Sierra Ranch: 2009

$10 off orders of $100 or more at Horse.com (some restrictions apply)

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Ten Commandments for Horses

These are things people both new to horses and those that have had them for a while need to remember.

1. My life is likely to last 20 or more years. Any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you take me home.

2. Give me time to understand what you want from me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial to my well being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long. Don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your entertainment and your friends. I have only you.

5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when it is speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.

7. Remember before you hit me that I am powerful enough to hurt you, but choose not to.

8. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I have a problem that you are not yet aware of.

9. Take care of me when I am old. You too will be old one day.

10. Go with me on the last journey. Never say "I can't bear to watch or let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there.

Remember that I love you. Here is something to pamper your horse with:

Deb Stowers

Sierra Ranch, LLC

Http://sierraranchok.com

http://sierraranchok.net

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Are YOU Ready to Ride and Camp?

It's getting cooler outside and folks begin to want to go riding and cmaping more. And after a great ride in the woods what is better than great food. Check this out:

It's a fact that food just tastes better outdoors. Now with 101 Camping & Outdoor Recipes, even campers who have never cooked anything more complicated than S'mores can make great meals and snacks over the campfire. You no longer need to sacrifice eating well just because you are not in your home kitchen. 101 Camping & Outdoor Recipes provides you with 101 delicious, and easy-to-prepare recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that are sure to make you a hit around the campfire.

And itf you do want to go riding and don't have a horse. Contact us here at Sierra Ranch. We love to ride and have many horses that would love to take you out riding and camping.

Just one of the many things we do at Sierra Ranch.

Deb Stowers

Sierra Ranch, LLC

Http://sierraranchok.com

http://sierraranchok.net

Monday, August 3, 2009

Horse News to Use - August

BARN FIRES: AVOID HAY BALE COMBUSTION

Experienced agricultural producers in the southern Great Plains know that low wind speeds, high humidity, moist hay, and hot temperatures can be a recipe for disaster. Under such a set of circumstances, tightly stacked hay bales have been known to combust. Without proper preventive measures, hay barns or any other structures close to the blazing bales potentially might be lost. Continue reading...

AGED HORSE HEALTH SCREENINGS RECOMMENDED

Lameness, weight loss, colic, and equine Cushing's syndrome are the four top reasons for euthanizing an older horse, said Catherine McGowan, BVSc, PhD, RCVS, European specialist in equine internal medicine, who presented research by Thomas McGowan, BSc, DVM, PhD, at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum, held June 3-6 in Montr�al, Quebec. Continue reading...

CRIBBING: CAN YOU STOP IT?

Many horses kept in unnatural environments and subjected to the stress of performance careers resort to repetitive behaviors (called stereotypies) such as cribbing, weaving, or stall walking. The cribbing horse grabs a surface with his top incisors, arches his neck, opens his throat, and swallows air with a grunting sound and a backward pull of the head. This activity wears down the top incisors and develops unsightly muscles under the neck that can interfere with proper neck flexion when ridden. Serious cribbers might lose weight because they become so addicted to their habit they'd rather crib than eat. Once the habit starts, many horses keep cribbing even when turned out to pasture. Continue reading...

Hope you enjoy these tidbits of information. Check out this:

$15 Off All Orders of $100 or More at Horse.com (some restrictions apply)

Deb Stowers

Sierra Ranch, LLC

Http://sierraranchok.com

http://sierraranchok.net

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

1993 Dodge One Ton Dually Diesel Truck - $7995

This is my pride an joy, but I have found a new hauler for my trailer that is much more comfy. Never thought I would find something that would haul like this truck, but did. So now my baby is for sale.

This 1993 Dodge 1 ton dually diesel is set up for hauling. It will haul most anything. Guys at the feed store would come off the dock to see what it was. You can put 2 tons of feed and the silly thing won't even go down. Over load springs are awesome! It has 411 gears on the rear. Top speed empty is about 70, but makes it great traveling the mountains with four horses in the Sundowner. It has a gooseneck ball with rings. The ball folds down. It has a bumper pull ball as well as a tractor attachment (for lack of better term). We have used it to haul fertilizer from the feed store. It's a 5 speed manual. Jump seats in the crew cab. AM/FM CD player. Great tires.

We bought the truck in 2000 with 138850 miles. We replaced the engine shortly after buying the truck (within a year) and about a year later had to rebuild the rear end and transmission. It now has 183,650 miles on it. We keep synthetic oil in the motor and change it regularly.

This truck is ready to start pulling your horses to your next playday, trail ride or other event. Email us for more details. We are negotiable on the price, but this is a fair price for the work this truck will do for you!

I will try to get more pictures to add to the Multiply photo album:

http://sierraranch.multiply.com/photos/album/10/1993_Dodge_3500_For_Sale_-_7995

Deb and Rick Stowers

Sierra Ranch

deb@sierraranchok.com

Rick's Cell 918/688-0665

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Goings on at our house...

I know I have been out of touch a bit. Had a billion things going on and no time to write. But today gotta get stuff off my chest. :) Hopefully you have seen the countdown. We are down to 2 weeks and it can't be soon enough. For both parties. Others might have followed my Twittering (http://twitter.com/sierraranch) and know about what has been happening.

In the mean time things have gone from bad to worse to normal again. Last Sat. (3/21) we got a call that Rick's dad was in the hospital and not doing well. We needed to be in Agleton TX before the youngest brother got on the plane to go back to NC. The middle brother was flying in later on Sun. So we made a 9 hour driving trip and got to the hospital about 2AM and visited a second. We couldn't find his house even with the GPS. How many cattle paths can be named Bastrop Drive??? Stayed 4 hours in a hotel, got up and visited with Dick and others at the hospital. We followed a neighbor to his house and went back to wait.

Greg got in about 11PM Sun. They stayed at a hotel. Doctors would not really give us a good time frame for the end. The friends had arranged for Dick to come home on Monday since nothing could really be done. The boys got things worked out on Monday and their dad came home. Several step kids and many friends came by the house to see him. We stayed there with him and the nurse. One set of step kids slept in the downstairs.

Tuesday Dick got quieter and we thought this might be the day, but he held on through another great gathering and the morning. Greg's daughter got in and said her goodbyes and shortly later the nurse came out and let us know he passed. Dick was diagnosed with lung cancer. As they were looking they found cancer in his bones, spine, lythm system, and who knows where else. He just wanted to die at home and did. He didn't want to linger and didn't. The nurses made sure he was comfortable.

Greg was listed at the executor, but wanted to pass this on to Rick since we live closer, so know we get to oversee the disspurment of the estate. Any one want a nice house on the Bastrop Bayou? We have a court date in about a month.

So far we have inherited a no tailed cat named Bob. Allyson is taming him. I think he may have been an inside cat at one time, but he was an outside cat at Dick's. He is at least nuetered. And he is not a manx. It feels like something cut his tail off. I even snuck Bob into a hotel room to get him home.

We will also be taking over Dick's gun show business. They boys split up the guns he had, but we currently have all the parts, gun smithing tools, and other stuff. Rick is researching what to do with this. He might actually get to quit work sooner which we would all like. :) He can see this as a great side business to have with the horse operation.

We went through most of the stuff in the house and have a big job ahead of us, but we will take the challenge. That's what the oldest do. Middle children are so funny. :) We got things tied up pretty well and headed out on Thursday evening so that we could be home to get Allyson ready for the prom. Rick told the family that we need to focus on Allyson now that his dad is gone. Everyone agreed. We hope to bring her down with us when we go next.

The whole week that we were in TX the kids were being watch over by our version of a village. :) Allyson stayed part of the weekend with my Mom. Our neighbor that lives behind us and takes Ashley to work made sure that Allyson got ont he bus every morning before taking Ashley. I called each morning to wake Allyson and got to talk

to her all the way to the bus. :) She is so funny. Then after school mom made sure they had food. Mom even spent Sunday trying to teach the kids to clean house. (What Fun!) I don't know that it worked , but after a week of stepping into my shoes, my Mother has much more understanding of what I go through and what works. Now she even understand the count down. LOL!!!

Allyson had fun at the prom. She was taken out to eat at Olive Garden, petted fishes, danced to death, and then went to the after party. Ryan got to go to the after party some and they had fun. It went from rain to snow and by the time I went to pick her up from a friend's it was snowing buckets.

OMG it is SO NOT suppose to snow like this time of year! For freaking sake it's SPRING! We got at least four inches and will have the world's largest muddiest mess, but at least it's moisture. We needed it so bad. Just this all at once thing is a bit much. What is so funny is seeing the green grass sticking out of the snow. LOL!

Well, I better get to my ratkilling. I am 1100+ emails behind in one email account and 12,000+ behind in another. All my IM stuff is falling behind and I really need to get all the bills and estate stuff up to date. But my desk is a total mess. LOL!

And my cat is mad she doesn't have place to sit. :P And just 14 more days until Ashley's driver's test. We can't wait. OK, enough rambling. Must go do something. Not sure what, but something! Now it makes sense that the newsletter for the ranch has not gone out and the million other things I need to do.

Hope you had a quieter week than we have! Hope you have a wonderful next week!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Patricia Reszetylo's 40th Birthday

My friend Patricia Reszetylo's birthday is March 17th. She's committed to having that day mark the start of a lot of exciting things for her home business. (Just like many of the rest of us are doing!)

And what I want to tell you about is how YOU can benefit.
( There is a LOT of WIIFM for you here. )

WIIFM = What's In It For ME?

You do like horses, right? You're on my newsletter list - so that's an unnecessary question.

Do you have any interest in running a successful website? What's successful? How about one that brings you visitors from the search engines, and one that makes you money?

[ Hey, let me sign up for that call already!
http://sierraranchok.net/ClubHorseTalk]

And building a website isn't an overnight thing. How about another partner of ours that has been teaching his students to make 4 figures from eBay with a simple, blueprint-style paint-by-numbers program? He has students that make eBay sales in 24 hours after getting started with his program. And he has people making up to $5,016 in 6 weeks - and that was a person who had never sold anything on eBay before.

Did I mention that an 8-time national champ at Dressage is pitching in! Get access to HER Q-n-A calls as part of this, too.

The doors will be opening after Patricia's Parade of Breeds call Wednesday dealing with the American Drum Horse. Prices will be going up after Patricia's birthday - Tuesday the 17th of March.

Check this out! Join the preview call if you'd like more details, or if Patricia or Tim can answer any questions for you.

Attend the Preview Call:
http://sierraranchok.net/ClubHorseTalk

We'll keep you updated on this special deal:
http://sierraranchok.net/ClubHorseTalk

Best of wishes,
Deborah Stowers
Sierra Ranch
www.sierraranchok.com
www.sierraranchok.net

P.S. Patricia wants me to ask if you'd like to borrow her $2,000 Laser Dressage saddle for a year? Check out the new HorseSalt site at: http://sierraranchok.net/HorseSalt

Monday, February 23, 2009

Couple of Countdowns at our house!

Created by OnePlusYou

Asley will turn 18 on April 11th, but Monday she will take the test. After this we feel we have done what we can. You don't want to know waht the next step is with her. :)

Rick has told me that June 1 he will be full time at the ranch. So this count down is to remind me what are the most important things to be working on.

Hope you have a great week!

Deb Stowers

Strategies to Prevent and Respond to Barn Fires

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Horse News to Use!

If you have read our newsletters before you know we are about how to protect you and your horses from disaster. We have lived through at least one. You can still see our barn pictures from last summer. And we feel everyone is better to at least think about these different possibilities before these things happen. Happy reading!

At the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif., Rebecca Gimenez, PhD, noted that barn fires are the No. 1 local emergency that affects everyone from horse owners to veterinarians, and property owners to the horses themselves. Barn fires kill more horses annually than any other type of nonmedical emergency. Of 11,500 agricultural storage facility fires per year, 88% are barns or stables with animals, resulting in about $250 million in property losses annually. In 87 horse-barn fire incidents reported in 2006 and 2007, 461 horses died and an unknown number were injured. Read More...

MRSA More Common in Horse People

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial infections have become hot news lately, especially among horse people. This topic likely won't die down soon because recent research shows that MRSA is up to 10 times more common in equine veterinarians than in the general population--and that it can spread from horses to humans. "MRSA appears to be an occupational risk factor for large animal veterinarians," noted Maureen Anderson, DVM, DVSc, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pathobiology of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Read More...

Managing Horses in Icy Conditions

Ice is an unavoidable part of winter in many parts of the world, but there are ways to minimize slipping incidents around the barn. Heather Sherratt knows something about keeping horses in icy conditions. Her farm, Elphin Mountain Connemaras, near Ottawa, Canada, was hit hard by the 1998 ice storm that caused weeks-long power outages and several deaths in Canada and parts of the northeastern United States. "My ponies are barefoot, and that helps," she said. If going barefoot over the winter isn't an option, farrier Pat Sweeney of Mandan, N.D., recommends applying borium to shoes to increase their grip. Sweeney also said that snowball pads and rubberized rim pads will help keep snow from packing into the foot. Read More...

Hope you enjoyed reading more about horses in the news! Have a great weekend and look for our full newsletter soon! You can also sign up for our newsletter below and receive it from our aweber service!

Happy Trails!

Deb and Rick Stowers

Sierra Ranch

deb@sierraranchok.com

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue - February 2009

Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue 17667 Markita Dr. Jones, OK 73049 (405) 399-3084 or (405) 615-5267 blazesequineresc@aol.com www.blazesequinerescue.com Federal I.D. 43-2024364

February 9, 2009

Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue, Inc. located in Jones, Oklahoma, is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that strives to improve the lives of neglected, starved, and abused horses. We provide equine rescue regardless of age or disability. We promote and teach horse care and humane, natural methods of training horses.

RESCUES:

Blaze’s Equine Rescue is currently caring for 59 horses. We were able to adopt out 8 horses in January. We still need to place many more into loving forever homes. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting a rescued horse, please contact Natalee at any of the contact numbers above.

Blaze’s Equine Rescue has started off the year very busy with animal cruelty cases. On Sunday, January 25, 2009, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office contacted us regarding 2 horses, extremely emaciated and 1 was down and unable to get up. We immediately contacted our Veterinarian requesting her assistance. We arrived at the location at 3:30 pm and immediately started trying to save the down mare. We tried to get the mare up and tried to save her for a little more than 4 hours in the freezing weather. She was just too weak and unable to stand. It was apparent that this poor girl, named JoJo, was not going to survive. We made the painful decision to let her go and end her suffering. JoJo was extremely emaciated and her companion Willow was in equally bad condition.

We brought Willow home and started her rehabilitation process, but 2 days later Willow went down. Once again we started trying to save Willow, even placed her into a sling and lifted her to her feet, but she was unable to stand. She just couldn’t place her feet underneath her. She was showing neurological signs. Unfortunately, Willow did not make it. We began to panic and worried for the other horses in the barn with Willow and prayed that it was not something that was contagious. We sent Willow to OSU for a necropsy to confirm that our horses were safe. The necropsy found screws, bark, and porcelain type material in Willow’s stomach and colon. These poor girls were eating anything that they could find trying to survive. The former owner of these horses spent 10 days in County Jail before being baled out. It is just so sad what these two girls had to go through. It was heartbreaking that we were not able to save them.

IN LOVING MEMORY SWEET JOJO AND WILLOW!

On Wednesday, February 4, 2009, we were contacted by the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare Division to pick up 7 horses. Most of these horses are emaciated, infested with parasites, lice and in need of dental work and feet trimming. Please consider making a donation towards their rehabilitation. In 2009, we have picked up a total of 9 horses from the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare Division alone and this is only February.

This is Pac-Man, a 6yr old, Paint, Stud. He is extremely emaciated and weighing in at 656 pounds. This poor boy should weigh at least 1000 pounds. Such a sweetheart! Please consider making a donation towards Pac-Man’s rehabilitation.

This is Molly, a 22 year old Thoroughbred, Mare. Molly is very thin, has a tattoo, so we know she is a former race horse. Please consider making a donation towards Molly’s rehabilitation.

This is Porter, a 15 year old gelding. He is emaciated weighing in at 862 pounds. He is such a sweet boy. Please consider making a donation towards Porter’s rehabilitation.

This is Paisley, a 6 year old mare. She is emaciated weighing in at 706 pounds. She is a sweet girl. Please consider making a donation towards Paisley’s Rehabilitation.

DONATIONS NEEDED: Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue needs your assistance. Please consider making a donation, in any amount, to help us with our efforts of rescuing neglected horses. These horses can not speak for themselves and we need to be there voice. Please help us continue to save these magical animals from such horrible neglect. Donations can be mailed to:

Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue 17667 Markita Drive Jones, Oklahoma 73049

Or you can donate on-line at www.blazesequinerescue.com

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

We are seeking volunteer’s to work concession stand at the Oklahoma City Fair Grounds during different events throughout the year. If you are interested in helping Blaze’s raise some extra money and would like to work concession stand about once a month for a few hours, please contact Desiree Walling, our volunteer coordinator, at dwalling@hintonet.net.

ADOPTABLE HORSE OF THE MONTH:

Layne is our adoptable horse of the month. She is a sweet 3 year old, sorrel, Quarter Horse, filly. She is halter broke and broke to lead. She is very well built, would make an excellent horse whether for pleasure or performance. She is ready to train and willing to please. Layne has been in our rescue program since June of 2007. She was a neglect case when she arrived. She is a beautiful horse and needs that loving, forever home to call her own. If you are interested in giving this sweet girl that special home, please contact Natalee at any of the above numbers or submit an application on line. Layne can be seen at www.blazesequinerescue.com under rescued horses.

Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue Thanks You in advance for your continued support! We simply can’t do this alone and your help is greatly appreciated. Please support a rescued horse today!

Remember, “SUCCESS COMES ONE BIT AT A TIME”.

These folks do wonderful work. Please help them help the horses if you can.

Thanks,

Deb Stowers

www.sierraranhcok.com

http://www.horsematch.net/newsletter.html

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

HorseMatch.net Website Updated!

I have updated the website. I added a few horses for sale, some legal stuff, and the coolest things...

You will now be able to get the newsletter via an Awber email service. Just go to this page:

Fill out the form and about the 15th of each month you will get the newsletter.

And you can also subscribe to Rick's Lessons! Just go to this link:

http://www.horsematch.net/Rickstowers.html

Fill out the form and once a week you will get a lesson on riding from Rick.

Let us know what you all think about the upgrades and if you have other horses or riders to add.

Nothing like being snowed in to get stuff moving one the websites!

More later!

Deb Stowers

Webmaster

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/388/275305.html?aff=rss

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Sierra Ranch News – January 2009

Welcome!

Welcome to the tenth edition of the Sierra Ranch News! I apologize for the hiatus in our newsletter. Life seems to get in the way of us getting everything done that we want to do. Things have kinda calmed down around here and we hope to get back on a regular schedule.

Tell us what you where you plan on riding this Spring. As you can see from the calendar there are many options on places to ride and things to do. Let us know what information you would like to learn tips on horse keeping, latest horses for sale and any other info you find interesting. As always you can email me and let me know what might interest you to learn about.

Sierra Ranch Website!

The Sierra Ranch website is under construction. Please visit is and let us know what you think. I have been trying to get all the pages up and running, but also need to finish working on the Hooves for a Cure site. We will let you know when both are finished.

The HorseMatch.net CafePress store is up. Check out the link: http://www.cafepress.com/horsematch. I am working on getting calendars and posters on the store, probably for next year. You never know whose picture will be on the calendar. We also set up a store at Zazzle.com http://www.zazzle.com/horsematch They have really cool stuff. From shirts to shoes to skateboards! Look for more stuff to come along the way. We want to get our name out and about on the trails around Oklahoma and other places.

Look for more announcements on this coming soon!

Check this out!

New Mechanical Horse to Teach Advanced Dressage

This would be way cool, much more fun than the elliptical or a treadmill, but alas the price is way too high!

An interactive mechanical dressage horse has been launched that aims to get you riding like Anky van Grunsven without passing your bad habits on to a horse. The new simulator allows riders to practice movements including passage, piaffe and pirouette up to advanced level. To read the whole article, click the link below:

Runaway costs of horse rescue

We all knew this would happen, but this is a great article from the Seattle Times about several rescues in the NW US. I am sure we are all seeing the same problems in each part of the US. To read the whole article, click the link below:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008642351_horses18m.html

Horses Appear In the Inaugural Celebrations

The President's Inaugural Parade has a long tradition of including horses in the festivities, and this year was no different. With more than 200 horses representing 10 teams from throughout the United States, riders helped make this historic celebration memorable. Participants spanned the spectrum from Culver Academies, which made its 15th appearance (their first was in 1913 for Woodrow Wilson), to the Southern Ohio Ladies Aside's first. To read the whole article, click the link below:

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13483

Live and Learn (Equine Education Opportunities)

Winter is a great time to increase your horse knowledge, training, and skills. Colleges and universities across the country offer classes in virtually every aspect of horse management. Through special schools and programs, you can get the education and training you need to become an equine massage therapist, a farrier, or a veterinary technician, among other equine careers. To read the whole article, click the link below:

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12423

Upcoming Rides and Other Events

It’s time to send in events for the upcoming year. Send them to me or to the link on Oklahoma Horse Online. Many of these came from listing on www.oklahomahorseonline.com. Check it out!

February 7 Neosha Open Horse Show, Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E Robinson, Norman OK. Hunter, English, Western, Halter classes. 918-251-5788 or www.neosha.com

February 13, 14, 15 EQUIFEST of Kansas 2009 World Class Clinicians, Sensational Shopping, and Exciting Equine Entertainment! Wichita, Kansas Coliseum. More Info: 765-655-2107, www.equinepromotions.net

February 13-16 Cedar Lake Trails Work Weekend, Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp, Heavener, OK. Free camping for those who are volunteering their time. Contact Teri Wyatt for more information tnwalkinghorsegirl@yahoo.com

February 13-15 Oklahoma Horse Fair, Duncan, OK. Admission is free all three days. Call 405-226-0630 or visit www.okhorsefair.com

February 21 Neosha Open Horse Show with AQHA Introductory classes. Stillwater Expo Center, Stillwater OK Hunter, English, Western, Halter classes. Halter classes will be first. Belt Buckle for AQHA Select High Point. Stalls $25-limited availability. Prepaid reservations due by Feb.14. 918-251-5788 or www.neosha.com.

March 6-8 Kerry Kuhn Practical Horsemanship Clinic, Cross Tie Ranch, Guthrie, OK. $150 per day, limit 10 riders. Call for early bird discount. Auditors $25. Call 866-672-5631, www.kerrykuhn.com

March 7 Duncan Lake Horse Club annual coggins test clinic, Duncan Lake Pavilion, Duncan, OK, 10 am until 2 pm all other shot and vaccines will be available from Connie McLemore, DVM. Duncan lake horse club will have a chili cook off at 5:30, Horse Club meeting at 6:30 Duncan Lake Pavilion. We will ride between these two events......every one welcome. Contact camelliafoster@hughes.net

March 17 Greater Oklahoma Paint Horse Club Show, Tulsa Fairgrounds Expedition Arena, Tulsa, OK. Offering a full showbill and the show starts at 9am. For more information, visit www.greateroklahomaphc.com

March 20-22 Oklahoma Land Run CTR, Stillwater, OK. A competitive trail ride sanctioned by North American Trail Ride Conf. www.natrc.org. Ride Manager, Don Rubley, 405-373-1387. Ride Sec. Kate Kearby, 205-620-4824

March 21 Neosha Open Horse Show, Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E Robinson, Norman OK. Hunter, English, Western, Halter classes. 918-251-5788 or www.neosha.com

March 28-29 ODS Pilates for Dressage Symposium www.dressageoklahoma.org

March 28-April 5 Robbers Cave Work Weekends, Wilburton, OK. Oklahoma Equestrian Trail Riders Association, Member Meeting 5 p.m. March 28 OETRA designated Adopt-A-Trail. Jobs on foot or from saddle. Bring tools. Chm. Carolyn Sinclair Cell 918-429-3488; catbalou0012@yahoo.com, Asst. Chm. Harvey Sapp 918-371-8477.

April 3-5 Roman Nose Hills Trail Ride, Watonga, OK, Join us for a weekend of horseback riding and camping. This 2-6 hour guided trail ride, provided for horse owners, includes six meals, primitive camping and entertainment. Benefits Watonga Hospital Foundation. Cost is $50 per rider. Non-riders can purchase meal tickets. Contact Jeff Fritz 877-782-2395, E-mail: wmhpress@pldi.net Web site www.romannosehillstrailride.com

April 4 Neosha Open Horse Show, Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E Robinson, Norman OK. Hunter, English, Western, Halter classes. 918-251-5788 or www.neosha.com

April 17-19 APHA Trail Ride, Horse Heaven Ranch, Talihina, OK. Book with Horse Heaven for your favorite cabin or RV site. Trail ride the beautiful Ouachita National Forest this spring also includes entertainment, and you'll enjoy 5 tasty meals, door prizes and more. APHA For further information: Contact Cindy by e-mail at trailrides@apha.com or phone 817-222-6439. www.horseheavenranchresort.com

April 24-25 Duncan Lake Spring Trail Ride, Duncan Lake Horse Club, Duncan, OK. Fri. night meet and greet with a pot luck dinner at 7 p. m. $35.00 a rider. Sat 25th rides start at 10 a. m. and high noon bring a lunch for the 10 a. m. ride Dinner will be furnished on Sat. night. Sunday ride all out at 10 am. Breakfast will be served on Sun. morn. DLHC reserves the camp ground for this ride if you don't pay us to ride you can not camp that week end. You may ride with us or do your own, all city fee apply camping, riding permits etc. paid to the city of Duncan. Gearld Franklin with Blacksmith and Forge with be on hand to make any thing you want or buy what he has on sale while you watch him work. Contact camelliafoster@hughes.net

April 24-26 J-D Annual Spring Mountain Trail Ride, Octavia, OK. Join us for great riding, good food and fun at our Spring Mountain Trail Ride. For our Annual Spring ride there will be an additional charge of $10 per person for each reservation, which will include: a full breakfast Saturday morning, dinner with entertainment Saturday night, and a light breakfast Sunday morning. Don’t forget to bring your favorite dish for the potluck dinner on Friday night. (580) 244-7261 www.j-dtrailriding.com

April 25-26 Introduction to Parelli Level 3 Patterns Clinic with 3 Star Parelli Instructor Christi Rains, Eclipse Stables, 13000 Hwy 105, Guthrie OK 9 AM -4 PM Clinic Information: Yvonne Thilsted 580-327-3132 yvonneshats@yahoo.com

May 2-3 Trail Work Weekend Arrowhead State Park, Lake Eufaula, OK. The Bad Girls Trail Riding Club (BGTRC) and the Oklahoma Equestrian Trail Riders Association (OETRA) have teamed up to have a work weekend at Arrowhead State Park to clean the trails that were destroyed and nearly lost due to the ice storm Pittsburg County had in 2007. We will be camping at the Equestrian Camp and a covered dish dinner will be served Saturday night. Everyone bringing a covered dish will receive a ticket for a door prize to be given away Saturday night. Please plan on attending and helping these two great clubs out in cleaning the trails that all of us will use. You will need to bring gloves, chain saws, bow saws, 4 wheelers, good walking boots, etc. (You know the drill) For more information please contact Linda Polansky with BGTRC 918-519-6916 or Milt Alexander with OETRA 918.706.8439. Your help will be greatly appreciated!

May 9-10 Bad Girls Trail Riding Club Poker Run, Arrowhead State Park. Contact Linda Polansky 918-519-6916 .

May 23-25 Memorial Day Weekend Ride, Octavia, OK (580) 244-7261 www.j-dtrailriding.com

May 30 Greater Oklahoma Paint Horse Club Summer Show, Tulsa Fairgrounds Expedition Arena, Tulsa, OK. Offering a full showbill and the show starts at 9am. For more information, visit www.greateroklahomaphc.com

May 30 Neosha Open Horse Show, Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E Robinson, Norman OK. Hunter, English, Western, Halter classes. 918-251-5788 or www.neosha.com

June 5-7 National Trails Day Ride, Robbers Cave Equestrian Trails, Wilburton, OK, Oklahoma Equestrian Trail Riders Association, Member Meeting 5 p.m., June 6, Friday Night - Meet and Greet Guided rides, Saturday night covered dish dinner Co-chairs Eva Lambert lambert1249@msn.com 405-386-4246 Terri Folks trfolks@cox.net 405-348-1397 www.oetra.com

June 13-14 14th Annual City Slickers Trail Ride Sponsored by The Bad Girls Trail Riding Club, Bell Cow Lake, Chandler. Karaoke with Rick Stowers, and City Slickers Belt Buckle Raffle ($1/ticket). Registration before June 1st is $25.00 each. Registration after June 1st is $30.00 each. Children under 12 are $10.00. Registration includes camping fees for Friday and Saturday nights, Saturday evening entertainment! For information check out: <http://www.sierraranchok.com/bgtrc/cityslicker.html> for flyers and registration forms. DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS GREAT RIDE! Children under 6 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. ORIGINAL current negative coggins a MUST - No stallions. No alcohol on the trails - horses should be shod. For further information please contact Pam Godfrey (Founder) @ 918-756-7644 (home) or 918-639-8501 (cell).

October 4th, 2008 - 2nd Annual Hooves for a Cure Charity Trail Ride, J-D Trail Riding Camp, Octavia, OK - Come ride in the beautiful Kiamichi Mountains and help raise money to fight breast cancer. Ride fee is $10 with a potluck dinner on Saturday Night, Silent Auction, and Raffle Drawing. Come for the day or spend the entire weekend! (Camping fees not included in ride fee) Non-riders are also welcome! Located just 10 miles East of Honobia on Hwy 144. For camping reservations, contact Jo Harrington (580)244-7261, or visit www.j-dtrailriding.com . For ride information, contact Andrea Fowler (918)231-9911, afowler@trustok.com. For more information about Hooves for a cure, visit our website at www.Hoovesforacure.com Wear PINK and put pink on your horse!

Riding Lessons

Leasing versus Buying

By Rick Stowers

Check out Rick’s Riding Lessons at http://www.horsematch.net/Rickstowers.html

Leasing is a great option to learn more about the horse and see if you match. It is different than a lesson horse in that you are the only person riding the horse. It’s a great way to see if you really want to own the horse without taking that step of actually buying the horse.

We know many horse people that only use their horses in the spring and fall, then they are left to fend for themselves in summer and winter. Wouldn't it be better for both human and equine if the horse was leased rather than owned? Then the horse gets the same quality of care all year long as with every horse at Sierra Ranch.

The rider gets a saddle that fits both the rider and the horse. Lessons, transportation to local riding events, as well as attending trail rides with us are also included in the cost of a lease. If your ability increases then you can move to a more challenging horse for the same cost. You are still the only one to ride this horse, so that you can develop a great relationship with them.

Here at Sierra Ranch we prepare folks to begin horse ownership. We know many folks have never owned a horse, let alone an ex racing TB. These wonderful horses require some special care, just as they require a particular rider. We strive not only to make good matches, but responsible owners. We want each rider to know the limitations and expectations of the horse they are riding. And how to care for them if they choose to purchase one.

And is you happen to match perfectly with one of our horses and over time develop that wonderful bod then ownership is a possibility. But you have gotten to know if horse ownership is something you want and can fit into your life without the expense of buying a horse and then the cost of selling if things change.

We hope you enjoy our philosophy and will come visit Sierra Ranch.

LET'S GO RIDING TODAY!!!!

Comments

Let us know how you liked this issue. And again let us know about what you want to hear about. We want to make this newsletter for our clients, friends, and families. See you out riding!

Thanks,

Deb and Rick Stowers

deb@sierraranchok.com

www.sierraranchok.com

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The greater price of financial security

To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, and to be given a chance to create, are the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy - Bette Davis, Actress

Money makes us do crazy things we never thought we would do. A great example of this is staying at a job you dislike or working outside the home when your heart is at home with your family. While money does provide opportunities and liberation from certain stresses in life, unhappiness has a greater price. Let money enrich an already abundant life, not define or run it. Can you re-prioritize your life in a way that you are achieving both financial goals and also fulfilling your dreams? Live the kind of life that excites you to get out of bed in the morning, one of color and joy. If money comes, great. If not, rest assured, knowing that your life is not defined by what you make but what you already have. The best things in life are free!

This is another SparkPeople.com Healthy Reflection. And a picture that Rick took of me this morning with my next great horse, Third Time. Rick had tried to feed him a carrot and Third Time would not take it from Rick. I had to go into the pasture, break it into pieces, and then he would eat them. Third Time is still learning to eat treats. He loves me and lets me give him kisses. Not sure how it will get on his tall butt, but he does at least stand still and let me on. Nothing like having to have a step, lower the stirrup, AND be boosted to get on your horse. Sure make you not wanna come off though. LOL!

Back to the message above... I would greatly ike to live to meet these goals. I have been trying to get to a point that we could have Rick come home and work the Ranch. It's really difficult to both be working demanding jobs and trying to get the ranch to support itself and one of us. Rick really hates his day job and would be so much easier to be around it he had nothing but the horses to work with. My real job supplies us not only with income, but awesome benefits like insurance. So it will be a while till I get to come home also.

But this is why I have been working so hard to find ways to earn some extra money on the side. I want so bad to make us a great life. To get a happy husband back. To live, love and laugh with those around us. I know it takes hard work and I have been putting some in. Just looking for a bit more of the gravy and loving what I have already.

Here's hoping you have a wonderful week! That you get all the gravy coming to you! And that you enjoy life to the fullest at every moment!

Deb Stowers

Sierra Ranch

http://dksotwers.com/successU

www.dkstowers.com

Friday, January 9, 2009

Mission: Make 2009 a Success for You!

This is the time of year that everyone is looking to make their lives better. The 14 day trial is $2 and the money is donated to Feed the Children. So learn about personal development and make a donation to a good cause. What could be better?

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I know this is not totally horse related like most of my blogs, but to ride well you need great confidence. Many of the personal development arena give that. Without wonderful confidence in yourself you can not pass this on to the horse. Learn some great confidence builders, develop some new skills that will improve the quality of time you spend with your horse.

Join me at Success Universtiy!

Deb Stowers

www.dkstowers.com/SuccessU

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Warning: Do Not Read Unless You're Over 40!

Okay, now remember, I said this blog is for people

Over 40 ONLY.

If you're younger than 40, and you get offended by anything I say, tough tutus, you weren't invited to this party anyway! ;-)

Now then... I want to tell you what happened to me the other day... I bought an exercise dvd because I'm tired of being tired. I want to get into shape, I want to fit into my clothes, and I want energy - LOTS of it!

So I put on my old sweats, put on the dvd, and here was this barely 20 something girl in the shape of a toothpick, grinning menacingly (I swear!) at the camera like she was going to take a bite out it. Or me.

"Don't worry," she says. "We're going to start out sloooowwww."

Grin grin grin.

Barely five minutes into her jumping/gyrating/vibrating routine, I collapsed on the couch, completely confused, frustrated and ANNOYED.

Maybe, just maybe I could have kept up with her for awhile if something she did made SENSE. But just when I was able to copy one of her moves, she was on to the next one like a frenzied rabid rabbit.

"Okay," she grins, "Put your right arm up and step with your left foot and put your left arm out and hop with your right leg while bending at the waist and touch your forehead to the floor and snap back up and whirl your arms while moving your legs out and in and then turn left and slide down and roll and back up and bend and touch your head to your butt and..."

Holy @#$%&^*! Who exercises like this???

Not me. I'm over 40. I want to get in shape.

I want to feel good, look good, and have lots of energy.

I don't need a barely 20's chicklet telling me, someone twice her age, how to get in shape.

Because frankly, she doesn't have a clue.

What she teaches might be fine for people her age.

But I want to learn from someone MY age or older who is in the best shape of their lives.

Now THAT'S someone who can teach me how to be fit and feel great...

...and I know you probably feel the same way.

So I went online and started searching...

...and I think I've hit the mother lode.

Check out it out HERE!

The headline reads...

43-Year-Old Dallas Man Uncovers A Step By Step System For Living Fit And Healthy At Any Age That Is Literally Reshaping Bodies World-wide!

Okay, it sounds a little "sensational," but I think we're on the right track.

Read on...

"This Former Obese 'Old Guy' Ethically Bribed 52 Real-World Ageless Living Role Models and Talked Them Into Revealing All Their 'Forever Young' Lifestyle Secrets To Him...And Now He's Sharing These Discoveries With Us!"

Check out the 'before' and 'after' photos on that webpage.

Wow.

Do you see the guy who lost over 300 pounds?? Yikes!

Thank goodness I don't need to lose anywhere near that much.

What about you? Do you want to lose a little weight?

Because I think THIS is the place to do it.

52 Real-World people who've gone from being...

-out of shape,
-pudgy,
-fat,
-obese and
-really obese...

...to hotties who frankly look BETTER than that barely 20 "stick" on that useless DVD I paid $19.95 for!

These are the people who can teach us. And you know what?

Looking at their "before" photos, I know one thing...

...if they can do it...

...you and I can do it!

http://dkstowers.com/FitOver40

To Your Fitness!

Deb Stowers

Sierra Ranch

www.dkstowers.com