BEN JOHNSON DAYS!!!

We all decided to go over to the rodeo grounds and compete in the Gyhmkhana. It was a blast. It was the first time Joe and Diane got the chance to compete. Considering we were all riding horses that don't normally do that sort of thing I think we all did quite well. None of us fell off, so that's a good thing! Nicole did really well and actuallyplaced second in a couple of the classes. We did get her to lighten up and she took big ole Niki in the flag race. It was quite a site to see and she almost couldn't reach down and get the flag out of the bucket, Niki was too tall! It was a fun day and a good time.
Here's Joe and Chance without a head!!

Joe rounding the poles!

Niki ready for her debut!

Francisco looking snazzy for the ride over on Mark

HAPPY HALLOWEEN (A LITTLE LATE)

I know it is a few weeks past but I have been really bad at getting to it! Lots has happened since our last post... we'll just start with the Halloween Party. We had a GREAT time. LOTS of kids, I'd say about 100 of them. We had tons of games and pony rides. Our haunted hayride went over so well we ended up taking 7 trips! I don't know what I would have doen without Liz and Lili.... they were life savers! Memo's mom made tamales... but they never made it out to the party! He stole them in the house and stashed them!

It was so much fun and such a success we are thinking of new and exciting things for next year already!

ABSOLUT POWER- better known as Milo

As some of you know we rescued Milo from a slaughterhouse Amish auction last year. When we got him he was a bit tweaked to say the least. But we knew there was something special about him. We have brought him in and let him be a horse to try and get his life back. He has his days, but all in all he is coming along well. We did some digging and found out he was a World Grand Champion many times over. He basically was pushed so hard he lost it. It was kind of sad really. You can see in his eyes that he truly wants to please and wants to be loved. Here are some pics, past and present of him! The one picture is actually an add from a magazine where they were putting him out to stud.

SUNDAY KIDS ON CRITTERS

On Sunday we spent the afternoon cheering on Nicole, Danny and Mary as they ran Kids on Critters.

This was Mary's first venture into it and she choose to do leadline with her dad. He was the one doing the running and boy did he run! They ended up with 2 first place ribbons for the two classes they ran. I will have to find some pictures to put up from them.

Danny is my nephew and he got to run on Zowie Rose- they also did really well. Danny's dad (Bob) wasn't quite as fast at running and they came in 2nd. Bob tried to blame it Zowie but we all know it was really Bob! :)

Nicole is working on her highpoint for the year and really was jamming! Of course the first class was costume class because of it being October- She won the class as Pebbles and Dino with her friend on the back as Bam Bam. She used her dad's horse, Mojo and painted him purple with black spots! It was GREAT!!!

Then it was time for the real runs- her times were good and she did a great job on working on the new stuff like leads!! Jasar was a little full of it, but he was really starting to listen to her and flipped his leads when she asked. We are SOOOOO proud of her... well we're proud even if we didn't want to be seen with her and her purple horse!!! Just kidding!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANNY!!

This weekend was Nanny's 96th Birthday. Well she decidecd she wanted to ride over to Filly's for dinner on a horse. So we saddled up Mark and with the help of Joe and Diane we went for a 30 minute trail ride over to Filly's. Our entire family met us there, including Aunt Karen and Uncle Bill, Cousin John and his wife and kids from California. My brother Dan and his wife Jen and kids all came too. Maggie, John and family met us at Filly's so he could ride Mark back to the ranch after (we were afraid of Nanny drinking too many margaritas) It was a good time. Afterwards we all came back and the kids rode a lot, as a matter of fact we couldn't get them off the horses!!!

Clara and Evelyn (our nieces) were supposed to spend the night but poor Clara got sick and had to go home. Elfie (evelyn) decided to stay the night. She decided she wanted to sleep on the floor with the dogs and wouldn't take no for an answer. So we built her a "nest" at the end of the bed and she shared it the entire night with all the animals.

CAMPING IN THE RAIN!!!!

Mom and Mack enjoying the warmth of the fire!

This past weekend we went up to Payson and went Camping. My 96 year old Grandma had decided she wanted to experience camping... so we packed up the horses, our friends and Nanny and went camping. The campsite was Called Houston Mesa; http://www.2az.us/camp-houston.html . It is a very nicely laid out camping area. 2 stalls at each site for the horses that were actually big enough to fit 2 horses in each stall. They supplied water between sites and the firepits. It was very fun BUT the riding inthe beginning of the trail is very rocky and rough. It evens out if you stick to it and turns quite beautiful as you go but there is truly only one major trail out of the camp. Lots of ups and downs..

We had rain on Saturday which actually was quite relaxing and nice. We had a great time. After riding out on Saturday morning, we made it back just in time to unsaddle before the rains came in. A quick lunch and a nap in the tent while the rain pitter pattered away made for a perfect time.

Joe and Diane came with us and we got lucky enought to have Alonso that weekend too.

LOTS OF WILDLIFE!!!!

We hauled up 3 horses, but with 4 riders Alonso had to ride in the backseat at times! It was still fun!

Diane and Joe getting ready for the first ride. After a YUMMY fireside breakfast.

Mom rode Mark the first ride. Mack wasn't feeling well (we think he was faking it!)

Getting Ready!!!!

Mom and Alonso hanging with the horses

Memo and I at the rocks!

He looks mean and nasty but he's really a softie!

Some of the trails were pretty steep and rough

This is the big open area by the group sites.. kind of fun to cruise on

Mom finally got to ride Mack!!

Nanny sitting bythe fire "reading"

Nanny kept the campfires burning while we were out riding

For Sale at Circle C Stables

ALL TYPES OF METAL AND HORSESHOE ART

Memo has taken up doing custom mailboxes and other metal art. He can do anything from custom mailboxes to horseshoe gifts. Just let us know what you might want and he can make it. Here are some samples of his work.

Personalized mailboxes

Various things made out of horseshoes