Lowe Show Horse Centre Newsletter: Summer 07.03.14

Old Dog Always Learning New Tricks

During the summer, like most horse trainers, I'm usually too busy to stop and reflect on what's changing around me outside of what happens in the training barn or show ring. As an avid basketball fan along with my two sons, I took a few days away from the farm to spend time with them at the LA Lakers summer basketball youth camp. While the boys were learning new skills on dribbling and passing left, I decided to learn about social media. Nowadays, it seems that more and more horse business is happening online and social media has become an important way that horsemen and horsewoman can share information with each other.

As I watch my sons pause at times on the basketball court, and tentative riders in the ring, there are moments in life that just seem to make us hesitate. For one reason or another we might not forge ahead, and for me that is social media. Day after day I see people around me lost and distracted in their phones. Horses remind us that we need to be present in every moment, ready to move ahead and ride each step. Moreover, I love to catch up with everyone face to face at a horse show. Through those conversations with other horse trainers I might tweak something I'm working on with a horse or learn something new with my training. Regardless, I'm now learning how to "Add friends" on Facebook and "Tweet" on Twitter. I'm also enjoying hearing from people online that for one reason or another might not get out to a horse show. That sense of community is so important for the well-being and enjoyment of training and showing horses.

We're off to Region 3 this week and after that we have a quick turnaround to Youth Nationals and then off to Canadian Nationals. I hope you all have a great week, and when you have a moment to reflect this summer that you use it to forge ahead.

Jim

Around The Barn This Week

There will be NO LESSONS this Friday afternoon due to Fourth of July. Happy Fourth!

Jim is leaving for Region 3 on July 4.

Region 2

We took 12 horses to compete at the Region 2 Championship Horse Show at Earl Warren Showgrounds in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA. The Lowe Riders had a great show with successes both in the ribbons and in their rides. Special congratulations to Beth Jupp and Vendettaa as Champion Purebred Country English Pleasure AATR on their first show together! Vendettaa and Beth were also Reserve Champion in the Purebred Country English Pleasure Junior Horse class against the trainers.

It was a fun weekend! Thanks to everyone who came out to the show to support the Lowe Riders.

Off To College

Congratulations to our graduating youth riders Julia Broome, Hannah Kulik, and Jordan Parr. They are off to college after Youth Nationals. Jordan and Julia head to the mid-west attending University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Indiana, respectively. Hannah will attend Loyola Marymount University. We are so proud of these three Lowe Riders and all that they have accomplished!

Join the Lowe Riders Riding Academy!

We are gearing up for summer camp and lessons. Send your kids. Tell your friends. Contact us by phone using our contact information below or email us at loweridersacademy@gmail.com

AHA Frequent Rider Program

Do you spend a lot of time riding or driving Arabian and Half-Arabian horses when you are not competing at a horse show? The AHA frequent rider program lets you keep track of your rides (driving) outside of the show ring and rewards you at hourly milestones. It's a great way to remember all of the different horses you ride and time spent in the saddle, especially when you are practicing for a show. Join our lesson program and sign up by completing the online form (with a $25 sign up fee): http://www.arabianhorses.org/activities/incentiveprograms/frp.asp

What's Ahead...

July 6-8 Region 3 Last Chance Qualifying Show, Reno, NV
July 8-12 Region 3 Championship Show, Reno, NV
July 19-26 Youth Nationals, Albuquerque, NM
August 11-16 Canadian Nationals, Brandon, MB, Canada