Finny, Sammie and Alex just hopped on Bareback, Jennifer and Ashley were off for a trail ride lesson and Sierra had just gotten back from a trail ride! It was a great moment (only mildly staged by me for photo appearances).

I am setting up a flickr account for the barn, but for now, check out this set on my own flickr: HERE to see some more gems of that day! Some great shots of Mr. Big, as well as a HUGE number of wraps needing to be done!

I did delete the video of us all singing along to Carrie Underwood. No one needs to hear that! Least of all me again!!!
You can have fun doing something BIG and something SMALL. I think everyone had fun posing with their ponies, and the horses enjoyed the attention too!!

CONGRATS!!!

Delaney, if you read this, leave a comment with the gist of your project and I will add it to the post!

In April, the Pemi Valley 4-H River Riders held a bake sale at the Tractor Supply in Chichester NH and were able to raise $250 dollars!

This money they donated to Live and Let Live Farm. In hard times as these, its great that people were able to buy so much yummy food and that Live and Let Live Farm is able to get some extra money to help the animals that they work so hard to save!

Information about L&LLF

Live and Let Live Farm, Inc. was formed in 1996, and incorporated as a 501c3 charitable nonprofit foundation in 2002. Starting with just four horses, the farm has expanded to over 60 horses along with many other species of animals. The facilities has grown to three barns, an indoor rehabilitation center (The Complete Body Rehabilitation Center), four round pens, a series of corrals with run-in shelters and an outdoor riding ring.

The Live and Let Live Farm, Inc. provides a safe environment for animals and people to interact. Through a network of volunteers (which forms a huge family of our own ”with a remarkable sense of kinship”), along with co-owner and sponsorship programs, people learn humane education and horsemanship while caring for and rehabilitating horses.

We work with school districts (such as Chichester and Epsom), nonviolent prison rehabilitation programs, youth groups and other programs (such as the “Eagala” program) to implement programs that will give people an opportunity to work with horses that they wouldn’t normally have. The benefits of building relationships with horses and people include physical, emotional and mental aspects that have been well documented and can lead both animals and people to having more productive lives.

Good work to the 4-H’ers and check out the Live and Let Live Farm website. Maybe you will be their next volunteer?

I think what I enjoy most about showing at Steeldust, beyond how it really is fun and relaxing, is how supportive we all are. You trail ride and take lessons and put in HOURS of work and then are expected to show that off in a 5 minute class. Stressful, I know it. But it can be fun, and our Show Series tries really hard to keep that fun feel, even in the stressful classes!
There are some people who don’t do a lot of showing, and were uncertain about the trail course. Even though it meant that they would CERTAINLY win division champion, we made sure to push them into doing the course. Which they did a great job on, and then yes, won Adult Champion, and everyone cheered VERY loudly!

It really is just so much fun, and to prove it, here is a picture of me winning 3rd (yellow is very pretty… red and blue are of course prettier!) and the smile only got bigger as the day went on!

Please consider showing in the 2009 Steeldust Show Series. It is really just a good time and you can ask anyone, its F.U.N!!!!

Steeldust will also be hosting Leader’s Show which is not part of Steeldust Farm series on May 10th. This should be really fun, and you will get to see some of our new young fresh riders from around the state! As always, if you have any questions, drop Jennifer an email. Information is on the contact page.

March always brings some crazy weather. There have already been days in the 50’s and we are about to get another storm. Who knows how the END of March will amaze us!

I hope everyone has been able to get in a fun ride with this beautiful weather. Remember, grooming your horse, even if you can’t ride, is a great bonding experience. And I know all the horses I work with never complain about extra treats in the winter.

On our instructor’s front, Jennifer Elliot has been working hard with her horse Lily. Jennifer has been competing Lily at Novice level in USEA events and doing very well! It is still a learning experience for Lily, but they are both learning and coming along nicely.

Important information for those interested in going further with their horses is the access to another excellent training facility. Denny Emerson’s farm is the Tamarack Hill Farm which began as a 113-acre farm in Strafford, VT, and has since expanded to 500 acres plus a 65-acre farm in Southern Pines, NC, adjoining the 3000-acre Walthour-Moss Foundation. It is an excellent facility, with a variety of options for riders at all levels. Jennifer has been going to Denny for the past two years to further her riding abilities and now Paige Skipper has also joined Denny’s working student program. This is a program whose participants have gone on to be Olympic Riders.

Here is a photo of Denny Emerson, hard at work:

We have also had our July show in the Summer Show series. Another beautiful day, lots of fun, lots of hard work that got be shown off. Hope you can make it to our next one on Labor Day Weekend!

Congratulations Paige!