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CR Performance Horsemanship, 68409 Hillside Drive, Dowagiac, MI (2026)

08/30/2026

Day 6 — Part 2 ❤️

The Loebachs!

Another family relationship that started at the gym and somehow made its way to the barn! The Loebachs are the newest family to officially join our crazy little gang, and I am so thankful you guys did. ❤️

Dave and Lori, you have some pretty amazing kids, and I am so excited that I get to spend more time with them, get to know them even better, and help them grow as riders.

Sadie, I had the honor of helping you grow as a gymnast, and now I get the privilege of watching you grow into a horsewoman too. I absolutely loved watching you have so much fun doing the speed events! That smile on your face when you finished said absolutely everything. Seeing kids find something they love and watching their confidence grow because of it is one of my favorite parts of what I get to do. ❤️

Alina, your resilience this week has been inspiring. I know it was a hard week for you, and there were definitely some moments that didn’t go the way you wanted them to. But remember — one hard week does not define you or your abilities. Next year will be better, and you will come back stronger because of this one.

And honestly, your goofy personality is one of the things that makes you so much fun to have around. You are funny, you are unapologetically yourself, and you are just an all-around joy to be around. Never lose that. ❤️

Loebachs, thank you for trusting me and Annike with your kids. I am so excited to see where this journey takes all of you, and I am even more excited for all the memories we still have to make. Welcome to the gang! 🐴❤️

08/30/2026

Day 6 of Thankful Week! ❤️

The Bells!

The Bells started off at my barn as just Annike’s clients, and then came to me when Annike went on her grand adventure to Texas. Even though we all missed Annike terribly, I am so incredibly thankful that I got the opportunity to get to know this family and work with them in her absence. What started as filling in for someone I loved quickly turned into another family that I am so grateful to have in my life.

Angela, you are a phenomenal mom. Please don’t ever forget that or doubt that! Both of your girls are strong-willed, opinionated, independent, and determined — and while I know that combination can sometimes be the bane of your existence 😂, it is also something you should be incredibly proud of. Those girls will grow up knowing who they are, what they want, and that they never have to let anyone walk all over them. That is a pretty amazing thing to give your daughters.

Lilly, I am so proud of how far you have come over this last year. After making the tough decision to sell your pony because you were outgrowing her, we found you Andy. A young boy who you get to grow with. And boy, have you two grown! From barely feeling comfortable enough to ride him to now running him in a whole lot of the gaming classes, watching your confidence grow has been absolutely amazing. You have worked hard, pushed through the nerves, and learned to trust both yourself and your horse. I cannot wait to see where the two of you go from here! ❤️

Maylie, the sassiest of the bunch! 😂 You have also come such a long way over the last year. Watching you grow in confidence, both as a rider and as a little horsewoman, has been so much fun. You have a personality that is impossible to miss, and I love watching you figure things out, ask questions, and become more independent every time you ride. You may be the sassy one, but that same fire is going to take you a long way in life.

Bells, thank you for trusting me with your girls, your horses, and a little piece of your family. Thank you for the laughs, the chaos, the conversations, and for becoming so much more than just clients. I am so thankful Annike’s Texas adventure gave me the opportunity to know you all. ❤️

Here’s to many more rides, shows, laughs, questionable decisions, and memories together! I am so lucky to have the Bells in my barn and, even more so, in my life. 🥰🐴❤️

08/29/2026

Day 5 of Thankful Week — Part 2 ❤️

The Zavoral Family.

Sarah and Mike, thank you for raising such respectful, kind, inclusive, and caring children. And thank you both for always being there whenever something needs to be done. You never hesitate to jump in and help, and I appreciate that more than you know.

And Sarah, a special thank you to you for always sharing your wisdom with me. Sometimes I truly think the good Lord is whispering in your ear and telling you exactly what I need to hear at that moment. ❤️ I am so thankful for our conversations and for the friendship we have built.

Addi, I met you way back in the day at the gym and had the amazing opportunity to teach you gymnastics. So when you showed up at the barn, I was SO excited that I now got to watch and be a part of this chapter of your life too. Watching you and Cruz grow together has been so special. You two have come so far, and I am so glad that Cruz got the little girl he deserved. I know Lisa is pretty happy about that too. ❤️

Evelyn, I have watched you grow SO much over the last two years. This was your first year showing walk, trot, lope, and you went and won Reserve Reining Champion! That is absolutely amazing! You and Jimmy have become quite the team, and I am so incredibly impressed with everything you have become. Watching your confidence grow and seeing you figure things out for yourself has been such a joy.

The Zavoral family has become such an important part of our barn family, and I am so thankful that life brought all of you into it. Thank you for the support, the conversations, the laughs, the help, and most importantly, for being exactly who you are. ❤️🐴

08/29/2026

Day 5 of Thankful Week ❤️

Today’s thank you goes to The Boyd Family — Nikki, Mike, and Matty.

Thank you all for making our barn family feel whole. ❤️

Mike, you were truly an MVP this week! From keeping me stocked with hay all week, helping with move-out, and taking so many of the kids around the fairgrounds so they could stay entertained while the “boring stuff” was happening — you were always there to jump in wherever you were needed. I appreciate you more than you know!

Nikki, as I’ve mentioned before, this group truly would not be here without you. Thank you for starting this crazy little adventure with me! Thank you for running around just as crazily as I did this week, making sure I didn’t miss a go, helping manage all the kids, people, and whatever fair problems popped up along the way. There were a million moving pieces, and I’m so grateful I had you beside me through all of it. I am so incredibly blessed that you somehow found your way onto my farm and, even more importantly, into my life.

And Matty — you did SO amazing this week! This has been your first year getting out there and showing, and I couldn’t be more proud of you. Watching you learn, grow, and gain confidence has been so much fun. I can’t wait to see where this takes you from here!

The three of you are such an important part of our barn family. Thank you for showing up, pitching in, and being part of all the chaos.

I’m so thankful for the Boyd family. ❤️🐴

08/29/2026

Day 4 of Thankful Week ❤️ — The O’Connors

The other two kids of the original four who started our 4-H group. What started as one small, quiet little girl showing up and following me around has turned into a whole other part of the family, and I truly don’t know what I would do without them.

Gail and Matt, first off, thank you for having such wonderful kids. Every single one of them is a strong, independent, opinionated, intelligent individual, and that says a lot about the two of you as parents. You guys trusted a young blonde girl to take care of your oldest, and somehow that turned into me taking all of your kids on great adventures. 😂 I sometimes wonder what I did at 22 years old to earn that kind of trust, but I am so incredibly glad I did.

Henry, my dude. You bring so much light and energy into this world. Your personality inspires me to stay active just so I can keep up with you! 😂 You make me laugh more often than not, and I absolutely love watching you grow. I cannot wait to see you show a goat or cow next year. I’m pretty sure that will be the highlight of the entire week! ❤️

Charlie, probably one of my favorite human beings ever. You say it like it is and take absolutely no crap from anyone. I aspire to be more like you. You are so unapologetically yourself and wouldn’t want to be anyone else, and that is one of the things I admire most about you. Watching you grow into the person you are becoming is pretty damn amazing.

Penny, my perfect Penny. ❤️ You are one of the kindest, most helpful, and most caring humans I know. I am so incredibly proud of you, kid. Your first year showing in walk, trot, lope classes and you made it to not one, not two, but THREE championship rounds. That is incredible. Your hard work is so obvious, and you should be so proud of everything you accomplished this year. I cannot wait to see where you go from here because I know this is only the beginning. AND a special thank you for always picking my phone up when I put it down. I would be lost without you!😂

And finally, Sam. I won’t get too sappy because you are heading into your senior year, and there will be plenty of time for that next summer. 😉 But watching you go from the little girl who barely talked to the young woman who confidently shares her opinions and stands up for what she believes in has been one of the greatest things I have ever been a part of.

And then there’s you and Maverick. ❤️

You two have become an absolutely unstoppable team. I’ll be honest, when we first got him, I wasn’t sure how things were going to go. But he was exactly what you needed, and you were exactly what he needed. Watching the two of you figure each other out, grow together, and become the team you are today has been so special.

I know that horse will always have a piece of your heart, and I think a part of yours will always belong to him too.

The O’Connors have become so much more than just kids in my 4-H group. You are family. And I am endlessly thankful that a little quiet girl decided to follow me around all those years ago. ❤️

I love you all more than you probably realize, and I am so incredibly thankful for every single one of you. ❤️

08/26/2026

Continuing My Week of Thankfulness ❤️

Continuing on my week of thankfulness, today I want to thank the Davis family. The two oldest girls were part of the original four that started this 4-H group, and this entire family has truly been a blessing—not only to my barn, but to my life as well. ❤️

Caitlin Davis, you are truly an angel. I genuinely don’t know how you do everything you do. You somehow manage dance, soccer, horses, cattle, goats, AND all of the different still exhibits your kids are involved in, and you do it all with a smile on your face. You are always willing to jump in, help, and keep things moving, and I appreciate you more than you know.

Hallie, watching you grow over this last, very difficult year has been inspiring. From losing your first pony to cancer, losing a goat, buying your first horse, only for that horse to go and get itself hurt, and then making the incredibly mature decision to take a different horse to fair—you have handled so much. And through all of it, you have grown so much, especially in your riding. You were once afraid to trot, and now we are loping confidently! Keep going, kiddo. You are truly unstoppable. ❤️

Jolee, my tough-as-nails, take-no-crap cowgirl. 😂 Your pony Dash challenges you at every turn, but you know how to turn it on when it matters. You handle everything with grit and determination. You are a wild child who brings joy, laughter, and attitude to anything and everything. And while that sassy mouth may get you in trouble from time to time, that same fire is what makes you so incredibly special. Never lose it.

Tanner, you are a tough nut to crack. 😂 This week, though, we bonded over squishies, and I learned a lot. Mostly that apparently the more squishies you have, the cooler you are. Somehow, that ended with me buying you a squishy. 🤦🏼‍♀️ You’re a smart one and definitely know a sucker when you see one! Watching you run around and play with all the other kids this week was so much fun. One of these days, I WILL get you on a horse. 😉

Keeley, I never knew I could have so many arguments with someone who knows so few words. 😂 I have a feeling you may end up being the sassiest of them all. Good luck, Caitlin and Wayne, with that one! 😂 But setting that aside, there is not a little girl who loves horses more. You want to be involved in every single aspect of horse care—scooping stalls, bathing, leading, and, of course, riding. If I don’t pull a horse for you to ride during lessons, I’m in BIG trouble. I truly cannot wait to watch you grow and see the little human you become. ❤️

And finally, Wayne Davis. You act all tough, but we all know you’re a softy when it comes to your kids. You helped so much with setup this week, always supplied a laugh and some solid commentary, and were there every step of the way. From the show pen to auction day, you give your kids a solid shoulder to lean on, and they probably don’t thank you enough—so I will.

Thank you, Wayne. Thank you, Caitlin. And thank you to the entire Davis family for being such an important part of this barn, this 4-H group, and my life. I’m so incredibly thankful for every one of you. ❤️

08/25/2026

The Girls Behind the Scenes 💕✨

A second thank-you post is absolutely necessary for the two girls who helped me run around like crazy all week. I rarely missed a go in the show pen, and that is because of these two right here! ❤️

Annike — you were my first consistent kid. You started me into the fair world, and it has been absolutely amazing to watch you grow throughout the years. From the little girl who was slightly scared of her HUGE but very pretty Penny, to the trainer you are today… watching that journey has been so special. 🥹

The four kids in this group that you claim as yours did an absolutely amazing job this week, and you should be SO proud of them — and of yourself! You have grown into such a wonderful horsewoman and leader, and I am lucky to have gotten to watch it all happen. ❤️

Rees Wall — my first true show kid. You kept me sane all week! 😂 If I needed it, it got done. You would be in one ring so I could be in the other, and somehow you always knew what needed to happen next. You are also WAY better at listening to the loudspeaker announcements than I am. 😂

Whether you want to believe it or not, you are a true role model for the kids in this group. They look up to you more than you probably realize. Keep sparkling, keep being you, and keep showing these kids what it looks like to work hard and have fun doing it. ✨

I truly could not have made it through this week without you two. Thank you for running, helping, listening, watching, catching, showing, and doing whatever needed to be done. You girls are so loved and appreciated! ❤️🐴

The fair may be over, but the memories and the friendships made along the way will last a whole lot longer. 💕

08/24/2026

This past week was been filled with so much hard work, excitement, emotion, and unforgettable memories. After a long and busy week, it’s important to pause and reflect on all there is to be thankful for—and especially the people who helped get us through it all. ❤️

To start, I have to thank Gail and Nikki.

Nikki Allred Boyd, without you, none of this would have been possible—literally. I simply did not have the time to get everything done. But after maybe one conversation, you jumped right on board and started the process of creating the Lakeside Riders 4-H Club. Your willingness to step in, take on the challenge, and help make this dream a reality means more than I can say.

Gail Grundman O'Connor, you jumped right in alongside Nikki, helping in every way possible and bringing calm to both Nikki’s and my storms. You helped hold everything together, kept us grounded, and were always there when we needed you.

I truly couldn’t think of two better people to lead this group of kids with. Thank you both for showing up, putting in the work, and helping make so many kids’ dreams come true. ❤️

This week would not have been the same without you, and neither would the Lakeside Riders 4-H Club. I am so incredibly thankful for you both!

08/24/2026

Saturday is always a little bittersweet. ❤️

We are all excited to finally head home after an absolutely amazing week, but there’s also a heaviness that comes with saying goodbye to fair. And this year, that feeling was even stronger as our kids said goodbye to their market animals. 🐄🐐

Before we packed everything up, we had one last day of competition!

🎭 Costume Contest
Evelyn & Jimmy — 5th

⚡️ Gaming
Lilly & Andy — 5th Stakes, 5th Poles, 4th Speed in Action
Maylie & Ruby — 2nd Pony W/T Down & Back
Hallie & Belle — 6th Horse W/T Down & Back

There were definitely some tears, hugs, and hard goodbyes. We reminded the kids that their animals knew SO much love while they were in their care. They were fed, groomed, cared for, talked to, worked with, and loved every single day. They gave these animals the very best life they could while they had them. ❤️

It’s hard to explain that sometimes this is part of what keeps life living. It’s part of agriculture, part of the responsibility they took on, and part of the difficult lessons that come with raising and caring for livestock.

These kids learned that love isn’t always about keeping something forever. Sometimes love means giving an animal the best life possible, being grateful for the time you had together, and having the strength to say goodbye.

We are incredibly proud of every one of our kids. ❤️

Now it’s time to pack up the stalls, load the trailers, say our goodbyes to the fairgrounds, and head home with full hearts, tired bodies, and a whole lot of memories. 🥹🐴🐄🐐

Until next year, fair. We’ll miss you! ❤️

08/22/2026

Friday at the Fair 🐴✨

Friday was trail day, which meant a little longer of a break between classes—which also meant I got my first (and probably only) fair nap of the week! 😴 Of course, I woke up just in time to rush off to the arena because apparently resting is not actually allowed during fair week. 😂

And what a day it was!

🌟 Hallie & Belle — 2nd in W/T Trail
🌟 Maylie & Ruby — 3rd in W/T Trail
🌟 Sam & Vito — 3rd in Sr. Trail
🌟 Sam & Maverick — 2nd in Sr. Trail

Once again, Sam was forced to choose between her two boys… and of course, she chose Maverick. 😂 She and Maverick then went on to place 3rd in Overall Sr. Trail!

🌟 Penny & Kruz — 2nd in Jr. Trail

Penny and Sam also made it into the Overall Trail Championship, where they tackled a really challenging pattern. Sam and Maverick finished 8th overall!

And to top off the day, they announced the Overall Ranch Horse High Point Awards! 🏆

🥇 Sam & Maverick — 1st Overall Senior Ranch Horse High Point
🏅 Sam & Vito — 5th Overall Senior Ranch Horse High Point
🥉 Penny & Kruz — 3rd Overall Junior Ranch Horse High Point

What a way to end another busy day! ❤️ So proud of everyone for all the hard work they’ve put in this week.

It was a great day, and now there’s just ONE MORE DAY to go! Let’s finish this fair week strong! 💪🐴🎡

CR Performance Horsemanship

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