As a trainer I get to play with horses all the time, however, my goals this year, are to play with my own more! :)

I've been involved with horses all my life including training, and have now started working with and training curlies over the last two years at Rancho Tres Estrellas, have taken a real liking to the breed,especially the gaited and MFT curlies, with their great personality and willingness to learn in all areas of riding and training.

My goals this year are to get some solid groundwork on the youngsters, and hopefully go to some local shows with some of last years group and get these curlies more noticed to the public especially for those who are new to the breed.

My first experience with curly horses I had when I met Claudia from Rancho Tres Estrellas. She hired me to help one of her horses, which had a hoof problem. I didn't hear much about Curlies before and that was the first time I interacted with them. Over the time I worked on a lot of different horses from her and what stands out for me is that the curlies seem all to have a good work attitude and are quick learners. Right now I have her stallion Ebony's Dusty Lad in training to get him started under saddle.

About me: 40 years old and being involved with horse since I was 6 years. For the last 15 years working with horses professionally, as a Horse trainer and since 2004 working as well as a orthopedic hoof trimmer. I am used to all different kind of breeds from Warmblood to Arabian to work with but the Curly breed,especially the MFT and gaited curlies,is starting to stand out for me in a positive way. I am happy to be involved, to represent the breed.

To help me get out more often to ride my own horses and enjoy a little down time with my own personal horse. As well as help the vaulting to become more widely seen and understood.

I am a new curly breeder in the UK. I have 11 curly horses and ponies here and am hoping for 7 healthy foals, staring in February, plus 2010 is THE year for the curly horse in the UK and I am going to ride, promote and show my curly horses all year in an attempt to get the word out in the UK. Here we come everyone ...

Breeding Curlies for 12 years...Goals this year is for ME to compete on either my wonderful stallion, Y.S. Kinyobi and/or my favourite mare, Y.S. Takai. We will start off with dressage and hopefully, by the fall of 2010 do at least one combined event on either or preferably, both horses.

(Trish's daughter Andrea is also joining her in the contest!)

Having fun with our son, (Olie) who is allergic to most regular horses. Chasing cows, camping, trail riding and driving.

(Sereena's son Olie & husband Bernie are also joining her in the contest!)

I have two curlies: one gaited and one non-gaited. We enjoy trail riding, do a little showing, and are active with a local natural horsemanship saddle club. My goal for this year is to put a lot more miles on my truck & trailer hauling to parks with riding trails!

I'm pretty much just into trail riding and having fun with my trail blazing Curly mare, Brigi. We have celebrated our first year together. She was a good choice for me and I've met up with a fun group to trail with too.

My goals will be to keep up with getting miles on her, work a bit more on her sensitivities toward others (which improved greatly this past year), and continue to introduce her to as many new things as I can. I actually would like to do a better job of keeping track of what I do with her as well.

I am an avid weekend warrior trail rider when I am not busy mothering/wifeing/working. I enjoy following my RAC friends' blogs immensely! I had a blast in 2009 riding with family and friends and even camping out with my Curly AhD. My goals? I would like to find the key to becoming the better rider/leader that my Curly requires; he is quite determined to be the boss of our team when we hit the trails alone.

Riding Traveler, my gaited curly stallion - jumping, eventing, showing, training and clinics.

Also we have two young curly geldings - goals: ground training, starting one under saddle.

(Liz's husband Mark is also joining her in the contest!)

Riding Joker, my curly gelding - jumping, lessons, training, eventing and clinics.

(Mark's wife, Liz is joining him in the contest!)

My name is Amber and I own two Curlies (the buckskin pinto is 100% Curly and the chestnut is 50% Curly). It's easy to let all "horse time" be spent doing chores like feeding and shoveling manure... **I need the support of all of you to keep me motivated during the cold Alaskan winter days!!** My RAC goals are to continue training Dolly to be a good all around horse for riding and pulling a cart. My RAC goal for Diamond is to learn the basics of all those important things like groundwork, sacking out, seeing new things on the property and out on the trail.

I am lucky to have wonderful friends to ride the trails with. Everyone loves the curlies on the trail and I hope to do parades and shows also.

(Cody Killingston is also joining Adena in the contest!)

Keep Riding!

(Adena is joining Cody in the contest!)

I have loved horses all my life. Thanks to great parents, I was blessed to have ponies and Quarter Horses as I grew up. When Dean and I started dating, he saw how much I need horses. So he bought me two. Now five years later, we have about 50 equines. Dean does not love them like my girls and I do, but he supports our hobby. We rescue and rehome horses at times, however, that is so much heartache and work. I love Curlys beyond belief. I enjoy the way Curlys want to be with people. They are my sanity. My goal is to get in the saddle more. Last year due to a terrible work schedule and personal problems, I did not get to ride much. I love trail riding and am excited about getting into the woods. I love watching our Curly foals explore the woods with us. I also want to learn how to ride English, so that I can jump. Jumping on the trails is so fun, but I am scared in the arena. I also want to start our 2YOs driving and attend a few schooling shows with our Curlys. I hope to help other Curly enthusists at demo or expos. Major goal--get to a Curly show this year! God's blessings to everyone for fun and saftey this year!

(Laura's two daughters, Josalynn and Jadie are also joining her in the contest!)

Hopefully this year proves to be better than the last few. I want to ride ride ride!! I have some curlies calling my girls and I, So hopefully we will all ride and grow together...And if I'm lucky, maybe I can try a class or 2 at my girl's local 4-H shows.

(Sheryl's two daughters, Kristal and Kendahl will also be joining her in the contest!)

My goal is to actually get back in the saddle again in 2010! After a pretty hard fall in April, combined with a new full-time, demanding job and promotion to office manager, I have been hard-pressed for horse time. But my goal for 2010 is to revisit my love of my horses!

(Michelle's daughter, Amanda will also be joining her in the contest!)

We are two beginner riders who only recently acquired our curlies and are looking forward to participating in RAC 2010 in order to both progress as riders and help get the word out here in Arizona about curlies.

We ride our Curlies on the Trail & Beach, they have been going to EXPOS & Parades in Native Costume, displayed at Sheep to shawls to show off their wool, we have started Parelli groundwork with them, & Horse camping. Our goals is moving up with Parelli & to enter the Mountain Trail Horse Championships this Spring & fall.

Breeding curly and curly cross sport horses. Currently own 10 curlies (from coming yearling to coming 8 year olds with one foal expected for 2010.) Spent many productive hours in 2009 with ground work and getting 4 of our curlies under saddle. Looking forward to getting them out and about with fellow RACers in 2010.

Lesly is riding with 4 other family members in the RAC!

School and work kept me too busy in '09 to log any of the (minimal) hours I spent riding our curlies. Graduating UIC in May, so my personal goal is to utilize all down time this summer before starting dental school as rnr assisting my mom with the riding, training and promoting of our curlies.

Dustin is riding with 4 other family members in the RAC!

I attend school, work a couple of part time jobs, have several horses of my own to ride and live over an hour away from my aunt, my goal is to help her as much as I can with training, riding and promoting her curlies.

Cheri is riding with 4 other family members in the RAC!

I have owned and bred curly horses on a small scale (only one or two foals per year). I own two stallions, one geld, and 8 mares. I hope to make RAC my New Year's resolution...I have to get out and ride more. I have never competed at shows but I have done the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, WI in 2008 & 2009. It was a blast. I think that I am a better talker than rider, I met a lot of wonderful people since becoming a curly horse owner. I am hoping that the RAC contest will motivate me to ride my curlies more and gain the confidence to possibly even try a few small local shows.

Although we have owned curlies since 2003, this summer we finally reached our goal of having rideable curlies for all 5 family members. Three of us will participate in RAC, to further our relationships with and training of our horses and inspire us to be the best we can be. We also have weanlings to 4 year olds that we are training. I look forward to interacting with other RAC members, and to promoting our curlies. Being allergic to horses, I never would have imagined I'd have horses in my backyard. Curlies are wonderful.

Maddy is riding with her son & daughter in the RAC!

Being a part of a Curly's life from it's very first day is so thrilling! I love watching them learn as they grow, and enjoy being a part of that learning process....knowing that one day they will be pulling a cart or carrying a rider! RAC is a fun way to stay connected with riders, drivers, and trainers; and to gain inspiration from their stories and training and promoting efforts. Happy trails to all RAC participants in 2010!!!

I am so excited to be a part of the RAC this year!!  I really want to try and take advantage of all the support that is available through this wonderful group!  My goals with Billy this year are to ride without fear and learn to be a strong leader for him.  I also want to accomplish the Ancient World (which is a VERY scary place for horses) by the end of the summer. 

Sage and I have been competing in the RAC from the beginning! Sage is turning 8 this year and it will be his 3rd year under saddle. Last year we met our goal to get Sage cantering under saddle! We also got him out to an event and a trail ride. For 2010 we're considering going back to the state fair, and we're hoping to do some trail riding events at Green Mountain Horse Association. We will also continue Sage's training with Natural Horsemanship lessons.

I've been out of the curly loop for the last few years due to the fact I was attacked by a stranger, who broke my back in several places. My horses had a nice vacation while I was down recooperating. Also during my down time, all my youngsters grew up and are ready to start. I've got lots of work to do. I am finally back riding and even training again. I decided to join RAC to help keep me motivated and encourage me to get up on those mornings where my body would rather stay in bed. Horses are way better than therapy! :0}

I am absolutely in love with the curly breed and my curly girl, Miss Demeanor. Miss Demeanor is expecting a baby in April, so I have some work cut out for myself. I am a teacher and live in rural New Hampshire. I'm fortunate enough to have my summers off, and miles and mile of beautiful trails right in my backyard. Last summer I spent just about every day out on the trail - 2 to 3 hours at a time.Miss Demeanor, "Deams", is tireless. She will actually push her head into the bridle, as if to say,"Hurry up, let's go..." She truly loves going out. Deams has a bit of an attitude. She is the most self-confident horse I've ever met. (Which is not always a good thing :-) She is often smarter than me, and keeps me on my toes. As much as I find her attitude to be a challenge at times, it is also what I often love most in her.My goals:
To continue to ride as much as possible
To safely raise a well adjusted, well trained foal
To work with baby each day
To develop two very confident horses that also respect me as their leader

My curly entry is Linus, a May 2009 smooth coated gelding from Homefire Curly Horses. Linus is the perfect introduction to the Curly breed for me. He is a poster child for this incredibly social and outgoing breed. Linus is my first horse in 14 years, my very first at raising one from a weanling and we are learning the "Natural" way together as well.

My goal is to start him in his groundwork training and build on his willing and trusting attitude. Specific small things include teaching him to pick his feet up and be held for the Farrier and I'd like to be able to do a bit of long-line work with him too. I want us to learn natural horsemanship together to build our working relationship.

As a rider my goals are to be able to ride safely, both alone and with others, in the high country, to be able to ride the canter well and to be able to sit both a hard shy and a buck like I used to be able to. Because I am a legally blind rider, I understand the need for and value of a gentle and obedient horse under saddle.  Because of my limitations, I am  a curly breeder and I want all who desire a safe horse to have access to one. Both Madeline and Lila, my best curly mares, have proven themselves to be those special horses. We usually ride alone out on the trails in the forest where we encounter all kind of things, from hikers, to bears and elk. These two mare have always been faithful to me. As a breeder I hope to develop a line of curlies that are even better than these two mares. I am getting close to that goal. Not there yet, but getting close.

My goal for this year is to get Buddy under saddle and to ride Bo much more. Buddy is a 6 year old appy gelding, and Bo is an 11 year old chestnut gelding. I am a 55 year old timid rider. lol.

I am a senior rider having owned and bred Curlies since 1997. My goals this year are to further my young Curlies education, polish my riding skills and participate in some CTR's.

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Ride MORE, ride more alone.

Jeanne will be riding with her granddaughter in the RAC!

My goals are simple: to get me more involved with my horses rather than just caring for them. Also, I remain commited to RAC, even if I don't "win" because it is a wonderfully encouraging force.

<Goals soon to follow>

Worked the farm till late 1970`s with horses. Have Light and draft horses and now also own 7 Curly mares or fillies.

Bernie is riding with his wife, Sereena and son, Olie in the RAC!

Andrea will be working with and starting her own filly this year, Y.S. Kirin! Andrea loves to jump, is involved in Pony Club and competes in Eventing. She is hoping that in a few years, she will be able to actively compete in Eventing with Kirin. Kirin will be 3 this year so will only be just starting out and lots of ground work.

Andrea is riding with her mom, Trish in the RAC!

Olie loves horses, 5th generation farmer, thinks snowboarding behind a horse is super fun! LoL.

Olie is riding with his Mom & Dad in the RAC!

This year my goal is to get more riding time in while I balance college classes and other activities.
I have three special Curly boys:
Sunny, my first Curly. He is six years old and a delight. I'm looking forward to lots of leisurely bareback rides with him.
Koko, a ten year old smooth-coat Curly. I would like to get out on some looong trail rides with him this year, and also do some showing.
Smokey, my newest addition- he is five years old, and a total sweetheart. This year I want to get him to a basic level of saddle training. I was on his back a few times this year, so now we need to work on refinement and teach him to wear a bridle and respond to cues.

I want to become a really good state qualifying gamer i've gone to state twice for performance and i enjoy gaming so i would like to try that at state to.. and i want to get Garnet (shown) the Curly I am using for the RAC, to become a good performance horse to start then step slowly into gaming. She's green broke and I would like to bring her up in her levels of training. I am a freshman in high school and my school is starting up a equestrian team.. I enjoy riding with my friends and family and hanging out with friends. thankyou:)

Kristal's sister and Mom are joining her in the contest!

Amanda is continuing to teach her rescued Curly, Jen, confidence under saddle. She is also teaching Jen to be calm under saddle. She is using clicker training groundwork to teach her these things.

Amanda's mom, Michelle is joining her in the contest!

I am addicted to riding my horses.

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Chad is joined by 4 other family members in the contest!

I am surprising my daughter by signing her up for RAC, so I'm not sure about her goals. Her name is Ashley Ostman, and we live in Mackinaw City, MI. We have three curlies, who we found through Denise Conroy. We actually picked curlies due to our allergies and asthma. I would never be able to have horses if it was not for this special breed. Ashley is a horse crazy kid who would sleep in the barn with her curlies if we let her. She spends tons of time with her curlies, grooming, talking to them, hanging out, and riding them. She simpily LOVES them. Ashley does 4-H with her horses as well as other animals. But horses are her favorite.

I'm 12 and have a pinto curly mare named Heidi that I ride on trails and to work cows, and I'm learning to rope on her. Last year I rode her for my 4-H project. I also have a bay weanling that I enjoy working with. I want to ride more this year and do well when I show my horses.

Wyatt's sister and Mom are joining him in the contest!

Ride My Curlies with Mom and my sister. I hope to be able to show with them in 4-H.

Kendahl's sister and Mom are joining her in the contest!

My story is the same as many ladies my age, I grew up riding and showing horses. I married at 20 years old to a man in the military. We travelled all over the country for 20 years. After his retirement, I decided that I wanted to have horses again. I purchased a 6 year old curly mare who is green broke. My goal for her is to improve her ground work and responsiveness. My goals are to improve my balance and basic horsemanship skills. A curly horse has always been my dream. I remember, as a child, seeing a picture of the long soft curl and the wonderful long stride. Now I am truly blessed to own one.

I have been training my own Curly for 12 years and have stumbled on an impass with riding as I have been hurt and am lacking confidence. The lack of conifdence makes it easy for me to find something else to do rather than go for a ride soooo I hope to use this to motivate me to RIDE - but as I also really enjoy the ground work I am using it as a self-reward.

Ringo is a 5 year old sorrel curly and he had never been ridden before I bought him. I purchased him in July from a breeder in Cheyenne and have done all of the training myself. I am NOT a horse trainer and as a matter of fact, he is my first horse. I have always owned mules. I have been so impressed with this horses personality and his heart, that I can't wait to put him out there and let people know that there are great horses out there that don't have to be professionaly trained and cost a fortune!!

I'll be 10 in January and hope to ride more this summer. Ride more and learn grooming, safety and ground work.

Madison's grandmother is joining her in the contest!

Still haven't gotten in the saddle, perhaps 2010 will be my year! Looking forward to working ground division with our youngsters.

Dan is joined by 4 other family members in the RAC contest!

I'm 5 years old and I have my own curly pony, Breeze, and I love her. My favorite thing to do is lope her across the pasture. She has a baby that looks just like her and I like to play with him too. I want to learn to jump with her.

Carly's brother and Mom are joining her in the RAC contest!

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