I promise to update the blog soon with a big announcement! Meanwhile, have a Del's on ME! And a have a swell 4th of July! Don't play with fireworks (wink)...

Out for a Sunday Drive

NVS Favorite Things CONTEST (Oprah's got nothing on us)

As described in the June 12 blog- PVP Iodine Ointment is a favorite thing and a horseman's best friend! It's my best kept secret product, we're big fans.

I'm announcing a fun summer contest in honor of one of our favorite things!

OK, (come out all you blog fans!) all you have to do is write us a guest blog about anything related to the farm, horses or riding. The winning entrant gets their very own shiny new container of PVP Iodine Ointment! Don't own a horse but still want to blog? No problem, I'll donate yours to Saddlebred Rescue. If you do own a horse, you get one AND we'll donate one to Saddlebred Rescue*.

Either way SBR wins!

Join the NVS Favorite Things contest!

*Visit http://www.saddlebredrescue.com/ for more information on how to GIVE SO THEY LIVE!

From the Book Depository or the Man on the Grassy Knoll?

The latest theory on Big Brown's disappointing run in the Belmont. Interesting.




A still shot. Starter waving the cord (that cord is attached to a button which when pressed starts the race and opens the gates), Big Brown's ears possibly up a bit (a good sign of a spook?). The conspiracy theorists are having a field day with this one!

A best kept secret!

Or from the "Our Vet is a Genius" department (And a master fisherman to boot!)

Every barn has favorite products and remedies and I figured I'd share them once in a while. The best product you are probably not using for bumps, scrapes, abrasions and minor boo boos is.....

Dionne Povidone PVP Iodine Ointment

We like the properties of iodine, and this surpasses the duration of an iodine scrub treatment alone. The PVP ointment has the consistency of a thick vaseline. It stays on longer while providing a beneficial moist healing against the skin which is ideal with many abrasions especially those in hard to treat areas. It won't drip or run off in areas where gravity is not your friend. It also keeps a longer lasting barrier against more germs invading the site.

How does it work?

Povidone iodine belongs to a class of antiseptics known as iodophores. These chemicals exert their antiseptic effect by slowly releasing iodine. It is also used for the treatment of fungal and bacterial skin infections and pyodermas and in the treatment of infections in decubitus and stasis ulcers (bedsores and leg ulcers). In the presence of blood, serum, purulent exudate and necrotic (dead) tissue, its action persists while the colour remains.

The American Saddlebred-a horse for EVERY generation

Midnight "Willy" Eclipse mugs for the camera with his loving owner Bobette McCracken at Twin State Saddlebred Horse Show 2008........Sam pitches in while Willy's hoof black dries.

HAY 'SUP

more cat pictures

Big Brown travels via UPS Ground?

In case you missed it!



Great thanks to Northgate Stables, Miscoe Meadow and Rocking Horse Farm for hosting their annual fabulous Belmont Stakes party at the Twin State horse show. The food was delicious and they drew a large appreciative crowd. Nicholas sends his compliments to the ribs chef!!!!!!

The remarkable thing I witnessed, after watching this race, was the collective casual reaction of the large group of very experienced horsemen at the party, who at the end of the race had the same quiet grin and a shrug of: "Well, that's horses!" Sometimes, that's just the way it goes. You play this game for the love of the animal and the joy of putting your heart into the best performance you can. It's definately about the journey not the destination!

It was on with gusto for the battle of the barns and the kids ramping up for the jog cart races: Julius Fairfield Caeser versus Pirates of the Carr-RMD-ibean!

TWIN STATE WAS GREAT IN 2008

Gone Country!

Congratulations Bella Dahl: Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Champion and Grand Champion & Midnight Eclipse Country Pleasure Driving Reserve Champion and Reserve Grand Champion.

Great job Elena and Bobette!



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The Devon Horse Show

One of our favorite horse shows of all time- Devon. Even we relax for a moment a two-taking in the beauty, tradition and history!



Devon is a very special place. Please put it on the calendar for next year already, the ASB and pony divisions need your support. Thousands of volunteers work the Devon Country Fair giving it a very special handmade homespun feel. There is a small midway for the children. Small touches are everywhere-that cater to the exhibitor, the spectators, the children, the horses. On Thursday night this year, attendance topped 40,000 people. Louisville, Penn National, Devon these are the places to show in front of a crowd, it's electrifying. There is no show ring more beautiful than the Dixon Oval.

"Seen & Herd"

DEVON CLUB! The often imitated, never duplicated...the original! 5-7pm

BICYCLE ZONE

The short horse trainer called to a warning to the tall horse trainer as he biked away:

"Watch out- he bucks!"

The fine for going the wrong way down a 1 way street in Devon, PA is $175. Whoops! That was going to be an expensive trip to retrieve a whip! Thankfully it was forgiven...

The race was on to Minella's at 2am! Nuff said!

"15-2, 15-4, the right jack & last card!" It only looks like a friendly game! LOL!
On Thursday during the morning lull we visited friends who are a fellow farm family. A beautiful day without a cloud in the sky means the hay need to be raked (the most gorgeous hay in the world I might add!)- but these friends do it with REAL horsepower- 4 beautiful Belgian mares, check out one of the middle mares, exceptionally sized and beautiful. (For the record, his mom OK'd the photograph).

Converse.........versus........ Ariat

Hmm who's who here?

Kimi cleans tack with a smile! Check out the BRAND NEW renovated barns at Devon! Please follow this link to read more and donate to the campaign to renovate all of Devon's stabling. http://www.thedevonhorseshow.org/contributions-renovation.php

Happy Birthday Sam!

Congratulations to this amazing group of ladies who stabled with us at Devon and performed each evening with a vaulting exhibition. They are working toward qualifying for the FEI World Equestrian Games being held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Fall 2010.

Sarah and her mom (and coach) Nicole, who are natives of France, quickly fell in love with the American Saddlbred even pitching in and running with a towel in hand to help and cheer on everyone's classes. We had a wonderful time learning about each other's discipline and passion. Sarah- I told you I'd put you in the blog! Wink wink- we may just get to WEG to cheer you on in the Fall of 2010.

PS You cannot appreciate fully the immense SIZE of this horse in the demo- what a good boy-he is a 15 year old Selle Francais who was bred for this sport specifically I do not dare try to spell his name, you'll hear it in Peter Doubleday's audio.

A special horse show

Devon was Heaven!
Watch this space for "Seen and Herd" - the Devon Edition

updated..............see the 6/4 edition

Enjoy a safe and fun Memorial Day Weekend. And please. Stop at the Sign of the Lemon.

Absolutely THE most exciting news of the season! I almost drove off the road when I saw THIS sign in front of Tim Horton's! Del's! Whoopee!!!!

PLEASE VOTE FOR SADDLEBRED RESCUE

Saddlebred Rescue is one of the organizations selected to receive a donation from Search Kindly, a non-profit organization dedicated to the idea of micro-volunteerism and micro-philanthropy.

To ensure Saddlebred Rescue wins they need supporter’s votes. Please visit www.searchkindly.org and vote for Saddlebred Rescue.

It's just a couple of clicks, you don't need to sign up or register for anything! You can vote every 8 hours, please vote and vote often. Voting ends Sunday May 25.

For more information visit http://www.saddlebredrescue.com/

To remind you: Saddlebred Rescue found Sam's beloved Baby Pony. He's gone from being too skinny even for his halter...















To this!

www.icanhascheezburger.com HILARITY

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Next Stop: The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair

We are excited to be preparing for Devon, a very special horse show with a feel like no other. We let these photos from last year speak for themselves- the beauty of the the 2007 Devon Saddlebred Country Pleasure Driving Grand Champion, Bobette's very special horse Midnight Eclipse in the surroundings of the beautiful Dixon Oval.

The tradition, the pomp, it's a special place to exhibit!

Come be a part of it!

NH Mother's Day Horse Show Part DOS

Sweeping dirt. A Deerfield phenomenon.

Here's Cait and Hero!!! Hard work pays off: YAAAAAAAAAY CAIT!

Wait, wait wait: "WORD!" (is that right????)

From the beginnings...

To the show ring!

Grandma Annette attended the show with great gusto & enthusiasm: Here she is feeding a treat (Patti must be creating a diversion so Nicholas misses this one entirely!)

Warm up... Concentration.... Preparation...

New Hampshire Horse and Trail Association- May 9-11 NEW BEGINNINGS! HARD WORK PAYING OFF! AND A VERY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Congratulations horses and riders! It was a weekend of new beginnings and the reward of seeing hard work paying off. We are so very proud of all of our horses and riders, way to go!

Peeking out there next to Nicholas is Kathleen Osnoe who made her under saddle debut as the Open Park Grand Champion with her wonderful multi-titled driving horse Harlem's Beau Dandy. They were a sight!

Next stop Dixon Oval !!

The busiest rider of the weekend was Caity who rode AND drove this weekend! Congrats Caity on your Reserve Grand Championship with Jackson in the Saddlebred Hunter Country Pleasure Division- PATIENCE-PERSISTENCE-PERSEVERENCE-PERFECTION!

See spots before your very eyes in the Dixon Oval, just around the corner!

Bella, Bella!

It was Bella Dahl with owner/rider Elena trotting down victory lane as Three Gaited Country Pleasure Champion and Grand Champion. Catch them next at Devon as well!

Patsy shows the world how it's "Dunn" in her first ever debut out of leadline! Congratulations to Patsy and the wonderful 21 years young VHF Tiffany. Patsy rides in the Academy division designed for beginning show riders- many World Champion show riders start out in the Academy division- it's fun FUN FUN!


Speaking of Academy, it's not just for the middle school crowd! Here is Patti glowing after her blue ribbon ride on Hero in the Academy Adult Walk and Trot class. Hero joined our program thru the wonderful efforts of Saddlebred Rescue. Looking for a lesson horse? Western horse? Trail horse? Show horse? Loving pasture buddy horse? Visit www.saddlebredrescue.com

Awesome ride, Patti! Grampa Bill, photographer, cheerleader and boot polisher extraordinare beams on!

"WHOA POKEY WHOA!"

When a peaceful ride on the range goes rodeo! This makes me crack up every time I see it. It's an outtake from a TV piece of my musical hero Corb Lund. ******warning**** there is a deleted expletive right at the end.