It's cool to recycle!

I compete regularly and enjoy every second I get to perform in front of a live audience. Others enjoy watching, and yet some want to build their relationship with a horse outside of the spotlight, like riding on beautiful, scenic trails. Fortunately, there isn't just one "right" way to be involved with horses.

If you are chasing show ring glory, it is possible to do it on a budget. Be smart in how you invest. Buy the best quality horse, tack, and products you can afford, but don't pay more just because something is popular. Trends will come and go, but good quality will last for many years.

Sites like ebay.com and the Pleasure Horse Journal Forum on delphiforums.com offer used show clothing, tack, and barn items, most very modestly priced. Don't be afraid to buy second hand.

In my youtube video, Trail, both my jacket and saddle are "gently used." In this day and age, it's cool to recycle!

A Big Round of Applause

We're just back from the 2008 Pinto World Show held annually in Tulsa, OK. This is the largest gathering of registered Pinto horses in the country, drawing about 1,500 equines including western, english, saddle seat, driving, halter, and performance horses, ponies and miniatures.

I would like to extend hearty congratulations to everyone from the TS Paints Gang for their amazing performances and excellent placings. I am very pleased to share that my young gelding, Gotta Be A Hotrod, earned two Top Ten Placings in my Amateur Western Pleasure classes. This is just the start of a lot of success that I expect "Eddie" to have over his career. He's developing into quite an all-around performer and we anticipate unveiling his skills in Green and 3 & 4 Year Old Trail at the Reichert Celebration and NSBA World Championship shows in August.

In addition to a wonderful horse and a healthy bank account, it takes a great deal of determination and support to excel at the highest levels of equestrian sports. Most dedicated equestrians are ambitious, self disciplined and competitive by nature. We participate in this sport, forsaking almost everything else, because we love what we do. But that can be overwhelming to those around us who are not quite as horse crazy!

Thank you to my wonderful husband, Scott, and my trainer, Melissa Sachs, for the encouragement to try anything I put my mind to! And, to Leah, my partner in everything equine, you do the best job of applying face grease of anyone I have ever yelled at right before a class. Thank you for continuing to come and sing the Champion Chipmunk song to help me focus before my grand entry.