Liz Howell

Well she didn't actually go in the show, but she was ridden among all the other riders and horses during the lunch break. She is doing very well with her training and Audra really likes her. She said she has been very easy to train and quick to learn.  She was excited being around all the other horses but did quite well, even when one horse stopped abruptly in front of her she just swerved and kept going. Here are a couple of pics that I took.

WOO HOO!  Jim and Tyler after almost 3 weeks finally got my computer room totally refinished.  They put in solid oak flooring, drywall, baseboards, redid all the seams and doorways and the room looks fabulous.  I had purchased some paint along the green lines thinking it would be very very pale and painted the walls.  After I was finished all of us agreed that it just wasn't the right color.  It reminded me of the green appliances from the 60s-70's and shag carpets, yuck so ugly.  I told Jim and Tyler that they could go pick out a color because obviously I am color blind and that what ever they picked out would surely have to be better than what was currently on the walls.

They came back with a peach-beige-brown like color (I told you I am color blind) and it fits the room perfectly.  Jim just has one more piece of trim to install and a little more caulking but enough has been done that I had them move the furniture back into the room. I am sooo happy and the room feels so light and airy now.  I spend 90% of my house time in the computer room as it is also my craft room, tack cleaning room, E-bay room, television room, cat room, sewing room, and anything else I want to do that Jim won't allow me to do in the main part of the house.

Now I am in the process of putting everything away Neatly, unfortunately its already a mess. Funny how that happens...CYA!

Here are a couple of pics before the final touches.

Audra and I went to see Clinton Anderson yesterday in Jacksonville. What a nice facility they have up there. We got there around 9 am just in time for Clinton to come into the ring and the music to start. He put on a fantastic show and clinic. I have seen some of his videos before but never had the opportunity to go to one of his clinics. He is very much the showman and presents his ideas clearly with just enough info to make a person want to buy his tack and videos. I did learn one thing that I have been doing wrong in my roundpen training and can't wait to try out my new knowledge on Rainy the pony that I just got in. She is very pushy with alot of Pony attitude and these new skills should straighten her right out.

I did breakdown and purchase one of his sticks and one of his videos that I had been wanting. All of his tack was 15% off and his videos were 25% off and considering we had recieved free tickets to the show and no shipping cost I felt they were a wise purchase. The tickets they sent me were for Saturday only so even though I wanted to go back for the Sunday show I decided against it.

Clintons demo horses were very broke but more behind the bit with more face contact than I like to see. I know he was only trying to show how flexible they were but I still dont think a horse needs to have thier chin to thier chest or thier head to your waist to be able to work correctly. I gotta give the guy credit though as he sure rides alot.  If you have ever watched his videos that is one of the main things that will stand out in your mind....ride, ride, ride until you get it right.

Of all the famous trainers out there I really like him the best. He isn't abusive to horses but he doesn't put up with any crap either AND he doesn't try to hide anything from you like some other trainers do. If the horse needs to be smacked he smacks it but he is just as quick to praise also.

If you ever get a chance to see his show certainly go as it was totally worth it even if I had to pay to get in. I took a few pics with the phone and most of them didn't turn out, but here are the ones that did.

Things have been busy this past month and I haven't had a chance to update this page.  My Mom and my Aunt Carolee came to visit for a few days in Febuary.  For my Birthday we decided that we would go to Webster Flea Market along with our friends Diana and Maddie.  They have a small flea market just before the huge Webster Flea Market that we decided to stop at first. I found a huge wall hanging with several paint horses on it for an awesome price.  I quickly took it back to the van and then went looking for them.  When we got back to the van a comment was made about how could I not find anything to purchase as they all had shopping bags in hand.  I laughed as I opend the back of the van and said "I hope there is enough room for you all" as they saw my purchase.

We loaded into the van and went up the street to the big flea market but unfortunately along the way my Aunt began to feel bad and decided that she would sit in the van while we went shopping.  The weather was still cool so we decided that we would go for only 1 hour and then meet back at the van. By the time we got back my Aunt was feeling better and said that she would treat me to lunch at a place of my choice. We went to a restaurant that my Mom & Diana picked out which was seafood. Now I don't mind fresh seafood but I really don't care much for frozen stuff, they all liked it though so that was fine with me.  There was an Everythings a Dollar Store next door and Aunt Carolee gave me a buck and told me to go buy whatever I want. I laughed and said "Everybodys a comedian".

When we got home they even had cake and ice cream, I don't know when they had time to do that. All in all it was a great Birthday and I loved having everyone at my house.

Abbie got spayed last Friday and we were so worried about her when we brought her home. She was totally limp and barely awake when she was picked up in the evening. I don't understand why we had to drop her off at 7:00 in the morning and then pick her up at 6:30 in the evening only to have her still under anesthesia. She went in to get spayed and have two baby teeth removed that had not fallen out. They ended up removing 9 baby teeth that we were unaware of.

Anyway she just slept the rest of the night, the next morning and all day she was still sleepy but did get out of her bed a couple of times to chase the cat. Jim bought her some Beniful soft dogfood that looked like something a person could eat and a couple of new toys. By the second day she was back to her old self and we had to put her in "time out" as she was wanting to play too much.

Its now been a week and she is off her pain meds and acting like nothing ever happened. She has to go to the vet on the 13th for a check-up. I guess we will let her finish off all the soft dogfood but after that she has to go back to her hard food like it or not.

cya!

Zippy went to his new home on the 14th of January.  Its funny because the lady had come out to look at Kristy originally but I had sold her to someone else.  Later I emailed her about having Zippy for sale and she brought a man out to look at him.  Of course as things go he was lame, lame, lame when I brought him out of the stall.  I put him on Bute for a couple of days and called the farrier out.  He had abscesses in two feet the poor guy.  Anyways after a few weeks he was back on top and working well so I emailed her to see if her friend had bought a horse yet and if not that Zippy was 100 percent sound again.  She said her friend was in South Carolina and that she didnt know when he would be back but that she might be interested in him for herself.  Needless to say all worked out and he went home with her the next day. I don't know if she will keep him or sell him to her friend when he returns but either way I think Zippy will have a good home.

cya!

Kelly Kaminski Big Dreams Shining Star Barrel Saddle US $1,300.00

BOB MARSHALL 15 Treeless Endurance Trail Sports Saddle US $560.00

Circle Y 16" Western Show Saddle, Bridle & 2 Show Pads US $2,500.00

Well the holidays are over and I'm back at home. I went up to my Moms house in the Panhandle for Christmas. Her friend that lives near me went up with me so it was nice not having to drive by myself. I got to see my Aunt & Uncle and my Brother and Sister In-law and my Nephew. Boy has he grown, he is only 7 but comes up to my chin and is skinny as a rail.  He must have gotten the skinny jean from his Mothers side as we have very few thin folk on our side.

We took Abby with us and she was so good in the car. Never made a peep but once we got to the house look out, she was balls to the walls playing with her Christmas toys.  She figured out how to squeek them on her own and once I yelled out "HEY knock it off" thinking it was my Nephew making all the ruckus only to have him give me a silly look and point at the dog.  Abby was having the best time squeek squeek squeeking her toys. We had to take the toys from her for awhile as she just wouldn't stop.

I have posted a few pics just double click on them to see them full size.

We went to Busch Gardens Wednesday and what a blast it was. The weather was perfect, the crowds were small and we were able to take our time seeing the sights. We had purchased our tickets back in April but were never able to get away to Tampa until now. We rode several of the rides and two of the roller coasters, the SheiKra and the Montu. We tried to ride on the Scorpion but Jim was too tall for his legs to fit in the seat. They really should have a notice that if you are over 6ft tall you might not fit on this ride, but fortunately we didn't have to wait in a line so it was no big deal. Here are a few pics, just click on them to see them larger.