Christmas Eve Snow?
The horses were talking as they often do, when we aren’t there to hear them and neither are you.
Preacher
Scout sang Jingle Bells at the top of his range, Hunter’s head moved in time though he thought him quite strange.
Rocky
Mac was snug in his place right next to Kokie, and Lex on the end hummed White Christmas in a low key.
Midnight
Sugar was sad cause he didn’t yet fit in, heard Petie thumping Drummer Boy and gladly joined in.
Cody
And up at the house minis were eating again, happy to get out of the cold and the rain.
Big Monster!
First they could hear the thump of big paws, and smell the bad breath and see the big claws;
They begin to get nervous and all started to whinny, (all except for Hunter who was a bit skinny);
And to their surprise out on the road, there appeared a small waif carrying a big load;
Could it be they asked was this the big day? Had Santa really come would they get extra hay?
And into the barn with a smile and big mutt; and arms full of carrots and candy and stuff,
Was their favorite Santa coming to see them? On Christmas morning, she wanted to free them!
From the long night of their talking, singing and sore feet –
Shelly wished them Merry Christmas and cried – its time to eat!
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Shelly knows she has to stay on top of her game to be able to teach lessons to others. We have been very fortunate to have at High Country Stables some really good trainers. Currently we have a Level 3 Dressage Rider training some of the advanced lessons kids in jumping and teaching Shelly advanced horsemanship.
We love Leeanne Ellingson and her warm blood horses, Saba, Willa and Cooper!
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Thanks to everybody who came out to the barn for the Christmas party! We had lot of great food and fun. It was great to see and meet all the people who help makes High Country the fun and successful stables it is.
We hope the kids are not too sore from their rugby game in the ring last night!
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We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We sure did! My Mom and dad came over from Asheville and my Mom did all the cooking! It was very yummy!
And what a beautiful weekend! I was able to get most of the Christmas decorations up in and around the barn, which is a good thing because the barn Christmas party is Friday night! Speaking of Christmas, we are offering several great opportunities for horse lovers!
1. Every Wednesday in December we will be offering Mother’s Morning Out from 9:00 to 12:00, ages 3 to 5. Moms get your shopping done while we entertain your little ones with crafts, pony rides, games and lots of fun in a safe and clean family run farm. $25.00 per child. Please email highcountrystables@gmail.com or call 404-427-5004 to reserve your spot!
2. December 21st is the last Fun Day of the year! 9:00 to 1:00 ages 5 and up! Crafts, horse back riding, snacks, games and fun, fun, fun! $50.00. Click here to reserve your spot.<
3. For your horse lover check out our Christmas Gift Certificate packages! Click here for prices!
4. Tips to buying your first horse and a free month of training if you bring your horse before January 1st 2010! Click here for more information.
5. December 27th – Horse Show at High Country Stables! Come watch the fun! 1:00 to 4:00 weather permitting! We will have jumping, English and Western Pleasure and Running Events
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!
The Phillips Gang!
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November 23rd is our Thanksgiving Fun Day! Join us for horse rides, crafts, snacks, games and lots of fun. 9:00 to 1:00 and cost is $50.00. Click here to sign up!
Congratulations, to all the Paulding County Saddle Club riders. We had a great season and finished with a bang. Holly and Rocky took first place in there English Pleasure class and Equitation class. 
Chloe and Cody, Kylie and Preacher, Kayla and Midnight, Channing and Hunter, Gabe and Hunter, Emily and Digger, Morgan and Digger, Ellie and Midnight, Marley and Callie and Lindsay and Scout all came home with ribbons and lots of them!
We want to welcome Rascal and the Flint family to HCS. Rascal is a 3 year old TB and very cute! He came from Cedar Crest Stables and Heather, who takes Thoroughbreds from the race tracks and finds them new homes.
We also want to welcome Red, a Tennessee Walker, who does field trials with dogs, a very interesting sport. You gotta love those Walkers!
Happy Trails,
The Phillips Gang
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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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