Learning about Chris

Sorry for the delay in blogging about my convo with Chris Cox. It was short but turns out, we didn't need it to be long. I talked to him about HorseSouth and how its not typical and that we wanted to learn a little more about him outside the round pen. Turns out he was already thinking along those same lines and told me that he planned a whole talk for later that night at his VIP party.
I'll talk to him more but he's in Columbia now riding the president's horses! So here is what I found out about Chris ... he is shy. Those of you that feel he's got a big ego are probably seeing his shyness and mistaking it for something else. I don't think he's full of himself or anything like that. I do think he likes to be in control ... with his horses and with all that he has swirling around him. But get as well known as he has become and I bet it wouldnt't take much to feel as if you are spinning out of control. He likes to have a handle on about every aspect of his business. Honestly, there ain't nothin' wrong with that.
Whatelse ... hmmm ... Chris is a cowboy poet and he does a pretty good Johnny Cash impression both in the "Hi, I'm Johnny Cash" dept. and the "I hear that train a coming" too ... he can sing a little! Who knew?
He told us about growing up in the wilds of Austrailia and coming back home to America with a dream. He recanted some of his more memorable struggles in getting where he is today. Turns out his family is from Georgia (we will claim him!) and Tennessee. His uncle and some other relative type people were present at the party. My impression of Chris is not much different than it was when I first met him at Road to the Horse. He's a nice guy. He's pretty funny, he ain't hard to look at, he's honest and he's pretty humble. AND there is no doubt the man has skills ... with horses that is. I am sure he has some other skills but you younger, single, pretty girls will have to catch up to him on your own for that. Note to girls thinking of hookin' up with Chris. Don't wear shorts when you ride, he thinks its silly. He's a practical man. Probably don't cook him any pork and rice dishes ... just a guess there.
There will be a lot more in the next issue of HorseSouth about Chris. I still have to spend a little time with him on the phone. If you can get to one of his tour stops, I'd highly recommend it. For only $25 you'll learn a hell of a lot from a very knowledgable man. If you go to the VIP dinner (if they have one) you might even get to hear him sing!

Blessings,
Tess

Off to meet Chris

Evening all,
I am excited to report that we will be heading up to Murfreesboro, TN this weekend to interview Chris Cox for the Dog Days issue of HorseSouth. I was able to talk to Chris a little both before and after he won Road to the Horse back in March. He came across as a really humble guy that's maybe even a bit shy ... maybe not conventionally shy but shy in his own way.
I look forward to chatting with him. Do know that from July 16th thru Oct 1st, we will be giving $4 from ea. subscription order (full orders only) to 4H Equine programs. Chris picked 4H to recieve the big check he won for charity at RTTH, so we will see what we are able to contribute as well.
Plus my mom worked for the GA Cooperative Extention Service for many years and we have pretty strong ties to all things extention. As most of you know Extention agents are most often the 4H directos.
Be sure to check the blog early next week, I'll share tidbits from my interview.
Oh and Kent and I have lost our minds and have decided to ride the motorcycle to Texas in September. I need to take pics and interview Martha Josey and it seems like fun to take the bike. We will take several days to do the trip. Plus Martha lives at the TX / LA state line. So its about 650 miles. 6 hours on the bike ea day is totally doable. Yes, we have rain suits! Yes, we are nuts.

Hugs til later
Tess

Finding the time ...

Whew ... whirlwind city!
So busy lately but trying to keep everyone up to date on happenings etc.
Magazine going to press NOW. Helping folks promote their events. There sure are a lot talented people out there.
I hope I can teach my kids to recognize the talent and beauty IN people and to learn from what others have to offer earlier than I did.
There are a few exceptions but it seems that we are all rather like Ostriches ( head in the sand) until we get to a certain or level of maturity ... maybe it's the idea of proving yourself ... by yourself or something that kicks in. Dunno?

I encourage you all to take time to sit in the sun and in the shade to appreciate the beauty in both. Remember to take deep breaths and to stretch your muscles. Drink lots of good water and rest when you grow weary. Hug those you love, smile at strangers and laugh when the fancy strikes you.

Blessings to you and yours!

Tess

Look out, cool thingz cometh!!

YEE HAW ... what a great week!! (Warning ... this post contains massive rambling!)

Well there was that lil spill I took off Terra ( y'all saw my horse on the cover of the winter issue with Ed Dabney right!). Well the ground is still hard, so don't go pullin my tricks and stay IN the saddle.
Jody and Dawn are down at the Southern Cross Ranch relaxin and soakin in the quaint atmosphere. Y'all have fun ... go to www.southcross.com to learn more about Noel's place down there in Madison, GA.
Kent and I spent the weekend with Templeton and Sam, doing our interview and gettin pics for Tempy's cover. In the words of the now re-incarcerated Paris Hilton (tehehe) ... it's going to be "hot"! Y'all will have to get it and read it.

We have a new advertising rep, some of y'all know the awesome and beautiful Georgiana Norcross. If you are a horsey business owner be expectin' a call from Georgiana!

We are doin' a feature on female farriers ... so if you know any Sheshoers send 'em our way. We will feature 10 from around the South!

We will also be workin on a feature called "The 50 most influential horsewomen in America!" I am SOOOO excited bout this! Y'all gotta help me, because you DO NOT have to be famous to be included! We have a list of famous - semi-famous folks but I really want to mix it up with some people that are really out there making a difference! Like my friend Sue Vetsch. Sue ain't famous ... but boy howdy she is influential!! Rosemary Spence ... again ... famous? A teeny bit, she did win a big AQHA award. But more influential than anything. Hmmm ... who else? Cheryl Flanagan ... of www.savethehorses.com and Debi Metcalf from Netposse.com ... those gals deserve medals!

OH ... whew - wait til y'all check out the "Ya Gotta Have" section in the magazine. We used to call this "The product paddock" ... but not no more. We changed it ... duh. Marienne Morrison from Smooth Stride sent me some riding pants and now I can't wait til my shoulder and ribs get better so I CAN ride again. These are awesome pants! Dawn's got hers with her at the So. Cross ... they are TEE NINY ( as Tempy would say ) ... but Dawn is TEE NINY. Mine are not so tiny ... lol, oh well ... can't have everything. You'll see Dawn's TEE NINY butt in Marienne's awesome britches in the next issue. I am sayin' britches not breeches ... Marienne does have breeches or a brand of them. But Dawn's pants aren't breeches.

As I type this Miss Vicki ( O'Hara - EquineExtravaganza.com ) is out in CAL EE FORN NI A at the Western States Horse Expo, she's laughin it up at dinner with Kathy from Valley Vet! Y'all have fun! Geez, everybody is somewhere but me! My youngins are watchin Air Buddies - Air Bud, remember ... he's procreated!

Check the hot blog a lot ... Robbi and Cindy from Flashpoint are gonna be bloggin about the Atlanta Summer Classic Hunter Jumper show and Grand Prix! That's comin' up real soon. Here in GA we affectionately call that show "The Bob Bell" ... are you feelin' the love Bob?

Check back ASAP ... there will be lots to tell!

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 ...