We left for Ocala Thursday morning in the pouring rain...  by the time we got about 1/2 way there the sky's opened up and the sun showed us warmth.  I can not tell you how much I appreciated this!  We made it to Ocala around 3:00 and got unloaded and the Mustangs settled into their stalls.  The whole process was a lot easier than I had anticipated.  We attended the trainers meeting and got the general run down of the upcoming events.  Once we were dismissed it was back to the stalls to tackup and let Ruby get exposed to her new surroundings.  

It was so exciting to see all the beautiful horses.  The GEMM (Gatorland Extreme Mustang Makeover) trainers did such an outstanding job with their Mustangs.  We had mounted shooting, trick horses, bridle-less riding, reining patterns, jumpers, and much more!  The top ten performers were amazing and from talking to the various trainers the majority of them stopped taking in outside horses so they could dedicate all their time to the mustangs.  Given the fact that we only had 68 days to tame, gentle and train... I only wish we could have done the same.

During the weekend I met some truly great people and don't dare to try and list them all for fear of leaving one of them out.  However, I would like to extend an open invite to any of the GEMM trainers if you are ever passing through and need a place to stay give us a call!  I don't think I have ever been around a group of people quite like you all....  Everyone one was so eager to help each other out in everyway they could - swapping saddles for proper saddle fit, trying different bits to see if it would fit their horse better.  

We had one trainer have an accident on the way down...  On I75 his truck and trailer rolled with both mustangs on board.  All three of them survived the wreck and made it to the show.  Greg put his faith in the Lord to protect him and the Lord did.  Praise God!

Our 4 Mustangs did well overall.  Buddy was sitting in 10th place, I was 16th and Barry was 24th on Friday.  The vet scored Barry 30 points low on conditioning - we still can't figure that one out.  Had it not been for that he would have been in the top %.  Ruby had developed a limp in her hind right foot and vet was considering pulling her from the competition.  We medicated her, put bleach on her foot and did the water therapy.  I guess it worked somewhat she seemed to be doing better the next day.  

Buddy needed a shorter girth so being the penny pincher I am I had him buy one on clearance.  Bad choice on my part!  The girth was a non-slip girth and it made Alice so sore she refused to ride for him on Saturday.  We did not figure out what was wrong with her until Saturday night.  Needless to say my mistake cost him from getting back in the top 10.  Barry's riding performance was flawless and he ended up sitting 13th.  Had it not been for the points lost on body conditioning he would have been back for the finals.  Ruby, froze when we reached the speaker system and would not move forward on the riding obstacle course so we skipped the back 1/2 even with doing that she still placed 20th so I was very pleased with her.

Ruby was adopted by Rachel Perez and Cindy Perez and I do believe she will be very happy there.  I will miss her very much!

Alice was adopted by family in Florida

Mustang Sally was also adopted by a family in Florida

Ms. Priss was adopted by an unknown bidder who chose to donate her back to her trainer (Barry Johnson).  She will be heading to Texas in a few weeks with Barry.  

I am happy to say that Faith went home with her trainer Michelle! and Ruby was adopted by Michelle's Aunt so I will be able to follow Ruby as she grows and matures!  

I also want to thank Coral for giving Ruby a massage to help relax her.  It was the oddest thing I have ever felt but as Coral massaged Ruby for the first few minutes of it I could feel the sensation of the massage.  Okay I know some of you will think I am a quack but it was the strangest sensation I have ever felt.  I will forever miss Ruby...  However, I did not start this competition with the intentions of keeping her and I could not be happier with where she is at now.

God Bless you all...
Serena

 
This is Buddy showing Alice


We had to do a turn to the right
and then a turn and 1/4 to the left.

The speaker was hanging above the trailer so most horses refused to enter right away due to the
echo in the trailer.  Ruby paused and I held out a treat and up she came.
Boy, was I ever glad she liked the treats!