Augustus' Reign

Trapsite Wild Horse Adoption - Stone Cabin Complex

2012-01-18T14:37:00.001-08:00

A special and unique Trapsite Wild Horse Adoption is being planned in conjunction with the February 2012 Stone Cabin Complex wild horse gather. The last gather from this HMA was in 2007, which also happens to be the same gather that my Mustang, Augustus, came from. Mustangs from this area are known to be beautiful, smart, level headed horses and many are known as ‘Stone Cabin Greys” with a unique history (like my boy, Gus). A truly unique experience to last a lifetime. Date and location will be set closer to the gather dates. If there is little or no interest in the trapsite adoption before the gather starts, it will be cancelled. Please contact the Tonopah, NV Field Office at 775-482-7800 or Dustin Hollowell (Wild Horse and Burro Specialist) at 775-482-7847 for more information regarding the adoption process.

All wild horses available for adoption will be vaccinated, dewormed, and Coggins tested. Adoptions will be planned to coincide with the Stone Cabin wild horse gather scheduled for February 2012 in central Nevada. Selection and number of wild horses available will be based on demand prior to the adoption. All wild horse adoption requirements apply, including an approved adoption application. Due to the fluid nature of wild horse gathers, it is essential that potential adopters contact the Tonopah Field Office to express interest, submit applications and obtain important details as they become available. The adoptions would be conducted through Lottery Drawing, Competitive Bid, or First-Come, First-Served procedures (based on interest).

Augustus the Kid 1/12/12

2012-01-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

Gus takes a break from being a kid to pose for the camera a bit. Life is good.

Merry Christmas, yall!

2011-12-24T16:41:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

G'day, Mates! 12/10/11

2011-12-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

G'day, everyone! Sorry for the delay and lack of postings. I was overseas in Australia and New Zealand for a while but am now back in the Mojave getting back in the routine. Augustus and Sawyer probably enjoyed their vacation as much as I did. :) We managed to snap a few photos of Gus today, so enjoy. Gus is a bit rusty after not being under saddle for nearly a month and a half, but I'm sure we will be back up to the way we left off very soon. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and enters this Christmas season with a bang! :)

Augustus and Jeremy 10/6/11

2011-10-07T17:03:00.000-07:00

Jeremy came out to the ranch today. Needless to say, he and Gus had a blast.

9/9/11

2011-09-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big ride and today was probably the cleanest Gus has ever been! :) We are gonna get an early start, do a bit of round pen work, then head out for the trail. I am excited to see how Gus handles the obstacles this time around...I am sure there will be lots of "firsts" for him but he always stays calm and does a great job. Gus has usually been the only Mustang that heads out on ACTHA's rides from Sandy Valley Ranch so far...hopefully we will see many more tomorrow representing!

Ten more days....

2011-08-31T16:01:00.001-07:00

Hello all -

It's been a very busy summer. Wish I could have had the chance for more updates, but thanks for checking back in with us. First off, Gus is now 5 years old! His birthday was 8/24/11. We just have 10 more days till Gus and I compete in ACTHA's "Ride for the Mustangs". We have been busy doing lots of riding and basically just staying in shape so we can handle what is thrown at us on the 10th. This will be Gus' second competitive trail ride and I think even he is excited. This is another World Record Ride, and benefits the Mustang Heritage Foundation, so we will be there with our game faces on ready to represent the Mustangs. My buddy, Dave, will also be riding with his steed and it is sure to be a grand time. Until next week....

"Say, Cheese" 7/22/11

2011-07-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

All Quiet on the Western Front...

2011-07-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

It is Monsoon season out here right now, so lots of humidity and rain happening...which makes for some muggy days. Not much to post right now, other than all is good, Gus and I are doing great, and hope to get some exciting pics and stories back up here before too long. Have a good day!

6/25/11

2011-06-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

While Gus waits for his bath, he loves to drink the water that is running off of Sawyer. :)

6/18/11

2011-06-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

"I have not tired of the wilderness; rather I enjoy its beauty and the vagrant life I lead, more keenly all the time. I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof, the obscure and difficult trail, leading into the unknown to any paved highway, and the deep peace of the wild to the discontent bred by cities." it is enough that I am surrounded by beauty." - Everett Ruess

A much needed massage - 6/16/11

2011-06-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

Gus was lucky enough to have a visit from Jeremy, a Massage Therapist at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV. Just look at that face as he receives a much needed professional massage! HA. :)

"Welcome to The Heart of the Mojave"

2011-06-12T20:52:00.000-07:00

The new BLM sign in our backyard says it all. :)

Summer 2011

2011-06-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

Hello all -

Been busy out this way, and unfortuately the temps just keep on rising. We had a "delayed" summer till yesterday...finally hit the triple digits. So needless to say, we are still enjoying lots of adventure out on trail and having fun at the ranch, but we are drinking tons of water and slowing the pace down a bit to stay healthy. Luckily for me, Gus isn't picky and drinks right from the hose. :)

Anyways, not too much going on other than just time out on trail and ranch playdays, so I hope you enjoy the photos.

Also, for those of you that don't know, The "Ride for The Mustangs" has been rescheduled for September 10th. Check out www.actha.us for more info. Anyone who was previously scheduled and reserved for the June 6th date automatically had their info transfered so no hassles. Just confirm :)

Freezemark # 06599537

2011-05-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

Freezemark # 06599537

Who needs a lawn chair? 5/13/11

2011-05-13T16:57:00.000-07:00

"Who needs a lawn chair when you have a perfectly good Mustang?" Just sayin'.
Have a great day yall!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

Augustus wishes everyone a Happy Easter!

4/15/11 Washin' the stink off..

2011-04-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

Gus is one good looking Mustang when he is all cleaned up. :)

April Rain and Snow 4/9/11

2011-04-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from today. We had some crazy weather..it would be sunny and warm, then cloudy and rainy, and then cold and snowy. Couldn't get much done today with the changing weather but I did manage to get these pictures. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Cold, Windy, and Wet 3/25/11

2011-03-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

We have been having some crazy weather out this way lately. Some weeks it will be warm and you can basically go shirtless and soak up the sun. Other weeks it will be cold, windy, and wet..like it was today. The benefit of all that wintry weather staying around is that it makes for some awesome pictures. Augustus is doing fine. No major updates really. We haven't been terribly active due to the high winds and blowing sand, but hopefully soon we will be back out exploring and learning new things.

We do have the Ride for the Mustangs coming up, so maybe in a few days the weather will ease up and we can continue polishing up and getting prepared for that event. With one ACTHA ride already under his belt, we hope to leave everyone else in the dust on this one! It is in June, so we have plenty of time.

Augustus will also be heading to the Las Vegas Petapalooza event this year on April 6th to represent the American Mustang on behalf of the National Wild Horse Association. The event will be at the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. This will be Gus' first appearance at the event and I think he is looking forward to meeting some new people, hoping to snag a few treats, and help spread the word about our Mustangs and succesful adoptions. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

ACTHA's Ride for the Mustangs

2011-03-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

World Record Ride for the Mustangs!
ACTHA's 2011 World Record Ride, "Ride for the Mustangs", has been set for June 4th and will benefit our wild ones and the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

Our Las Vegas area host will be Sandy Valley Ranch out in Sandy Valley, NV. Check out ACTHA or Sandy Valley Ranch for more details.

You can count on Augustus and I to be there representing the American Mustang!

**************************************************
In support of Mustang Heritage Foundation`s mission to increase the number of adoptions of American Mustangs, ACTHA has selected the Mustang Heritage Foundation as its main beneficiary for the 2011 Guinness™ World Record Ride.

Be a Part of History...

and you will be doing an amazing thing to help the great American Mustang. This is a Charity ride and net proceeds from each rider entry fee will go directly to the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

Spring is here 3/18/11

2011-03-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

BLM Accelerates Fundamental Reforms to Wild Horse and Burro Management

2011-03-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

Release Date 2/24/11 - Agency to Cut Back on Gathers; Increase Fertility Control and Adoptions; Strengthen Humane Animal Care and Handling Measures

BLM Accelerates Fundamental Reforms to Wild Horse and Burro Management

Augustus 2/26/11

2011-02-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

2/25/11

2011-02-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

San Bernadino County, to Inyo County, up and over the pass, down to the "Gateway to Death Valley".

Mojave Update 2/18/11

2011-02-19T17:55:00.000-08:00

Gus is doing great. We have been having lots of fun on trail. We had a "Winter Storm" come through, but luckily the wintery part was missed somewhat. We have been having lots of wind, which makes for a chilly day, but despite all the clouds the sunlight coming through provides enough warmth for everyone to be feeling great. Augustus is having the time of his life...staying healthy and happy. No complaints on my end. :) Hope yall enjoy the photos! :)

70 degrees in February!

2011-02-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

WOW! What a day! We got into the 70's just before noon, and it felt great to be so comfortable! Augustus and I joined some friends on a nice, long ride and had so much fun. The other horses were a bit faster than us, so Gus got a good workout while keeping up. As always, he has a blast being out in the desert exploring. Back at the ranch, the weather was so warm, I rinsed Gus off to clean all the sweat and excess dirt, and he loved it. Of course, he rolled in the sand afterwards but hey, at least we washed some of the winter off. :) A beautiful day.

2/4/11

2011-02-04T15:37:00.001-08:00

A Gorgeous Day in the Mojave

2011-01-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

Another gorgeous day in the Mojave. We had nearly 70 degree weather with no clouds in the sky...it was perfect. Augustus and I went on a trail ride with some friends, and then enjoyed a nice bath and roll in the sand afterwards. This is probably the warmest "winter" day we have had all season, and Gus was all smiles. He has turned into the perfect trail horse. :)

ACTHA's "Ride for the Mustangs"

2011-01-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

Stone Cabin (NV) # 1960

2011-01-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

This Mustang is no doubt one of Gus' relatives. I have seen a few horses come through from the Saulsbury HMA and Stone Cabin HMA gather of '07, but never have I been so certain of any relation. This gelding is definitely a "Stone Cabin Grey".

Stone Cabin gelding # 9760

Sex: Gelding Age: 7 Years Height (in hands): 15.1

Necktag #: 9760 Date Captured: 02/12/07

Color: Gray Captured: Stone Cabin (NV)

Notes:
#9760 - 7 yr old gray gelding, captured Feb 07, from Stone Cabin HMA, Nevada.

1/7/11

2011-01-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

The New Year

2011-01-06T15:59:00.001-08:00

It has been a great start to the new year. Augustus is happy and healthy, and with a break in the strong winds and a hiatus of the rain and snow, we have been venturing out and enjoying ourselves. Nice long walks, time in the saddle, and lounging in the sand. You will find no complaints here.

Happy New Year! 12/31/10

2010-12-31T18:24:00.000-08:00

Augustus and I wish all of you a safe and Happy New Year! See you all in 2011!

A Cold, Windy Thursday 12/30/10

2010-12-30T16:28:00.000-08:00

31 degrees and over 40 mph winds....

A Winter Storm Warning was in effect for most of the Southwest. Lots of road and freeway closures this morning across the Mojave.

Merry Christmas 12/25/10

2010-12-25T15:58:00.000-08:00

Couldn't have asked for a better Christmas day. Just spent the day relaxing and enjoying ourselves. Now on the presents! Merry Christmas everyone!

Augustus and Sawyer on Christmas Eve 12/24/10

2010-12-24T17:07:00.000-08:00

Foggy Christmas Eve Mornin' 12/24/10

2010-12-24T16:49:00.000-08:00

Muddy Days 12/23/10

2010-12-23T17:11:00.000-08:00

We have had five straight days of rain, which is pretty rare out here in the Mojave, and today was our first break. The sun didn't really come out much today, but we all managed to get out and try to make the best of it. The ranch is a swamp. The pastures are flooded, one round pen is now a pool, the arenas are like slip n'slides, and we even have a few lakes. We all just tried to keep our balance and not bust our butts in the mud, including the horses. Some of us were not so lucky....

Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit more productive. :)

A Cold Friday 12/17/10

2010-12-17T16:04:00.000-08:00

12/16/10

2010-12-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

ACTHA / Sandy Valley CTC / 10.23.10

2010-12-11T23:26:00.000-08:00

I just received a CD full of excellent images shot by Stella Andrecheck at ACTHA's Sandy Valley CTC on 10/23/10. So, here are some more photos to enjoy...

Friday Play Day 12/10/10

2010-12-10T15:55:00.000-08:00

Wow! The weather was perfect today. Started off with the Carhartt on, and then by mid-day was able to get by with a t-shirt. The horses were very frisky today too and enjoyed the change. I have been missing my boys alot over the last few weeks since I was in Texas over Thanksgiving and have been busy with work and "Rodeo Season"...it's a great time of the year to be in Las Vegas with NFR in town. Also, last week, Gus had a small dental issue. One of his baby teeth didn't come out properly and was prohibiting his permanent tooth to come in place correctly, so I pulled it and rinsed out his mouth. He was on antibiotics for a few days as it caused a minor gum irritation. Luckily, that was all we had to deal with. He is good to go now, and just by looking in his mouth, you would never know what had happened.

So, because of our busy few weeks, we just kicked back and relaxed today. Gus had fun playing with Sawyer and Borrego in the turn out and we took a nice walk around the property. It was a beautiful day and its always a great feeling when you can look at your horse and know that he thought so too.

Gettin' Cold Out 12/2/10

2010-12-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

11/10/10

2010-11-10T19:01:00.000-08:00

A perfect day for a trail ride up to the Mesquite Mountains. Jeremy came along a rode Sawyer.

Tarantula 11/5/10

2010-11-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

The weather has warmed back up to the 80's this past week and all has been well at the ranch. We have been spending lots of time out on trail and were lucky enough to see a tarantula on Thursday. We normally see many of these spiders this time of year, but so far this has been our only one. We should be riding up into the Mesquite or Clark Mountains next week so more adventure awaits. :)

More ACTHA photos 10/23/10

2010-10-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

A few more photos from the Sandy Valley CTC on 10/23/10.

The Mojave Desert

2010-10-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

The Beautiful Mojave. Definitely God's Country.

Upcoming Las Vegas Area Trail Rides

2010-10-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Hello all -

Just wanted to list a few upcoming rides for yall. There are numerous rides happening all over the Southern Nevada and Southern California area, but unfortunately advertisment can be an issue depending on your location. If you know of any other organized trail rides that should be added to this list, please let me know.

November 14th - National Wild Horse Association's Thanksgiving Ride / Nevada / Call (702)452-5853 for more details
November 23rd - Wild Horse Trail Ride / Cold Creek, NV 10:00 AM
January 1st - ACTHA's Sandy Valley CTC and New Year Celebration / Sandy Valley Ranch / Sandy Valley, NV - (702) 630-7507
June 4th - ACTHA's Ride for the Mustangs / Sandy Valley Ranch / Sandy Valley, NV - (702) 630-7507

ACTHA's Sandy Valley CTC 10/23/10

2010-10-24T17:46:00.001-07:00

WOW! What a day! Augustus and I completed the ACTHA / Sandy Valley CTC yesterday and had quite an adventure doing it! We made it from start to finish and had the time of our lives. The course was six miles and included six natural obstacles. The weather was absolutely perfect..lots of clouds and a nice chill in the air. Gus and all of the other competing horses were all riled up and really feelin' good. Since its been raining off and on over the last week, the desert was like a swamp...lots of mud and water everywhere. We rode with a great bunch of friends, and as a whole, we only had a few rodeo moments. Gus did excellent at his first event and I couldn’t be happier with my boy! I hope to post more pics of our adventure as I receive them. Thanks for stopping by!

Curious Gus 10/17/10

2010-10-19T17:33:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share with yall these photos taken by a friend of mine out at the ranch this past weekend! Sawyer went out on trail with some friends and Gus got to leave the pasture for a bit and have some fun in turn out. We have had lots of rain over the last few days and the weather has been perfect. Gus was definitely having a great Sunday, and these photos put a smile on my face. Thanks, Megan, for looking after my boy!

Gearing up for the 23rd

2010-10-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

Another great day today. Went out on trail and had a great time. Gus does great when we are solo or have just a few others around, so hopefully the added distraction of multiple riders will not add any confusion to Gus' plate on the 23rd. Gus got a full bath today, shampoo and conditioner. He felt great after it was all said and done....

Tomorrow is another day, and will be another day out on trail. We hope to work on some obstacles and see what trouble we can get ourselves into. I just hope that Gus' attention span can last the hours needed to complete the ride and take us home safely.

The Mojave Mustang

2010-10-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, the good life.

Good Morning, Sandy Valley! 10/7/10

2010-10-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

Remembering an American Legend

2010-10-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I said a final goodbye to a "Once in a Lifetime Man" and friend, Tony Curtis. Tony was such a huge part of our Shiloh family, and in the short three years that I knew him I learned what a wonderful person he was. So compassionate, so intriguing, so entertaining, but more importantly so loving....especially of our fearless leader of Shiloh and his wife of 12 years, Jill Curtis. At 85 years old, he was so full of life and always ready to make you laugh and there was never any want for a great story. Myself, and the rest of our Shiloh gang (not to mention all of the many other family members, friends, and even fans) were present at his Memorial Service and Reception here in Las Vegas, Nevada to celebrate his extraordinary life in the way he would have wanted.

Tony, you will be dearly missed, but of course never forgotten. Thank you for everything. It has truly been an honor to have known you and be a part of your incredible life and journey.

Visit from the New Yorkers 10/1/10

2010-10-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

Jeremy's folks came down from Moravia, New York and of course their vacation wouldn't be complete without a visit to the ranch. Augustus and Sawyer had some fun entertaining them and "taking a day off" just relaxing. The Bowen's aren't around horses often, so their size can be quite intimidating, but Gus didn't care as long as he got plenty of treats throughout the day. The cloud cover was great, the weather was pretty cool, and the Bowens left with some horse handling experience, haha...just a relaxing day for everyone.

Exploring the Mojave 9/24/10

2010-09-24T17:11:00.000-07:00

Been hitting the trail and having lots of fun out there in the desert. Augustus loves to leave the ranch and check out whats happening all around him. The weather has been awesome....cooling down quite a bit but staying sunny.

ACTHA / Sandy Valley CTC

2010-09-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

Augustus and I have our game faces on in preparation for the Sandy Valley CTC on October 23rd, 2010. This ride is an ACTHA (American Competitive Trail Horse Association)event and our neighbor, Sandy Valley Ranch, is our local host. SVR hosted an ACTHA ride back in June 2010 for the "Ride for the Rescues" and the World Record Attempt for the Largest Competitive Trail Ride. I participated in this event with my other horse, Sawyer, and it was such an awesome experience...plus, we broke the record. I adopted Sawyer from Shiloh Horse Rescue, so it was only fitting that I rode a rescue horse for the "Ride for the Rescues". Anyway, SVR is hosting this ride, so there is no excuse not to have a great time and participate since they are literally right across the street. Ahhh...no trailer hassles. Just saddle up and ride over.

Today was the first day of preparation. Gus and I spent a few hours in the saddle and focused on our riding basics...which means not bucking when he gets excited, haha. We have some obstacles set up on the back 40 of the property, so we spent some time back there and did pretty good. We will be putting in lots of saddle time each day we are together between now and Oct 23rd, focusing on some obstacles to build up his confidence. Being out on trail for a few hours is not my concern with Gus, he is an awesome trail horse with tons of stamina, and loves exploring. Our area of concern is just doing something different, challenging, and keeping his focus and patience going for the hours needed to complete the course...and going in reverse :)

An Awesome Summer in the Mojave!

2010-09-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

It has been a wonderful summer out here in the Mojave. Augustus and I have been having tons of fun exploring the desert on long trail rides, both in groups and going solo. We have also had lots of family and friends coming out to visit so we have been busy entertaining too. The ranch is great, we have made some huge improvements with fencing and many horses have found new homes, so no complaints there. It really has been an awesome summer so far, and we even had some temperatures drop down to the 80's and 90's a few weeks ago!

Augustus' 4th Birthday

2010-08-27T17:02:00.001-07:00

Augustus and Dad 7/22/10

2010-08-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

My Dad managed to leave Texas and stay with me for a few days. As usual, we had many adventures and managed to explore some new places. One of his favorite things to do is go out to the ranch to see his "Grandson", Gus. The last time they saw each other was in November.

Dad and Gus spent alot of time in the saddle. They rode around in the arena first, and then we took off on a short ride. Unfortunately, it was just too hot to take off for the day. Happy Birthday, Dad!

Wish You Were Here...

2010-08-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

"Mudstang" 7/15/10

2010-07-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Augustus staying cool in the triple digit temperature and a shot of the beautiful, Mojave Desert as I was leaving the ranch today. No matter how hot it is, there is no question that we are in "God's Country".

A Beautiful Friday 7/9/10

2010-07-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

Augustus striking a pose on this hot, humid day.

Augustus and Sharil 7/8/10

2010-07-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

Augustus spent some nice, quality time with Sharil today. Sharil is the adopter of Borrego (Sawyer's buddy) and Cochise (Gus' best friend).

Like Father, Like Son 7/2/10

2010-07-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

Augustus (being cool) and I (trying to stay cool) taking it easy on a beautiful Friday. We hope everyone has an awesome July 4th weekend!

Please Vote for Shiloh Charitable Trust on Facebook!

2010-07-01T16:49:00.001-07:00

That Sweet Mesquite

2010-07-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

Gus' Mojave Adventures 7/1/10

2010-07-01T16:29:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. Not much to say other than trails, trails, and more trails. Augustus and I have been spending lots of time in the saddle and many hours a day exploring the Sandy Valley area. Also, we signed up to participate in the ACTHA's Sandy Valley CTC coming up in October! The event will be at Sandy Valley Ranch, which is right across the street from Shiloh. We will be doing lots of practicing until then, so be sure to check back and see how we are fairing with obstacles. Other than that, we are just surviving the Mojave heat trying to have some fun while doing it.

ACTHA's "Ride for the Rescues"

2010-06-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

Sawyer and I had an awesome time participating in the ACTHA's "Ride for the Rescues" and helped set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Trail Riding Competition on Sunday, 6/13/10.

"Team Shiloh" consisted of Sawyer and I, Sharil and Cochise, Megan and Colby, Dave and Numerous, Dean and NASDAQ, Jill and Tanis, Sally and Sage, Dakotah and Rookie.

Sandy Valley Ranch plans to host another ACTHA event in October and I think Augustus is already getting his game face on, haha.

A Great day in the Mojave 6/11/10

2010-06-11T17:17:00.000-07:00

A Mild Mustang

2010-06-10T15:55:00.001-07:00

One Hot Friday 6/4/10

2010-06-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

Summer is DEFINITELY here now. I am not sure what happened to the 90 degree days, but it seems like we left the upper 80's and went straight to the triple digits. This weekend we are supposed to be around 110 degrees. Being that it was so hot, and we are all still adjusting, there was nearly zero motivation today. Augustus and I didn't work one bit, but still managed to enjoy ourselves and just spend some time together. I was out of town for over two weeks so it was nice to just relax and make the most of it. I really missd my boy so it warmed my heart to be greeted with a nicker when I went into the pasture to find him on Thursday. Doesn't get any better than that. :) Augustus had his first "extremely thorough" bath today and man does he look handsome when he is all cleaned up. I don't use shampoo and conditioner that often with my horses, so today he got the "works" treatment which also included some good 'ol hoof dressing. If Gus were a human, he would be the kid who runs around barefoot in his overalls catching frogs with dirt all over his face and hands, but today after his bath he looked so healthy and grown up...made me realize just how mature he has become and how lucky I am to have such an awesome Mustang.

Calling All Riders!

2010-06-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

CALL TO ALL HORSE RIDERS IN THE LAS VEGAS AREA TO JOIN THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® ATTEMPT FOR THE LARGEST TRAIL RIDING COMPETITION ON JUNE 13

ACTHA to Donate All ProceedS from the Event to Horse Rescue Charities Nationwide

The American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) is calling all riders in the Las Vegas area to grab their saddles on Sunday, June 13 and join the first-ever Guinness World Records attempt for the Largest Trail Riding Competition at SANDY VALLEY RANCH in Sandy Valley, NV (45 minutes south of Las Vegas) This local competition is one of 61 nationwide trail rides organized by ACHTA in a historic effort to bring thousands of horse enthusiasts together to raise more than $100,000 for horse rescue programs nationwide.

ACTHA has partnered with local organizers in the 48 states participating in the official Guinness World Records attempt, during which riders will compete on six-mile trails comprised of safe, fun and natural trail obstacles observed by professional judges. The local competition at Sandy Valley Ranch is open for anyone who wishes to partake in the record-breaking achievement to help raise much needed funds for national horse rescue charities.

"What makes this record attempt so significant to us is not just the Guinness World Records achievement in itself, but also the fact that thousands of volunteers will come together in one day to raise thousands of dollars for horse rescue programs across the nation,” explains,

Tom Scrima, general manager of ACTHA and organizer of the record attempt.

The simultaneous record attempt will culminate in a certificate presentation by an official Guinness World Records representative to ACTHA’s founders, during Clinton Anderson’s Walk About Tour at the renowned South Point Equestrian and Events Center in Las Vegas, NV. Thousands of riders are expected in the national competition, which will crown more than a hundred winners from three divisions. Participants will also be eligible to win over $1,200 in prizes at each location generously donated by ACTHA’s sponsors.

Riders in Las Vegas and beyond interested in participating in this first-ever Guinness World Records attempt for the Largest Trail Riding Competition can sign- up at www.actha.us.

ACTHA’s Mission:

· To provide an enjoyable venue showcasing the wonderful attributes of the great American trail horse, granting them the recognition they so richly deserve.

· To maintain a registry open to all breeds and a point designation system which will stay with each horse for its lifetime, thereby adding to their value and distinction.

· To enable the humane treatment of horses in need.

ACTHA's current sponsors and recognizing breed associations include:

The Horse Show with Rick Lamb RFDTV, American Paint Horse Association, Arabian Horse Association, Best of America by Horseback, Cavallo, Horse and Rider, Clinton Anderson / Down Under Horsemanship, Daily 72, Equestrianfriends.com, eZall Equestriansingles.com, Equine VIP, Equus Online University, HORSE COLIC RELIEF, Horse Loverz.com, HorseLoverZ.com, Horsemanship, HSUS, Life Data Labs (Farrier's Formula), Midwest Horse Digest, Molly's Custom Silver, Monty Roberts, Morgan Horse Association, Muddy Creek Rain Geer, Mustang Heritage Foundation, ROBART PINCHLESS BITS, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, The Missouri Fox Trotter Association, The National Walking Horse Association, Today’s Horse Trader, Total Health Enhancement, Trail Blazer Magazine, Trail Town USA, Troxel, Tucker Saddles, US Horse Biz, Vetericyn.

ACTHA / "Ride for the Rescues"

2010-06-02T16:58:00.001-07:00

Looking for something to do on June 13th? Love to trail ride? Check this out! Our neighbor, Sandy Valley Ranch is participating in The American Competitive Trail Horse Association's "Ride for the Rescues" trail ride. The Shiloh Horses will benefit from this event, so let's show our support for this record breaking ride!

My other horse, Sawyer, and I are signed up and ready for the adventure. Sawyer was adopted from Shiloh so we are ready to represent the "Rescue" horse and have fun doing it! Hope to see yall there!

Nap Time and Trail Ride

2010-05-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

It's a "Stone Cabin Grey Thang"

2010-05-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year because the dirty, shaggy winter coat has finally shed and I can see Augustus' real coat and color! Each year he gets a bit darker and darker. It's interesting really, since most Grey horses tend to get lighter with age, but Gus' specific little family always seems to get darker and almost "roan" out. Today was a nice day....we all just spent some quality time together and no one was tacked up, haha. Shiloh horses, Banjo and Lobo, joined Gus and Sawyer in the turnout today and they had a great time. Lots of sunshine, warm weather, and soft sand. Even Cortez, Shiloh's Mustang and Leader of the "Wanderers", stopped by for a visit.

Augustus and Joe Weitekamp

2010-05-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

More Clinic Photos 5/1/10

2010-05-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a few more photos of Augustus. These were taken by Tara Kilpatrick at the Joe Weitekamp Clinic that was held at the ranch last Saturday.

A Successful Saturday

2010-05-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

The clinic with Joe Weitekamp on Saturday, May 1st was a huge success! A big thanks to everyone who participated and lended a helping hand, and an even bigger thanks to Joe for all of his hardwork and dedication to the horses. We appreciate all that you do for us! We had a great turnout, near perfect weather, and enjoyed an awesome BBQ lunch. Augustus and I participated in the clinic as one of the Horse / Handler Teams. It was nice to share this experience with Gus since this was his first clinic, and we had alot of fun doing it. Joe shared his knowledge and professional experience with gaining your horses respect from the ground up and building the perfect relationship with your horse. We had auditors along the outside of the arena taking notes, asking questions, and observing while a handful of other folks and their horses practiced "hands on" in the arena with us. I will be receiving more pictures tomorrow, so I am sure I will be posting a few more entries over the next few days. The best part of the day for me was watching Joe and "Wiseguy" show off in the arena. Wiseguy is Joe's Mustang for the Extreme Mustang Makeover and they have made some awesome progress over the last few months. This was their last chance to practice in front of a large crowd before heading down to Norco, CA for the EMM Trail Challenge. Good luck guys! I hope to see yall down there!

Joe Weitekamp at Shiloh this Saturday!!

2010-04-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

Okay folks, we are full with participants for the Horse / Handler Teams but still have room for Auditors. If you are interested, click on the link below and send me an email to RSVP as soon as possible. The clinic is going to be a blast so come on out and meet some new people, have some fun, enjoy some good food, and maybe even learn something! :) See yall there!
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Joe Weitekamp Clinic
Saturday, May 1, 2010
9am at Shiloh

Please join us on May 1, 2010 at Shiloh as we welcome Extreme Mustang Makeover participant, Joe Weitekamp, for a special clinic. A perfect opportunity for those who have horses who need some help. Joe will be teaching his techniques of handling and gaining the respect of a difficult horse on the ground and building a stronger relationship with your horse.

For more information, please click HERE

Update 4/23/10

2010-04-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

My Mom came out from Texas and stayed for a few days, and of course we had to spend some time out at the ranch. It was very windy the whole time she was out, but aside from all the dust and sand blowing around we did manage to have a great time. Augustus was definitely full of it and was quite a handful in the Round Pen, but there was never a dull moment. He was feeling great in all that wind and I had alot of fun putting on a small little rodeo for my Mom.

The Mesquite Mountains

2010-04-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

Augustus and I had an amazing time together today. I mean, it just doesn't get any better. He spent the first part of the morning playing with his Mustang buddy, Iceman, then we went off by ourselves on a nice two hour ride to the base of the Mesquite Mountain Range. The weather was perfect...warm and sunny with a slight breeze and barely a cloud in the sky.

The Mesquite Mountains are on the California side of Sandy Valley, and basically make up the western border of the Mesquite Valley from San Bernadino County to Inyo County. The area is all wilderness and you could ride all the way into Death Valley if you were packed and prepared enough.

"I can't think of nothing better than riding a fine horse through new country. It's what I was meant for.." - Augustus McCrae, Lonesome Dove

Jeremy and Gus 4/11/10

2010-04-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

A Rainy and Windy Monday

2010-04-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy and windy Monday, but Augustus had a blast! We didn't do any riding today due to the weather but Megan and I turned out Gus, Sawyer, and her horse Colby to let them play and we all had a blast. Lots of running, kicking, bucking, and even some chase. They were all so frisky today! It was a great day of bonding and just some simple, quality time..Gus and I even shared an apple at lunch. :)

Just Me and my Stang

2010-04-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

Augustus and I layed in the nice, soft sandy turnout for most of the morning today. I couldn't have thought of any other way to spend my day....nothing better than just relaxing and enjoying some quality time.

Augustus meets Aztec

2010-03-29T17:22:00.001-07:00

Aztec is our newest arrival at Shiloh. He is a 5 month old Alpaca who just arrived on Saturday from the NSPCA. He is so adorable and so affectionate. Gus was very curious to see what this little guy was all about, and I think they hit it off pretty good. It was neat to watch them check each other out. Gus is very social, so he wanted to make sure he gave Aztec his formal introduction and welcome him to Shiloh. Maybe they will be good friends? :)

Lazy Thursday!

2010-03-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

I love this picture! As you can see, it was a lazy Thursday.

TDK Photo Shoot 3/11/10

2010-03-14T17:37:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank my good friend and photographer, Tara Kilpatrick, for coming out to the ranch and shooting some fantastic photographs of me and my boys. I am considering venturing back into Stunt Riding / Film and needed to have some updated pictures taken, both headshots and action shots. I used both Augustus and Sawyer, and both sets came out perfect! I wanted to share some of Gus' photos with yall...it was hard to pick out just a few favorites, but I am feeling good with the choices here. It was so much fun doing this shoot, and I think Augustus had a great time too...he isn't camera shy at all :)

On the dusty trail

2010-03-13T16:42:00.000-08:00

Well, folks, the time has finally come. Augustus and I completed our first, long two hour ride together on Friday. Gus was awesome and had so much fun being out there, and I was of course a very proud Dad. The weather was perfect, and we were joined by Sharil and Elisa, who rode their horses Cochise and Calamity. We rode way out to the Mesquite trail, back down toward Kingston Ranch, and then passed the Longhorns before returning back to the ranch. We had a few Jackrabbits scurry underneath us, trudged through some mud, hopped over a small bush, and crossed some deep, soft, sinking sand with no issues at all. The ride was perfect. My boy is definitely all grown up now. Whose ready for a trail ride?

The West is the Best

2010-03-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

There is no better way to describe the last few days than to call them AWESOME. I am definitely a proud Dad, and I couldn't be happier with Augustus. He has been doing so well. We have been spending lots of time riding around the property and showing off in the arena. The arena was a blast on Monday as we picked up the speed and surprisingly we went the whole day without a buck. It must be the arena, because when we pick up the pace in the Round Pen I sometimes think I am on a bronc! But, of course, thats always fun too. :)Anyway, it was a perfect day on Monday, and we enjoyed showing off for my friend, Megan. She is a great friend of mine, knows her horsemanship, and we were even wranglers together a few years back. She is taking ownership of another horse and is now the newest Boarder at the ranch. We are very excited to have her join Shiloh, and I look forward to spending more time with her and enjoying ourselves out on trail.

After some riding at the ranch, we decided to venture off into the desert for a nice ride. The Las Vegas area was under a storm watch, so we had some really neat clouds hovering above the valley, and as usual this created some awesome scenery and an amazing backdrop for our adventure. No matter how many times I look at the same mountains (especially on horseback), I just can't help myself but stop, shake my head in amazement, and just say "Wow."

The West is definitely the Best.

Ready for the trail 2/19/10

2010-02-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

Augustus and I had lots of fun on Friday. We spent the day trying out our new riding arena and playing with some obstacles. The weather was unfortunately cloudy and slightly cooler than Thursday, but cooperated with us. We are definitely ready for the trail. :) After we untacked, Sharil and Iceman joined us on a nice relaxing walk through the Mesquites to unwind.

Perfect Day for a Trail Ride

2010-02-18T17:47:00.000-08:00

Thursday was just too cool (as in awesome). It was perfect weather...sunny and in the 70's. Sharil and I decided to tack up our boys, Borrego and Sawyer, and enjoy a nice ride. Just as we were about to head out, Augustus starting calling out to us and had that "look" on his face like he was begging to come along. So, I grabbed him, haltered him, and took him along for the journey. Gus had such a great time out on trail jumping bushes, running through washes, and exploring. You could almost see an ear to ear grin on his face the whole time :)

Augustus and Iceman

2010-02-13T18:23:00.001-08:00

Well, the only thing that has been consistent lately is mud, more mud, and more mud from where the other mud came from, haha. The rains have finally stopped and now we just have to wait for everything to dry up. The weather has warmed up into the 60's and it feels like spring is creeping up on us. Before too long, all of our temporary swamps, ponds, and lakes at the ranch will be gone and we can all go about business as usual. I am definitely looking forward to getting back into the groove with some riding..and giving my boys a much needed bath.

Thursday 2/4/10

2010-02-04T17:25:00.001-08:00

Augustus and I had an amazing day in the saddle. Gus is really going to make a great trail horse. We accomplished lots of directional work, trotting, loping, Round Pen, Arena, exploring the ranch, and a couple of bucks later I finally dismounted. :) After all that, Gus spent the rest of the afternoon with Sawyer and Iceman in the turnout, enjoying the soft, sandy area while soaking up the sun and the 60 degree weather. My buddy, Dave, snapped an awesome picture of one of our ranch sunsets the other day, so I included that for your enjoyment as well.

It was a perfect day at the ranch.

Snow, Rain, and Mud....

2010-01-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

We have had some crazy weather around here lately. Lots of rain, more rain, then more rain followed by snow, some more snow, and then even more snow all around the mountains. The ranch is a mudhole right now and we are all slipping and sliding all over the place. Gus (along with all of the other animals at the ranch) could definitely use a bath! Even though the weather has put a damper on getting alot of work done, it has provided us with some beautiful scenery.

Mustang Hooves

2010-01-22T17:08:00.001-08:00

This is a perfect, strong, and healthy Mustang hoof. :)

Rummage Sale to benefit Mustangs!

2010-01-17T16:35:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share an email that I received from my friend, Paula Isengard. Feel free to forward this information along to others who may be interested. This will be taking place in the Las Vegas, NV area.

Thanks,

Eric

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To all my friends, equine and otherwise:

As all of you know, I spend most of my time, effort, energy and money rescuing horses that would otherwise be mistreated, starved or sent to the Fallon Feedlot. Currently we have six horses in rescue. Although we do have two adoptions pending there never seems to be enough time, money or hay. The Mustang geldings we have are very lovely boys and we know that their best chance for a good, permanent placement will be if they are saddle trained. To that end, we would like to have a rummage sale to raise the funds to send them to college at the Diamond W Ranch where they will be trained by Joe Weitekamp. I am hoping to have the sale on February 20 at Lake Mead Hardware. All proceeds will go towards the training of the Mustangs.

If you have household items, clothing, electronics or tack sitting around gathering dust, please consider donating them to the Mustangs and our rummage sale! And of course, if you would like to volunteer to work the sale, I’d love that too. We appreciate every single bit of help we receive. You can call me to donate or for more information at 702-437-3367 or text to 702-858-3542. Thank you!

Please feel free to forward.

Sincerely,

Paula Isenbarg
The Huppie Syndicate

Wild to Mild

2010-01-16T12:17:00.000-08:00

Mustang/Colt starting Clinic

Joe Weitekamp will be picking up a new Mustang for the Norco Extreme Mustang Makeover on February 12th 2010 and will be holding a clinic on February 13th and 14th. Come on out and join him as he starts his new Mustang.

What to expect:
Joe will be working with his Mustang and explain what he is doing and why as he starts laying the foundation of trust, respect and leadership, that is required for further training.

There will be question and answer periods where you can ask more specific questions

This Clinic will be audit only

Where: 8425 Jakes Pl.
When: February 13th and 14th
Time: 9:00 am to ?
Refreshments: Cold drinks will be provided however food will
not. Please bring a picnic lunch.
Cost: $30 each day or $50 for both (If purchased by
February 10th)
$40 each day or $70 for both ( if purchased after
February 10th)

Please visit www.diamondwranch.net to reserve your place or call 702-664-4381. Space will be limited so reserve yours early. All purchases are final and non-refundable but they are transferable.

Thursday / Fun Day

2010-01-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

I got to the ranch before the sun came up on Thursday. It is always no nice to see the sun come up over the mountains and it proved to be the perfect day to do so. The weather was great, and it got so warm that it was T-shirt weather! Augustus got loose today, but wound up having so much fun with the Wanderers that I let him enjoy it. He ran, kicked, bucked, and farted all morning with them. It is always so cool to see that "Wild Spirit" kick in and imagine what he would look like if he was still out on the range. After his morning, we did some light riding and then he spent the rest of the afternoon in the turnout with his friends while I went to work with Iceman. As always, it was a great day.