Home from all the LUV

Wow is really all I can say about this weekend at Women LUV Horses.
I was talking with Marie-Francis, who is Lynn's right hand woman and I told her that I thought no matter how many people came this weekend ... that they all went away touched.
The gathering of these souls that Lynn had the fortitude to bring together (and hats off to Marie-Francis for pulling it all off with style too) this weekend really transcended beyond the retreat, beyond the entertainment and education value and just resonated deep within a lot of women there. I was fortunate to have HS staffers Beth and Caitie Bellinger with me and they are mother and daughter, it was wonderful to see them share their love of horses and to be inspired in the way that I know Lynn imaged. My only sadness is that my two best girlfriends in the world that I share my love of horses with could not be there. Dawn ... I love you and you are my inspiration daily and I missed you so much this weekend! Kim ... I never get to see you and I haven't ridden with you in years but you were heavy in my thoughts this weekend. Stacy rides a black horse that looks like your Bandy and I always cry when she performs knowing that you and Bandy shared a bond like that and how we both still miss him.
What's so special too is the new friendships that I made Templeton Thompson you rock girl ... what an honor and a joy to have a new friend that I can ride and SING with!! Whoo hoo!! If y'all haven't heard Tempie sing ... she is the cat's meow! And Sam, her husband what a talented guy. Can't wait to come visit y'all!!
Sometimes you just know it when you've made a new friend for life! Miss Vicki O'Hara (and y'all need to make sure you get up to Raleigh August 3-5 for the Equine Extravaganza !!) I know God put her in my life so we could inspire and cheer each other on!
I didn't get to do my interview with Martha guys ... she was too busy ... so we will have to push her cover and appearence in the magazine to the August/ September issue .. and this time in June we will bring you my new gal pal Templeton! She's a knockout ... so I know it's gonna be a great cover.
What an honor to have all these gorgeous ladies on my covers. Lynn, Templeton then Martha ... wow. I'll have to bring the fellers back in that's Chris Cox and Craig Cameron ... in that order. Then y'all ... Jane Savoie!! I can't believe it. I am calling Carmen (my childhood riding instructor) and tellin' her ... I sat with Jane and she's gonna do an interview with me.
Guys I met so many great ladies ... you just don't even know. Kowgirl Glitz is a company that the gorgeous Kristin Smith ( who is a real rodeo cowgirl) formed. Y'all gotta go to her website www.cowgirlglitz.com ... her stuff is cooler than cool. And y'all!! My little girl pestered the foo out of her ... she was so nice to her. Thanx Kristin, your kindness will be rewarded. I promise!
Donna from the "getting pretty stinkin' famous" Donne & Cavalli is really an amazing lady. She'll be writing some columns and then we will venture down to St. Simons and bring you a full story on her.
I could go on and on ... but my intention is not to bore you to tears but rather to hopefully spur you into attending these type events ... to show you that it's important to share your passions with like minded folks and to treat yourselves!

Blessings and Good Night!!
Tess

Women LUV Horses!

I sit here in in the hotel after the Cowgirl Party on the second day of Lynn Palm's Women LUV Horses event in Concord, NC ... I am tired but having a ball.
This gathering of women is nothing short of amazing.
Tonight we saw Stacy Westfall perform her now famous bareback, bridleless reining demo. We saw a astounding dressage demo. Lynn showed her talents in a Western then English demo that also included bridleless riding.
We ate together ... listened to Martha Josey tell us about how she got back into horses after enjoying them as a child. Trail queen Cynthia Cantleberry told us about the mean lil pony that taught her riding skills and started her journey into horses.
I sat next to the incomparable Jane Savoie at dinner, for a while anyway.
I have the kids with me so I was running around a bit after them.
A big thanks to Beth from Kerrits Clothing for taking care of Sylvi for me. It's always so fun to see friends at these events. Alana from Horse & Rider, my good friend Brenda from Hoofbeats Magazine, seeing Stacy and getting to meet Jane. Vicki O'Hara and I barged in on my Mom in the Motor Home and watched the Preakness!! Dang, the Kentucky Derby winner almost won!
I love to migrate to the booths and see folks. I got to meet singer songwriter Templeton Thompson ... wait till you see her new Hippie Chic Cowgirl shirts ... they are just perfect! I got me one! Tempe is so talented ... will be featuring her on the cover of our winter issue!! Followed by Jane Savoie in the spring.
It's been an exciting weekend and when Lynn announces the next WLH, y'all need to make plans to be there.
And a big huge thanks to HorseSouth staffers Caitie and Beth Bellinger for stepping up to the plate and doing the Achievable Horsemanship demo since Jessica and Dawn couldn't be here.
But we do have new FOAL ... and baby girl (spotless :( .. ) but cute ... might be a dun or grulla? Hard to tell.
More tomorrow!!

Here is it is ... the 2008 RTTH line up

Of course Chris Cox ... returns to defend his title and he will be joined by ...

Ken McNabb

and

Tommy Garland

Details to follow later ...

ROAD TO THE HORSE CLINICIANS coming up!!!

I already know ... but I can't tell you just yet!!
Check back in the morning .... you'll know who's competing at the 2008 RTTH!!

2008 Road to the Horse Clinicians Announced May 12 on Rick Lamb’s The Horse Show; 2008 Road to the Horse Tickets on Sale May 14 MURFREESBORO, Tenn., May 8, 2007: Road to the Horse Owner/Producer Tootie Bland announces tickets to the 2008 event go on sale Monday, May 14, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. CST. Can’t wait to hear who’ll be competing? Tune in to Rick Lamb’s The Horse Show radio program just two days before tickets are sold, Saturday, May 12, 2007, to hear the competitors’ names revealed live on the air. “One of the most exciting parts of producing RTTH is bringing new surprises each year,” Bland says. “Once again, Road to the Horse is on the cutting edge. We have some great an unexpected plans.” Find out what surprises are in store for 2008 on May 12 when you listen to Lamb’s radio show. Lamb is the Official Host of Road to the Horse and will be first to release the names of the 2008 participants. Find out when the show will air on your local station or listen online at http://thehorseshow.com. The show will be available as streaming audio, or as a down-loadable podcast. Ticket Prices:
Premiere Seating— $105.00 (Good for both days of the event)
General Admission Seating— $55.00 (Good for both days of the event)
VIP Hospitality Room— $250.00 (limited number; VIP Hospitality Room Pass does not include admission to the event or a seat. The VIP Hospitality Pass gets you into the Hospitality Room for catered buffet meals, streamed video of the live event and a chance to visit with the stars)
RV Parking Space— $25.00 per night (Park your RV conveniently next to the MTSU Miller Coliseum with hookups). How to Order:Modern technology has its advantages. Purchase your tickets online and you can print them immediately. Plus, you’ll have a chance to see the arena’s seating chart and choose the seats best for you and your friends. Phone and Internet lines will be open at 9:00 a.m. CST, 10:00 a.m. EST. Log on to http://www.roadtothehorse.com before tickets go on sale to see seating choices and chart your ticket-purchasing plan. On May 14, log on to http://roadtothehorse.com/tickets.html to order. Bonus: If you order online, you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win two Hospitality Room tickets—that’s a value of $500. One person’s name will be drawn. Only two Hospitality tickets granted. Online orders only, no phone orders entered in bonus drawing. Void where prohibited. About Road to the Horse:Top horse trainers tame three virtually untouched young American Quarter Horses in front of a 6,000 capacity Tennessee Miller Coliseum crowd. Each clinician demonstrates his unique way of gentling a colt and preparing it to be ridden and negotiated through an obstacle course. Road to the Horse showcases the respected technique of gentling instead of breaking horses—the techniques commonly called “horse whispering.” For more information about Road to the Horse, visit http://www.roadtothehorse.com, or call 325-736-5000. Road to the Horse is produced by Tootie Bland/ Ride the Remuda Productions.

New Mags are here

The new issue of HorseSouth arrived today and will be in stores early next week.
Subscribers can expect their copies to arrive on Wednesday or Thursday.

It's been a blast working with Lynn Palm on Women Luv Horses stuff. I got to meet Debbie and Nancy Lane of Full Cry Farm.
I am looknig forward to the next issue and all my interviews ... we are going to meet the Gypsy Vanners!
Hope you like it!!

sad news

I got a call from my parents this morning. Our good friend and HorseSouth's beloved former Director of Advertising Jill Fuller, lost her battle with bone cancer and passed away last night.
At times like this you hear things like "she's in a better place" or "she's not suffering anymore". While all this is all true, it never makes it any less difficult.
Jill was an intelligent, strong woman.
She was a consumate professional and loyal friend. Jill had a wry whit and she was one of those people that could think "quick on her feet". She was and will remain a blessing in the lives of those who knew her.
What is so nonsencial about Jill's fight is that she was the "healthiest" person that I knew. She was a naturalist and was extremely knowledgable about optimal health. It doesn't seem quite fair that she is gone given her dedication to a healthy lifestyle.
Jill is survived by her wonderful husband Gordon, her beautiful daughter Marte and her outstanding son, Trey. Marte and Trey are testaments to Jill's subtle greatness. That's an odd discription, I know. But that's how she was. A great person, helpful, kind, analytical .... a problem solver. Jill was small framed with soft blonde curls and bright blue eyes, fair skin and a smile that was a gift in itself. What I mean about subtle greatness is that Jill was sort of quiet ... to understand how smart, how amazing she really was ... you needed to sit down and engage her in conversation. She always blew me away with her insight, her well stated opinions and her wit.
Please keep Jill's friends and family in your prayers. Trey is flying home from China and needs prayers for safe travel.
So here I am ... sitting and thinking as we all do when someone we love passes. You think that life is short and that you should seize the day and live life to the fullest. Is that why people like Jill are taken so early in life? To remind us to live?
I'll be working on something special to honor Jill and will announce that in the coming days.

Godspeed, Jill ... we love you!