It's Time for Polo!

Action, speed, teamwork, individualism, horsemanship, danger,
spectacle, beauty, pageantry ... such is polo!

Chukkar Farm, home of the Scuppernong Polo Team, is located in Alpharetta, GA, approximately 40 miles directly north of Atlanta. This family-owned farm has been owned and operated by the Cashins since 1980. Our beautiful 173 acre property is home to a wide variety of activities, but our focus is polo.


We are the only beginners Polo Club in the Southeast where you can first learn to ride, then learn polo, then decide whether you want to continue. If you do, you can lease one of our experienced polo ponies or you can buy your own pony and board it here. Polo and riding lessons are available for all levels of riders and players.

We are very proud of the fact that 50% of our club is made up of ladies! Polo has historically been a sport dominated by men and we are happy to have a club which always plays co-ed games. We enjoy each other's company for polo as well as social outings and out of town trips. We are also proud when some of our members choose to go on to higher level polo at other Polo Clubs.

Chukkar Farm also offers Equine Boarding and Leasing and is the perfect venue for Weddings, Team Building, Fundraisers, Birthday Parties, Concerts and a wealth of other activities.

To visit Chukkar Farm please go to http://www.chukkarfarm.com.  Or contact Jack Cashin at (770) 664-1533 or jackcashin@bellsouth.net.

Introducing a Fabulous Artist - Elizabeth Muchnick

Dear Friends and Art Lovers,

I am so pleased to present the artwork of my friend, Elizabeth Muchnick, who presented me with her beautiful, original watercolor based on a photo I sent her of me and my best friend, Aladdin. When I received it today, I just about cried because it was so beautiful and special. My photo of her artwork doesn't do her work justice, I promise that! Her mediums are

watercolor, acrylic, oil etc. and beautifully matted (I've already got a frame for mine!) Prices vary based on type, size, amount of work involved. Right now she is presenting her one-of-a-kind pieces at a reasonable price of $15.00 plus shipping which is about $2.00-3.00.

For more information on Elizabeth's artwork, please contact her at elizabethmuchnick@yahoo.com. If you'd like to commission her artwork based on a photo I've taken, please e-mail me at susanetalbot@cox.net. I'd be honored to provide it to her. And of course, if you'd got your own photo, she'd be happy to create your own, personal keepsake!

Southern Italian Cuisine in Culpeper?

Assolutamente! Chiusano Italian Table is a visit to Italy, and many of the ingredients that comprise this fine food are imported from Italy.

At Chiusano, virtually everything is made from scratch, from the pastas and meatballs to the breadcrumbs. You'll enjoy with your salad fabulous homemade salad dressings, including "capressi" an olive oil-based temptation that features fresh tomato, basil and buffalo mozzarella. What you won't find is American Cheese; all cheeses featured in Chiusano recipes are directly imported from Italy, and all fresh seafood comes from Boston.


Highlights from the Lunch menu, which is served Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., are subs and panini's brimming with fine meats and cheeses. Chiusano re-opens for Dinner from 5:00 to 9:00 Tuesdays through Saturdays and features a wide array of tempting seafood dishes. Accompany your meal with beer or new Tuscan wines, or sample wines from Sicily, Austria and Australia.

Visit Italy in Culpeper at Chiusano, 110 East Cameron Street in Culpeper. For more information please call
540-727-7998.

On another note...We Need Your Help!

Dear Friends,

While most of you know me as a photographer and horse owner, what you may not know is that I am a lover of all animals. That said, when I moved to Fredericksburg, VA in 2002 I not only moved to a new city, I also became the caretaker of four kittens, born in my backyard, their Dad and Mom, and countless cats since then. I took the cats, had them spayed and neutered and tried to find homes for them. Six years later, I have a family of five, plus another girl, dumped in my neighborhood. For the last year, I've also cared for five "ferals" across the street. I'm moving at the end of October to Georgia, and I have to find homes for just four (one already has a new home).

These are special needs kitties as they grew up outside. We have "Annie" (shown top right) a calico who is very affectionate and loves to be pet. We also have "Brule" (pronounced "Brulay" shown top left), who looks to be a Siamese and who loves to be pet (a little). Both these friends are ready for a home indoors or in/out, but with time would make a wonderful addition to a good home. Bink (shown below) is a dark calico would love to be relocated to a home (a farm?) with her friend, "Tom" the dark tabby, shown top center. I have not been able to pet Bink or Tom, but I know with time they would love the attention.


Please call me as soon as possible at 540-710-2729 if you are interested in adding some wonderful feline friends to your family. These cats mean everything to me, but I am stretching my limits taking six to my new home.


We all thank you, and I personally thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Canterbury Equestrian Center

Introducing events at Canterbury Equestion Center. The sponser have partipaticipated in two clinics with this clinician and I finally got him to come to our area. You won't want to miss it. It will be a very educational and fun event. He will be working with a local "problem" Clydesdale and two quarter horses at Canterbury, in King George, VA.

He is also available (by appointment) to work with other horses after the demo. Just call the number on the flyer.
We hope to see you there!

DIRECTIONS: Intersection of Rts. 3 & 301 in King George, VA
Cross over Rt. 301 onto Rt. 3 East, take first left onto Canterbury Loop, continue until you see sign for Canterbury subdivision on left, take left onto Kent Rd(enter Canterbury Community) continue to Equestrian Center at end of road.

Please follow parking attendants’ directions on where to park.

Horse Show This Weekend at Fox Chase Farm!

The $12,000 TCH Fox Chase Series-End HORSE Show is on September 13, 2008!

Register ON-Line now by clicking: www.foxchasefarm.net/entryForm

Fox Chase Farm
23323 Foxchase Farm Lane
Middleburg, Virginia 20117540-687-5255

Happily Back in the Saddle!

I am very happy to tell you that Ashley is recuperating from her illness. I could have sworn, however, that she told me she was supposed to limit her equestrian activities to a walk and trot, but as you can see here, fences called and she was over them with flying colors.

Welcome back Ashley!

With much love,
Susan

Fox Chase Hounds has a Newsletter!

Fox Chase Farm Newsletter
June 2008
In This Issue
Paper-Less
Antiques/Horse Consignment/Custom Jumps
Horse Shows: Hunters and Just Jumpers

Greetings!
http://www.FoxChaseFarm.net
It's our goal to keep YOU informed of all the events and happenings at Fox Chase Farm by reaching out to you every month by e-mail with news of our farm. We hope you enjoy our June Newsletter.

In this issue:
Our efforts to be more organized,and using less paper at our shows
Something old something new at the antiques and equine consignment shop
Exciting new custom jumps
Horse Show; read about our horse, pony and jumper shows

We will be offering a 'feature' section to our newsletters. If you have a story or would like some information relayed to others, please send us a picture, story and information; who knows, you may see it featured in the next newsletter.

You may contact us by e-mail: foxchasefarm@verizon.net or by phone: 540-687-5255. As always we love to hear from you!

Also, don't forget to check out the updated points for our horse shows on VirginiaEquestrian.com!

Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Maureen Hanley
Director
Fox Chase Farm, LLC
Middleburg, Virginia

Paper-Less
Let's Get More Organized!

You've been there... early mornings on show days, looking for entry forms, standing in line. It's always been an issue for parents, trainers, exhibitors and e-mailing, faxing or downloading the entry forms are not working either.

We have found a great way to get more organized!

We will be launching our new and improved WEBSITE with new ONLINE ENTRY FORMS so that you can pre-register BEFORE the show right on line. On show days you will give us your name, confirm your entries, and pick up your numbers...then you are good to go!

Our new website with online registration will be available before the July shows. Keep an eye out for all the updates on www.FoxChaseFarm.net


Sponsors- Thank you!

MIDDLEBURG BANK

RAINBOW CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

FARM CREDIT

SUBURBAN OASIS

PONY MANIA

NATURAL GROOM

VIRGINIA EQUESTRIAN.COM

CARR AND HYDE

THE TACK BOX

SILVER LEAF COOKIES

EXTREME LEVEL LASER GRADING

THE IRISH COLLECTION, Occoquan, Virginia
CONSIGNMENTS
ANTIQUES
CUSTOM JUMPS!
Something Old Something New


New is the antique shop at Fox Chase Farm, old is the antiques and consignments that are offered.

If you have consignment tack or other equine related gear, stop by and talk to the antique wizards; Bob and Matthew.

The shop offers antique jewelry, nicknacks and collectibles from all over the east coast. You may find something you like, or you may be able to sell that equine gear and make a few bucks!

The shop is open on show days as well as every weekend from 9am-6pm.

AND, Bob, Matthew and Fox Chase Farm have teamed up to offer custom jumps. For more information call: 540-687-5255. All sorts of jumper and hunter jumps available!
SHOWS!


$12,000 TCH Fox Chase Show Series- Horses on June 14, 8:00am


Join us this Saturday, June 14th as we feature the next installment of the Timothy C. Hanley Fox Chase Show Series 2008. This show features horse classes, but some classes are available to ponies too.

We offer Ladies Sidesaddle at our shows, as well as VHSA Associate classes.

JUST JUMPERS Kick-Off SHOW was a great success on May 31st, despite the downpour of rain in the middle of the show. (Our indoor provided a nice place to get out of the rain!)

We are THRILLED to announce that not only did our recently updated arena drain very quickly, we were the toast of the town with people singing the praises of our new footing!

But, don't take our word for it, come check out the footing for yourself at our next shows: "TCH Pony Show" on June 28 at 8:00am and "Just Jumpers Show" on July 12 starting at 9:00am. All of our shows are VHSA Associate shows. (Complete show calendar is on our website)

Prize lists, entry forms and information on all of our shows can be found on our website: www.FoxChaseFarm.net.

Contact Us

P.O. Box 743
23323 Foxchase Farm Lane
Middleburg, Virginia 20117


540-687-5255
www.FoxChaseFarm.net

Fox Chase Farm, LLC is an events facility located in the heart of hunt country in Middleburg, Virginia. Located on Rt. 50 two miles east of the villiage of Middleburg. We provide horse shows, events and activities in an area that is rich in many horse sports.

Look for upcoming tours at Fox Chase Farm with Grayline Tours starting in the fall of 2008.


Fox Chase Farm 23323 Foxchase Farm Lane Middleburg VA 20117

We're Back!

http://www.talbotphotoart.com/ (if you have problems with the home page, press Ctrl + F5 and that should refresh the site. )

Finally! The site is back and with it the Whitestone June show. Going up also this weekend is Touchpoint Farm's June 28th show! Summerduck Run Farm will be up this week as well. Welcome back and thanks for visiting.

P.S. For some reason I did really well getting "flowerpot heads" sailing o/f. Sorry about that, but you can play "Guess the Rider!" and hopefully I got others with your actual heads! :)

OOPS! Technical Difficulties at Talbot Photo Art

UPDATE!

My website and e-mail are out of commission due to technical difficulties. I'm working hard to get everything up and running. In the meantime, I'm working on Whitestone photos from Saturday, June 21, Touchpoint Farm on Saturday, June 28, and Summerduck Run Farm on Sunday, June 29th (it was great to see all of you!)

If you need to be in touch with me, please do call at 540-710-2729.

Hey, and I'm looking for a new candidate for "In the Spotlight"!

Ashley Clements Update!

From Ashley's Mom!

"I have great news!! Ashley has been getting out of her chair and building up her muscles. The meds are working great and she has permission from her doctor to go back to a fairly normal life style. She of course can not get up and run marathons but she is slowing getting back to normal. Her main goal is to start riding again and I think with a little more strengthening she will be back in the saddle in no time J

She even talked to her coach at Massaponax High School and after a modified tryout she made it back on the cheerleading team (no real cheering for her yet though!).

Please let everyone know that it has meant a great deal to Ashley and her family to have the support of so many people. She really loves all of the cards, gifts and calls she has gotten. They have improved her spirits tremendously and we can not thank everyone enough for that!!!

We are very blessed to have such wonderful, caring people in our lives…..THANK YOU!!!"

(Note from Susan! I'd say that maybe two months ago, Ashley would throttle me for posting this photo, but given her journey, I think that an o/f photo with a big smile for the camera is perfect! What do you think, Ash???)

Free Horse to Good Home ONLY!!!!

From Cynthia at Stillwater Farms:

"A good friend of mine has a sweet and pretty 5yo, 15.2H APHA gelding that is FREE to good home. He is a gorgeous B&W paint with 50/50 markings. He is still green, been mostly a trail/ backyard type of horse but has alot of potential. The reason he is FREE, is because he has a sarcoid over his right eye. The vets say it can be surgically removed, or if the cosmetics don't bother you, just leave it. His owners don't have the time or money to mess with it. I attached a photo. If interested, please contact Mariam or Shane at
s.mortenson@us.army.mil or 703-407-5842."

Update from Annette Clements regarding our Friends, Ashley!

We had another doctor apt. today and we have some GREAT news. The doctor gave Ash permission to get up and try to walk around for small amounts of time. She did a little today, she even went to the barn (not to ride, to watch someone else ride Allie) but it wore her out pretty quickly. We are going to work on it day by day to see if we can get her back to normal. Her meds are still making her nauseous, but they are WORKING!! We are on the right track!!

A note to all from Lauren Kirby sent for Ashley

Lauren Kirby has sent you a link to a blog:

My prayers go out to Ashley. I was diagnosed w/ dysautonomia in 2005. W/ good medical care and strong support I made a very successful recovery. I found the dinetwork.org is a wonderful organization that helps patients and families cope and understand these disorders/disease.

What is POTS Disease?

How wonderful it is to have friends! Ashley's friend, C.C. Holt wrote the following.

"Hey Susan!"

I was looking up POTS Disease, and these are all the symptoms.: ,I was wondering if you could put them on your site so people could understand what Ashley is going through.

Dizzy , lightheaded, chest pain, heart pain , Shortness of breath, blurry vision , tingling , sweating, vertigo, ectopic heartbeats, low standing pulse pressure, Frequent urination, Reactive hypoglycemia , difficulty sleeping, Central sleep apnea, Low grade fevers , mild chills , general flu like symptoms, positive anti-nuclear antibody tests (ANA test), Chronic fatigue and weakness, uncommon food allergies, highly drug and chemical sensitive, night sweats, irritablebowel syndrome, Difficulty swallowing, Numbness in palms and soles, acral coldness, dramatically reduced sweating, poor balance, abnormal gait, Eye pain, poor memory"

Ashley...all your friends are thinking of you, praying and wishing you well! You'll be back in the saddle again! BIG HUGS!!!

Susan

Prayers for Ashley!

Dear Friends,

I recently heard from from Annette Clements regarding her daughter and our friend, Ashley. Annette wrote:

"Ashley was medivacted to Fairfax hospital on 4/21 after she collapsed. She was completely unresponsive for almost 2 hours. She spent 9 days in the hospital and is home now but is in a wheelchair and she is unable to walk. We took her to a specialist and they have diagnosed her with POTS Disease. It is a disease that affects your autonomic nervous system which controls your heart rate and blood pressure. We are hopeful that with the right meds Ashley will be able to walk again and possibly even ride again. She is on meds now but her body is rejecting them. I will keep you posted on her progress!"

Annette asked that I let you all know that Ashley and her family want to thank all who have called and given their support through this horrifying experience. She really appreciates everyone’s concern and encouragement!

My thoughts and prayers are with Ashley and her family. And Ashley and Annette BIG HUGS too! To all of Ashley's friends, I'll keep you posted as to her progress!

P,..S. "It's Time To Ride" feature photo is Ashley with Allie the day before she collapsed. They got reserve Champion!

"In the Spotlight!" with Ashton and "Chance"!

I am very pleased to introduce you to one of my favorite riders, Ashton!
*******************


Hello, my name is Ashton Stanley, I'm 12 years old and I'm in the "Spotlight".
I started riding when I got my first pony "Polly", I was 5 years old then.
We had her for almost two years, then we sold her. When I was 7 I started
riding my Grandma's horse "J.J.". "J.J. taught me how to love and respect
horses. I was 8 years old when I went to my first "horse" camp at
Touch Point Farm in Culpeper. When I was 9 we started looking for a pony.
We finally found the right one "Chance". At first "Chance was a very, very,
bad horse, it took a lot of time, patience, and training from my wonderful
instructor, Meredith Jones at Touch Point Farm to get him were he is now.
With all the help from Meredith, and our friend, Maggie,
Chance is now just an all around awesome horse. I look forward to many more years of riding and many, many more years with "Chance".

Stillwater Farm

http://www.stillwaterfarmva.com

Dear Friends,

I received an email from my friends, Cynthia and Mike at Stillwater Farm, and it appears that they are doing some liquidation (closing....BLAH!) Cynthia is having a major sale, and I invite you to see her inventory below:

Stillwater Farm is closing it's doors to move onto bigger and better things. Total Farm Liquidation on Equipment & Supplies. EVERYTHING Must Go by end of May. All reasonable CASH offers will be considered, some photos and more info available through email. I haven't even listed everything, so if you're looking for a particular item, let me know.

-2003 John Deere 460 Tractor w/ front-end loader $20K
all attachments (to include bush hog, grader blade, 2 bale spears, post hole digger)
-2003 Mid-Atlantic 4H Stock Trailer $6,400
-2003 Kawaski Mule 4x4 w/ dump bed $5500
-2002 Ford F-250 Crew Cab Diesel 88K miles (matches trailer) $15K
-4 round bale feeders $150ea
-large black tack trunk $150
-Oster Clipmaster $200
-face clippers $20
-2 custom wood mounting blocks $50ea
-tons of turnout blankets (various weights and sizes and conditions) $20-100ea
-several sleazies $20/ea
-tons of halters $5ea
-lunge line and whip $20
-couple coolers around size 72-78 $35ea
-several nice quality leather girths $15-25ea
-1 pair full leather chaps, 1 pair arait half chaps size small/tall $35ea
-4 leather bridles with snaffle bits&reins $40-75ea
-several standing/running martingales $15ea
-several white and colored english saddle pads $10/ea
-15 box fans for stalls $5/ea
-16 saddle racks $7/ea
-15-20 flat back feeder buckets, some fence feeders, and heated water stall buckets
vary from $5ea-$20ea
-50 & 100 foot water hoses and reels $50-100/ea
-several muck buckets and apple picker pitchforks $10/ea
-100 gallon water troughs $40ea heaters available
-tarps in all sizes $10-40ea
-9 cases of horse treats $20ea
- english and western seat savers (GREAT for trail riding) $20/ea
-20 gallon water storage tank for trailer $30
-several pair of shipping boots $25/ea
-1 small barn frig $25
- 4 sets of crossties or trailer ties $10ea
-measuring stick in hands w/ level $20
-2 wheel barrows $40-75
-several fly masks $5/ea

plus more photos/equipment available, just let me know what you're looking for..........

Phone: 540-439-6489 Email: stillwaterfarms@aol.com

Web site: www.stillwaterfarmva.com
Cynthia Still
7261 Covingtons Corner Rd
Bealton, VA 22712
H-540-439-6489
C-540-270-3967www.stillwaterfarmva.com

P.S. From Susan...Cynthia sent me photos, so if you'd like to write me, I can provide you with you them as well.

Best wish to Cynthia and Mike

You gotta love Alpacas!

I had the pleasure of photographing my first Alapaca shoot at Whitestone Farm a week ago, and they are beautiful, curious creatures! For more information please contact Kristen Pruitt at Whitestone Farm

A New Link (to the Author of "My Daughter Grew Up With Horses"

I'm pleased to post this link to Tracy who wrote the essay "Because My Daughter Grew Up With Horses"
The Horse Diary

It's Only Appropriate that on this day I publish these words, spoken so eloquently by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Let us never forget him...let us never forget his words...


"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. *We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only."* We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.



And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!³
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Text within asterisks was added on 3/31/06. Credit Randy Mayeux for bringing the omissions to my attention.

¹ Amos 5:24 (rendered precisely in The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible)

² Isaiah 40:4-5 (King James Version of the Holy Bible). Quotation marks are excluded from part of this moment in the text because King's rendering of Isaiah 40:4 does not precisely follow the KJV version from which he quotes (e.g., "hill" and "mountain" are reversed in the KJV). King's rendering of Isaiah 40:5, however, is precisely quoted from the KJV.

³ At: http://www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/free_at_last_from.htm

Video Source: Linked directly to: http://www.earthstation1.com/

Also in this database: Martin Luther King, Jr: A Time to Break Silence

External Link: http://www.mlkmemorial.org/

External Link: http://www.thekingcenter.org/

A Valuable Lesson...

Dear Friends,

You may remember a while ago, I added a post entitled "My Daughter Grew Up With Horses" which was forwarded to me by a friend; the author was unknown. I received an e-mail today from the author who asked me to take the post down, saying that it was an essay she wrote for her daughter, that it was copyrighted and that I did not have permission to use it. I immediately sent an apology and have taken down the post.

I understand why she would be upset, and I've added this post for two reasons. One, if you would like to share someone's work on your website or blog, please go above and beyond to find the author or creator to get permission and two, to reiterate for me, personally, how hurtful it is to find that the photographs here or on my website have been taken without my permission.

Again, my apologies to the author.

FASL Black Tie & Boots Gala Photos are Up!

To view and purchase photos from this event, please visit talbotphotoart. Don't forget, a percentage of photo sales goes to the FASL! Shown here, the evenings' entertainment, The Wil Gravatt Band. I have to say that if I wasn't a fan of this band and style of music before, I sincerely am now. They were absolutely fabulous, and I've fallen in love! For more on Wil and his band, and to hear tracks, please visit their website at wilgravatt.com I guarantee you'll become a fan too!

AIRC Team Photos are Up!

Photo shown here...Summerduck Run Farm riders (yes, I'd know them anywhere!)
Click on the title above to go to "Shows" or visit www.talbotphotoart.com/shows.html

Coming Soon! AIRC Finals

March 9, 2008

Photography 101 To Flash or Not (NOT!!!!)

I've no photos to attach to this post, but I think it's a very important message to relay regardless.

I look forward to Spring and Hunter/and new adventures: Jumper and Dressage competitions because they're outside. For my "Up and Coming Photographer" friends (Janie and Tia and Tayloe...you ride so you know) and for family and friends of riders who use a flash when attending indoor shows or events, and I've seen you do it, do us all a great favor: Please don't. Maybe your daughter or son's mount has become acclimated to the flash, other horses and ponies have not. You never know how a participant's best friend will react.

As much as I would love to flash indoors (and this is part of being a professional equestrian photographer and how I make a living), if I don't do it...you shouldn't either...it's not worth the potential consequences. Get it? Got it? Good!

All the best,

Susan and Aladdin (who was spooked when my cell phone light went on and he's still acting "iffy" a week later)

Guess Who's Getting Hitched?!!!

I'm so very pleased to announce here at "It's Time To Ride!" that Tara Lane and Will Kinnamon are getting married this October! Many of you know Tara who owns Virginia Horse Imports and shows her beautiful ponies at many of the Hunter Shows in our neighborhood!

Now Will is not YET a horsey person, but it's my guess that he will be! You may have seen the three of us at Hazelwild this past weekend where we got these photos (and many more that even Tara and Will haven't seen...so I've got to make this post short so I can get them to the happy couple!). Tara grew up riding at Hazelwild; the vest she is wearing actually belonged to Ms. Morrison and was given to Tara when Ms. Morrison left this world to go her big beautiful equestrian farm in Heaven...

Back to photos, and thank you so much to Will and Tara for inviting me to shoot, not only their engagement photos, but the BIG day in October. I have grown very fond of them, and I'm honored to be a part of the celebration! Congratulations to you both, with much love from Susan and Aladdin.

"In the Spotlight!" - Featuring Emma Hanes!

Hey equestrian world! My name is Emma Hanes and if you didn't notice, I'm "In the Spotlight!" My riding career began at a very early age (I'm 15 years old now), from talking to walking to running to riding, with very little break time. I started riding at Bayberry Riding Center; there I learned the basics, pushing the heels down and always looking up. Finally I was allowed to show, starting with local shows where I cleaned up in the pre short stirrup, then the short stirrup and then the pony classes. Next thing I knew I had entered into the wonderful world of eventing. However after almost eight years there, I changed barns and moved to EKG. Now that I'm there I show almost every weekend and am at the barn everyday, I have five wonderful show horses, a beautiful 4-year old paint mare, "Lillyth", a stocky chesnut gelding, "Rocky", a FAST little jumper pony, "Max" (shown with Emma, above right taken today, March 1st!), a little girl's pony whom I love, "Tweed", and my newest project, a baby named "Daisy". All these horses make my world spin round and do something to make me laugh everyday. However, riding isn't all about horses, I've made some amazing friends through riding, my entire interschool team is hilarious, loud, and extremely talented. Not to mention my trainer, Erin Grampp, who has changed the way I look at horses. My parents have supported me through every fall, (these photos of Emma were the first I took of her April 1, 2007, and I've put these up because even after a refusal and fall, Emma picked herself up with a big smile and went along her merry way!)every knocked rail and every blue ribbon. Horses opened up a whole new world to me and I don't know what I would be like without them.

(A special note from me...I told Emma today that just one of the reasons I love to photograph her is because I can see just how much she genuinely loves every pony and horse she rides, and I believe this is what makes her such a talented and beautiful rider...it is my pleasure to have Emma "In The Spotlight", and I look forward to capturing her equestrian career in photos for a long time to come...Hugs to you Emma, from me and Aladdin...and one day this show season it is my hope that I'll bring him along to a show, and we'll see what YOU can do with him!)

FASL Event Featuring the Wil Gravatt Band - March 1, 2008

Coming Soon...Photos from the Black Tie & Boots Gala sponsored by the Fredericksburg Area Service League (FASL). A great event benefiting children in and around Fredericksburg. Monies raised go to Camps for Kids, programs that help children through the loss of parents, siblings and other loved ones, scholarships and other endeavors...one that is close to my heart...therapeutic programs such as ones sponsored by Hazelwild Farm and the A. Elizabeth Morrison Equestrian Center. A portion of the proceeds from sale of photographs from the gala will be donated to the FASL to help continue this worthwhile organization.

Let's Play "Name the Horse!"

I'm working on the BHSA Awards Page and am trying to figure out who's who. I know this is Beth from Hazelwild, but am not sure who the horse is so I can see if he/she placed.

Please e-mail me at susanetalbot@cox.net if you can "name the horse!" More photos of horses and riders to follow. Please keep checking so I can get this monumental task finished.

Hugs,
Aladdin and me

Beautiful Ponies for Sale to Good Home Only!

From my friend, Tara Lane with Virginia Horse Imports:

"All That Sass" Gorgeous four coming five yr. old small, strawberry roan Welsh mare. Wonderful disposition, 10+ mover, very bold to the fences with a beautiful jump. Will model. Solid lead changes. Great granddaughter of Farnley Sea Urchin with Dandardel lines on both sides. Needs prep before showing. Contact Virginia Horse Imports now for price and DVD or to set an appointment. Located in Fredericksburg, VA.

Tara is also offering:

"LeCheval Sherry Gail" -

Very fancy 4 1/2 yr. old steel grey Welsh mare.
Super mover and great form over fences. Bombproof personality. Will model. Placed 7th out of 17 entries at Upperville 2007 in VPBA flat after only being broken under saddle for 45 days. Now started over fences. Le Cheval and Farnley breeding out of Farnley Jolly Miller and Le Cheval China Doll. For more information, please contact Tara at tttp://www.vahorseimports.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=14&Itemid=24 , write to Sales@VAHorseImports.com.

A Note from Molly in Germany!

"Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!! I love Tayloe all curled up in her fleece blanket! Glad to see Harley looking so cute! I have atached a photo of me in one of the stalls here in Germany with a friend of mine named Kings Ransome. He is going to be 5 years old in May, so he is a baby, but very sweet. I ride him often and like him very much. He has three amazing gaits and is learning more every day. I wish I could say my dressage is coming along well, but I am still struggling. I have finally gotten myself used to sitting upright and having that long leg, and my sitting trot is quite good on "Kingsize" aka "Kings Ransome", but my canter transitions need some smoothing out and my use of my three aides, (legs, seat, and bit), don't seem to come as naturally as they should. I hope it clicks one of these days! I am now riding about 4 days a week, with lessons 2-3 days and a free fun ride once a week. I really want to ride well someday!

Send me a photo of Aladdin when you get a chance. I would love to see him! Are you showing at all? How is your riding going? Are you still jumping? I am hoping when I come home we can ride together with Beth.

Much love. Thanks for thinking of me. "

EKG February 24, 2008 Show Photos are up!

Well, 47 of them anyway! I've got more to post, but the show was indoors and as most of you know, indoor shooting is virtually impossible (unless you'd like to be blurry and orange) without flash, and I'm not spooking anyone! I should have the remainder of the candids and schooling outdoors shots up within a couple of days. Please visit http://www.talbotphotoart.com/EKG022408.html

Great to see all of you, and to put some names to riders I've been shooting since last year (Chelsea...did you see anything?)! As always, if you see me at a show, come say "Hello!"

As a P.S. to Emma (shown here with Lillith (sp?)!)...Don't forget please!!! I need your bio for "In the Spotlight!" Hugs!

We've Got Friends Overseas...This is a Shout Out to a Special Friend!

There is nothing more supportive than to let our friends, and special people we don't even know, that we're thinking of them, and appreciate all they are doing for us.

One of my special friends is Molly Judge, a nurse stationed in Germany, whom I know is enduring hardships along with all the people she is caring for in their times of needs.

Molly left behind two of her special friends..."Harley" (pictured above with Molly during her 2007 show season), and Skye. I want Molly to know that both are fine, are keeping in shape, and are being loved and cared for as much as Molly would if she was here!

.So, for Molly, I've posted a photo I shot yesterday of her best friend at the Hunter Show at EKG. He's not going over a fence but it's apparent that he's enjoying himself, shown here with Tayloe Clements.


We love you Molly, and can't wait for you to come home in May!

BHSA Awards Banquet!

The Awards Banquet was a great event, and it was so wonderful to see all of you! Coming soon, high points and lots of photos! Many thanks to the BHSA and as always thank you to everyone for the beautiful photos!

P.S. I want this beautiful box!!!