No more snow!

It's unbelievable - the snow is completely melted, and it's just February!!  We have had snow on the ground since the first week of December, and yesterday the last small piles were finished off.  We have lots of new calves - I'll post pictures soon - much easier calving at 55 degrees than the single digits we had last year!  Keep enjoying this warm weather, and we'll all keep our fingers crossed that a March blizzard is NOT in our forecast.  Maybe that groundhog really does know when spring is coming!

Dressage Clinic Full (for the moment)

All of the ride times for the Lauren Sprieser clinic in April are currently filled, but if you are interested in being put on a standby list in case someone cannot make it, please just let me know.  We, of course, welcome all dressage enthusiasts to come audit and spend a fun day at the farm with Lauren.  Auditing information is on the Clinic page as well.

For those riding, a 50% deposit to hold your spot is due March 1st.  Thanks, everyone!

Snow angels watching over us - and flying right by!

Miraculously, while the rest of the country was under huge blankets of snow, we were warmish and melting off the last of it.  Bonus- we went to school everyday this week - the first full week in a couple of months!  I hope I didn't just put an end to our good luck by typing that!! 

Lauren Clinic Update:  Just one ride time left, so if you are interested in riding in the April clinic, please let me know!! 

Lauren Sprieser Returns in April

Okay, it's time to start looking forward to spring - warm weather and fun with our four legged friends. Lauren Sprieser is returning April 15-16 - just in time to gear up for the new show season and work on those new tests.
FYI, Lauren has drawn the attention of US Dressage Team Chef d'Equipe, Anne Gribbons, while in Florida - check out the following link:

http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2011/01/19/gribbons-holds-high-performance-observation-session-florida

Even 18 degrees can be beautiful.





The corner office with a view - just had to step outside and take this one tonight!

  

Before and After



This is what happens when you have 40 mph wind after heavy snowfall.





 

Rowdy and Griffin playing on the enormous wall of snow.



Rowdy and Griffin after playing on the wall of snow.



Happy 2011!!

My three loves on the mountain in Vail, Colorado!

The good news is we had a safe and wonderful trip to Vail while everyone in Wytheville enjoyed unseasonably warm temperatures, the horses and cows saw grass again, no calves were born prematurely, and ponies were able to play outside naked!  The bad news is we apparently brought a lot of winter back with us from Colorado - lots of snow yesterday and a windchill of -15 this morning - BRRR!  The problem with a ski trip is that it fills your snow quota for the year in five days, and you're ready for spring when you come home.  I realized this morning that technically it hasn't even been winter for one full month yet, so we have a ways to go! 

On the horse front, we can now get back into the arena thanks to last week's warm-up, and my first rides back on the big boys have been AWESOME - which was completely unexpected after so much time off.  Maybe we all needed a litte Christmas holiday from work!  Anyway, the best part about a vacation is appreciating coming home so much.  We are all very thankful to be able to live on a beautiful farm with so many amazing animals and the people we love!  Here is to a happy, healthy and blessed 2011 - cheers everyone!