Future Performance Horses

05/13/2026

🤩… no notes, just… 🤩

There is nothinggggggg like a good, gorgeous, game QH. 🦄 Her and Tara’s 20 m lope circle work was even nicer! 👩‍🍳💋👌 I could watch this mare move all day. 🥰

05/12/2026

Too funny - in her lesson yesterday, Melissa just asked me about mouth and tongue position, building on a conversation from the previous week re. breathing, which ultimately led to my answer that involved the act of simply smiling.

I appreciate my (ironically militant) foundation in equitation conditioning me to always, always, alwayyyyyyys smile… BIG… regardless of how off the rails your pattern is going, your face better be able to convince the judge you’re having the time of your life. The habit has become my, oftentimes humorous, trademark… horse bucking ballistically - you can bet I’m STILL grinning, genuinely happy to be along for the ride, but also using it to control my emotions and subconscious connection to my situation.

Smiling has served me well over the decades, both personally and professionally, long before a formal education in neuroscience and sports psychology taught me why, and I’ll probably meet Jesus one day by the hoof of one of these dang horses, but you can bet I’ll arrive at the pearly gates on that little hellcat still cheesing like a big Cheshire Cat.

So, Melissa, to act as an adjunct to our warm-up chat from Monday, I give you: all the greats smile. And, as the ultra marathoner Andy Glaze says, “Smile or you’re doing it wrong.” 😉😁

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYHkK_1jeP4/?igsh=MXAxODhhZDJyZjZoaw==

05/11/2026

Mother’s Day project two: tire platforms finally filled solid - at this point, I’m not sure whose bodies (mine or the horses’) I’m actually attempting to make solid OR if my brain is even still in a solid state. 😅 Taylor was super helpful, MOST of the time… see if you can figure out when she unapologetically provided less than stellar service. 😜

05/11/2026

Mother’s Day project one: solid obstacles for solid brains and solid bodies. 💪🤓

05/07/2026

Cocodona is Shep’s namesake ultra marathon and a woman from Birmingham, AL won and set a new course record this year! 🥳

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HYPTp2kLj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

After 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 48 seconds of racing, Rachel Entrekin has made history as the first woman to win the Cocodona 250, shattering the overall course record.

The 34-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama took the lead around mile 50 and never looked back, taking advantage of cloudy, cool conditions to carry her momentum through two full days and nights of racing.

05/01/2026

We might need Maury Povich to break it to X that he’s not actually the father because I’m darn sure not going to be the one to burst his bubble. 😆🐣 He’s been hovering over her all day. 🤞🦄

05/01/2026

Dropped Hailee off to be bred today and let X tag along for moral support, teeth, annual vaccinations, etc. Can you tell which one of them is 16.2 hh and which one is only 15.2??? Her teenie ear tips peeking over as I said goodbye. 🤣

Our Ut Majeur de Brecey shipment had its obligatory adventures in Memphis (of course I would need to import, last minute, during a country-wide, multi-day super storm, lol), but God had a plan and HayHay held onto her gorgeous, giant follicle just long enough for it to finally arrive! Dr. Bruce is, as always, my hero. ❤️

Jennifer Arnoldt also blew me away, AGAIN, with her consistently incredible customer service. I would likely breed to something offered at Dreamscape Farm over using an equally appealing horse standing just about anywhere else, simply because Jennifer handles the Canadian kids; she is the most kind, capable, and accommodating stallion manager with whom I have everrrrrr worked!

If Hailee doesn’t take this go round, I won’t even be upset because everyone involved more than exceeded my expectations - the short, seal brown mare included, lol! 🦄

04/29/2026

I will never understand the mentality behind people who post ads ISO cheap breeding prospects, justifying their low price point and complete disregard for trainability or soundness with the qualifier: it’s “just a broodmare…”

If I am genuinely trying to create future generations of exceptional horses, doesn’t it stand to reason that some of the very nicest ones standing on my property ARE the broodmares? 🤔

Even from 300’ away, through the window of my car, using my iPhone’s 25x zoom to take pictures of them in 100% retired, rained-on, pasture condition, Annie and Hailee ooze quality (Eden, too, I just didn’t snap a shot of her to share, lol) and are something I’d be elated to replicate. In addition to being brilliant under saddle, they are model citizens and exceptionally easy to handle, with personalities I hope they pass down, alongside their conformation, to their foals. 🦄

When stallion shopping, my goal is to choose ones that deserve to be crossed on my girls, who will simply serve to further complement their already existing strengths because I know THEY play the leading role in this pedigree production.

My broodmares are priceless, and I would be lucky to get carbon copies of all of them - preferably IN filly form! 😜

04/28/2026

This mare and her photographer are both masters of their craft - one creating, the other capturing; they joined forces in this picture to make an incredible moment unforgettable! Obsessed with how badass NT looks tackling that bank like a little bay boss! 😎🥰 Thank you sooooo much, Melissa, for making time, in what was already a very busy Matthew’s Friday, to both snag such amazing shots AND help untack my (e)special(ly) spicy mare for me, while we wrapped up schooling! 😘

04/27/2026

And I wonder how the troughs always manage to get so thick with protein lick from their noses. 🤪🤿🫧 Kolt had already washed his off three times prior to me filming this, which is why his snoot is nice and pink, but the new water is getting murky again, lol!

04/26/2026

What a perfect petite pinto puff pastry. 🥐 Good boy, Cakester! 🦄❤️