Hog Roast Horse Show

After church today was our annual hog roast horse show we always seem to combine with a farewell for Joan & Tim. Arnold the guest of honor:

The carvers, of which Fede was the go to guy. He knows exactly where every bit of meat is hiding and finds a way to get it to the table.

a few of the guests:

The volley ball games that seemed to go on and on:

After dinner we headed over to the farm for the horse show of which I took no pictures. Karin had me announcing as I knew the horses and the riders. After the show Bethany gave lessons to anyone wanting to try the silks.

Sarah worked with kids on Ribbon to anyone that wanted to try standing:

While Steven Marchal and Rhoda gave pony rides to the many kids waiting for a chance to ride Bonnie, Paris, or Ella.

Ruth Davidovics video taped the show, hopefully my computer will be done soon so that can be down loaded. Rachel Sauder was there with her camera and took many pictures. After we put the horses and silks away everyone headed back to the playground for more visiting, volleyball and a campfire where we had somemores.

For some reason no one wanted bacon. We are very thankful to the many friends and families that came to say good-by to the Reinhards and Janell. A special thank you to the many helpers with this undertaking. Hopefully no one had to work too hard.

Becky & Russ Kingman

Becky emailed the picture above. We wish them God's blessings! The Springfield, IL vaulting group suggested this name for the filly below. Meet Olympia! Olympia is out of Jenis by Raven and pictured at 2 weeks old.

She is one of the special ones. Olivia her sister out of Eliza pictured below is more than likely sold.

The lady purchasing her is going to drop a check in the mail on Monday. She will be a Christmas present and living in New Mexico. Today is the farewell picnic for Joan & Tim, their family and Janell Grassi. They will be leaving for Haiti this week. We didn't have near enough time to be with them this year. If you want to come say goodby the dinner starts at 4:30pm and the horse show starring the amazing performers the Reinhard Girls starts at 6:30pm. This you wont want to miss, these girls are the most talented vaulters in all of Haiti and probably the entire Midwest of our great United States of America.

Jam Packed Saturday

Too much to do too little time. Saturday started early getting the feeding out of the way before 6:00am Below are a few pictures of the fillies. They had fun playing out the field this morning.

Olivia found the bag Karin was using to work the horses.

What happened next was pretty funny, she ran around like crazy scaring the mares.

Eliza finally got Olivia to drop the bag and settle down grazing.

After having fun watching them it was time to work. The arena was prepared for the Springfield Pony Club while Mark worked on power washing the skid steer and the farm house. It was hot, very hot! Mark came in from chain sawing so exhausted and over heated he had to lay down and cool off. The ponyclubbers arrived at noon. Below Karin is having them do the preliminary exercises.

Soon they were up on the barrel and Ribbon.

We took a break just as the rain started pounding on the barn roof. Everyone made their way into the apartment for snacks.

We headed back out to the barn to start up with vaulting again when another storm blew in. This time we continued even though we had to yell over the sound of the rain slamming into the metal roof. This storm was so welcomed. By the time it was over cool air prevailed for the first time in weeks. David and Stephanie invited the entire Sceggel family over for dinner. We arrived just before 5:00pm. After dinner we headed out for a walk down to the Illinois River which is not too far from their home.

We found a big fallen tree, Sarah and Addyson climbed up for a picture.

On the way back Rhoda decided to do some weight training by carrying first Sarah then Ben.

Sarah gave Addyson a ride.

Then they decided to have stroller races with Addyson winning.

We made it back to Dave & Stef's glad to get into the air conditioning. Mark and I were the first to leave arriving home pleasantly exhausted.

Missing Saddle

Early this morning before the day heated up the mares and foals were put in the field to get to know each other and for a few pictures.

They were left out to graze while we walked. They were having such fun running around their moms. Karin and the girls came over to work on the horse show. We dug out the costumes, brought the horses into the arena with the silks blowing and finalized the schedule for Sunday. Karin and I headed to Middle Grove to pick up ponies for the pony rides which will be offered after the show. We through the saddles in the back of the truck. Below are a few pictures of the horses at that horse paradise.

We drove home went to unload the saddles and one of them was missing. Diane and Mike are spending the night at the cottage and will look for it. Hopefully we lost it there and not while we were parked at McDonalds in Farmington. Once home Rhoda drove over to help get new pictures of Bonnie pony along with a new video. The video will be uploaded once my computer is back from Phil's computer hospital. Below are a few pictures of this lovely pony.

Bonnie rides and drives and is for sale. We are only asking $1500.00 for her, besides pretty she doesn't buck or rear. What a bargain for this beautiful pony. Steven Marchal came over and worked one of the mares, he is showing Evan for us at the horse show on Sunday. After dinner Mark mowed the back field then fixed the skid steer bale spear. We moved a round bale feeder in the pasture behind Raven's and put in round bale. The horse show starts at 6:30pm instead of 6:00pm giving us a bit more time to finish dinner.

Mindy Sold

Right after the walk, Emma discovered the fire engine in the outdoor arena and was sure it was some kind of prehistoric monster that she needed to scare off by barking and lunging at it.

She must have scared it a bit and that engine tried to jump out breaking the top board, thank goodness the second board held!

So it not just horses that break boards. Mindy and I headed out shortly after 9:00am arriving at our meeting place just before the scheduled time of 1:00pm. The truck was filled with gas, then the buyer called only to find out he was still 40 miles out. Amy Koch was called and a very pleasant conversation followed as there was nothing to do but wait. Once Mindy was loaded into her new huge living quarter trailer I headed home arriving just before 4:00pm. Karin took 3 guests out to Middle Grove for a very nice trail ride this morning. She reported they came upon a very scenic view with 2 Friesians standing in the lake, one had just gotten out of the lake, the 2 paint mares about half way up the hill and the rest of the horses splattered on the hillside. Those are her words. We wouldn't have called them splattered but it fits. The horses were very well behaved in fact Karin reported they were perfect. Spark arrived after work to put the ladder up on the fire engine. Bethany started her practice around 8:00pm. The first picture was before the natural light faded.

The arena lights were turned on and a few more pictures were taken. Below is Faith walking the top rail holding on to Anni's hand.

She made it to the gate post and had to pose for a picture.

Spark and Rhonda's grand daughter Renee had a good view from where she was sitting.

Jenis and Eliza along with their foals were let out together we were pleased they all got along fine, even Jenis was well behaved. Of course she had to have a good roll.

Bethany had a good practice then let some of the younger ones try.

The evening feeding still needed to be done so I had to pull myself away from the entertainment to finish the remaining chores.

Mindy Leaving

Philip still has my computer but when it gets back from the hospital hopefully all healed from the various viruses Mindy can be marked sold. She will be hauled today to Indiana where I will meet the buyer. Mindy will be loaded into his trailer for the rest of the journey into Ohio. We are meeting 1:00pm Eastern time at the Beef House exit. Our week has been very busy, no time for pictures or videos, trying to get this place in shape for the horse show on Sunday. Karin has offered to help tomorrow and asked for a list, hmmmm where do we start with that? Speaking of the show, I'm looking for another rider, one of my best cancelled last night. Rebekah Schwind will be called to see if she can sub. The show will start with a circus act and end with a different circus act and that's all I'm saying about that. If you are curious and want to know more you will just have to show up and watch. The show starts at 6:00pm, it's FREE but bring your own chair we are not renting bleachers this year.

Arena Work

Jenis was covered this morning, hopefully she will be out by tomorrow. The trailer was taken to D & H RV repair on Plank Rd arriving at the 8:30am appointment exactly on time. They will call with a firm estimate but it sounded like we will be able to get it repaired. The Kellenberger family had just arrived to watch the vaulting practice when I finally made it back to the farm. After the practice Karin gave the children in family rides on Ribbon. The bale spear was attached to the skid steer and that was taken to the outdoor arena to work on clearing the weeds. That went well for a while until the spear was snapped off the attachment. From then on the arena was cleared by hand and rake. Bethany, Hanna and Faith Reinhard came over to help Karin and I working in the bright hot sunshine on the burning sand. Karin took the girls to Hanna's Parlor for ice-cream after that. A trip to Sam's club was on my to do list where 340 paper dinner plates, 170 dessert plates, 500 cups and a box of 39 gallon garbage bags were picked up for Sunday's meal. A surprise phone call came from Becky Schaer, she is married, got married in June to Russ. She is going to email the marriage announcement but we wish her the best!