|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
- Sharon Ralls Lemon
October 3, 2008 Wow, I sure have been bad about updating the 'News' portion of my website...sorry about that. Things have been very busy lately but in a very good way. I've pretty much settled in at B & J Horse Farm now and have no plans of moving any time soon. My clients and their horses seem happy there and Jodi has been absolutely wonderful and accomodating. I'm still keeping my three personal horses at my house in Napoleon and am still a bit mortgage-poor but things are getting better on that front as well. A couple of my students attended a show in September and the results were AWESOME! The girls won all but one of their classes and Kinsey won the high-percentage award for receiving the highest score of the entire show! Congratulations Kinsey, what an incredible first show for her! We're planning on some more shows in 2009 so keep looking at the schedule. On a more personal level there have been a lot of ups and downs with Silverado and I, including a suspensory problem and a sarcoid in the girth area for him and a broken hand for me. Regardless, we're working as much as possible and we keep pressing forward. Silverado's had approximately two of the past three years off for various reasons which makes the training process go very slow. However, things are looking good for next year and hopefully you'll see us out in the show ring. I've always thought that training horses is about patience and perseverence and the past three years have required huge amounts of both. Regardless, Silverado is the most special horse I've ever had the pleasure of working with and I feel so lucky to have this wonderful partnership with him. Well, I guess that's all for now. Stay tuned. I'll try to keep the updates coming.
July 17, 2007 Hopefully everyone's summer is going well so far. Things seem to be ever-changing for us at Expressions Dressage. After much debate and consideration, we have decided that, for the time being, all training is going to be done solely out of B & J Horse Farm in Jackson, MI. This location seems to be more cost-efficient for horse owners and is much closer to my home. There are several stalls available so if you're looking for a place to board or would like to put your horse in training please let me know. There are also several new barns in the Jackson area that are in the planning/building stages that have inquired about bringing in a trainer so I'm keeping my options open for the future. I'm not sure where we'll end up but the well-being of my clients and horses will always be the first priority. I'm also excited to say that Silverado and I have been in contact with Scott Hassler, the U.S Young Horse Coach, and are making plans to spend some time training with him at the end of this summer. I am really looking forward to doing some serious training again that will hopefully help prepare us for next year's show season. I'm getting anxious to compete again and am really excited to get Silverado back out in the ring again next year!
June 5, 2007 This update is long overdue and I'm so sorry to keep you all waiting. It seems like everything in my life has changed over the past eight months and I've been running to keep up. Where do I start?? Last October my parents announced that they were selling their horse farm. After receiving this news I promptly began making plans to move myself, 8 horses, 3 cats, a rabbit and a dog. This was no small feat. Two horses relocated to a boarding stable in Jackson and one pony went to Muskegon to live with a good friend, Louise St. Amour. Ukon was sold to a wonderful lady in Georgia while Silverado, Casanova and Scooter all stayed with me. In November I closed on my first house, 10 acres in Napoleon, MI, and started frantically getting it ready for the horses. We had stalls to build and a pasture to prep and fence. We worked night and day for six weeks to have things finished by the first of January. Fortunately, we got everthing done and moved my three horses home the evening of December 31st. The good news is that I truly love my new place and although it is too small for a training business, it is perfect for my three guys. They have adjusted very well and seem to love their new home. Silverado finally went back to work in March, 2007, after having a full six months off from work, and is doing wonderfully. He is showing a great deal of maturity this year and I'm really excited. I don't think he has ever felt better!! The final delimma I was faced with this year was where to move my clients. I was having a lot of trouble finding a place that would offer the level of care and quality facilities required to train dressage horses. Over the past six months I have been traveling to different farms doing very little teaching and no training. However, recently, the tides have changed. After talking with my long-time friend and fellow trainer, Colleen Hoekstra, we have decided that moving Expressions Dressage to her facility, Knollwood Farm, would benefit everyone concerned. Knollwood is a beautiful facility designed specifically for dressage training. With this move, we will once again be able to offer boarding, training and lessons for all Expressions Dressage clients. If you are interested in receiving more information please contact me at: JamieJSchmitt@aol.com.
Changes, changes, changes...that's what this summer has brought. During this winter I'm going to be purchasing a small farm of my own and relocating my training business to a yet undetermined location. Ukon is also for sale to help finance this move. By 2007 my parents will be closing their farm and retiring from the horse business. Although the changes are a bit scary right now, I'm very excited about my new place and future. I think this will be for the best. I'm looking for a wonderful place for my clients to go that will offer the highest standard in horse care. I will be taking horses in training again beginning January, 2007 so if you need some help please let me know. Hopefully I can have pictures of my new place up soon. Keep checking back!! June 23, 2006 Ukon Successful at Dressage at Waterloo!! Over the weekend of June 9 - 11, 2006 Ukon went to his very first show. I was so proud of his bravery and composure. Although nervous, Ukon warmed up calmly and did a wonderful test earning at 66.8% in Training Level One despite a mistake in the canter. He was awarded five 8's including an 8 on his gaits. Once he develops more confidence his scores are going to soar...I'm so excited. Way to go Ukon!!
May 10, 2006 Spring is finally here and all the horses are doing great!! I'm pleased to welcome two new horses into training this spring - a yearling Connemara/Thoroughbred gelding named 'Foxfire' and a three year old Fresian gelding named 'Lueka'. Both are very nice horses and have been a wonderful addition to the barn. I am also excited to announce that we are going to be having a 30th birthday 'Bash' for Scooter at the barn on Saturday, June 3, 2006 at 1:00 PM. We are planning a barbecue, campfire, pony rides, games and 'Scooter Tricks'. It's going to be a great time celebrating a GREAT pony!! If you are interested in attending please RSVP to Jamie at 734-546-8557 by Wednesday May 31, 2006. Everyone is welcome!!
April 4, 2006 The Lisa Wilcox clinic last weekend was excellent. Many thanks to Albion College and the MDA for putting on such a wonderful event and to Maryal for inviting me to go with her. It was so much fun!! Great
news about Max - He and Ilse went to their first show together last
weekend and did excellent. They rode two first level tests
and finished with a first and second with scores in the high sixties.
Many Congratulations to both of them!!
March 20, 2006 Silverado
wanted to remind everyone that he is 'Fabalous' and would love to
receive more Mrs. Pastures Cookies. I told him that he was
greedy but he insisted. We have to keep the 'Prince' happy!!
March 13, 2006 Dear
Dressage Lovers, Above
all else, they are a source of continued joy in my life and I look
forward to each day I spend with them. Please explore my website
and feel free to contact me with questions and inquires. Thanks
for visiting!!
|
|
"For the Love of the Horse" |
