Zoey over the cross rail

Zoey over the cross rail, originally uploaded by yoyobeatty.

Sara's really enjoying her new mare! Here she is, 2nd ride, jumping Zoey. Hopefully Sara will show her at the end of September.

Gods Love is Beyond Measure

Hello Dear Ones,
Much change on the farm to report. Matthew has returned for his sophomore year at Grove City College. He's nicely settled in, we know that because he hasn't called. No news is usually good news with him. We'll catch up on the weekend. It was easier to part this year, for all, especially sister who had a rough goodbye last Fall.

Flashy the horse has left the scene as I mentioned in the last post, the young lady who bought him has begun to show him and got champion in her first show. We're glad he's back to work. Here he is doing what he loves.....


He has just been replaced in our barn with a more suitable mount for Sara. We are so thrilled and grateful to the Lord to have Zoe's Paint Collision join the horsie family. She is a sorrel/white pinto mare with lots of experience, she is 14.2 hands which is one inch short of horse. This means she can be shown as a pony. She is the sweetest lady, and Sara is soooo happy. Here they are:


Zoey arrived on Sunday. On Saturday, Sara showed her little pony Ricky at a local hunter/jumper show (while dad moved Matthew to college.) She placed 2nd and 3rd out of 24 entries and received reserve champion in her division (short stirrup: cantering over a course of 18"-2ft fences.) This was the pony's first time cantering the jumps at a show and they both did awesome! We hope to have pictures soon (mom forgot the camera, and is getting pics from others.) Here's a little itty bitty one, get your glasses out! I'll get a bigger one.
Sara will likely compete in one more show before the season ends (end of Sept.) Show season has been busy but Sara will be starting school next Monday, and so we're working hard this week preparing with school room organization...transitioning to school mode. I'll sign off with one more picture, a favorite, depicting dad's role in all of this horse-show stuff....what a trooper!

Summer whizzes on

"Cousins on one of our FAMOUS horsie road trips!"

The summer has sped by, I cannot believe it has been a month since I posted, nor can I believe that my son will be heading back to school next week. We spend a LOT of time outside in the summer, and riding horses. It's a busy season as Equestrian sports are focused in the summer months. Although I always seem to think life will slow down in the summer, it really never seems to. Sara had a pony show last weekend, she did very well, lots of ribbons and mom...me, myself and I have one this Sat. showing Intro levels dressage. I did the same levels last year, so it will be interesting to see if we've improved at all according to the judges.

I had to update my family info as we've had a lot of changes. Flashy the horse was "sold," to a nice young lady who plans to begin showing him right away. Nika, beloved pup of many years was laid to rest under the hemlock trees. One of the three spring kittens disappeared. And momma cat returned home "with kitty" and shortly after had seven more kittens. It's easy to see how the cat population gets out of control. We took in one stray who has produced three litters in the year she's been here, ugh. I was relieved that she was alive when she returned after a month+, but it was tempered by the big belly. Sara's happy, she's always happy when there are babies.

I had the opportunity to travel to Gaithersburg for our churches bi-annual worship conference. It was a great time of teaching, worship and a little r&r for mom. Matthew had his BS Eagle ceremony, and is official. It was a very nice ceremony with Matthew style. After the ceremony, Sara spent a week with my mom & and step dad in VA swimming and having lots of fun. I met Sara in VA afterward and had a little girl time with my mom. Barry, Sara, and I hope to travel to SC in a month, but have no arrangements to care for our horses and pets yet, so we're praying, we could really use a vacation. Finding suitable horse care isn't an easy task.

School is coming way too soon, as I haven't even tackled the mess in my school room from last school year. I really need the Lord's help to order my time wisely, it's spread thin. God is gracious and always helps me to prepare. Well folks, that's the update, next time I'll try to be witty or helpful :)

Johanna