Gunners Special Nite

Gunners Special Nite will be on the American team at the Alltech World Equestrian Games this September in Lexington, KY. Owned by the ranch until two months ago, Gunners Special Nite will be ridden by Tom McCutcheon. Marcy Ver Meer rode GSN exclusively from 2007 thru the 2010 NRBC Derby, riding him to Reserve Champion in the 2007 NRHA Futurity and racking up over $200,000 in LTE over three years.

Non-Pro Reining at the Ranch

Marcy Ver Meer spent time today with Christie Mogel and Mary-Anne Van Degna, two non-pro riders. Mary Anne (top right) is aboard Baby Blue, which is actually Christie's horse.

Marcy is riding Stella, a promising three year old owned by Connie Perlot.

Christie (bottom right) is on Tucker's Last, a five year old mare owned by the ranch. Chloe, as she is known at the barn, has competed in Futurity and Derby events and is available for sale. She would make an excellent horse for a non-pro.

Hike on Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

We hiked in the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area this morning. The area is a five minute ride from the ranch and is suited to trail riding as well as hiking. The trails lead into the Tonto National Forest. This view is looking south with Cave Creek in the foreground and Elephant Butte in the background.

Tubing on the Lower Salt River

Yesterday Marcy Ver Meer took the afternoon from training for the USET World Games to lead a group for a half day of tubing in the Tonto National Forest on the Lower Salt River. The group included her mom, Betts Ver Meer and clients Christie Mogel and Mary-Anne Van Degna. Bob Van Degna came along to carry the cooler and was the only one to fall in. The water was a refreshing 64 degrees and the weather was perfect, warm with a bright, blue sky.

Winged Visit

This baby bird dropped from its nest in the barn. One of the barn dogs, Luce, immediately tried to grab it, but quick work averted a disaster.

We fed the bird raspberries and water. He slept thru the night in a makeshift nest in the house and had breakfast this morning consisting of ground up egg and egg shells, a dead spider and more raspberries.

We are trying to find a bird sanctuary which can take care of him .

Red Roughing It

Red and Buck spent the night under the stars last Wednesday night in Cottonwoods, AZ at the Dead Horse State Park. They tell us the name of the park was given by the early settlers to this area. Apparently a horse had died on the property and everyone referred to the area as Dead Horse.

Red is a 2001 gelding rope horse. Foaled and ridden in TX, Red has been with the ranch since 2007.

Another Bobcat

Hard to tell from this image, but the bobcat is smaller and less well marked than the one previously shown. Given the size and lack of distinctive black strips, I'm guessing it's a female

Nu Jackie - Rope Horse

Nu Jackie, or Teddy as she is known around the ranch, is a 12 year old rope horse which we have had since 2005.

Her lineage is Colonel Freckles on top and Zan Paar Jack on the bottom. She was trained and ridden by John Miller, the World Champion team roper.

Her roping days are over, but she can still hit the trails and might even make a good brood mare.

In this image, she is drying off after a bath following a trail ride down on the Cave Creek wash.

Marcy Participates in AzNRHA Mothers' Day Slide

Marcy brought six horses and two clients to West World over the weekend to participate in the AzNRHA Mothers' Day Slide. Pictured above with Marcy, is Mary-Anne Van Degna, the owner of the ranch with her horse, Kid. Marcy used the show to school Lil Gun Dunit in preparation for the NRHA Derby in June.

New Groom at the Ranch

Marcy has hired Jeanne Hatfield to groom and saddle horses in Marcy's training program. Jeanne has worked at the ranch, cleaning stalls on Sundays. She has become very familiar and comfortable with all the horses boarded at the ranch. Jeanne is thrilled to be part of Marcy's program.

Ver Meer Qualifies for WEG Selection Trials

Marcy Ver Meer will compete in the 2010 WEG Selection Trials in Oklahoma City, OK, July 6-9. The top four riders and one alternate will comprise the USA Team for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) which are being held, for the first time, in the US in September in Lexington, KY. Marcy is planning to ride Ruf N Dun It, a Bar Double C Ranch horse.

Gunners Special Nite Sold

Following Gunners Special Nite's (Bailey) eight place finish in the 2010 NRBC Derby Classic, the ranch sold Bailey to Sarah Willeman. He will standing stud at TM Reining Horses in Aubrey, TX.

While we are sad to see him go, his accomplishments under the training of Marcy Ver Meer put him in an elite class. He earned over $200,000 in his career, making him the top performering offspring of Gunners Smokingun, a two million dollar NRHA sire.

Bailey's most memorable accomplishment was his Reserve Championship in the 2007 NRHA Futurity where he and Marcy marked a 230. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuTB_e8IsY

Marcy and Gunners Special Nite 8th in NRBC

Marcy Ver Meer, riding Gunners Special Nite, tied for 8th at the 2010 NRBC Classic, earning $27,500. The Open event attracted just under 200 competitors. With this win, Gunners Special Nite tops $200,000 in lifetime earnings. Congratulations to Marcy, who has exclusively trained and shown Gunners Special Nite since he was purchased by the Bar Double C Ranch in mid-2007 as a three year old.

Gunners Special Nite was the 2007 NRHA Futurity Open Reserve winner and Intermediate Open Winner.

Gunners Special Nite 18th in the NRBC Draw

Gunners Special Nite and Marcy Ver Meer are 18th in the draw for the finals in the NRBC Classic in Katy, TX on Saturday night. 31 contestants will compete for more than $75,000 in prizes.

Marcy will also ride Gunners Special Nite tonight to qualify for the US team selection finals for the World Games in Sept in Lexington, KY. The selection finals will be held in Oklahoma City in July. The top five riders will make the team and several others will be on the "long list" as backups in case of injury.

NRBC Update

Gun Stinger was forced to draw out of the NRBC Derby due to a lameness issue. He is being treated with stem cell therapy and will need several months of rest to recuperate. Marcy reports that Lil Gun Dunit is handling himself very well in preparation for his qualification class on April 14. Marcy will also show Gunners Special Nite on the 14th.

Bobcat Visit

This bobcat let me get pretty close. He never really showed any concern about my presence and he wasn't aggressive either. Probably looking for water in the pool. We seem to be on his route because we see him every so often.

Rosie's Visit

The ranch had a special guest today, Rosie Caparella. Rosie, who is 99, wanted to visit a ranch which brought back memories of her childhood near Buffalo, NY where her parents had a cattle ranch. Her visit was part of the "Ageless Dream" program at Willow Creek Assisted Living here in the valley.

Rosie was hosted to a tea party by Kristie Chadwick, Mary-Anne Van Degna and Jeanne Hatfield. They enjoyed teas and cakes from Whole Foods.

Rosie also had a chance to pet Buck, one of the quarter horses who lives on the ranch and works cattle. She also saw the cattle and the flower blooms on the cactus which came out today to celebrate her visit.

We hope she comes back again soon.

Chadwick Travels to Canada for Clinic

Shad left March 31 for a three day trip north to give a two day clinic to several ropers in Canada. He is available for clinics throughout the year. Call to schedule.

NRBC Derby and FEI Qualifier

Marcy leaves for Katy, TX on April 5 for the NRHA Derby and the FEI Qualifier for the World Games. She is planning on competing in the Derby on Gunners Special Nite, Lil Gun Dunit and Gun Stinger. Gunners Special Nite, a six year old, has earned nearly $190,000 so far. She will ride Gunners Special Nite in the FEI Qualifier on April 18th.