where did august go at always august?

They say that time accelerates as you get older. It must be true, because here it is, halfway through September.  

I feel like we still have so much left to accomplish before winter, but in reality, we expanded four pastures onto the new land, spent countless days cleaning up the property and starting on a new border fence, got additional acreage along the driveway fenced, and completed numerous other projects like an outdoor wash stall, pea gravel areas, run-in improvements (and moving), mowing and weeding.  Many of this is thanks to Evan Niehues, the man on the tractor! 

Both yearlings are tame and able to be handled (big thanks to Susan Sullivan at The Flying Q).  They are growing like weeds and looking more like beautiful future sport horses every day.  The yearlings have been one of the most rewarding horse experiences I've ever been a part of --and I haven't even ridden them yet! 

I have probably taken a total of 4 days off from riding TOTAL the past 3-4 months.  Every day, sometimes as many as four horses in a day. It's been exhausting....and I do not feel like I'm riding any better than I was at the start of the summer! 

We sold one horse and have another out on trial. Never Ceasing "Piney" has gone to multiple jumper shows, including a two day show in St. Louis.  I've taken local dressage lessons, hunter/jumper lessons, and gone down to Texas for two days of lessons and long day of trail riding.  Last weekend, Piney went to Kansas City to school XC. He quickly showed that the BN course was well within his capabilities and we ended up jumping most of the Novice course and some even more challenging combinations near the water and with ditches....he jumped everything in his usual cool, calm and collected manner.  To say I'm excited to take this horse to his next USEA recognized event would be a big understatement!  

Over the summer we've also been lucky enough to welcome some great new boarders, horses in training, and a couple new lesson students! 

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Never Ceasing "Piney" at The Kirkwood Show, in Lake St. Louis, August 2017