*STUNNING* Professionally Trained All-Around QH FOR SALE

UPDATE!
Randi & Fancy entered their first show this past weekend together and came home with two blues and a division championship! Here are some pics....and new video clips can be found at the bottom of this post...enjoy!

After a good amount of thought and consideration, we've decided to offer Fancy for sale. We've decided to focus on our local Pony of America (POA) club, which is very kid-centric and family friendly...as such, we will be purchasing 1-2 POAs for the punks over the next year and focusing on them solely...that means Fancy is not going to be getting the time and attention she deserves...

CEE ME SHINING
2006 AQHA Mare
14.1 Hands
Sire: Silks Shining Spark be Shining Spark
Dan: Lineage includes Blair Cee, Hollywood Jac 86

Asking: $5500k/obo

"Fancy" was purchased as a long yearling with some basic handling. Since her arrival, she has proven to be a real sweetheart of a mare, and a pure joy to work with. I completed all her initial training and ground work in 2008 before sending her to Multiple World Champion Reining Trainer Bob Laporta in 2009. She spent a year there under his tutelage before coming home a more mature and finished performance horse (over 10k in training expenses!). Her training progress was well documented on video and is available on youtube for viewing (in addition to the links provided below). Just search for my user id: leahroehl

Although reining is Fancy's forte', I spent the year following her training working on western pleasure, trail, showmanship, and hunter pleasure. I showed her to several championships in all of these classes at her very first show!

As if that didn't make her well rounded enough, I have made several trip to Wingreen to play on their cross country course. She has willingly jumped or conquered everything I've pointed her at....water, logs, ditches, up hills and over rails, you name it! She has the mind, disposition and movement to be one of the special few you can pull out of her stall and do whatever you want to do that day.

Oh! Did I mention the miles I've put on her at team pennings and ponying my daughter down the Lake Anna trails? You'd be hard pressed to find another large pony/small QH with this type of mileage, training, and experience.

This past year Fancy has been leased to a local family for 4-H and Hunter Shows (competing int he LARGE PONY division). She's carried 2 young girls through hunter pleasure and equitation classes with considerable success....they have also hauled her to 4-H horse camp! She is headed to the 4-H State Horse Show and one last Whitestone Farm show this month before she comes back home for the winter....these added miles have been a great validation of her ability to adapt to any level rider and any discipline...

Need I even mention how gorgeous this mare is? She'll get you noticed no matter where you go or what you are doing....her sorrel coat shines like a copper penny and her long flaxen forelock, mane, and tail qualify her for every little girls DREAM PONY!

Considering the similarities between reining and dressage, I would venture to say she could easily transition into that arena as well as eventing with the right rider willing to put a little time into her...

Here are some pics of Fancy over the past few years.....I've also included the links to a couple video clips as well....new video will be taken before winter. Please call or email for an appointment to meet this exceptional horse!

Packing a 6 yr old (Oct 2011): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3hnygaMBqI

Working Left (Oct 2011): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Xihp9xwlQ

Working Right (Oct 2011): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh1gF1y4UD8

Spin Oct 2001): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPvNkxh2JFI

Lead Change: http://youtu.be/zaPDmzaNRCA

Loping Circles: http://youtu.be/kknJPlsv-fs

Happy Trails,
Leah
540-841-7869
leahroehl@yahoo.com

Happy Anniversay, eBay....

Yes, it's true....eBay and I have been an 'item' for 13 years and through 3 different user IDs (K-Bar Ranch, The Funny Farm, & Westwood Horse Center! Do your research and a little math and you will note that eBay and I join in holy matrimony less than a year after it was created.....how's that for a success story in long term commitment? Back in the beginning, I can recall browsing the entire EQUESTRIAN category in an hour....now, it would take closer to days!

Although eBay started as a place for founder, Pierre Omidyar, to trade Pez dispensers it grew it became an online mall for many full blown businesses. When I was stationed in HI with limited access to equestrian tack and apparel, I decided to check out eBay. Sure enough, I was able to find inexpensive new and used items to FILL my tack room and closet!

Since then I've branched out a bit more to buying and selling just about anything that I find myself in dire need of acquiring or liquidating....I've bought and sold items for friends and family as well...and in all these years, I've only had one ill fated experience...not a bad track record for such a long relationship, eh?

Just this week I was searching eBay for a set of items to build my 6 yr old's first tea party set...I wanted to go a little vintage and mimic the "Alice in Wonderland" feel as much as possible...I found this adorable Mushroom Table & Chairs at one of my favorite shops, The Gunk Gypsy...



I LOVED the vintage tea set shown above, so I found something very similar on eBay...



...and added some Hazel Atlas tea cups for the Little Brat and her guests...



Now I get to watch the mail until my fabulous little treasures arrive....this could be arguably the most exciting element of ebay'ing....the anticipation...the eagerness....the DELIVERY!

Thank you, eBay, for so many years of great finds and great fun! Here's to many, many, more....

Happy Bidding,
Leah

Twice Upon A Time....Bath Time!

I have so many memorable moments with my punks each and every day...and there are so many cute, endearing, disgusting, nasty, unbelievable, and amazing things that I'd like to share with you! This is one of the reasons I love to blog...I can share all our shameless happenings with our family and friends day in and day out...aren't you lucky??? LOL

I'll spare you the gross and share with you a fun event in our weekly routine....It doesn't seem like that long ago that the punks were floppy-rolly-pollys who had to be hand bathed in this tub...now look at em'!

Lordsy Mercy....where does the time go?

Happy Families,
Leah

UHA Relay Practice #2

Following on the heels of our first practice, we saddled up to scale back on speed (we appear to have plenty of that) and focus on some technical issues....it was a HOT one today though....even Fiddle, who is normally all up in your cool-aid, kept herself cool in whatever shade she could find...



..and the Little Brat came out this time around for some saddle time....the mare I am riding is a bit pissy about having to work so close to another horse (which is a mandatory thang in the relay to get our handoffs made), so LB and Bo helped us out by sticking close by while the ole' mare dealt with it...





Once my mare seemed to get over her proximity issues, I turned LB loose to get some individual practice time in...she really enjoys it when we have other riders in the arena!



..and then it was time to get down to business....Jesse stepped in to offer some tips and tricks of the trade...



..and then we did lots of hand holding....literally!



If we can get our horses to gallop around close enough for us to hold hands, then our handoffs will be a breeze!



I got a clip of our handoffs today....note we're not going as fast as we will be in the rodeo...our handoffs are looking great though!



Happy Trails,
Leah

Izzy Deadly: AQHA Gelding FOR SALE

IZZY DEADLY

2000 AQHA Gelding

EQUINE.COM AD

From time to time I get the opportunity to help a horse that has crossed my path find a good home. I put some training and show mileage on Izzy as a 3 year old....Izzy is as quiet and consistent as they come and has many more quality years left to offer...I wanted to pass the word that he is for sale, because I know this horse personally and would recommend him for the most novice of riders....he's a real confidence builder with a heart of gold....he's just as good outside the ring as inside as well....let me know if you have any questions, or know anyone in the market...

Seller is asking $5995. Would consider a lease also. For more information, click on the link to his ad above. His most recent accomplishments are listed below:

-2010 VQHA Year End 13&Under High Point Performance Reserve Champion
-2010 VQHA Year End 13&Under Horsemanship Champion
-2010 VQHA Year End Youth Trail Reserve Champion
-2010 PWC All Around Walk/Jog Reserve Champion
-2010 3rd place Western All-Around A Division
-2010 Fireworks AQHA Show 13+ under Western Champion
-2009 Nokesville Horse Society Overall Novice Youth Champion
-2007 VQHA Open Show Overall Western Adult Performance Res. Champion
-2007 Prince William Horse Association Western Highpoint Res. Champion
-2007 PWHA Adult Division Trail Res. Champion
...and many more!

Happy Trails,
Leah

Tough Mudder: T - 13 months!

I'm not sure which part of my feet/ankles hurt so bad, but I think I broke myself.
I've lost the spring in my step...the bounce in my pounce...the lift in my shift!!!!
I can't take more than an 8" step and stairs are the DEVIL....
I think I might be dying.

Only 13 more months to go!

UHA Relay Practice #1

We are hosting The United Horseman's Association relay practice here at Westwood in preparation for the annual Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. UHA enters all-male, all-female, and mixed-gender relay teams each year in hopes of bringing home the jackpot. Last year, the all-female team did just that, earning over $600 for the riding club!!! Last year we joined our friends to watch from the stands...THIS year, I plan on being a part of the ACTION! Here's a mug shot of our super charismatic and slightly unbalanced (you had to be there...LOL) leader, UHA President Mansfield Montague.



Jesse is letting me borrow the use of his finest horse, Lil' Bit. Martin is still battling an abscess and Fancy is still leased out to a 4-H family until October....



...after all the riders had arrived, we got some great guidance from the most experienced in the club....





...and then it was time to GO! In the picture below, I am receiving the baton from team member, Tanya....nice and smooth!



...and I let Lil' Bit go....she really wanted to run, but I didn't let her go full out. I could tell she was going to have a few more gears to kick in when we get to the competition pen...

...we did knock down a couple barrels, which means I am going to to have to take these turns a little more wide in the future....fortunately, they were plastic barrels, so no permanent harm was done to my shins....THIS time.



As we round the final barrel we come back around to the handoff zone...think High School Track 4x4 relay team....now put the runners on horses....now you got it!



Handoff complete...nice and smooth...just in time....perfect!



We are going to run through the motions once more next weekend and probably see a few more riders to add to the mix....good times!

Thanks for 'Ashley with the Cool Boots' for manning the camera for me! See you next Sunday!



Happy Trails!
Leah

Goodbye, Irene!

Well, that wasn't so bad now, was it? Here's the Little Brat out in 'the storm of the century' at about 2pm on Saturday....throughout the night we lost power a couple times for just a few seconds each time....count us blessed!

...and this is about the extent of the damage on as of Sunday morning....

Obviously, we got off easy on this one....

The majority of this washout came from the unexpected and unforecasted flash downpour on Friday afternoon....the 'hurricane' mostly just added the leaves....

All our barns and sheds went unscathed...the sun panels in the breezeway leaked a bit, so we'll need to try and get those replaced before winter sets in to keep the snow and melt-off out.

...and the arena only had a few small mud puddles to note.

These bails of hay were placed to keep the rain water from flooding the barn's breezeway....turns out, the majority of the water in the breezeway from from me washing the horses before I put them up...

Still, the ponies were happy to have a spa day (bath & brush down) and a night in the horsey hotel complete with ankle deep shavings....

....you can just see the sun peeking through at about 9am on Sunday in the picture below....

It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day....after a little cleanup, we were able to still host the United Horseman's Association Relay Practice! Check back for a separate post on that shin dig...

Happy Trails!

Leah

Randi's 1st Day of 1st Grade!

The Little Brat started 1st grade today....let us pause for a moment of silence for all mommies losing another year in their punk's youth...*sigh*


LB's new teacher is Mrs. Cartowski...according to her, "she is the nicest teacher in the WHOLE school"....her class is 26 deep though....that may put her 'nice' factor to the test...especially if there are more than one child like my hard headed spawn in there....

In youth we learn; in age we understand - Von Ebner-Eschenbach

Happy Trails,

Leah