2009

Fall

Being that my husband and I are farmers, fall is always a busy time of year for us.  This year was no exception as harvest ran unusually late (into November!)  Thankfully we were able to finish before the snow took over and the yields were excellent so we can't complain too much.   

Flamboyant, my mother and I were able to sneak away to Winnipeg for a clinic with Gina Smith in early October.  This was our first trip away from home and the first time Gina had seen Flamboyant since we brought him home in August (needless to say I was a bit nervous!).  And it was a hit!  Flamboyant was a superstar and Gina was really pleased with our progress!  We learned some new exercises to apply to our everyday training and came home overjoyed with the whole experience.

In late October/early November we packed the trailer once more and headed for Saskatoon to ride with another Canadian Olympian Cindy Ishoy.  We spent three days learning and catching up with friends.  It turned out to be another great experience for Flamboyant and I and we came home with lots to work on.

With a lighter workload during the winter months my good friend and employee Jen Tierney left us to start her new employment in a much warmer office environment.  We will miss her but luckily she still keeps her horses at the farm so I still get to see her lots.

We celebrated Jen's last day at work!

2009 has been an adventure for us and we can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store for us!  I want to thank my husband Lee, Sayoko and my mother for all of their support over the past year.  I could not have done it without them!

Shannon and Flamboyant

Summer

This is the first summer I have been at home since 2007!  And I am really enjoying it.  Jen and I managed to get the house renovations done before Sayoko flew in from Japan.  We had a wonderful visit and I showed her the new facility and all of the horses.  We can’t wait for her to come back again!

In July Lee and I flew out to Ottawa for a few days to ride Flambo.  I had daily lessons and Lee and I enjoyed some “down time” while we were away.  We were able to spend time with the Frankland’s farm crew (Kaylee, Kelsey, Emily, and Coty) ... and we had a blast!

In August Jen and I  started the horrible task of fencing..... many, many, many feet of fence and 17 gates later we finally finished.  It made it all worthwhile when we watched the brood mares, foals and young horses enjoying knee high grass.  Thank goodness fencing is finished!

I was able to fly to Ottawa one more time to ride Flambo in the middle of August,  before he made the journey to Saskatchewan.  It was a wonderful trip.  Each lesson was a treat and the afternoons and evenings were spent relaxing with friends from Franklands.... Such awesome people!

Provi hit his first dressage show the end of August with Gail Jorstad .  Gail is a good friend and she does amazing work with our young horses. We are lucky to have her put the first rides on most of our youngsters.  Provi and Gail ended up winning their first training level test with a score in the mid sixties!  Their hard work really paid off!
Provi and Gail

Spring

With such a fantastic 2008 show season under our belts we started to look for another young talent to come up behind Monaco.  We looked at many horses both in the US and Europe but there was always one horse that I could not get out of my mind.

His name is Flamboyant and he is one of Gina Smith’s young horses.  I saw him for the first time in 2007 and fell in love with him right then and there.   After some pleading Gina agreed for a try-out.  My mother and I flew out to Ottawa in June and from the moment I sat on him I knew that he was the one.  With Sayoko’s generous support we were able to acquire this magnificent young gelding.  Another dream come true!
My new horse Flamboyant

Meanwhile at the farm....

A good friend and boarder, Janina Tierney (Jen), agreed to come and work with me through the spring, summer and early fall.  She started in Arpil and we have been busy ever since!  If we are not riding horses or doing chores we are busy renovating the house!  There is not much that we cannot accomplish together.
Jen and I

Winter

It has sure been a busy winter!  We filled up my 11 new turn out pens in a big hurry.  Most of the horses came from my mother’s breeding farm and a few belong to clients.  Lee and I have been busy finishing the stalls in the barn.  We now have 11 fancy new stalls!  I am not sure I want to fill them all because that would mean a bunch of extra chores but we have them just in case. 

Lee and I were able to sneak away for 10 days and enjoy a fun filled trip to Mexico late January.  Thanks to my mother and a boarder Janina Tierney for taking such good care of the horses while we were away.  We came back refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of the barn.