One Last Show

Mt Girl's little sister. Celine's Shinin Star was born May 22, 2009. In this picture, she was just a few days old. She is out of the same mare, L S Mountain Wind Socks, as Mt Girl and this filly is by Sudden Impact, a son of Choco Dock. She, Mt Girl and their mother are almost always close to each other in the pasture.

With the World Show now a recent memory, the International behind us and the Mountain Pleasure Show over, we are now preparing for the KMSHA show that will be held in the horse park in Lexington in a week and a half. The trainers at Van Berts are busy riding and perfecting the gait, the back up and all the other things that go into a good showing by the talented horses entrusted to their care.

S T was riding my stallion on Monday when we were there. I can never get over how beautiful he is and how strong he looks both under saddle and in halter. My goal is to ride him someday. Probably not in a show ring but just to walk around the barn on his back would be a dream come true. I am so thankful to the Monhollens of Silver Creek for allowing me the opportunity to buy Cody. And to Van Berts for approaching me with the news he was available. Thanks Larry, Rebecca and Eddie.

I rode at the Horse Park the first year (2007) after I bought Blue Ridge Mountain Girl. I was a terrible rider and nervous as "a hen on a hot rock" as Chris Tipton put it. Mt Girl was only two years old. I was 65 years old and had been riding her for four months. I was terrified that I would fall off of her in the arena and make a fool of myself. As my daughter asked me "What is the worse that could happen?" My answer, "Well I could embarrass myself" And her question, "And that has never happened before?" Mary Beth sure knows how to put things in prospective for me.

So I rode. The first class I rode in there were 5 entries. I got fifth place. I wasn't embarrassed about the place. I was just happy I was able to escape with my life. I didn't fall off and I did have some compliments on how well I did in my first ever show. My friends were being very kind to me.

The next class, I got the next to last place. I won a moral victory on that one. No, moral victories don't pay very well but it does the heart good. I was just recovering from a fall I had taken off of Mt Girl just a couple of weeks before the show and I felt like I had achieved a lot by getting back on her and riding in the show. But, the worse was yet to come.

I was feeling all good and confident that I was able to ride in the show and do reasonable well. Staying on her did fit that category. I took Mt Girl home and the next time off of her was devastating to my confidence.

I was boarding her at a barn near my house. I still lived in Taylorsville. I had a friend that came to the barn one day to ride with me. She saddled up Hershey and I saddled up Mt Girl. She made sure Mt Girl stood in place while I mounted. We rode in the barn since it was December and cold outside. The barn is built with the stalls in the middle. So we were riding on the outside walls. Sheri and Hershey were in front and Mt Girl and I followed along. At one point, I stopped Mt Girl to get her to stand without walking off until I asked her to do so. And I backed her several times to perfect her backing.

Hershey and Sheri had gone around to the other side of the stalls out of sight. I signaled Mt Girl to walk on and she took off running to catch up with Hershey. I knew I was going off but I had a glimmer of hope I would hang on until she caught up and slowed down. No such luck. As we rounded the corner she was going faster than the winning horse on Derby Day. Well maybe not. I didn't make the curve and off I went. The sliding barn door broke my fall and I in turn broke the barn door. As I fell, I looked up and all I could see was flying hooves.

I was terrified to get back on a horse for a long time. The next month, we went to Van Berts and I got back on Mt Girl but I was too terrified to ride her. When Chris walked out of the barn to the tack room I was terrified. Mike got her reins and held her until Chris came back and helped me get off. It was hard for me to get over the fright. It was hard to talk about it for the longest time. I felt so inadequate. So much like a coward. To just think about getting back on Mt Girl terrified me. My heart raced and I could not draw an easy breathe. When I drove up to the barn, I did everything but scream and go running off. I had a lot of excuses for not riding. I forgot my helmet, it was getting too late etc. Anything that gave a an remote excuse for not riding. Such as I wore the wrong color shirt to ride today. You know. I came up with some pretty valid excuses actually. The wrong color shirt was one of the better ones.

In the spring I finally did get back on her and I was starting to get comfortable again. We were in White Plains Tn at a horse show down there. I was going to ride in that big arena. She was now 3 years old and I was getting control of my emotions. So Chris and Stacie said ok and they saddled her up for me. I got on her outside of the practice arena. It was some time before the class and I was riding to practice. I have never ridden a horse that was so good to ride. Mt Girl was getting better and better. She had settled into an easy gait and we were riding around and around the practice arena. I felt like I was riding on a cloud. Her gait was awesome. I felt like I was beginning to understand what I was doing on a horse. It was the best riding experience I have ever had.

I had taken a few lessons close to home and I was once again getting more comfortable on a horse. I don't know what happened but all the sudden Mt Girl was startled and she went one way and I went the other. Off I came in the middle of the wet rocks. It was soft fine rock and barely hurt at all. My pride was injured more than anything. I think this was the first time I really got to know Jamie as the kind and sweet person he is.

He helped me up and walked with me to the wash bay and turned the hose on and helped me wash the rocks off of my arms, hands and face. I then went to the motel, took a shower and changed my clothes. When I got back to the show grounds Jamie was there ready to take me to lunch and put me at ease. He has a very kind and gentle heart. That is why Jamie is such a good person to teach Melissa how to ride Mountain Horses. He has a kind, gentle easy going way about him that keeps her in the right frame of mind to ride and do what she needs to.

Thank you Jamie.

God sends us angels. Sometimes we can see them and we call them friends.

Alyssa is off of the respirator and the other tubes and now is only on monitors. She may go home next week. The doctors are surprised at how well she is doing and say she is doing better than they expected. We who know the power of prayer are not surprised. Thank you Heavenly Father.

H T told me Wilda has a new horse and rode some last week end. She is so brave. She gives me courage to ride. Wilda's new horse by the way is J Lee Walker. Let's see how long she gets to ride this one. Good luck, Wilda. Don't let H T sell him out from under you.

May God keep you in his gentle and loving care.


Regards,


Mary

He has galloped through young girl's dreams, added richness to grown women's lives and served men in war and strife.

~~~Toni Robinson~~~

From Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul

Then were there brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said "Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven".

And he laid his hands on them and depared thence.

Matthew 19: 13-15

A Fun Day

After such a stressful week last week, Lucy, Melissa and I took a trip to Van Bert's Farm today. My purpose was to introduce Melissa to a horse I bought with mainly her in mind. I have been expecting that Morning Glory would return to Vermont any time now and so I was searching for a horse that would be as easy to ride as Morning Glory and as safe as well.

I had the opportunity to buy a horse named Blooming Rose. She is a pretty red mare about 4 years old and very calm and gentle. She stood for Brandon to mount her from the ground without putting a foot in the stirrup. She barely noticed. She stood still until he asked her to move forward. She gaits well and she has a wonderful disposition.

Upon the introduction, Melissa walked up to her and Rosie put her head down to get acquainted. Melissa told me she and Rosie had to get to know each other.

As usual, Jamie rode her until she was very calm and under control. The wind was really strong today and she had been in a stall over the week end and not ridden so she was somewhat frisky when she was turned out for a run. She had a good run and then was saddled and Jamie settled her down before Melissa got on. The term for that is "riding her down". Jamie is very considerate about taking care of Melissa and the rest of us as well. He and Melissa have really hit it off.

So Melissa got on and rode until it was time to go to lunch. When we got back from lunch, Jamie saddled up Rockin Andi. He rode her and gave her a workout. I asked if Melissa could ride the two year old filly with him leading her to make sure she stayed safe on her. He said yes and put Melissa on her. Before long, Melissa was walking her around the barn with a very happy look on her face. Jamie has told her that next year they would do a "Mentor and Me" class at the Rocky Mountain International. That will be a lot of fun for her. I think Jamie is looking forward to it too.

I rode next and ask that I be allowed just to walk her mainly so I could get a good feel for her and of course, Jamie said sure to do whatever felt comfortable to me. Melissa kept assuring me she had rode Andi down for me and that she was ok for me to ride. Of course, I thanked her and told her I felt good about riding after she had ridden her down.

So I rode a while and when I got off, Lucy asked if she would be allowed just to sit on Rockin Andi for a few minutes. Before I could say Jack Rabbit, Lucy was riding the two year old Rockin Andi around the barn. Melissa assured her that she would walk with her every step of the way. And that is exactly what she did. Lucy and the horse did not take one step that Melissa wasn't right there with them. Most of the time she was instructing Momma what she was supposed to do. How to sit, how to hold the reins, how to place her hands and etc. She was fun to watch as she continued to instruct her mother in how to ride as she had been told to do during her riding lessons. This little six year old walking by her mother and the horse and teaching her how to ride. It was cute and sweet beyond description.

In all this Jamie was constantly laughing at his little student turning in to the teacher for her mother. Jamie is such a good hearted sweet person and just wonderful with his little student. He is also very patient with me as well. I am not the best rider. I don't even ride as good as Melissa. But he assures me that we are going to work on that this winter and I would be riding in horse shows next year.

At this point, I want to again congratulate Jamie on a nice first place win in a trail obstacle course in Tn last week end. I gathered he and his Dad, H T were the only two riding Rocky Mountain Horses. So they made great ambassadors for the breed. Jamie won his first place riding a gelding named J Lee Walker and H T rode Blue on Black. H T came in third in his class and was only 4 points behind the first place rider.

It was a wonderful day and ended on a very high note for the three of us. The six year old, her mother Lucy and me, the Greatest Grandma. (Melissa's assessment of me) We headed home, a happier trio not to be found anywhere.

In way of an update on Alyssa, she has her drainage tube removed now and we are thinking that the doctors will take her off of the ventilator by this week end. The doctor has expressed surprise that she is doing so well. Of course, we are very pleased but not surprised. After all, isn't that what we have been praying for. God is good and he answers every prayer.

Don't tell me he didn't answer your prayer. God doesn't always give us what we ask, even beg, for. He knows best and we don't always understand but God is still God and he is in control. Tonight we are giving him thanks and praise for his gracious goodness to our family.

May God bless and keep you in his loving care.


Regards

Mary

There is nothing like the outside of a horse for the inside of a man.

~~ Winston Churchill~~

More Rides on the Roller Coaster

Alyssa Grace on Sunday night is sleeping peacefully in her mother's arms. Surgery was scheduled for the next morning. A week ago tomorrow. See why I say she is so beautiful.

Just when I thought the crazy week was going to end on a better note, it all broke loose. It was not Alyssa this time, thank God.

This time it was Holly. She is my 14 year old Lab. She has congestive heart failure and breathing difficulties. I find that I need to keep the house cooler for Holly than I would like. It was the same with Bill and his breathing problems. The house was extremely cold sometimes because he could not tolerate breathing any warm air at all. Holly likes the house cool too but thankfully not cold.

Thursday and Friday nights she wanted out in the early hours of the morning. I am talking about 1 or 2 AM. So I let her out both nights. The first night I waited for her to come back thinking she would come back in but she didn't want back in. The next night, the same.

Saturday morning I went out to feed the dogs and when she came to me there was blood everywhere. On the side of the house, on the deck and dripping from her back. She had a growth on her back near the top of her tail. Natalie had told me it had drained while I was gone to the horse show but it was not as large as it had been. I looked at it when I got home and it was smaller but still there. So I thought it was alright then. When I saw it Saturday morning it was huge. The night before it had been much smaller.

I hastily put the other dogs in their crate and loaded Holly on the back of the truck and got her to the vet's office within 30 minutes of my discovery of blood. They immediately took her to surgery and removed the tumor. They have sent the tumor off to have it diagnosed.

She is home now and resting comfortably. She will need to go back to the vet's office to get the staples removed in about a week and a half. And she will hopefully be alright now. The other dogs keep wanting to inspect her wound and they are annoying her but they are driving me crazy. That will be a short trip. The other two would like to find a boyfriend. That is not happening. No puppies this year. They want out. I want them to stay inside. Usually they want in and I want them out.

The news from Virginia is getting a little better. Alyssa may get her breathing tube out later this week. She is doing well. Sarah stays close to her and despite her young age, she seems like she is going to be a good mother. I know she loves that baby. It shows in everything she does and says.

We are going to Van Bert's farm tomorrow. Melissa and Lucy are going with me and Melissa and I are going to ride. She is going to be introduced to a new horse since Rose's Morning Glory either has gone home to Vermont or will be going home soon. I will let you know how that goes in the next blog.

May the Lord bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

"Bad times are only 'a little something extra' in your life. Persevere and work through the trouble because tucked into every bad circumstance is a pilon, a magic pocket of beauty or love that is waiting, for you, if only you have the eyes to see it"

~~~Nancy Minor~~~

From:

Chicken Soup for the Horse Lovers Soul

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you

Philippians 1: 3

An Emotional Roller Coaster

What a whirlwind of activity the last month has been. The World Show then the Rocky Mountain International. By the way Code of Honor won the Championship class at the International against a very nice class of 11 three year old stallions. I was very pleased and S T was really happy with the result as well.

Then we were happy to welcome Alyssa Grace Arnold to our family. Weighing in at 4 # and 13 Oz she immediately made our hearts her very own. Then the bad news came that on Monday at 5 days old she would have her first surgery. My son Steve, her Grandpa called and broke the news to me. He asked if I wanted for him to come to Kentucky from Mississippi to pick me up and take me to Virginia with him to see Alyssa and be there for her mother during the surgery. Without a second thought my answer was yes.

So he left his home in Mississippi on Saturday morning and drove here.

In the meantime we went to the Mountain Pleasure International Show in Owingsville Kentucky on Saturday evening. Van Berts took 4 horses for me to that show and all four were rewarded a Championship in their class. We also got a couple of seconds and a third. My stallion, Code of Honor won his Championship against a class of other quality stallions. Annie, the weanling, was outstanding in her class.

Rockin Andi won her under saddle class and Flair for Fury won the Yearling Conformation class. It was a really good and exciting show for me as my horses demonstrated the quality available in the four separate breed registries.

Those are broken down as Rocky Mountain Horse Association, American Gaited Horse Association, Mountain Pleasure and the the show yet to come is the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association. If you are new to Mountain Horses, this may help you. It took me a while to decipher all this. I could just be slow

Eleanor and I left the show early. We had a couple of hours drive back to Taylorsville. I needed to be home at a decent hour because the next morning Steve and I were leaving for Virginia to see my newest Great Grandchild. It was his first granddaughter. We were anxious to get on the road.

During the 10 hour drive to Virginia, I got a phone call from my nephew in law telling us that his sister had died. It was tragic. She lived alone and was not found for a couple of days. It was heart breaking. We did get back in time for the funeral on Wednesday. We needed to be there to comfort our family.

We got into Virginia on Sunday early evening and picked up Sarah and went straight to the hospital. Alyssa is so tiny and so beautiful she took my breath away. Each of us had a turn to go into the nursery with Sarah to see and hold her. Only two can visit at a time. We each had to scrub like we were doing surgery and put on a gown and only then could we hold Alyssa. Sarah loves that baby so much that her heart aches. She goes from all smiles and then smiles through tears.

It hurt to see her hooked up to so many monitors and tubes. But the worse was yet to come.

The next day was the surgery. The staff at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk VA are skilled at giving information in understandable form. We got to speak with each of the health care professionals before the surgery who answered any and all questions we could think of. Her pediatrician, the heart specialist and the nurse that would go into the surgery with her. They are very compassionate and kind.

During the surgery, we were updated frequently on Alyssa's condition. We were told that she was a strong baby with a strong heartbeat. The surgery was necessary because Alyssa has Tetrology of Fallot. A hole in her heart and a artery that was leaking blood. She also has Digeorge Syndrone. A stint was put in her vein (or artery) to make the blood flow the correct way. Her oxygen rich blood was mixing with the blood that had no oxygen. Don't ask me hard questions. I don't have answers but if you would like to know more, go to google and there is a world of information on both conditions.

The 5 hour surgery went very well. We were allowed to visit her in PICU. Again no more than two at a time. We could not hold her then but we could talk to her and talk we did. We rubbed her feet and hands gently almost afraid we would break her. She looked so tiny in the full sized bed. And it was so heart breaking to see her with even more tubes in addition to the already in place monitors.

It got to be very late and we left to take Sarah home and go back to the Navy Lodge for the night. The Navy lodge is a very nice place to stay. We had beds that the comfort rivaled the Holiday Inn. There was a small efficiency kitchen and a roomy bathroom. Very nice and very clean.

Tuesday we left for Kentucky. We were not yet out of W Virginia when the phone rang. It was a sobbing Sarah. All her Dad could get out of her was tube out, OR and CPR. We almost turned around on the spot. But we had a promise of frequent updates that we didn't get all that frequently. Sarah was in no condition to tell us what had happened. Her sister's phone battery was nearly dead. We finally called the nurses' station who called Sarah to the phone.

As it turned out the breathing tube had been dislodged during a time they were suctioning her and they did CPR on her. They had to take her back to surgery to reinstall the breathing tube that is only 2 cc into her. While they were there they put her back on bypass and checked her heart to make sure the stint was still in place and that all was still ok.

We had a terrible drive home as we went back and forth in our minds whether we should be going to Kentucky or turning around to go back to Virginia. Many prayers went up to our Heavenly Father as we laid our petitions before his throne of grace. I opened my eyes after one such prayer and in my face was a billboard to read. "All things are possible with God". At that moment I knew that Alyssa would be alright but it was still a long wait to here the words spoken.

She is doing ok now. She opened her eyes for her mother Tuesday night and that made her mother's heart sing with joy.

We want to thank all who have prayed to faithfully for her. Keep those prayers going heavenward. She still has a lot of health issues. She will have another surgery in the first six months of her life. She will probably have health problems all her life. Modern medicine is so wonderful. There is much to learn but so much more is known now than past days.

One of my Dad's brothers died at 5 years of age. He had diphtheria. My brother also had diphtheria but he survived thanks to medicine that had become available after my Uncle died. Bob was sick in the early fifties. Uncle Shelburne died sometime before 1915.

God bless each of you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

"And God took a handful of southerly wind, blew his breath over it and created the horse.

~~~Bedouin Legend~~~~

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13

New Beginnings

My new Great Granddaughter Alyssa Grace Arnold. Alyssa is 4 # 13 oz. She is my son Steve's daughter's baby. I will keep you posted on her. She was diagnosed with a couple of health problems before her birth. I haven't been able to talk to Sarah yet to know how she is. Keep her in your prayers. I can already tell she is a very sweet baby. But then they all are.

Maybe she will be riding on lead line in a couple of years. I hope she will be in Kentucky to do it.

We spend yesterday praying and wondering about how things were going. Sarah lives in Virginia and we could not get there. So we spent the day in suspense wondering how long she would be and not being there to hold her hand and tell her how much we love her. And giving her comfort through her ordeal.

In November we will have another birth in the family. My grand daughter Stephanie and her husband will have their second child. A sister we think to little Joel who is will be two next February. So by the end of the year I will have 4 great-grandchildren.

The Sunday before Labor Day we held church services for everyone who wanted to attend at the World Show. Since the show ran over Sunday everyone was away from their home church, to fill the void that left in people's lives it was decided we would hold church services on the show grounds. It was held in the new barn being built by the Breslins. Cyndee's brother has been a missionary for many years and her parents were also missionaries for a long time. So her brother preached the sermon that morning.

Before he preached his message we had music by Jessica Hall. If you have never heard her sing, you have missed a special experience. Jessica has such a sweet and pure voice you might think she was an angel singing. No piano or other music, just Jessica's sweet voice leading us in the old hymns I remember from my earliest childhood memories.

H T Derickson gave his testimony before the sermon and so did Howard Klarer. H T lives his life everyday in such a way that his faith is always on display. Before I decided I wanted a mountain horse, I started doing research on the different breeds. What caused me to decide that I wanted to think about a mountain horse was an article in Horse Illustrated. If you read that magazine you will know that every month they feature a breed of horses and have an article on the good qualities of that horse. And a brief history of the breed. They will have a center fold picture of a representative of that breed.

I picked up my copy of Horse Illustrated and found the feature of the month was the Rocky Mountain Horse. As I read about the nice gait, smaller size and sweet disposition I realized this sounded like the kind of horse I would like to have. Plus the picture was of a really beautiful chocolate horse. It was such an appealing horse with his kind eyes and beautiful conformation.

Then I started doing research on Mountain Horses from other sources. I googled Rocky Mountain Horse and came up with a long list of sources for information. Then I found some farms and stables in Kentucky that had Rocky Mountain Horses. Of course, one of the most visible farm in Kentucky just happened to be Van Bert Farms of Stanton.

I watched their web site for several months and I always liked what I saw. Soon I was in Stanton looking them up. I had talked to Larry Patterson and went to my first horse show in Stanton Kentucky. Larry invited me to join him in his rolling office (the golf cart) and we went for a brief tour of the farm. I have to say I was very impressed.

Then we went to the horse show where I first met H T and Wilda. They were so natural and friendly and kind to me. It was just what I had needed. I had recently lost Bill and I wanted something to keep me busy besides work. There are the lonely hours at home after work and when no one else was around. I could not just do nothing but watch T V. The fact is my T V has not been on in my house more than two hours since Bill died due to my turning it on. Except when I watch a video.

The kindness shown to me by all the folks at Van Berts was unbelievable. I had told Larry that I had recently lost my husband and he offered to cry with me if I needed someone to do that. It was very sweet. I was asked if I was a Christian and of course I said yes. It was soon apparent to me that God had led me to a place to buy horses from people who are honorable and live their faith day by day.

It was very sweet to hear H T 's testimony and know something of his Christian walk. I was moved to tears and I really don't cry very much. H T was like so many of us. He was afraid that God would ask him to do something he didn't want to do, be a preacher. But God had other plans for him and when H T surrender his all to Christ and promised to do whatever he wanted of him, H T got a peace that filled every fiber of his body and soul. God asked him to live his testimony every day. H T has done that in a marvelous way.

Only time will tell how many souls are in heaven because H T surrender his all to Christ that day. I know I have been touched in a wonderful way by this special family. H T and Wilda are so dear to me. They are special friends that one doesn't find every day. My family has come to realize how good and special they are and they like everyone who knows them really like to be around them. They are a lot of fun.

That was a very special part of the World Show that we all cherish and enjoyed. It brought us together in a way nothing else could have. We all enjoy the company and the competition of the show but it was a time we could stop being competitors and just be people who have a lot in common and enjoy the special fellowship that people with common interests have.

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care. And may he use our little Alyssa in a special way.

Regards,

Mary

And God took a handful of southerly wind, blew his breath over it and created the horse.

~~Bedouin Legend~~

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.

Psalms 23: 1

Trail Obstacles

This is WOF Ann's Mt Treasure. She is not yet 6 months old. Larry Patterson had her out on the obstacle course at the Van Bert Farm prior to the Weanling Obstacle class at the World Show. Anne came in second to a weanling owned by Silver Creek. Larry had already led her up on the terrace, backed her through the L, backed her between barrels and led her over the seesaw.

This is part of the training I like at Van Bert's. I think this is so important to their willingness to do the obstacles they encounter on trail rides.

If you check the web page for the Van Bert Farm you will see at the lower left hand corner a link to clink on to go to a training movie of two of the horses they are training on trail obstacles. It is a very informative clip on what is actually done in a controlled enviroment to get them ready for the trail rides all of them do. That is also part of their training. Each horse is taken on a trail ride at least once and more often many times.

The trail obstacle classes are a show ground for what these horses are taught. It is a very important part of their training and I like to see a lot of participation. On the trail they will not be penalized for ticking a rail or for knocking over a limb but obstacle classes are a great way to get a horse watching where the feet are placed. It also is a good venue get the trainer aware of the foot placement and to help the horse become aware of foot placements.

On the trail however they may be asked to cross a wooden bring, walk through water, step over limbs and maunever to open and close gates while the rider is mounted. I have a very good friend who loves trail riding. Last year I let her take my horse, Chocolate Amigo on a trail ride. When she came back she was thrilled beyond words because Amigo had walked over a wooden bridge and she had not had to maneuver him down to the creek and through the water as she had done with other horses on this trail. He would have done that too but it was not necessary.

Eleanor likes to talk about an old work horse we both loved. I got to sit on her back but I don't remember riding her anywhere. She was always very tired when she got in from the fields and it was enough just to sit on her back. Eleanor however rode her a lot. It was bareback of course. We had no saddles for our horses and mules as they were there for the sole purpose of pulling the plows, the corn planter, or any other equipment. Eleanor talks about Grace and the wooden bridge. Grace hated the sound of her own hooves hitting the bridge and the hollow sound it made. But because she trusted Eleanor, she would eventually walk across the bridge although she never learned to not have that initial fear.

In a trail obstacle competition, the riders have a set obstacle course that all must do in the exact same way. The course will involve stepping over some type of obstacle like a roll of shrubs and/ or some horizonal poles elevated slightly. They will be required to back the horse possibly through an L shaped set of poles. They may be required to walk through some water. They are always asked to walk over a wooden bridge then they may need to gait to the next obstacle.. At some point the horse will be asked to gait. A gate is usually involved where the rider will have to open and close the gate from horse back. It may be a rope gate or a regular solid gate. Sometimes they are asked to pull something like a limb with a rope. They often have to step up several levels to the top of a terrace and stand there for a few seconds and the reins need to be loose. Then turn and go down another side of the terrace.

Are you getting the idea. There are a lot of obstacles on the trail and Mountain Horses are very trail worthy. They are trusted mounts for the trail and not just the beautiful horses that are seen in the show ring that almost glow in the dark from all the baths, show sheen and daily grooming they get. I like the shows. I think it is an excellent venue to get a horse reconized for his exceptional abilities and that is an important part of marketing. It gets the public involved in a way that it would not be involved. Many people just enjoy coming to watch these horses and many get very knowledgeable about their ways of going without ever competing themselves.

The horses are shown to display their individual skills. Yes we all want to win first place ribbons and trophies but there is so much more to Mountain Horses than just a pretty face and a beautiful body. And their ability to perform flawlessley in front of a noisy crowd with bright lights at night and a swarm of bugs flying around them. They are friends and companions. They are co adventurers on the trails. We depend on them to get us on and off the trail safely. And they depend on us for the care they need.

It is a tribute to their trustworthiness when you consider the new enviroment a horse is placed in when showing. At home, in their safe stalls or familiar pasture, they are not conforted with all the different sounds. The dogs they encounter then are familiar dogs. Dogs they see everyday. The smells are different. I didn't think about the smells until Chris Tipton pointed it out to me. You enter the show grounds or go to the fair and one of the first things that confront your senses is the smells. The smell of meat cooking It is pretty overwhelming for meat eating humans. But think about the horse. They hate the smell of death. I wonder does the smell of meat cooking remind them of death. How about those funnel cakes. Smells wonderful and tempting to me. What does it smell like to the 2 year old Velvet or to the 5 month old Anne?

So the long and short of trail obstacles can be summed up in just a few words. Think like a horse. That should be easy (or not).

May the Lord bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards

Mary

Footnote: I could not get the spell check to run tonight so if there is misspelled words, it is not my fault. Did I misspell, misspell?

A Trip To Walmart

My sister Eleanor Stevens riding Rose's Morning Glory in the barn at Van Bert Farms. Morning Glory is one of those horses anyone can ride and be safe. H T offered her a ride on Morning Glory and before you could turn around twice, she was on and riding. And may I add loving it. As you can see by the smile on her face.

Stanton Kentucky is under construction on the roads in the city and we had to make a detour to get to Abner's Motel where we were staying during the World Show. It has been a real hassle for everyone. Van Berts had some trouble going through the detour with their loads of horses. And even bottomed out one or more times.

It has been a most inconvenient time for the state to be in a reconstruction project and having the road closed that leads to the Van Bert Farm and to Abner's Motel. But progress is always inconvenient it seems. Van Berts do not like to leave horses in unfamiliar stalls during horse shows if not necessary so they made a lot of trips back and forth to the UMH grounds near Winchester. And many trips though construction and detours with their trailers loaded with horses.

The classes didn't always start early at the World Show and one day we (Eleanor and I) got up and decided we wanted to go to Walmart at Mt Sterling. Judy Brummer had said she had gone to Walmart in Mt Sterling and Vera also mentioned it so we decided we would go to Mt Sterling. Now let me say this, I am not very familiar with the cities and towns in that part of Kentucky. I live near Louisville and I can find almost anything in that city but Mt Sterling, Paris, Lexington and Winchester and yes Mt Sterling are all foreign soil to me.

I have onstar in my Silverado but what to heck. It is not as satisfying as finding something on my own when I have enough time to explore a little. It is like going into a store and trying to locate an item I need. I seldom ask. I like to look around and I often find something that I forgot I needed. When you are not certain of where you are going out in the country, you will see a lot of sights and places you might have missed otherwise.

I remember the time Bill and I brought Mike's car home to Kentucky from Texas when he was deploying to Iraq the first time. We had rented a car to drive to Kileen and made arrangements to leave it at the car rental in Austin which was near the airport. We got to Kileen and found Mike's apartment and met up with him. The next day we took him to work and drove both cars to Austin to turn the rental in.

Bill always liked for me to drive because I have a better sense of direction. Again coming back from Austin there was a lot of construction coming from the airport to the freeway I knew would take us back to Kileen. I missed the entrance ramp and although I could see the freeway, I could not get back on. So I kept driving. Bill didn't like to miss chances to tell me I had messed up because it happened so seldom. (I hear you laughing Mary Beth and you stop it). But I contended I was taking the scenic route back to Kileen. We drove for some time and finally he decided he was hungry and would probably die of starvation if I didn't find some place to eat soon. He could get rather dramatic when he was hungry.

As luck would have it, I pulled in to the parking lot of a restaurant, a little hole in the wall place actually, that served maybe the best hamburgers in all of Texas. So the lesson there and one I haven't forgotten is even if I am temporary side tracked something good may come of it. It didn't take much longer from there to find the entrance to the freeway and Bill had one of the best hamburgers he had ever eaten.

So once again, I figure sooner or later I can find most anything I want so we set out for Mt Sterling. I had seen the sign on the Mt Parkway at Clay City pointing the way to Mt Sterling as being a right at that exit. So I took the right. I watched for additional signs and saw none so I kept on the same road figuring we were going in the right direction. We drove for some time. I thought we were getting into Mt Sterling when I started seeing businesses along the way. I commented that they had a Kroger in Mt Sterling too.

We next passed a funeral home and I commented that it was the same name as the funeral home in Stanton and they must have more than one location. Then we got to the stop light and Eleanor said with utter disbelief that Mt Sterling was as torn up as Stanton. The street going to our right and left was torn up and traffic was at a standstill as they moved equipment back and forth. I didn't know for sure which way to turn so I made a guess and turned left. As soon as I made the turn, I started laughing. I said to Eleanor, " We are back in Stanton!"

We both had a really good laugh about that as did our friends at the horse show when we related the story to them.

I made several turns through Stanton and got back on the same road that had taken us into Stanton and I watched along the side roads until I did find a sign pointing us in the direction of Mt Sterling. We found the Walmart. Eleanor went roaming through the store while I was looking for what I needed. She found her favorite brand of jeans in the store. And even better they were half price. See how that works.

Next time we might just go to a different Walmart and see some different scenery. It is no telling what we will find. We may just find the restaurant that serves the best hamburger in Kentucky.

Until next time.

May your routes always be scenic. And may God keep you in his loving and tender care.

Regards

Mary

"How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

~~Anne Frank~~

And the unltimate improvement in the world was:

For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3: 16

9-11

Pictured is my two military sons. Pictured at my right is Sr Chief Stephen J Lipginski in the Seabees. At my left is SFC Wm M Lipginski II now retired from the Army. This was taken at the funeral of my husband, their father, Wm M Lipginski Sr (Bill). Bill also served in the Army.

Today's date will live in our hearts and minds for the rest of our lives. But even before 9-11-2001 there was 9-11-1993. 9-11 was already a date that was burned into my memory and the day always left an ache and pain in my heart.



The Bible tells us that "blessed in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" One of his saints went home to be with the Jesus he loved and served and taught his family about. That saint was my father, Frank Rogers. He left this life for his new life on 9-11-1993. So I was feeling a little down on 9-11-2001 when someone rushed into the Post Office where I was working and said a plane had just hit one of the trade towers.

I couldn't believe it could be anything but an accident. It soon became apparent it wasn't as a second plane hit the trade towers. I know you remember where you were and what you were doing on that day at that exact time. I can still remember exactly where I was, where I was standing and how I felt as the news started to reach every sense in my body and set my heart to racing and every nerve in my body reacting to the news at the same time.



I said to no one in particular "We are at war". Those are words no one wants to think of or hear but because I had two sons in the military, it struck fear in my heart. An additional fear to the one that had hit me when I knew it was an attack of proportions that I could not wrap my mind around.



America does so much good around the world. We live in a country that is so unique and so full of charity for those hurting and suffering around the world it is was almost impossible to believe any one could hate us so much that they would attack and kill almost 3,000 innocent people. Hurricanes, who is the first there. Earthquakes, who is the first to send aid and people in to clean up the mess and bury the dead and search for those who are still trapped in the rubble. A tidal wave hits. Who sends in clothes, blankets, water and food plus people to help with the aftermath. America does.



It isn't just the government sending in support. I go to a church that sent thousands of dollars that was taken up in the collection plate for the victims of the tidal wave that hit. We sent people, supplies and money to the hurricane victims in Louisiana. We even built a house in our parking lot to send to New Orleans. America is such a unique country. So good in so many ways. I am so proud of the good my country has done in the world since her inception.



America has been a country that has cherished freedom for it citizens and for those who are in bondage around the world. Those whose govenments want to dictate every move they make. Those who are told that can't worship as they choose. We have done more to free people around the world than any country in the history of the world.



Brave men fought on our own soil back in the 1860s to right a wrong that had been around for many hundreds of years. Slavery was mentioned in the Bible. The Bible did not address the right or wrong of it but it was going on in Bibical times. Good Christian people could not reconcile the owning of slaves with what our consitution had made plain as the basic right of man. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.



We all know how that ended. Slaves were set free and eventually were given the right to participate in the election of those who represent all of us in this Republic.



So how could anyone hate us enough to kill almost 3,000 people that day. I still can not get my mind around it. I know what the reasons are that are indisputable but how can people really believe that when they claim to do the will of God. I don't think they believe in the same God I do. God does not tell me to destroy people who disagree with me. He tells me to love them and show them the way to salvation through his son Jesus Christ.



So today as we grieve for those lost and still try to make some sense of it, I challenge you to think about the United States of America in the context of the many things we have done right How we have liberated people from the tyranny of governments that suppress their freedoms and their right to choose for themselves and to produce and keep the fruits of their labors



I ask you to pray for our country and our leaders. We have a lot of challenges ahead of us the next few years. I thank God for this country. For all the kindness and love in the hearts of the people of this land. I pray no one will ever take our freedoms from us. I pray that the people of this land will always stand up for what is good, for what is true and what is righteous.

God bless and keep you in his loving care. And may God continue to bless America.

Regards

Mary


If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, I will heal their land.

From the Bible.

Edward Had a Birthday

Well, I certainly am a bad Grandma. I did not get a card in the mail to Edward for his birthday yesterday. The problem is that I do not have his new address yet. Edward is now in boot camp in the Navy. He left the 28th of August. So if you happen to be listening Edward. A belated Happy Birthday. The card will be in the mail just as soon as I get your address. I am eager to see Edward as he graduates from boot camp. The change in the young men and women after the first 6 weeks of the military is pretty awe inspiring.

The World Show is over for another year. The RMHA in now underway. The Rocky Mountain show started yesterday on the heels of the World Show. It is very intense for the trainers and exhibitors that want to show in both.

Congratulation to all the winners in the World Show. Judy Brummer and Emdee Mountain Horses of Shumway Illinois had another great show. I am sure Mike will soon be building new trophy cabinets for all the ribbons and trophies that Judy won. They had a very successful show and I am so happy for them. Judy and Mike are two of my favorite people. They are both very funny, intelligent and nice to be around. Judy and Mike work very hard with their horses. They ride at least an hour a day winter and summer, rain and shine and they deserve the success they have with their horses. Judy works especially hard with Legendary Lady. Lady missed the Super Horse Award by just a few points this World Show.

I won't see Judy and Mike again until the awards banquet in January. But congratulations to them for all the success in the show ring this year. The best to you both. And thanks for your outstanding sportsmanship.

There is a lot to report from the World Show and I have made a list. I stayed in a motel where the Internet service was spotty at best and I was only able to blog one time and that was the first day. The rest of the week, I was pretty much disconnected as soon as I logged in. The signal was very weak.

One of the most heart warming moments at the show was when Trent Shannon rode in on the flag horse with Mike Bowen. Trent is a youngster with many challenges in his life. I don't know how old he is but I am guessing about 7. He has always been a huge fan of the horse Snow on the Mountain. His grandmother told me that he was so angry when a buckskin horse beat Snow in a World Show class several years ago that he has never liked buckskins from that day.

Trent is a frequent spectator at the horse show and is always with his grandmother. His mother is Jessica Shannon who is a very accomplished rider and can be seen in the show ring often. They are Southern Elite Farms.

It was announced that next year Trent will be riding as a guest exhibitor in the horse shows. I am looking forward to seeing him riding. The love of horses is so apparent in his eyes as he watches the classes. I am glad he will get this opportunity.

Horses have a way of connecting to young and old, healthy and challenged, as well as men and women across all walks of life. They seem to understand us in a way that is hard to explain. They fill a need in our lives to lavish love on a living creature. They listen to our troubles and problems and never breath a word of what we tell them. They willingly carry us where we want to go. There is no other animal in the world like a horse. Dogs have a role in our lives and my life would be poorer without my dogs but there is nothing like a horse.

So I hope you will be with me in coming days as I relate experiences from the World Show. I have lots of pictures. I am sure I will not be able to post them all. Some will post and others will be roaming around in cyberspace waiting to load into my computer some day and it will overwhelm my poor computer and it will never be the same.

So later everyone.

World Show, Here at Last

Code of Honor. He is our stallion that is a Lifetime Breeder's Cup Stallion. He will be showing in the 2- 3 year old conformation class on Wednesday. Cody (barn name) is standing at the Van Bert Farms. Email www.vanbertfarms.com for breeding informationa and to schedule a breeding.


Yesterday Eleanor and I got into Stanton early enough to help Judy and Annette decorate the front of the stable for the theme of the world show "World of Enchantment. The barns up and down the road have taken on a whole new look as each of the owners have decorated with their ideas for World of Enchantment. Later in the week there will be recognition for the best decorated barn.

I will stop here to offer condolences to Larry Patterson and his family over the death of his Mother. She had a long and courageous battle with cancer and I know she was the rock that held the family together up to the final moment. It is a very personal and devastating lose to lose one's mother. Ours left us for her eternal life in 1970. So I know a lot about the feelings they are having now but each person grieves in a different way and yet so much the same. I think this has to be because of the difference in the memories of family life. So if you still have your mom, the next time you see her, give her a big hug and "I love you mom". Build precious memories while you have a chance. We grieve with you Larry and want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

The grounds are alive with the excitement of the upcoming classes that begin today with the Breeder's Cup classes. I will have four in those classes. Two that are 2 years old and two yearlings. My yearling filly has won a lot this year. She is by Venture's Black Fury. She is a very classy filly. So we have high hopes for her.

I am excited about the two 2 year olds I have. One is Dock's Velvet and this will be her first conformation class. She is a beautiful bay mare. She will be ridden first and then shown in hand And the same with Rockin Andi.

The signal is weak here at the motel but I will try to blog every day to give you an idea of what is happening here at the world show. I am sorry you are missing the everyday excitement of the big finale for our show season with the UMH. I will see some of you on Saturday when Melissa with ride again. So far she and Morning Glory are making a great team. We are excited over that prospect.

Regards

Mary

Quote of the day

"It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision."

Helen Keller


Let not your heart troubled ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house there are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also.

John 14: 1-4

Regards