Determination Performance Horses

Wow, I've been gone for awhile!

2011-11-28T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hey all, well let's see it is now November 2011, let's just say that this last year and a half has kept me... distracted... yea that's the word will use. But things are getting back to normal. I moved my horses and my main center of operations to my friends facility.. BP Performance Horses, here in beautiful Antioch, Illinois and things are going great. Many new things in the works... stay tuned for updates... I promise I'll start writing more often. Also check us out on facebook, twitter and linkedin... See ya !

Busy, busy, busy

2009-12-11T07:40:00.000-08:00

Wow, this is going to be a busy weekend, but fun nonetheless!! Tonight after I pick up the truck from my mom's house, I am going to visit my friends barn in Woodstock. I haven't been to this facility in years nor have I seen my friend in about a year. So this should be a lot of fun. Tomorrow morning I am going to go get shavings and then I'm meeting my mom at the barn around 8 to do stalls and feed. Then at noon my friend Brian Pogue is bringing his 4-H group up to the barn for some live juding practice that will help them get ready for their competition next year in Springfield. Then I'll have time to ride a few horses and then feed and go home and defrost. Then Sunday I'll have some time to play with some horses and then I have "The Healthy Horse" clinic for Mary Teeter's 4-H group. Like I said.. busy busy weekend.

See, I told you it wouldn't be long!

2009-12-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

I actually started another blog that is to be focused on issues facing our horse industry. Let's work together to come up with some solutions and ideas for making this industry something we can all be proud of.

http://horseindustryissues.blogspot.com/

Wow, it's been awhile!!!

2009-12-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

Well, what can I say, things have been going great at the barn. We are close to capacity and I have a wonderful show team started. We are in the middle of our winter training program and are working super hard for the 2010 show season. Cash our great grandson of Zips Chocolate Chip was accepted to Midwest Horse Fairs Stallion Avenue, so we are really excited about that as well. Stay tuned for more updates. I won't get so far behind from now on.

2009-02-12T06:19:00.000-08:00

Don't Skip This Copy a.k.a Mckenzi

2009-02-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

I love this little mare. Thought I'd post this picture.

Another Day Another Dollar

2009-02-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

Things are really starting to come together. So far my 31st year has been pretty darn good. I feel like I finally hit my stride(no pun intended) at school and don't feel like the lame teacher I was last quarter. I will say this school year is going by super fast. Not that I'm complaining. I'm starting to reconnect to friends which feels good. And the barn is going well, gaining customers a and positive exposure. Things just seem to be clicking, now normally I would sit back wait for the other shoe to drop but I refuse to let myself think like that this time around. My goal for this week is to do some major spring cleaning and get my house in order so it doesn't look like I just visit there. I'm getting really excited for spring can you tell?

Howdy!

2009-01-30T20:37:00.000-08:00

Well it should be another fabulous weekend out at the barn! Finally I don't feel like I could die at any moment. Don't feel great but not knockin on deaths door anymore. Costarr the "unpony" is joining us this weekend, as well as Mary's new additions. Gypsy's family will be joining us on Sunday I believe. They definitely need some loving and groceries. Little Cash will be getting his first lunging lesson. And we will be seeing if we can get Nova to move.LOL Stay tuned to the happenings.... ON THE RAIL.. I know I'm cheesy I just couldn't resist! LOL

Monday January 26,2009

2009-01-26T09:38:00.001-08:00

Well this weekend Mary and I picked up our newest edition, Colonel's Dark Chip aka Cash. A yearling breeding stock colt. He is jet black, the only white is on his forehead and nose. He is a very good boy. He is settling in very well at our facility. Our goals for him for this year is to do some halter and lunge line. He is breeders trust eligible and I will enroll him before his first birthday on the 23 of February. Eventually we will be standing him for stud at our facility. He is a royally bred colt that has a bright future ahead of him. We measured him last night and he should hit 16 hands, he is already 14.2 and not even a full year. Talk a big boy.

Finally

2009-01-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

Finally On The Rail L.L.C is open for business. Talk about having good things come to those who wait. This certainly has been an arduous process, but at least now the crazy people are only in my head and not in my barn.LOL Things are going great. We have some boarders moving in Feb 1 and March 1 already and we've only been open a week. We are also picking up a beautiful yearling colt from the Zips Chocolate Chip line and he's breeders trust eligible and an early baby. I'm gonna have fun with this little guy. We are also getting Gypsy's year mate and a yearling 1/4 andalusian colt. Talk about having our hands full. Not to mention my little rescue mare, who is quickly acclimating to the lifestyle that my horses live. Trying to think of a good name for her but I keep going back to Diva, because for some reason it seems fitting but I'm not sure yet. I might save that name for one of Kenzi's offspring, talk about a Diva. Not to mention Mary's current silly little girls and my two mares who I love a bunch and Dice is finally on the mend which is awesome We have a bunch of training customers coming in too. Now if only the weather would warm up and school would let out, I'd be a happy camper. I'm not asking for too much am I? I also want to thank everyone that has played a part in this whole thing... my business partner, the money minded person Mary, Pam for hooking us up, Jess for your detective work, all my students for being patient and understanding when lessons were moved around because of the chaos, our potential boarders for helping make our dreams come true,hopefully we can do the same for you, all the volunteers that came out last Saturday and pitched in and cleaned horses or held a horse for the farrier and those of you who adopted one get an extra Kudos, Hannah for stepping up big time and taking over morning chores, you have no idea what asset you are to On The Rail, Mary's husband, kids and friends you all rock as well, hell you got our door shut, Jim my manure guy, your awesome thanks a load, Kelly for Quality Tack thanks for the shout outs, guess I should also thank my mom for having my back even when most of the time she'd like to kick my butt, and most of all my dad who probably invisioned all of this and is hopefully sitting On The Rail enjoying every minute of this. I could go on because there are so many people that have come out of the woodwork and are just amazing and are giving me awesome opportunities and they will never know how much I appreciate it all. I'm finally doing what I love and loving what I do.

Finally up and running

2009-01-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, so a friend of mine has been bugging me to start one of these things so here we go. A little about me.. hmm.. I train horses and give lessons for all ability levels and breeds. I have been showing and training horses since I was about 6 years old which was almost 25 years ago. Wow! where does the time go? I still am in love with horses, but I don't bounce as easily as I once did. LOL! Feel free to check out my website at www.determinationtrainingandlessons.com for more information about me. And stay tuned for more interesting blogs to come.