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 November UpdatesNovember 3rd: LMHJA Banquet Cedar Lodge was well represented in this year’s Lake Michigan Hunter/Jumper Association year end award banquet. Campers Taylor D., Hillary, Ashley B., Lizzle and Katherine G. were all in attendance with parents in tow for the evening’s happening. All of the above, along with Kathy Ray, Kali, Amy and Kendra Edwards came away with top placing ribbons and championships.A highlight of the evening was a slide show that ran through out the night, set up by one of the other barn owners. Thanks to several of our dads, Cedar Lodge was well represented and it was great to recap Huntington, Lou Don, Twin Cities, Alpine and Labor Day at Cedar Lodge (of course we were all exhausted by all the work we did at the end). November 10th-12th: Riding Weekend This year’s fall riding weekend was not as lucky as in past years. The weather was cold and damp most of Saturday and Sunday. Even so, the cold and the damp did little to dampen the spirits of the weekend riders. This year’s weekend saw some new to Cedar Lodge faces. Two parents and 4 young riders were there for their first experience. They were joined by 5 of Cedar Lodge’s regular riders; Emily, Lizzle, Ashley, Ce Ce and Julia. These 11 riders braved the wind and the damp to have three rides on Saturday and an additional one on Sunday morning. At other times they sampled Cherry’s great camp food, sat in lectures and played games. By noon on Sunday all were tired, worn and satisfied as they packed up their cars for the travel home. All new Cedar Lodgers are looking forward to signing up for camp this summer to add to their first time Cedar Lodge experience. All we can say is: WELCOME ABOARD!!!  All of November: JoeChris 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?  November 1st: StarMany of you probably know Star from camp. He has been with us for two years, but did you know that he isn’t our horse? Linda Poulin, one of Chris’s long standing lessons offered to let us use Star for the summer two years ago, and he was such a hit that we asked to use him again. It was we thought a win, win situation. We took Star June 1st, fed and took care of him for free, then we gave him back September 1st, when Star went home for a 8 month vacation. Only problem was that Linda enjoyed her time without Star so much, that she started to imagine just how nice her farm would be, one horse smaller. So this year, when Chris made her traditional September 1st phone call to Linda to tell him we were ready for Star to go home for the winter, Linda said, “no”. She had decided it was time for Star to find a new home. Of course, we were Linda’s first choice for that home, but if we weren’t interested, Star would be finding a different new home.  Chris and I
talked. We weren’t planning on a new horse and we REALLY liked last
year’s arrangement, but Star is a favorite and works hard all summer.
We called Linda back and told her we would be happy to give Star a new
home, and so…….Star is now a CL horse! That of course means more work
for me you know, as now Star deserves his own biography. I will have to
ask Linda what Star did for his first 20 years and get on that. I’m
sure he will be well worth the time.  November 25th: ThanksgivingI know everyone has Thanksgiving, and I wouldn’t bother mentioning this common holiday but I think I have to. This fall was a bit different for us. It was the first, mind you first, fall that we spent without any Edwards girls at home (well, we had Ashley, but she hasn’t reached adult hood, so she isn’t part of this conversation as of yet). Kali and Kendra were both at college, Alma and Albion, and Allison had started her masters at U of C. It was awful quiet around here all fall. No help with the riding, no hikes through the woods. We were all suffering Edwards girls withdrawals. Thanksgiving was the first time that all three to them had been home since September and we were all excited.  In the end, Thanksgiving was too short. Too short to
get all the talking and catching up done that we required (after all,
we did have to share them with their parents), but there were several
meals, several long conversations in the barn, and a nice hike in the
woods. Allison and I managed a walk through “The Land Beyond” and we
enjoyed the new walkways with Petie and Jazzy leading the way. Allison
got a chance to try out her new hiking poles, and she found them very
handy when crossing the bridge senior unit created this summer. For
some reason, it’s a bit more precarious when there is actually water
under the bridge! Allison went home happy and excited by what she and
senior unit had created. Now that there is snow on the path, I can tell
that others are using the trail as well. Rabbit, squirrel, wild turkey,
deer and raccoon tracks can be found regularly when I go walking. I
know Allison went home and e-mailed all the senior uniters she could,
to tell them of their success. Allison is eager to come back to winter
camp and take some wild life hikes in the winter environment. Way to
contribute to camp, senior unit! Thanksgiving is well over now;
the girls have all gone back to school. We look forward to having them
all back for Christmas and Winter Camp! Hope to see you all there! |