Passing Time in ?Horse Years?

As we welcome the New Year we are reminded how fast our lives fly by.

It is a gentle reminder that events of the past year are just that...the past.

I don't know about you,
but I feel the speed of life
increases as we age.

We all are amazed at how our
children have grow and left the nest.

How fast the grandchildren grow.

Another "year marker" for me are the foals
that are born each year on our farm.

They start life on our farm.

Their moms and dads are horses
that have played a large part of our lives.

"Oh My Lena" with her 2012 colt
Dam of"Oh My Lila Rose"

"Smart Little Levi"
Sire of "Oh My Lila Rose"

Each foal born represents a
little package of "hopes and dreams"

Some of the foals steal our hearts more than others.
One of the foals that has stolen my
heart from the day she was born.
"OH MY LILA ROSE"

She is out of a mare, "OH MY LENA",
I showed "Lena" for 2 years
and then she was retired
to the farm to have babies.
"OH MY LILA ROSE"
was born early in 2009.

The first 2 years of her life she
"entertained" us on the farm.

When she turned 2 all the fun and games were over. It was time for her to "go to work"

For the last 18 months
she has trained to be a "Cutting Horse" It is hard work.

For all the shenanigans she pulled when she was a youngster she is now VERY SERIOUS about her job now.
How do I know?

I would love to tell you the fairy tale version that is often told.

"Oh I just knew from the moment she was born."

We have heard that so many times
when it comes to very successful horses. But I have learned that we have
high hopes for all the foals. Certain foals that I think will be super stars,
sometimes are not.

We rarely hear that side of the horse business. It can be heart breaking when high hopes don't happen.
But..high hopes did happen for
"OH MY LILA ROSE"

Just recently she was shown by
my husband in the most important show of the year.

The NCHA futurity, is thought of as the
"first jewel" in the cutting industry's triple crown. The show has around 600 entries,
all the horses must be 3 years old
(yep they check all horses mouths)
and have NEVER have been shown.
The odds are against you from the start. So only the very best are entered. Only 30 horses make it to the finals.

It doesn't make sense to even show up...but this is where the
dream kicks in again.

So you enter your best horses
(you can only show 2) and wait for your chance
to show your horse(s) in front of 5 judges.
Oh "My Lila Rose" did her "job"!

She made the finals!
To top things off one of our
other foals made the finals too.

He was the first foal of 2009.
His name is "Cheldaichi". He is all grown up now and has
made an outstanding "cutting horse".

Its hard to imagine 4 years
have gone by so quickly.

Now we wait for the
new super stars to be born.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you Health and Happiness!
Kelley