Inside Info

I went to lunch with someone from Waterloo earlier this week and we got on the topic of the Waterloo Show. So just a heads up, the Super 8 is probably the best deal in Waterloo. Apparently Super is just VERY VERY WELL MANAGED. It's the best deal for your money. Just keep in mind, only 15 rooms available as of earlier this week.

Hope this helps everyone!

UPDATED WATERLOO SHOWBILL NOW POSTED!!!

Erin emailed me and said the updated Waterloo showbill is now posted on www.erinrunde.com/Horse-Shows.html. I mentioned the changes in an earlier post...I really just added some walk-trots and split a few. Nothing huge so no panic necessary. Someone asked for some more walk-trots so I put a few in. Maybe you'd like some other changes....LET ME KNOW! I'm willing to do so...I mean, I just did! So that's where we're at. Go ahead and check out Erin's site and print off the up to date showbills and maybe do some house shopping...there is an amazing one Erin has on the site in Charles City...I can only dream of owning that farm someday!

WATERLOO HOTEL INFO!

Hi Everyone!

Ok...so I got some deals to offer you! First the Super 8 in Waterloo is offering us a room rate of $58.50 plus tax. That is for either a 1 bed or 2 bed room...but here's the kicker, there are only 15 rooms left. There are 5 rooms with 2 beds and 10 rooms with 1 bed. The number to reach the Super 8 at will be 319-233-1800.

Deal #2 is Quality Inns & Suites. They are offering a standard room for $64.99 plus tax or a suite for $99.99 plus tax. By the way, THEY HAVE A POOL...always a good thing right? The number to reserve your room there is 319-235-0301.

MAKE SURE YOU MENTION OUR SHOW TO GET THE DISCOUNTED RATES!!!!

OR...you could camp out with us at the fairgrounds! I'm sure we'll have trailers with living quarters and RV's and I know for sure at least one group will be "tenting it." It's bound to be a great time however you decide to sleep...DON'T FORGET THE GRILL OUT ON SATURDAY NIGHT!

If you need any help with ANYTHING, call or email Sean 319-231-9826 or sean.thurm@yahoo.com

See you all in about a month!

Iowa Falls Show location: Ellsworth Equestrian Center

Well, for those of you that don't know, we are all lucky enough to show in the BRAND NEW Ellsworth Equestrian Center at our Iowa Falls Show this year. We were very fortunate to even get a date let alone plan a show in this facility this year! How new is it? The GRAND OPENING will be Wednesday, May 26 from 5:00-6:30pm. There will be a presentation at 5:30 if anyone is interested in going. If I knew about this earlier I'd be going, but I have to be at work. The address for the Equestrian Center is 709 Ellsworth Avenue and is just south of Iowa Falls. I'll post a link from MapQuest so all you have to do is enter your address and you will have perfect directions to get there. Another link on here is the link to the website in case you'd like to visit the site and learn more about the place. Here are a few major stats:
- 75,100 square feet in total area
- 155 stalls
- 100 x 275 ft indoor show arena
- warm-up area connected directly to the show arena
- warm water wash racks!

There are lots more features so check out the website for more info including pictures of the construction to see how it all happened! The picture posted is from the Ellsworth site and it is a 3D version of what the architect had in mind.

Here's your links!

Ellsworth Equestrian Center: http://www.iavalley.edu/ecc/about/EquestrianCenter.html

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103052913272357201841.000474ae568dc679e96d0&ll=42.495011,-93.263969&spn=0.021486,0.038581&t=h&z=15

Our kind of people...

Have I got a story for you today! Ok..see Roman. He's on the pinto on the very left. This photo is from a Pairs Class which was at the end of the show bill in 2007. He had shown this horse all day and this was the first class he got a saddle on the horse. Before the horse just refused the saddle - wanted nothing to do with it. We saw him ride in the morning before the halter classes and the horse was totally broke - totally safe. So we decided to let him show without a saddle. He just came out to have fun anyway. Our judge that year was John D and he was so cool with it. Everyone had an amazing day! John had a blast judging, Roman and everyone else had great fun showing. All in all a great show. At the very end, John gave an award for most improved horse (Roman's horse - I forget its name...I think its Warrior or something) and most improved rider (Roman because he had fallen off during the lunch break - his horse was so cool about it though...he just stood there waiting for him).

So anyway, that's my story for today. That's the kind of people we hired to judge our show. We want judges that can have spur-the-moment fun just like us. If we add classes we don't want judges to throw a fit about it, we want them to suggest different classes to add. and give out impromptu awards like John did. Stef should do a great job with that in Waterloo this year. She's a definite fun-lovin' kinda girl! And in Iowa Falls this year, JOHN'S BACK! So that show is bound to be fun!

Well I better get ready for work. Hopefully I'll see all you fun-lovers at the shows this year!

FIRST STALL RESERVATIONS!!!!

Yesterday I got the first stall reservations for the Waterloo show!!! Thanks Jodie!

I went driving around today and went to Abbie M's barn...unfortunately she wasn't there, but a customer of hers said she planned on bringing a few. Then I went to Sylvia B's which is not too far from Abbie's and she said she might be out of town but several of her customers usually go - she seemed very excited to hear we were still doing the show..that is how much fun people have with this show each year! I also stopped at Ann L's to see if she might come. She owns several paints and the amazing stallion Real Bonanza. Ann is letting me use a Real daughter to breed to Fausto :o)

So that is what I've been doing all day. I need to figure out where Sheena's barn is so that I can go see some of her horses. If anybody has any other ideas where I should go to promote the show let me know!

See everyone in June!

NEW CLASSES AT WATERLOO SHOW!!!

Yesterday I got an email from Barb C asking me for some walk-trot classes for the kids. Some others had asked before but they just thought it would be a good idea to have them. Barb has a daughter who is beginning to show both Hunt and Western I believe. So if you ever want a class you don't see, JUST ASK! We'll work with you on whatever you want with the show.

So...here's our update. We split the walk-trot into the more age divisions. After our 15 minute break in the morning, we will have the following:
class #13: Walk-trot 12 & Under
class #14: Walk-trot 13-17
class #15: Walk-trot 18-39
class #16: Walk-trot 40 & Over

We also added some more in the afternoon. After class #29 Open Western Pleasure, we added Western Walk-trot 12 & Under. Also after class #38 Open English/Hunter Pleasure, we added English/Hunter Walk-trot 12 & Under.

We'll have the new show bill posted shortly. If you don't see it posted and you would like a copy, send me an email at sean.thurm@yahoo.com