I would like to welcome you to MnM Baus Ranch!
Here at the ranch we like to have fun and we hope it shows!
7:00 pm | IPHC Directory Ad 1-10-2011
Mark and I have been thinking about how we need to kick things in gear, step up and start promoting "our" program. I have that in quotations because we are in a unique situation. Not only do Mark and I have horses of our own, but Mark also works for a farm and manages over 200 head of horses. He works together with them to form their program and also with me to form our program.
Mark and I are a special blend. I grew up with what many consider a backyard horse. We spent most of our time trail riding or practicing barrels and keyrace. If I wanted to jump haybales in the field or fallen tree branches, that's what we did. The only purpose for my ride was to have fun. Mark on the other hand grew up always wanting to show. He knew early on that this was the life for him.
While I was learning my John Lyons techniques, Mark was off riding with world class pleasure trainers like Guy Stoops and Bret Parrish.
Together we have a nice balance of these two worlds!
4:43 am | What A World11-24-2010
Mark and I couldn't have asked for a better World Show. He came home with three of his horses having placed Top 5 in all of their classes. I came home with a Sweepstakes Championship and 3 Reserve World Champion buckles.
One of those buckles needs an explanation and it belongs to Cookie.
So many emotions to cover when it comes to Cookie. Let me start by explaining my decision to enter her at the World Show in the first place. I did it for fun. I did it because I needed to set a goal and work towards it. I did it because I knew the competition wasn't as hard as what I would see at my local county fair grounds...what? You heard me, the title is deceiving...it implies that we are actually good, when in fact we are nowhere near what you would consider a World Champion talent.
I have no idea, when in the heart of Texas... HORSE COUNTRY...why more APHA horses don't show up and enter speed events at the World Show! Here I am, hauling from Minnesota, literally going across the country just to show in it because I have a stinkin chance! Let me clarify, I thought I had a chance in the poles, Cookie is actually good at poles. I entered barrels for the heck of it.
Anyway, here we are at the World Show, the night before my classes. APHA gives 2 hours for barrel practice and 2 hours for poles. I warm Cookie up and everything is going great, no spooking, no darting, no uneasyness, I was on top of the world because Cookie's mind is ALWAYS my number one issue. We have the Sugar Cookie mind and we have the Monster Cookie mind...I didn't know what horse I was going to get...turns out she wanted to be Sugar Cookie. The only thing I really worried about was how she would behave in the arena by herself and since there were only five other horses in the arena when we did our practice runs I thought she was good to go. I went to bed that night thinking this is great, all that hard work is paying off.
By the way, my goal now has changed from winning anything to just running a clean pattern and having Cookie perform like she does in practice. I try to be realistic.
It's show time! Novice Amateur Poles is first, followed by Amateur Poles, Novice Barrels and Amateur Barrels. There are only 3 of us in the Novice poles and one of them was a HUS/All-Around horse. Sweet, I just have to trot the pattern and I will get a Reserve World Champion buckle!! The horse that won was a real pole horse and knew what it was doing, she had a time of 23 seconds or something fast like that. I was also last to go so all I had to do was beat the HUS horse with 41 seconds - easy! WRONG!!! SO WRONG! I get greedy and think, you know, this is Cookie's best event and I am 90% sure we could give that first place horse a run for their money. Plus, I had fans in the audience that wanted to see Cookie run!
We enter the arena...so far so good! I asked her to lope and she wanted to go! I'm thinking to myself that this is great, she's into it and she gets it! We're headed down the poles going fast, everything is coming together....that is until she darts in before the last pole!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! Cookie, has NEVER EVER, EVER offered to do anything of the sort in practice!! Ahhh, we just blew the freakin pattern and are DQ'd!!! I finished the pattern and soon realized that she's a maniac. She's being naughty, anticipating, over reacting and not listening. Hmmm....what to do, what to do. I chalk it up to a nice try, sucks to be me and decide to at least just get a clean pattern for our Amateur poles, up next.
Amateur poles - I head Cookie to the gate...she refuses. Not only is she not wanting to go through the gate and into the arena but every muscle in her neck is flexed and tight and she is antsy. (Please keep in mind that I have really high standards for her, she wasn't bucking, crow hopping or anything like that...just stalled up and wouldn't go forward willingly.) I did not expect this at all. I've never been in a situation where Cookie wouldn't go fwd and do what I say. The man asked if I wanted a whip, because it's against the rules for anyone to help get me in the arena I guess. A whip was the last thing I needed...Cookie was freaking out and needed to behave herself. Now it's just a matter of getting her to do as I say and not letting her win this battle. I turned her around and backed her half the alley in to the John Justin arena! Once in the arena we slowly loped the pattern and it was clean but not near where we could have been had Sugar Cookie showed up to the occasion.
It's lunch break and I take her back to the stalls with the wind out of my sails because Cookie wont behave herself. I actually wasn't mad because I can't be mad. I took a chance, by not seasoning her at shows that the arena could be an issue. I am disappointed that Cookie isn't taking to it better because it isn't like we didn't haul her all over the country doing western pleasure for a full year! I had to shake it off and figure out a plan for if and how I was going to get her through the gate for our barrel classes. Mark and I both agreed that she would be onto the backing up trick and I wouldn't get away with it again.
During the lunch break, I took her down the ramp that leads to the alley and sure enough just as I thought, she was already anticipating it and stalling up. I stayed one step ahead of her with two hard and swift kicks in the belly. I had to get her before she thought about it too much. She did it one more time and I greeted her with the same two hard kicks and she then started to breath and I let her relax. Mark and I again both agreed that worst case scenario, she pitches a fit again and I scratch the class.
I kept her calm in the holding pen before Novice Barrels because now I just needed her to stay relaxed and realize it's not a bad place. There were five horses in my barrel class and we were again the last to run. I knew two of the girls had knocked barrels but the thing is...Cookie hasn't run barrels in competition since 2008! This was our second time EVER running in competition and the FIRST time this year!
It's our turn. I ask Cookie to go to the gate...she sulls up in the holding pen. The gate man loudly hits his clip board and I give her those same two kicks she had seen earlier and we're off! She is through the gate! At the World Show you are allowed to run the gate. I didn't plan on running the gate with anticipation of future behavior problems, but as long as she was going and somewhat paying attention, I went with it. If her mind was 40% in poles, it was 67% in Novice Barrels. I knew going into the first barrel that she wasn't with it because she kept looking for places to dart, wanted to spook at the crowd and after we were almost around the barrel, she eyed up the gate and wanted to veer off path! I kept her going and once we made it around the second barrel I could feel that she was now 75% with it but I wasn't going to trust her. I handled her around the third barrel and let her run home. Our time was 19 something. I didn't care. I was so proud that Cookie walked...WALKED CALMLY into the arena right after her run for the placings. It wasn't until I was in the arena that I found out we ended up being the second fastest time and were named Reserve World Champions!
Is Cookie a world caliber barrel horse...no....but I DO get to walk away with that buckle! My very first Reserve World Champion title was with Cookie in the Novice Amateur Barrels!!! I still can't believe it! The title in our case is deceiving, but I did earn it that day because there was nobody there to beat us. I'm sorry for you stronger, faster and more talented horse and rider teams that didn't show up. I don't mean that statement to be cocky or arrogant, I truly feel for those of you who know you are better. But, for whatever reason, I was the one who showed up to participate. Maybe this will inspire some of you to go next year.
As for Cookie and I, we'll be moving on to mounted shooting! Yes, we're going to add GUN FIRE to this disaster! Maybe we could win a local show in the speed events...who am I kidding, we don't stand a chance!
I have to thank my friends Mallory and Joni Beinborn for letting me borrow that pink shirt and that blingin brown belt to complete my perfect World Show outfit! I love you both! Thanks Mal for taking the photos above!!! Thanks Joni for getting it on video!! You guys are the best!!!
Here is our winning run if you really want to see it!
You may not save, download or re-post it. I also have to have a disclaimer that I didn't think the footing was the best, and we all know I am scared Cookie Monster is going to fall, get up and kill me as seen in an earlier practice video.
If you didn't think I was nuts after Cookie's story, you may after you hear about my Sweepstakes Championship and my other two Reserve Buckles.
I took an even bigger chance on a solid paint bred mare I saw on youtube. Save My Spot In Heaven is a 3yo mare by Zips Heaven Sent. My connection to the solid paints goes back to 2005, when I had my gelding Fleetojetic. He was so crazy talented! I had five trainers ask me what he was before I even finished my first lap in the outdoor pen at the World Show! I was on my second year showing him and was SO thankful APHA added the Open SPB class to the World. Then, just my luck - Sensational Leaguer shows up! This mare has been beating AQHA horses in NSBA futurities ALL year! I think she had $40k in winnings or something crazy like that. Long story short, I ended up third with no buckle. (Random note: Sensational Leaguer's baby is John Simon and he won the Amateur Junior Pleasure 18-44 this year....oh and her full sibling, My Sensational Cookie won the Bridleless and was Reserve in the Jr Western Pleasure this year too!)
I made it my goal then and there, that I was going to win the Solid Paint Bred Western Pleasure class! That's why, when I saw the video of this mare, I had to have her. She was the first horse I had seen that I thought could do it. I actually even thought she had more talent and purchased a Maiden Slot at the Reichert Celebration so she could show against the Quarter Horses. (Thank you Pat Heeley for showing her!)
I had been riding this horse since June of 2009, that's 17 months of training on a Solid Paint Bred to show at two shows!! Two shows we did...The Reichert Celebration where she won the NSBA Limited Color Breed WP with Mark and the Paint World. My first time showing her was when we entered the ring at the World Show for the Amateur Solid Paint Bred Western Pleasure! Jill earned her titles fair and square. There are so many days when I leave the barn saying "I love that horse." To own and ride something as cool as she is, is priceless. I'm so proud of her and I can't wait to see her baby! That's right, I'm not a total idiot - we have her bred her to 5x World Champion Fleet Machine!
3:08 pm | I'm Exhausted10-26-10
I can't ever really say no to people and it's catching up with me. The last week I've spent 5 out of 7 days where I don't go to bed until 10am! I can't say that this is unexpected from me but what has never happened to me before is usually when my hours get to the 4 or 5 am, I have to work through the whole next day and I'll be back to my normal 2am bedtime. Right now between working, riding, stressing about the Paint World Show and a little about this wedding I have to shoot on Halloween, pryaing my camera doesn't break, that it's not freezing and that there is some light to work with on location, I phisically feel ill. That could also just be from the 12 pack of Mtn Dew I go through each day!
This past Saturday I did have a lovely day at the barn. I rode or worked 3 out of the 5 equines, which is a real big day for me. I worked Jill, Firegirl and Cookie. All of them went really well and I couldn't be happier. I feel like Cookie and I are getting the hang of things...at least until I saw this video:
My plan was to work Cookie inside because they just had new sand delivered and the footing was the best I've been able to work with. Small pattern but I felt comfortable with the ground...that was until I rode Cookie in it yesterday and I saw a small mound and thought "lets test her" and sure enough when I went to take her over it, she almost fell to her knees! She is not coordinated! It is her conformation that hurts her. If normal horses are 70% front end heavy...Cookie is 90%. She's a heavy tank with short front legs. So I had to pull back on my plans and this is how our work went yesterday....(10 days until the World Show):
And finally, let me share with you my inspiration for today. This is a video of Story Tellen Flower and 8 year old Regan champions of the 2010 Congress Wenger Barrel Sweepstakes! AMAZING!!
3:00 am | Checking In10-18-10
Tonight we went with friends to a haunted trail ride and it was an experience to say the least. As far as being afraid of much it was a let down, but it was way better then not going at all! My favorite part had to be when we were on the side of the wagon going down the trail and these two girls holding hands looked right at my friend Laura and chanted "Mom, why didn't you pick us up," in really spooky voices. Laura happens to have two little girls so it was fitting but irie for her I'm sure! We also found out on the car ride there that Laura gets frightened easily and everyone must have sensed it because she was the only one in our group that got picked on! Another funny moment again happened while we were on the side of the wagon, Mark said "Watch out Laura," because there was another crazy girl coming from behind the wagon. Then the crazy girl looks up and says "Which one of you is Laura," with her spooky voice. Laura and Mark then pointed to me! It was a great time!
I have still been working Cookie on barrels and poles. We're learning a ton. I think we're going to our first competition this Saturday the 23rd. I probably wont run her hard but just check in and see where we're at. There is so much pressure from Mark to go fast and really push her but what he and others don't understand is that so much goes into this! I don't want a fried horse in the end and as a matter of fact I don't want a horse that gets crazy at any time. Cookie and I did however overcome one fear...she was going slowly around a barrel (not kidding at a slow lope) lost her footing behind and fell. I really thought if this situation would happen that Cookie would get up, run and kick me on her way. When she fell all I could think is "here we go, I am dead". As it turns out, I was able to think and pulled her head down until I made sure my foot was out of the stirrup. She did hit me in the head with hers and it's been almost a week and I'm still sore but we kept going. I'm so glad she didn't kill me like I thought she would! The video of our fall is posted below. (P.S. Still sporting the parents minivan...no truck luck as of yet. )-: And I'm so excited about my other two horses for Paint World I can hardly stand it! They have been giving me great rides almost every day so far! I think it's great that I have Cookie because she's the one I'm concentrating on and she doesn't even really matter compared to the other two. Cookie doesn't stand a chance at doing well, the other two are contenders!
3:50 am | So many horses so little time 9-28-10
I went from hardly being at the barn this year to working 3 horses a day...out of 5is. (The "ish" is me only having time for 3 and Mark sometimes helps.) Three finished western pleasure mares, breaking out my 3yo and Cookie on barrels! I LOVE having a variety pack. The funny thing is, I always try to ride Cookie before Jill because Jill tends to want to suck back so much to your leg and go so slow that she needs to be pushed. Also, when you finish riding a jackhammer of a mover (Cookie) Jill comes so easy...they are polar opposites!
My Dena Kirkpatrick video series came last Thursday. I've now watched 4 out of the 5 dvds and have over four pages of notes and thoughts. We hauled to the county fairgrounds again today and I asked Cookie to run as fast as she could back and forth the length of the arena maybe 6 times, two of those times she was trying to buck and play. I don't know if I've ever gone that fast before. I'm not kidding when I say she's fast! Thank GOODNESS she has a nice stop! I don't know how people do it with a horse that can't stop. APHA has a count down to the World Show on their site (36 days), so it really puts the pressure on this whole gig. I really wonder how things will turn out. Will we haul 20 hours to Texas and knock a barrel? Will she get sore and not even go? Will she go and actually beat another horse? I have no idea and the suspense is killing me! I do know that having Cookie and doing barrels with Mark's support has been really fun!
This past weekend we also celebrated my grandpa's 80th birthday! It was almost like a holiday because Mark and I both came home feeling like we sat around too much and ate too much! We sat around the fire with the entire family and some extended family. Good times! (I'll post a pic soon.)
I also decided to not go look at the 2006 Ford that was at the dealer. I did call and talk to Mark at Hand Picked Trucks and I just have to say he IS just as nice as all those people say on their website! Second, he said that 6.0 engine, after describing to him what I'm looking for is 100% not the motor for me. He didn't have anything on the lot at the moment but I think he wanted to talk trucks all day with me! He was so fun and honest. That reminds me, I need to call back and leave him my contact incase he gets a truck in that fits me! (We got cut off.) Now it's 4:13am and I'm going to cut myself off and call it a night!
12:26am | "Want to be the ENVY of everyone in deer camp?" 9-24-10
Yes, that is the selling point on a truck ad that I saw today as I continued the search for what I'm going to now call the "The Only Truck of My Life" search. That's how big deal this is between my husband and I. For those of you who don't know him, I'm married to the cheapest man alive. Not always a bad thing, embarrassing at times but not the worst. He doesn't want a truck and is against this whole idea. I see a truck as freedom! Freedom for my horses and I!! He see's it as too much money spent. (Let me remind you he sees everything as too much money spent...just today I wanted to get a proper chin strap for Cookie's bridle and he was clearly upset when he said "Melissa, it's going to be $15!" and then continued his search for some leather pieces so he could makes one big enough...needless to say I am still using my DOG collar as a chin strap!!) I have ran the numbers and pointed out to him that our SUV costs the same as a truck would (because I'm buying used) and that still brings him no comfort.
Now you see how this whole situation puts a ton of pressure and stress on me! I can't pick the wrong truck! If this truck is a lemon or breaks down too soon or too big, I'm dead meat! I also don't know a thing about mechanics of a truck and what to look for. I'm getting a little more educated as I go...stay away from Ford 2003-2007 because of the new emissions standards. Dieselpowermag.com has a great article on it. I learned that scheduled maintenance is KEY to these trucks lasting. I know that in a Ford it is really hard to find the 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel because in the truckers world, this is the best Ford has to offer. A very highly respected engine is the Duramax with Allison transmission found in Chevy and GMC trucks.
Now equipped with this new found knowledge I still can't help this feeling of being overwhelmed. Perhaps I am most excited to tell you about what I hope to be my light at the end of the tunnel...it's almost too good to be true. In my search I came to a site named Hand Picked Trucks. Mark and Colleen Grehlinger of Leon, Virginia have built a business out of shopping specifically for Diesel trucks and matching them to clients. The little bit that I was on their site, they seem to love these diesel engines like I love horses! Tomorrow, (actually today because now it's 2:00am) I am going to give them a call and see just how they roll. Keep your fingers crossed! I'll keep you posted.
Oh, before I go I have to share that I saddled Arbys for the first time yesterday and I actually had the cinch tight today and lead her around with no bucking or fuss! (photos below)
It's 1:00am | I had a really nice weekend. 9-22-10
I was able to spend it working with my girlfriend Mallory, shooting photos of www.mntesticlefestival.com! Yes, that's what I said and NO, I didn't eat any! Mark did :-) I happen to know the girl who put the festival on and I wish everyone could know "Crazy Lindsey!" She's always had a fun energy and honestly only a person like her could pull this off. Her heart and soul was poured into this event and it showed!
Mark, Lindsey and I at the Festival! Me, Justin McBride and Mallory at MN Testicle Festival!
On Sunday I was able to watch my Martha Josey DVD's that came in the mail; Championship Barrel Racing and How To Run Like A Champion And Win. I was happy Mark was actually watching with me so he could let it all sink in his head and maybe help me at times. Turns out he did help that night. (He told me I need to push her into her stops.) It was 7:30pm by the time we got to the fair grounds to ride...we had 40 min of light and ten of that was questionable. I was a little disheartened because I didn't want to rush our first real practice and I didn't know how fair it was to do it in partial darkness. I did a little rating work with rollbacks and then set up a shoulder exercise from Martha's DVD. (Photo Below)
I went back on Monday and rode during a light mist and then today when it was beautiful weather! I took advantage today and the peace and quiet by riding lightly. Cookie went much better and I'm thinking it's mostly due to being rode a few days in a row. Funny how consistency pays off ;-)
My biggest grudge with Cookie is still how she falls out of lead on that first barrel. I tried a couple things today and they seemed to make matters worse. After talking with Mark we both agreed that maybe by ignoring her anticipation it will all just work its way out. He seems to think that she's anticipating a battle with me....say what! Okay, he's maybe right because it drives me nuts! Out of desperation to not fight with her I decided to let it go and sure enough she at least stopped freaking out and had an interest in going around the barrel a little nicer. I do plan on having our girl Heidi out who runs www.fortheequine.com to give her a message and make sure there's nothing going on as far as soundness.
I'm really happy with her rollbacks and we did a lot of "perfect circles" today!
Switching gears to pleasure, I rode Jill before we left for the fairgrounds and she is getting a baby belly! Yep, she's due in February and I'll be showing her eight months pregnant. I'm so thankful that I don't have to deal with her in heat but I'm a little worried that she may look a little plump come World Show time! So far it hasn't affected her training in a bad way. I think it's actually slowing her down ;-)
I was also able to convince Mark to take Firegirl (my 3yo) to the fair grounds with us so I could see her go. I am going to put this out there that I LOVE her style! She is such a sweetheart and went around like she's been there a million times. Mark's 3yo was another story and she's been there 3 days in a row-lol!
I have also caught a cold and can't breathe through my nose! I find it really uncomfortable and hard to concentrate. What I really want to do at the moment is flush some cold water through my nose and out my mouth! I'm just saying :-(
It's 2:30am9-18-10
I have to write about Cookie and her rides before I forget.
Friday 9-17-2010 | Today I got to the barn at around 2:00pm and the weather was fine to ride outside. The arena was a little wet but again I can't ride real fast out there because of the footing. Cookie was already in a better mood than the night before! She was waiting on me, she was being soft and limber with not much head tossing. I did bring out one barrel and we worked on rating. I started by walking up to it and stopping then moved up to trotting and eventually we loped up to it a few times. I only loped around it twice and was really happy with both of them.
I was the most impressed with Cookie and her rollbacks. I did a ton of rollbacks going both right and left. My only issue with her today was (as I expected) when I first asked her for a little speed to the barrel and then asked her to stop next to it...she tossed her head in the air and her hind end shot to the right. (We were working on left turn.) I countered this with backing up and taking her head side to side while doing so. She's naturally heavy on her front end so I can never do enough bending and flexing.
I talked to Mark last night about all the questions I have with barrel racing. You see so many people ram-jam their way through things and then there are the horses who run around the barrel and others who kind of slide around it. I told him that I could just ram Cookie through this because I was thinking the odds of her actually getting "broke" to this are slim. Let me be clear and say that I don't want that style of running horse. However, I was so happy with today's ride because I saw that willingness and the try level drastically improve since our last ride and I do think she can be broke to it. She was so good! I think she even crossed over today on her turn-arounds!
My goal for Paint World is to have great form and a sane horse. Every day I cool her down bridlelss. It's my way of checking in. Did I tell you that two years ago Mark and I watched the barrel racing at the Quarter Horse Congress and we had to leave after 20 or so people because we thought someone was going to die. It felt so out of control and that first barrel was so slippery!
Another highlight was that Jill went REALLY good! I wish we showed tomorrow! Arby's was calmer then yesterday and I didn't get to Firegirl-shoot!
Mark also gave Cookie and I compliments on our form around the barrel and on our rollbacks!
She gets a 95% on this ride! Also, my Martha Josey DVD's came along with my Pop-Up Barrels!
Look even Max can run like Martha Josey (It's at the end ;-)
Thursday 9-16-2010 | It was 7:30pm by the time I got to the barn. I had to ride Cookie because I'm not going to lie...I have a lot of money invested at the moment. Entry fees alone were around $800 and I have now spent another $500 in DVD's from Martha Josey, Dena Kirkpatrick and Pop-Up barrels from seventeenflat.com not to mention the ads in the Journal! I could have put her in training with a professional for what I spent on the ad alone...which by the way I found out today that her name isn't One Impulsive Cookie it's on her papers as One Impusive Cookie (There's no "L" in it!!) She's 8 years old and has had a baby, been shown to her superior in western pleasure and been in APHA magazines three times and I'm finding out now...after I've spent...I'm not even going to say because it's crazy...that her name is wrong and the journal wont let me run the ad with the correct spelling!!
(Look here she is on an APHA produced mug!)
On with the ride. It went okay. I've haven't been working her on a barrel because the footing in the outdoor is a fine limestone, it's a little hard and rocky for a horse with no shoes going fast. We were inside tonight because it was dark and cold out. I had the barn to myself! I put my Arby's (my 3yo) in the round-pen and Jill (my 3yo Solid Paint) loose in the arena.
We do a lot of bending and flexing because she tends to flip her head and tighten up too much for my liking. I've been moving her up through her face and pole trying to keep things smooth. Later in the ride I decide I need to teach her to "run" a little. When I say run it's seven good strides before we need to pull up for one reason or another...like we reach the other end or the footing is bad and I can't risk the turn at high speeds.
Now I've got Cookie excited and the head flipping starts. I lope her and taking her head side to side and she's doing it but I can feel by how tight she is that she's not getting it. At this moment I needed to make a decision...keep going and risk a fight or bring her to a trot and work her there again. I decided to keep going. Cookie's style is to pitch a fit and then work with you. She was broke out as a four year old so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. She ended up improving but it still felt a little chumpy.
Let me simplify the ride. I was 70% pleased with the ride. I take 20% off for her willingness and 10% for her try. I did have fun with my new style below!
I'm going to blog 9-17--10
I'm going to really try and keep up on blogging. Let me move right into my life at the moment....at the moment I'm freaking out because I have Cookie signed up for barrels and pole weaving at the APHA WORLD SHOW that's a little over a month away...did I mention she hasn't run the pattern for two years and when we did last run it wasn't good. I'm going to make a quick list of the things that are specifically freaking me out....
(Not in any order)
I don't have a rig. I don't have a truck/trailer, I'm at the mercy of Mark to rely on borrowing one of the farm trucks and trailers. In this event I have to pull a rig that is WAY overkill for what I need. Did I mention that I also HATE having to borrow other people's stuff...hate it! This has been a 7 year debate with Mark who always says, "There are three trucks at the barn, it doesn't make sense for us to get one." So we purchased an Envoy and could do nothing with it but we were paying like we owned a truck. Finally, this issue has been somewhat resolved because I won a years use of a trailer at the Reichert Celebration so I came home and sold the Envoy a week later!!
(Cookie's trailer in phoot-Thank you (Coast To Coast Trailers)
I don't have a truck! I don't know what I want or what to look for! I've been really busy and haven't even had time to look. I did test drive two here's my experience real quick...
• Truck 1 - The salesman pointed out how this is a Denali package one million times and how the all wheel drive was so much smarter then just 4x4. Really? Sucks for him when another salesman comes in and points out how I should get this brand new one because it's a 4x4! Busted! • Truck 2 - Really excited about and actually had cash with me for down payment. The salesman/owner was so nice and just handed me the keys and said go drive...I did and I could just feel the power of the truck...yep, I looked down on the dash and we were getting 8 mpg!!! I asked him if that was a mistake and he said it needed to be reset but you can expect 12mpg. That's not going to work!
I'm driving a minvan. I will continue to drive my parents minivan until I find the one! A side note...I always joked about my parents and their minivan (because they don't have kids anymore) and I find it to be really handy! I actually don't mind it at all. Sorry mom and dad, I take it all back! However, it was pretty strange pulling up to the Lady Gaga concert in a minivan! :-)
Speaking of Lady Gaga, here we are!
Who's got time? I have three horses to prepare and ride for the APHA World Show and a three year old to break out. Yes, I'm married to a horse trainer but he works for a farm that has around 200 head so he's got his hands full.
Back to Cookie...
Cookie did two years of Western Pleasure and has now basically sat.
She's really out of shape and not the most willing creature on earth.
I have no idea what I'm doing and I really fear teaching her the wrong stuff.
I don't want a crazy horse. When she runs...she's sometimes naughty.
She shakes her head constantly and always has when being asked to do something new...goes back to not the most willing creature on earth.
Going into the first barrel she swaps leads behind! Drives me crazy!
She is good at pole bending (we took third at an open show this year) but the World Show is pole weaving...now I have to teach her to run PAST the poles and weave from the other end...in addition to learning barrels...have you seen how fat and out of shape she is?
Did I mention that I turned her out for the first half of August because we were going to be gone at a horse show and her brand new shoes are MIA on our return and her feet are really not nice anymore.
She has offset knees and is little pigeon toed.
Did I mention her front end is 40ft wide? There's no such thing as a cross-over in her book!
Reichert Celebration
I had the honor of working with the Reichert Celebration and Gretchen Hachtel of www.g-eliteassistant.com to promote the show via social media. Highlights of the show for me were:
Mark & Jill Won - NSBA Three Year Old Color Breed Limited Open
Double C Saddlery Scavenger Hunt
We had a list of things people had to accomplish and you would earn points for doing so. The person with highest number of points won a hand tooled work saddle! Here's a video example we made:
How did you break your leg?
If you asked Tom Forhand how he broke his leg...this is what he'd tell you!
Coulson Ranch Tug-Of-War
We couldn't have asked for better teams!
Straight No Chaser 12-11-08
Have the best Holiday Music!!!! Ten old (they aren't that old) guys got a deal with Atlatic Records because one of them put an old video of them singing on YouTube when they were in college!!
Sugar and I are headed to the WORLD SHOW! 11-4-08
I thought I would make an ad for her and some gear to wear while I'm in Fort Worth! Wish us luck in the Non-Pro Western Pleasure!
Cookie is in the September Paint Horse Journal x2! 9-22-08
Mallory from Impulse Photography entered Cookie's photos in the Paint Journal photo contest. With over 1,000 entries TWO of the top 7 were of Cookie!!!
I have launched my new Melissa Baus Design site!!
Check it out and let me know what you think! 8-6-08
There's something in the dishwasher!7-23-08
So tonight Mark called me down to the Kitchen by saying "There's something in the dishwasher and its disturbing." Now alarmed I am preparing myself for what this could be, trying to guess things like mold, bugs or worse a mouse! I had to take a photo to show everyone what he was talking about! Click here to see what was in the dish washer!
Kentucky Farm Shot 6-24-08
Pleasurehorse.com and DeGraff Stables have invited me to their Kentucky farm to snap photos of their open house event in July! What an honor to be given an opportunity to photograph all of those famous stallions!!
She's so talented! 6-24-08 Impulse Photography shot some amazing photos with Cookie, Sugar and I. The photos are unbelievable! Check them out!
My dream saddles for barrels and pleasure!6-24-08
If only I could get Harris Leather to make a barrel saddle!
OUT OF THE SUN BLOG 5-21-08
Mark finished in 23min & read up to see how I did!
OUT OF THE SUN RUN4-2-08
All proceeds go toward Melanoma Research at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.
In 2007 after the death of AngieBrama, a group of us got together to do this in memory of her and wore matching shirts with "Mama Brama"- Not only will I do this year after year but we already made headlines on their site!
Thank You 2nd Go Show Clothing and Style Stables!1-15-08
This showed up at my door today!!! Everyone, visit their sites and check out all the great stuff!! You will be bouncing off the walls like I am!!!!
This Horse Can JUMP ! Check out Fun Stuff for more...
Christmas cards are coming everyone!12-21-07
They may not be there in time for Christmas but just be happy you got one! I will post it here after Christmas for all to enjoy.
Minneapolis Bridge Fell!
I took that exit in the photo at around 3:00pm and it collapsed at 6:00pm - too close for me!
Will keep these people in my thoughts and prayers!
Cow Mooing - Owner Fined $1000 or face 90 days in jail. 7-5-07 This is actually more funny because it's my friend Carol from college! Watch Care 11 News Video Here!
Cookie is SUPERIOR 6-24-07 ...in Amateur Western Pleasure! As a reward, I have turned her out to pasture! Now going to start barrel racing!!
I've added a Guestbook link at the bottom of the page so everyone sign away!!
4:43 am | What A World 
