Ren Pummels His Pals!

I really love this photo. You can see Ren is really happy and serious about his task of bugging Skippy Jon Jones. And this picture captures Skippy closing his eyes and pinning his ears in annoyance and clacking his teeth furiously to display his subordination. Happy naughty pony! And you know what's cool -- I was with boy of these boys on their first days of life!!

Renny Troublemaker with Skippy Jon Jones

Here's a September 7th photo of Renny in a relaxed fashion giving a baby trouble. He seems so calm and content with his grip on the chattering agitated weanling. And he even has time to give his Grandma a loving glance and posing for a picture. He is a complete fractious cutie pie!

A Handsome Popular Sport Pony

Okay, on September 8th, 2008, I was out at Showgate for a lovely drive and then to take photos of my happy beautiful family. I love this picture. You can see Renny with his peeps and then in the background across the creek, you can see Violet and Hailee, with V watching the proceedings. I really am so blessed. Look at that handsome athletic pony in the foreground and then my foundation mare and wonderful thoroughbred are in the back ground!

Ren the Sport Pony

Here's a September 8th photo of my little

Renny with his new pals, the weanlings of 2009! He seems to like this group of pals and he's been getting more exercise, so just last night, I noticed that he's become even more handsome. He's got lots of muscle and his neck is getting longer and filling in. He's really quite a handsome boy. The new trainer, Coy, lets the horses be in their stall without their halters, so last night I really had a chance to look at his handsome intelligent face and realize -- he's a flatout sweetheart smart charmer! My darling sport pony!

Green

Namaste.

More Green Heaven!

My beautiful girls, sharing a late afternoon treat. Namaste.

A Green Slice of Heaven

I am writing this entry on Wednesday, June 10th, of an unusually good week. Barbie had told me to harness up Violet and take her for a spin by myself this past weekend. So, on a beautiful Sunday, I went out to the stable and did just that. While her dad was mowing the pastures, I hitched up my sweet girl and off we took on this big loose trot all around the outdoor! Then on Monday, I had an excellent riding lesson with her using draw reins and even jumped an X. We felt very proud of ourselves. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, I hitched up my girl again and we went for cart rides. We have been very productive. Today, Violet did her first backing with the cart. She was very good. What's been exceptionally nice is seeing the herds out on the bright green Spring pastures. Violet and Hailee, just like in this photo, hang out close together. And I often see Hailee standing with her tail in V's face, just whisking that big black brush delicately over her girlfriend to keep her free of pests -- a real treat a thin-skinned thoroughbred truly enjoys! Namaste.

Wrestling Babies on a Beautiful May Day!

I love this photo, though it's shot from a distance. The photo shows Kiva and Skippy Jon Jones, giving each other a little wrestling kiss. And you can see the good little guy, Hamlet, walking with his mama.

Skippy Jon Jones on a Rainy Day

Such a handsome fella, this little Skippy Jon Jones. Here he is on a rainy day on March 25th, resting with his mama and waiting for the action to begin!

Skippy Jon Jones Loves his Mama

I am writing this note on March 22nd. You can see in these photos that SJJ loves his mama. Reminds me with complete clarity the past summer 2008 when little baby Renny showed with complete satisfaction that he was a mama's boy! And Hailee, she just thought Renny was too cool for words. Here's a little funny thing. For two days this week, I was really busy with work and with family demands, so I saw my herd on Thursday morning and gave love, but then didn't see them until Saturday morning. So, then on Saturday, I was busy lunging and riding and working with Violet, and each time I would look over, I would see my darling Renny standing and bussing and fussing and bumping and standing with his mom, Hailee, as she looked over the gate in the indoor ring as Violet and I rode. I'd give a shout out to them and they would look at me with happiness and recognition. Little Renny would lift his little face high, so that he could put his little muzzle over the top rail. I have a beautiful joyful happy herd. Namaste.

Skippy Jon Jones Relaxes with Mom

Here are photos of Skippy Jon Jones relaxing with his mom in his straw-filled stall! He has been a happy boy over the past week or two, spending long warm sunlit days in the side pasture with his mom. It's fun to see him either trotting along the fenceline with his sweet mom or sleeping in the grass, dreaming little foal dreams! I am writing this note on March 23rd and I'm telling you, the past few weeks with SJJ have made me really remember vividly my darling foal Renny!

Ziva and Skippy Jon Jones

Okay, so I love this Spring photo of little Ziva, kissing her patient happy mama. Not only is she adorable, but you can see Skippy Jon Jones staring at her in the background, waiting for the morning when he gets turned out with her to play and romp! Namaste.

Gentle Hope

Here is Hope again and her little Skippy Jon Jones. You can see that she feels a little bedraggled after her labors. And you can see that she's still got some edema left from the fluids that built up in her abdomen, during the past few days. But she will bounce back quickly and by this summer, she will be a glossy black wonderful mare with beautiful bright bay foal at side! I really love Hope and if I had a farm of my own would want her to retire with me. She's always been a blessing to her foals and to the horses who are in her herd. She was in the field with Hailee when H was a very young girl of 2 and 3, and I am sure she taught Hailee how to be a sensible and good girl and how to be a solid and sensible mother. Hailee got to learn from the best which is why she is such a terrific mother to our own little Renny!

Skippy and Hope

Here is Skippy Jon Jones and his mother, Hope, both of Showgate Stables. In this photo, Hope had just given birth to her foal a few hours before. You can see it in her eyes -- she is a happy, but tired mother. She is doing her wonderful best to bring love, nourishment, and instruction to her baby boy. I have known this mare for years, she has lived at Showgate for numerous years now. Meghan first bought her at Congress while she was in foal with the liver dark Faith, an elegant filly. She has had two colts (one who died) and a filly in the space of time between Faith and Skippy Jon Jones in this photo. She's had many foals. And she is nothing but patient, calm, sweet, intelligent, capable, and efficient. She's kind to everyone and rock solid. She is Barbie's daughter's horse now and little KT loves her and her new baby!

Meet Skippy Jon Jones of Showgate Stables!

On Tuesday, at 2am, Hope gave birth to a bay colt with the biggest knees and hocks! His name is Skippy Jon Jones and he's just lovely. And he's proving to be just like a foal should be -- every time I see him, he's either scampering, nursing, or collapsing into the straw for a baby nap. He's gorgeaus. And every time I see him, he's changed and grown. On the first morning, he just seemed like a breath of air with knees. On the second day, he looked bigger and more muscular and more sure of himself. And today, Day 3, he was a powerhouse, a strong happy confident nursing little powerhouse! What a beauty!