February 2, 2012 – 9:59 am
I had to write a quick positive note on my horses. As we well know, we should remember each great ride and break-through, because there will always be a day we can’t remember when it was fun.
This week I have expierenced several of my horses “personal best” days with me.
A lovely dressage horse, Tommy gave me the a wonderful ride yesterday. I started to remember why people ride pure dressage. He carried himself and allowed me to be part of his movement. I believe after the time the body work man took releasing his shoulders and neck, it will only get better. Thanks to Robin for letting me share her horse!
Next, Tatiana. She is such a cool mare; great attitude, personality and body. Sometimes very difficult for me to decide on her canter. This week, dressage lesson was truly fun with good movements in all three gates (and HUGE bolt). Then a little jumping in new equipment and I felt power and confidence with balance. She is a bit confused on the changes (per the bucking afterward) but I think we are moving in a great direction. Click below to see Tat’s grid work.
Tatiana Grid
Then, Audi, cute black mare is loving the jumping. She is looking forward to her next jump and VERY athletic and good form.
To top it off, everyone who rode in a lesson this week looks the best I have seen them! Wow, it is Thursday. Maybe I should call it a week and enjoy the moment.
Nope, off to Arizona this afternoon for a sun filled weekend of teaching, family and football. Check out the calendar for the latest updates on shows, clinics and lessons. It changes fast so stay tuned in. Hope to see you soon.
Stephanie
January 30, 2012 – 2:13 pm
I don’t know how many ear shots you should have, but I have a lot! This weekend, my helper Devin and I rode Tatiana and Foster into the foothills for some much needed vitamin D and fresh air. We have ridden the indoor for 2 weeks straight! Thank goodness we are now able to ride outside (if only in the afternoon).
News here…
Every year, mid winter I have a bit of a nervous breakdown. My horses seem wild and unbroke. I have been having that feeling off and on for the past month. A few have rounded the bend, and are believing these sunny 50 degree days mean spring is here; they might as well slow down, it will be a long season. While a few are pretty sure that we are going to be in the same arena for a while and would like to add some excitment.
We are feeling a bit in limbo as the word of more outbreaks of EHV-1 in California come out. We are still hoping to travel to HITS the end of the month, but are unsure at this point. You can check out more on the status at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html
I have been playing with some different equipment on Tatiana. You can click on links below to see some video of her with a hackamore.
Tatiana Grid Tatiana Vertical
We have enjoyed a few days of snow here in Boise and in McCall.
Payette Lake
Snow at Barn
I have a roommate this spring! My favrite sister is staying with me while Josh is away to help with IT, AC, and SC (information technolgy, animal care and sister care). That is why you may have seen better pictures, updated website and more happening on Facebook. Or that is what she is trying to make me do…
Morning sun above the barn
Josh and I head down to Arizona this week for some teaching, family time and sunshine. Looking forward to seeing the sunshine crew!
Life is full and enjoyable. I am looking forward to more education, riding and time with great people and animals. A great start to the year!
January 2, 2012 – 10:01 pm
Happy New Year!
2012 is going to be the best year yet. We are starting with blue sky, great family and friends, and an amazing group at the barn (human and horse). This past week I have been lucky to have old friends and new at the barn. Michelle has been in from her freshman year of college. Being with her makes me so proud. She has grown into such a lovey, talented, diciplined and thoughtful woman. I am so lucky to be part of her life! We also have a new horse, Tommy, that has entered our small world. He comes with a mother that I already love having at the barn. He is a bit overwhelmed but I think liking it. Here is a picture from his first hack (I did wait till second day after working him).
Now we are getting really excited about the year to come. We have a full barn this month. We are sending entries in for upcoming shows and clinics (check out where we are going and if you can join us be clicking here to see calendar).
I feel a busy, productive and successful season ahead.
All in good fun!
Hope to see you soon.
Stephanie
December 26, 2011 – 7:02 pm
"recovering"
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! We wish you and your family a peaceful and fun season. Josh and I have been hiking, playing at the barn and spending time with friends. I appreciate this time of year to recharge, take time to reflect and organize.
Today was my first of many yoga classes to come. I don’t think I get it yet, but do to some pushy friends, I have a pass and will figure it out! That with a more conscious nutrition plan and structured activity, I hope to be stronger, more focused and be better at my job in 2012! Watch out!
The Fun Committee has been planning/scheming about the fun we are going to have this winter. Tatiana is keeping us thinking possitive and dreaming big. We are planning a trip to Sun Valley in January to ride with Bob McDonald, have started weekly dressage lessons, planning the later part of February for a week at HITS in Thermal. From there, Jimmy Wofford comes to Washigton in March where we will meet up with him for some good jumps schools. After that we are dreaming of horse shows in North Carolina or California…. stay tuned!
Life at Pierce Park has been great so far. We have had unseasonably dry weather and have gotten to ride outside in the sun every day! The horses are happy and working well. We have three more coming in the first of the year and then we will be maxed out again. Good thing Aimee is amazing at keeping me in line!
Next week I will be starting my monthly pilmagrage to Arizona to teach. The first weekend of every month I will be in Cave Creek, so stop by if your in the area!
The calendar for next season is looking like a fun and busy season. Let me know your goals and ideas and we will see if we can make it work. Check it out any time at http://www.wasatchsporthorses.com/calendar/ for the latest.
Stay warm, stay active and hope to see you soon!
Stephanie
December 5, 2011 – 11:14 am
Zymon and first event!
Quick update. The day is getting away from me-
Happy to say they believe that Zymon’s broken patella should heal completely and not effect his career as a jumper. Sad to say that Zymon broke off the top of his patella last week. He had surgery to remove the piece and is now in the beginning of a long, boring rehab. We are not sure how he did it. We played CSI to exhaustion. Our best guess is while jumping out and BACK in to his 5 acre grass paddock, he hit a post. He is now in residence at the Thomas Inn and rehab center (THANKS SHELLEY!!)
We have been enjoying all the sunshine and awesome maintenance at Pierce Park Stables. The rings have been great, the barn life healthy and relaxed while still getting in great trots in the foot hills.
Josh has made it up from Utah a few times to help with the house, dogs and my sanity. The move has been worth it right there!
Janelle and I are off to Nashville for the USEA annual meeting this week. We are looking forward to full days being clean and warm along with catching up with eventing news, ideas, our friends and the future plans for our sport. WAHOO!
I have been trying to get a life back; bringing cooking, running, the gym and my friends back in. So far, I can barely walk (fun long runs) am sleepy (seeing friends after work) and am working on my budget having the Co-op so close by.
Our Annual Holiday Party is right around the corner. We are planning on holding it at the Press in Downtown Boise Wednesday December 14. Food, wine and salsa dancing! Hope you can make it.
I am sure there is more news, but I must continue my true job: a slave to boys and girls with 4 legs!
Stephanie
November 28, 2011 – 8:39 pm
Greetings!
Fire in new house (minus smoke)
We have been in Boise for a month now and am loving it! Yesterday I jumped several horses, taught a few lessons, ran home from the barn and rode my bike to a food event. That is my kind of day! Thank you for making it happen.
Now, thinking about how to keep this happy momentum going into the months to come. Here are my ideas-
Wednesday from 3-5 grid night! Come jump every Wednesday afternoon. Saturday afternoons jumping lines/courses. We can group the lessons how we see fit. Send me an email and come play. After jumping days plan on having a glass of wine or cup of tea and lets catch up.
Irie and Stephanie at NWJS
We are participating in
The North Wind Jumper Series. Lessons, coaching and schooling available.
Wednesday December 14th Wasatch Sport Horses Holiday Party. Downtown Boise. More info to come, but plan on it!
Horse Shows In The Sun Thermal the second week in February.
3 Day Ranch Horse Trials March 16-18.
Galway Downs Horse Trials March 30-April 1.
We have some packages available for lessons.
Lessons at Pierce Park $55
MONTHLY PACKAGES
4 lessons (1 per week) $192 (save $28)
8 lessons (2 per week) $360 (save $80)
12 lessons (3 lessons week) $504 (save $156)
Rides by Stephanie $35 a ride 10 or more $30
$10 fee if hauling in to Pierce Park
WSH accepts all major credit cards!
School horses available for an additional $10.
Please pass the word that we have an apartment for short term rent in downtown Boise. A cute 1 bedroom basement apartment for $45 a night for friends and family coming to town. Great parking, access to downtown and airport. Click here to book or for more info.
Thanks Stephanie
November 9, 2011 – 10:30 pm
I am at “home” in Boise tonight with my own internet, my own computer and a full barn of horses at Pierce Park Stables. I am starting to feel like I know where some things are. Just not sure anything is where it should be!
Big News! I have a fun committee! A few of my best friends are not entertained enough watching me ride over 3′ jumps and have plotted to help me get back into international competition. It is so touching and hard to believe but there is a horse in the barn that may be the first step toward that goal. We brought home a lovely 11 year old Dutch mare, Tatiana, to see if she fills our needs. Her owner is graciously letting us use the winter to see if she fits into our plans. She has all the parts, now we just have to see how they fall together.
So, we did pick her up in Southern California. Southern California sounds like sunshine, warmth and fun. We started out at 3 Day Ranch to school. One of my favrite courses in California and were greeted with a blast of wind…
followed by a day of sun and fun…
with a little school next door at Kings Way…
then came the rain…
Saturday was clear for the Training 3 Day Jennifer and Buddy ROCKED…
Now we are back to the basics. Thinking of lunge lessons, no stirrups and fires…
Hope to see you soon!
Stephanie
October 27, 2011 – 9:19 am
Greeting from Boise, Idaho!
The boys and I are settled in at our new winter home at 1905 W Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83702. I have a new email address: wshorses@gmail.com. The horses are settled at Pierce Park Stables www.pierceparkstables.com. And a new era has begun.
I am planning on riding, teaching and training here through May and invite you to come and play with us. Pierce Park hosts 3 outdoor arenas, an indoor, direct access to the Ridge to River trail system and much more. We are exciting about having private and group activities. Stay tuned to the calendar and the blog to see what is coming up.
I am not quite in a routine here yet. This weekend I will be teaching in Park City, UT and next weekend (November 3-6) I will be coaching and riding at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. After that I believe we will be on to a fun winter of riding, learning and generally having fun in Boise.
I am also planning 2 teaching days a month in Arizona (Cave Creek or Wickenburg). If you are interested, please let me know what days work best for you. We are tentatively looking at a week at the HITS show in Thermal in February and Three Day Ranch/ Galway in March.
This winter you have more options for your training needs. WSH is offering a few packages-
Lessons at Pierce Park $55
4 lessons (1 per week) $192 (save $28)
8 lessons (2 per week) $360 (save $80)
12 lessons (3 lessons week) $504 (save $156)
Rides by Stephanie $35 a ride 10 or more $30
$10 fee if hauling in to Pierce Park
WSH accepts all major credit cards!
Hope to see you soon!
Stephanie and the Boys
208-315-2086
www.wasatchsporthorses.com
October 13, 2011 – 12:49 am
Shelley-Woodside
Fall is here. McCall has had it’s first snow. Horses have been clipped. Even as I type this I don’t believe it. One day it is uncomfortably warm and the next day it is fall, in Idaho that means winter is on your heels.
It is time that I am truly wondering about my wisdom of “wintering” in Boise, Idaho. I feel excited, but it doesn’t sound right…
We just returned from a fun and emotionally difficult Woodside HT. I don’t know how much more I need to say. Eventing, it is emotionally difficult at times. At times things are easy, and some times things that should be easy are just unobtainable.
But Zymon was fantastic on his first outing! He was mature, jumped great and was a joy to be around. I have a lot of work before Galway but Zymon impressed me this past week
Now, we are gearing up for Galway. We have some great jump schools in our future. People from outside Idaho should not read this but we plan on driving up to 5 hours one way to get in the jump schools we need in the next few weeks. This is along with me moving a barn and house, teaching in Utah, riding 7 horses a day and sleeping a few hours here and there. All that said, what a life!
our moto
September 30, 2011 – 11:40 pm
From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a horse,” or, “that’s a lot of money for “just a horse”. They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a horse.” Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a horse.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a horse,” but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a horse,’ and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a horse” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think it’s “just a horse,” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” Just a horse” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a horse” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of “just a horse” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a horse” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a horse” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away. I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a horse” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a woman/man.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a horse” just smile, because they “just” don’t understand. ~Anonymous
