An evening social and change of executive...

Sliders members got together last night to hang out, finalize some of our CRUZ CLINIC details, and to elect a new president, as our current president, Dawnna Robertson decided it was necessary to step down, due to the heavy demands of her current schedule. We would like to extend a big thank you to Dawnna for filling our president role for the last two years, and welcome Elli Meinert  into the position.  

 
Our new president, Elli Meinert

Elli has been a club member since our inception and will serve as a great ambassador for our club. She has been increasingly involved in the sport of reining, and has worked with a number of outstanding professionals to build her own knowledge base. Elli competes at many of the major reining shows throughout the province, and has recently purchased a young mare from Websters Performance Horses, to show in reining and working cow. We are all excited to see her and "Porsche" in the show pen this year.

Elli's new show prospect, Porsche

Elli also helps in the day to day operation of her family's EASY GO RANCH in Lac La Hache, and as a club we have been able to benefit from using their beautiful facilities to host a number of clinics. As well Elli and her mom have launched a new business this year in 100 Mile. THE LOG HOUSE, (website still under construction) tack, harness and western ware store opened it's doors in November.

It is a beautiful log house, and they carry all the popular western styles, quality tack, western decor and have great prices. If you are traveling through 100 Mile House, be sure to stop in!

We're back....and a look back on 2011

WELCOME BACK everyone to a new year of reining excitement. I have been a little slow at getting organized for 2012, but I have a series of posts I plan to make to get everyone back in the mood for reining and the upcoming show season...so hold onto your hats cause here we go...!
First of all how about a recap of some of the exciting things that have happened to our core members in 2011...

Our president, Dawnna-

What a year! Dawnna, is literally embarking on a new life. Having finished course work in Kamloops, she was hired to work in both WL and 100 Mile hospitals. Along with that, she and her partner, Pat have moved in and are embarking on a life together. Everyone is commenting on how happy she looks, and we all wish her well in all her new endeavors. Dawnna continues to immerse herself in her horse pursuits, working with her young gelding, competitively barrel racing, and of course, focusing on reining. Her energy and enthusiasm are inspiring to us all. One of her hurdles she had to overcome this summer was a severe and traumatic injury to her barrel mare.

Despite the severity of the wounds, she has made a complete recovery and is back to chasing cans with a vengence!

Our Vice President, Tiffany

Tiffany's focus this summer was on wedding plans and she is now happily married into the Pincott family. Her wedding was about as picturesque as a cowboy wedding can be, including being carried to the alter by her reining horse!

How beautiful! We all wish Tiffany the best!

Our Clinic Organizer, Mandy

Mandy and her family welcomed a new addition, baby girl, Larah into their life. Sweet and healthy, and new baby sister to Kaylee! Congratulations!! We're looking forward to having Mandy back in the saddle again!

Our youth liason, Ronnie

Ronnie had a stellar year capping it off by being named to Team BC, to go back and compete in reining at the Canadian Equestrian Championships. It was an incredible opportunity, and the club was proud to support Ronnie, by presenting her with a cheque to help cover her costs. Well done, Ronnie! Ronnie has gone to school to become a vet assistant. We wish her all the best!

Club Member, Courtney

Courtney is one of our newer members, and after taking a clinic last year with trainer, Carl Woods, she made the decision to send her young horse, Dallas into training with Carl.  Dallas is back home, and Courtney is thrilled with the results. She is looking forward to being an active member and continuing to learn about reining so that she may move forward with Dallas. We hope we can support you, Courtney!

Club member, Tanya

Not to be outdone, club member, Tanya, has recently announced her official engagement! I see another cowboy wedding in the Cariboo in the near future! Congratulations, Tanya!

We are all excited to start the new year, and welcome new members to join our close knit group as we work together to move forward in learning about reining, and supporting each other in our personal lives and our lives with our horses!
2012, here we come!

I just wanted to thank my viewers! Over the weekend the Sliders Blog passed the 10,000 views mark. Since I only started the count this past fall, that means all of those views have been in the last eight months!!
However, you are a quiet bunch! I rarely receive comments...which in my mind would make this blog truly successful. So I invite you, especially if you are a regular reader, to help make this blog a good place for people to "join the conversation". Start with this post by telling me who you are, what you like about the blog, what you would like to see more of, or any other tidbits of information you would like to share!

GOAL SETTING

Picture (taken from Google Images)

Well I met my weight loss goal this year, but what about my horse related goals:

1) Ride at least once a week-I'd like to do more, but my job makes it difficult through the week. Once a week is realistic for me right now...

2) Compete in at least 3 reining shows (Kamloops and the 2 WCRA shows in Chillwack) Again I'd like to do more, but tight finances will dictate here....

3) No PENALTY points in my classes. (Tough!, but doable....)

4) Master Flying Lead Changes (with help-Casandra, Sherri and anyone else, I WILL get this... )

5) Compete in at least one Non Pro class with a full NRHA pattern (this will happen after I have the lead change thing down...)

6) This isn't really MY goal, but a team goal of having my 3 year old compete in at least one show this season-will depend on her readiness, and trainer's discretion

7) I'm SCARED to state this one in public BUT- here it is...Compete in one freestyle class (I hope there is still beginner freestyle....)

SO there it is out in the public for all to see. Now, I'd like to see yours! Post your goals in the comments section under this post. By stating your goals out loud, and making them public, you make them REAL!! Don't leave me hanging here!!

A NEW LOOK!!

If you have been coming regularly to look at my blog, you will notice that it looks different!! I get bored with things, so I decided to update the look of the blog, hopefully for the better!! I've picked a new template background, switched the side bar elements to right side of the blog, and added a different header picture. This was taken during our Sherri Thomson Reining clinic last spring.

On the sidebar, I've added a New "What's Happening, Let's Go!" Link. This has dates of reining shows, and clinics and other things of interest, with direct links to the relevant sites. It is organized by dates so hopefully it will help you plan more easily what events you want to attend!

Also, on the side, I've posted a gadget that will allow you to directly link this site to your Facebook or Twitter page, so you can help spread the word about our club. 

PLEASE SEND ME A COMMENT AS TO WHETHER YOU LIKE THE CHANGES, ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED, ANY POSTS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO MAKE, OR JUST TO SAY HI!! I'D LOVE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ADD AN EVENT, TO THE "WHAT'S HAPPENING" SIDEBAR, PLEASE E MAIL ME THE INFO, WITH AN ATTACHED LINK TO YOUR SITE (Please keep it reining related, or at least something horsey related that our members may be interested in...) 

Getting to Know Each Other

Pictures 

Top-Bella, Phil and Casandra with horses, Josie, Jiminey, and Maddie (and dog, Maggie)

Middle- Bella and Jewel, with grandson, Mason and Foxy

Bottom- Bella and Phil

So as I was writing my last post, I was thinking it would be nice to get to know each other a bit better. We need to have a social get together (sooner than later) but in the meantime what I would like, would be for each of you to e mail me a little bio on yourself along with a few pictures, and I will post your info up here on the blog. That way, we can put faces to names when we see each other!!

You've already read and seen enough of me on here, but thought I'd go first just so you know what I'm kind of looking for....

So my name is Bella, and we moved up to the Cariboo about eight years ago from the coast. I'm a teacher, and so is my partner, Phil (although he just retired this year). We bought a beautiful ranch in the Interlakes, with a plan to breed a few horses. We named our ranch "Brushstroke Paint Horses". My daughter, Casandra (whom you have also seen a lot of on this blog), was getting into reining, and was working with our trainer Sherri. We focused our breeding on APHA horses, with performance bloodlines. Now that Casandra is done school, I've decided to focus a bit more on my own horse interests, and hence the involvement with the reining club. I've been around it now for years, so I have some background knowledge, but want to put it to the test on the back of a horse. Jewel is our APHA mare that Casandra competed on, so I have the luxury of riding a horse that knows way more than me! I look forward to developing my skills as a rider, and doing a bit of competing along the way...

We also enjoy the Cariboo lifestyle-trail riding, canoeing, fishing, photography, and all things outdoors!

Now it's YOUR turn!! Don't be shy!! E mail me your info, and I'll post it here!!

email-isabella.macquarrie@sd27.bc.ca

A little incentive -the first 5 members to e mail me will win a little prize!!