Getting ready to hit the road for a day trip to West Virginia. Margi, a Paso Fino mare that has been at RO-NO for several months of training, is due to go home. She has turned into a very enjoyable trail mount and she will be missed, but it's great to be sending her home for her owner to enjoy.

RO-NO's Absolute will soon be moving as well. Congrats to Cheryl M on her new acquisition. Al will be a great partner for you and we wish you many Happy Trails!

Here is a pic of Gavin under saddle. He is coming right along in his training. Kenny did a great job getting him going under saddle and I'm really looking forward to seeing what this young gelding has to give us.

Mounted Shooting practice went well yesterday- and tomorrow we'll get to have a bit more advanced practice- we're off to Malibu Dude Ranch for some schooling.


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August is winding down. As I sit here in the kitchen this morning on the computer
, we have the door open and there is a cool breeze coming in through the screen. There are leaves being blown off of some of the trees, and it's cool enough out that it is making me thing of fall. Many of the local fairs have come and gone, and I've yet to make it to any of them. GDS starts today, maybe I'll get a chance to take the boys.

Dan Podwika and his family did get to enjoy the Harford Fair to its fullest. Dan had asked several months ago if he could borrow Sebastian, an 18 year old Paso Fino horse that is 'retired' here at RO-NO. Sebastian is an old pro- he's done shows and parades and fairs for a long time, and he is still the picture of vibrancy and health. Dan called daily with reports on how he and Sebastian were doing at the show, and it was always so good to hear from him- due in part to how happy he sounded at having such a fun and enjoyable horse at the fair.

Today I'll help down at the barn for a bit in the morning, then have to hook up the 2-horse and head out. I've several dentistry stops to make, and then I have to mini horses to pick up for a client. Tomorrow is mostly work at the barn, Thursday I will head south with Margi. She goes back to her family in West Virginia- she's been here for several months and we are so pleased with how she has done while she was here. I got to trail ride her the other day and she was just a joy. Friday Robbie and I, and perhaps a few others, will head to Malibu Dude Ranch to school Nationals horses and to get in some Mounted Shooting Practice.

Had a long time acquaintance stop by yesterday to try out some Pasos. She had a good time, and she fell in love! If all goes well, she'll soon have a new Paso in her barnyard. RO-NO's Absolute has always been such a joy to be around, and she will be a great mom for him.

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Another busy week behind us, with another starting tomorrow. On Thursday I trailered 4 horses over to Malibu Dude Ranch to school them. JQ and Pastor- as I want to get them into rings away from home as much as I can before Nationals, and Calif and Cardillo- same reason- and also because the folks ( and horses ) at Malibu aren't bothered by the mounted shooting that I need to do with these two studs. My plan is to head over there once a week to practice until it's time to head to Nationals.
Thursday also was farrier day here at RO-NO. John had a full days work, and all went smoothly.

Friday was work as usual- people were in and out of here all day long, and it was a good, productive day. Saturday morning I headed out and did teeth in the morning, then harnessed up Calif and drove him for a bit- with Hunter as my passenger. Also rode the new Paso mare who likes to run the barrels. In the afternoon Robbie and I hopped in the truck and headed to Malibu's Rodeo. Robbie has really enjoyed his duties there working, he has been given more and more to do- and I was slightly on the edge of my seat watching as my son would reach in as each bull came back into the chutes after un-seating their riders , to reach in to remove their flank straps. I was glad when that was done!

Today-( my day off ) consisted of the usual housework, loading up most of the rest of the manure pile that we are trying to get moved ( I did most of it on Saturday- ) transporting it in the dump trailer to a farm nearby who is using it in their landscaping, moving the hay wagon to ( and from ) where Rob was haying, ( we now have a lovely half wagon full of second cutting sitting in our indoor ), giving Hunter a mini-riding lesson on Jack ( he looks very cute in his helmet- trotting Jack around the round pen )  then back to the house to start dinner. Hmm...I think working tomorrow may be easier than my day off!

Here is a pic of one of Coloso's babies who I recently bought- ( I picked up his full brother as well- both are lovely- they are very well bred with strong potential to be Performance.)

                               

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Pulled a late night last night. Worked all day, left in the late afternoon with a load of hay for Rosanne. Went from there down to Maryland to pick up two sale Paso mares. Both are really sweet, a three year old filly who is well trained. She is quiet on the trails ( you can pony your dog off of her ) goes through water, will go out on her own. She is very well bred and very well gaited, and would be great in the show ring as well as on the trails. ( asking $1650 for her )  The other is a super cute pinto paso mare. She is 11 and loves to run barrels and other gaming patterns and is just an all around fun mount. Really awesome little mare. ( $1650 for her as well )

Our yearling colts are all doing well. We led Scotty and Spoc out to a turnout yesterday afternoon for a bit and Hannah got a pic of them romping.

Today we're just getting lots of riding/training done. Hope to get some mounted shooting practice in later this week as well.



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Here's what you will see when you first pull up to the Ranch. We've a few other improvements in the works, and it is nice seeing them in place.

Rob is off to Michele's getting the last of her hay done. We had several more wagons delivered yesterday and the crew got them put up in the loft, which is now pretty much full. We'll end up putting our second cutting on the loft floor. Been a few years since I've had the barn so full and its a good feeling.

We've been busy getting all of the paperwork ready to go for Nationals. It is amazing the amount needed for six horses, pages and pages of the stuff. I'll get it all shipped off to Robin R.'s tomorrow, as we will be stalled with her again this year. Looking forward to the time we will spend in Kentucky. The Horse Park is a great facility, very horse friendly, and we have an excellent group of horses and people going along. I've decide to 'brush the dust' off of my cart and take Calif into Driving class again. Harnessed him up and drove him the other day with Hannah and he was great. Such a good boy.
                                                         

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Lots of goings on at the Ranch. We're still putting in hay, and just the day to day business of running the farm and working the training horses is keeping us very busy.

Robbie and Pam attended a Craig Cameron Clinic this past Sunday at Malibu Dude Ranch. Robbie on Calif and Pam with her Sneak. They did well, worked hard, and swore they would never complain again about how hard they have to ride at home in lessons. ( Craig really worked them!!  :)   )

Julie and Nicole were also busy that day- they took Cowboy and JB to a local Dressage show, and Julie even took Cowboy in a cross rail class. Both horses ( and riders ) did great and we are very proud of them.

Robbie is still enjoying his Saturday evenings working at the rodeo at Malibu. Those nights have been a nice get away for me as well.

Our yearlings are thriving. We did bring two of them back down to the Ranch from Maribelles the other day, they all need work on halter stuff and handling in general.

I've some new adveertising stuff going on. Having an aluminum sign made for up by the road, and new truck magnets, and a beautiful bit of apliquie work done to the tailgate of the big horse trailer. Hyduchack Design is a local business and I am very pleased so far in my dealings with Matt.

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