Summer has been busy!

 Bonita, May, 2012

I haven’t blogged in ages!  This summer has been busy with horses and riding!  At the end of April, I bought 2 Rushcreek Arabian mares, to start conditioning for the Fall CTR’s.  During May, I was riding them, Shaggy and Duke, and through May and June, tried to bring in 2 4-year olds to be saddled and lunged.  This didn't happen every day, but I tried to work everyone a couple of times a week, and ride Shaggy and Allie and Bonita most of the time.  I was also riding Savannah, and did sell her in June.  The first weekend of June, I hosted a Centered Riding Clinic.  Through May-July, I was giving kid’s lessons when it wasn’t too hot and humid.  Even at 8-9 am, if I thought it would be too warm for the horses, who are lesson horses and out of shape, I cancelled lessons.  We didn’t have many July lessons, due to the extremely hot days.  I found myself inside sooner and sooner.  At least, I’m catching up on house things… some cleaning, paperwork, putting things away.  Why is it that I look at my dresser, and it keeps collecting “things” and I never get that cleaned off!  I need to put a box under my bed to put that stuff in to!

Time to take on a project!  LOL  For a few year, a different room was painted.  About 4 or 5 years ago, I finally took out 70’s kitchen cupboards and had the whole kitchen re-done, with new paint in the kitchen and eating area. Along with that major project, the tile guy finished our master bathroom tile.  This is a tiny bathroom, just big enough for shower, toilet and sink, and it had been tore up for a year!  Once we watched and saw how the tiling got done, we had the toilet and sink and vanity in within days!  Those 2 projects lasted my “let’s get something done” for a few years.

 But a few years later, the downstairs basement family room got new carpeting, as grandbabies were first starting to crawl.   The next year, the living room got new floors, and since we were down to the wood subflooring, the family room, which was directly under the upstairs living room, got some extra ceiling lights!  That room used to be so dark and 6 new lights sure made a difference.  Last year, the main bathroom was done by hubby and me. The 80’s wall paper, and underneath it the edges of the 70’s flower power wallpaper, was replaced by tile. We put in a very small jet tub that would fit and tiled the tub shower area.  And I was very pleased by how it looks!  Love it and my horsey home décor items!!!

This year, I turned to the office/exercise area. Not much exercising is getting done, but it needed organized.  Hubby has taken over some of the area too.  This room used to be the boy’s bedroom and was a great room for exercise equipment, but is too small for that and 2 office spaces. But I’m trying to make it all fit. 

But getting back to “summer has been busy” made me think about projects.  August is usually about when I start a new project, because it’s too hot to be outside.  July ended up being that month!  I still rode early mornings, but not even every week.  Hubby and I did go home the first week of July to visit parents in PA.  I did ride the 2^nd week of July, and the horses were riding great after 9 days off.  But then the 3^rd week of July, horses and I shut down.  They were hot and sticky, I was hot and sticky because they weren’t riding easy, so I decided if I had to work at riding, everyone was going to have a break!  Then my major project started.

I am, and have been, liquidating my tack store inventory for the last 2 years, since closing my store March, 2010.  I have been selling items in vendor booths at a few horse events, and reopened during the Christmas season the last few years.  I had discounted my prices and offered sales at 50-60% off.  Up until now, I had refused to offer more discount and lose money.  But I felt it was time to do just that.  I decided to sell items at 50-75% off online through Messick Tack & Feed Facebook Page. By the end of the 3^rd week of July, I had tables lining my basement walls, and laid out all my inventory.  My clothing racks were already against 2 walls, with hanging clothes on them.  So I really only had to organize the T-shirts, books, caps, jewelry, kids item, Christmas cards and Breyer ornaments, Home Décor, and jeans.  The few items I had in storage in the barn, like cinches, grooming supples, first aid supplies, and a little bit of tack, and supplements were laid out on racks and tables in a room of the barn.  I was ready to see what I could sell.  And stay out of the heat on those 100+ days.  Check out the sales under the Photo Section!

Wow, the sale on the FB took off!  The minute I started posting photos of what the rooms looked like, I had messages as to what I had for sale and at what price.  I realized I needed to take close ups of each area, list the items, and put info and sale prices under each photo.  Easy to do, but time consuming.  For the last 3 weeks, that is what I have been doing.  Each day, or every 2 days, I tried to post new photos with prices.  The past 2 weeks, I took individual photos of all the jewelry, tank tops and t-shirts I had, and posted them with sizes and prices.  The Montana Jewelry sold out within a day.  Trying to keep up with messages and orders made for some long days.  But this is good news.  I see the piles slowly going down, yet I have a good selection of everything.  I don’t have all sizes in everything, but if not in one style, I have it in another style.

I’m looking at the whole picture now, from start of the tack store 8 years ago, until today.  And before that, I had feed sales.  Profit is still there.  If the use of social media would have been greater 4 years ago, or if I would have started using FB more, 4 years ago, (I’m not sure when FB started), I may not have closed the store.  I know I should have liquidated more items every Jan and Feb, when sales are at a slump after Christmas.  I should have offered more items at 60-75% off, just to move them, and make room for new items. 

Hindsight is wonderful.  Along with that, comes knowledge.  I’m a better businesswoman now.  Even if my business is turning another corner.  I’ve learned quite a few things from having the tack store.  I’m not sure I’ll deal with customers any differently, but I can understand customers better.  I’ve worked hard at helping customers find what they need and not what I could sell them.  I have always held that honesty and integrity and truthfulness is a must. 

I’ve been so busy, and have had very little free time.  I think within another week, I’ll be caught up on taking and posting photos, and then I’ll have some extra time.  I want to get back to blogging and posting informative articles and tips on my Horses Are Our Lives chat group.  I need to get back to working all these horses since we are having cooler mornings.  I want to get back to reading all these books I have and talking about them.  And I need to getting back to taking more photos to post on Sunday Stills, which I haven’t done all summer!  I’m not sure when I posted there last.  I miss it!  I miss that interaction. 

I did check FB this morning, and realized that I couldn’t take the whole day off.  If I hadn’t answered some messages, tomorrow afternoon would have been terribly busy.  I organized some piles of product that people were wanting and I can start invoicing more orders. This is after invoicing a large amount of orders last week, too.  

Then I sat down to blog!  It’s amazing when you finally sit down, and do nothing, how slow time goes.  I’m liking this. And I might just do this every Sunday afternoon from now on… when I’m not riding.  Those projects and chores will wait and be there tomorrow.   Time to grab a cup of coffee, lay my head back on this lounge chair, listen to the wind and the birds, and watch my horses in their lot.

Has it really been this long?

All summer.  I did buy 2 Rushcreek Arabs at the end of April and I have spent a lot of time with them.

May and June, I've been busy riding and giving lessons.  I could ride the cooler mornings.

During July, I think we had the hottest July on record.  Hubby and I went home to visit parents the first week of July.  When I got home, the horse rode great.   But the next week, hotter than ever, the horses were just not cooperating.  They were hot and tired too! 

I decided to set out all the Tack Store inventory and offer a 75% off Sale.

Time to end the store.

Time to move on.

If I ever dig out of the sales that accumulated this last week, I'll post more photos and I'll start to let you know what the next stage of Messick Quarter Horses will be, as well as the Arabian part.

Until later.. Nite.

Great Nebraska Horse Fair

I'll have my Messick Tack & Feed vendor booth at the Great Nebraska Horse Fair in Lincoln this weekend, Friday and Saturday, at the Lancaster Event Center, 84th and Holdrege.

Come visit me!  I'll have great specials as I'm clearancing out everything, 30-50% off!  I can ship items also.

I've posted a lot of clothing on the Messick Tack & Feed Facebook Page at :
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Messick-Tack-Feed/223236051074762

Clothing Inventory

Check out the Messick Tack & Feed Facebook page.

I started posting the Messick Tack Store tack and clothing on my Messick Tack & Feed Facebook Page.  "LIKE" that page to get all the clearance items and prices as they are posted.


Scroll down the  pages to see everything that is posted so far.
A few saddles first,

I have 3 Tex Tan Show Saddles,

and a Tex Tan Roper Saddle.

Then style by style of clothing and boots.

I posted all the Ariat Boots. 

I posted all the English clothes, a few jackets and blouses.

I moved on to all the breeches,

Kids and Ladies,

both summer and

winter styles. 

I have all the Kerrits clothing down, including jackets and vests,

Kerrits sweaters and fleece tops.

and summer blouses, both for kids and ladies.

Now I've started other long sleeve T's and sweatshirts.

 I hope to get all the winter clothing done this weekend.

Next weekend, there is a Tack Sale in Ashland.  I wonder how many clothes and boots and jeans I can fit into my SUV. 

Every day, I hope to post a new item on the Messick Tack & Feed Facebook Page.  Check it out!
Thanks!

Training Begins

This previous last month was a very long month. I am ready to get back to riding and training. Actually I should have started riding 3 weeks ago, but with moving store inventory, painting my barn office and the lounge, getting the lounge ready to be a storage room, and emptying the trucks and horse trailer of the store inventory, before I knew it, 2 weeks went by!



And during this time, since I renovated our living room a month earlier, I was finishing some painting and trimming in the house. I do not like trimming! One week for painting. One week for emptying the horse trailer and moving some office items from the house to the barn, and one week for organizing my messy home. Throw Easter weekend in there, and parents coming for a visit, and before I know it, 4 weeks have past! Geez, where does all my free time go? I figured once I wasn’t going to the store every day, I would have LOTS of time to ride my horses, right? Right! Not happening!

But this past week, I did get a ride in. Then, with my energy back, and my desire back, I was down with the flu for 2 days. Can you believe it? Sore stomach, achy legs, upset stomach. Yuck! Luckily, the 3rd time, I just felt a little queasy, and the first training horse came in.

Now, with the house “almost” organized, (will it ever get done?), I can spend at least ½ the day in the barn. I plan on giving an hour each day to planting flowers and a garden.



And I’ll need to spend at least an hour each day in my barn office. And I should also spend some time on re-evaluating my horse business: building up clientele, working on clinic schedules, answering emails. But I regress. Back to horses…

Spending time in the barn! I just want to go to the barn and stay there! I want to clean my tack. I want to get dirty, do chores, come in and shower, have no schedule and have no where to go. That is what I am going to do the first day my parents leave. But I need to spend time with my parents for the next few days, as they are aging and mum isn’t doing well.

I need to free lunge about 4 horses that first day, without rushing them to bond with me. I love free lunging. I want them to see me as the herd mare, Boss Mare. That’s me. I want their respect. I want them to freely give that to me. I will wait for each horse to do that. Then I know we can be buddies. But they need to be a buddy with manners. Free Lunging and bonding starts that manner business.

Then I free lunge with the saddle. No play time. We don’t get to buck and kick out. We learn to respect the saddle. And we bond with the saddle on. That makes me happy too!

Day 3, maybe sooner, depending on the horse, ride time starts for the riding horses. For the non-riding horses, we start to ground drive. And desensitize to ropes. And learn to turn. And learn to stop. And maybe learn to back. No wonder those young horses go ballistic sometimes. But I’m here to stop those young horses before they go ballistic. Let’s keep everyone safe. Especially the horse’s mind.

And the riding horses. Let’s get into their minds too, and keep them safe.

Come along on the ride with me.

I'm Getting Organized

The tack store is closed. The inventory has been moved home, and is somewhat organized. The barn office is almost totally organized. And that is a great feeling. 2 weeks ago, on March 31st, I didn't think I would ever see an end, let alone a beginning, to being organized, with both the tack and the barn a mess.

The first week after closing the store, I painted the barn office and the room that I would store the inventory. I touched up paint in the house. I cleaned up the house.



The second week, I unpacked the horse trailer, that had housed some of the product from the store. I set up my office, carrying more boxes from the house. The magazines and books are displayed on shelves.



I've taken some folders to the barn office that will make me go to the barn to get work done. I'm glad there is a room heater for winter time. For now, there is a ceiling fan, which is fine for spring weather. But hubby says he will install a window air conditioner for summer 100 degree days. I sure hope so!

More and more boxes are going to the barn office. 3 weeks ago, it was a storage room for tables and shelves. Today, it is painted and looks like an office. I have empty shelves, which is a nice feeling.




Now, I can start scheduling some lessons.

I also have to get back to riding. It's about time. I need to give myself a quick kick in the rear. Get moving!



But parents will be here tomorrow for 2 weeks, and instead of riding this week, I have gone double time on getting the house and barn ready. At least now a person can sit in the living room and dining room. I can actually put pictures on the walls.

Even though I said this week I would start riding, maybe next week???

For right now, I need customers come set in these chairs!

The Store Closing

February 13, 2010
April 9, 2010

(I started this blog almost 2 months ago. Then I left it unfinished until now.)

I made the decision last fall to close the store. I didn’t make this decision in haste. I didn’t make it because all the kids were gone and I had no extra help, even though I do have help from the boys when I am in a bind, when I need help quickly. Actually, that would have been a reason to not close the store. If I have no extra help at the barn, then why not continue to sell feed and tack and all the other horsey items at the store? I didn’t make the decision because my trail riding horse, Finny, died, even though that is making me feel a little lost. I didn’t make it because Tom was working such long hours at work, and that is making me lonely at times. All of these reasons should be why I shouldn’t close the store.

I actually made the reason to close the store because I wanted to do more with horses, even though Tom works long hours and even though I don’t have the boys at home anymore to help me. Sara has been gone for almost 10 years since her college years started, except for a few summers. Jacob has been gone since he has been married almost 3 years ago. He did live at home for his last year of college and the year before he got married. Micah has been gone for a little over 3 years, since January of his Freshman year in college. He is now a Senior at UNL.

Don’t you ever feel that you’re not happy and you don’t know why? Sometimes, I don’t know what I want to do. I have a feeling of what I should do, so I need to move with that feeling. Sometimes, I’m feeling lost. The house is empty and the barn is empty. Sometimes I come home to emptiness and that makes me sad. I need something in my life, and I feel I’m on a search for that “something”.

I wanted to close the store to devote more time to horses. To really getting them trained. To dedicate more time to lessons. To study about horses and get into the mind of horses so that I can pass that knowledge on to my customers. And to develop a stronger bond and riding ability with my horses through Centered Riding.

The Tack Store was what I needed as the kids were leaving the house. I had something to keep me busy. And best of all, I was still doing something about horses. But now it’s time to move on.

Centered Riding is a Journey. Last summer, I felt complete. I felt that I found what completed me, both as a rider and as a woman. I felt “centered”. I felt at peace, and I felt a calmness surround me. I tried to concentrate on having that feeling engulf my whole life, especially when I was around my family.

Then Finny died and something inside me died. I’m still trying to dig myself out of that feeling. Maybe I never will. But if I want to have a life with horses, I need to get motivated. I knew that I couldn’t do that fully and still have the store. I was feeling lost, as I was a “woman without a horse”. Late last October, I made the decision to move on.

Closing the store brought some stress to my life. I knew I had to move on. I knew I had to get back outside. But closing the store was a lot of work. And the calmness that I gained through Centered Riding slowly left me through this past 6 months, and especially this last month. I completely lost my control on the last day of moving. That upset me very much. I felt that I was back to old ways, and I knew I wanted more out of life than to be upset over little things that happen along the way.

Everything from the store is in my house, in the horse trailer, and in the barn. I am slowly digging my way out of my lost feeling as I organize my mess. My barn office and lounge has a new coat of paint. My store office is being moved into my barn office. Some of the tack and product from the store will be organized in boxes in the lounge. As I move product out of the horse trailer and my basement, my house will slowly get organized again.

I am started to get my horse business revived. Lessons and training will start soon. But I haven’t started riding yet, and I need to make time for that. Last week was moving week, then we had Easter weekend. This week was cleaning and painting and starting to organize my mess. Next week is the week I’ll get back to riding. Starlet is waiting, and if any horse can motivate me, she can.

I feel some energy returning, as I’m getting up earlier the last 2 days. I haven’t set the alarm this week, as I knew my body needed rest. I’m starting to want to do something with the horses. I’m starting to want to schedule riding lessons. I’m starting to feel again.

My new logo is what is engraved on a Brighton’s Jewelry bracelet that I just recently purchased.

“Embrace the Journey”

Come along on the Ride - I promise I'll be riding soon!

Snow on April Fools Day...

and it's no joke! This is crazy! Tom and I are on our way to see Makenzie, Sara and Jake in Colorado. We left eastern Nebraska at 3 pm and it was 86 degrees! We hit wind half way across the state. Temps starting falling and fast! It seemed like the temp dropped 10 degrees every 1/2 hour. Now, we are in eastern Wyoming, near Cheyenne, and ready to head south. We hit snow and 34 degrees! What is strange are the clouds in the distance. It's not quite 8 pm here, the sun is setting, and you can see a layer of light between the low clouds and the higher, thicker, snow clouds that are just lingering.

By next week, I hope to be back to riding, training, and giving lessons full time, or at least as much as I want to. Right now, I need a few days rest. What a job moving the inventory to home, cleaning up the store, and selling racks. I still have the 4 display cases (2 of which I used for checkout) that I have decided to sell.

I was exhausted last night! The house is a disaster and the barn has stuff everywhere. Next Monday, I start cleaning up my office and lounge space in the barn and moving my office there. Then the barn gets spruced up. My house needs some major organization, as clothes, books, and other boxes from the store are everywhere. I guess I should have stayed opened 1 more month, but I'll start getting things on my website and start selling on ebay! I'll try to get to some shows and events to sell some things there too.

I want to be outside now. I have 1 or 2 training horses coming in over the next week or so. I plan on getting riding lessons started next week too. I am interested in starting the adult group back up and giving more individual lessons.

I plan on putting on some introductory horsemanship clinics locally, either morning or day clinics. I may even try a Friday night ride time, as an introduction to Centered Riding exercises.

For training, whether it's a day, or week, or month, of training or riding, I plan on specializing in solid basics, trail maneuvers and desensitizing horses.

I would love to do some horsemanship clinics, for both kids and adults, with or without teaching the Centered Riding exercises. I would like to work with groups, 4-H clubs, or individuals who want to get a group together, for an hour or longer, of instruction time.

I left 86 degrees in Lincoln to come to CO to see Makenzie for Easter. Pop wants to hunt Easter baskets with her. We are in western NE and it's in the 30's now and spitting snow, no April Fools here!!! 35 now!!! Now in eastern Wyoming, it's 32! Brrrrr

After next Monday or Tuesday, first nice warm 70 degree day, I'm playing hooky and riding? anyone else?

Come along on the ride with me!

Last Day at the Store

I am exhausted. I've had a month of closing the tack store.

I have offered store specials that have brought many customers in to the store all month. I've packed up product to take to a vendor booth at the Nebraska Horse Expo. I've set up, worked the booth for 3 days, and packed back up. Back to the store to set product back out for final closing sales for the last 2 weeks of March.

Saturday was my last day for selling items at the store. Doors closed at 2 pm. Later Saturday afternoon, the remainder of the feed went home to feed to my horses and packing started.

We usually pack into our horse trailer, but since we left our batteries out all winter, they went dead. The trailer was plugged in for moving at Expo time, but wouldn't charge. We left it plugged in for the last 2 weeks, adding distilled water, and when we checked Saturday night, the trailer hydralics worked! One piece of good news! Now we can pack into the horse trailer on Sunday!

Sunday morning, clothes boxes were packed and loading into the horse trailer. One trailer load of racks and heavy boxes of clothes were brought home. While the guys unloaded the trailer and truck, Amber and I continued packing.

Monday, my friend Virginia helped. Amber and Caden came back to help. We finished packing clothes, jewelry, books. Virginia and I packed up all the shelves of fly sprays, grooming supplies, first aid, etc. I continued to work on everything else after they left for the afternoon. Monday after work, Jacob, Micah and Tom packed the horse trailer with all the boxes. They loaded extra shelving units into hoppers for metal recycling. Tom and I brought the trailer home and parked it. Unpacking it can wait for a week. We unloaded the Tahoe. I took a shower and had a glass of wine.

Tuesday, Virginia was back. We packed up office supplies and loaded book cases onto the truck. After Virginia left, I brought the truck home and unloaded it. I went back to the store to continue packing up the office. Everyone, except Micah who had a class, was back Tuesday night and packing continued. Amber finished packing up my office books and Jacob and Tom loaded them into the Tahoe. Tom and Jacob loaded my desk and a few other things onto the flat bed, and we brought it home and parked it into the barn. We unloaded the Tahoe. I took a shower and had 2 glasses of wine.


Yesterday, I brought 2 truck loads of office supplies home and unpacked them into the house. Last night, final clean up. Everyone came. Last minute stuff for 2 hours, loading the seats of the truck and Tahoe, and filling the back of the truck. The very last glass case that we were loading, had a small accident, and glass broke. At that minute, I was so exhausted and overwhelmed by the move, that all I could do was yell about it. Glass got cleaned up, doors were closed, and we left by 7:30! That felt great, as the last 2 nights, it was close to 9 before Tom and I left.

Tom and I unloaded the truck and Tahoe. I took a shower and had 3 glasses of wine! I finally slept better last night. I feel like a truck ran over me this morning though. Not from the wine, as the first glass was just boxed Zinfandel.

I am on my 3rd cup of coffee this morning. I sent an email out, apologizing to Jacob, Amber and Micah for yelling last night. Now, all they will remember is that I yelled at them and I feel like a heel. Their help was necessary and very much appreciated.

I have chores to do and water tanks to fill. I have to pack clothes and pack the Tahoe, as we are driving to Colorado today to see Sara, Jake and Makenzie for Easter.

Next week, unpacking starts and the barn office will get organized. For now, I am taking the next 4 days off.

NE Horse Expo is Over

The Nebraska Horse Expo is over for another year. My tack store vendor area was a success. And not only is Expo done for another year, but this may have been the last year for me as a vendor. I am closing the store in 2 weeks. I say may, as I still have so much more product to sell. I might have to box up everything, and have vendor booths at shows, and if it doesn’t all sell, I may be back to Expo next year!

This is my 2nd day at home after Expo, and I need the rest. I was brain dead yesterday. I didn’t get much accomplished. But that could also be from the noise of home renovations and the smell of varnish. Our living room hardwood floors went in last week, and they are being sanded and varnished this week. I will be so glad when everything is done and the home is put back together again. I do see the end!

I will also be glad when the boxes are unpacked at the store. I get to unpack and reorganize what didn’t sell at Expo. I will have continued store specials for 2 more weeks. Then, I’ll get to box up what doesn’t sell and bring home. I’m sure I’ll be bringing some items home! I suppose my summer will have me setting up a booth at some horse shows!

Now it’s time to get caught up on paperwork from last week. I did get bills paid yesterday and that is always a good feeling! Lol! I need to put in some sales, process a few new inventory special orders, and work on taxes.



I need to start working on my spring training and lesson schedule. It will soon be time to think exclusively about horses! I’m ready to get back to teaching Centered Riding exercises. I’m ready to trail ride. And I’m definitely ready to get this blog back to writing about horses and what I’m doing with horses.

Once again, come along on the ride with me. I promise it won’t be too long now!

My Vendor Booth, Messick Tack & Feed, at the 2009 Nebraska Horse Expo

Nebraska Horse Expos just keep getting better and better! Featuring nationally known clinicians: Ken McNabb, Julie Goodnight, Richard Shrake, and, for the first time in Nebraska, The Magical World of Dancing Horses! Featuring Dianne Olds Rossi.

The Nebraska Horse Expo is a big event here in eastern Nebraska. National clinicians, vendors selling horse related product, a horse barn full of different breeds of horses, round pen demos by local trainers, and topics by veterinarians and farriers. 3 days of clinics, Parade of Breeds, demonstrations, a youth rodeo on Friday night, and a Saturday evening of entertainment by the clinicians.

This year was full of clinicians and horses. Gentle horse training by Ken McNabb.

http://www.nebraskahorsecouncil.org/2009Expo/Expo.htm

Dancing horses of Dianne Olds Rossi.

http://www.nebraskahorsecouncil.org/2009Expo/Expo.htm

Natural Riding by Julie Goodnight.

http://www.nebraskahorsecouncil.org/2009Expo/Expo.htm

Resistance Free Training by Richard Shrake.

http://www.nebraskahorsecouncil.org/2009Expo/Expo.htm

Common Sense Jumping by Camie Stockhausen.

http://www.nebraskahorsecouncil.org/2009Expo/Expo.htm

A demo by the Omaha Mounted Police.

http://www.nebraskahorsecouncil.org/2009Expo/Expo.htm

(Pictured are some of the product in the store)

Once again, I missed most of the events. I spent 2 months planning, going to the Denver Market in January to order and purchase new product, checking in and pricing new product, repacking t-shirts, purses, clothes, night lights, and packing store items that are already in the store. My vendor booth kept me busy. I packed up items in the store, set up racks and tables at the Expo, and spent a day setting up the booth. Even with 3 friends helping, I only found a short time to walk with Tom to see the horse barn and the other vendor displays.

I presented a round pen demo on Outfitting the Rider and Trail Horse. I talked about appropriate tack for the trail rider, including Tex Tan endurance saddles, Classic Equine and Mayatex saddle pads, and Reinsman and Down Under breast collars. I shared ideas for what to wear, including Ariat boots, Kerrit breeches, and JPC Equestrian and Kerrit jackets. Layering windproof and waterproof items are a must. I showed some accessory tack, like saddle bags, water bottle carriers, and horn and cantle bags.

The greatest event that happened for me at the NE Horse Expo was that my family was all together since 2 of the kids had babies in December! What a treat! 2 new grandbabies! And I got to dress them in cute new western clothes!

Packing the trailer, unloading at Expo, setting up a display, then 12 hours later the display is almost ready. Finishing touches on setting up Friday morning, 2 ½ days of selling product in my vendor booth, and ready to pack up again. 2 hours of packing, 2 hours of unloading, and a week of putting the store back together again.

Expo is fun. I visit with a lot of friends from my seat in my vendor booth. Next year my goal is to see the Saturday night entertainment and to walk all of the horse barn and non-profit area. Next year, I plan on seeing some of the clinicians. Next year, I will help to plan Expo once again!
Watch for details for the 2010 Nebraska Horse Expo!

Enjoy some pics of my store, Messick Tack & Feed!