Camping in Rancho-Oso!

            Picture of the Week!!!!!!!!!!!

                  

This weekend we packed our bags and took a long drive with the horses to Santa Barbara for a camping trip! It was such a along drive, but it was worth it to ride in such an amazing place. It was so much fun jumping over the logs that we spotted on the trails and we got amazing pictures of it too. After a long day of riding we went out to dinner at AJ Spurs and had a great time with amazing food! We brought about 10 horses up to the camp sight which were Sonnet, Lola, Angel, Tiko, Barbary, Poet, Gracie, Persjaa, Dessa, and even Spiderman! The girls that came were me, Brooke, Hannah, Jessica, Grace, Helena, and Catie! We all had such a great time up there and we had so many laughs. Kristin even came up one day and rode Poet along with Debbie, her sister, and Christine. After galloping and jumping a few logs we all went for a swim with the horses in this little pond we found. It was the best camping trip ever and were even planning to come back next year for a whole week!

The Class "A" Show in Santa Barbra!

The day aftre Poe's retirement was not a relaxing sleep in day. No, it was a wake up AGAIN at 6:00 to get back to Santa Barbra for a big horse show! It was Brooke, Nedra, her dad, and I who were rushing to get Gracie and Snapper ready for the class and it was not easy. First we had to wash Gracie's socks. Then, we had to move all the tack and whips and show clothes to our side of the stalls. There was no goofing around at this show and it was a lot of hard work. At the end Brooke and I came in first in our seperate classes. We were marked down on each different things like the so called "fungus" on Gracie's shoulder and Snapper not being bradded. Although we were marked down on a few things we also had a great time and won beautiful pens and two first place ribbons. It was all a lot of fun and I would do it all over again if I had a choice.

Finally Poe's Retirement!

On May 24, 2008 our own Poetca VF at age 25 was retired in front of a crowd in Santa Barbra. All of the girls which included Me, Brooke, Julia, Hannah, Jordan, Isabella, Alexandra, Helena, Alexa, Christain, Geffin, and Mandy all came up to Santa Barbra nice and early at 6:00 to ride in the presentation. Brooke and I had slept over at Nedra's getting all the stuff in the trailer and going to bed very early. The day before the show we had brought up some of the calmest horses to make sure we had room the next day. the horses that went up with us were Sonnet, Poe, Dessa, Snapper, Perjja, Crimson, Cameo, Angel, Gracie, Festivity, and at the last minute our new horse Juet Allionce came to the show. We all had an amazing time at the show and it was a miracle that Christain Geffin and Debbie all made it at the last second to join us in our presentation. We all had a blast handing out flyers to the epople at the show and giving free bags of m'n'ms. Luckily, we have pictures on a website and a video one of the moms bought to remember this amazing moment in Poetca's life. I'd like to thank all the people who helped make this dream a reality in Poe's life.

Jumping with no hands

On pony club we had our fewest amount of girls which were Me, Honor, Grace, Alexandra, Geffin, and Abigail so we thought we would do some harder, but fun stuff at the arena. First while we were on the trail riding over to the arena we forgot to get a helmet for Geffin so I galloped back to the plumtree jumped off grabbed a helmet and galloped back to the group. Then we got to the arena and Sonnet, as usual, was hott so I did double the size of the highest cavalety with no hands bareback. It was a lot of fun and even Grace got on with me and we cantered around double on Sonnet. After that Sonnet was being so good that we decided to let little Geffin come on with me and canter and do little jumps. It was so much fun and Alexandra, Honor, and I all jumped at the same time and got a picture of it, thanks to Nedra. Also little Abigail got on Poe and trotted around the arena for the first time with Grace leading her. We all had a blast, but we also missed the girls that couldn't make it this week. The most exciting part of the day was either jumping with no hands or feeding the baby carrots for the first time, which was a lot of hard work but also very rewarding when we found out she loved them!! We all can't wait for next week and to have an even bigger group!

The Hidden Hills Gymkhana!

On Sunday May 5, 2008 us riders went down to Spring Valley Arena and rode in the Adult Gymkhana! It was so much fun and on our way over to the arena we congrajulated Shannon Griefer for running 24 hourse straight in Ahmanson. While she was running she also would stop and breast feed her infant son. After we saw Shannon it was off to the show! When we got there it was just us and a few other adults. We were the only kids except for Palina and her horse Misty. It was so exciting and it was not hectic at all! We all had a blast and it was me on Sonnet, Brooke on Lola, Jordan on Gracie, Hannah on Jade, Alexa on Poe, Grace on Gracie, and even Julia made it over with her dad and brought Cameo. The high point winners of the day were Brooke and Lola, Jordan and Gracie, Alexa and Poe, and Palina and Misty. At the show I got two firsts and two seconds. It was so much fun and at the show there was a little romance going on between Julia and Jacob (Jacob gave Julia a belt buckle and a rose). We all had a great time we loved having Julia and Nedra cheer us on!

Practicing for the Presentation!

On saturdays we usually have pony club, but this time it was all hard work to get ready for the presentation. We were all so excited for the presentation and wearing our garlands bareback! Sadly, Poe (our star for the presentation) was injured very badly and had to sit out for the day. While Poe was in the shade in her amazing rainbow garland, the rest of us decided that we wanted to practice pairs jumping. It took us a lot of practice, but we finally got the perfect picture! It was Me, Sonnet, Brooke, Lola, Jordan, and Crimson who got the amazing jumping picture. Also, we got to have all nine of us ride in a perfect line trotting, circling, and doing all kinds of crazy stuff. We all had a blast and thankfully Poe has recovered and is now carring three girls on her back at the presentation. We are all so excited and can not wait to see Poe finally retired.

Bella' Baby Arrives

After waiting for months Bella gave birth to a beautiful palomino pinto filly. She is so beautiful and she is very big. Right when she was born she was up and running. she is so strong and is ana amazing mover. The first one to see the baby was our own Saffarino who calls her Dishes' little sister! The baby is so much like her mom and ironically has a perfect dot on her shoulder just like Bella's last baby only it is on two different sides. We have not found a name for her, but we have come up with a few cute names like Penelope, Buttercup, and Lulabell. Please comment and if you want write down a name that you think would suit the baby.

Spiderman Is Amazing

Our famous pony Spiderman is so amazing. He is so patient and tolerent of anything. You can put little Geffin and Rebecca on him and he doesn't even care. Yesterday I rode him and ponied Lola (his girlfriend) and Cameo all the way to Saddle Creek arena. Once we got there I jumped him bareback over a full course that the other horses were doing to. This pony is absolutley amazing and will always have a loving home at the Plum Tree!

Sonnets foals.....and grandson!!!!!

These are Sonnet's foals. Canzy, AK Sonneteer, and her grandson Jazz. Canzy was Sonnet's second foal and looks exactly like her. Canzy is also a national champion like Sonnet in western pleasure. AK Sonneteer (AKA Pooper) was Sonnet's first foal and is also a national champion and is a light bay. I do not have a lot of updates on Sonnet's grandson, Jazz, but I do know that him and Sonnet have met and are very close to eachother. Here is a special thank you to Angela for giving me these amazing pictures of the foals. I hope you like my blog Angela....

Malibu Creek

Saturday afternoon it was about 100 degrees outside and it wasn't any cooler at the plum tree. All the girls and horses were so hot that we ditched the dressage show and went to Malibu Creek. It was so much fun even little Geffin went along and road Po. I t was Po and Sonnet's first time at Malibu and tey loved it, atleast Sonnet did. When Sonnet got a little cold I got on Po, which didn't work out that great. I was leading Po in and she started to swim, so i jumped on, but I was only on her side. So Po starts to go out of the water while im on her side and she randomly starts to canter so I get dumped in the rocks and I have a big bruse on my side. Took make things even more funny and dramatic, Lola got loose and ran all the way to the parking lot. Brooke loves Lola so much that she was right behind her the whole way. The big surprises at Malibu were that Angel, are palomino mare that is blind in one eye loves the water. We all had such a good time , even Geffin had a blast having to jump off Po and get saved by Nedra.

Malibu

Sonnet Comes Home

On Friday March 21, 2008 Nedra, Brooke, Julia, and I all went up to Santa Ujnez and picked up Sonnet. Whenthe vet brought us over to were we could let her graze we saw a stallion being collected so he could breed to other mares. It was very interesting and the stallion was so gorgeous. Whenever they would ask him to mount the dummy he would rear up very high!!! When ever he wasn't rearing or mounting the dummy he would stare at Sonnet and Sonnet would stare at him. I was so happy that Sonnet was coming home and I was happy that Julia Brooke and Nedra were with me when we went to go get her, Holly, Heather, Linda Iwish you could of been there ;). When we waiting for the loud creeky trailor to be ready for Sonnet to load there was a stallion in a trailor whinnying to Sonnet, and what did Sonnet do? Well, she bolted in a circle cantering and doing a little buck!! She was very excited after that and was starting to remember the good old days of being a national champion broodmare. After about 5 minutes of driving Nedra found a huge field of sun flowers and decided that it was to beautiful a site to pass. So we unloaded Sonnet and took pictures of her trotting and grazzing in the sun flower field. It was so beautiful and I was happy for her to get out. I am so happy that Sonnet is back and I look forward to a lot of amazing years with her.

A Special Dedication to Sonnet's Vet....

I'd like to give a shout out to Sonnet's vet, who went out of her way and stayed for days and nights trying to keep her alive. If it wasn't for you my horse Sonnet, who I love to death, wouldn't be here right now and I thank you for that. you are now a special part of my life and I dont no how I can reapay you for such a brave and amazing thing you did, but I hope i will some day. Also I'd like to give a special shout out to Nedra. If Nedra hadn't have decided to put sonne in the vet trailer and drive her all the way out to Sant Ujnez and slept at the plum tree for two days sonnet wouldn't be here today. Also, thank you so much Tallulah and brooke. If you guys hadn't found Sonnet laying down and rolling she migh tnot be here right now with me in he Malibu Creek water making it the best day of my life.

Sonnet and Lola (BFFL)

Sonnet and Lola are best friends. They do everything together!!!! They eat together, they sleep together, and share a big stall together and have sleepovers every night... Sonnet and Lola love eachother and will always be like sisters. Sonnet and Lola are considered the hardest horses to ride and me and Brooke are so happy to have them in our lives. Brooke takes such good care of Lola and Lola cares for her just as much......I have such a great bond with sonnet that most girls dont have with there horses. I love her SOOOOOOOOO much and that will never change. On March 21, 2008 on a Friday Brooke, Nedra,Hannah, and I are all going up to Santa Unez to bring Sonnet home and have a big reunion... I cant wait and neither can Brooke and Lola!!!!

Best Friends :)(:

At the plumtree ranch all the girls have so much fun. We all our great friends and always have fun with eachother. When ever were together we always find away to have fun or even get into a little trouble. I'd have to say Brooke (Sizzlin Brooke) gets into the most of the trouble out of all the girls at the plumtree. Even though Brooke gets into a lot of exciting and troubling situation she is one of my best friends and is one of the most exciting people i've ever met. She is so funny and when ever im sad she finds away to cheer me up and her and Lola are a perfect match for eachother. Julia is one of the most sweetest and kindest girls i've ever met. Her smile always brightens my day and I can never get over how cute she and Cameo look together. I love Julia like my on sister and she is so funny. Jourdan is one of the most strongest, kindest riders i've ever met. She is so tough when she needs to be, but is so sweet and funny around her friends. Jourdan is like a sister to me and her and Gracie make an awesome team. Hannah has such a charecter and is so funny and as she says shes a "REAL GIRL." Hannah is so sweet and kind and is so loving to her horse Jade and her other baby Angel. Now of course Nedra. Nedra is so sweet and loving and is such a joy to be around. Her humor cracks me up and it is never boring when your around Nedra. She is so welcoming to new people and she is one of my heros. Im so greatful for all of my friends at the plumtree. I would write more, but its time for me to go. BYE!!!!!!

Sonnet's Scary Hospital Trip

So, one day I was at my friend Riley's house and I had gotten about three messages one my phone...... two were from Brooke and one was from Nedra..... Both of Brooke's messages said the same thing, "Ashley I need to talk to you its really serious something really importanat happened that I need to tell you ok bye." then Nedra's was the one that scared me the most it said, "Hi Ashley its Nedra I just wanted to let you know that Sonnet is really sick she had collic and is on her way to the hospital i'll call you if we here anything, ok thanks bye." So I freak out I call Brooke, Hannah, and Julia and we all start crying our eyes out and praing that Sonnet would live...... I was really happy that I had such great friends that surrounded me during my time of need...... especually Nedra, Brooke, Hannah, Holly, Jourdan, Mandy, and Dakota (the little dish/puppy). The next day I was so glad to hear that she was doing better and that we were all going to take a road trip to see her. When we got there the hospital was very clean and nice so we had to be on our best behavior which is sometimes a little hard for us...... we walk down the stables and we get to Sonnet.... I was so excited and happy, but I was really sad because she had to be hooked up to fluids and have a feed mask on , but that didn't stop us from taking her out and letting her graze with a mom and a foal next door.... she loved it and was so spirited. The worst part of the trip was having to leave with out her, but im so excited because shes coming back on tuesday and were going to have a welcome home party....... meanwhile we had another sick horse who is new. Her name is Perjja and she is a 25 year old arabian who had an infection , but is doing a lot better thanks to the great care of Nedra and all the others girls.... I cant wait for her and Sonnet to meet and take good care of each other....... I'd like to give a shout out to Nedra, Brooke, Julia, Hannah, Holly, Jourdan, Mandy, and Dakota, you all helped me get through this really hard time in my life and I really appreciate it. I now share a bond with all of you that is much more stronger than it was before... thak you so much........(sizzlin group)

Jumping Bareback

Ok so you now how sometimes you feel really lazy and you just dont want to tack up your horse. I mean come on its such a pain to put the saddle on tighten the girth put the bridle on and get on. Well one day I decided to ride bareback. Its not that hard and i've done it before it was easy, UNTIL I found out that we were jumping three feet high, then I was a little nervous, ok i was abou to pee my pance. So we get to the ring and the jumps are set up and im up to jump. I was really nervous the first round, but then I got over it now im proud to say the only way I will jump is if im bareback on my horse Sonnet. P.S. Sonnet says hi..