Newsletters

October 24th

This is a last minute invitation to anyone wishing to watch a horse show! Please come out to Clarcona Horseman’s Park in Clarcona, FL this weekend and enjoy the beauty of horses in the show ring!

There is no admission fee to get into the park and the show will be going on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday from 9 A.M. until around 5 P.M. will be the English classes. Sunday from 9:30 A.M. until about 3 P.M. will be the western classes.

 Orchid Hill Stables will arrive at the show grounds Friday afternoon to set up our camp site and stable our horses. Camping is available to anyone and there is water and electrical hookups. Camp sites for RVs, pull behinds, and tents are available with plenty of shade! If you want to stay at a hotel there are plenty of them on 50 in Apopka.

We can use volunteers Saturday and Sunday. Mainly I need help changing saddles, holding horses (waiting for there classes), and most fun… puppy handlers. The pups are learning to walk on leashes! Small vendors will have some horse products and jewelry, and food is also available on the show grounds. Stadium seating is provided, but you can bring your own chairs if you like. Picnic tables are situated around the park as well.

Easy Directions to Clarcona Horseman’s Park are available at MSM. Lawerence and I take 27 north to Clermont where we get on 50 and go across to Apopka Vineland Rd.

3535 Damon Rd, Apopka, FL 32703-8993

Hope to see you there!

October 11, 2007

Good morning and happy autumn! The news is promising cooler weather this weekend and I can’t wait for the air to feel crisp like we expect around the upcoming Holiday season.

A wonderful thing has been taking place at Orchid Hill Stables; families are beginning to ride together on the weekends! Miss Diana and I have enjoyed guiding families around our farms on horse back. Grown ups with little to no experience and kids who have always wanted to ride are spending time learning about horses with each other! Those who just wish to ride can make an appointment, tell me how many will be in your party and how much if any experience they have, and I will have the horses ready to ride when you arrive. Or, families wanting to learn how to groom, and saddle a horse can come out and learn these techniques before riding.

Next Thursday and Friday (Oct. 18 & 19) we will be hosting a special day camp. This day camp is going to be focused on expanding students riding skills to include basic showmanship and show etiquette. While we will also have a couple of hours of fun riding, I will be getting down to specifics for hunt seat equitation and western horsemanship for competition. It has been a while since my students have practiced showmanship (leading a horse and displaying his conformation and beauty) so this area will be covered as well.

Saturday October 20th will be open for riding lessons and family time together on horseback. We had thought about planning a trail ride for this date, but found more folks interested in riding at the farm that day. With the increasing number of Saturday riders I’d like to let everyone know that I will be teaching a full day on Saturdays now. Especially with the cooler weather approaching, I’d like to give everyone the opportunity to ride on Saturday if this is the best or only time that you can.

There is a horse show coming up October 27th & 28th, at the Clarcona Horseman’s Park in Apopka (just west of Orlando). I’d love for everyone to share your riding goals with me, as competition may be just the ticket you’re looking for. The Orlando Arabian Horse Club’s fun show has classes for every skill level. From walk/trot 12 and under to walk/trot adult classes, of course if you think you are ready to compete at the canter there are classes for you too! The best part is this is a fun show and the people are there to have fun and meet other horse enthusiasts.

Most of the horses will be of Arabian, Saddlebred, and Morgan type. Old man Buddy did hold his own last year, being one of only a couple Quarter Horses at the show. With Samantha Allison (at age 9) showing Buddy she took home the walk/trot 12 and under high point award at nearly every show in the western division. Pete was a hit in the walk/trot English classes with Mina Bryson (at age 6). Several other students including Rachel Wolf, Megan Stein, Charity Breylinger, Amanda Jernigan, Erin Lamb, Sarah Orrell, and even one adult Gayle Pleasants also took home awards last year!

I am extremely excited about this horse show; if you would like to participate please call me as soon as possible so that I can get your horse ready for this incredible weekend!

Have a great day and hopefully I will see you at one of our fun filled horse back riding events!

Sincerely,
Sarah Holton and all the horses at Orchid Hill Stables

P.S. Jack Russell Puppies For Sale, thought I could keep them all, but…well six Jack Russell dogs, people might think I’m a little insane. These little Jacks will make you smile, and laugh, and I can’t keep them all to myself.