The Road Leading to Aiken . . .

... is out there, somewhere.

This was the view from my barn last Monday.  

  

 

FuzzButt was determined (as usual) to make her own path:   

And the turkeys have NO CLUE!

Two Weeks and Counting

I blast off to Aiken 2 weeks from today, can't believe how fast the year has gone by.  In a nut shell... it was a pretty good year for Hoof Pix®.  I did not have huge sales, but enough to keep the  biz going. I was especially pleased to get more sales for the personalized posters, photo books and gallery wraps.  I hope this trend continues.

Irish and I managed to compete a few times and did well. We are finally starting to click, and feeling more and more comfortable at novice level. But I still need to get used to his catapulting jump!

 His dressage improves with every lesson and I look forward to getting him out to some USDF shows this summer. (if I can find the time between shooting and eventing).
        
     (Now I know why I agreed to take on Joan Davis (www.flatlandsfoto.com) as an apprentice many years ago... so I could be assured of getting great pics when I competed!  Thanks Joan!)      


       My season was cut short in early October (for the third year in a row!) when Irish jumped on the X-tie and landed on my foot, crushing it and breaking a bone.  By the time the foot healed, the late autumn rains had turned any ridable surface on my farm to mud.  I'm really looking forward to getting back in the saddle soon!

I'll be renting a house in Aiken just a few blocks from where we stayed last year. FuzzButt had such a grand time last winter that she insists on coming along again.  Irish as usual will be boarding with Babette though not where they were last year.  This time Babette is co-leasing a farm with Polly & Em Merrill. 25 acres, turnout, 16 stalls, lovely 2- bedroom attached living area... in other words, a typical horse residence in the horse corridor of Aiken!

I haven't settled on a firm plan yet for my time there.  Getting Irish (and me!) back to work and hopefully competing in a few schooling shows before heading home is top on the list.  No changes in my photography plans... shoot stock and take fun pics of the BEventing group.  I got the OK from Lellie Ward to photograph the Jumping Derby at Paradise Farm and I'll try to shoot the February CT at Apple Tree Farm South. If any of my readers in the Aiken area want me to photograph anywhere else (where there is not already an Official Photographer) or if anyone wants private sessions just let me know.

The major task with Hoof Pix® will be a total re-design of my websites and blog. The plan is to bring everything together in one site, competition proofs, merchandise (cards & posters), the blog,  with one shopping cart and more flexibility in the ordering process. Another big project I hope to complete is setting up a Stock Image site where photos can be licensed for commercial use. Joan Davis is threatening to have me host her images as well. Wouldn't that be grand!  I am always open to suggestions from my wonderful customers on what changes / improvements you would like to see as well.

Posts to this blog should be more frequent again now that the shooting season is over.  Stay tuned!