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!!

Head on over and take a peek. She has other links and stories on her site, so read away!

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.

CONGRATS to the 2008 Steeldust Farm Show Series Champions

Adult Pleasure Champion
Gail Straw riding Zip Blondie Nip

Adult Pleasure Reserve Champion
Linda Collins riding Dino

Senior Pleasure Champion
Paige Skipper riding Big Johnson

Senior Pleasure Reserve Champion
Samantha Keeney riding Rio

Junior Pleasure Champion
Delaney Chabot riding Cup O Joe

Junior Pleasure Reserve Champion
Ashley Yeaton riding Errol Flynn

Walk /Trot Champion
Abby Downing riding Smokey Pokey

Walk/Trot Reserve Champion
Shonoa Straw riding SLM Bursting Amber

Adult Games Champion
Gail Straw riding Zip Blondie Nip

Adult Games Reserve Champion
Linda Collins riding Dino

Senior Games Champion
Paige Skipper riding Big Johnson

2008 Steeldust Farm Champions

Senior Games Reserve Champion Samantha Keeney riding Rio

Junior Games Champion Ashley Yeaton riding Errol Flynn

Junior Games Reserve Champion Delaney Chabot riding Cup O Joe

Walk/Trot Games Champion Brianna Shappell riding Kala Mcque Sandman

Walk/Trot Games Reserve Champion Abby Downing riding Smokey Pokey

Jumping Champion Paige Skipper riding Big Johnson

Jumping Reserve Champion Meghan Uhelein riding Double Stuff Oreo

A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THESE EXCELLENT RIDERS!!!
If anyone has any photos that they would like posted, please email them to Jennifer and we will get them posted here!

Imagine the crisp feel of the cold air on your face as the rest of your body heats up from working your horse into the right frame and keeping the feel on your reins while you stay relaxed and focused. It stays warm enough that by the end of the lesson and the cool out for your horse, you are not even cold.

A perfect way to spend the afternoon, as many others would agree, I hope! Stay in touch with Jennifer about fitting in a lesson. Some days are just too cold, but there are many that are perfect as long as you are in a pair of winter riding britches.

In May, there will be a Leadership Show to benefit the 4-H scholarship program. It should be the first show of the year and it will be fun to see everyone after this winter finally lets up its grasp.

If you come to the farm, you will see some new faces as we get some new horses to prep for the 2009 riding season. The old favorites will always stay with us, but there will be some new boys to add some variety.

And remember, as always, if you are looking to find that perfect mount, Jennifer has some excellent horses for sale at the farm and she can work with you to find other horses for you. It is best to work with someone who knows your riding abilities and preferences so that you don’t get a horse above or below your own abilities. A horse can be a best friend as well as a substantial investment, make sure it is good for you AND the horse!

If you have any winter photos of you and your horse, send them over. We are thinking of making a photo page here on the site for all the Steeldust riders out there.

Happy New Year from all at Steeldust Farm to you and yours!!!

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!

Born on May 10th at 10:40 pm, the newest arrival to the farm. Joe B’s Marshall. a black colt with a white star and 2 white socks on his front left and right rear feet

Both Sunshine’s Bonita (Miss B) and Joe B’s Marshall (Marshall) are doing well!