Christmas is coming

First I want to remind everyone that the Christmas party is this Tuesday the 16th at 6pm. Please bring a dish, beverage, or paper goods. We will also have a $10 gift exchange.

Secondly, I wanted to let my less horsey parents know that Smartpak has some great children's clearance apparel on sale. I thought I might put some ideas out there for you. They are also offering free shipping until the 15th.

Here are a couple of examples...






Dover Saddlery also has some great clearance going on including the fleece lined breeches that I love so much this time of year.

While we're talking shopping I want to remind everyone that by shopping Horse.com you can enter the code "reinandshine" in the country cares box at checkout and they will give 5% back to Rein and Shine without you doing anything extra. Never mind they have some of the best prices around.

I also just discovered a new website that seems to have very good sales. If you sign up for their newsletter you also get a gift certificate on your birthday and your horse's birthday. Check out Equestrian Collections for more details.

Teenagers

I thought I would comment on a part of my job that I love. In this business there are trainers who love the baby beginners, there are trainers who love the AA circuit showers, (that word always looks so funny when I type it), there are people who love pony riders, etc. As a trainer you have to teach them all as they come, but my passion...

The teenagers!!! Yes I'm a glutton for punishment. I love watching them go from children to young adults right in front of my eyes. I watch them mature as individuals every day. I love to coaching them into right thinking and understanding. It's important to remember they are children and as such will make selfish, manipulative choices that typically don't result in the what they want. That's when we pick them up, dust them off, give them a hug and talk about how to make a different choice next time.

The innocence that is in their eyes as they share their dreams and goals with you is unmistakeable. As an adult it can be difficult to not get caught up in what they want. It's my responsibility to get them as close to that dream as I can, without allowing them to blow reality out of the water. This requires quite a dance. It is a balancing act of communication between the teenager, myself, and most importantly the parents.

Some parents are very involved at the barn everyday, going tack shopping with me, and travelling to shows with us. Others have more committments and our contact may be limited to the phone and occasionally travelling to a show with us. Either way it's important to recognize the parents are doing the best they can and know how for their child. In teenagerdom the lines of communication between parent and child frequently become strained. A large part of my job is keeping that communication going. I can't rely solely on what the teenagers are saying. Let's be honest it's very rarely their money we're spending on these dreams. I do have many riders who pay a portion of their board bills and/or showing expenses themselves. But, I don't have any who don't receive help from mom or dad.

Long and short of this... I LOVE MY JOB! I LOVE MY RIDERS! I LOVE MY PARENTS! I LOVE PUNISHMENT!

Skittles' competition

Okay I may be getting ahead since we haven't qualified yet, but here are some ponies who have.

We're a winner

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

M&M Farms Receives 2008 Best of Huger Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., December 5, 2008 -- M&M Farms has been selected for the 2008 Best of Huger Award in the Horseback Riding category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Local Business Association
Email: PublicRelations@USLBA.net
URL: http://www.USLBA.net

Time to Vote

I have added a poll for Skittles name to the right. Not that it is binding on Robbie, but I thought it might help. You are allowed to vote for multiple options if you choose. I'll only leave this up for a couple of days because we have to get this done in a hurry. Please vote.

If it helps the only one that is completeley unused according to USEF is Chocolate Kissed. So if originality counts...

Name game

Alright I have to comment on just a couple of the suggestions so far. I'll update this as more suggestions come in...

Robbie Great minds think alike. OUr Medium that I sent you the pics of...Jessie is already "Just My Size" so nice one...

Kaijsa... Brandy has a My Little Pony that was Chipper's mount before his move.

Keep them coming!!!

Name hunt

We are entertaining the possibility of changing SKittles show name. As some of you know it is currently "Call Me Mr. Feisty". We are looking for something that might be more appealing to a young child. I'll post pics of him as soon as I can. But most of you know what he looks like, or you can go see him at his previous blog

Please post your name suggestions to the comments section of the blog.