update.. 24-Dec-2009
It is officially Winter in GA. The shortest day of the year just passed. It does not leave much time for training, riding, teaching and working with the horses.
Two new horses just arrived for training. They are fantastic horses and will make great show horses for someone.
We are excited about our 2010 show and training season.
All our pregnant mares are doing well. Can't wait till spring and we have those beautiful little guys or girls running around again.
See more pictures in the "Photos" group,
along with a new photo gallery display of young London-Jewels.
The Greatest Gift
Editorial reprint from Coree Reuter, Editorial Staff, The Chronicle of the Horse
Dec 18, 2009
I was one of those incredibly lucky little girls who received a horse for Christmas. I was 10 years old and totally horse crazy, so when my neighbor presented me with a bay Thoroughbred-Arabian
mare on Christmas morning in 1995, I thought no Christmas would ever top that one. And I was convinced I had just received the greatest gift of all time.
While Alibi proved to be a little too much horse for me, she gave me a glimpse of what it was like to have a horse to call your own, and she set me on the path toward becoming a lifelong horsewoman. That was Alibi's gift.
Apache and Molly came into my life a few months after Alibi returned to my neighbor. That dynamic duo was the epitome of what any child, any parent, would want in their back yard. They were perfectly happy to play whatever games my friends and I thought up. There were bareback gallops through the field while we played cowboys and Indians, days where we played Olympics by jumping makeshift courses of branches, barrels and chairs in a western saddle, and midnight rides that I was convinced my parents didn't know about. We never knew how old they were, but they put up with our reckless riding and silly ideas like patient grandparents, a twinkle always set in their brown eyes. Those ponies allowed me to experience simple joy on a horse. That was their gift.
Less than a year later, we lost Apache. He died peacefully in the field while we were away on vacation, and I was one heartbroken little girl. He taught me about loss and how to grieve. That was his gift.
Molly left us suddenly after coming down with a fatal case of choke five years later. We laid my pony down in the backyard, out of sight of my new horse, Premoe, and put her to sleep. Molly taught me how to let go, even when it hurts so badly. That was her gift.
Premoe, an Appaloosa-Percheron cross, was a Humane Society rescue and became my sole focus after Molly left us. He was a gangly, untrained 2-year-old when I bought him, and no one thought he'd amount to anything – except for me.
Premoe and I did everything together. We competed in jumping, barrel racing, western pleasure, halter, showmanship, dressage, eventing, – you name it, we probably did it. He was special, but he taught me to be humble too. We didn't always win. In fact, we only won four blue ribbons together, yet he showed me that the ribbons weren't the point; the partnership was.
Ten years after I bought Premoe, I sold him, something I said I'd never do. Premoe was a horse of a lifetime for me, and he taught me so many lessons: unconditional love, how to believe in yourself when no one else will, how to keep pushing, digging in and reaching, and most importantly, how to be generous. He taught me to share the gifts you've received in your life. Those, and so many other things, were his gifts to me.
There have been many other horses along my path. Some of them only joined me for a short while, while others lingered, but they all have given me some of the greatest gifts I've ever received.
This Christmas, there are plenty of little girls out there who'll receive a horse on Christmas morning. I hope someday they will look back and appreciate the incredible journey on which they're about to embark.
Syracuse Invitational SportHorse Tournament 2009
BEEZIE MADDEN TO RIDE CHAMPION HORSE JUDGEMENT INTO ARENA FOR THE LAST TIME AT SYRACUSE
article provided by Megan from Syracuse Invitational SportHorse Tournament 2009 web site
Judgement, Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden's longtime partner, will make his appearance before fans in a ceremony to be held on Sunday November 1 during the Animal Planet Sporthorse Tournament. The storied 18 year old dark bay stallion is a two time winner of the Cup and arguably one of the most successful American bred stallions in show jumping history.
Madden, who has ridden the horse to world fame, will ride Judgement once again into the arena for a ceremony and retrospective of his career that will include Judgement's owner and breeder Mary Alice Malone of Iron Spring Farm. The Cup will begin at 2 p.m. and the ceremony will take place during phases II and III.
It will be a bittersweet moment for me, riding Judgement into the ring for the last time, says Madden. We thought it was appropriate to do in front of his Syracuse fans where he certainly loved to jump. I will miss competing with him, but it is the right thing to do for him, and I could not ask for more from him than he has already given, said Madden.
Judgement will be stabled in the Exhibition Hall at the Tournament hosted at the Oncenter in Syracuse from Friday October 30 through Sunday, November 1. Fans and admirers will have the opportunity to meet him there, take photographs and offer best wishes. This will be his last public appearance before being retired to his owner's farm in Pa. where he will bred and relax among the rolling hills and green pastures.
Judgement's successful career is legendary. The stallion has competed in the USA, Canada, France, Ireland, England, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Malaysia, and the Netherlands. He represented the United States on ten Nations Cup teams and competed in two World Cup Finals. He was the first American bred and born Dutch Warmblood Stallion to top $ 1 million in winnings, and the first to be officially recognized by the KWPN (Dutch Warmblood Association of North America). He jumped at the Gran Prix level for 10 years. He was 2005 Chronicle of the Horse Show Jumper of the Year, 2005 nomination for KWPN Horse of the Year, and 2004 FEI Horse of the Year North America KWPN.
fyi.. We have a Judgement colt, Braveheart SCF, on our farm. He is three and enjoying the nice GA. weather and growing into a big boy. He will start his training under saddle next year, with Julie.
Watch filly Rachel Alexandra and jockey Kelvin Berel
WIN the 2009 Woodward Stakes : Rachel Alexandra video
MORE Rachel Alexandra NEWS on page 2.
here are recent pics of the cutie pies!!! Ahhh.....
Young Jewels is becoming strong and muscular. 5 months old.. Amazing isn't he..
Miss Brettina plays in the sun..
Julie at 2009 Rolex CCI Three Day Event. 
