Barney's Balls.

 Not long ago Cindy Connors started baking treats for her horse Barney, and they were such a hit when she shared them with friends, she and Lauren Sara decided to turn "Barney's Balls" into a small business that could also do some good for the horse community.

"Cindy and I are good friends and have been riding together for years," said Lauren. "We were inspired by two top athletes, Silva Martin & Margaret “Gigi” Macintosh, whom each faced life threatening/career ending riding accidents. Yet through sheer grit and determination, each recovered and is back competing on an international stage. We are donating a portion of the proceeds from “Barneys Balls” to the US Para Equestrian Association (USPEA), in support of Gigi’s quest for a place on the 2016 Para Equestrian Olympic Team, as well as helping Silva’s favorite cause, LOVE YOUR BRAIN. It’s our small way of treating our horses and in turn giving back."

You can learn more about Gigi’s road back by watching “Fork in the Road”, a short documentary Cindy produced in the fall of 2014 and which is now making the rounds at film festivals. Link: [Fork in the Road]

Starting this week, one and two-pound bags of Barney’s Balls will be in stock at Embreeville Mill Feed Store in Coatesville, PA and at our website, www.barneysballs.com.

 For more information please contact Lauren: 610.649.8094

Barney's Balls make great holiday gifts, so please show them your support! 

  

USDF Finals in Lexington

We finished the show year at the USDF Finals in Lexington KY last weekend. It has been a year with up and downs for sure! But I am so lucky that I have so many people around me that support me through the good but also through the bad times!

At the finals I rode Danka Shoene RRS, bred by Melinda Walton and Larry Smith, and NOW owned by Michelle Huber, in the training level US Finals. Shoene was the youngest horse in the class and we finished 10th in the country. What a great horse! Michelle could not have bought a better young horse. He was so honest and did not care at all about anything at the busy Kentucky Horse Park.

Shoene and Jerusha

After we were done showing Jerusha, (who had everybody looking amazing!) hacked Shoene all around the horse park and in all arenas she was allowed to show him. And of course he was perfect!

Schoene and Silva at the awards ceremony

I also had Zoran, owned by the fabulous Bonnie Stedt, qualified for the US finals in the Prix St George.

After winning our warm up class on Friday he went on to finish 9th on the country for Prix St George level. 

Zoran is such an exciting horse for the future and I cannot thank Bonnie enough for hanging in there with me!

Sandy and Tony at the Kentucky Horse Park

My student and friend Sandy Retzlaff and her horse Rigoletto (Tony) joined us this weekend. We did a lot of lessons and made this weekend into a boot camp weekend for Sandy and Tony. They improved in all second level tests each time!