A Week In Red Deer

Sept 29 to Oct 6 was the Canadian Supreme in Red Deer.  I had no intentions of going everyday but was there all week except Wednesday.  I really enjoyed it too and learned some stuff about cutting and about me too.  Every day started with cutting which of course is my favorite.  I got over 300 pictures that week and most turned out no too bad, some are blurry of course and some are just bad timing (hard for me to know when the cow is gonna move so I can get the right shot)

Lots of other stuff going on up there too, reining from Wednesday to Sunday over in the other barn, I watched a little but its like watching paint dry to me, a good run is amazing but the rest, bleh.

 (this horse looks hard to ride, big moves)

(hard stopping horse from a rider with no head, lol)

Also watched some cowhorse fence work, the herd work was done in the cutting pen and after that was all done, they took down the announcers stand and fence work time.  I think it would be really fun to run a cow down the fence, I probly woulda gotten into cowhorse if there wasn't reining involved (and not a real fan of two handed cutting)

I was up there for 3 days with Susan and then Shirley came over and we spent the weekend there.  We went to the horse sale, some pretty cool horses went through there...and no I did not buy any, lol.  Although after watching Elaine Speights horse win the 4 year old non pro cutting I wished I had her but no I doubt I would ever buy a performance horse at a sale.  I am not experienced enough to do that, I need to try the horse a few times before I even think about buying.

(our farrier at the barn and his fence run)

(Doug in the finals)

(Loren Christianson, I really like him too)

I have never stayed for the finals before, was pretty exciting, Doug was sitting first and second in the four year old class and I was on the edge of my seat until the last horse went and he won it by half a point.  I was sure disappointed but it was Les Timmons and you always gotta watch him he goes to win every time and he has a pretty nice horse and a good run.  But it made me think I couldn't handle having a horse that someone else was showing, so much stress and I never even seen the horse before that week, lol.

 (two pics of Vic Almond, we used to go to his place in Ponoka)

 (two pics of Ken from the tack store we go to)

(not a great pic quality wise, but I love the horses mane in the air and how low she got)

I sure was exhausted at the end of the week, not sure how the competitors were but they musta been tired too, but I still wanna make it there one day.

Ooops It's Sunday Today

Well I guess this week being gone so much I am so confused about what day it is and I thought yesterday was Sunday  till after lunch sometime when Neil asked if I want to go to breakfast in East Coulee which is always on the last Sunday of the month.

But that's OK, I would rather be a day ahead than a day behind, which it feels like I always am.  But it was so worth it to take time off to watch the Supreme every year.  It is always the best of the best competing there and so good.  we watched a lot of the cutting and a little of the fence work for cowhorse.  So much fun watching and getting into it, the crowd is so fun to be around when they get excited.

We didnt stay for the horse sale which is probly a good thing, I don't need any more horses there and if I was looking for a young performance horse unlikely I would buy at a sale anyways.  So that was nice and we got home a little earlier that way.  I kinda woulda liked to stay for Saturday and all the finals but that was a pretty long week already but maybe next year.

So after breakfast we headed to Drum for a few items we needed and then back home again and I hope to get all my bricks tore out this afternoon so I can get Neil to help me put in the posts for the deck I have been so slow on building.  But as long as the posts are in I can still work on it in the winter if its warm enough out then have it ready for next summer rather than having it all wrecked for weeks during the summer.

So I guess life goes back to normal for a while, I still do plan on going and watching the cutting in Calgary, which is October 10-14th, and we have a couple community trail rides coming up and still wanna work with Jazz and so hopefully I have a little time left before it really gets to be winter.  And I looked up the winter series which doesn't start till Dec 29 which makes me sad I thought it started end of October, and I want to go to them even though I am sure I miss at least one when we are away on vacation in Feb.

Canadian Supreme

Well its that time of year again, time for the Supreme.  I was up there all day Sunday and we watched the open 3 year old class, the non pro 4 year olds, then some cowhorse cutting (which i hate when they have to snaffle bit and rein a horse for cutting, blech!)  and then the never won a buckle invitational class.  We also stopped for supper at the Keg and mmm was it ever good but boy were we full!

I have been watching some more of the cutting on the internet video here:  Video link.

It is not the same as in person, but I think we are gonna go back Thursday and Friday (and I would like Sat) to watch more.

Other than that haven't been doing much this week, just trying to stay ahead of life, but purposely planned nothing to do this week.

Canadian Supreme--Friday

Wow what an exciting week!!!  It was so much fun but so exhausting up there this week.  I never ended up working up there, becuase I had too many firends to visit with and too much to look at.  Shirley from Ride a Good Horse and Janice from Own a Morgan and Sherry from Fern Valley Appaloosas were there as well as Charlene and then I seen my Aunt Bonnie and Tracy too.

(Shirley, Janice, and Me in back with Sherry in front)

I really enjoyed visiting with them. It sure was fun, but too bad Sherry could only stay a couple hours. But she did come in time to see some spotted ponies run down the fence. Like this guy, Have A Drink On Me.   He ended up 9 in Open Hackmore Derby and 7th in Non Pro Snaffle bit/Hackmore.  (who apperently is for sale for $16,000).

And Ike Ant Be High (which is said I can't be high) With his cool stripe up his back leg.    He ended up 4th in CS Open Hackmore Derby, and 11 in Open Hackmore Derby.  He is such a cool horse! 

And Sheza Genuine Lena, who I wouldn't mind being in my pasture, I sure like here, have liked her since last year.  She isn't as obvious with her coloring shes an appy.  She ended up 4th in the Open Hackmore and second in CS Open Hackmore Derby.

Oh and then the sale.   What a event to go to.  I sure liked a few horses in the sale, but one was scratched which didn't matter too much cause I wasn't there to buy anyways.  And one Charlene was seriously debating on buying, but we knew it would be too much money.  I looked at this one, Misty Blue Boon (lot 7), but not too seriously. She didn't sell for $6700.

And this ones lot 30, Sheza Woody.  She sure was a pretty girl and sounds like she should be nice.  (she sold for $8000)

And then lot 49, Twice a Little Boon, I never looked at her before the sale, but like her color for sure and quite calm.  She sold for $2100, at least reasonable for me.

And then Charlenes pick.  Number 50.  MP Chrome Catt.  We knew it was bad when bidding started at $5000.  He eventually sold for $10,800.  High seller of the sale.  Which is pretty odd that its a yearling even if he was nice.   So hope to see him in a couple years.

And lot 57, which I never got a picture of.  Remel.  My Aunt Bonnie's friend Tracey bought him.  He sounds nice and quiet.  Just 2 and started.  She team pens, so that's probly what he will do although he is Reining Alberta and Canadian Supreme nominated too, so maybe she will start some reining too.  And then my pick, lot 60.  Pistols Cocoa Jay.  She is an 8  year old broke cutter that has 14000 in earnings.  She sold for $9750, which is quite a deal, but still way more than I have to spend now.  Bill Speight was riding her and showing her off then took of her bridle to do a bridleless demonstration.  Was cool :)

Sure was a fun day there, an another full day on Saturday.

Thursday

So I feel like I haven't gotten anything done this week with going to the Supreme Tuesday and going back this afternoon and staying till Saturday. In between, on Tuesday Neil took in a dry heifer to be butchered and today he is taking in the other two drys to the sale. Last night I rode both Kali and Razz. I need to get Kali ridden a few more times before she goes, so she will at least be sorta legged up for training.  She is pretty good now even takes longer for her to start puffing and for the whole ride yesterday she walked super fast to keep up to Ricki.  So she is feeling good.  I am pretty excited for her.

I haven't done a lot of canning since last week, made 2 batches (13 jars) raspberry jelly and canned 2 batches tomatoes(6 jars of Italian and 6 jars of Mexican).  I still have to make more jam and jellies but the fruit is frozen so its not as big a rush now.  But since we took a beef in, I will have to start cleaning out the freezer to make room.

And since we got a good hard frost last night I now should be putting away hoses and all summer things and closing up the garden shed for winter.  I hope that means the rest of the flies are gone.  Can't say I'm really sad about that frost now.  As long as it doesn't get really cold I'm okay.

Pretty excited to meet up with blog friends this weekend, should be lots of fun :))  So much to talk about and yet we all know all about our lives so kinda weird like we know each other with only meeting a couple times.Will also be fun staying at my moms for the evenings and visiting with her.

I am pretty excited for the trade show at the Supreme cause I know I need a few things and stuff is usually on sale and some new stuff to check out too.  I need a winter blanket and maybe a lighter blanket for Kali, and another neoprene pad and a show pad, I really like the one I have and wish I had saved it instead of using it for the last three years.  And I hope there is a chap booth and always like the art even though I usually can't afford any of it, and I want to look at all the arena/barn booths and get pamphlets to take home and try to talk Neil into an arena this winter.

Oh and I got a fun package in the mail.  Carol from All These Pretty Horses sent me my prize in the foaling contest and it was coasters!  They are so cool and even better I dont have them yet :)  Thanks for the prize. 

Wordless Wednesday

Cold and Info

The last few days have been cold again!  I am so sick of winter but if (and that's a big if) we can believe the weather people after Sunday it is going to warm up for the next two weeks. I sure hope they are right cause it has been to cold to do much around here.


I went and rode Tom and Razz on Tuesday and yesterday braved the weather and rode Razz.  Charlene called and said it was -13 so we went and when we got there it was -17!  but since we were there we rode anyways, it wasn't too bad while we were riding but afterwards it sure was cold!!!


I skipped out today and am hoping it will get nicer and go riding again tomorrow.  I am entered in a cow horse clinic on March 12 and 13, so I have to keep riding so we are both in shape for that.  We also looked at a cutting clinic the weekend afterwards but need to find out more about it because even though it is for beginners, we aren't sure if our horses need to be better than ours are.


I also have a question for you guys out there.  The Canadian Supreme is trying to get more people to go to watch, and they are starting with the 4H clubs and want to get some well known trainer/clinician to come up and give some talk or info and were wondering who to get.  They are trying to stay away from John Lyons/Parelli natural horsemanship types but want someone who everyone would want to see.  They are also trying to stay away from the Canadian trainers, cause they will all be competing there. 

Canadian Supreme

This past week I spent up in Red Deer at the Canadian Supreme.  It was so much fun, but exhausting.  The best of the best seem to show up at shows like that. 
I met quite a few interesting people and on Sunday Bill Collins was there.  Amazing man.
I was working up there (volunteering really).  Working in the reining pen and cowhorse pen.

We saw cutting, this mare reminded Neils cousins of his horse at home.   There was also reining, but I never got any pics of it cause I actually took all these on Sunday when we went up.

There were many appaloosas there as well, Jardis mare Dot is a half brother or sister to everyone there (almost).  It was kinda fun the different names they could think of that have High or Sign and a few with Nugget in it.  There was a different name-Have a Drink on Me.  Not sure where they came up with that name.  Also Signed Prescription, and Too High to Qualify.

This one was pretty good, and had probly the coolest name there Flhigh(fly) for a White Guy.  Ridden by Les Timmons, so of course he was good to watch.

There was also this cool looking one with all the spots on his one leg joining up to a solid spot.  His name was Ike Aint Be High.  Ridden by Geoff Hoar.  I guess he was only started in February, so he did amazing for 8 months riding.

There was also High Cash Signing ridden by Jim Dobler in the Non pro class.  Its amazing to me how much they all look like Dot (and I don't mean the coloring)  And they act like her, kinda cool.  Ther was many others, but of course I didn't get them all.

This mare, which I ws watching and forgot to get pictures till she was out the door, was a half sister to Jardis stud Tangle, out of Yellow Roan of Texas.  Shes way bigger than him, but she seemed to work well.  Her name was A Little Texas Style.

This mare is the one who won the class we were watching.  Her owner was sitting behind us and was pretty excited about her.

This is the only other Appaloosa at the show(that I seen) that wasn't related to High Sign Nugget.  She did alright as well, winning reserve in her class.

There were some amazing moves, pretty quick- I think you need good balance to ride one of these horses.

And you better be prepared for your horse to have to really run, some of them cows were pretty zippy (i borrowed that word off one of the cutters and it seems to fit perfectly, I woulda said they were kinda wild, but zippy sounds nicer.)

Sure is nice when a horse is flashy as well as good riding.

We went for supper on Friday night instead of heading to the horse sale, cause we both knew we weren't gonna buy anything and i was heading home that night as well, and she asked me if I had the cowhorse bug yet. I said I don't know if I can afford it, and she says theres a lot of smaller shows around as well.  I do definitely think it would be a lot of fun, bu what worries me most is worrying about where the fence is and not running hard to it or slowing down too soon, it looks like its coming up awfully fast sometimes.

All in all I had a good time and will definitely go back next year.

Yaaa New Spur Straps

I have been up at the Canadian Supreme in Red Deer since Wednesday.  I have had a lot of fun up there.  Kinda makes me want to ride a cowhorse.  Makes reining look boring and cutting seems short compared to cowhorse which include cutting and reining and fence work.  I may have to get into that.  Hmm I think Razz might make a cowhorse.

While up there they have a trade fair and I have been looking for a set of spur straps since I got my Jeremiah Watt spurs back in April.  I finally found a pair I actually like, and they were at our regular tack store even.  K & K Livestock in Strathmore.  Fantastic store, I would recommend it for anyone. 

I think they lood good alone and with my spurs.  I like the full buckle that's engraved, but I didn't want silver, and i like its not a basket weave pattern.  I woulda liked some spots, but no place for them on these ones.

Jardi has been on the committee for the Supreme for many years and she is always looking for volunteers up there.  I worked the gate on Thursday for the hackmore cowhorses and today was in the reining arena entering scores.  I learned a lot up in that booth.

On Wednesday evening was the sale up at the Rimby Auction Mart and wow there was a tonne of people there and some REALLY nice colts. I don't think there was a colt there I didn't like.  $ different ranches had colts there, Anchor Y, Dynasty Quarter horses, Candlestick Ranch and Brundler Ranch.  Pretty nice bunch of colts.  I never bought the mare I was looking at yet.  They never sold her and want $1500 for her. I think I may make a deal on her, especially since I don't think she is bred this year.  We will have to see.  I met Gloria again and she gave me all the paperwork to register Jazz, so off that will go in the mail on Monday.