Well, out of a field of over 500 applicants, I was chosen as one of the 200 trainers to compete in Fort Worth.  200 horses were picked up in June, and 165 showed up and were shown in Fort Worth this past week.  Abraham and I finished 33rd overal.  Not bad for our first attempt at training a mustang. 

The competition was tuff.  I would say I had to be one of the few whom had no experience with mustangs, and now am proud to say I would sell all the rest of my horses and fill the pastures with mustangs.  These animals are amazing.  Oh, maybe I should say, Abe came home with me. 

You can go to different sites and read all about the competition.  I would love to tell you more, but I am out the door for yet another rode trip today.  Abe and I are going to Enterprise, OR (10 hours from here) to do a woman’s retreat.  I am taking Abe to shoot off of, and to let others ride, and to show off my boy.  I am hoping he doesn’t see the trailer and run.  He has logged over 4000 miles in less than two weeks, and has quite a ride today.

Thanks so much to everyone who helped me on my journey.  I would do it all over again, it was a dream.

Love Abe and Cassi.

Okay, we competed yesterday, and let’s just say, Abe was a star.  Out of 200 horses to start, we finished 11th place in the top division of 65 horses.  Not bad for our first attempt at this.

Everyone here is so kind and helpful.  All of the other trainers have extensive experience with mustangs.  I felt like the underdog, but with all the confidence I could come up with we went and gave everyone a run for their money.  We ride tomorrow, and will know by 4pm if we are in the top 10, and will then compete in the finals. 

On a side note.  Abe and I are famous yet again.  We were on the 6pm Fort Worth News last night, and in the local newspaper.  Our story is amazing to not only us, but to the world around us, too.  I couldn’t be happier with Abe.

Solbritt, Carol, Francy, and Linda are here helping me out.  And, oh yeah, ROB came down and suprised the day lights out of me yesterday.  So, needless to say, I am on cloud nine.  Thank you again to everyone who helped me financially make it this far.  I couldn’t have done it with out all the support and thoughtfulness of everyone around me.  LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

via Rob: Cassi, Abe and crew are doing very well. 9/14/08 left Vegas headed for Albuquerque all went well. Long day for everyone. 9/15/08 left Alb. headed for Ft. W. , long day made it to Witcha Falls for the night. 9/16/08 staying another night here, exelent hosts and not far from our destination. Plus we were all ready for a break, including the front two seats of the truck. Heading into Ft. Worth in the moring (9/17/08) about a 2.5-3.0 hr. drive. Be carefull and wish you all well and lots of luck.

Via Rob: Cassi, Abe, and crew made it to Fallon in good condition on 9/12/08. The Mustangs wern’t quite tired yet so both of them got worked that night. Cassi said “Abe was a stud, very good boy!”. Cassi had lots of Inquiries from the locals. They left from Fallon around 8:00am and arived in Vegas about 3:30pm 9/13/08. The horses are doing well, eating, drinking & in good spirits. Be careful and have a safe trip.

Hello Everyone,

Let’s see where to begin……..Abe and I drug a tire, carried a flag, and shot a gun off of him yesterday.  We are competing in the Extreme Cowboy race here in Roseburg next weekend, and are trying out every stunt we can possibly think of before the event.  He is the most incredible animal I have ever worked with. 

A student of mine, Lauren, has been riding him in the arena and about the place for me.  At first he couldn’t figure out why I was on the ground and a stranger was on him, but quickly he figured out what to do and away they went .  

This week we will be focused on more scary stuff, opening gates, and working on our pattern riding for Texas.  Sorry I don’t have any pictues my computer broke, and I can’t get this one to download them.  I will have some up as soon as I can.

With less than a month to go before we leave for Texas, Abe and I still could use more sponsors.  If anyone can think of any way to help us please e-mail me. 

We will let you know how next weekend goes for us.  Wish us luck……

Hello faithful follower,

Abraham and I have been very busy lately.  Almost too busy to keep everyone informed on our whereabouts.  Since out last blog we have been all over the country side. 

We made another trip to Solbritt’s house.  This time for four days.  We worked pretty much on cantering and stearing.  On Tuesday last week we met up with Jani down in White City and her mustang Rooster.  We went on a great ride and got to know each other and introduced our boys.  Everyone got along splendidly.  We are now traveling to Texas all in one rig. 

Wednesday I spent most of my day doing my own PR work.  I was on the radio for over two hours, and the news station came to the house and took footage of us working together.  It aired on the Thursday night news. 

Thursday night we went up on the Callahans again and rode.  HOT HOT.  Poor Abe almost sweat a bucket full.  He was again a super star. 

Yesterday we went on two field trips.  One was up back to play in my springs.  Oh so much fun to see him splash about and roll in the cold spring water.  Of course then after the mud dried we had to have a bath so we could go to the 4-H BBQ last night. 

He was the life of the party.  Four to Five kids we hanging off of him at a time, and when the crowd was watching us, Abe, was a ham and had to look at everyone and show off.  The kids each took turns practicing showmanship, jumping him over jumps, and walking him across the tarp.  At the end one of the Jr members even loaded him up to go home.  He loved the crowd and all the attention.

It’s going to be hard to let him go in September. 

Abe and I went on our first trail ride yesterday.  It was an incredible experience.  Probably the best ride I have ever been on.  Theses mustangs are amazing.  He never looked at a thing, and point and go.  We went thur some really tuff terrain and he was so sure footed and clever.  Wow.

Other than riding the country side, we have been doing arena work, and working on mastering our in hand work.  He is so good.  I feel lucky to have him in my life.

Thanks to all my new sponsors.  I am over 1/2 way to my goal on sponsorship monies.  Thank you thank you. 

Abe is tired.  Thursday I packed him up and away we went to Grants Pass.  He overnighted at Aunt Solbritt’s.  Solbritt lunged me on him Friday afternoon.  We turned him out in her pasture and he had loads of fun bucking and running about, while stopping to play in the water tank.  Loaded him back up and came home Friday night.  Saturday morning away we went again.  We hauled out to a Debbie Spence clinic.  Abe got to hang out in a pen most of the afternoon while I rode another horse I had hauled with him.  Saturday night Solbritt lunged us again in the big indoor arena.   Abe doesn’t care where he goes.  He is not spooky, and just is content coming along with me.

Yesterday, well, Abe didn’t want to go for another ride.  But, with a little persuasion he loaded up and off we went for our first lesson together.  Yep, I figured he was ready for the Big Time.  I actually rode him all over the big arena doing lots of transitions, turning, stopping and changing speeds in the trot with Debbie Spence.  He was a star.

This morning we all already eaten Breakfast in the trailer.  I am trying to convince him it isn’t always a bad place to be.  He is wonderful.  We are having a great time together.

I am 1/2 way to my goal for sponsorship monies now.  I am so grateful to all of you whom have been so supportive and giving.  We have a little over 45 days left before we leave for Texas.  I am optimistic we will have the money raised we need to get to Texas.

Sorry no pictures.  It’s hard for me to remember all my stuff and a camera, too.  We do have video of him under saddle, I will try to take some shots off of it for you to see.

Cassi and Abe.

Wow, I thought I posted a blog yesterday, but forgot to push publish.  Oops.  Lets see where to begin.  I am riding Abe now, ponied him with Ice today, loaded him in the trailer, taught him to ground drive, he happily picks up all fours now (thanks to aunt Francy), he lives in the barn with much joy, and I turned him loose in an outside pen today.

He is just quite willing to do whatever to make me pleased.  His ground manners are outstanding, and his attitude is lovely.  Heres the latest picture of him with Aunt Francy.  Love you all.

Yep, Abe got lose this morning and ran away.  Not far……. On his morning outing he was eating grass and scared himself.  He didn’t go far before he was looking for his humans.

As you can see, Linda, is the good mom and I am the evil Stepmom.  She loves on him and takes him for walks.  I tie a bunch of stuff to him and make him work.