» news jan 2008 «
January 2009
First of all, I would like thank everyone for coming to our horse shows this summer and making them fun and wonderful!! To those of you who RAN our April Horse Show a special thank you!!! And to everyone who makes our shows happen all summer long, thank you to for helping in the office, announcing, running the gate, picking up rails, timing, moving jumps, collecting trash and all the extra things you do.
It has been almost a year since you have heard from the Strang Gang and a lot has happened!!! California for the winter is definitely still on the schedule. Riding in the sun and sand in tee shirts in January just seems like the right thing to do!! Last year we had a very successful horse show circuit in Thermal and at The Oaks in San Juan Capistrano and can’t wait to get out there for this year. After our adventures in Denver at the stock show with Max and Mikes’ Lowline cattle and Bridget’s Border Collies, we will head west with thirteen horses for the winter. They will live at Laurie and Scott’s Tahquitz Equestrian Center in huge stalls and green grass turnouts. The new and improved horse show in Thermal is only ten minutes from the farm and a great place to train young horses as well as compete against the best.
There are many new faces around the barn. We had a terrific group of young kids in the lesson program this summer, and we look forward to their return. And we have many new boarder and clients. Welcome to all. We are thrilled you have come to the ranch, and look forward to the future.
We are fortunate to have wonderful help from Octovio Marquez, Hugh Coleby, Cody Weverstadt, Sylvia Johnson, and our wonderful working students Emily Alverez and Lilly Thorson.. They all contribute to the smooth operation in the barn from keeping the horses fed and healthy to training and teaching.
We welcomed Greg Best here in June and had a wonderful clinic. 
We hope Greg will be back this summer as well. Maria Wasson returned to the ranch to work her flat work magic every month. We look forward to seeing her in California this winter and back at the ranch in the summer. We also are very excited to have Greg Eliel back on the clinic schedule. Greg, was a student of Buck Branaman’s and is a wonderful teacher of Natural Horsemanship, addressing both the riders position and the horses mind. The horses are all excited he will be returning to add some clarity in their lives. Please contact us if you are interested in attending any of these clinics.
The Strang Gang attended a few “A” horse shows at the Colorado Horse Park, Estes Park and in Tucson. 
Estes Park was was amazing! Notable: Freckles and Leah Scholl, Champion in the Short Stirrup, Sue Pietrzak’s “Quiet Time” Champion in the Level 4 jumpers and Betty Anne Shenk’s “Duncan” Champion in the Green Conformation Hunters with Bridget. “Don’t Tell Daddy” was Reserve Champion in the Medium Pony Hunters with Courtnay Edwards. And finally, Gail and Bridget rode in the rotating riders relay class dressed as “the winners” and WON! 
The whole gang was amazing, and we had a ball!
Congratulations to every one for their achievements all year whether recognized with ribbons and trophies or not.
In the fall we ventured to High Prairie for a windy horse trial where Courtnay and Bell picked up a great ribbon. Then on to Tucson in the late fall to hold off winter for another couple weeks. Congratulations to Carolyn Devan and “Molly” for their Reserve Championship in the Pony Hunters and to Laura Pietrzak for her fabulous round in the classic!!! Betty Anne’s horse, Duncan, was champion again in his division and had the highest score in the Hunter Derby. Congratulations to all. 
< In September, We welcomed "Treat" into our lives, to help Rosie keep the sheep in order. He is a wonderful addition, thankyou Norm and Vicky CLose of Handhills Border Collies, for this wonderful dog!
2008 brought some perspective to all our lives. We honored Michelle Marlow’s wonderful horse, “Guizmo” who suffered an untimely death. We thank and appreciate so many friends who have helped us through this year and Lathrop’s devastating accident as we strive to keep his legacy alive. The Strang Gang.
