CW Event Team Blog

The horses are settling in. They get good turnout in the fenced in compound around the barns. Wednesday—whew it felt good to just “be”—to not be behind the wheel watching the road. Waking up here in Kalispell at Rebecca Farm, getting my coffee and walking out into the crisp fresh sunshine and look at the spectacular view at Rebecca Farm.

We let the horses have the day “off” today. The girls did a little exploring out around town. Their trailer Brewster, his wife Judy, and daughter Cordelia arrived with The O’Connor Camper.

They got the camper all plugged in, unhooked, got their golf clubs out, and said, “Hey lets go play golf!” Jess and Lucas went with them, and rented some clubs. After golf they went to a little nearby lake and went for a swim in the clear cool water. Refreshing!

That night we had a wonderful dinner on Sara and Drews back deck—savory pot roast, rice, mashed potatoes and salad. Good food, great company!

The next morning, I took Simba for a hack about at 8 am. The blacksmith came to put a shoe back on Slewboy at 8:30, and at 9:00 am we had a “group ride”. Amanda on her horse Teddy, Teresa on Slewboy, I rode Ready. Jess and Lucas rode two of Sara’s horses—Stetson, and her daughters pony Tuxedo.

We rode the perimeters on the mowed routes around the wheat and canola fields. Check out my picture album on facebook.

The horses all got baths, and then we went on our next adventure—to Glacier National Park!

On the way, I pulled left into the gas station/casino, and said, “I have to put some diesel in this truck!” Amanda hopped out and said, “C’mon Teresa, lets go gamble!” Jess applauded Amanda’s serendipitous nature and followed the girls in.

I went in to check on them, and to tell them that the truck had finished filling. The room was dark, smelled of smoke, and there were Keno and Poker machines lighting the room. Jess had all ready lost her dollar. The waitress was standing next to the girls explaining how to play Keno. (She had all ready checked their driver’s license—you have to be 18.) Teresa had put $2. Into her machine, and Amanda $5. I watched for a few minutes and then said, “Okay lets go!”

We stopped for lunch by Lake McDonald. Then we drove the Logan Pass Road. Breathtaking views—we wore the battery out on the camera. Along the valley road next to the fork of the Flathead River. Then the road winded up and up. We were on the right hand side, right along the edge. It was a little scary. I had to have my left mirror pulled against the truck for oncoming traffic.

WE got up almost to the top. Then we turned around, and came back down. We pulled close to the “Weeping Wall” section of a waterfall on the side of the mountain. Amanda put her arms out and got her water fix.

When we got to the bottom again, we parked and did a half-mile walk on Cedar Trail, walking amongst huge old growth forest of cedars and hemlocks. The girls did some wading in a VERY COLD glacier stream. Beautiful!

We got back to Rebecca Farm about 5:30. Brewster and his family had done a rafting trip. When the returned, Brewster and Jess went to the store to buy dinner supplies.

Bar-B-Que chicken, corn on the cob, and salad. We borrowed a table from the storage in the barn, and sat outside. Then the kids fixed everyone S’mores; with Brewster helping with the chocolate, graham cracker assembly.

And now a fresh new cloudless day at Rebecca Farm! Mountains in the background.
Got to go get on Simba!

6 am on Monday morning July 12th. On our way. Left out of the driveway, 32 hours from now we will arrive in Kalispell, Montana.

Theresa says, “I am in shock! Are we really doing this?”

Amanda is in the middle in the back seat between Lucas and Theresa. She raises her arms over her head.

Jess says, “You can do that now, but not in 20 hours”.

I am speechless; I take another sip of my coffee.

The girls are laughing at the movie “Hangover”.

Lucas is watching an 8-hour recording of Harry Potter movies.

On I-64 now heading west.

Go West young man!

I recount my dream from the night before. “Apparently you weren’t my groom Amanda, because I was at a show and Simba wasn’t braided. Then my groom showed up with a big smile on her face, and said, “I’m here!”

Amanda and Theresa are laughing in the back seat .

Honk, honk, we are into our first crossover into a new state! We are in Indiana. We made it through Louisville’s spaghetti junction easily..

Driving past the Concrete Lady in New Albany, Amanda says we need to get a concrete hippo for our water jump.

Going North on I-65 to Indianapolis and then hanging a left. Taking 74 west to 39 north.

We traveled this way to be free of any Chicago traffic. We went north on up to Rockford Illinois.

Cuppa was in the back, in the living of the horse trailer. Lucas was in the middle now between Theresa and Amanda. I am driving with my Maui Jims and my reading glasses on my nose.

Good weather. It was only 82 degrees and low humidity. The horses were getting carrots and water at every gas stop.

On into Wisconsin. Honk! Theresa needs to get some cheese for her Mom, but we ate most of it!!
Honking our way into each new state. Hooray we are now in Minnesota!

At our gas stops the girls do their jobs, Theresa does water. She looks around for water spigots. If there aren’t any she gets the water from the front container on the horse trailer. The horses are good and drinking well. On Sunday before the trip Travis our vet came out and gave all the horses some fluids.

They are traveling well.

Its 8:30 EST in Minnesota and this is a good place and time for Amanda to soak Teddy’s front feat in ice. He is in the last slot and easily accessible to get to. She does it with him just staying where he is.

From here, Jess takes the wheel, into the buggy night. The girls are in the living getting some sleep. At the 1:30 stop, Amanda takes over the driving and Lucas and Jess go to the bed in the trailer.

Sleeping into the back of the moving trailer is like sleeping in a moving space vehicle. It is very comfortable, but bouncy. Lucas and Jess fall right to sleep. They wake up when the trailer slows at the next stop. They get out and go to the bathroom, and get back in.

They rock and roll on into the night. They feel the truck slow to a stop, they are about get up, and then it starts off again. I took over driving for Amanda.

The morning sunlight began to show its traces at 4:30 in the morning, and we are in beautiful Montana. Beautiful green alfalfa fields, the Missouri river, and buttes lining the valleys.

Jess takes over driving, and Theresa and Amanda go to the trailer to get some good shuteye.

We soak in and enjoy the scenery. We talk to Grandma Kitty on speakerphone.

The girls join us back in the truck. We grab some cheeseburgers from the gas station/restaurant/casino. Its pretty wild here in Montana, Jess wants to find out more about their gambling laws. She had made up in her mind there would be casinos’ but on the Indian reservations. But instead, there are “casino’s” attached to almost anything.

Moes Bar & Grill and Casino. Beth’s Croissants & Casino. Bob’s Tire and Lube & Casino. Ok I’m kind of exaggerating this a little bit, but not much.

I got in the back in the bed in the horse trailer for the last 200 miles of the trip. Amanda drove, with Theresa riding shotgun and back-up singer.

Jess and Lucas in the backseat, reading, video’s and watching scenery.

Hooray! At Missoula we turn north on Hwy 93 towards Kalispell! Sara Kelly of Rebecca Farms warned us don’t be too excited…. it is still 2 ½ hours to their farm from that junction.

There had been a conversation with Sara before the trip about a place on Hwy 93 that had AMAZING beef jerky. She had requested that we stop there for her and get a pound, if it was still open when we came through.

After several text messages, we pinpointed its exact location, on the left after a “sweeping turn”– Jess says, “hey Amanda, this seems like it might be a ‘sweeping turn’ lets keep our eyes peeled.”

M&N meats, there it is.

The 32 hours had turned into 35; Amanda has a brilliant sense of humor, and she still had it, she was going to jump out of the truck with Cathy’s cowboy hat on at the beef jerky stop.

As she pulled into the difficult driveway, not very much room for the rig, she had to pull left, then right. The ERK, the right rear of the trailer got caught on the pavement. Oops! She tries to back up, go forward, no success, They all get out, cowboy hat forgotten

By that time, I pop out of the trailer, Amanda starts to tell me about the rear end of the trailer, I interrupt—“don’t worry that’s why those rear skids are on it there in the back.”

We all go into the store, we obtain the beef jerky, go to the bathroom, get Cuppa a little piece of dog jerky.

Back outside, I get back into the truck, and have a few attempts to go forward and back, and in 4wheel drive, forward and back. No movement! Jess says, “Lets get Teddy out of the back!” I say, “we have 3 people—lets get 3 horses out”.

Teddy, Ready and Slew Boy all walk out for their first time at M & N Meats, thinking, we have made it! I successfully pull the trailer forward. The horses were awesome, they got off and got back on with no complaints.

And then we headed on for the next 20 miles into Kalispell without incident.

Sara met us at the farm and helped us get situated. The horses got turnout while the trailer was emptied and the stalls readied.

Teresa and Amanda took temperatures, went over the horses.

They got fed, and Sara took us out to dinner for some bar-b-que. The horses got nighttime turnout, and we all showered and went to bed for a good nights sleep!

Waking up this morning! The cool fresh air! The mountain vistas! This beautiful farm! The horses were all fine, and came up for their morning feed. Theresa and Amanda got to sleep in—very deservedly!

Lucas began riding his motorcycle around this beautiful place at 7 am!

It ended up being a 38 hour trip—it went easy without any problems, and we were glad we were thinking it was going to be 32!

Be sure to go to my facebook page for impromtu pictures and updates. I will be updating the blog every couple of days.

The CW Event Team competed at Surefire Farm last weekend before heading to O’Connor Camp. It was great to see Jan Bynny looking so well for the event held at her farm. Surefire was beautiful and they hosted a wonderful event. I really like the one-day format. The horse trial was well organized and Simba was done competing and Amanda had the trailer packed up and the horses ready to head to camp by noon on Sunday.

My Groom, Amanda Volle, had a great weekend on her horse, Lucky Teddy. Amanda and Teddy were tied for 1st after dressage in the OI. The ground was very hard and although the arated, going slow was the word for the day so a few time faults on XC dropped the pair down but they still had a great 4th place finish for the weekend.

Simba and I had a lesson with Karen on Friday before the competition started. At the horse trial Simba was obedient in the OP on the somewhat hard ground in the grass dressage ring. I however, am mostly pleased with how very brave he was on cross- country. There were many questions on this well designed course. Several horses had issues at the water complex but luckily no one told Simba because he jumped bravely into the water and skipped across the coffin later in the course. We had two uncharacteristic rails in the grass show jumping arena but he is jumping around the fences much better.

Gointoseattle and Ready for April acted like very big boys this weekend in the Novice Division. The grass dressage and Show Jumping were new to these two but they both continue to improve in the canter. I am mostly please at how willingly they jumped around the cross- country.

Amanda and I just returned home from O’Connor camp. The participants were as wonderful as always. I love being a part of this camp experience. Everyone always leaves camp with so many tools to add to their tool boxes. We are home until Monday July 12th when the whole family and grooms load up to head to Rebecca Farm in Montana. Schedule your lessons early. The fall season is quickly approaching.

Until then, Keep Kicking.

The CW Event Team just finished up the two week Country Heir Hunter Jumper Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. The horses were great and the gymnastics I have been working on with Frank Conway were beneficial to me and my horses at the show.

Forli jumped really well. I am extremely pleased with how quiet and focused he has become. I think he has really found his niche in the show jumping. His classic style and flashy look makes him stand out. He is for sale. Call for an appointment to try him. You won’t be disappointed.

Simba did the Medium and High Schooling Jumpers quite successfully at KHP. He has become stronger and is really powering off the ground and around the fences. I am having a great time furthering his education.

Many of you have asked me my opinion of the Point2 Air Vest. I just purchased one for myself and believe in the product. I had one inflated on me and I felt very protected and my neck was stable. I know they are costly but I encourage all of you to look into making this purchase for your own safety. One ride in the ambulance will cost you more than this vest. I have a few recommendations for you if you decide to make this purchase. 1. If you have two jump saddles and plan to use your Point2 Air Vest with both saddles, buy the extra strap that you attach your rip cord to. Switching these out can be difficult and time consuming. 2. Purchase at least one extra canister to have on hand and keep a reserve canister on-hand at all times.

Please visit www.point-two.co.uk/ for ordering information. Also, when ordering please mention my name as they are trying to keep up with the number of professionals’ students that are ordering the vests. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

The CW Event Team leaves Thursday for Surefire Horse Trials and straight from there we head to O’Connor Camp for a week. We will be returning home the first weekend in July. Continue to check my calendar for updates. Pay attention to the little things that will paint the entire picture. Until next time, keep kicking!

The CW Event Team just finished up a busy Memorial Day weekend at May Daze Horse Trials at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was great to see everyone out showing. I rode five horses this weekend so I was really busy and apologize I did not have time to visit much.
I rode two horses in the Novice Horse division. Going to Seattle finished 14th in the division on a 48.5 and Ready for April finished 11th with a 47.0. I was happy with the performance both of these greener horses had this weekend as they both moved up a level.
In the Open Novice division I rode, Quite a Lady, (owned by Jane Beshear), and she was phenomenal! She finished on her dressage score of a 27.8 and in first place!!
In the Open Training division I rode, Action Now and Maggie. Action finished 12th at his first time at this level. He was good in his dressage and jumped a beautiful clear round in the show jumping. He also was clear x-c but incurred a few time faults as I showed him the water before asking him to jump over the log in to it. He has been a bit looky there and I wanted to insure success. It worked very well as he jumped very bravely in after knowing exactly where he was going! Maggie jumped around the show jumping but unfortunately had a heal grab so I decided it best to withdraw her for XC on Sat.
I will be in and out of town over the next few weeks teaching clinics and such so please check my calendar and schedule your lessons! Right now there is a little lull in the horse trial schedule so let’s get some homework done and make sure those tools are in your tool box before your next horse trial!
We have several new pictures posted throughout the web page! When you have time, check them out!
Until next time, keep kicking!
CW