April 2010

April 1, 2010

Congratulations to the CNU Equestrian Team for finishing the year in third place.  We are so proud of our team.  They have worked really hard.   I am also very proud of the outstanding job Ryann has done as their coach.  It has been an amazing experience for her and she has loved every minute of it.  Goucher College ended up in first place, the University of Mary Washington ended up second.

Ryann and I are so grateful to all the people who helped us make this first year with the CNU team a success.  A special thank you to C.C. Howlett and Lauren Neeson for all their hard work.  C.C. has been a tremendous asset to Ryann this year by teaching her all about how the IHSA works and what she needs to do in the paper work department. That in itself is a big job. So thank you everyone for everything.  

Alisha Raymer - helping at the barn

Anne Martin - Sly & Toby

Brittany Davis - Hard Work & Team Support !

Carrie & Whitney Brooks - Coats & Shirts

Danta Thompson - Curly & Peanut & helping at the barn

Debbie, Kevin & Heather Nuckles - Rocky

Elizabeth Saunders - Pony

Georgina Bloomberg & The Rider's Closet - Shirts, Coats, Pants, Boots

Jaimie Ferns - help at the barn

Katie Germaine - help at the barn

Kendall Parks - all your help

Kristy & Courtney Morrill - Bentley

Laura Mumford - Sparky

Lindsay Prentiss - helping at the barn

Lucy Trieshmann - Melody

Michelle Fox - help at the barn

Neysa Bryant- Troy & all your help

Northrop Grumman - donation the the CNU Equestrian Club (thank you Gary)

Ryan Tiedermann - helping at the barn

Sam Meadows - Ashleigh - Hard Work & Team Support !

Tracey & Kelsie Samms - Piper

This has been a great year.  We thank our wonderful God who made everything possible.

Another beautiful day.  Off to the barn. 

Be blessed,     

Nardeen

April 2, 2010

It's spring break for most of the kids.  Logan is the first one here this morning and what a wonderful little helper.  She helped Ryann feed, and bring in and turn out horses.  She just finished helping me by counting and organizing all the ribbons.  And she did it with the greatest of ease.  She only asked one question then went right on and got the job done !  Adorable - and soooooooo smart.    Poor Brittany is having a fit because her spring break doesn't start today and all the other kids are going to be out here.  She's a mess !!!   Now Emma Claire is here and she's putting stamps on prize lists for me !   And - our little Miss B.G. got beautified (again) today !   Actually she got beautified this morning by Logan and now this afternoon by Emma Claire.  She is a piglet so she requires constant beautification.  We are all so excited about the baby.  Now the whole gang is here and it's a busy, busy place at AGS.  Love it !

April 4, 2010

Today was PERFECT.  The youth group did an amazing performance for Healing Waters Church.  Hunter did a great job playing Jesus.  I was so proud of him.  I am so blessed with Ryann and Hunter.  They are both wonderful and love the Lord with all their heart.  After church we came back to the barn and Ryann and I sat in the gazebo reading and enjoying the gorgeous day at our wonderful barn while our dogs and horses were enjoying themselves too.  Then we picked up Ma Helen, headed to Norfolk and spent a great day with our family.  It was so good to see Josh again and to have him home - safe and sound.  He had some stories to share and said (as we knew would be) that being in Afghanistan certainly gave him a new love for our country.  He says he will never take it for granted again.  We certainly are blessed to live in America.  He has signed up for four more years with the Marines.  I am soooooo proud of him. 

This is a picture of Jake (left) and Josh (right.)  Handsome boys.  Jake is Josh's brother for those of you who don't know.  Jake was at the barn one day not long ago and Ryann was teaching the CNU girls a lesson and he watched for a few minutes.  Well - Jake insists that he could get on a horse and jump it around.  He says it doesn't look that difficult !   Don't people who don't ride crack you up.  When they watch good riders go around who make it look so easy they think there is nothing to it.  They don't have any idea in the world what a hard sport this is.  Sooooo - Jake is going to come out soon and we're gonna let him ride and see how much jumping he does!   I doubt he'll do much - if any. 

I hope you all had as wonderful an Easter as I did.  I feel so blessed.

Lots of love,

Nardeen

April 8, 2010

We are taking a nice group or horses and riders to the show at Bridlewood this Saturday.  It is the first show of the THSA season.  Click HERE for directions to Bridlewood from Amazing Grace Stable. 

AGS has been a busy place this week.  All the kids are on spring break and most of them have been out here pretty much everyday.  We love them.  They have been so helpful and fun to have around.  Plus we have a couple of new ponies (Precious and Dixie) and they've been riding them to get them back into shape.  Both ponies have been out of work for a while.  Dixie has been out of work for a year, and Precious three years - so we're starting them back nice and slow.  They are both very similar sorts and even look alike.   So Logan and Emma Claire may have a matching pair !!!  Actually - it will be a threesome because they look a little bit like Melody.

CHARLIE UPDATE

It sounds like Charlie is doing a little better, praise God.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers.  And poor Brian.  I feel so bad for him.  He is already going through so much and then his mom died unexpectedly.  What a hard time he is going through.  So lots of prayers for Brian and Jenny to be able to stay strong and positive. 

Thursday, April 7 UPDATE from Jenny & Brian

Hello Everyone,

Apologies once again for the length of time that has elapsed since our last update. There wasn't much to write and we were sort of in a holding pattern waiting for some change to happen. Since we last posted Charlie remained in the I.C.U while continuing to wean on and off the vent for as much as he could tolerate. On April 6th he was given clearance to move to the 9th floor which can accommodate spine patients who are still in need of vent support. Our next move is a little up in the air since he could move straight to rehab shortly or be transferred to the 7th floor for a brief period before rehab if he is off the vent at that point. Regardless, we are so excited to have finally gotten off the I.C.U after almost 2 months. Even though we have developed such amazing relationships with the nurses and the Dr's on the 8th floor we were all ready to move forward into the next phase of his rehabilitation. In the last 24 hours Charlie had his staples removed from his stomach surgery, his sling taken off from his broken shoulder and has started to make leaps and bounds off the vent support. This has boosted everyone's moral to have such a positive day like yesterday, which we were way overdue for by the way! We are headed back to our "new room" now to be with Charlie for the nite shift. Thank you to everyone for your Happy Easter wishes and more importantly for continuing to check in with us and following this page. We feel so loved by all our friends and it gives us strength to know we have such amazing support behind us.

Love, Brian and Jenny

As most of you know this has been a very difficult time for me having lost my mom unexpectedly while in the midst of dealing with Charlie's accident. It hasn't been easy but I wanted everyone to know that I appreciate all of the notes, postings, emails and flowers that have been sent to me. Everyone's kindness has been overwhelming, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love, Brian
 

You know - tough times certainly make us stronger.  We never know why bad things happen to people, especially good people like Charlie and Brian.  But I do know that God is always there for us to lean on and to help us stay strong when we go through tough times.  There is NOTHING like feeling the love, grace and peace that only our God can give us.  Jesus says in the Bible that we are going to go through hard times - that hard times are coming to us ALL.  None of us are exempt from it.  But He also says that He is there to comfort us and help us get through the tough times.  How well I know this lesson. And you know what - all the tough times have been worth it to be able to get to know and lean on the Lord .  There is nothing like His love and peace.   You probably don't need me to tell you this, but just in case someone is reading this who doesn't know, if you are going through a tough time in your life, no matter what is may be, always go to the Lord first and ASK Him to be with you and help you and believe me He will be there.  He will never forsake you - He promises that in the Bible.  

Have a peaceful and blessed day,

Nardeen

April 11, 2010

I am so proud of our horses and our riders for doing so well at the horse show yesterday.  We had the nicest day.  We started the day with Denise and Sydney and couldn't have been happier.  That horse is AMAZING !!!   She's never jumped anywhere but at our barn and she never looked right or left.  She was straight as an arrow, jumped her usual outrageous self and did perfect flying changes.   You just don't get any sweeter or better than that horse.  And Denise should be so proud of the wonderful job she has done with her.  They are a team, and that horse loves Denise and would do anything in the world for her !    She did the Baby Green Division - and was second in both over fences classes.  She had a little miss to one jump in the first class - not bad at all, just a little different jump from the other seven perfect jumps, and in the second class she got a little swervy after the first jump, nothing too bad for a baby green horse.  Other than that she was straight as an arrow everywhere, jumped great, her rhythm NEVER changed and did perfect changes.   So we stopped with that division and didn't do the Amateurs.  Denise was sooooooo cute.  She came out of the ring and told me she's never ridden another horse as good as Sydney, and I told her most people haven't ridden a horse as good as Sydney!   That is one wonderful horse.  Anyway, she was second in both over fences classes and unfortunately had a little mistake right by the judges stand so only was fourth in the under saddle, which cost her being Reserve Champion.

The kids were all adorable.  Sam showed three horses yesterday.  Reese - who was, well - Reese !   He is a hard horse to ride.  He is beautiful, and we ALL love and adore him, but he is tough to jump.  And - that's why we have him.  We love him though and he's the sweetest horse on earth.  But he is tough.  His rhythm changes constantly.  He's pokey around the ends then speedy to the jump.  But I will say - when he is good, there is not a more beautiful horse going around in the world !   He won the under saddle and Sam was pleased.  Sam is such a good kid.  His attitude is always the best, and he just takes it all in stride.

Sam also showed Anne's horses Super Natural and On the Sly and they were both very good.  He hasn't ridden Sly in a long time so considering that,  he did a very good job with him.  He won a class on Super Natural, and unfortunately broke stride at the canter so that cost him probably the blue ribbon in the under saddle.  Over all - Sam had a great day, he rode three very nice horses - all of which can be a little tough in their own way .  All three horses are entirely different, and for a kid just starting to show, Sam did a great job.  He is learning and is going to be a very good rider. 

Brittany and Lucy were both adorable and they both rode so good.  Brittany was champion and Lucy reserve in the Beginner division.  They are the cutest girls.  I was so proud of them.  Brittany's equitation is improving with leaps and bounds. She loves this and is really starting to get it.  Lucy, well Miss Lucy is a natural talent.  She is amazing.  She has good natural instincts, beautiful equitation, loves to ride.  I love those girls !

Danta took Peanut and was Champion Amateur Hunter.  She rode great - as she always does.  Danta is one of our CNU girls from Charlottesville and she brought two horses to Amazing Grace Stable.  We were very pleased with how Peanut did at the show.  He's a good boy.

We all enjoyed our day at Bridlewood.  What a nice farm, and a beautiful day.  I love their big ring. The footing was good - even with it being as wet as it was from the big storm we had Thursday night and Friday morning.  I was a bit skeptical when we drove in and I saw how wet it was, but it wasn't slippery at all, and the horses didn't seem to mind it.  It surprised me how they all just went around as if it wasn't muddy. 

So yesterday was the kick off show for the THSA and we're looking forward to a fun season with our new friends from Chesapeake.  And we're looking to going to more shows at Bridlewood.  Thank you Anita for doing a great job ! 

Changing gears.  Hunter and Ryann are in a drama at our church this week.  It starts tonight and goes  through Wednesday.  If you get a chance to come out please do.  It is amazing.  It's about modern day incidents, heaven and hell.  Get this - our pastor is playing Satan !!!  Talk about role reversal.  Anyway - it is AMAZING and we hope you can come out.  It is at 6:30 each evening. 

Remember our horse show on April 17.  If you're planning to come have your entries in by Wednesday at noon.  I will definitely make a decision by Wednesday evening because a lot of barns are going to Rose Mount so we may not have enough entries to hold it.  So please let me know asap.

Take care, and God bless,

Nardeen

April 14, 2010

We've had such a busy couple of weeks.  Ryann and Hunter are in the play at Healing Waters Church and it is wonderful.  Tonight is the last night so I hope you've had a chance to see it, and if not please try and get by tonight.  You will not be disappointed. 

Last week Ryann, Brittany and I met Debra at Magnolia Center and visited the Alzheimer's patients.  We gave them "manicures."  Pretty much we just painted their fingernails. They loved it and were all so cute.  Ryann cried when she met Suzanne, the lady I told you about who looks like Mother Dear.   She couldn't believe how much she looks and acts like her.  It is uncanny.  I LOVE that she's there because it makes me feel like Mother Dear is there with us.  And knowing Mother Dear, she is there with us.  She had a real heart for visiting the people in nursing homes.  We would always take them little gifts, mostly things she hand-made for them.  I was blessed to have such a caring and compassionate mother. She was very special.

Ryann is so excited about her new "toys."  We got a zero turn mower, a walk behind weed eater, a paint sprayer, a new drag, and a big sprayer for weeds etc.  It's funny how she's turned into a "farm girl."   She's learning how to do everything around here. Most of the stuff came from Powerhouse (Rowland) Equipment and she felt like a kid in a candy store.  It reminded me of how Peg use to be when we'd go into places like that.  Sooooo funny. 

Remember to keep Charlie in your prayers each morning. 

Horse Show on Saturday - 10:00 a.m.  Be sure your entries are in.

Lucy is having the best time with "Rocky" (the pony.)  She's pulled his mane, banded it over, and has him jumping (well sort of) the jumps.  She is determined he is going to have a "purpose" in life.  It is soooooo funny.  She dilegently rides him everyday - and everyday she asks me if she can jump him.  Rocky loves Lucy to pieces.  He thinks he has his own little girl now.  He is the cutest thing.

God bless,

Nardeen

April 16, 2010

I love my life.  The only thing that would make it better was if Chuck was still here.  It's a gorgeous day, we're having fun getting ready for the show and schooling the horses, and enjoying our wonderful lives.  Ryann and Brittany built the course last night and I like it a lot.  It rides nice.  We also have our CNU Show and end of the year picnic on Sunday.  We are sure going to miss our CNU team.  They've been so much fun to have at the barn. 

We hope to see you this weekend.

God bless,

Nardeen

April 17, 2010

Today was a beautiful day for a horse show.  Thank you everyone who came out.  We appreciate your support. 

We love our customers.  Everyone rode great today.  We're so proud of you guys for how much you are learning and most of all for how much you LOVE the horses and love to be at the barn.  You are THE BEST!  

Denise and Kendall should both be so proud of their 'baby" horses and what a great job they've done with them.  Those two horses are AMAZING !!!  They have the best minds.  I couldn't be happier for those two girls.  They both deserve their wonderful horses.  

Ryann had a great time showing Sydney in the Baby Green and Toby in the Open Hunter.  She won all three classes on Sydney, and on Toby she won both jumping classes and Sam rode him in the under saddle and won that.  So Ry had a very good day.  Both of those horses are so much fun. 

Lucy and Melody were the stars of the day.  Champion Special Junior Amateur and Beginner Equitation. I think God blessed Lucy today because the first thing she did when she got to the barn this morning - (her idea) - was to pick up trash up by the road.  People are always throwing their trash out of their car windows when they ride by and Lucy told me that there was a lot of trash by the road and it looked bad. She asked if I wanted her to go pick it up.  So Lucy and Britt went up front and picked up the trash.  Plus - she arrived at the barn with a pan full of the most delicious ham and cheese biscuits that were still warm from the oven, plus two big bowls of pasta salads !   So - of course she was the star of the day - she was blessed !  Thank you Lucy and Sarah.

Logan had a great day - especially after taking a fall yesterday when Ashleigh was a bit "frisky."  I was so proud of Logan for being such a brave little girl.  She ended up Reserve Champion in the Beginner division.  So cute.  And Emma Claire was adorable too - but as perfect as our Jack is he was very lazy and broke stride a couple of times - so that cost her some good ribbons.  Emma Claire is going to start riding Precious next week .  That is going to be a totally different ride for her since Precious is a little "friskier" than Jack.   Brittney did a good job riding Sparky - since she's only ridden him twice before and he's a Baby Green horse.  Yesterday when she rode him he had a really long stride and was eating up the distance, but today he was a different horse and was very quiet and needed go more forward.  So - for a beginner rider on a baby green horse it was just fine.  And Brittney is riding so good and her equitation has improved with leaps and bounds.  I am soooooo proud of her. Sam had a fun day with Toby and was reserve champion in the Special Junior Amateur. 

Betsy Burton has two very interesting young horses.  One is chestnut with lots of white, even a big white spot on his left shoulder, and one is bay - of course.  Betsy always has a bay horse.  Betsy rides great and both horses were very cute. Catherine Isner's baby horse Dreamboat Annie was a good girl too.  And Catherine's daughter Charlotte is adorable.  She looks just like Catherine did when she was a little girl.  Wow - can you believe I remember that.  Catherine was the cutest, sweetest little girl in the world. 

We are keeping an eye on B.G.  tonight. She's been laying down several times today and seems a "little" restless.  I'm not sure it's going to be tonight - but we put the straw in the stall just in case.  Brittany is too much.  She just said  "Today was a lot of fun, tomorrow is going to be a lot of fun, and tonight B.G. is going to have her baby."  She has Dr. King's phone number in her cell phone and she just added Talmadge's number for back up.  She's staying with Ryann tonight and planning to come out and check on B.G. "ALL NIGHT LONG".  Poor B.G.  She won't be getting much rest now - not with Britt on it - just ask Sam !!!

Well - I'm going home and hitting the "hay."  11:00 p.m.  We have our CNU show and Picnic tomorrow.  I can't believe our first year with CNU is coming to an end.  Boohoo !

God bless you all,

Nardeen

April 18, 2010

We have a baby !!!   Brittany and Sam checked B.G. at 1:30 and nothing was happening - then Britt came out alone at 2:30 and there was the baby.  Praise God and good job B.G.  She's a filly - chestnut (probably gray) with the cutest little dished head and a star.  Adorable.  Dr. King was at the barn and gone before I even got there.  He told Ryann, Britt and Sam that if there was a scale to judge these things that the baby would be a 10 !   She was up and nursing within the hour.  And hasn't laid back down since and it's now 4:30.  Uh-oh - this one is gonna be a "pistol."  Diana and Butch got out to the barn about the same time as I did.  They are excited. After all - they're Alice's "God Parents".  Thank you Lord for answering our prayers for this to go so smoothly.  We love you Lord.  Good job Britt, Sam and Ryann.  I love you kids !

Okay - we're hitting the "hay" again - 4:37 a.m.

Life just doesn't get any better than this weekend.  Both days were perfect.  Then B.G. topped it off for us by having her baby - easy as could be - on Sunday morning "early".  It was the perfect icing on the cake for our wonderful day we spent today with our CNU Equestrian Team.  Perfect - absolutely perfect.

Blessings,

Nardeen

April 19, 2010

This was what Britt had on the outside of B.G.'s stall Saturday night.  None too soon !!!  Thank you Sarah Doble for the picture.

The movie Alice in Wonderland was the inspiration for the foal's name.  Her barn name is "Alice" and her show name is going to be "Looking Glass."  We were hoping for a filly because we didn't know what the barn name would be for a colt.  There was so much going on at the barn yesterday that we didn't get to turn them out in their paddock, but my niece Denise came up with a great idea to turn them out in the back ring.  She and her husband Glenn came over to see the baby run around for the first time - so she was a little disappointed that it may not happen.  That was a great idea and it was a nice quiet walk right out the back of the barn to the ring.  B.G. and Alice had a nice little outing and ran around a "little" bit.  They were adorable.  That B.G. is the absolute best mommy.  She's protective but not obnoxiously so.  She was worn out by the end of the day - rightfully so.  Ryann got a GREAT picture that I'll post up here later today.

Alice is already trying to eat out of the feed tub.  She's only 12 hours old.  Hmmmm - she may be trouble !!!

We decided to not breed B.G. back this year because we're hoping she will be something the little girls can ride and show.  She sure is fancy - but she's also a little tough.  Now that she's older and has had a baby she may be a different pony.  So, we'll see.

We're still looking for a pony - preferably a medium.  If you know of something please let me know.  757-846-8176.

Come out and visit and see our new addition.

GOD IS WONDERFUL!

Nardeen

Sunday afternoon - 14 hours old !   Amazing.

That B.G. is the prettiest pony and boy she had a beautiful baby.  Alice's father is Meadowbrook's Special Edition standing at Richard Taylor's Venture Stable.  Brittany has been in the stall with the baby all day long.  She is bonding with her.  And Alice is the sweetest thing.  We turned them out again this afternoon in B.G.'s regular paddock, right next to Melody, Penny and Lila.  Those three mares were so happy to see that baby but they were as good as they could be.  B.G. was happy to show Alice off to her friends.  Soooooo cute.

Isn't this the sweetest picture !  Motherly love.  The baby was only a few hours old here.  So cute.

I'm getting ready to post the prize list for the May 8 Amazing Grace Horse Show and need your input.  We're thinking about flip-flopping the schedule and putting the Pleasure, Short Stirrup, Beginner, etc., in the morning then a schooling break and the other divisions after that.  So what do you think ?   Let me know in the next few days.

April 22, 2010

The Tidewater Horse Show Association (THSA) points are now posted at their website.  Be sure you are a member so your points will CONTINUE to be counted.   www.tidewaterhorseshowsassociation.com.   Thank you Debbie (Tracy) for taking on this project.  Anita and I both appreciate it.

Click this - it is sooooooo cute.  Baby moose in a sprinkler !   I want a baby moose.   I didn't know they were sooooo cute.

Laura (Molzon) came out with Panache today for a lesson.  We had the best time.  It is so nice to have them back at the barn.  Panache was a very good girl and jumped great.  In just a few weeks we'll be jumping her over some 3 footers.  She even did her lead changes.   We're so happy that she healed up and is sound again.  And, we love Laura !  

Take care, and many blessings,

Nardeen

April 23, 2010

They just don't get any sweeter than Alice.  This baby is incredible.  And B.G. is the absolute perfect mommy.  Britt and Ryann are having a fit to breed her back again this year.  Hmmmmm - it's awful tempting. I guess we'll see.

April 24, 2010

Ryann wants me to get the word out that she is interested in judging some horse shows.  Please keep her in mind.

Today has been an AMAZING day.  Ryann and Hunter are going to a Military Ball in Williamsburg tonight so Ryann had a full day of "Spa Treatments."    I went with her La Dolce Vita (Route 17) for a pedicure, then she headed over to Newport News to Lorraine's Day Spa for waxing and hair.   I came back to the barn and hung out here with the kids. It has been a peaceful day, blessed day.  I missed Diana because I was gone to the Spa.  It's so weird how our timing is off.  And I'm here a lot, but I always seem to miss Diana.  Anyway - hi Diana.  Love you and hope to see you next time. 

B.G. and Alice spent the day outside today and I'm sure that will be one tired baby tonight.  ADORABLE !!!   Up until now she's only been going out for a couple of hours, but today she was out six hours - B.G.'s regular turn out.  The other day I let Rocky (the pony) - and I'm the only one allowed to do this - go over and see the baby.  Rocky and B.G.  were turn out buddies and we "weaned" them a couple of months ago.  It was much harder on Rocky than it was B.G.  He misses her so much.  But he was the cutest thing - a total gentleman - with his eyes as big as saucers when he saw that baby.  And B.G.  was happy to see him and never pinned her ears or anything.  What an amazing mare.  It was very touching.  She was proud to show him her baby and I know he thinks he's the daddy. 

Sam couldn't come out until later today because he had a school function and that Brittany has been going crazy.  She's texting him and being, well, Brittany.  It is hilarious !  Thank God Lucy was here with her most of the day.  That Lucy - too cute.  She LOVES to ride - not that they all don't - but I do believe Lucy would ride a "donkey" or a "camel"  if you asked her to.  She is hilarious.   So I'm thinking about buying an unbroken pony for Lucy and Brittany to break and get started.  I'd like a medium - my favorite size - so if you know of something let me know.  It MUST be a 10 mover.

Bonnie Edwards brought Alison's cute medium pony out for us to try for the little girls.  His name is "Napoleon", barn name "Snappy."  He's adorable. I guess he's buckskin or gruella.  He's definitely different.  I saw him about a year ago at Healing Waters Family Day.  Bonnie had him out there doing pony rides.  He was absolutely PERFECT.  The boys were (get this) playing football all around the pony rides.  And that pony never batted an eye.  So I told Bonnie I wanted him.  When she and Alison saw my post on the web site that we're looking for a medium pony they called me.  We're excited.  So tomorrow - after church - we're gonna give Mr. "Snappy" a ride. 

We were sorry we weren't able to attend the show at Fox Ridge Farm.  With Ryann and Sam being tied up it was just too hard to do.  We pretty much only want to do two shows a month and we had already done two THSA shows in April.  Time and money is a definite factor. So maybe next time we'll be able to go.

Thank you John, Danta and Ryan.  You guys are "the best."

Thank you sooooo much Neysa. That was totally unexpected and totally not necessary. We do appreciate it more than you know. You and Cowboy Troy have been a blessing to AGS. Everyone is excited about Thursday.

God bless,

Nardeen

"I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13