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