Riding with the Yorks

Waiting Anxiously...

2011-01-19T16:28:00.000-08:00

To see what Guess and Brody have cooked up at Kinetic Dobermans in Florida. With a parentage like that, those bambinos are destined to be stellar! Here is hoping that Guess has a beautifully healthy litter and that her Mommy & Daddy (Amy & Greg) have the strength to keep up with the little monsters ahem.... bambinos!

As for the Yorks...Sarah and I have been sick with the flu. I actually went back to work today which sucked but you know how it is when you are away from the office for even one day - the work just piles up. Poor Sarah and I have been dragging around the house - which needs a thorough cleaning with Lysol once we feel better.

Beau, Dubs, Trouble and Barbie are doing well - both Trouble and Barbie are 3 year olds now and are being ridden. Sarah is staying busy keeping our horses ridden over the winter while I hibernate. Ever hear the term "fair weather rider" well that describes me to a T.

Rebel is off at Sutton Performance Horses where he will be making an appearance at Indiana Quarter Horse shows with Joy. Joy and Drew are so wonderful to not only Clay and I but treat Rebel like the Royalty he is - but then Joy is a softie which Rebs picked up on right away....

Barbie has decided to grow hair while she has been under lights and blanketed (double blankets) so now what do I do to get the hair off? At this point and time, looks like it will be May before she can be shown.....

WOW - I have been very lax on my BLOG....

2010-12-28T05:32:00.000-08:00

It has been a very LONG time since I have posted on my BLOG. Lots of changes for the York household. Sarah is a Junior at Eastern High School in Greentown, Indiana and has decided to major in Biology when she graduates HS.

Barbie (Got Em A Doll) has been trained under saddle along with our other 2 year old Trouble (WhizNRoundHollywood). Both of them are enjoying the winter right now - doing nothing but hanging out and goofing off. They will be gearing up to go back to the trainers soon. Sarah is showing Tradition Windwalker (Dubs) in Reining now. Dubs is a very accomplished Reiner who has won over $60k in NRHA earnings and has become the love of Sarah's life (sorry Cameron - boys are boys but horses are everything)....

My oldest son, Rick and his girlfriend Rachel have decided to make it official - they are getting married! They haven't set a date but have decided they want to spend the rest of their lives together. I am very blessed. My children are happy, healthy and growing into responsible young adults. What more could a mother ask for? Both Rick and Rachel are a great help around the farm.

Clay and I are planning a much needed vacation in January down to Charleston, SC. I am so excited to be able to spend some alone time with the love of my life. It will be so nice to get away from the snow and cold weather and just relax on the beach.

Time for Another Clinic with Corey Wilson

2009-09-29T07:43:00.001-07:00

To the Left is Barbie or Got Em a Doll and below is Primetime Hollywood or Beau.

Well, we are having another clinic with Corey Wilson this next weekend - October 3rd. Corey is going to help us formulate a plan on keeping our horses from being such stall potatoes this winter and help us keep them in shape while battling the winter weather.

I confess - I have been horrible at keeping this blog updated. Many things have been going on this summer. We took the season off from showing - we showed twice; once at the Rochester show at the end of May and just this month we ended up going to a Paint show. We took our yearling filly to the Indiana Paint Horse Futurity and had a blast. Her breeders were there with her half brother and full brother and Barbie (Got Em A Doll) was such a good girl for our daughter. Sarah took a 1st in Youth Mares, 2nd in SPB mares all ages and Barbie was also 2nd in SSA Yearling Mares. I had a great time with Sarah as Clay had to stay home and take care of our other horses. We brought Beau (Primetime Hollywood) as a babysitter for Barbie and he ended up being surrounded with a bunch of weanlings there for the futurity. He kept a vigilant watch and crashed when we finally got him home! Poor guy - he was craving some adult company when we turned the horses out Sunday. Sarah and I met some great people who are friends of Lesley and Dennis Orsund's (her breeders and owners of Got Em Talkin) and everyone brought some pretty babies.

We just got home from having a blast with the Loziers (Tony and Luanne) this past weekend. Clay and I took Honey (Hollywood Honey Bar) and Rebel (Rebels Wrapped) on a trail ride and camping at York Hills Horse Park. We had a lot of fun - good food, good friends and good horses all made for an enjoyable weekend. Tony, Ryan and Dan ended up cooking all weekend and wow - the food was really good! Clay and I both talked on the way home about how much fun we had and how we could not wait to get together with everyone again.

Sarah got herself a new project horse. Zarosa is by Zaragosa and out of a mare named Buenos Lucky Eight. Z girl as Sarah calls her is fast becoming partners with our daughter. Sarah rides her every day and she is settling in well with the other horses. This is Sarah's new barrel/rodeo horse. Here is her picture:

The shy ones now emerge....

2009-03-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I erroneously said that a few of our clinic participants were shy and I did not have pictures. Well thanks to Luanne Lozier - I now have photos to upload.

This amazing individual is Lori with her gelding Little One who is an Investor bred loping machine! WOW - Lori has done an amazing job training this guy and I could have sat all day watching him jog and lope. Lori, Luanne L. and I made a pact that we would get together and show this year. Lori is also the proud mother of a beautiful little girl (4 1/2 months) so my hat is off to her for braving not only the elements to come to the clinic but also to leave that precious bundle long enough to hang out with us horse crazy girls and guys.

Luanne Lozier and Glory are pictured here. I LOVE the orange boots! Luanne and Glory have had a rough winter. Glory has had some foot problems and with the help of a new farrier and lots of TLC she is on the mend and looking so much better. I have seen this mare on various occasions (clinics, show at New Castle and at home) and I have to say both she and Luanne looked so calm and collected at this clinic. They both looked like not only were they enjoying the clinic but they were learning what it is to become partners. I happen to know what it is like to 'inherit ' your daughter's show horse - you are always second guessing yourself. Hang in there Luanne! Glory looks wonderful....

We might as well call Tony the Lone Ranger. He was the only guy in the midst of a gang of women. Although he was not truly alone (Corey was there) he must have felt seriously outnumbered (even his mount was female). This is his mare, Derby. You would never guess this girl had not been off the farm since she was brought home at the age of 5 months. She fell in love with Trouble (WhizNRoundHollywood) and yes, that is her looking into his paddock wishing she could convince Dad (Tony) that she needed a playmate of her very own.

Thank you Luanne and Tony for becoming the unoffical photographers of our March clinic. I have it on good authority that Corey will be back in May and I can't wait to see everyone again.

Horsemanship Clinic with Corey WIlson

2009-03-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

WOW - am I sore! We braved the unpredicatable Indiana weather on Saturday and although it was pretty decent out, there were times that it got just a little chilly. Rebel looks so enthused, doesn't he? The girls outnumbered the guys Saturday at the clinic but Tony Lozier and Corey didn't seem to mind being surrounded with the girls and their horses. Actually they both looked very comfortable and at ease and I have it on good authority that Tony likes mares as he brought his mare Derby to the clinic. Derby had not been off the farm since she was 5 months old (they brought her home at 5 months and home she has stayed) and apparently she loaded and unloaded without incident, went into her 'borrowed' stall at my farm and acted like an old pro at this clinic thing. Luanne Lozier and Glory had a great day as well. Both of them looked like they were enjoying themselves. Luanne's friend, Lori and her gelding Little One were awesome to watch in motion. Lori is the proud mom of a 4 1/2 month old and I am so glad she was able to come spend a day with us. Luanne Monize and Boomer, Theresa Simmons and Keeper along with Brenda Brumley and Star had a blast riding, laughing and learning. The food was good too! Thank you to Luanne Monize for the wonderful potatoe soup. We also had many sinful deserts (well, we were drinking water all day so cake, cookies and out of this world banana pudding doesn't count against our diets, does it?) and the best part was watching Corey's domestic skills with a knife and cake. Ummm "Does this plastic thing stay on or do you take it off".... No wonder he stays out of the kitchen and in the barn at their house!

Brenda Brumley and Star - isn't she just the cutest? Well, they both are but I think Star has the cutest face ever! Check out her expression in the photo below:

Here is Theresa and Keeper. They have been partners for over 8 years now. Keeper is trying to grab a few minutes of sleep in between exercises. She is aging quite well, however loves to be able to grab a few Zs when Theresa is otherwise occupied!

Meet Luanne Monize and Boomer. Boomer is one big dude, isn't he? He and Luanne have been partners for years as well and like any old married couple, have their moments. Take Lunging for example - Luanne insists he lunges, he insists they not. After Corey took the lunge line, I am sure if Dr. Phil had been there his response to Boomer would have been "And how is that working for ya?"......

Special Thanks to Luanne Lozier for the photos. I would post some pics of Luanne & Tony Lozier however the photo fairies didn't send me any of them. Now why are they so shy?

Just call me Grandma Nancy.....

2009-02-26T07:39:00.000-08:00

It is official. I am a new grandma. Alton, our first grandchild, was born October 24th to our youngest son (and middle child) Christopher and Jala Caron. He is beautiful and Chris and Jala are doing a great job with him already. I visited them this month and boy has he grown!

I can't wait to introduce him to the horses when they come down to Indiana!

Horsemanship Clinic with Corey Wilson RESCHEDULED

2009-02-26T07:35:00.001-08:00

Our February clinic was rescheduled due to the wonderful Indiana weather. Please plan on joining us March 14th for a day of horsemanship, horses and helpful advice from Corey Wilson. I can't wait to see friends that I haven't ridden with in a few months. Hopefully the weather holds out and we have a great time!

Decorating the Homestead

2009-02-03T09:19:00.001-08:00

Well, we moved into the new house in September of 2008. We even skipped a day of showing to move - and do you think we would have it decorated yet? Nope, Nada, Nothing - well - one picture on the wall over the dining room doorway leading to the kitchen. Kudos to Clay for doing that for me - now he wants to know where to hang the rest of the pictures.

I keep waffling on the furniture to buy so there are odds and ends in some of the rooms and the Office (original house plans called for it to be the formal Living Room) has become the catch all room because it has no furniture in it at all. Don't know what to do with it - easy, just put in the office. Just last night Clay and I were discussing what to do with the landscaping and my heart stopped. I can't decide how to decorate the inside and he is asking me about choosing plants and flowers for the outside? Jeepers - I will never have time to ride!! I am lucky that I have a husband who loves to ride his new John Deere tractor. He doesn't mind pushing dirt from one end of the yard to the other. I never would have guessed that his plan to purchase a new tractor would work out so well. On the other hand, since he is doing all the labor the least I can do is to come up with the landscape plan. So, any budding landscape architects that want to give me some advice - I am all ears. Oh and if you are pretty good at interior decorating on a budget, I need that advice as well!

Building a Respectful Relationship.....

2009-01-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

With your horse, of course!! Walnut Hill Stables and York Quarter Horses will be hosting a horsemanship clinic with Corey Wilson of Wilson Performance Horses February 21, 2008 at our farm in Greentown, Indiana. We are looking forward to having Corey come and help us improve our horsemanship skills while we wait for this very LONG winter to be over!!!

Can't wait to ride ALL day with my fellow horse friends.

RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH 14, 2009 due to the wonderful Indiana weather.

Meet Our Horses

2009-01-07T09:55:00.001-08:00

This wonderful gelding is Rebels Wrapped. Rebel carried my daughter to multiple World Championships and a Reserve World Championship at the 2007 ABRA World Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sarah and Rebel had a rough 9 months when they decided to partner up for the 2007 year. Rebel is my horse and if any horse can be a one rider horse that is him. He is perfectly content to take care of his very novice rider (me) but didn't want anything to do with Sarah. Once they decided to meet in the middle - they were an awesome team and very tough to beat!

This 2000 gelding is Rugged Lark Reliever or Tucker. Tucker is a son of 2x Superhorse, Rugged Lark. Tucker is a very talented individual - he is a finished Reiner (NRHA $ earner), has points in Barrels and Poles and my daughter jumps him 2'6". His mind is always working, and he tries to stay 2 steps ahead of you. We call him the Dennis the Menace of the barn as he is always into something.

This is an older picture of my daughter's Reiner, Primetime Hollywood. Beau is a 1997 Buckskin Reiner who my daughter shows at the American Ranch Horse Association (ARHA) shows as well as National Reining Horse Association (NRHA). Her goal for 2009 is to qualify him for the AQHA Youth World. If anyone can do it - Sarah and Beau can!

These two are Hollywood Honey Bar (Honey) and her April 2008 colt, WhizNRoundHollywood (Trouble) who is by Who Whiz It. Honey is Clay's Reiner and Trouble is slated to be my non-pro horse one day. We shall see....