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???