One of My Favorite Things-NOT

Among all of the good and exciting things I get to do everyday, I do have to do things that are not so much fun. Today was one of those things. The Dentist. 'Nuff said. Except that I did have to schedule another appointment. This visit was for cleaning and x rays. Next will be for drilling and I don't mean for oil.

I seem to have more followers on my blog than I had thought. My daughter reads it faithfully, "So I know what Mom has been up to." she says. She actually checking to see if I have bought any new horses since the last one I told her about. My brother reads it too, I have learned. Now I read today that Vera also reads it. Thanks one and all for following my blogs and for the kind words in response to them.

I have been working with one of my yearling colts here on the farm. He had been shown last summer and he really is a beautiful well grown colt. I keep reminding myself that I have a goal in mind by choosing Spirit to show instead of Lucky. Lucky is the colt here on the farm and he is chestnut. I have had chestnuts shown for me that have done exceptionally well and for whom the judges seem to have no bias based on color. Having said that, I think the bias comes from owners on color more than from judges. Everyone wants the chocolate with the white or flaxen mane and tail. Of course that is not the only thing they look for in a Mountain Horse but it seem to be the trump card.

To me it is more about the ride than the color. I have several black mares that would turn any head in the crowd. And my blood bay mare is a real standout in the crowd. I think my chestnut colt, Lucky, is an eye catcher too, though. He is people friendly and the first one to meet me at the gate. He is fairly easy to work with and has a sweet disposition. You know all the qualities we have come to expect from Mountain Horses. I have allowed him to become spoiled and he doesn't respect my space. But thanks to Larry, I have learned how to work on that fault. And he is getting better.

My first chestnut was a weanling filly named Butterfly Kisses. Those of you who know me, also know the "Butterfly Kisses story". I bought her and S T Tipton was assigned to train her for showing in both Conformation and Breeder's Cup. Three weeks later, she walked out with the blue in both classes and then walked out with the Grand Championship Ribbon in the Championship Class. S T did a fantastic job training her. As an encore, S T showed her in Trail Obstacles and placed second beaten only by another weanling he had trained. I sold her at the show that year. But I still like to see her and follow her career. Last year as a yearling she placed 3rd in Conformation at the World Show and had other owners holding their breath for fear she would beat them out of first place. She is a Choco Dock daughter. And she always looks like a Champion like her sire. I am eager to see her under saddle this year. I now own a half sister to Butterfly Kisses. Her name is WOF Dock's Velvet. She was a winner in North Carolina in the 2-3 Country Trail Pleasure Class. More of that Championship Blood from Choco Dock. "Cream," they say, "always comes to the top" and at the top is where you often find the Choco Dock colts and fillies.

The Butterfly Kisses story had a new chapter last year when I bought her mother. She is a mare named Magic Rhythm. Now if you had read my blogs recently, you remember that Magic Rhythm just had a new foal. I now own two babies out of this mare. Kailey's Magic is a black yearling filly and is beautiful and her little brother, just born, is Stephen's Blazin Star. So in my herd I am trying to continue the tradition that the Van Bert's have set forth for the Rocky Mountain Horse industry. A tradition of outstanding breeding, good training and first rate care.

I try to follow in the winning tradition of the Van Bert Farm, by asking lots of questions and learning as much as I can. The Dericksons, Tiptons and Pattersons are very patient with me and seem to enjoy sharing the knowledge they have acquired through their years of working with horses. As I am fond of saying, they have forgotten more about horses than most people will ever know. But they don't forget very much. And what I appreciate about them is they all have the heart of a teacher.

To illustrate their skill and knowledge, let's go back in time to the recently completed North Carolina show. The Van Bert Farm and the Cool Shade Mountain Horse Stable won a line full of ribbons. There was almost no class that their horses or in many cases horses didn't leave with ribbons. And that also included Championship Classes.

It is a testament to their skills as trainers and riders. In the show ring you can see the competition between their riders and horses. I think the horses sense and enjoy the competition as much as the riders do. Often you will see H T or Wilda, the grandparents, Jamie, the Uncle and one or two of the Tipton sons competing against each other. Then there is Chris's wife Stacie who rides and trains as well and she is often in a class against one or more of them. When the class is over there is still the friendly feelings one has in close knit families. That is another reason I enjoy them so much.

I am know whether they go on the rail or on the trail the horses that are trained by these two stables are trained to a highest of standards. The welfare of the horse is always near the top of the list on training next to the safety of the riders.

Later everyone

I hope everyone had a great Easter and remembered why Easter is so important.