>
> That's kinda what I figured. And she was having such fun! It
would have
> been more fun for me if I hadn't had to stand in that gale-force
wind.

I can imagine! Few places on this earth can do wind as well as
chicago can!

> warm enough, but getting *quite* irritated watching them circling
in big,
> big circles and my girl having races with a herd-mate.

Raven and Brandy can really get each other going like this sometimes.
Raven will usually call it quits pretty quickly cause she *knows*
that im not going to give up...and she cant be sure if i want to
ride, lunge, brush or just catch her give her a treat and turn her
back out. You can see the wheels turn lol.

>
> Boy, this sounds complicated to design, and no easy thing to make.
>

Its really something you have to see to appreciate. Ive had a lot of
fun watching him work on..and waiting impatiently for his provisional
patent.. and finally getting to market it. Wish Id gotten some pics
of ppls reactions to it this weekend... it was priceless for his ego
lol. I had a lot of fun watching the pasos and visiting with other
horse ppl. There were only 6 booths, three on each side of the arena
and i got to chat a lot with the ppl on either side of us. One of the
things i always enjoyed about the craft shows was that crafters are
such nice ppl in general, and ive always said that about horse ppl.
So it makes is nice.

>
> WOW! I can hand out those cards as we ride along the trail! I'd be
> thrilled to do that kind of demo-ing.
>

Should i have him add a little pocket to hold cards? <grin>.

>
> Hmmm, don't know what you mean when you say "paso saddles." Sounds
like you
> mean the English saddle type?

I hadnt thought about that. The peruvians are pretty different than
the paso saddles that were there this weekend. They ALL looked like a
cross between an english saddle and an aussie saddle. And i can put
it on my aussie but it doesnt fit as perfectly as it does on a
western saddle. The bottom is curved to fit the horses shape for
comfort too so even though my aussie pad doesnt go all the way
underneath it like a western pad does its still comfortable for
Raven. It just looks a little different. The paso saddles we saw this
weekend all had a bump right in the middle behind the back of the
seat and he'll have to redesign the box for that bump to get it fit
really securely on those.

> When you
> come out (yeah) we can check it out.
>

That works :) Gotta see your sweet girl again too. Shes such a doll.

>
> Well, when the time gets closer we'll make some plans, but you HAVE
to come
> and see my grand lady, and maybe a quick ride???????

Id love a chance to get to ride her. Ive not ridden a paso since i
was a kid and that was a long long time ago!

> Just bring warm
> clothes.

Maybe the weather will cooperate and we'll get a warm snap right
about then. Though chicagos warm snaps arent as work as oklahomas!

> Boys are welcome at the barn too of course. And there's lots of
> places to eat around the barn--we're just around the corner from
Great
> America--wonderful shopping, especially around Christmas. When are
you
> planning on coming in???
>

It will be sometimes during christmas break but i'm not sure yet
when. Probably the 26th or 27th and how long we stay will depend on
how long Den can be off work. We probably wont know for sure until
the end of this month.

> You KNOW I'd love to get out your way. We'll be going out to
Kansas (Lenexa
> area--eastern Kansas) probably a couple of times this year.

Kansas City is only about 4 hours from me, maybe 4 1/2. Or less by
air and southwest does the super saver trips between ks and tulsa for
under $150 round trip.

>There's always
> Equifest out there....when is it again????
>


You really should plan to come for equifest. It is soo awesome. Its
the last weekend of Feb. Friday, Sat and Sun. Anderson will be there
this year. I've not looked to see who the other clinicians are but
they always have good ones.

Cheryl