Sleeping Willow Ranch

05/08/2026

Happy Friday everybody!!!! I cannot believe that it is Friday!!! FYI this is a long post because there is a lot to say!!!

This picture depicts exactly how I feel after the show last weekend. This show presented a huge mile stone for not only the ranch but the USAWE Under the Big Sky group. We have not had a show to this magnitude this early in the year and it was the biggest success!!!! All of the horses and riders coming out of the winter with only a few rides with pastures being muddy or snowy showed up and presented like our group does best!!! We had brand new riders, returning riders, riders from far away, volunteers from forever away and new to us judges and TDs. I am beyond humble that people made incredible travels just to learn from our group and learn the love for this sport that we represent so well!!!!! Thank you so much to Julie Alonzo for being so supportive and helpful ensuring that the management side of things was as prepared as she could possibly make me! Our officiating team; Erica Peet "R", Jill Barron "r", Dawn Swensson TD and Emma Schroder TD, was without a doubt the perfect team for our first time. They worked so incredibly well together. The judges comments and input were so encouraging for the riders and the TDs made sure everyone was represented to the fullest! My gate stewards Tim Hamilton and KR Rose were efficient and kept us rolling! The course resetter, Jeanette Harlow, was from HAVRE and I hope she learned a lot because she was asking all the right questions and was on point all weekend! Erica Peet designed a beautiful coarse that flowed enough for the new riders to feel secure navigating their first show but still challenged the upper levels to be their best in a tight arena. We are so incredibly blessed that Bobbie Thompson graces us with her talent at every show and even more so that she brought her dear friend Carol Whitfield to balance her when she could not be everywhere. If you have not gotten an email with picture proofs let me know and I will get your information to them.
I will keep saying thank you until the awe wears off after one of the best shows! Thank you EVERYONE who had a hand in this show and this sport!! It takes a village and we have a pretty incredible one at that!

Looking ahead the ranch is open for a practice day tomorrow if anyone would like to come out and practice what the judges recommended. If you have questions on your scorecard what the comments mean, bring it along and we can work through it together! Gates open at 10 and close at 2. $20 per rider and let us know if you are coming! Have a great Mothers day weekend everybody!!

05/03/2026

Our first show is the season is complete and oh my goodness was it an amazing show!!!! Our competitors showed up with something to prove!!!!! All the work everyone did; even if it was surviving the first long trip from home, completing their first WE show ever, remembering the pattern, not getting lost, executing the first two judge show, simply showing up and doing your best despite all odds or all of the above, showed up today!!!! Our officiating crew went above and beyond making quick on their toes thinking with time constraints, getting riders the time to complete their rides when things went sideways, and making sure everyone understood what was expected and every question was answered!!!! We are overjoyed and looking forward to doing it again tomorrow!!!! No words can express how much we appreciate every single one of you!!!

Unfortunately these were all the pictures I took but there were some beautiful picture opportunities for both extremely talented photographers to capture. Stay tuned for those!!!!

04/30/2026

Best part of the day is always putting babies outside for the first time! With the show in a couple days Cordobesa and her sweet boy (barn name ideas? We have a few but they are not quite right) get to go out and this boy is so big! He is only 9 days old and I have to be super careful he doesn't catch my nose with his head while he gets used to the halter!!! He is curious and so sweet!

04/20/2026

Mondays seem to be the day or the morning at least!!!! Cordobesa Sinia II gave us the biggest stud c**t we have ever had!!! Look at the length of the leg this sweet boy has and dare we dream that he will be black?!?!?!? Liberal adds another beautiful boy to the herd!!!!

04/14/2026

After a couple dreary days, Saturday's weather will be a great day for WE riders to come out and practice!! Gates open at 10 and let us know if you are coming!!!

With the show just around the corner, we are still looking for a few volunteers. Positions we are looking for are course resetters, scorer runners, an announcer/music "dj" and a scribe. I have included the descriptions of the scribe that is in the USAWE rule book and what I am looking for in a announcer/ music "dj"! If you or anyone your know are interested in any of these volunteer positions please let me know or come visit on Saturday! Volunteers will have food and beverages provided for the day! This is a great way to get an introduction the the show experience and get to know some really great people!

"The Scribe has a crucial position as they communicate the judge’s comments to the rider. The scribe’s job is to quickly, accurately, legibly, and quietly record the Judge’s marks and comments made for each movement or obstacle. It is helpful if a scribe has experience in dressage and/or working equitation and familiarity with the terms a judge would use." This is the definition from the USAWE Competition Manual.

For the Announcer/Music "DJ" we allow the riders to pick music to ride to while they ride their EOH. The announcer would thank the rider who just rode, announce who is riding next, the next 3 upcoming riders and then play the music during the ride (also making sure the song starts again before it ends because some of the rides are longer than the songs!)

Course restetters just help reset the EOH course after each ride and the score card runners just bring the score cards from the judges to the show secretary to be entered into GIRA.

04/05/2026

04/05/2026

Nothing like a beautiful day to put babies out in pasture!!!! Plus the momma's love the first roll!! I missed Jewel's roll but caught Tica's!!!

04/03/2026

Looking like a beautiful day to get out and practice your WE skills! 4 more weeks until our show so competitors come over and practice at our facility tomorrow from 10-2! Please stay to the right and follow the dirt road to the barn and park respectfully. Please be aware that others are here to practice and be aware of others around you. Also be understanding that there are people learning and remembering we were all there once. If you have not been here before check in at the front of the barn to sign a waiver, sign in and pay the $20 to ride. Let us know if you are coming and we will see you tomorrow.

04/02/2026

This filly has the most incredible personality! She is outgoing and brave! We would like to introduce SW Furina, the American Azteca filly! Check out her eyes!!!!! All of the mares in the pasture come to check out the new baby!!!