Time to get the horses legged up (if you are me and you have not been doing much riding this winter...).  I will be going to Jeffco this Thursday for Open Riding.  My first shows are end of April and May, so no better time then now to get them back into work.  Please join us and don't forget the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo is this weekend at the National Western Events Center.

Here is a note from Julie Phillips the day after she picked up "Jackson Nevada"

Hi Heather, Well he is here !  I have named him Jackson Nevada ! He is a cute little bay gelding, 4yo. very kind eye. I think it is going to go great. now all I have to do is ride him !

This is a little blurb from the foundation:  The Mustang Heritage Foundation is constantly searching for dynamic ways to introduce horsemen and women to the true value of the American Mustang," said MHF Executive Director Patti Colbert. "Al and Ken have been great friends to the Foundation having served as judges in the past and being available to trainers in offering advice and encouragement. With this competition, they'll have a more direct hands-on approach and trainers will be able to get their advice at the event to fine-tune the work they've done in the previous 90 days."
Trainers will be "drafted" at the event to the American League by Dunning of Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Patriots League by McNabb of Cody, Wyo. Trainers will compete in entry level reining, trail, and cow work from rules adapted from the American Stock Horse Association and the Stock Horse of Texas Association. Points will be earned individually and for the team by each trainer, with each coach selecting three trainers per competition element who points will count for the team, as well.
"Another great element to this competition is that fans are going to be able to vote for their favorite trainer through a bracket system on line," said Colbert. "The People's Favorite trainers and mustangs will then compete on Friday night of our competition during a Mustang Smackdown for cash and prizes." Top Ten finals will be held Saturday June 12 at 7 p.m. for individual qualifiers while both teams will compete in a team performance designed by their coach.
All mustangs competing in the competition will be made available for adoption June 13 at 10 a.m. The event is free to the public with the exception of the Saturday night Top Ten finals performance.

I am very excited to announce that Evergreen's own Julie Phillips has been selected to participate in The Extreme Mustang Challenge at Colorado State University.  This is a great way to showcase and educate people on the Mustang.  She picks up her Mustang in Canon City March 5th and has 90 days to prepare him for the competition and sale June 11-13th at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado.  Stay tuned for more on this story!

We have some Tentative dates for the 2010 Colorado Corral Ranch Race.  Squair Deal Riding Center in Conifer is going to host a Spring Ranch Race May 29 & 30 with a clinic on Saturday and a Competition on Sunday.  You can enter both or just one day.

The Colorado Corral Ranch Race at Evergreen Rodeo Grounds will Tentatively be on September 18 & 19 (clinic Saturday, competition Sunday), with inclimate weather dates on September 25 & 26.  Just waiting for final approval from the Evergreen Rodeo Association Board.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

Happy 2010!  I am coming out of my winter horse slumber.  The girls are all fuzzy and it is just too cold to ride most days.  Summer and Trouble appreciate a little time just to hang in the pasture without me bugging them.  What a perfect time to go to the National Western Horse Stuff!  I will be going down to watch the AQHA VRH WOrld Championships on Wednesday and Thursday hopefully and may have tickets to the Gambler's Choice Jumping.  I will also be volunteering at the RMQHA booth in the Events Center this Saturday and Monday the 18th - stop by if you are around.  If you have not been, there is tons to see without a ticket to an event.  One of my favorite parts is going into the cattle barns, seeing the different breeds and watching them get prepared to show - no ticket required besides general admission.  Hold on - spring is not far away!

Don't miss the November issue of Colorado Serenity!  Results and pictures of the five division winners and more pictures on www.coloradocorral.com.  Congratulations to all!

We had beautiful weather and it had been warm since the weekend, but that was not enough to melt off the big snow from last week from the North side of  the trails.  We made it up and partially down Mt. Carbon, but from there down to the dam was crusty, icy snow.  In interest of safety, we turned around and wound around some other sunny trails.  Nice stream crossings and scenery.  Not many rocks on the trails - mostly sand and crushed granite trails.  I think we passed one biker.  We still had a nice hour ride, then went back and messed around in the decent large ourtdoor arena where we parked.  The arena ground is sand with some rubber mixed in.  For the next few months our plan for these normal trail ride days will be to go to Jeffco Fairgrounds to get together and ride.  We will plan to be there about 10:30ish and stay for a few hours.  The cost is $5.  See the website for more details and pictures of todays ride - Thanks for the pictures Nancy!

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day for the first Colorado Corral Ranch Race.  Twenty one riders total and a jackpot of nine riders.  Winners of each division were as follows:  Shane Alapai, Open; Tucker Black, Amateur;  Katie Nelson, Green as Grass; Katie White, Youth 13-18; and Jhett Alapai, Youth 12 & Under.  Emma Beebe shined in the Lead Line class, with the biggest smile I have ever seen on a little girl.  Amazing, supportive and fun group of folks.  I can't wait for the next one, hopefully in the Spring.  We may try a two day format with a clinic Saturday and a competition Sunday - pick one or the other or both.  Thanks so much to all of the participants, judge and volunteers!!!  Thank you also to the Evergreen Rodeo Association for the use of the grounds -  We raised just over $300 to go toward rodeo ground improvements! 

The views from White ranch of Table Mountain are gorgeous.  We parked in the East Access lot and followed Belcher Hill Trail to Longhorn Trail, to Maverick Trail and back down Belcher Hill.  We only came across 2 bikes and one set of hikers in 3 hours.  Belcher was mostly uphill, but the other two were a good variety.  Very rocky at points - shoes or boots are a must.  Great place for your horse to learn to pick through rocks.  Again the views of Denver, vistas, ridgelines, lakes, Golden, Arvada and beyond were amazing.  Pictures on the website. 

I was so bummed to have to delay The Colorado Corral Ranch Race, but with people coming from near and far and the cattle being hauled in, I had to decide by Thursday a.m.  Now it looks like not much snow, and still fairly chilly, but we could have done it and I think the roads would have been fine.  Oh well - can't predict the weather completely!  Anyway, I set up most of the course today and it will be a blast!  If you couldn't come on the 10th, you gotta come on the 17th!  email me for a registration form.  We have also added a jackpot!  Stay after for a chance to use the course again!  See you there - Heather