The Never-Ending Show (but it was so much fun!)

early morning at the plum tree

Some weekends are just longer than others. The girls stayed up and cleaned tack into the night! We arrived at the show around 11 a.m. and it wa still going after we left at 7 p.m.! Our hauler Peggy is a trooper as are the girls and of course those die-hard parents that put in overtime! We all know how great Heather "The Whip" and Holly "The Angel" are.

at the show in braids & bows!
Our first show of the year, it was a great learning opportunity for all of us and each girl had a great time and gained a lot of knowledge and experience. All of the classes were HUGE with 12-16 horses in each classes which provided us with lots of competition and challenged our girls to really ride. Plus, they all looked cute in matching bows & braids with their horses. :)

brooke, ashley, jordan looking great!

Here's some highlights:

Alexa earned a 5th on Poe in the Hunter Pleasure 12 & under!

Ashley & Sonnet rode beautifully together and earned a 2nd & a 3rd!

Brooke braved the Hunter Hack class with Tiko and earned 5th!

She also showed Festivity at her first away showed and earned 6th place in a big class.

Hannah & Jade (50 Jade of Diamonds!) were the troopers and did fantastic in their first show and earned 4th in the largest equitation class of the day (electrical tape and all!).

Jessica got lucky at her first show with Poetka in her first show ever and earned 1st & 3rd in the western walk-trot division.

Jordan & Gracie were in sync and earned 1st & 2nd in their classes. Jordan also won a cute bridle tag for her new show bridle.

Poetka earned the High Point Arabian Horse of the day award and brought home a three-tiered serving plate for all of us. Way to go, Poe! (Hives & all).

I loved watching the girls chase Dakota around the parking lot in their hunt coats and it was classic when the caretaker got on his loud speaker to tell everyone to leave or he was locking us in the parking lot! Kanye serenaded us on the way home.

P.S. Trainer Jim Lowe always taught me that electrical tape was critical for showing. His theory was tested and proved at this show; it was used as garters, to fix a mane, to keep a bridle intact, & to repair a helmet!

Welcome Dessa to the Plum Tree!

We are pleased to welcome Dessa to the Plum Tree and to our hearts. She will be a valuable member of our lesson program and we are thrilled to have her. A special thanks to the Griffith family for their love and support through the years and for this special mare.

Update from Kathleene & Ruby - Safe in Maryland!

Just got home about 8...had no problems meeting the trailer down near Chesapeake, VA...
about 2.5 hours from my farm. The only scary thing is crossing the 20 mile bridge and tunnels that spans the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It was very windy!! We met up at a WalMart
parking lot with lots of room....quite a nice rig they have...put my 2002 dark green F-250
pickup with 20 foot grey stock trailer to shame. But, it is functional and comfortable and I don't make my living hauling other people's horses, so it is all I need. Ruby and Lukas had ridden together from TN and Lukas loves her!! She is a big girl...might be a little bigger than Faxi. Lukas is much lighter-boned and a little nervous. Ruby owns the world, she thinks...very sweet girl, too. She started on her hay bag as soon as we put her in the front stall...marched right up on the trailer like a pro. Lukas was a little more hesitant, until he realized his new girlfriend was in the trailer, then he hopped on, too. Every time we checked on them, she was eating and he was staying as close to her on his side of the partition as he
could.

When we got to the barn, the resident peacocks greeted Lukas with some irate screams...
shook him up a bit. Of course, Ruby just strolled right off the trailer, into her stall and
immediately got a big drink, rolled and started on her hay. She comes right up and greets anyone who comes to the stall and seems so calm and assured. Bet she is going to play those two boys for all she is worth!!

I am going to keep them in the barn til Friday, just to make sure no ill-effects from the trip...then introduce Faxi and put them all out in a paddock. I will get pictures this week and send.
Thanks so much for all you did to make this happen...I would have had a very hard time letting her go, I think, even after only knowing her for a few hours!!
kathleene

Poetka's Retirement Party & Celebration

On Saturday, May 24th we will be honoring several of our horses at the prestigous Pacific Slopes Arabian Show in Santa Barbara, Ca. All of the girls are invited to attend and participate in this momentous occasion.

All children that ride with us our welcome to attend and be a part of this special celebration! We will be featured in the main equidome following the morning classes on Saturday. The girls will be able to ride their horses into the ring for the ceremony and pictures.

Following our presentation, the girls will help serve ice cream to the entire show at the traditional "Ice Cream Social". This is a huge honor to be included in this show which is one of California's oldest Arabian traditions.

Our presentation will include:

Our beloved Poetka VF +// will be honored for her Legion of Merit in the show ring and also "officially" retired in a beautiful ceremony. She will be wearing a blanket of rainbow roses into the ring and joined by her young friends on horses.

JV Sonnet+// will also be honored for her Legion of Merit and will be presented by best friend Ashley Lane. This is especially sentimental this year after almost losing her to colic in march - we are truly blessed to present this Nationally-decorated mare.

Khlassy Lass+ (Gracie Rose) will also be presented and honored for earning her Legion of Honor. Gracie is a treasure in our hearts and our barns! At 24 she is still our best liberty horse!

RTO Fantastiko+ will also be presented and recognized for his work in the show ring and his Legion of Honor. There is no gelding that deserves this more than our Tiko!

Many of our other beautiful horses will join in the presentation and will be presented with garlands marking the occassion!

Our girls featured in AHASFV Newsletter! (April)

AHASFV Youth Group News
Who said Arabian horses don't like the water? Not “The Hidden Hills Cowgirls” — they plunged right in! Adventurous Youth members on versatile Arabians — what a great combination! Our thanks to Nedra Johnson for sharing these photos.

Sonnet - Mare of the Month - April

On April 10th, our beloved mare JV Sonnet+// will celebrate her 20th birthday. This incredible nationally decorated mare has been a blessing to our barn and has become Ashley's best friend. Ashley & Sonnet do everything together and most days Ashley rides her bareback with a halter. She is best friends with Poetka & Angel and is a very kind and nurturing mare that loves babies and is the first to comfort anyone who is feeling down.

Last month we had a huge colic scare with Sonnet and had to rush her to Alamo Pintado. We are especailly blessed that her treatments went well and are grateful to everyone who helped save her. She is a treasure and we appreciate every moment she is with us. Thank you for the wonderful families that helped bring Sonnet back home to us.

News & Pictures from Lisa (Pandemonium's owner!)

Did you guys know the sire of Bella's baby is named Pandemonium and he is closely related to Barbary++++ - which means he is also related to our very own Festivity, Cameo and Barbary!!! Isn't that exciting?

Pandemonium is owned by a lady named Lisa Morales who was kind enough to send pictures of her stallion with Bella.

I can't wait for that baby to come! What do you think it will be???

Our Mascot, Little Dish

The barn is much less exciting when Dakota isn't there. At least once a week he manages to get loose and make us all chase him down. Often we run on foot, in the car, and on horseback to hunt him down while he chases every squirrel & bunny in town! He loves the girls and the horses very much!

Ruby has a new home in Maryland!

Ruby our very own wonderful Icelandic has found a new permanent home in Maryland on an island no less. She will have the life she deserves and although we will miss her terribly, we are all happy for her & Kathleene, her new owner. www.Clyde-bred.WarmBloodHorse.com Kathleene has Ahkal-Tekes & breeds sheep - she is even starting her own sheep breed called Harlequin Sheep. We love adding her to our extended horse family.
A special thanks to all the girls who scrubbed Ruby today and groomed, fed, & loved her one last time :). (p.s.) It is almost 11 pm and there is no hauler in sight! I am so tired! Jordan, you rock with her dreds!

Another trip to Malibu Creek to Swim?!

I must be crazy. Thank goodness Holly & Linda came along or the day would have been impossible! Six girls wanted to come along - Ashley & Sonnet, Jordan & Gracie, Tallulah & Tiko, Hannah & Angel, Geffen & Poetka and of course Brooke & Lola! The day was filled with laughter, adventure, dunking & jumping and of course Lola ran away again (no fisherman or Daniel in sight!). Ashley even rescued another shoe. Tiko was the deep swimmer, Angel was the pro, Gracie was solid, and Geffen jumped and ducked like the big girls! It is Monday and I am still tired from all that fun!
The highlight of the day was the incredible Easter Egg hunted hosted by Serena & Tallulah - it was the perfect ending to a LONG day! :)

Sonnet finally comes home from Alamo Pintado

Sonnet was finally released from the hospital and thanks to our wonderful families she was able to come home! Luckily the day we went to pick her up, the girls were on their first day of Spring Break! So me, Ashley, Brooke, Julia (& of course Little Dish) jumped in the truck and trailer and headed to Santa Ynez. It was very exciting! The girls took Dakota and found Sonnet in the pipe corrals with the racehorses. Dr. Erin, her wonderful vet, suggested the girls take her to graze while I dealt with the paperwork. While the girls were enjoying the sunshine they got to see a stallion collected! It was very entertaining for them and I heard about it the whole way home. Sonnet was clearly so happy to see Ashley - she missed her so much and their reunion was very touching.

 

While driving home we saw a huge field of wild mustard flowers. The scene was so beautiful we decided to pull over and have an impromptu photo shoot. The beauty of the scene really captured the moment and the pictures are some of my favorites!

Val Paradiso - the ranch on Paradise Valley Road

It's easy to see why the street that leads to this property was named Paradise Valley. BDS renamed the 8 acres at the end of the cul-de-sac "Val Paradiso". There are dozens of bird that live on the property and sing every morning. This property is certainly one of the most beautiful places in Hidden Hills and one of the best kept secrets!

While Cefarino has been building away at the Plum Tree we moved some horses over there to enjoy the open spaces. The horses love running free on the property and eating all of the knee high grass. We love visiting them there and although we miss them at the Plum Tree, we are sad to see them leave Val Paradiso. Wouldn't this property make a great summer camp? It even has a working bathroom!

Callaia turns 1!

On March 18th Callaia celebrated her first birthday! Thanks to everyone who continues to show her so much love. She is a lucky girl!

Conquering the big hill at Saddle Creek Road!

Hannah was the first rider ever to brave the BIG hill at the Saddle Creek cul-de-sac! To top it off she was on Festivity who she had never ridden before.

Following her closely but not quite making it were Ashley & *Iberia and Brooke & Gala.

Those girls that paved the way were Julia & Angel and Tallulah & Tiko.

I hear there will be another trip up there soon!

Nice work, Hannah!

Who will be the FIRST ride to ride down the hill?!

Brooke & Spiderman

Brooke is so lucky to have had her amazing stunt riding caught on film! We owe Lilian for these great shots and Brooke you have shown us what a great rider and sport you really are! The pictures are posted in order - can you believe Brooke stayed on after her foot touched the ground? Incredible!

St. Patrick's Day Gymkhana @ Hidden Hills!

A sincere "Thank you" to the Bliss Wendelburg & the Hidden Hills Horsemen on a wonderful event & great day! All of the girls had a great time riding and Poetka certainly earned extra treats tonight!

A huge congratulations to our girls who enjoyed their new experiences with their horses at this very show:

Kristin Kulik who enjoyed her first show ever & competed in the keyhole leadline class with Julia (Embrulia)!
Geffen Goldstein who stepped up to the Pole Bending & Keyhole and earned ribbons in both classes!
Hope Garrett debuted today and took home a red, white, and blue ribbon in her classes!
Alexa Kramer graduated from the walk-trot division and did a fantastic job showing Poe in Pole Bending, Keyhole & Drop the Bucket!

Congratulations to our "veteran" gymkhana show girls who also had a very successful day:
Helena Jacobson & Poe were back after winning the Year-End High Point last year. Watch for Helena & Festivity in the summer.
Honour Fottrell braved the green barrels and had a fun day (& was also finally given her gift for winning her Year End High Point in 2007!)
Mandy Morris showed a tremendous improvement from the last show and earned two St. Patrick's Day garlands & trophies!
Tallulah Tepper showed courage and faced her fear with Tiko & the chalk line. Her bravery paid off and she too won a garland & trophy!

Brooke Cohen dazzled the crowd racing around on Lola & won two of her classes. She also was the trainer-of-the day and schooled our newest pony Spiderman. She may of had a little slip off but she also won a trophy & garland with him in the process. Thanks for taking one for the team!

Also Congratulations to our Daily High Point Winners:
Hannah Kulik & Jade earned the High Point trophy & rose garland in Division C!

Jordan Parr & Gracie earned the High Point trophy & rose garland in Division D!
The next Hidden Hills Gymkhana will be held in August - the 3rd Annual Back-to-School Gymkhana!