January 10, 2011

We are very excited at Amazing Grace Stable for what is happening in our lives right now.  God is really working hard and showing us all sorts of things that He has planned for 2011.  It is almost overwhelming.

I'll start with "Cody."  Well - let me back up a little.  Ryann and I have been looking for an investment/project horse for Ryann to train and sell.  We've looked at a few horses and haven't quite seen just what we're looking for.  And - we've looked at some very interesting, and very nice horses.  But nothing that has really been what we want.  We want - well you know what we want.  We want that same horse everyone wants.  Beautiful, good mover, outrageous jumper, quiet & sane, flying changes, big enough but not too big.  You know the one - the PERFECT HORSE !!! 

Last Wednesday, January 5 (2011), Ryann and I were driving to Richmond to look at a horse that she found on one of those web sites that sells horses. It caught her eye because it had a name similar to one of her old horses that she absolutely loved. To make a "long" story "shorter", the horse was very cute, but not exactly what we were looking for. 

Well, on the drive to Richmond, Ryann told me all about something interesting that happened to her on Tuesday night.  She thought it was very significant and that God was talking to her thru a dream.  So here's the story of what happened as best as I can tell it.

On Tuesday night, January 4, when it was time for bed, Ryann went up to her prayer room (yes, Ryann has a "prayer room" in her house) because she felt like she wanted to read her Bible a little longer.  She said she had already had her prayer and Bible time in the morning but she felt a "strong tug" to spend more time with God.  So she prayed, and opened her Bible to Psalm 66.  She felt like it was speaking right to her about these past couple of years.

She wrote in her journal and one of the key words she used was abundance.   She told me she prayed for God to help us find a horse, and that she didn't want it to be just any horse.  She wanted it to be a horse with a story, that could glorify God.  She told God that she wanted everyone to know how He was involved in picking it out.  She was very specific about wanting a horse with a story - like Reese has a story. 

Click here to read Ryann's Journal Entry

That same night she had a very VIVID, PRECISE dream about a horse named "Cody".  He was a big, chestnut gelding with a lot of white.  She said he was gangly, had a big stride, was very powerful, very green, swervy-curvy, but very sweet. She said she rode him in her dream and could remember exactly how he felt.  She said he was also unlike what she had in her mind that she wanted us to buy.  She was thinking more on the lines of a pretty little head, conformation type - something you'd expect to see in Scott Stewart's barn.  You know - the kind WE ALL want !   She said but the dream was so vivid and so real that this horse "Cody" was the one !  

Soooooo - after Ryann and I looked at the horse in Richmond we decided to eat lunch at my favorite restaurant called Pizza Fusion.  I love that restaurant.  Just as a side note here - you should go there and get the Arugula and Beet salad !!!  Delicious. 

Alright - back to the story.  So while we are sitting in the restaurant Ryann used her Fascinate Phone (you know, the phones that can do ANYTHING) and she Googles, or YouTubes, (or whatever they do today) "a horse for sale named Cody."   Well, up comes a picture of this big, chestnut colt - that looks just like the horse in her dream.  She went crazy.  And there was a video too and she said he looked and moved just like the horse.  The people had just posted this the night before - about the time she was in her prayer room !!!   Well - she got the phone number of the owners and when we left the restaurant we gave them a call.  They are from Pennsylvania and had just taken "Cody" the day before to his trainer, Ryan Wood at Phillip Dutton's barn, probably the top Eventing Barn in America.  She gave me Ryan Wood's phone number and told me I should work out the details with him.  I called Ryan and got his answering machine so I left him a message to please call me.

I started up the car and headed NORTH - to Pennsylvania.  I hadn't talked to Ryan (Wood) yet, but I figured he would call sometime within the next few hours.  I saw no point in going two hours south back to Smithfield only to turn right around and head back.  I know my daughter - plus, I also know our God.  I knew if He wanted us to buy this horse that everything would work out. 

I had no idea where I was going so I called my friend Diane who gave me directions of how to get to Pennsylvania. So I just started driving. For some crazy reason my Navigation System hasn't been working in my car so I couldn't use that.  It's been on the fritz for a while. So I told Diane I may be calling her back in a few hours for direction updates. 

Ryann called Barb to see if Shawn and Leddie would be able to help at the barn on Thursday morning, which they could. That in itself was amazing because they are very busy most of the time, so the odds of catching them on a day that worked in their schedule was incredible.  Actually for the past several weeks they had been gone quite a bit house sitting or at a Christian Conference in Missouri. So that was wonderful that they could go out.

Ryann realized that her phone battery was dying and we were upset because that phone can do ANYTHING and it was our computer for the trip.  It was giving us directions, hotel info, and more importantly info and pictures about Cody and the people who raised him. Ryann didn't bring her charger because  we thought we were only going to Richmond for a few hours !!!  Neither one of us had clothes, chargers, computers, tooth-brushes, or worse yet MAKEUP OR HAIR PRODUCTS !!! 

We drove a ways and I needed gas.  There was an exit with Wawa and 7-11 so I got off.  Ryann wanted to go to Wawa but we couldn't find it, so we went to 7-11 instead.  Right when we walked in the door was a stand with cell phone chargers for $10.00 !!!  Go figure.  7-11 with cell phone chargers.  That certainly wasn't why we went there, and if they had been in any spot of that store besides right at the door or on the counter we would have never seen them.  We weren't looking for cell phone chargers.  And - I doubt that we would have found them at Wawa - so another one of God's little hints that He is totally in control.  AMAZING !!! 

So we got in the car and started back on our trip to Pennsylvania. We still hadn't heard from Ryan (Wood), but we were confident that we would.  We were praying that they would be able to show us the horse either first thing Thursday morning or better yet Wednesday night. The $10 cell phone charger fit the fancy Fascinate phone perfect and worked !!!  So I told Ryann (Winn) to see if the people who owned this horse had a web site and she found it right away.  I told her to look up anything she could find out about them so I could see if I knew them, or what credibility they had, etc. etc.  So they had a link on their page called "About" and the first paragraph on the page says:

ABUNDANCE - the topic of Ryann's journal and Bible reading on Tuesday night !  Abundance - the great grand-father of "Cody."  Abundance, the sire of one of the Wheeler's best show hunters, Ruxton.  When she read that to me, Ryann burst into tears.  It was just like she felt when Scott Williamson asked us if we would like to have Reese.  Our wonderful God answered her prayer so faithfully and clearly - and showed her in sooooo many ways that He is with her, that He hears, her, and that He LOVES her.  GOD IS SOOOOOOO WONDERFUL.

So a few minutes later Ryan (Wood) called.  He told us he had somewhere to go on Thursday AND they were having a barn party that night at one of the customer's houses.  But - being the nice young man he is - he decided he would leave the party early and show us the horse that night, if it was alright with us.  That was actually much better for us because I needed to be back to AGS on Thursday by 3:30 to give Lucy a lesson on her new horse that was arriving to the barn that day !  I was hoping we could see the horse Wednesday night but I thought the odds of that were pretty slim because not too many people are willing to do that.  But thank God - that actually worked better for Ryan.  No surprise here - answered prayer.

Ryan's directions were a little confusing to me - so, I decided to try the Navigation System again, and it worked - of course !!! It worked perfectly taking us everywhere we needed to go - going and coming home.  Totally God.  It probably hasn't worked all this time so it could be ANOTHER confirmation from God that He was with us! 

God has been the Agent for us buying Cody !!!   How cool is that!  Someone asked me today if I was going to get him vetted.  Why bother - it would be a waste of about $1,500.00.  The owners told us they haven't had any problems with him, and we totally believe and trust them.  He's only 3 1/2 years old, and I doubt they would have sent him to the top Eventing barn in America if they thought he had anything wrong with him.  My goodness - they have to be tough horses to hold up to that type of training.

I've gotta take a break.  I'm exhausted - and there is more.  Those 36 hours were physically - but mostly emotionally and spiritually exhausting.  God kept showing Himself to us over and over and over again.   AMAZING.

This is when the story starts getting good.

We met Ryan at True Prospect Farm at 8:30 at night. We pulled that poor baby horse out of his stall, tacked him up and rode him in the indoor ring under the lights !  8:30 at night.  He had only been at True Prospect for one day, so he probably thought he was having a bad dream.  He walked in that ring and was PERFECT.  He never looked right or left, hacked right around, jumped over a big cross rail oxer a few times, and did both lead changes.  He was an angel. Ryann got on him and said he felt just like the horse in her dream.  When she hacked by the big huge mirrors she said she saw Cody as a fabulous horse, filled out, and stunning. She had a vision!  Ryann rode in Ryan's saddle and LOVED IT, so a Devoucoux is getting ordered.  Ryann has needed a new saddle for a while now.  We left there knowing we had spent one of the most wonderful days together - and with our God right by our sides.  It was AMAZING.

We spent the night in Kennett Square and when we got to the hotel, Ryann and I went to the lobby to get on their computer.  Well - there were two computers side by side so I went to Facebook to post that we were NOT having our show at AGS on Saturday.  Ryann got on the other computer and went to Facebook to read more about Cody.  This was the icing on the cake !!!  Ellie had posted a picture of Cody and the first comment was: "Wow, look at those legs - Victoria's Secret would be proud."    Victoria's Secret - the name of Ryann's favorite horse she ever owned. The whole reason she wanted another Hanoverian.  I said "God, You've made Your point." 

Thursday morning I wanted to head back to Virginia right from the hotel, but Ryann felt strongly that we go and meet Cody's owners.   He was born and raised at a family owned business in Oxford, Pennsylvania called Watermark Farm.  Anne Rawle and her daughter Ellie met us there and they were both so nice. They are both recovering from injuries.  Anne recently had shoulder surgery and was in a sling, and Ellie had survived what could have been a fatal car accident when a dump truck was out of control and came careening into her truck.  She is in a foot cast and has injury to her heel which is quite painful - especially when she tries to put her heel down.  But that precious young woman was not complaining and said she is "grateful" to be alive.  A life changing car accident, that Ellie said put everything into perspective.  Same as what happened to Ryann several years ago.  And - a family owned business that the mother and daughter work at together.  The life changing car accident ?   So similar to Ryann and me.

Watermark Farm is beautiful - with so many horses EVERYWHERE - and EVERY AGE.  And most of them are chestnut!  Anyway, they told us about how they send their horses to be broken to a cowboy named Roddy Strang - which was interesting because one of our best horses, Charade, came from a Quarter Horse barn and the people's names were Strange.   Then they told us that after they were broken and started they sent them to True Prospect Farm - owned by Phillip & Evie Dutton, and Ryan Wood would give them their start in Eventing.  Cody's registered name is Wyncote WF - and Ryann's last name is Winn!  

As we were talking with Ellie she told us how she had just posted that video of Cody on Tuesday night and how when you post something on YouTube that there is a button you have to click if you want to allow it to be viewed by a mobile device.  She said she has posted hundreds of videos and NEVER clicked that button before.  She said she doesn't know why she clicked it for this video.  Well of course,  now she knows why.   

Ryann and I were suppose to go to look at the horse in Richmond on Tuesday, but the trainer called and asked if we could switch it to Wednesday.  The timing would have been all off if we had gone on Tuesday because the video wouldn't have been posted yet of Cody.  I doubt I would have driven to Pennsylvania the next day after just going to Richmond.  But who knows - maybe I would have.  I guess that God thought that would be too much of an inconvenience so he helped out.  Isn't He the best !!!

Oh - by the way.  We drove back into the gates at Amazing Grace Stable at 3:30, just in time for Lucy's lesson.

Ryann and I are so excited that we met Anne, Ellie and Ryan.  We both feel like we have made friends for life.  We hope that all of their horses don't get sold before we come up with money to buy more !!!

Ryann and I are both so awed by how strong we felt God's presence with us on Tuesday and Wednesday.  He was sitting right beside us in the car.  Ryann asked Him for a horse with a story that would glorify Him - and boy did He give her a story. 

So many overwhelming "coincidences."  AMAZING !!!

We will post updates about Cody periodically, so please check back.

January 14, 2011

Cody is being delivered to Amazing Grace Stable tomorrow (Saturday.)  I doubt Ryann will be able to sleep a wink tonight.  Plus, she ordered her Devoucoux Saddle on Thursday.  She is one happy young woman - deservedly so.

January 15, 2011

Cody left Watermark Farm this morning at around 7:30, so we are hoping he will arrive by 3:00 p.m. We are very excited.  Ellie said he loaded perfectly.  He seems to be an agreeable horse, very easy going.  So - we are all patiently awaiting his arrival.  Come out if you get a chance and meet Cody !!!

Cody arrived around 1:30 p.m.  He settled right in, was happy in his stall, and getting lots of attention.  Everyone at the barn was in visiting with him.  So at 3:30 Ryann decided she had to ride him.  If she hadn't ridden him it would have been like Christmas morning and not being able to open the presents !   Ryann said he walked right in the crossties - which is amazing for a horse his size.  Our crossties are really small - and it often takes the horses a few times to figure it out.  He was a little funny to bridle.  Ryann had to stand on a stool because he's sooooooo tall and he crained his head up in the air - so that made him about 18 hands.  But it only took a minute and he gave it up. 

Ryann only rode him for a few minutes since he just had a long trip here. She trotted him around the ring a couple of times and he was exhausted.  We LOVE that. 

We are excited to see what God has in store for Cody. 

Thank you Lord for all our wonderful blessings.  You are THE BEST !!!

January 16, 2011

Cody got turned out for the first time today at AGS.  He ran around and bucked for a few minutes then it was over.  He stood there EATING for the rest of the time!!!   That big boy can eat.  He devours a bale of hay in no time.  After all he is a BIG, growing boy.

We "tried" trimming him up but he wasn't having any parts of that.  He let us do a little, but he's Kathy Buhrer material.  He will let us pull his mane though, so that and banding it over is getting done today.  Right now it lays PERFECTLY on the wrong side ! 

Ryann rode him and worked a little on leg yielding, bending, lengthening and shortening.  He picked up on it right away.  After just a few times he was moving off of her leg.  At the end when she "let go" of him he was trotting around pretty loose and low.  So it seems like he is going to be a quick learner.  And of course - she had to trot him over a little jump and he was perfect.  AND - he's L A Z Y !!!   After just a couple of minutes around he was "KICKIN" quiet.  WE LOVE THAT  !!!

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