Reining sooner. I have been riding since I could walk, brought up in England riding ponies mostly - some good, most crazy with minds of their own. Anyone who has owned a pony knows how quick and unpredictable they can be. Still it was fun and I was fearless. I am older now and not so fearless and over the years I have switched from and english saddle to a western one, more security!!

I love to trail ride in Dundas Valley and we enjoyed great weekends hacking on the trails, along with the bicycle riders and pedestrians. City folk love to see horses up close and we would always stop and talk and the kids would ask to pat the horse. I haven't done that in a while because I turned to learning to Rein.

Its a great sport and growing in leaps and bounds. All types of horses can participate, its not a breed thing, but most of the horses are quarter or paint horses. They call Reining, a Western form of Dressage - mostly because you have to negotiate patterns with circles, stops, spins etc. You start with two hands and progress to one hand.

The reining crowd are really supportive and want to see the sport grow. Reining was included in the WEG (World Equestrian Games) for the first time in Jerez, Spain in 2002 and was a great success. The Europeans have really embraced the sport and are putting up large prize amounts particularly for the Open (Professional / Top) Riders. A lot of the North American top riders compete in Europe these days. They don't have to take their horses either because the Europeans have put together such a great breeding program over the past years and have as good quality horses as we do in North America. The WEG will be in Aachen, Germany this year and Reining will form a part. Canada will send a team as they did in 2002 and came in second.

The ultimate goal is the Olympics!!

A good reining horse is a pleasure to watch and to ride (although you have to learn first). When its done correctly the partnership between horse and rider is amazing, loose reins, very little visible contact and precision.

Me, I'm still working on it. I'm going to show this year and try and have some fun with it. My horse is excellent - she was ridden by Tim Stanton of Pickering, Ontario in 2005. Tim and his wife Lisa are remarkable horse people and individuals and they have numerous students that are friends to prove it as well as trophies!! Tim and Lisa both rode to NRHA Top Ten finishes, Tim on my horse, Millie. Now if you don't think that is a hard act to follow!!!

No sweat for her, she knows what she is doing, its me and those little flutterbugs that keep jumping up and down whenever I think about showing. It will be all adrenaline and that means fast - at least I know she will stop! Thats the amazing thing about reining horses - they know how to stop when asked. You know the old trail horse - whoa, whoa getting louder as you are approaching the barn - well not reining horses, they stop on command (when they are trained).

Anyway, got to go talk to you later

Linda

Another great lesson. Its amazing how things get unraveled. Still thats what lessons are for - to learn and keep improving.

Its that time of year, babies due, show season rapidly approaching. I have been quite confident up to now, but I kow its going to be all down hill until May.

The horses are in excellent condition and riding really well. Diamond is "wow" he is so talented. He is a great horse and I hope we can find him a good home. APHA members are certainly missing out on a talented horse let alone the reiners amongst us. I watched Caroline ride him yesterday at Stoneridge - they looked great.

It seems that there is some interest in the horses for sale, although people are slow to commit and seem a little confused as to what they are looking for. Considering the mild winter we had I thought that horses would have been moving sooner.

QT had a great filly in Slovakia. Sire is Reminic N Dunit and this filly is cute as a button.
She has a dark head and body with minimal white, but she has four white stockings with large spots "paw prints" on them. She is remarkable and nicely put together. Congratulations.

Speak to you soon. Feel free to contact me with comments, horses for sale, website etc.

Linda

Millie and I are really going to have to get serious about this showing lark. Well maybe its me, she's already been there done it! Millie was in the NRHA Top Ten in 2005 - wow - thanks Tim.

Had a great clinic last weekend with Tim Stanton, ORHA. Wayne and I worked really hard on Friday as there was no-one else to share the load and then we teamed up with Stephanie, Kasenia (sorry I don't know the proper spelling) and Terry on Saturday and Sunday. It was a good session. Horses were excellent and so were the students.

Milly was great yesterday and Caroline put us through our paces. I checked the yearlings and tried to get some photographs, but they all huddle together so it's difficult and I didn't want to challenge the mud, it's been so mild. If it ever freezes the outside horses will have a job walking through the ruts.