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Joe Chris and I were worried. Some of our best show horses were starting to show some age. With our decision not to breed any more mares, who would replace them? We decided the time was right to start look for some new blood. We were looking for potential show horses. Chris and I knew that what we were looking for might not be found at a local horse auction, and that we may have to go to local owners. By November, I had contacted several sellers on their young horses for sale. We were looking for a 1-4 year old. Something to bring along over time. Not something that was going right now. Not only had I contacted several buyers, I had gone to look at two of them. Nothing had panned out. By November I was still looking, but things were so busy in the stable, my search has slowed significantly down. I have to admit that once the snow flies and the barn doors start to stay closed, the idea of buying young horses becomes further down our list. That’s when we received a call from Connie Pass.  “ I have a couple young horses for you to look at.” Connie was a local thoroughbred race horse breeder that also dealt with some saddle horses as well. Connie and Chris and I had been friends for years. For so long, that I don’t think I could tell you how many years our friendship has spanned. Over the years, Chris and I have bought several Cedar Lodge horses from Connie and her than husband, Ed. To name a few that still reside at Cedar Lodge, Brenda Starr, Dilbert and Sam I Am. Abby, though not from Connie was out of Connie’s stallion, as is Emma Donner’s horse, Jack. With Connie’s past batting record, we always take a call from her seriously. Our fall schedule had been very, very busy, but Chris and I managed to slide away after one of her evening lessons. That got us to Connie’s well after dark, but with a couple of trots down the aisle we were sold. The 4 year old, seal brown thoroughbred in front of us was quiet, big and had a kind eye. To top it off, he had a cute trot. We brought him home for a 2 week trial. New horse soon was named “Joe” by Chris and I have to admit that from day one, Chris was sold. “Joe” is very green. He has raced on the track, and it’s a bet that whoever raced him never taught him how to go off legs or turn, but he is learning quickly. Joe was quiet enough that by Thanksgiving I felt confident to let Kali and Kendra take a spin on him as well (I can be a bit protective). By the end of two weeks, Joe was meeting with everyone’s approval, so the money was sent and Joe became a permanent part of Cedar Lodge. It will be a while before Joe is ready for camp life. Next summer will probably be spent letting him finish growing (he is only 4), and figuring out what chaotic horse life at a summer camp is all about (there was a bit of a reaction at the riding weekend to short people in purple winter coats running). The year following will be all about learning how to be a good CL show horse, but you can sure Joe will be around and if he continues to be quiet, he may even be used in advanced classes (just one less horse for me to ride!). All this extra time will give us plenty of time to finish up with the important things: A SHOW NAME! In CL tradition, most show names have something to do with their barn names, and most are funny or humorous. So far, top two choices are: “Cotton Eyed Joe” and “Hey Joe”. The second, for those of you that haven’t figured it out, is from Allison’s famous “Hey Joe” camp song (“are you busy? I said “no”. So, push the lever with your right foot…….”) What do you think? Update: Joe wintered 2008 well and we often kidded that he was practicing his buck for the next time I rode him. I had high hopes of getting back on Joe in the spring, but alas, it was not to be. As happens with horses that Cedar Lodge owns, they get last priority to the many things that we have going on every season. Joe spent his spring and a good part of  the summer on a undeserved vacation up the road at good neighbor Karen's pasture. Finally, at the end of July my schedule opened up and Joe came home. The first two weeks were a bit dicey. Joe had entirely embraced the idea of wild and woolly, including a new "dew"-mane down to his chest. But a few weeks of intensive care and Joe came right along and by the end of camp, he was trotting over (mind you not jumping) cross rails. I rode Joe through out the fall of 2008. Joe is positively the slowest, laziest thoroughbred ex-race horse I have ever ridden. That along with the fact that he scares easy ( you can't swing your arm without him giving you a reaction) makes him a challenge at least for now. Throughout the fall, Joe progressed nicely and by November and first snow fall,  Joe was cantering 2'3" courses and "thinking" about lead changes. He still has a ways to go. Our goal for 2009 would be to have Joe show Pre-Green on the LMHJA show circuit. The mileage will set him up to someday be a Show Team horse for Cedar Lodge. In October Joe went to his first schooling show at Huntington and did very well in all his classes. His future looks bright. Stay tuned to see how we progress.