Lisa Hall Flynn and Michelle Bonfils Thibeault – Coaches

The 2017 -2018 season brought a smaller team, but was our hardest working team of riders yet. We went to 6 shows in Boulder, Longmont, Fort Luptin and Littleton. We hosted our own show again at Hobby Horse Farm in Firestone, CO. A huge thank you to all our team members, parent volunteers and Patti Watson (and her crew) who make our show a success each year.

Out of 11 riders, we had 5 riders make it to Regionals this year. Congratulations to Emilia Deyarmond, Mackenzi Hart, Siena Webb, Elsa Tullar and Alex Kehoe-Rosenberg.  As IEA has grown, the competition for spots at Zones Finals is harder than ever, so a big congratulation to Alex Kehoe-Rosenberg for getting 4th at Zone Finals out of 12 riders.

We couldn’t do it without our fabulous team of school horses from Cozy Point: Chagall, JJ, Koli, Welly, Monty, Roman, Opi, Bobby and High Tide. Not only do our horses represent our team well at the shows, but they are typically in the top of their class. Thanks to Patti and Brandon Watson and Michelle Bonfils Thibeault, we are able to bring our fabulous team of horses to all of the shows.    -Lisa Hall Flynn

For the past 40 Winters, my horses and I have traveled out of the Roaring Fork Valley to sharpen our riding and horse showing skills. In the beginning, I only did Stock Show, Denver, Co. I Gradually mov edon to competing in Florida: Jacksonville, Ocala, & Wellington. My love of the West sent me South Westto The Arizona Winter Circuit: Goodyear, Tucson, and Scottsdale. 26 years ago, the HITS California Circuit appeared on the USHJA Calendar developing into what now is known as HITS COACHELLA Winter Circuit.

12 years ago, I bought some vacant property at the base of the San Martinez & Chocolate Mountains in Thermal, Ca. I named this property Crystal Springs West. It is an amazing and magical place. I invite each CWHJA member to come visit if you ever find yourself in the Coachella Valley. I love the time I spend with my horses and Desert Winter Clients that come from all over the Equestrian World. We all share a passion for sport horses and improving our riding. Crystal Springs West focuses on being the ideal setting for Competition horses, trainers, riders, and owners. Once again, CSR WEST, was the Winter Base for Riders: Jill Henselwood & Lizzie Gingras (Team Canada), Nicki Simpson (Team USA), Robert Gharibzadeh, professional from Germany now residing in Ontario, Canada, Sue Leep, Professional, Chicago, Ill. & Reno, Nv. and Johanna Siefert, Lionheart Farms, Washington. Look for Johanna Siefert on the cover of the upcoming Kerrits riding tights Winter 2018-2019 Brochure.

This year, with the encouragement of many friends, I returned to the Jumper Division. I leased a proven campaigner, Alonzo, from Jill Henselwood’s Junipers Farms for the Winter Circuit. Mid -way through the Circuit, it was clear that I was enjoying riding and showing Alonzo so much that I purchased Alonzo. We will be competing at the debut of the new Temecula Spring Show Circuit mid-April. From California, Alonzo will go North with Team Gingras where we are entered in the 2 Thunderbird Spring Shows near Vancouver, BC, Canada. I have shown at Spruce Meadows. The Canadians are wonderful hosts and say the Thunderbird Shows are just as fabulous as Spruce Meadows. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to show with Lizzie Gingras and her crew for the next 2 months. Both Alonzo and myself will be at Crystal Springs Ranch by mid-June.

Jacquelyn Tinsman has been doing an excellent job teaching, riding, and heading the Kids Summer Riding Camp. CSR welcomes Emma Stolzenthaler, North Carolina, our in-residence working student.

Kim Dixon, Paradise Farms, will be teaching, training and accepting new Students & clients at Crystal Springs Ranch Summer 2018.

I look forward to seeing you at the CWHJA Pony Club Benefit Horse Show, May 14, at Crystal Springs Ranch.

Hello everyone! We hope everyone has had a great winter. We sure know we’re ready for summer, trail rides and show season!

CSR had a great winter! We hosted a schooling show series and had great turnout and feedback from all competitors! Our show team got some great experience and is looking to a summer full of showing on the CWHJA circuit. Our trainer, Jacquelyn Tinsman, joined Kim Dixon and team in Thermal, CA this winter with her horse, Hobbes. It was a great learning experience for them both and they walked away with lessons learned and some pretty ribbons too!

Paradise Farms has invited Paul Rohrbach for a Clinic at CSR April 28-29 and we have several young riders excited to gain some wonderful experience. We will be hosting the pony club CWHJA Show over Mother’s Day weekend and a second show the weekend of June 16 and 17.

Camp will begin June 11 and run Monday through Thursday every week until August 16! Our school horses are ready to teach some exciting lessons this summer! We have a new school horse, Buddy, that is a rescue from Colorado Horse Rescue. We think he is a perfect fit for the program!

CSR is currently accepting new clients for lessons, training and boarding. If there are any questions please feel free to call Kathy 970-963-1505 or Jacquelyn at 303-910-0211. We hope everyone has a great summer!!!

What a great and busy 2017. A warm Thank You goes out to Marilyn and Jim Steane with “Danny” and Terry Rogers Didier with “Watson” and “Faldo” for your continued support through ‘rough waters’. Congrats to Terry on her purchase of “Faldo”… they are off to a strong start in the show ring.

A HUGE Welcome Back to Laura and Terry Smith with “Ava”, “Dino” and “Dare”, Courtney Lawler with “Tilly”, Mary Berley with “Fritz” and Susan Penland with “Jo”.

2017 also welcomed to our team Jennifer Russell with “Munchkin”, “Misty”, “Bravo” and “Cash”, Michelle Murphy with “Annie” and “Wollie”, Holly McLain with “Doc” and Valerie Shields with “Brilliance”.

Thank You to the Maas Family, Highland Riding Club, Ginger and Nicole for opening their doors and welcoming all of us and providing a top notch facility with fabulous horse care,too. Everyone works well together and everyone pitches in to help… trainers help one another and step in to teach clients when someone is out of town…a very strong and confident team.

Susan Penland has stepped up to help me teach and train and is a very valuable asset to Full Circle Farm. Thank you for keeping things running smoothly… You Rock

The Russell’s are in the process of designing and building a fabulous new facility in Old Snowmass. We are hoping to be able to host CWHJA Shows in 2019 with 2 outdoor rings with top notch footing (sand, rubber and felt) ample parking and gorgeous views.

Looking forward to 2018!

Hello and Happy Springtime!  Hope everyone has had a great winter and is ready to jump into the 2018 season full swing!

Paradise Farms kicked off the year by spending 3 weeks showing in Thermal.  I am always proud that we are able to come down out of the mountains after having not shown for a while and hold our own in good company and large numbered classes.  I believe it is a testament of the dedication and commitment to the process that we all share. The saying goes – “you either win or you learn” – and we did a good bit of both!  All of our horses were superstars and all my kids (yes Jacquelyn that includes you) shined as bright!  Congratulations to everyone on your successes! The banners held many ribbons from tri-colors to brown reflecting all the hard work that we have put in over the months to get us to the ring!  Ashley, Ringo & Xander, Hays & Carus, Oleana & Lucy, Jacquelyn & Hobbs, you are all champions in my book! I am excited that Dr. Pop, Tricia’s Popeye K gelding, will be making his way to the show ring this spring and I feel grateful to have the ride — thank you Tricia for placing your trust in me!  Also Paradise Farms welcomes Tracye Tackbary to the team – we are having a great time getting her back up to speed after a little time out of the tack… and thank you Kathy Weiss for allowing us the use of Taxi – as Rena would say he is a “precious angel” or in the kids popular term – a real “nugget”.  

Paul Rohrbach is heading up April 28th & 29th for a clinic and to get us ready to kick off the spring show season in May at Colorado Horse Park.  We will also be attending part of the summer circuit at Colorado Horse Park and as many local shows as possible.  

As of May 1st Paradise Farms will be based out of Crystal Springs Ranch and will be accepting new clients of all skill levels.   School horses are available for those just getting started, those just getting started again or for those that have not yet taken the plunge!  Contact Kim for more information… 970-379-7865 / kgdixon@aol.com  / paradisefarmsequestrian.com

Happy Spring everyone!! The Strang Gang did not go to California this winter but
instead stayed home and learned new things. With several new young horses and new young
riders in the barn its an exciting and fun time!

Pony Club ran well into the snow season, and then picked up with unmounted sessions
to prepare for Quiz in February. Two Teams represented the club at quiz where we were
narrowly defeated at the very end. The IEA team from the barn with Kristy Gregg at the helm,
also had a good showing this fall and winter qualifying several riders for the Regional finals.
We did venture to a CHJA show in Parker last month just to see if we remember how.
Tina Estes and her horse Blue and Bridget’s’ Twinkle had a grand time and each brought home
Championship coolers!! We will begin ramping up for the summer show season with the rest of
the gang once the lambing gets mostly finished. We are excited to get going with our new
young horses and show them the world.

After the CWHJA Hunter show June 3rd, The ranch will be host to the first WCC
Dressage show June 13th, and then the kids will head to the regional Pony Club Rally in Rifle
where we hope to field several teams. Olympic coach Daniel Stewart will be returning to Strang
Ranch in Late June for his annual and VERY AMAZING clinic! This clinic is sometime full before
word gets out, but if you are interested please contact Bridget ASAP. Auditing is almost as fun
as riding in it.

We will offer our Kids Pony Club camp again on Mondays starting in June. Our camp is
for kids that have some riding skills but want to also learn about stable management and
general horse care. Great for anyone thinking about joining Pony Club.
Looking forward to seeing every one at the Cozy Point show in a few weeks!!