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Consignment Show is going on simultaneously! 

We're so happy to have Becker Brother on site to help us get our show riders looking incredible for 2012!  And we welcome all of our new academy riders to their first experience picking out show duds! This is exciting stuff.  Becker Brothers can help you design gorgeous custom clothing and they can also take consigned pieces and whip them into shape for you.  Please note: CLS does NOT take a percentage of consigned clothes and gives all the money straight to the seller. For this reason we don't have any credit card transactions with consigned clothes -- so please bring your check book. Becker Brothers DOES take credit cards. Come out today and let's get ready for Show Season 2012!!!  

Dear CLS Family and Friends,

Thanks to so many of you for coming out for our makeup barn safety meeting! It was an overwhelming turnout. Barn safety is our Number One priority!

Pictures on the right: from our make-up safety meeting.  A packed house!  Thank you! 

Give a CLS Gift Certificate for Valentines! 

Boots! 

We like Uggs. We like tennis shoes, too.  But when you ride -- you need riding boots.  Riding boots are mandatory for all CLS riders! This is for safety. Your foot should easily release from the stirrups.

For riders who are already wearing proper riding boots, please check them to see if they have about a thumbs worth of space in front of their big toe.  Some kids will wait until their feet are literally coming out of the side of their boots before they say, "Hey, my boots are too small!"

The consignment show going on right now is a fantastic place to find used boots. CLS also sells gorgeous new riding boots 7 days a week. 

Last Call to Sign Up Academy Team Members and Show Horse Riders to Sign up For the Winter Tournament 

ASAC Winter Tournament at Latta Park Plantation

Saturday, January 21st - The show begins at 11:00 am

SIGN UP SHEET IS AT THE BARN 

We'll be taking our Academy Team Group Pictures so please join us! 

Sign up immediately for the first of two Winter Tournaments. This is a very casual show and it's gets everyone excited about the Show Season ahead.  For this show, riders wear their CLS vests and navy or black riding pants. Sign up in the office today! 

Winter at CLS -- try a Family Ride!
We do have several families at CLS who ride together in a group every week.  It's wonderful to see these groups -- whether it's a mom, dad and kids or mother/daughter duo having fun together and forming a unique bond.  Now we know that have riders who are a whole lot more skilled than their parents -- but moms and dads don't worry!  We can get you up on a horse and learning to ride in no time.  To schedule a family group lesson, please call the barn. Thanks! 

In Memory of Vegas:  A Note From Parker 

I loved this horse more than I love most people. A brave, strong, wise soul, Vegas stared death down three times and won. The first time he was a youngster. The next two times, he was a grand old man.

A little history. In 2010, Cashlyn was set to show Vegas at the World's Championships. But when we arrived in Louisville, he became very sick and was diagnosed with pneumonia. It was an onslaught of sickness. The veterinarians didn't expect him to live through the night. Dr. Bennett warned me that the outcome was
grave. I moved into his stall and set up camp, holding his head and rubbing cold cloths on him all night long. Five days later, he stood bucking and pawing in his
stall. He was at the World's Championships, and he knew it, and he was determined to show. Vegas and Cashlyn pranced into Freedom Hall. I was bawling. I couldn't breathe. This was the most awesome creature I had ever witnessed, carrying the sweetest, most precious baby around that ring. Vegas and Cashlyn won the Reserve World Grand Championships - she at 7 years old, him at 21.

After the class, Dr. Bennett, met us back at the barn, shaking his head. It seems that 18 years earlier, at the very same horse show, Dr. Bennett had operated on Vegas and taken 30 feet out of his intestines during emergency colic surgery. That was just after Vegas had beaten 19 other horses to win the World's Championship Jr. Five-Gaited title. "He's the darndest horse I've ever seen," Dr.
Bennett said. "He has more heart in that one body than every horse on this show grounds combined."

A year later, back at our farm, Vegas again became gravely ill. He was unable to stand. But when I looked in his eyes, I saw fire. Love. Unconditional trust. And still so much life. He wanted to live. He fought back bravely, regaining his strength, again, against all odds. The staff had nearly given up. Coyote and I could not. We had both looked into his eyes.

This horse did not know the meaning of quit. And in his final years, that relentless heart seemed to get even stronger and more determined, because he shared it with so many people who
adored him.

When he came to us in 2007, Vegas would stand at the back of his stall and stare me down. I was captivated by this amazing creature. He was the most handsome fella I'd ever seen, man or beast. Soon, we fell in love with each other. I couldn't walk by his stall without stopping to rub his itchy spot or feed him a peppermint. He would pitch a terrible fit and paw the stall door nearly off the hinges if I tried to pass without acknowledging him appropriately. Most nights, I would check the barn before bed, and kiss his velveteen nose goodnight.

And so it should have come as no surprise to Cash that when the final opportunity arose to sell this "other" man in my life, I flatly
refused. "Don't make me choose between you and that horse," I told
Cash. "Because you know who I'll pick." I promised Vegas then and there that he would live out his days on our farm. And I kept my promise.

In this crazy world that I don't understand,  there are so few
opportunities to witness pure greatness. Vegas inspired me. He thrilled me. He grabbed my heart and owned it. He knew that he was one of the true loves of my life. He waltzed through that barn with the
presence and dominance of a benevolent king. And he does the same now through my memories and dreams. 

A Quick Note About Make-up Lessons  

About make-ups:  Make-ups are allowed for lessons cancelled for sickness or those cancelled with 24 hours notice. To schedule a make-up, simply call the barn.  With the new system, we need to know what missed lesson dated the make-up is for -- which is very easy -- because we can see what lessons you've cancelled (and you can, too in your online log-in area). If you have lessons that were missed because of Christmas, please give us a ring so we can schedule those for you.

Another perk with the new system: We send email reminders to all riders 48 hours prior to the riding time. If you are not getting an email about your upcoming lessons -- we may not have an email on file for you (please send Ellen Bassett a quick note and let her know what it is: ellenbassett@me.com). Also, please don't forget that unfortunately, we do have to charge for no-shows. Thanks!