Trenton and the Rodeo

I could barely sleep Friday night in anticipation of getting to meet Trenton and his family and to take them to their first rodeo.  First, we had my son's soccer game, then the drive to Harrisburg.  We arrived at about 4:30, checked into hotel, then the kiddos wanted a small bite before we went to meet the Noll's at 6:00 at the farm show complex 

We arrived, and Trenton and Bryce were eating some pizza waiting for us.  They were both sweeties and looked very handsome in their Dreaming of Three shirts.

Then, once he was done with his pizza, he looked through some of his goodies in his goodie bag. He LOVED everything!   The cowboy hat and feather from Salty Cowgirl, the very cool dolphin color zipper pull from Horsehair Bracelets by Candance (he put it right on his jacket), and he thought the feather from Southpaw Beadworks was really cool!  The t-shirts from Penn State and Forever Safe were big hits too!  Mena, his mother, thought the the Forever Safe sponsorship package was going to be really neat for the boys.  So far, it seemed that Trenton is a horse lover no doubt, so I'll be curious as to which animal he picks.  I think they will really enjoy that activity.  Bryce thought the cowboy hat was cool too!  I made Bryce a goodie bag and he also had t-shirt from Forever Safe which he thought was pretty cool too.

After that, Trenton seemed to warm up a little.  He was full of high 5's, wanting to arm wrestle, hugs and telling me to close my eyes, and then he'd say "boo!". 







He definitely didn't take long to warm up to all of us. 

My dauaghter even told me that Trenton told her he loved her.  Mena said that Trenton loves the ladies for sure!

We headed into the rodeo and got seated.  Trenton really seemed to enjoy the music, he was jamming as he sat in his seat waiting for the rodeo to start.  Then, the lights went out, and the announcer got a bit louder.  Noise, loud noise I never realized would bother Trenton with having a brain tumor . My step father never really showed any signs of noise bothering him too much during his year long battle, but then again, we never really went anyplace loud.  So, Trenton's dad took him outside the arena until the lights came back on and it got a little less loud.


Once they came back inside they moved Trenton to an area where it would be easy for him to step outside if it got too loud or dark.  Which turned out better in the end.  We watched some bulls, then a very cool rodeo clown/dog act.  Afterwards, the rodeo clown came up to say hello to Trenton.  They stopped the rodeo and introduced Trenton as a very special guest of the rodeo!  How cool is that!  First rodeo, and Dave Martin stops the performance to welcome Trenton and to present him with an autograph Bullride Mania tshirt signed by some of the bull riders that evening. 

Trenton was totally thrilled and felt very special. 

Then the girls came out to do some barrel racing, which he really enjoyed.  Horses are his favorite!  He started to actually fall asleep towards the end of barrels, as his bedtime is typically 9:00 p.m, so it was a bit past his bedtime and he was stuggling even though he was really enjoying the show.  He hugged me and told me he loved me...so that was very special to me to know how much he enjoyed the rodeo and was comfortable with us all.  I certainly fell in love with him as well in the short time I was able to spend with him.

The family left after the girls barrel race.  We said our goodbyes, and hopefully will see them in Nags Head in June as they are moving to the Outer Banks in the beginning of June.  I hope to have a cookout with them while there, so we can spend some more time with them all and relax some more. 

After  they left I received a text from Mena:  "Trenton just gave the biggest squeal n said mom I love that! Thank you so much for the wonderful night- any time the kids are smiling like this out means they had a great time!!!!".

So I felt like what I set out to do was accomplished--the family having a great time, perhaps taking their mind off of things for a little while. 

And my favorite part, I received yet another text from Mena: 

"Trenton and Bryce are in bed asleep, Bryce will be talking about this for days.  Trenton said he loved the hot babes on horses, lol love that boy! " 

He is one little ladies man for sure!  What a night!  What a great family!  What a very special boy Trenton Noll is!  He is a great Rodeo Kid #2!  I feel very honored to have met him and to have spent the night with him at his first rodeo!



Off to Bullride Mania With Trenton and His Family

It's been another very exciting week for Dreaming of Three!  I've been contacted by one of the writers for Rodeo News, who will be doing a feature on me/Dreaming of Three/Team DO3, and also received news that we will have tv news coverage at the May 26, Venango County Fairgrounds Penn-Ohio BRA horse show! 

The Team continues to grow daily!  We have people from CA, OH, PA, TX, LA and MO on the team!  Hopefully, someday we can have TEAM DO3 members in every state!  I certainly have alot of dreams of where it all can go! 

I have even been working on a Business Plan, and trying to get organized and things continue to build.  Hopefully, I believe with some organization, I'll be able to keep ontop of everything! 

Tomorrow, my family and I will be driving to Harrisburg to meet up with the Noll family and go to the Bullride Mania.  My kids can't wait to meet Trenton and his brother Bryce!  I have the goody bags all filled with items donated by some of the sponsors and some of the items we purchased.  I think he will be extremely happy with all his items.  Even a sponsorship package from Forever Safe Farms for Trenton and his brother where they can choose an animal to sponsor and receive updates, a framed picture, etc.  I've spoke to Dave Martin who puts the rodeo on, and he's got some great friends from the rodeo coming up to make Trenton's night very special as well.  I can't wait!

I hope to have some wonderful photos of the evening and some video when I return. 

This is one of the great opportunities for me, to be able to meet the families that we are all working very hard to raise money to help find a cure! 

What A Whirlwind This Week Has Been!!!

No doubt, this week will go down in history (well, in my mind, my history I suppose) as the week that Dreaming of Three really took flight!  It went from the end of last month, Sis bleeding, and me thinking, "well, all that work, and preparation, and I'm done!"... to "holy smokes, how am I going to manage to keep up!". 

A business associate of Franco's  and friend of mine, Steve, was kind enough to write my Press Release regarding Team DO3 that Barrel Horse News requested.  I sent that out to several magazines as well, however, haven't heard anything from anybody yet.  So the week, I thought, was going to be slow in the land of DO3.  Little did I know!  Steve had told me that this thing could be huge!  Was I ready?  How far did I want it to go!?  My answers were, yes I was ready, and I want it to go as far as possible..to help and reach as many people as possible!

The Team members were trickling in, but it wasn't until I explained to people, that it doesn't matter if you win $2 or $20,000, you can be on the Team!  It isn't about how much you donate, just that you want to "give back" or "pay it forward".  At that point, I was overwhelmed with the people wanting on the Team!  I have two youth members now, which I think is wonderful!  As what better way to teach your child to give back.  Sometimes, we all tend to forget how fortunate we are, with our health and what we own and enjoy.  I have about 17 members of TEAM DO3...still awaiting more forms to get up on the site.

My own children have watched this thing with Dreaming of Three grow and they want to be a part of it however they can, even though they do not compete yet on their ponies-they are proud to wear their shirts and are excited to be coming to the rodeo with me and my husband on April 28 to meet Trenton and his family.  We also have always watched shows like the "Home Makeover" show together and every day the Ellen Show via my DVR.  My son actually watches the Ellen Show twice!  With my mother after school and then in the evening when I get home.  He actually tells me all the jokes before Ellen says them..drives me bonkos!  Then, he tells me all the time, he wants to go see the Ellen show some day!  Anyway, if Ellen gives a home to somebody-my son will say, "I'm gonna do that someday for people" or if she gives away a car, my daughter will say "I'd like to be able to do that".  So I think, having people in children's lives, that give back with their good fortunes in life, teaches them to do the same.  Therefore, one life touched continues to ripple outward.  We've always watched Ellen, Ellen inspired me, and Ellen and myself inspires my own children...and hopefully it will just keep going on and on and on!

Also, this week, I acquired another horse!  I never thought I would have a back up horse, as we just didn't have the space.  My husband has a trail horse, my kids both have a pony, and then Sis and of course Snowball, my mascot (whom is a mini bascially, doesn't take much space-and was the kids first pony-I'm not allowed to ever sell him!).  So, my husband watched me agonize for a couple days over the fact that all my hard work with Dreaming of Three had come to a very quick stop with Sis needing time off for a month. (and who knows for how many other months if she would bleed in the future).  He didn't want to see all this hard work, and effort to do good for others go to waste.  Therefore, he has offered to sell his trail horse, in order for us to have the space for me to have a back up.  I fought that for a bit, as I didn't want him to do that for me, but then realized, I could find something that would work for both of us.  Something he could ride on trails when my family would go out, and something that I could run when Sis couldn't.  I am very touched that he had my back like that, and it means alot to me. 

My friend Jeanie and I searched for mares..as of course that is all that I had in my barn.  However, it seemed, when we'd find one that was affordable for me, and worth a shot, they would sell within a day!  She had a gelding in her barn, that she was looking at for her daughter who rodeos.  But, things went a different way for her daughter, and this big, beautiful white gelding was there...calling my name!  Jeanie just was in love with him, so from that, I knew he must be something special.   His name is Smoke!  He's from the bloodlines of Streakin Six and Dash for Cash, two great barrel racing sires. 
I, of course, can't just post a photo-I had to make a video!  So, introducing the new "man" in my life, "Smoke"!
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/8388586/smoke/

I hope we do well, and add to the tally of TEAM DO3!  Sis should be back up online in about two weeks or so...  My fingers are crossed all goes well, and I have her back!  I'm excited about Smoke, but I also want my ole' trustworthy mare back.  I'm comfortable on her...  I know what to expect.  I know here and I have collected checks!

So as you can see, the week has been crazy!  But a good crazy!  Stay tuned!  I hope to have more wonderful news in the coming weeks!  I hope TEAM DO3 grows and grows..perhaps someday needing to divide it into regions, or divide into seperate teams of ropers, barrel racers, jumpers, etc.  Who knows!  The possibilities are endless! 

Smoke...

Alot of things are happening this week...it's a whirlwind...  Enjoy the video!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/8373775/smoke/

WOW! Is all I can say about this past week!

Team DO3 has really really taken flight!  I never expected such support and interest however, I am very glad it is turning out to perhaps be something big! 

Currently we have 9 team members!  You can see them all on http://www.dreamingofthree.com/!  I am hoping to get some more people on the team that have some other disciplines other than barrel racing-so that people will recognize that it's all equestrians!  Any shape, form, age, no matter how much you win in a year or how little..if you are willing to donate 10% or more...our team welcomes you!  Watch out Cancer, Heart Disease and animal cruelty...Team DO3 is coming for ya!



Also, in the midst of all this action with the new team members, I had an interview today with RFD-TV!  I did a phone interview, and unfortunately, I don't get RFD-TV, as I don't have Dish...so therefore, I couldn't even DVR it to see it later.  :(  So I have no clue how it turned out..but any exposure is good exposure! 

Last but not least to report upon, is the Connie Combs clinic yesterday!  First, I must say, THANK GOD I had Harry and NOT Sis there!  Trains overhead, walking inside a building with booths, etc...geesh, she would have killed me no doubt!  Harry was a perfect gentelman.  I learned alot of new things, and Connie was very nice.  I'm very glad my friend Melissa allowed me to borrow Harry, and be able to still take this wealth of information with me to future horses or to show others.    I had a blast! 

Keep in mind also, that Harry is for sale!  Not too many opportunties are out there to own such a wonderful horse!  Don't waste any time, snag him up!  Contact me for his owner information!

Have a great weekend everybody!  Good luck to Team DO3 members wherever you are hauling to..kick some butt!  



Cowgirls in Style Magazine

I have been contacted by Cowgirls in Style Magazine  to be featured in their "Making a Difference" section of their magazine! 

I'm really thrilled beyond belief!  Please make sure you check them out at http://www.cowgirlsinstyle.com/index.html

Also, I have been getting alot of interest in Team DO3, so I am going to get the Team Signup forms up on the website soon, as I worked on it last night. 

I started off yesterday, a little down, as it was my father's birthday.  I remember making him his favorite Easter Cheese, laughing as he slapped anybody's hand that would try to take a piece.  I miss him terribly.  However, after work, I headed out to ride Harry and make a run on him before the Connie Combs clinic this week.  I certainly didn't want to go there never having made a run on him.  He ran great!  He is a perfect gentleman for sure!  Does his job perfectly!  No chananigans what so ever!  I'd like to add too, that Harry is for sale, so if you need a consistent horse, contact me and I'll put you in contact with his owner.  If you meet him, try him, you'll fall in love!  If I didn't have Sis...  I'd be swoopin him up no doubt!  Then, after my run, I heard from Cowgirls In Style-so by the end of the day, I was feeling like the wind in my sails had returned. 

Harry

It is truly amazing how when things seem to be going so wrong, friends and family step up to help you.  As I mentioned, Beth Penland is going to take over raising some funds for the charities while Sis heals these next few weeks.  Also, my Connie Combs clinic is this coming Thursday.  As you know, I was truly excited about being selected to ride with Connie, so when Sis needed her few weeks off, my heart was crushed. 

Several years ago, I was scheduled to ride with Charmayne James in a weekend clinic.  I can't tell you how excited I was about that as well.  However, Sis and I got into a bit of an arguement, and she won!  I broke my wrist, and had to cancel out of that clinic as well.  So when I realized I couldn't take Sis Thursday, it was very upsetting to me.  Once again, however, a friend, Melissa Kelly, stepped up and is allowing me to borrow her good horse, Harry to take to the clinic. 

He is a great horse no doubt!  I've watched Melissa run him and compete against me for several years.. most the time kicking my butt, so I am very excited to be riding Harry these next few days. 

Which, "next FEW days" is just it!  I have 4 days to get accustomed to a horse that I've never sat upon and take to a clinic!  I don't know if I'm just crazy or determined!  I do know one thing though, I am forever grateful for these friends who have saved me from losing weekends without earnings for the charities, and a friend who is entrusting me with her horse so that I may still participate in the clinic.  I am usually on the other side of things, where I have loaned Sis to friends whose horse got hurt, or passed away and they are in the running for points and awards at the end of the year.  I've never been on the side of needing a horse to borrow.  So it is a slightly strange feeling for me but at the same time an amazing feeling!

Thank you to all!  Even to my family for getting up early this morning to go and get Harry and to rush back for my daughter's birthday party tonight!  Sorry for the drive guys and thank you to everybody for all your support that you are giving to me!

Dreaming of Three in Equine Journal May issue!

Although I do not have the cover photo for the May issue yet, Equine Journal is going to have Dreaming of Three information listed in their magazine.  Please keep your eye out!

Wheels Turned, Results Happened

After turning my wheels, and trying to think about how my earning money for the charities didn't have to be on hold for a month while Sis healed, I've found a solution. I rolled around the idea of borrowing a friend's horse that offered, leasing a horse, or buying a back up horse (which is still a possibility if we find something that is suitable for my husband to ride on trails, and find a new home for his trail horse). However, when I thought about the extra expense that it would be for me to borrow a friend's horse, as I'd have to board it for a month or so, not having any room in my barn-- it didn't make a lot of sense. #1, because of board. #2, because for me to ride another's horse that I am not familiar with or it with me, it would be difficult to pull checks within those two months. So, I started thinking, why not just ask a friend to fill my shoes in raising money for the charities this month. They are able to ride their own horse with success and would have a much better chance at pulling paychecks!


I asked a friend, Beth Penland, as she was the other person who signed up with the Kick Ass Cowgirls "Race for a Cause" contest (that has been put on hold, as it was only myself and Beth signed up) and Beth was also who nominated me for the Kick Ass Cowgirl, Cowgirl In Need contest last October (that I won!). She gladly said she would donate her winnings for April to the charities! So, I can relax a bit, and not worry that I am losing that month of possible paychecks-it's all on Beth now! ;-)

Beth's Profile
I grew up in a horse-loving family. My dad STILL is playing with his horses. He was always picking up a horse from somewhere and bringing it home to his six kids to train, ride and sell. I was a 4-H kid. I did a little of everything but I was really good at the western equitation, as it used to be called and the trail class. I took a break for college, marriage and running a business. When my son, Mason, was 3 years old we bought our first farm so I could get back into horses. At that time, I started thinking about barrel racing.

Once Kent, my husband, realized I was completely serious about barrel racing, he got a hold of Sue Bologna, who he knew from high school and the rest is history. I started with some lessons from Sue and progressed over the years from there.

I started barrel racing in 1999. The pee wee contestants used to beat me and that just stuck in my craw. But I was having a blast! So I kept riding and practicing and fighting my way to be a better rider and barrel racer.

Kent and I kept hauling to the Penn-Ohio barrel races around Pennsylvania and Ohio. We've always said the quote "You're only as good as your competition." And the Penn-Ohio members are some STIFF competition. Like I said, even those Pee Wees used to kick my butt. LOL! Eventually I kept working my way up through the divisions.

I got my mare, Whirling Fastcat from Alabama when she was about a year old. I went down there to look at a 4 year old gelding and saw her running around the pasture. I didn't click with the gelding but managed to bring her and another yearling home. She's become my dream horse. We have just bonded and clicked over the years. She's a lot of fun to race as she has become so automatic. She is definitely a pushing kind of horse.

I've been nicknamed the Screaming Eagle by my good friend, Jamie Hart. If you've ever witnessed my race, you understand the name. I guess I tend to wake up the place.! . If you haven't heard, I usually “scream” during my run. My friends like to give me grief for it, which is fine by me. I can take the jokes!

I am so thrilled to help out with this cause. Kent and I are a big believer in making contributions and helping out when needed. I'm hoping that more folks see this and want to join our efforts in raising money for these three charities.

Last year, my mare and I won awards in the Penn-Ohio 1D and in the Penn-Ohio Masters classes.
My favorite win was last year at SEC in October when my son and I both tied for the win. That was really special and the chances of that ever happening. Wow!

So perhaps from bad things, good things can happen.  All this has gotten my wheels turning, thinking about, what if I asked people to join me in raising money for the charities while in the saddle?  A team of Dreaming of Three riders-Team DO3!! 

I am gonna order a few of these shirts for Beth and myself and work on a game plan for getting more riders involved.  Whether you are a barrel racer, roper, dressage, jumper, team penner, bulldogger, saddle bronc rider, etc, if you collect some paychecks while sitting on the back of a horse-you can be on Team DO3!  Raising awareness for the three charities-saving lives-one ride at a time! Stay tuned!

Pure excitement to leaving in tears.

Saturday morning I woke up with pure excitement of getting to my first barrel race of 2012.  The first barrel race, "racing for a cure".  We arrived, and my husband and I set up my Dreaming of Three banner, along with tshirts, mugs, information, etc.  I entered my classes and caught up with friends I hadn't seen all winter.  I sold six tshirts and all of Amy's mugs!  So that was good news.

Then, finally, after waiting most the day, it was time for me to saddle up and warm up for the Masters class.  Felt so good getting on Sis, I was really pumped.  She was too! (either fortunately or unfortunatly as she is quite the handful, bucking, side stepping, basically acting like the "crazy train" that she is!)  We got called into the arena, and as usual, she gives me some static, but then is ready to take off into the arena.  We had an awesome run..all three barrels perfect!  She is amazing in that sense, as she hadn't seen a barrel since November.  I don't practice nor make runs before my first show, and she goes in and works like a champ!  However, on the home stretch, I felt her shut down a bit...just something felt "off".  We didn't time out horribly, but certainly not what she is capable of doing.  But, with it being the first time out after a four month break, I didn't expect her to break records.  After we exited the chute, she walked out of the arena.  WALKED!  Not like Sis in the least.  It's amazing how well you can be in tune with a horse you've owned for 9 years and know when something isn't right.  On the way back to the trailer, she coughed, and my heart sank.  She bled last September.  I gave her a month off, and she never did so again.  That cough, had me worried-it was dark, and I couldn't see if she was bleeding.  I got back to the trailer, felt something sticky on my jacket and just started crying.  I knew right away, blood.  I got the flashlight, shined it on her nostrils, and both were streaming with bright red blood. 

So I started the day with pure excitement of starting my season to leaving in tears of "what now"!?  A month off of course, but not knowing if I can control her bleeding after excersion is my worry.  My friends assured me that it was fixable and told me not to cry as there are alot of barrel horses out there that are bleeders, but is hard not to do so with so many plans for this year.  So much I wanted to accomplish.  So many people I wanted to ride for, ride with (the initials on my saddle crosses) and make proud.

I wish I had a back up horse, like so many do that barrel race.   I've been offered a friend's horse to ride, however, without the space in my  barn, I'd have to board somewhere close, and I'm not sure yet if that makes sense.  I feel I need to give Sis those 10 days on anti biotics, slowly get back to riding her, and hoping and praying she takes the herbs I bought for her that can help control it and I can keep it from happening again.  I hadn't planned on another barrel race until April 21, so that is almost a month off.  I have the Connie Combs clinic, which I'll have to find out if they are expecting us to make a run or not before I can decide if I have to pull out or not.    I've been slowly adding a pinch of the herbs to her feed, getting her used to the smell, and hopefully I'll be able to give her the full dose every day soon and keep her on those.  I've been given more tips as well that I will put into place.  (don't feed alot of hay before runs, or give alot of water before.)

So, I ask for prayers for Sis to recover, and to take her herbs and that those herbs work so she doesn't bleed again.  I will certainly keep all posted on things.  Hopefully, in two weeks, we'll be good as new and ready to continue our mission.  I can't do this without Sis, that is for sure!