AHASFV Summer Fiesta Horse Show

We all had a fantastic time at the AHASFV Fiesta Show. The later start time gave us plenty of time to relax and get the horses ready (we were on time!) and the home-made dinner break helped the afternoon breeze by. It was very rewarding to watch all of the girls in their classes; looking so beautiful, supporting each other, having fun and really "riding" their classes. The lessons and experiences they are creating with each other will last a lifetime. It is always thought a challenge nurturing teamwork since most equestrian sports are judged on individuals but our girls seemed to have embraced each other and are often just as happy when a friend wins. The show was run excellently and accommodated a great number of horses and exhibitors from several different barns.

It was fantastic to showcase our Arabians and promote the breed but also it was rewarding to show along so many other breeds - it seemed a triumphant day for everyone! The judge was very fair, the horse staff was friendly and inviting and Courtney did a perfect job as announcer.

The girls also experienced success in the show ring while competing in very tough classes with horses of a high quality.

The Liberty class is the morning got the day off to an exciting start - Dessa thought it was great fun and proved to be hard to catch, Jade was breathtaking but circled the gate, Gracie was there to do business and did an amazing job defending her title, but ultimately, Bride Rose prevailed as champion. Rosie also won the Halter Championship with Ashley at the lead - all of this accomplished at her first show ever.

Our Walk-Trotters were fantastic and a first place was earned by each of them. Alexa and Poet were beautiful in the Poles class and earned a blue, Barbary took another first with Baylee in the Western Walk-Jog and after a few quick tack changes, Grace also earned a first place ribbon & trophy.

Grace & Baylee earned the Reserve Champion High Point of the Day Award in that division as well! Nice team work, ladies! There was also a THREE-WAY Tie for HIGH POINT in the Hunter Division with our girls - congratulations to HELENA & DESSA, ASHLEY LANE & SONNET, AND HANNAH & JADE!

The jumping classes were of course the most exciting. Persja & Jessica had a beauitful Poles course and Jordan did a great job of taking Persja to the higher fences.

Jordan then took Poet in the Hunter Pleasure classes and earned the High Point of the Day Championship in that Division! Even Kristin showed Poet in the Leadline at their first Away Show! The next time, I think you will see Kristin without a leader!

Helena and Dessa were great in the hunter hack and they surely had the class until Dessa gave a cute buck for fun after her fences. She must have still been on her Liberty high!

Hannah & Jade were our marathon performers and entered everything from halter to liberty and jumping and flat classes. She won one a few classes and more importantly had a great time and looked good in the process. I think they will be the ones to watch for in the next Liberty class too.

Ashley Lane and Sonnet were stunning in the purple outfit in the Western Division. It was incredible to watch and she not only sweeped the Western classes but earned the Western Pleasure High Point Champion of the day as well.

Thanks to Meaghan for everything and to her husband for a yummy BBQ dinner! Also, the St. Frances Rangers show volunteered were smart, enjoyable and did not miss a beat. Horse shows are only as good as their volunteers as this show had an abundance of great ones.

We are so blessed that Lilian Darling Holt has taken the girls under her wing and has become our biggest fans - and we are her greatest fans as well. I look forward to all of her beautiful pictures and feel so blessed anytime she is with us.

On a personal level, I am so grateful for the parents who come out to watch the shows - I appreciate their company and I know the girls love their support. With life as busy as it is, I know what a challenge it can be. It is nice to have time to catch up I am glad the parents can see all of their girls' hard work.

Hidden Hills English Horse Show

We had a fantastic time at the Hidden Hills Horse Show last Sunday. The turnout was great and for the first time in our showing history we arrived on time at 8:30 a.m.! This was no easy feat as we brought 10 horses and 15 girls with us. I am proud of the all of riders for the independence they are gaining from experience. Every girl that rode a horse over earned a "free tack-up" by me!

The show was one of the best we have had in Hidden Hills. Judge Jack Humes was the first to insist on being in the arena with the riders and he braved the heat and did an incredible job as the judge. It was great for everyone to have feedback from a judge of that calibre.

Once again there were a lot of first time show experiences. Julia Broome took Spidey in his classes and schooled him so he is ready for the walk-trot-canter division. She did an amazing job with her new horse, Coco who is just learning to be a Hunter horse after 16 years of babies and showing Country Pleasure. They had beautiful passes and are the ones to watch.

The Korchek's niece Cassie rode English on Dessa for the first time and looked beautiful. Colleen does the best buns!

Kristin and Poet were especially cute and looks like they are very close to moving up to the Walk-Trot division - watch for them at the Sept. 7th Show.

The Walk-Trot division is always one of my favorites. It reminds me of the days when all of the girls showed in that division and it was Candy, Angel, and Poe. Juliet was exceptionally persistent and finished her showring debut with a 2nd in a huge class. she has learned posting and it looked great!

Grace also showed on Dessa for the first time and had nice, steady classes. This was her first show in Hunter Pleasure. Alexandra and Barbary are such a great pair. They are perfect for each other and though one day Alexandra will move up to another horse, I will always think of them as the perfect match.

Mare of the Month - July is Felicitie!

Felicitie may be the sweetest filly in the world. I know that is a big statement but she is such a special horse. Her love for people is so pure and genuine and she is accepting of everything you do with her even clipping her ears.


Do you know we ride her now - she is only 3, has been under saddle days and walks trots and canters both ways (correct leads) and loves every minute of it.

Today we found her in the tackroom, just just her head but her whole entire being - and she was turned around!

When she was a baby I received a call from a Hidden Hills guard responding to a call of a horse "breaking into a car". The guard arrived and found her entire head and neck in someone's car just exploring things.

She is for sale and one day, sadly, will leave our barn. I hope her new owner becomes her best friend and loves her as much as all of us do!