The Charity Show was FUN!  Josie has been riding Aggie and enjoyed a blue ribbon in halter, which they had not practiced.  The following performance classes were large and they were in the ribbons again!  Traveler got a warm up on the field trial course and proved a trooper as he navigated the tunnel of round bales and the on- coming minis in harness that kept popping up around every corner.  What a brave boy and by this time, class time came and with three in a row against some very experienced horses, he still managed to get a ribbon in every class! The success was in the experience....it  was priceless.

Previously we were at EquiFest in Wichita, KS which was a great start to the shows and expos of 2012.  The Kansas Horse council did a great job as usual, and provided everything but the weather, which was cold and very windy.  Our stallion, Sparky,  was awesome, receiving lots of attention and butt rubs!  He was quite enamored with a pretty little mare back to back with him and spent most of his time watching her through a crack in the corner of the stall.  Ever so often, he would back up to get a scratch and occasionally would actually turn around for some lovin'.  CHF Fitzwilly was out for the first time ever!  His first trip to an event, in a trailer, and in a stall.  He was a love!  During our daily walks, Felicia's hard work helped me begin the process of mindful walking when I walk, stopping when I stop, standing when I stand....why we even managed to set up nicely once or twice.  Willy is awesome and we will be starting ground work in preparation for driving soon.  He has a lot of action and with the way his neck ties into his chest, he puts forward a rather elegant image.

Continuing to back track a bit.....Recently, yours truly wrote an article for a small publication, Central States Horsemen.  Titled 'What's in a Name?', the article, controversial among some, common sense to others, explored the brilliance in the naming of the" Gypsy Vanner" Horse.  Marketing is the science of making the unfamiliar familiar!  And whether you like it or not, Dennis Thompson was right on when he gave our breed its name.  When presented to the public, we are asked "is that a Vanner?" In the past,others have launched into reasons for  negating the appropriateness of the term Vanner. Unfortunately, a lecture in semantics is irrelevant and confusing. I think of this approach as akin to wearing blinders. I can be offended by the name that identifies this lovely breed of horse.. Personally, I want them to have a name that sets them apart and is universal.  The fuss will only confuse the looker and possibly turn them off to the degree they decide another breed would be more suitable.  We have come a long way, as I rarely hear this sort of right or wrongness of the name being expounded upon.  And due to a more civilized approach to many differing opinions, our owner numbers are growing.  In getting stuck in the mire of a name, we fail to promote the reason this breed is so very special.  It is smart, easily trained, lovable, personable, fascinatingly pretty, and more versatile than one might expect.  That is a whole lot of good stuff going for it and for those who make the decision to have one or two in their barn i.e. life!