Rivermont Farm Horse Show T-Shirts Now Available!

Several people have asked for them...and we finally have them! Rivermont Horse Show t-shirts! They are available for purchase on my website at www.rivermontfarm.com for $20, or you may purchase them at any Rivermont horse show for only $15! They are available in adult and child sizes. They are 100% Pre-Shrunk cotton.

Hope everyone is staying warm...as I see snow flurries falling outside my window! Spring...where are you???

SNOW SNOW SNOW!

I remember when I moved here in September of 2003 I assumed we'd see lots of snow in the winter. After all, this was considered the "North Georgia mountains", however it was 7 long years before we saw a single flurry. Last winter we had 2 decent snows. This year has changed all of that though! Of course on Christmas Day we were blessed with a good 5" of snow or so, and last night the skies opened up to another major snow event for us! We awoke to a good 7 or 8" of snow! It's so beautiful! Gracie and I spent the day sledding, making memories that will hopefully last a lifetime!


The last few months have been so painful and challenging for me once again. I won't go into details, but trust me when I say...I didn't think I'd make it. I'm trying so hard to keep my chin up and know that God only takes things away from you when He has something better. Still, it hurts.

Please remember me and my family in your prayers. I believe in the power of prayer, as we serve a God who loves us unconditionally! For those of you in the south, have fun playing in the snow! :)

Sponsorships and Advertising for 2011

2011 is here already amazingly enough! The first Rivermont Farm horse show will be February 19th. I can't believe this will be our 7th year hosting horse shows! We are looking for sponsorships and advertisers for our prize list, so please consider supporting us so we may keep our cost down for 2011. Complete information, including a class list, is available on my website at www.rivermontfarm.com.

Email me at rivermontfarm@gmail.com with any questions. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! We had a beautiful White Christmas in Georgia and spent Christmas and New Years with the ones we love the most, so we are blessed.

Thanks and Happy Horse Showing!

Goodbye to a dear old friend....

October 8th, 2010, I lost one of my greats here on the farm. CBS Krystal Kat+ was only a 2 year old when I first met her, in the summer of 1986. I was Krystal's groom at Claire Boyd Stables, the show barn I worked at for over 10 years. Not too long after I purchased Krystal, broke her, trained her, I found myself in horse show paradise with this amazing mare. We were regulars on the "A" Circuit in the 1990's, winning many Top 5's at Region 12 and 14, but 1998 was "our year". We were Region 12 Champion in Hunter Pleasure, Region 12 Reserve Champion Green Working Hunter, Region 14 Top 5 Hunter Pleasure, and Top 10 at the U.S. National Championships in Hunter Pleasure in Louisville, KY.

After an amazing show career I began giving lessons on this angel. She was 16.1 hands but a giant puppy dog. Krystal taught so many riders how to ride, and was always so forgiving and loving. She taught my daughter to ride. I would put Gracie on her when Gracie was 2 years old and trust Krystal to take care of her.

October 8th was a good day. I was working for my boyfriend to help out since they were short handed at his shop, when my dad called to say Krystal was down and felt something was wrong. She was fine that morning when I fed her. I don't know why everything suddenly went wrong. Dad called the vet, did everything he should have done, but Krystal was just ready to go. We put her to sleep at 5:30 that afternoon, I weeping by her side. I've owned horses for over 25 years and never had a bad colic, so God has been good to me.

The vet thinks she may have had something worse going on inside, perhaps tumors. Krystal was almost 27 and had led such a dandy life. I will miss her so much, and will probably cry everytime I think about her. What a blessing she was. I own her half sister, Not Tu Shabby, who oddly enough has the same markings as Krystal, only she's black. I'm looking forward to getting this mare on the show circuit next year. I know my Krystal Kat will be smiling down on us from heaven! I told Krystal right before we put her to sleep to wait for me, that I would see her again one day, and I will...I know it.

Champion at the RMI in Atlanta!

This past weekend I was lucky enough to get to spend Mother's Day weekend with some great people! I coached Addison Howe on her medium pony "Bedtime Story" at the RMI "A" show at Wills Park in Alpharetta, GA. This was Addy's first "A" show, and I gave her the whole speech about how not to expect a ribbon, the competition is top notch in Alpharetta, etc. That speech was not needed for this pair as they were Division Champion against some serious competition! :) Thank you to the Howe family for trusting me enough with Addy and Storm! I had a blast!

First Place at the Hunter Pace!

This morning I somewhat cheerfully loaded up one of my horses and headed out to the Hunter Pace at Mercy Stables in Ringgold, GA. I say somewhat because it was storming here at Rivermont when I left. I was determined to do this Hunter Pace though! The pace was awesome! You rode at a canter most of the way, over hills, across creeks, over ditches and jumps! A true field hunting experience! (less the hunting though!) Maggie was a champ! However mid way through this 6 mile course a storm hit. Being that the one and only phobia I have is lightening, this was NOT a pleasant feeling for me at all! Maggie went into another gear for me at one point! Long story short, much to my excitement, we were FIRST PLACE in the Advanced Field Hunters Division!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!! Maggie wasn't nearly as impressed with her blue ribbon as she was her cupcake and slice of pizza I gave her afterwards! Apparently the horse loves pizza. Who knew?

Marisa Goode and the Mercy Stables group did an awesome job putting this pace together! I won a blue ribbon along with an embroidered polo shirt! Fun!

As storms continue to pound Georgia, I am home safely and about to take a nap! Maggie as well as all of her equine friends are tucked safely away in their stalls for the evening!

A horse show, Joyce Meyer Conference, 5K and a Hunter Pace!

I've been so busy lately and haven't updated this blog in a while. The month of April started off with a bang as we held another horse show at Rivermont. God is so good as we're seeing a ton of new, friendly faces! The show was packed and everyone was so wonderful...and seemed to have an awesome time! Quality horses too! I wasn't sure how the show would do being the day before Easter, but it was one of our largest shows in a long time. See, I had made a deal with God. I wanted SO badly to attend the Joyce Meyer Conference the weekend following Easter, so I told Him to please understand why I was holding a show Easter weekend! Apparently He understood because the turnout was awesome, weather was perfect and we had a great time! We had crowds from Cumming & Alpharetta, GA. Chattanooga, Gadsden, Rome, Chickamauga, Ringgold and a new group from near Huntsville, AL.

The Joyce Meyer Conference was the most AMAZING experience ever! I attended all 4 sessions with Katie White and Kassey O'Kelley. On Saturday morning my friend Marty Marrs went with us, oh and Gracie got to go to two sessions as well! I asked Gracie what she thought of Joyce (remember, Gracie is 8)and she said "Mom, I LOVED it!". I loved watching her clap enthusiastically as Joyce would say something so profound as if her little 8 year old mind really understood! Knowing Gracie, I'm betting she knew exactly what Joyce was saying! We ran down front row for the praise and worship (Martin Smith along with the Parachute Band), then had front row seats for Joyce. My soul felt completely renewed after this! God spoke to me clear as a bell at one point, and to the point it brought tears to my eyes! I have learned that no matter what, He is all you need. Period. God is good, all the time. :)

Then on April 17th Marty and I ran my second 5K at the Chickamauga Battlefield. I ran my legs off for the full 3.1 miles, never walking once. We ran it in about 29 minutes, which beat my time of 33 minutes at the last race. I came in 12th in my age group, so I was happy with that! I thought I would fall out towards the end, but kept saying out loud "The joy of the Lord is my strength!". Must have worked! :)

This Saturday will be the hunter pace at Mercy Stables. I am riding my lovely mare Maggie. This will be a great weekend!

So as we wrap up the month of April, life is good and I couldn't be more blessed! I am so glad I didn't give up, as I now see everything happens for a reason. God is my everything, my best friend, my teacher, my vendicator, my hope. Thank you Lord!