July 26, 2010
Dear Clients and Friends:
Well, two months have passed since my last newsletter and I am crutch and wheelchair free! I’m not very sound and am a few weeks from riding, but I am feeling very thankful and auspicious about the future.
In celebration of my recovery and return to active training, as well as my new training facility at Timber Run Farm, I am offering a lesson special. This will consist of a three-lesson package. These will be private lessons and the package will run $150, which represents a 30% discount off the private lesson rate. The first lesson will be to clarify your goals and to assess your and your horse’s current skill level and how it relates to your goals. The second lesson will be focused on specific exercises designed to move you and your horse towards those goals. The third lesson will show you the progress you are making towards your goals. If you try this package it would be my hope you would see the value of my training methods and become a long-term client. However, if you are already training with someone else and just want a fresh eye looking at you and your horse, I welcome you to take advantage of this offer. Please call me if you wish to reserve a package at 614-557-5308 or if you have questions. Mara Lewis, a friend, client, and hunt member has been helping me with promotions and correspondence. You may contact her via her email,
mblewis50@aol.com , and she will also be happy to answer any questions about my teaching or the facilities where I board and train.
I have been in attendance at all of the Showtime Horse Shows in Delaware as the jumper course designer. This isn’t as much fun as riding, but I’ve enjoyed riding vicariously through you. I hope you enjoy the courses.
I will continue to remind you of the George Morris clinic which will take place at Timber Run Farm in Alexandria, Ohio, on October 30th & 31st. Please don’t miss out --either as a rider or auditor --on this exceptional learning opportunity.
It is finally out of the bag and I am given permission to make it public – Julia Gillum bit the bullet and will become a mother this fall! It happens to the best of us, but what a gift! Enjoy every moment, Julia. I know you are up for the challenge.
I will be on vacation with my son the week of July 26th and then off to show at the Kentucky Horse Park the week of August 2nd. I sure hope to make it to the opening of our fox hunting season on August 21st. I need to make up for lost time.
Enjoy the balance of your summer.
Sincerely,
Pam
Quote of the month -
“If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be content to take their own and depart.”
Socrates
May 12, 2010
Dear Clients and Friends:
What was that I said about a bi-monthly newsletter? I know it looks like a quarterly, but I have a good reason. Two months ago I had my worst fall to date! Broken femur, knee, clavicle, and ribs! So much for riding green, athletic, young horses in a western saddle! This filly dumped me once and as I have always said in the past, “Get back on or go to the hospital.” So, I got back on, was thrown again, and then went to the hospital. At my age, I may have to ponder that expression a little more!
Today is the first day I’ve been able to come out of my ‘funk’ and write. The weather has been so awesome and I miss riding like crazy! Don’t know when the doctor will let me walk, let alone ride, but I do truly thank all of you who have been there for me and had me in your prayers. I am learning lessons in patience and asking for help (but I still need some work).
I hope to attend the May Delaware Show on Friday and Saturday, May 28th & 29th as a trainer, but probably not as a rider.
I have been doing some teaching at Timber Run Stable in Alexandria, Ohio. A fun and informative Open House will take place there on Saturday, June 12th from noon to 4 p.m. We’ll have free food, demonstrations, tours and a hayride. Everyone is invited to celebrate Timber Run’s 15th year anniversary. This is a lovely farm and we just want you to share and enjoy it with us. It’ll be worth your trip just to watch Kay George and her mare, Reeba, play ball!
It’s a little soon for me to plan what I’ll be doing this summer, but I am always interested in working with riders who love horses. I have several riders who have no interest in showing and this is fine. I can teach from a chair or a golf cart, so please call if I can be of service. My phone # is 614-557-5308. You would be helping me to ‘get back on my feet’. I am still working with Julia Gillum at her Bay Crest Farm. I owe her a huge ‘thank you’ for caring for my dogs, Normie and Jasper, after my accident.
I will be holding the George Morris Clinic this year at Timber Run Stable on Saturday, October 30th and Sunday, October 31st. George will be coaching the US team at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY during my usual clinic dates. What an awesome honor for us. The cost for riding in the clinic is $700 for two days, which is actually $50 less than last year. The auditing fee will be $75 per day or $130 for both days if bought in advance. So, start saving because it doesn’t get any better than this!
I look forward to getting out and about.
Most sincerely,
Pam
Poem of the month -
You are who you are for a reason
You’re part of an intricate plan.
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God’s special woman or man.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy
And God wept that it hurt you so,
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow.
The Purpose Driven Life
February 1, 2010
Dear Clients and Friends:
Looks like I am doing a bi-monthly newsletter these days. Everything seems to take longer to do in the cold weather, yet the time passes just as quickly.
I first want to welcome Eli Scuri back home after his stay in the hospital for heart complications. His wife, Sarah, and her support system kept things humming along in the barn during his absence. Eli and Sarah won’t ever ask, but they could use a helping hand here and there. Thanks to McKenzie Haggerty and Liz White for helping me keep the horses trained up and to John Baltazar for his loyalty and strength.
Another thanks to McKenzie for turning me on to the benefits of riding green, athletic, young horses in a western saddle. I carry one with me now and people think I’m a little ‘off’, but don’t knock it until you try it. I do not recommend them for jumping though!
I have some fun opportunities coming up. I will be doing some lessons at Timber Run Stables on January 30th and February 13th, and a clinic at Carpenter Farms on January 31st. But, the best is I’ll be teaching at the Equine Affaire on Saturday, April 10th. I’ll be doing a morning session on jumping for green horses and an afternoon session on jumping for green riders and they won’t be at all the same. So plan to join me and support Equine Affaire.
Congratulations to Maria Lee on her Ohio Hunter Jumper awards. Maria was champion in the Open Hunters and reserve champion in the 15-17 Equitation Division. She also finished the season with Tri-State Horse Show Association awards. If you would like to join these associations, call Julia Gillum at 614-581-8772 to obtain registration forms. Memberships are inexpensive, informative, and they hold nice award dinners.
Condolences to Kate Rigg, a friend and fellow hunt member, on the loss of her horse, Dorian. We’re so sorry and know how hard good horses are to replace.
Be sure you pay close attention to sheath and teat cleanliness during the winter months when horses aren’t bathed and are often ridden in dusty indoors. You’d be disgusted at some of the build-up that our sheath cleaner, Stacy Briggs, has encountered. You may call Stacy at 203-3049 to schedule a cleaning. I recommend this to be done every two months, although some horses need it more often.
I can’t say enough about having your horse seen by an equine dentist twice a year. Many horses have developed habits, such as, head tossing and rearing when they are trying to say, “My mouth hurts!” This is one thing I look for when encountering a training horse.
The best tip I have for horses and riders in the winter is to keep moving. If you are cold, just sweep, rake, curry or pick – you’ll warm right up!
Most sincerely,
Pam
Quote of the month –
Every time you practice or attempt something, you are succeeding at getting better, not failing at being perfect.
Practical Horseman
You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you’ll get what you need.
Rolling Stones
December 4, 2009
Dear Clients, Friends, and all:
I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Middleburg, Virginia, visiting my dear friend, Thom Hardy. That area of Virginia hits me dead center! Everything and everyone is ‘all horse’. We ride, train and watch them all day and then talk about them over meals and into the night. From the smallest to the largest facilities and from one discipline to another, there is a common thread of style, tradition and ethics that I find nowhere else, except perhaps England and Ireland. I always learn and return home enthused. If my son were a horse nut we’d be living there for sure! Perhaps one day…
The last letter I wrote was before my George Morris Clinic at Scion Farm. This was the best to date. All sessions were full -- with horses from Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and a few from Central Ohio. I will never understand the mindset of the majority of local trainers and riders who don’t value this learning opportunity. I admire those who are willing to be criticized and sometimes embarrassed for the sake of improvement. They know what is more important and don’t take it personally.
The owners of Scion Farm recently decided to not be in the horse boarding business. I have moved and joined forces with Julia Gillum at her lovely Bay Crest Farm on County Line Road near Johnstown. We are of like minds and enjoy working together. Julia trains an IEA riding team (Interscholastic Riding Association) for young people from the 6th thru 12th grades. This activity is becoming quite popular, especially for kids who are unable to own horses. Please call Julia at 614-581-8772 if this interests you. We are both available for lessons at her farm or at your place. You may have a ‘second opinion’ lesson or as many as you wish. There is no pressure or obligation to continue. We’re here to help. My number is 614-557-5308 and we each have web sites.
I keep a few horses with Sarah and Eli Scuri. Now, these are true horse people. They care for my horses as they do their own. I love having Eli as my ground person when I’m training a young horse, and Sarah can convince any horse that being vacuumed is the best!
Bay Crest Farm will be holding a Holiday get-together at the New Albany Country Club on Wednesday, December l6th at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend. The cost is $25 per person for an evening of hors d’oeuvres and ‘horsey chit chat’. If you would like to participate in a gift exchange, just bring a gift limited to $20. For more details and reservations, call Julia Gillum at 614-581-8772 by December 11th.
Congratulations to Maria Lee for qualifying for and participating in the OJHA Finals. Your ride on Ripley was great! You answered all the questions of the course and met all the challenges head on. We are very proud of you!
If I don’t stop now you’ll never get this long over-due newsletter!
Have a Merry Christmas and a special Holiday season. We have so much to be thankful for.
Sincerely,
Pam
Quote of the month –
“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard”
Jeff Cook
