|
The Back Porch
Welcome to The Back Porch. Here you will find our latest news, the scoop on new arrivals, where we're going, where we've been, new shows, results and seasonal information. Check in from time to time.  May 4, 2004 - We all attended the Equine Affair in Pomona in January in an effort to stay in touch with what's happening in the horse industry...attended some classes by Teddy Robinson, Schmersal, Lyons and others on reining, cow work and basic horsemanship, got some good intel on feed and feed supplements. CF A SPOT OF TEA went into training with Jim Lowe of Somis, CA for 2 months and went to Scottsdale. She is still for sale and is posted on several internet sites, in search of a new show home.  March 04 found us up at another Equine Event in Paso Robles put on by Rudnik. There, classes with Chris Cox, Craig Cameron and Joe Montana added some more tools for the training toolbox. The colt breaking competition was our favorite. We had a great time at the Chris Cox Horsemanship One workshop which was in September in Santa Paula for 4 days. Chris is an excellent trainer, presenter, and horseman. We highly recommend his approach and his system. October of 04 Tony and Karen went to the Snaffle Bit Futurity to watch the event, and attend the auction. We'll go again this year to participate at least at the auction. She also went to Montana and Wyoming for a week, to visit some Quarter horse ranches and returned to Flitner Ranch for several days to ride in the Bighorns and move some cattle to higher pastures with some other guests from around the world. Feburuary 05 Pam Krahl, Karen's sister, and she  went to Equine Affair again, followed by the Equine Event in Paso March 05. Chris Cox's class was attended, and the ongoing education of simply attending auctions. Karen attended the Cal Poly May horse sale/auction..some nice ones, didn't get any. Tony and Karen made the Madonna Auction in June. Rick Machado sold some great ones.
Welcome our new hands Cassie Rowland, a hunt seat rider whose been with us over a year... and Jessica Lighthill a barrel racer and reiner rider. Great additions to our staff for horsehandling and starting the babies, and putting miles on and drills for the green ones. Everyone's got their favorite and Cassie's this week is Twister, but sometimes its' "George" aka Hot Peponita Magic. "George is one of the smartest colt's I ever broke", according to Cody Mora of Rancho Arroyo Grande. We only had time to get 30 days on him down there, but he came back a broke and experienced two year old. He is now over 90 days under saddle. Balanced, althletic soft and willing. He just gets better and better. At this point he's a keeper, but you never know, visit the sale page to see who's staying and who's moving on. This should be under SHOW, but Stacy Everly is showing CF A Spot of Tea and cleaning up in Hunt Seat, check back under Show and we'll have some of the classes and info. Already she's taken 12 First Places in Hunt Seat and English Pleasure. Welcome our puppy Schipperke, "Olive". Bold, fast, furry and underfoot, she is growing like a weed, and is about 14 weeks now. New pictures on the way.  We regret that Black and White, our resident ranch dog, household pet and friend and deer terrorizer, has passed away. She "went to college" this December with her beloved "boy" our son Joe, and lived a completely spoiled and pampered existence with him in Portland for her last 3 months. Black was over 14 years old, having been presented to Joe on his 6th birthday. She will be missed.
 Tony Chitwood holds the "ultimate babysitter", Stretch Limosine, while taking a pause on a ride at the beach. Nothing like a senior horse to keep those first few trail rides for the young ones just the way we like them...uneventful! An offtrack Thoroughbred Tony's ridden hunt seat and on the trail for years, his 21 yr. old Stretch is a pony horse deluxe.      Spring at the Ranch! |