Hello everyone,

First of all I would like to thank everyone for all the happy retirement messages I received, although now it seems that I might not be totally retiring. As the property has not sold (guess it might help if I actually did some marketing and listed the place) and as I am still here incurring expenses, I have decided to continue to do some limited Aspengrove activities.

The main part of my retirement was not having to look after 45 plus horses and now with most of them sold, life has become a lot easier and I can focus on other things. I have put out some feelers regarding having a few camps for children and adults who have their own horses and the response was overwhelming. So, I have decided to offer 2 weeks of camp in July and 2 weeks in August. The dates chosen will be July 12 – 17, July 19 – 24, Aug. 2 – 7 and Aug. 9 – 14. I am able to bring down the costs and will be offering the camps at $750.00 per week which will allow the camp costs to be about the same as last year after adding on the horse transportation. Classes would be no more than 24 per session which will be 6 groups of 4 . Kevan from 4-H horse transport says he will give good deals from Vancouver and perhaps also do some Alberta runs depending on his schedule. Please let me know your thoughts on these weeks and this idea.

Another idea I am considering is boarding horses. I will have a lot of pasture available and there are so many horses out there that need the open pasture experience. There are a lot of horses that are not being used for one reason or another and would really appreciate the chance of actually being a horse and being able to run free in the fields. This would give the owner a break from the high boarding costs in the city and allow the horse to do what horses like to do… gallop freely. We would also have paddocks available if required at discounted rates. We would also provide exercising and schooling if that service is needed. Costs will be on the revised site soon.

Aspengrove will also be available for rent to pony clubs, 4-H and any other organizations that might be interested. I have done quite a few of these through the years but always during the off season but now these organizations will be able to book prime times. If you know of an organization that might be interested in utilizing this facility let them know of this availability. Family reunions, clinics, workshops are also under consideration. This facility just has too much to offer to sit idle.

We will also offer weekend camps for children as well as our usual parent/child weekends and women’s weekend getaways, only now you have to bring your own horses. Meals and instruction will be the same quality as before. Dates will be on the new revised web site sometime in the new year.

Another service we will be offering is help with horse sales. We have found from our years of horse shopping that there are so many people out there trying to sell horses that have not been ridden for quite some time and now they are trying to sell this horse. In order to get a decent price you do need the horse to be ride-able. We will school your horse and get it ready to sell, including clipping and mane pulling.

I will be updating and renewing my website with all this information in the New Year. Let me know if you are interested in attending these camps at these dates.

Now for information on the sale of the horses. Many of you have been emailing and I will update you. All the horses that have been sold have gone to great homes, all the individual owners. Here is the list:
Deleah and Dusty – to a couple of sisters in Kelowna. They are boarded at a facility with an indoor arena.
Beau and Adam are now semi retired and went to my vet Britt Mills in Armstrong.
Banner, Oli, and Alex went to Femke and Debbie Burnett in Vernon. Femke and Debbie were getting lessons here and they have a 5 acre farm and just completed fencing and shelters for the horses.
Banjo went to Calgary to a girl who rode him in camp this summer;
Saucie went to Idaho to Taylour who worked here this summer.
Pocket went to Brittany Kneal, a former student and camper and is now being boarded at Erica’s.
Fabio went to a mother and daughter in Vernon who are using him for pleasure riding.
Carly went to a woman in Kelowna to use for pleasure riding. She has an acreage and a couple of other horses for company.
Jane went to a woman in the Penticton and is now doing trails and pleasure riding.
Teneka went to a pony club girl from Penticton and is being loved.
Chloe was purchased by a girl from Vernon who was getting weekly riding lessons here and is boarded here for the winter.
Scooter went to Julia Knopp from Vernon and is living on their acreage on Old Kamloops Road.
Shasta and Amigo went to Creston to a semi retirement home.
Eddie went to a pony club girl in Tappen and has already shown in a couple of shows and done very well.
Hawkeye went to Anika Hennig from Vernon and has attended shows, done very well and is boarded at Nell’s down the road.
Sneaky and Tilley are in Cherryville.
Mister was purchased by Nell Elders who resides down the road and will be lightly used for beginner lessons.
Dutchess resides in Cawston and is loved and ridden by a beginner woman who is getting lessons on her.
Marilyn and Minnie went to a farm down the road. Minnie is being used for pony rides for the family of 3 children and Marilyn is being ridden by the mother and dad and apparently is now is great shape after losing a lot of weight.
Shanna went to Prince George to be lightly used for some beginner lessons;
Saphron went to Erica’s to be lightly used for beginner lessons.
Joe went to Calgary to Jesse Stilwell who has taken him to a few shows and is doing very well.
Coffee went to Bowen Island to Bailey Faragher who rode him during camp.
Peaches went to a little girl in Kelowna and is currently being stabled and ridden at an indoor facility.
Brumby went to Morgan Haslam a summer camper from Calgary being ridden by a small girl and her mother.
Profit went to a family from Grand Forks.
Jonathan went to a young boy from Kelowna and will be used for 4-H and pony club.
Sherry went to a trainer I had working here this spring and
Newman sold as a trail horse to a family in Vernon.
Bloozie went to Summerland to Melissa who used to work here and is being used by a beginner for lessons. I hope I haven’t missed any. I am very happy with the homes and am always getting updates by email. The horses that are left will be offered for sale in the spring once they are conditioned. The horses that are left are Peanut, Irish and her baby Riley (yes I guess we are keeping that name) Smokey, Forrest, Mirana, Nola, Chief, Rosey, Caroline, and Breezy who is at Angie’s keeping Hailey company.

With this cold snap, which seems to be throughout the whole country, we have been feeding twice as much as we usually do and the horses seem to be fairing well. We are feeding in the trees and there is protection against the snow and wind. We lured Timmy the goat into the barn and he has been there under the heat lamp for the last week. At first he was bleating non stop but this morning I was going to let him out and he decided he just might want to stay in. The rest of the critters are in the house full time during this cold snap – 3 dogs, 3 cats and a rabbit.

I have some bad news. Some of you might have already heard, but during the last week of camp, right after the show, Kiddo developed colic and had to be put down immediately as he had a ruptured tumor. The only good thing about it was that he did not have to suffer. A few weeks ago we had to put down the oldest horse that we have ever had. Drummer, who had retired to Angie’s place, had to be put down at 35. He was doing so well until one day he also developed colic and there was not going to be a recovery. Those 2 Arabs will always be remembered for their great personalities and the many students that they taught how to ride.

We are still working with Peanut and his laminitis. He developed this last October and after a year and a month, I think he is finally almost sound. We have been working with herbs; trim every 3 weeks, lots of soaking and wrapping and no abscesses for a while. I think once this cold snap is over I will let him in the field with the rest of the horses. I tried to put him out a month ago and he is so used to his paddock now that he just stood and looked at his paddock wanting to go back to the area that he was used to. I think once he is out for a few days he will remember what a good time he used to have. I have Moose out with the herd now and he used to be Peanut’s neighbor so Peanut might be more inclined to want to stay out. Moose looks so cute out with the big guys. Irish and baby Riley are now with the herd as well. I am not sure if he is still drinking but he sure is independent and never hangs out with her. He really likes Nola and since they have some of the same markings, he looks like he is her baby.

At the close of this letter, I would once again like to thank all my staff for all the effort they put in. I could not run this place without them.

I would really like to have input on the summer camps. Let me know if you are interested and I will get the online registration updated.

At this time I would like to wish you all happiness during this festive time and a prosperous and healthy New Year. I hope to see some of you for the 2009 season as it seems I am not totally ready for a full retirement yet.

Seasons greetings,
Hilda