I know, I have been away for a long time. I was teaching a class at UCR. However, If you have been reading Happy Hoofbeats, you know that my students and I have been busy. Still, I can't wait, now that this particular job assignment has ended, to get to work on Sailor and /Centi's chapters.

Yesterday former student Dale Raymond, navigator Jeff Allen, and I rode from Grand Terrace, homebase, over Pigeon Pass Road, then down the telephone pole access road on the Moreno Valley side  yesterday. It was a clear day and a challenging ride. For the first time in years, we let Centi, Sailor, and Sunny go flat out...on a safe surface and slight incline. Not what I would do every time! We were ALL huffiing and puffing. We saw over 50 burros back there, with the yearling males being shoo-ed off by herd stallions. What a noisy bunch they all are.

I had no IDEA so much time has passed since my last post. Jeff Allen- my navigator/header- as well as Mary Mc, and Tara and I have been riding and working the horses A LOT. Jeff finished restoring the Meadowbrook cart, so we now have 2 carriages to drive. I upgraded Centi's harness, so there are 2 complete sets of harness. Anyone interested is welcome to watch our lesson at Reata Ranch on the corner of Washington and Jefferson in Riverside with Athena Kepplar at 9:00 AM on July 21. It will be Jeff's 1st lesson, so beginners will have a good idea of what to expect. I am looking forward to speed work through obstacles as practice for the next show!

Since last I wrote...

Sorry it has been so long, but I have been busy! The book is coming along. Benjamin, Cooper, Gitano are final drafted, Baretta and Fresno are in the process. Plus, several wonderful "crew" and I were getting Sailor ready for his first carriage show. OH. WOW. We came in 2nd of 12 in our first class! And 4th in the Open Pleasure class. Next time we will try timed cones. If you are reading this and rode any of the above horses, also Dreamer, who is next, do let me know at annecenti@juno .com  Your comments are WELCOME.The only downside to so much writing is that I may need to do more standing up!

How cool to visit a former student, now instructor in her own right

Lindsay Long (just engaged, FYI) volunteered to help distribute my books to venues in the N. CA area. I was her first riding instuctor:  she was 7 years old. She went on to pony club and never gave up her dream. I was able to visit her lovely facility at Hidden Valley Ranch, in Carmel Valley with Pia, Midnight 2, and Lacey as school horses. She had a guest instructor as a birthday surprise for one of her students: Bea de Gracia. I met Derek and Bea when they ran Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. Lindsay is in the process of organizing a club house with bunks for summer camps. I recommend it.  She has her own website, Lindsayslessons.com. I will learn how to post pictures,too, maybe! We have stayed in touch all these years, and I could not be prouder of her.

Well, by now you should have seen the carriage lesson Jeff, Sailor and I had a Reata ranch on the Thursday before Memorial Day. We have to get both Centi and Sailor in shape for the upcoming Adhor Drive on June 23 in Camarillo. Dale and I rode all over Sycamore Canyon on Monday. It was GORGEOUS. Will try to get Happy Hoofbeats out tomorrow, as I will be in Big Sur for the next 5 days! will get to see former student, now a trainer in her own right, Lindsay Long.

always forward!

Thanks to my wonderful navigator, Jeff Allen, we harnessed up and had our best practice yet through the obstacle course.  We made a maze, single poles, and a series of gates in a large field in the flood plain near MakRanch. First time through, a week or so ago, we hit everything! Friday, we made it through every one at the trot, the first time. YAY. Looking forward to our cones lesson in Riverside on Thursday. Let me know if you want to spectate.

After a great trail ride with Tara Parker on Saturday, Jeff and I took Sailor back to Bar H to drive on Thursday after our successful obstacle practice on Wednesday. Most of you got the photos of the amazing longhorn cattle. The driving was good, too, and the local trainer at Bar H, Cat S. also took her wagonette along. The roads in that area of Gavilan Hills beg to be driven...can't wait to go back!

Sailor's second work through the obstacle course that Jeff, my navigator, and I set up was a major improvement. We are going to driving show May 19 in San Diego. We have a lesson w/ Athena Kepplar on May 26. Anyone wanting to learn more about driving ought to consider coming to watch.

Rode out with Tara Parker on Centi and me on Sailor, along with Shelly W. and Tammie, on Sat, 5/4. Who knew there were such truly gorgeous trails, through Sycamore trees and creek beds, in this part of Riverside?Plus, Bar H Ranch has the most AMAZINGLY beautiful longhorn cattle, which not all the horses that attended the trail ride thought as highly of as their riders! What a great ride. And then, to have ORB win the Derby under a perfect ride, shared in front of the TV with friends, neighbors, guacamole and beer...and horses make all this joy possible!

too fun!

Built a hazards course today for the carriage. All sorts of twists and turns, a small maze, and a great straightaway to gallop. Former student, Dale R is planning on Tevis. So MUCH to do!

Found:  Debbie Gabriel and Valerie E. Mary M., Dale R., my wonderful navigator Jeff A., went MILES into the San Bernardino Mountains Weds. WITH THE CARRIAGE. Pics will be in Volume 2. I am heavy into editing Cooper's chapter and (quick) input is welcome.

I (we...I have a navigator/header now, Jeff Allen) are adding a new chapter to A S H L, volume2.  Yesterday, we took sailor and the marathon carriage to the mountains and had a blast - cantered trails, forded water, breathed the best air there is. Cooper's chapter just went to the editors. Go hold of Debbie Gabriel! Do ANY of you out there know how to get hold of Diane Guttenburg or LeAnn Beiber? Keep up with me...I will be visiting and replying and commenting this site often, now that I know how. Thank you, Christiana Benoit, tech support extraordinaire.

Am working on Cooper's chapter

Who remembers Cooper?  Most of you that rode him thought he was so BIG!

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Coming soon--testing some things!