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October 2011

We are off to the last USEA show of the year, the NE Equestrian Center Fall Gala and Championships in Rainier WA. http://www.nw-equestrian.net/ This time Jenny is riding Dagjeir and they are doing their first Training level. I am riding Paelka in Novice, his second recognized show. On Thursday we schooled XC at Aspen farms. Clever key holes! The horses jumped really well, and we feel ready for the show! Friday dressage Free walk Stretch in the trot on a 20m circle Jenny and Dagjeir got a 41.8 score Trotting around the arena just before going in We got a 42.0 score for our Novice test. Training cross country was so exciting! They had to jump down a log and bank with a very steep hill behind it! Jenny and Dagjeir jumped clear and had 7.2 time faults. Paelka and I warming up for XC We had a refusal on XC due to spooky flowers!!! After that he was great and did not spook anymore and we got no time faults. Jenny warming up for stadium It was very exciting to watch, again, since a lot of people had rails down, and dropped places, Dagjeir had one rail down, and moved up to 7th place! Results can be seen here: http://eventingscores.com/eventsr/nwec/ht1011/final_select.php?division=8&order=place Going into the final triple 7th place ribbon and we picked up the 4th place ribbon from the Aspen show. Paelka and I warming up for stadium We jumped double clear, and finished 14th.

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September 2011

This month we sadly had to say goodbye to Orissa. She is an awesome rider, and we were lucky to have her here this summer to help ride the horses. She especially liked Paelka.    Here they are at home, up a bank, one stride over the log and down bank,    You can see their ride on U-tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1ep6whleOI&feature=related We can't wait to see Orissa again next summer! Paktaly has been going well too.     On September 1st we went off island with 3 horses to go to the Aspen Farms Horse trials in Yelm, WA http://www.aspenfarmseventing.com/ . We took Dagjeir, Paelka (his first recognized show) and Paktaly, ( his first show since being back). We went to NW Equestrian Center http://www.nw-equestrian.net/ to school cross country to have our horses ready. Altough I do have a small cross country course at my house, it is small, and we don't have a water complex, besides, what they know at home, is not what they might think is jumpable away from home! We Saddled the horses up and I ponied one to be able to switch and school both horses on course.     Paelka, who has very little experience with down banks into water, jumped like he's done it all his life! You can see a video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eho9HI9ewzo&feature=related Friday dressage, all three horses are signed up for Novice level and we are all in the same class! Dagjeir got a score of 30.5 Paelka got a score of 35.0 And Paktaly, we did not get his picture, 57.0...my fault..I got the wrong canter leads both direction and fixed it too late!!!! Saturday we had stadium, Dagjeir and Jenny going clean and no time faults. Paelka and Paktaly jumped clean and no time faults too. But oh my,...with Paelka I missed a jump!!! and got eliminated!!! Again, rider error! At least they let me ride XC with Paelka, his first time in competition going cross country, and I did not know what to expect with him on XC, but he was great! We only had 3.2 time faults, I was thrilled! Paktaly we had a refusal at the first jump, after that we went clear and no time faults. Jenny and Dagjeir went clear too and finished on their dressage score and got 4th place! Results can be found at the USEA website here http://eventingscores.com/eventsr/aspen/ht0911/final_select.php?division=14&order=place Paelka's show name is Turkman Express Paktaly's show name is Turkmen Air The following weekend we went to the Whidbey Island one day horse trials. This time we took 4 horses, Jenny and Dagjeir, Sonya and Kegas, and me and Paktaly and Paelka. It was Sonya's first time to do a 3 day event. Since it's a one day, it meant 3 rides per day! That is a lot of tacking up and getting ready for all 3 disciplines! Paelka and me Paelka was very spooky in this arena!   Kegas and Sonya Dagjeir and Jenny doing the Training level test Jenny and Dagjeir going Training XC Paelka and me XC Paelka and me stadium Jenny and Dagjeir Paktaly and me Sonya and Kegas We all got ribbons and prizes, and we were exhausted!!!! Weekend after this we had visitors from Canada and jump lessons from Linda Chatfield. Jenny and Teddy Sonya and Kegas Laura and Napoleon Jenny and Dagjeir Paktaly and me Next weekend we had DR. Sarah Owens http://www.owensequine.com/ come do teeth floating and all the necessary things to keep everyone healthy. And she went for an Akhal-Teke ride too! That left us just enough time for October...another horse show to go to!

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August 2011

We had a big crew for Linda Chatfield's jump lesson this month, besides the local pony club we had 8 horses going our selves, Mia on Napoleon Zoe on Bey Bey Me on Bijoux Sonya on Kegas, Orissa on Teddy, Jenny on Pasabi, Me on Paktaly, Orissa on Paelka. We jumped at the fair again, stuffing 5 horses in the trailer, the pony in the very back! Zoe got first place in her class, Orissa rode the pony, They looked like champions on a puissance course! Orissa also rode Paelka, You can see their round here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaeUH2lOsZo Jenny rode Kegas, Zoe got ribbons on Bey Bey, I rode Paktaly, All the horses won ribbons!

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July 2011

We rode at our local fairground jump competition. Jenny rode Kegas And she rode Pasabi. I rode Teddy, And Paelka, Thanks for the help of my son and Laura and friends we were able to switch horses back to back. The horses jumped great even without warm-up! This month we have the honor of Orissa Moulton riding with us. She is here for the summer to work at the Friday Harbor labs, she is an avid rider and it has been a great help with all the horses we have going under saddle. Orissa and Teddy, Zoe and Kegas,..Zoe is going to stat her competing career this year! Teddy very cautious at the ditch! Paelka is amazing on cross country...this may be his true calling.. Jump in and out the water complex on Paelka, is like a walk in the park. Teddy is a seahorse.. Jenny and Kegas We got all the hay in...DRY!!! It was a real challenge this year! Thanks to many hands helping we got it all done

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June 2011

We have been taking jump lessons with Linda Chatfield and dressage lessons. The horses are improving and so are we. Kegas doing grids with Jenny And his dressage is going very nicely! And in the mean time he's being great for the kids, here is Lilah's niece riding him in the round pen. We are very proud of Kegas, he's come along nicely! Paelka is like a new horse...loves to jump, beautiful mover... But somehow the camera was left off duty... Marauder is developing great style over jumps. Alajoz now goes under saddle.. And has a great jump in her! She's a smart one...show her once, and look mom..no hands! Etoscha got new glamour shots, we hope to breed her this summer, Gergi is turning into a stunning young mare, Gullie keeps traffic slowing down with her amazing sheen, Pasabi is having some breakthroughs in jumping and flat work, Padisha got new glamour shots, Here she is helping one of our many summer visitors. Paktaly is back, and I love this horse...we will be a team this summer! The mares and foals are all as shiny as can be.. Pipi was bred, Pallas Athena has been bred again, can't have enough of her foals! Everyone get's their feet done... We've had more paint parties, Lots of kids riding, on the left is Ulduze, who at 3 years old is already a good kid horse. Taken friends and visitors on trail rides, Always barefoot.

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May 2011

I had to go to Europe for family business, and took the opportunity to visit my friend Linda Welsh in Czech Republic. We went to see her colt she bought from Petra Maresova who is growing up in Petra's large pastures. Petra showed us al her horses, Then we went to Zdenka's farm, She keeps her horses at this old farm, it's dreamy beautiful.. She had just traded one of her colts for a colt from Clara de Vos Steenwijk in Holland. He was still a little shy from the long trip. Then we visited the farm of Hutul ponies! I did this as a favor for Professor Gus Cothran in the US, he researches ancestry of the horse, the Hutul pony is an old endangered species. I photographed and got hair samples to send to Gus. It was a fun experience! These though ponies get ridden by kids and adults at their riding school. You can see a movie of the trip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfxBIsOogcw

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May 2011

Our foals are growing and we have lots of visitors stopping by. Laura and Guzel Gush Lilah and Guzel, she is becoming her favorite.. Ulah and Talk of the Turcoman Becky and Talk of the Turcoman Jenny and True Turk

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April 2011

Sweet Water Farm has officially been invited to the International Akhal-Teke horse Association of Turkmenistan. The president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is an avid horse man, and wants to promote the Akhal-Teke horse. This meeting of breeders from all over the world was set in place to have a world organization for Akhal-Teke horses. Over 150 guests were invited, form breeders to photographers, course designers, farriers and more. Jenny did an outstanding report on her blog about the events of everyday you can read here: http://eventingakhaltekes.blogspot.com/2011/04/to-turkmenistan-we-go.html

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April 2011

We have been line jumping the geldings. It's been a lot of fun and it's easy for them with no one on their back. First we did Paelka We stopped at 4 and half ft since he did such a good job and we want to keep it a positive experience. not bad for the first time! you can see his video here Then we did Teddy ( Silk road Marauder) Teddy had never done this before, so we were quite pleased this was easy for him too! Teddy jumped 4 ft 3 inches You can see his video here

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April 2011

Finally our foals have arrived! Pallas Athena, who was due last, gave birth first to a handsome colt. I think he will be Chestnut like his his mommy. He is full of himself, already a few days old and he is running around like there is no tomorrow! No stopping this little fellow! Second to give birth was Ayal Pikira, a maiden mare. He may become a buckskin or black, he has a blue eye on the left, They all are 2 days apart. Last was Altyn Gush, also a maiden mare. Gullie had a filly! She too may become a buckskin or black. All 3 foals are by Pan Tau.

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March 2011

On the 5th Tatiana Ryabova and Tito Pontecorvo walked off the ferry to come and see our horses! This is the first time Tatiana came to our farm. It is unfortunate the horses are furry, and that we've had the wettest winter ever and mud is everywhere, but I am very excited she is finally seeing our breeding program. Unfortunately Tatiana came down with a nasty cold, that turned into a flue, she did her best to grade the horses, and Tito translated for us. Here Sheherezad is getting measured Pasabi Paelka Leucosia Gullie Pan Tau Pipi Left is Alajoz, Padisha getting measured and Etoscha Etoscha getting measured We are very happy they came. Official results will be posted here.

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February 2011

We now have lessons once a month with Linda Chatfield, instructor from the Whidbey Island Pony Club and organizer of the Area VII Whidbey Island horse trials. We treasure her lessons, and each time she comes we ride as many of our horses as possible. Here are the links to the videos of the jump lessons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptQ_YF0N5Pk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWJnP8yzk6A And with our new lights in the arena we can now jump after dark.

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January 2011

FOTATA, stands for: Friends Of The Akhal-Teke Award For 3 years in the running anyone owning an Akhal-Teke pure or part bred can send in their accomplishments on their mounts or breed promotions they have done. The results are listed here Jenny was the winner this year and received a gorgeous hand made award made by Shannon herself!

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January 2011

First of all, happy new year! Last minute news from last year...Sweet Water Farm got a live interview on a radio talk show about horses. Horses in the morning talk show, you can read about it here.