It is that time of the year!
Holly and Rocky at our last show! Don't they look great!
If you have not signed up for our winter Fun Days please do so ASAP. I only have a few slots left! Happy Fall!
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We have apparently waited too late for this fall festival… and must postpone until Springtime.
As much as we were looking forward to it – the weather is not cooperating with us!
The forecast for Saturday is a high of 51! Plus we have had so much rain that the ground is just too wet for anyone to be on and not get soaked! We really don’t think it would be a good idea to get kids and adults out in the pasture and play in the mud – especially when it was cold!
Ryan slides in the mud!
However we are pleased to announce the winner of the ‘Best Story’ contest.
Ans even though the winner can’t bring the family to the cookout- we will award two full hour lessons instead! ($100 value)
All of the entries were very good, and a few were exceptional – but the contest judges agreed they best written story was from Maureen Hallford and the prize is awarded to her for telling a very moving story, and writing it very well.
Special mentions go to:
Kathy Caniff, Josephine Lau, and Ginger
In case you haven’t had the chance to read it – here it is!
Thanks for all the entries! And we look forward to a ‘Spring’ Family Festival…
Mere Words Cannot Describe…
by Maureen Hallford
I’ve fallen in love…with a place where dreams blossom. A place and a people where your disability, affliction, or addiction can be freed. The smell of the barn, the sound the water, and the breeze on your face wrap every inch of your soul and body. To walk with horses by your side, to watch them run and roll in the pastures now covered with sand fills you with an uncommon found energy in your spirit. I love this place…
Mere words cannot describe…how a dream came to life.
As a small girl growing up in Wisconsin, I dreamed of a life with horses. But as most parents do…a childhood dream that was expensive wasn’t one that was going to happen. With occasional trail rides and a year of lessons when I was 13 would have to do. Dream done….
After having two children I witnessed with my own eyes, the dreams and imagination of a child. I never knew what it meant to “live thru your child’s dream,” until my daughter blessed me with hers. There was a sense of completeness…fulfillment….calmness and love when she was able to ride her first horse. How sweet and innocent the love a child when they begin to breathe the dream.
Mere words cannot describe…how God led us to this place. In search for a dream we hap haphazardly stumbled upon a place like no other. My daughter constantly talked about riding an Appaloosa. She had a picture of one in a book and pointed to it, “Mommy, what is this horse?” “That’s what I want.” The dream had a name.
As we drove down the long drive to the barn, not knowing what we would find, and without an appointment, the dream began to live. Her name was Tessa, an Appaloosa Pony. How sweet the dream.
Mere words cannot describe….how the blood rushes thru my veins and my soul breathes at this place. As I brush Callie, her eyes wide, watching me…I feel her warmth. The flick of her tail, the stomp of her hoof as she shoos away flies… I feel her speak. She is powerful and beautiful, yet gentle and loving. I have fallen in love…with this place and it’s people. The dream lives here…at High Country Stables.
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Imagine that! 7 entries for family of four free tickets to the fall festival cookout to be held in just two weeks and not one entry from our own readers!
You guys trying to make Shelly feel bad? I thought for sure there would be lots of stories about how Shelly and the barn have meant something special to someone!
But all 7 stories have come from Paulding.com and none are about the stables! What about Christmas parades and parties, lessons, shows, Perry, birthday parties?
There are some good stories that have been submitted, (just click ‘Comments’ on the last post), but there is still plenty of time to submit a story!
Everything is almost back to normal after the great flood. Lessons are going later – the lights are starting to be used for night lessons, horse blankets are beginning to make their annual appearance, and long sleeves and sweaters are needed during the evening.
Fall is here!
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We will award a family of four free admission to the High Country Stables Fall Family Festival on Saturday Oct 17th for horse rides, games, cookout, live music and marshmallows around the fire – ($62 value) for some simple words…
We are looking for the best horse story – (preferably about High Country Stables) – but we will let any horse story enter!
This story should be optimistic and heart warming – how someone bonded with a horse, or a horse helped someone, or how someone grew up with a horse. Maybe how a trainer or teacher at a barn was a big influence or mentor in a life…
Something like that..
Just add a comment – post it here (so everyone can read it!) and we will choose from here.
We reserve the right to make the final decision but it might depend some on how many times the story is read. We are also running this contest on paulding.com.
The winner will be announced here and on the blog on Tuesday October 12. All entries must be in by noon on that day!
Good luck!
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I hope everyone is safe, dry and as lucky as we were yesterday during the flooding! Opossum Creek flooded our lower pastures but the barn and horses were high and dry. Today the creek is down and the pastures, except for a few sticks and a ton of sand look greener than ever! Here is a clip we took yesterday.
Happy Trails!
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Fall Family Cookout!
Thanks so much to everybody who took the time to answer the survey about the cookout! Your answers definitely helped us figure out what to plan!
We had to settle for Saturday October 17th from 5-8 pm. It is the only weekend we had left between horse shows, Scouts and trips!
And as you asked, we were able to lower the cost quite a bit by changing the activities some. We were surprised at how many folks wanted pony and horse rides- so we added that in. With rides, games, live music, great food and marshmallows at the fire it promises to be a really nice Saturday fall evening at the stables!
Don’t wait to reserve your place! Click here to do that now…
Fall Camp Schedule is Posted
You can see the fall (and even spring) camps are up! Just look over to the right! of the page.
Calling All Boarders!
For some reason (is it the economy?) we are not getting calls from riders wanting to board their horses lately… Please think of us as you talk horses with your friends.
Thanks to everyone for helping us have a really great summer! We are very grateful for your continued support.
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Wow, it’s September, where did the summer go! Happy Birthday to my husband, brother, Dad and Grandmother(who will be 98 years old this month).
Starting Sept 18th we will be having Mother’s Morning Out at the farm every Friday morning. Drop off your 3 to 5 year olds from 9:00 to 12:00. They will be lead on a pony, learn
Safe and fun Mother's Morning Out program!
how to groom a horse, play learning games, work crafts and have a snack. $35.00 a class. Classes are limited to 6 kids. To reserve a spot please email highcountrystables@gmail.com.
September 26th we are off to Bartow for the New Classic Series. This is an English show and thanks to Leanne Ellingson, a third level dressage trainer and Grand Prix Jumper, who is teaching at the farm, our English riders are ready and looking better than ever.
September 18th – Vaulting is starting back! 5:00 to 6:00ish. $25.00 a class. Please email me for details or to reserve your spot.
We want to welcome Sweetie and Cosmo to the farm. They are owned by the Burnett’s – Petie’s original owners and we are looking after and training while they spend a few weeks out west! Both are Rocky Mountain horses, gaited and very pretty and fun to ride.
We are still working on the cook-out and trying to set a new date.
The HCS High Points Show is being rescheduled to November. We want the new ring to be finished! It is almost there!
Looking forward to seeing everyone this Fall!
The High Country Stables Gang!
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Fun Day at the Farm
Join us Wed. August 12th for the End of Summer Fun Day. We will have pony rides, hay rides, water games, crafts, meet the animals and lots of fun!! Only $35.00 a camper. 9:00 to 1:00. Bring a sack lunch and change of clothes. To reserve a spot click here! Ages 5 to 15 (Younger kids bring your parents!) This will be a day to remember!
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Paulding County Saddle Club had their 3rd annual High Points Show last weekend. We took our advanced campers plus our regular show team and had an awesome day! Congratulations to Chloe King for bringing home High Point in her division. Everyone came home with a ribbon! Our next show is going to be here at the farm September 26th. It will be a show for everyone – even the parents!
3 day camp at the farm – Aug. 4th, 5th and 6th. $145.00 for all three days, $55.00 a day. Bring a LUNCH and learn about life on the farm – horses, pigs, chickens, miniature horses, ducks and much more. We will take a trail ride around our 2 acre lake, learn orienteering, fish, crafts, environmental science and team building. 9:00 to 3:00 Ages 5 to 16. Limit to 15 campers. We have two spots left!
Mark your calendar for August 28th! It is the first family/cowboy cookout scheduled for the farm. Rodney’s BBQ will cater this event. Local music, hay fort and a lot of fun! To reserve your spot click here!
The Vaulting Team will start back in September. Please let me know by August 15th if you are interested!
Homeschool Riding lessons/classes. Starting September we will offer the 1st and 3rd Friday’s of the month to home schoolers who want to learn all about horses. This is a two hour class which includes, riding, learning how to groom, care and feeding of horses. 9:00 to 11:00. $20.00 a rider limit 8 per class.
Meet “My Blue Chip” A.K.A. ” Lex”. Lex is an 8 year old QH and new lesson horse at the barn.
Kokie 
and Digger have been great assets to the farm. Kokie took all the campers for a swim last week and Digger came home with several ribbons from the July 25th High Point Show!
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It’s 8 am and the garden is hoed, weeded and the ripe tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers picked. Now I am dripping with sweat and getting it all over the computer!
It’s time to look a fall activities (can you believe it?) as school is just around the corner!
Here is the plan…
July 17 – Fun day. Don’t worry about the weather guys – the show goes on. We might have room for one or two more . At the same price as an hour lesson it is a bargain! Sign up here.
August 4,5,6 Camp. This is the last camp of the summer. Come all three days or pick and choose individual days . Your choice. Click here.
August 7 – Makeup day for Rained Out Spring Break Campers…
New! August 22 (Saturday) Cowboy Cookout! This is going to be a blast! Join us 5-8 pm for a BBQ cookout, games for all, a fishing tournament (with prizes!), and live music. We don’t have the page up yet but we are working on it.
Put it on your calendar and reserve your places as soon as you can. This will fill up very quickly.
September 26th 3rd Annual Championship Points High Country Horse Show! We are already talking about this event where all our students ar invoted to compete for trophies and prizes. Mark the date on your calendar now.
Other news…
If you haven’t been here for a while – you’ll see a big change taking place below the dam. We have been slowly but surely clearing and filling in to build a new riding arena and two new grass paddocks.
The economy We refuse to allow the mood of the rest of the country to affect us. We are always looking for ways to keep the stables strong and healthy so we can provide a place for the riders, boarders, and all our friends and clients who meet here for birthday pony parties, horse clinics, shows, boy and girl scout horse clinics and so much more.
Please help us by letting others know about us. By far our best advertising comes from you talking about us. And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Did you know we have the best birthday parties around?
Did you know we teach horsemanship to boy scouts and girl scouts?
Did you know we offer field trips to schools, churches and preschools?
Thanks for telling others about us!
We appreciate you. And thanks for such a great summer! (Although it isn’t over quite yet…)
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