New Year's Eve - Riding with Jim Lowe!

We woke up early in the morning to have a few Saddleseat lessons from our trainer Jim Lowe in Somis. His beautiful barn, Mission Pacific, is like a second home and we cherish our time there. It is probably one of Dakota's favorite places too!

We always visit Sera and Khatin Around and take her for a walk so she can show off for everyone! She loves Ashley!

The lessons were fantastic. Hannah had her first saddleseat lesson on Debbie and did great. The other girls were on their second and third lessons respetively and performed incredibly well. We all can't wait for the IEL Shows to begin next year.

The weather was perfect, as was the day and it was the best way to welcome the New Year and plan for the future. Maybe this can be a New Year's tradition?

Congratulations to Our Year End High Point Winners!

A huge congratulations to our Year End High Point Champions! Each girl earned a beautiful silver buckle from Montana Silversmith and customized with sapphires and their names and horses engraved! Nice work, girls!

Division A - Jordan Parr & MCA Crimson Lace

Division B - Ashley Lane & SA Buck Light

Division D - Kristin Kulik & Poets Justice

Horse-Happy Holidays!

The Sapphire Girls stayed busy during the holidays. Some of
the young members finished up the show and gymkhana season
last month with lots of fun and success! Our last show was the
Fall Fantasy Show.

Hidden Hills Horsemen Association's President Bliss Wendelburg (and Jordan's mom!) was able to ride and enjoy the fun. Without her incredible dedication, none of the Hidden Hills shows would be possible.

The 10th Annual "SANTAHANUKHANA" in Hidden Hills was our last gymkhana in 2008. Jordan Parr brought the crowd to their feet with her single barrel run & drop in 9.6 seconds --- it was the fastest time of the day (adults included). It also helped her win the High Point Championship of the Day in Division A!

Brooke Cohen & Lola also earned a High Point Championship in Division B. It was a close race and AHASFV Youth member Julia Broome and her horse Coco were fast on their tails! Emma Nairin and Persja earned the Championship in Division C and Alexa Kramer & Poet won the High Point in Division D! It was a great, fun day!

December Mare of the Month - Ginger Snap!

December's Mare of the Month is Ginger Snap (aka Snapper). She has been so happy to come home to us after her time on the 240 acre pasture over the summer.

She has willingly packed Jessica around and won all of her classes at the last horse show. She has been undefeated in halter since we have owned her and Mandy was able to place in a huge Hunter Hack class after not riding for 3 months.

She is a beautiful, elegant mover, loves Lela, and is enjoys her trail rides in Ahmanson.

She loves jumping and always has great form and picks the perfect spots.

Congratulations, Snapper, our Mare of the Month for December!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow...

Hannah, Brooke and I brought Dish and the horses to Ahmanson for an afternoon ride. The ride was great. We galloped safely around the beautiful mountains and had a wonderful time. On our way home, we saw a full-arch rainbow across the hills. The rain came shortly after but we didn't care. Lilian came to join us and take pictures. We all had an amazing time!
(Once I figure out how to upload the pictures from my phone, you can all enjoy them!)

Pierce College Equestrian Team Charity Show

Emma & Julia brought Dessa and Coco to a charity event held at the Conejo Arena and organized by the new Pierce College Equestrian Team, "Boots and Saddles". All money generated at this fun event will help send equestrian team members to intercollegiate horse shows.

The classes were diverse and the girls started with English classes, watched a few Western classes and finished the day with gymkhana classes. The highlight of the day was the Team Tacking Event which was exciting and fast-paced. The girls did great and earned a second (or was it a third?).

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Our Versatile Arabians!

It seems like last month highlighted the incredible versatility
of the Arabian Horse. We started the month with an ETI show in
Thousand Oaks and our horses placed well competing with the
other breeds in all divisions; Hunter Pleasure, Western Pleasure,
Halter, and even Jumping! We did well and enjoyed our long day
there together. It was a wonderful schooling opportunity for the
Fall Fantasy Show.

A week later we were invited to ride in the Ahmanson
Conservancy. We took every horse from the barn but the baby
and even had to borrow a horse! We ended the perfect weather
and gorgeous scenery as we cantered through the oak-filled hills
and valleys. If you have never ridden in Ahmanson, you are
missing out on one of the valley's treasures. This property is as
peaceful as it is beautiful and a few minutes from the gate you
see nothing but nature. You are all invited to join us sometime!

As a treat for the young Summer Camp Staff, we planned a
trip to the beach! There is only one week out of the year when
the beach in Carpinteria is accessible and all of the beaches in
Santa Barbara county have been closed to horses. We were
fortunate enough that week, the perfect "tide-day" fell on a
school holiday. Julia Broome took her mare Coco and Hannah
brought her Half-Arabian, Angel for a spectacular day of
cantering on the beach and wading in the water.

Whether our horses are in the show ring, on the trail, running
the barrels, or experiencing new adventures with their kids, our
horses prove every day the incredible depth, intelligence, and
versatility of the Arabian Horse!