~ Ricky Quinn Horsemanship clinic

I can't begin to explain how much 

riding with and learning from

Ricky Quinn

has changed my life.

(www.rickyquinnclinics.com)

Sounds exaggerated, I know.

But so true. 

(more on that later when I am waxing philosophical)

It was so amazing how relaxed Kaiyah was.

Just two months ago at Buck's clinic, she was a whirling dervish, running around terrified, thinking that all of the other 30 horses and their riders were going to eat her for dinner. 

It was great to have my friends' support at Buck's clinic,

and it was just as sweet to have them each congratulate me at this clinic on the dramatic change in Kaiyah.

my wonderful friend and mentor, Denise with her mare Lilly

Peggy and her Arab, Loomy

Laura on Twister, ponying Ricky's horse in training, BB (Blue Butterfly)

Jessie (on her older horse... we were all missing Mischa!)

Rene and her mare Cleo

And the girl with pipes! Janelle and Rusty

We had fun sitting on the stairs at night in Denise's house, listening to her play the guitar and sing. The girl's got talent! You are beautiful, darlin...

Sarah and another one of her braided works of art! She is braiding me a custom mecate that matches Kaiyah... can't wait to get it!

I asked Jonathan to be sure to take photos the last day... 

because I knew the yawning would commence

and I wanted those moments captured!!

For those of you who don't know... yawning is a great sign of relaxation and "letting down." It's a great feeling to be able to help Kaiyah be that relaxed, after how troubled and bothered she's been since I got her in April. I feel like we're finally getting somewhere!!

Denise, Janelle, Peggy, Ricky, Laura and me

this is a cute shot of Denise and Lilly.  :)

And while this last shot wasn't taken until October, when Sarah flew back to see her mare's new baby (long story!), I had to add it on here. Some of my all time favorite people, joined together by the love of good horsemanship! 

Joe LaChapelle (Denise's husband), Peggy, Joel (Nicki's boyfriend), Nicki LaChapelle (Denise's daughter), Sarah Sandusky (Ricky's fiancee), Nick Donohue, me, Jessie Donohue, Laura Lillie, Denise LaChapelle, Janelle

I love you guys!!

~ summer fun at the barn

So, just for fun... here's a little photo synopsis of what we spent quite a bit of time doing this summer...

playing with horses 

(my friend Denise and me playing around at Inavale)

Doctoring horses...

This is my sweetie, Poco. Woo woo! Isn't he a handsome boy?

(This was taken before he was diagnosed with the whole eye thing, which is better for now, at least... that episode is over and I'm praying that they will be few and far between to minimize the damage. His vision seems okay so far, and he's happy to be out in the pasture again with his buddies.)

Trying to keep the old man, Roanie, comfortable...

playing on the quads 

(Kiziah on the right, on our quad, and Caleb on the left...

Calvin rode too, but spent most of his time playing Legos with the barn owner's son)

Momentary lapses of reason

(aka, me letting Kiziah ride Kaiyah... which they both handled awesomely well, although neither is even remotely ready for the other, but this was a sweet little peaceful moment they had together...)

Riding the new "barn mascot", Ringo

(ACK! I fixed her foot placement in the stirrup right after I took this!)

riding the quads with friends

watching the chickens

brushing the pony with friends

(doesn't Ringo look terribly upset by this? hahaha... he wouldn't even graze... he was just in heaven having these little girls love on him and brush him!)

feeding the ducks

putting sparkly hoof polish on the pony

brushing and loving on Poco...

and the pony, some more

and of course, giving friends rides on Ringo.

Not sure what else we did this summer!

:)

~ life's a beach

Yeah, I know it's just wrong... but we didn't actually make it to the beach until August 24th. Sad, right? But we had a GREAT time.

I am a FREAK about the waves. I'm perpetually petrified about the thought of sneaker waves coming up and grabbing my kids. So for a change, we went just south of Lincoln City to the Siletz Bay... and found

the BEST beach.

That's the Salishan spit across the bay.

People? Nah. Well, hardly any.

You can actually let your kids turn their backs to the water here. 

When the tide is in, like it was while we were there, the water is shallow for a loooong ways. It was nice and clear, and warm enough to play in.

My man chillaxin...

Gracie was lovin' all the ball throwing and she and Bailey had a ton of fun in the water.

The weather was P*E*R*F*E*C*T... 

Kizi and Bailey snugglin'... he was dog tired!  ;)

I love this shot.

Can you see the ball that Gracie is hoping I'll throw... again?

Tired and sandy, but happy... 

we had a great dinner at Kyllo's before heading home.