We want to say THANK YOU!

As you all know, Saturday was our THANK YOU WINE & DINE NIGHT. Chuck was hard at work cooking for everyone. He makes the best chili! This night is all about all the dedicated sponsors, and the many spectacular volunteers that help make the Working Mountain Horse Compeition & Select Sale possible. This includes everyone from behind the scenes, to the people you see that weekend, to those who put on the demos. TO YOU ALL, WE SAY THANKS!

Unfortunately, my camera card decided to go on the fritz so I lost all the pictures that Guy took during the evening. (Hmm...I see a theme going here....Terri's computer, my camera....)But, thanks to Susan, we have these to share with you.

To all our SPONSORS who made it:

Theresa of UFA from Camrose

Darrel Cole from Coles Western Wear in Vegreville

Becky Hall and Brittany Paquette from Lammles in Camrose

Karen Anderson of Slide Stop Stables in Kelsey

Lorne Ertman of Summit Outfitters Supplies from Millet

Connie Thompson of Richmond Transport

Curt & Christine Giebelhaus of Curty's Oilfield Services

Donna Brooke of Food with Flair (who is also the caterer for the weekend)

There's always lots of ha ha moments...

And a thank you to our VERY UNDERSTANDING parents!

And who can forget the crazy crew!

Thank you to everyone who came out. We hope you enjoyed the evening. From us to you...we say THANKS! See you next year!

YYB

I'am still ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you have heard my computer crashed...not a little crash but BIG! Everything that was currently on my computer is now sitting on discs on the outside of my computer. It's kind of like the computer was gutted...I almost shot it too! I AM in a panic because this coming weekend at our ANNUAL THANK YOU PARTY I show a slideshow! What should be taking a couple of days has me working way more hours trying to find all my files and pics...ack! But none the less the computer didn't get drove over and I am slowly making one heck of a good show for everyone on our season and sale! I can't wait and the rsvp are coming in....although I currently can't send any emails..ugh. Calling Brenda is the best so we KNOW for sure if your coming...403-651-6142. We look forward to this each year...this night is our way of thanking our volunteers & sponosors we have good food cooked by US, your first drink served by US, tons of pics all over to look over, a movie of our season, thank you's and a good ole dance that goes on and on and on...see you Saturday!

A gift sent to W2 from a guest last summer...

Thank you and you know who you are, I LOVE IT and have it hanging in the cabin. Brenda hasn't seen it yet...wonder if she will see it here...hmmm. Again thank you and haven't heard you blow my whistle yet! smile.

This one's for the girls....

Last year we had a first ever all Ladies Explorer Retreat, this was a 5 day retreat instead of our normal 3. We rode the 20 miles into our high camp "Lone Horse Camp" and from there the retreat turned into an amazing adventure. We seen that ladies are up for 5 days in the back country!

Free Vacation!

We're looking for anyone who might be interested in taking care of our Mountain Base Camp and our cows from Sept 15th through Oct 3rd. This is a great opportunity for you to bring your horses, make your home at our base camp and experience our great way of life!

If you're interested, please contact us via email or phone.

Thanks!

Run Wrangler Scott - Its the Women's Explorer Pack Trip!!!

We ended the season with a fantastic all women’s retreat which is destined to become an annual event. We had a great group…this was one of those special trips where everyone bonded. Our June Contest winner Cristi from Arizona was along and she brought her mother for a trip they’ve dreamed of taking for years.

Shawn Hamilton of CLiX Photography in Ontario (www.clixphoto.com) was a special guest: she brought along all her camera gear and we can’t wait to see the incredible pictures she took.


Chuck and Scott greet the ladies with a champagne breakfast and leis.

The weather was incredible and the girls got in some terrific riding. We took our chef Rachels oven mitts away and had her out on the trail too - of course this meant that Wrangler Scott was left to make dinner!

Here are a few more pictures from the trek up to Lost Guide Lake...

As always the view from the Top of the Mountain was fantastic - check it out:

We had the girls set up in teams of 3 for games that we played the whole trip too. The scavenger hunt was hilarious with some really interesting items being brought in...Unfortunately I got ‘wrangled’ in to be a judge for one contest – how to you pick winners from 10 ladies?



The final evening ended with an ‘initiation’ for poor Wrangler Scott…so beware ladies – the game is STILL ON………

And speaking of games...who do you think this masked girl is? A credit to MY HORSE Belle and one of our great sale horses - Snip - for putting up with her...

Oh ya...what would a Ladies Retreat be without one of the girls taking a picture of a flower? Sheesh...so here ya go:

Saddle Sore Adventure was an Adventure!

This was quite the experience for our seasoned saddle sore riders. Riding in on our first day the weather was a bit drizzly and we woke up the next morning to guess what…SNOW! That's not supposed to happen in the middle of August!




Scott and Brenda worked to resurrect the tent over the dining area as the weight of the snow overnight caused it to collapse. (Nice work pants, Brenda!)

This woke our chef Rachel - who as you can see wasn't daunted by the weather, but put on her insulated coveralls and had hot coffee and breakfast ready for everyone in short order.

Although it did make for a bit of a mucky ride to Lost Guide Lake the next day, the snowcapped mountains offered a breathtaking view and we got some great pictures.

Brenda and Terri pose in front of a wintery but spectacular version of Lost Guide Lake while Wrangler Scott stands beside Max, who I'm sure is thinking, "I didn't sign up for this!"















The following day the snow had all but disappeared on the ground, and we headed up to Forty Mile Ridge.

One guest who had been on many previous rides commented that the view from there was one of the best he’d ever seen.

And congratulations to our inaugural SaddleSore guests – Rick and Deb! They weren’t too sure what to make of the backcountry life at first but had a great time – especially when the sun came out!



And of course Brenda and Terri treat our guests with the courtesy.

Then again, I can't tell who is winning this wrestling match! But it doesn't look like Brenda, does it?

And the brief spell of cooler weather brought some other 'guests' down - those lucky enough got a chance to see mule deer, whitetail deer, and a spike elk and three cow elk grazing with our horses in the morning.