Sorry I haven’t updated in a while.  A lot has been going on, but not a whole lot of barrel racing.

My grandmother finished chemo and we had her a blow out party the beginning of October.  We had a great time and just celebrated her being with us!

BLY Valiance Hooker sold to Brandy Webb.  Brandy came to try Hooker and they immediately fit together.  She made an outstanding run on her and I just knew it was meant for them to be together.  I really look for this pair to do great things together!

We plan on running at the North American as of current!  It’s always such a great time down there!  A little chilly, yes.

Looking forward to our next show which will be Halloween weekend at Saddle Up Arena in Madison, IN.

Until then…

We’ve gotten a lot of farm chores done today and we’re packing up to head out this evening to a jackpot at Bedford, KY.  Hopefully I’ll have great news to report!

We had a great weekend, but I can’t wait to get back to the shows! 

This weekend will depend soley on the weather, of course!  There are plenty of shows close by, IF it doesn’t rain much more! 

I have decided to sell my 7 year old mare, Hooker.  See my For Sale page for more info on her!

The Lake!

Josey soaking up the sun

Amish boys who hitched their pony and went for a swim in the lake!

My run in the adult could have been a LOT better.  I ran 7/10ths off the leader and went WAY past my second and third.  Oopps!  Then my Open run, I knocked the 2nd barrel, so I opted to pull him up and save him.  I was a little discouraged with myself.  I really just didn’t ride him like I should have.  Freckles has to be set before the barrels and two handed in between, no matter what.  So….I dont have any videos that I want to post of that!  Heehee! 

Last weekend, we stayed home.  I was all packed and ready to hit the big show in Shepherdsville, KY and then we started doing some landscaping.  Then we just decided to stay home and finish it.  Well it took ALL weekend!  But the place looks great and there is an instant sense of gratification afterwards!

This weekend we’re loading up the horse trailer with OUR FISHING BOAT and going to camp out and do some fishing. 

I’m hoping this rain will clear up and we’ll head to Trimble County next weekend!!!

We packed up and headed out early on Saturday morning to Richmond, KY.  John and I were hauling with my great friend, Lindsey Hostetler.  We also decided to take our colt along for the ride also. 

I made John enter the adult class and I was going to take the run on Freckles in the open class.  Freckles had a great run going with John and PANCAKED at the 2nd barrel.  After I turned the camera off and started to jump the fence I heard everyone gasp.  When I looked up, he was being drug.  He went about 10-12 feet before his boot finally came out of the stirrup.  Talk about scary.  John was ok and Freckles was fine, THANK YOU LORD! 

I almost decided to draw out of the Open, but no one else had any trouble, so I went ahead.  I had a great run.  Couldnt complain at all!  I had to check him down hard going to the third, because we were MOVING, but he snapped it nice.  I was sitting 4th for a good while, but after 115 entries, I got moved to around the 8-10th fastest time.  But since Charlie Peoples ran a SMOKING 15.270 on his great black horse, I was 2nd in the 2D for a nice check!  Yeah!  I ran a 15.886.

We have a lot of stuff on our plate to do this week and I hope to work on getting Freckles more in shape.  I have to say, he’s not even in the greatest shape yet. 

I may stay close to home this weekend and go to Yankeetown Arena in Henryville.  That is, IF John gets to reset Freckles’s shoes this week.

Until next time…

Ashley

We went over our great friends, the Sanders’, house this weekend for a Derby party and had a blast. 

Other than that, we’re trying to get the horses into shape, but with all this rain, it’s AINT easy! 

If it doesn’t get rained out, we’re headed to Bedford, KY this weekend!  Rain Rain go away!

My friend Lindsey Hostetler won 2nd at the show that night in Bedford, KY.  So congrats to her!  She has a real nice horse she’s been running for about a year now and she plans on hitting some pro rodeos this year and is begging me to come along.  We’ll see…

My weekend was spent with lots of riding and LOTS of gardening.  My back was so sore by Sunday! 

We got the garden planted on Saturday, along with some flowers.  Then on Sunday I gave some lessons and then we headed off to shoe some horses. 

Now the rain is here AGAIN!  YUCK! 

We’re trying to decide what our plans are for the Derby weekend.  Right now, I bet all the outdoor shows will be rained out. 

Until next time…

A LOT has happened since I last updated the site.  My claim to fame and horse of a lifetime, Native Money (aka Luther) passed on July 21, 2008.  We believe Luther had a stroke and it was in our best decision to decide to put him down.  He is buried at the top of his pasture under his favorite persimmon tree that overlooks our whole farm.  Everyday is so different without Luther.  As many of you know, he was the one that took me to where I am today.  My life consisted of him and was driven by him.  I will be adding a tribute to him on my site sometime in the near future. 

I have two horses I’m currently running.  The first one is Colonel Wood Design, aka Freckles.  He is my boyfriend, John Brown’s horse.  Freckles is an amazing barrel horse and has just started his career as a head horse also.  I ride Freckles a lot at home, but this past weekend was my first attempt to run him and I’m VERY happy with the outcome.  We had some deep barrels, but that can all be cleaned up in time.  We were leading 2D in the Open 4D for most of the class until a little girl on a REALLY fast bay horse came in a smoked our doors!  I believe I was still one or two holes out of the money.  Darn it! 

I had to leave my second horse at home this past weekend.  I brought her up out of her pasture and she was covered in whelps.  We assume she must have gotten into some bees or something.  So I had someone watch over her this weekend and she’s back to normal now. 

Anyway, about her, she is a horse I bought 2 years ago and have taken things REALLY slow with her.  I believe she’s going to make a super nice barrel horse.

Well, I’m hoping to give you weekly (possibly) updates.  But as you know, I haven’t been the best with that in the past.  Be looking for me to add a horse or two for sale and maybe some other fun stuff! 

In the meantime, enjoy the rain, because that seems like all we’ve gotten!

Ashley