Hard to believe we are headed into fall. Where did the time go? Seems like just last month we were preparing for summer adventures. With Tory and Eliza headed back to school, days at the barn will be quieter and a little lonely without them there. Both girls spent so much time riding this summer and we were able to trailer the horses out for rides often, which  will  help prepare us for our first 30 mile competitive ride. At this writing I am not sure if both girls are going, but we are conditioning the horses and making plans. Morado and I have been putting miles in as well, and I am also planning on doing a dressage show with him in September. 

 Eliza and Adelantado went to their first dressage and jumping show August 19th and they learned a lot.   He certainly caught the attention of many and I was a proud mom of them both.  I was most impressed with seeing him really jumping and putting an athletic effort into the jumps. Also in attendance at the show was Ryan Springer-Miller, owner and rider of Mas de Domingo, a flashy overo from Horsehead Ranch.  This was Ryan and Mas’ first show as well and they did great! They are new HOA members and you will be hearing more about Ryan as our HOA youth group grows. Tory had a fun ride at the show despite a literal last minute change of mounts. Oscar came up lame as he walked off the trailer so she rode a friends pony and they ended up bringing home a blue ribbon!

Adelantado has been one of the best teachers for the natural horsemanship workshops I hold each month.  I always pair him up with the younger students and those who are not very assertive. He is so gentle and patient with them while they are learning how to communicate more effectively. I find it so interesting to watch the horses respond to people who are new to these methods and philosophies. I’m not sure who learns more, me or the participants.

 The month of August brought many visitors to the barn to see the horses that were featured in Vermont Life article back in the spring. That one article has brought more attention to the Colonial Spanish horses than I ever imagined. Almost every weekend I have given a tour to groups of people from 2 to 20.  Each group says the same thing, “ These horses seem so calm and friendly, are they all like this?” Yep.
On a short notice I will be taking horses to the annual Champlain Valley Fair over Labor day weekend to display and present them to the state of Vermont. We have stalls in the breed barn and plan to do our ‘painted ponies’ again with the kids and their handprints. Each day I have two demo times and will participate in the daily parade.

 The next weekend we have another local horse show, followed by a trip to upstate New York to do a clinic/presentation at a private college.

 That brings us to early October when we pack up and head to the annual meeting in Indiana.  It will be a long 1,000 miles but I couldn’t think of a better place to bring our horses and the girls.  We are really excited to make the journey and show off the horses.  Both places we are laying over are looking forward to meeting Colonial Spanish horses so it is like promotion along the way.  We are starting to refer to our trip as ‘going on tour”.

 November 8-11 Sharon Sluss and I are teaming up to bring horses to Equine Affaire in Massachusetts.  This will be the biggest venue to date that the horses have been to, and I expect we will be overwhelmed by the time the whole thing is over, but I wouldn’t miss the chance to expose the breed at an event of this magnitude. Over 100,000 were in attendance last year. Sharon and I will have a total of 7 horses on display with an ‘official’ demonstration time. 

Some of the best news to report is that I have sold 5 horses this year to great people who are continuing to promote the CS horses in their own way. I am so grateful for their support and enthusiasm. Good things are on the way for the horses here in New England!

 Safe travels ahead, and see you at the meeting!