Whazzup at Corgill Happy Heart Ranch

Pasadena Tournament of Roses Equestfest 2008

CHHR owners Tad and TJ Corgill saw the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Equestfest 2008 advertised on RFD TV and decided it would be an interesting event to see. It is a yearly horse exhibition of the equine entries in the New Years Day Rose Bowl Parade. Participants included draft horses with circus wagons, firewagons and beer wagons, miniature donkeys, dressage riders, Victorian ladies in their side saddles, vaulters (trick riders), charro ropers, knights on their Andalusians, buffalo soldiers, and gaited horses. After the Equestfest, the crowd is invited back to the barns to talk with all the riders about their horses.Tad and TJ were able to "get up close and personal" with some really interesting horses and people!

Barn Christmas Party

Oh, you think we love our horses too much? How about our dogs? THEY got to come to the party! Our horses had to stay at the barn!

A Great Day

It was a gorgeous winter (for Texas) day when we decided to pony the CHHR weanlings all together in the arena. What fun it was, because all of the babies behaved . . . and so did our "pony horses!" Sharon and Misty led Romeo, Kay and Hansum had Dolly, TJ and Face pulled Callie, and Melissa and Elvis handled Manu.

World Sale Prices Way Down

CHHR took two yearling colts to the 2008 AQHA World Sale in November and were confronted with the economic downturn like everyone else. It was definitely a "buyer's sale," with many horses going through the sales ring without getting any bids. We were happy that both of our colts went to good places. NoFreckles OnMy Face "Finley" is moving to Idaho for training, and then on to his new owner's home in Canada. Face It Its Time "Timex" is heading to Mississippi.

Holloween 2008

Melissa Jesurun went as a headless horseman in the costume class at the late October GVQHBA quarter horse circuit.Elvis tolerated it well. In fact, besides having fun in this class, the duo also won the high point youth award at the circuit! For their High Point photo, click the little camera icon below.

Field Trip to AQHA Museum in Amarillo

Four members of the HHRWRDC

flew to Amarillo in early October to tour the AQHA Museum. Not only were we able to tour the Museum, but we were also treated to a tour of the AQHA headquarters. Both facilities are outstanding, with gorgeous artwork everywhere and the best hospitality anyone could ever ask for. We had a tremendous time, as you can tell by our photos. This is the entrance hallway of the Museum. Left to right are TJ Corgill, Beth Bennett, Sharon Brewester and Kay Prince.

Triple H Equitherapy Scavenger Hunt

First weekend of June found four adventurous CHHR riders taking part in a scavenger hunt on horseback. This annual event takes place in Pipe Creek at the Triple H Equi-therapy facility. Triple H puts on a tremendous event, including several level of difficulty trails where riders search for items using a "hints" list. We went on the easiest ride, and it wasn't that easy! But it was fun, and we'll go back next year.

Ha det Bra Artie! (God Tur til Norge)

Art I Good "Artie," a 2006 gelding owned by CHHR, left Texas on August 1 for the long trip to his new home in Lommedalen, Norway. After being in quarantine for 30 days at NedPoint in Oklahoma he was flown to Europe. Waiting there was his new owner Heidi Gronwold. Click the little camera to see Artie at home in Norway.

Au Revoir to Darkly

Darkly, a 2006 black filly bred by CHHR, was sold in June to Marlene DeShayes of France. Her agent who handled the sale and shipment to France is Simon Manceau. Simon recently finished an 18 month apprenticeship under US trainer Jim Dudley. Upon his returned to France, Simon decided to be on the leading edge of importing western pleasure horses into France. Darkly is one of his first imports. Photo is right before Darkly was loaded on the trailer to leave CHHR on her "grand adventure." Click the little camera to see Darkly at her new home in the French countryside!

Big Winners!

Tori Summers and Face It Im Lola competed in our District 4-H Horse Show in June and made us all proud. Lola was named reserve grand champion halter mare. Then the girls went on to place 14th in a huge western pleasure class. FLASH: Later in the summer at the Texas State 4-H Show in Abilene Lola placed 8th in halter mares. Tori and Lola also made the finals in western pleasure.

Off to School

Although we got a good start with Don Knapp at the Colt Breaking Clinic (see below), we decided to send three of our youngsters to boot camp with trainer Don Laughery of Kingsbury, TX. His training methods are very similar to Don Knapp and the horses progressed quickly. Kay Prince's three-year-old gelding Hansum, Peggy Fry's three-year-old mare Paddy Rey, and TJ Corgill's two-year-old gelding Chilly were introduced to the mechanical cow, real cattle, a stock tank, highway traffic, and the locomotive. After a few months Hansum and Paddy Rey went home, but Chilly is now in advanced training with Don. Don intends to show Chilly over the winter before TJ brings him home in the spring of 2009.

Colt Starting Clinic

The Colt Starting Clinic held at CHHR on March 8 and 9 was a raging success as Oklahoma clinician Don Knapp helped five participants to start their young horses under saddle. Rather than simply auditing the clinic, two other participants handled yearling colts, readying them for saddling later this year. Everyone agreed it was the easiest, most unstressful and most rewarding "colt breaking" episode they had ever participated in. Click the little camera below to see riders, their horses, and their stories. We're planning a follow-up clinic in a couple of months.

Its A Boy!!

The last 2008 foal to be born at CHHR is this tall, flashy red roan. It was quite a surprise since his mom, Sissys Cocoa Time "Cookie," is dark brown with minimal white. We have decided to name him Face It Im Romeo because he is so sweet. Check the tab Face's Foals on this website, then look under 2008, to see photos of Romeo as he grows up.

It's a Girl!!

Bet you can't do this with YOUR legs! "Miracle" was trying to figure out how to use her long legs when we snapped the photo. Proud owner Natalie Ippolito helped the little bay filly to her feet soon afterwards. She was born on March 5 to Jacks Sizzlin Review "Jackie." Besides the dramatic blaze, she has one hind stocking. Check the tab Face's Foals on this website, then look under 2008, to see photos of Miracle as she grows up.

We're Number One

CHHR stallion Face It Im Good was awarded the NUMBER ONE registration number for the newly-incorporated American Roan Horse Association (ARHA). This association is a secondary registration for all roan stock-type horses just like the Palomino and Buckskin Associations. Based in Indiana, the new association plans local, area and national shows in the future. For further information about registering your roan and getting in on the bottom floor of this new association, go to www.ridearoan.com.

It's a Boy!!!

OK, Face is back on track . . . this cute colt was born to Piece of Art "Monet" early morning on Jan 30. His registered name is Faces Masterpiece, barn name "Manu." Wish we could say he's a roan, but he's not. Just a pretty dark bay like his mom, with a small star and snip, and one front white pastern. Check the tab Face's Foals on this website, then look under 2008, to see photos of Manu as he grows up.

It's a Girl!!!

What's Face up to this year? Known for throwing colts, this is CHHR's second little filly of the year. Born right before midnight on Saturday, Jan 26, this one's a bay roan! Her registered name is Face It Im Caliente, barn name "Callie." Check the tab Face's Foals on this website, then look under 2008, to see photos of Callie as she grows up.

Big Changes

After almost seven years of working together, Corgill Happy Heart Ranch and Liné Martin Performance Horses have amicably split up. Liné had the opportunity to combine her business with another trainer's customers. We simply didn't have enough stalls for everyone involved. Liné and her CHHR customers moved to another facility in early March. This opened up stalls for Happy Heart's own horses. Some of our long-time boarders will stay here forever, but we intend to concentrate on growing our breeding program with our stallion Face It Im Good rather than re-filling stalls with new boarders. We wish Liné and her clients much success at their new facility.

Happy New Year!

Born at 3:45 am, meet Dolly! She's by Face It Im Good and out of the Dynamic Deluxe mare Shes Realy Fun "Lucy". Dolly is a bay with one back white pastern, a georgeous dished face, big soft eyes, and a thin slanted blaze. Her registered name is Sheza Doll Face. Check the tab Face's Foals on this website, then look under 2008, to see photos of Dolly as she grows up.

First Photo Shoot Successfully Completed

As Christmas presents, CHHR promised all boarders a new photo shoot with their horses. The first shoot was done the day after Christmas with Gotta Luv Em "Sherman". Sons Chris and Nicholas were in from out of state, so it was a perfect time for a family portrait. Of course Mike and Beth also included their golden retrievers Winnie and Timber.

Horse Soccer

Several of us at CHHR found a new game to play with our horses -- horse soccer! We'll be having games with this big ball in no time, but for now we're just chasing it around the arena. Our horses love it and really get mad if they don't get "their turn" with the ball!