Chisholm Challenge 2015

It was an incredible experience to compete with Stars and Strides Therapeutic Riding Center in the Chisholm Challenge and watch my friends compete also.  Thank you to all the volunteers that make it possible!!

Trail - an obstacle course providing a reasonable test of skill levels.  Competitors will be judged on performing the course in sequence and initiate all steering of basic control of the horse. 

English - tests the rider's ability to ride – not the performance of the horse.  Contestants work a predetermined pattern and top riders return to be judged as they travel the perimeter of the arena performing gait changes at the judge's discretion. Emphasis is placed on ability to sit correctly, hold the correct riding posture, and control the horse on the precise pattern.  I placed 3rd in both of my English events. 

Western Riding - A competition based on the performance and characteristics of a good, sensible, well-mannered, free and easy moving horse. Horses will be  judged on riding qualities of gaits and change of lead. Competitors are judged on reining, attitude, smoothness of transitions, even cadence of gaits, and completing the required pattern.

Western Riding

Showmanship - designed to judge the showmanship skills of the exhibitors. Judges evaluate the grooming and fitting of the horse and expertise of the exhibitor in presenting the horse. Each exhibitor is required to perform a pattern designed by the judge with emphasis on preciseness of pattern and degree of confidence exhibited by the showman. 

Dad and Zhanna

Our hospitality stall

Western Pleasure - Contestants compete simultaneously, traveling the perimeter of the arena, and at the discretion of the judge, are asked to walk, jog, lope and reverse with direction of the horse. Horses are evaluated on quality of movement while staying quiet and calm. 

Trail

Joshua, Erin (not in picture), Ruth and Garrett came to watch me.

waiting to ride

I was able to help on Tuesday with the other riders since I was not competing that day.

Me and Papa

Grandma and Grandpa came to watch. 

Me and my friend Courtney Miller

Jet is a wonderful horse to ride and I love working with him!  

I received 1st in Western Riding and 2nd in Trail

My teacher Mrs. Miller is wonderful!!

Some of us went to Chili's afterwards.

Me and my brother Garrett!

~Zhanna

4-H Weatherford Sherriff’s Posse Lunch

   Our Weatherford 4H group served lunch the end of November to Parker County Firefighters, Policemen, and EMT's.  As we handed out the food we said, “Thanks for serving.”  We served them a lunch of BBQ, bread, potato salad, beans, and cookies.  Some of the kids had notecards and they gave them out to the people that said “thank you for serving.”   We had lots of fun serving the people! There were 2 EMT trucks, 2 fire trucks, and several police cars there.  Our group served over 100 people that day.  After my shift, several of the kids played tag.

                                                      ~Zhanna

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Emu

We went to Fossil Rim in Glen Rose on November 8.

I went with Garrett, Ruth, Erin, Joshua, Mom, and Dad. We loved the animals. They liked to  put their  heads in our car! It was a beautiful day and sunny. 

Turkey 

Deer

Zebra 

Eating feed out of my hand.

The  Rino

Deer

~Zhanna

Me and My Dear Mum-Mum

My dearest Mum-Mum went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 22, 2014 at 10:30 pm. 

As long as I can remember, Mum-Mum and Papa have lived 5 minutes from my house in Weatherford. She had been on oxygen for a long time for her emphysema. It had gotten harder and harder for her to do much. She always said she was fine as long as she was sitting.

I have some special memories...... 

• Going shopping with her and riding with her on her scooter   
• Watching her run the scooter off the curb at the mall because she was going faster than us (she was ok)
• Going to the Texas State Fair in 2013 with her and Papa. She was so excited to have a funnel cake and a corn dog
• Making Christmas cookies, homemade egg rolls, enchiladas, and potato dumplings at her house
• Watching movies with her — she told me she wanted to watch Frozen but we didn't ever get to watch it :-(
• Cleaning her house for her
• Fixing her hair 
• Baking all her favorite Christmas cookies last year while she watched and helped at the bar
• She always wanted to see my hair after I washed it and it was curly
• Helping her with her scooter and oxygen
• When she came to watch me on Jet at the Chisholm Challenge (AQHA horse-riding event)
• She enjoyed it when I brought her "grand-dog" Angel to her house
• She loved it when Papa made her popcorn balls
• When we made her a blueberry pie she was so happy

She went into the hospital with pneumonia the week before she died. All her kids and grandkids were all able to be around her a lot that last week in the hospital. She was also able to see her sister and her husband, Sally & Ed, her sister-in-law, Lorita, and her niece Lori. It will be a special time to remember with her. She talked to us as much as she could. I love you Mum-Mum and look forward to seeing you in heaven someday!

Watching a movie with Mum-Mum after a busy day.

January 2002

Mum-Mum's birthday

Texas State Fair 2013

Mom, Dad and I spent Christmas Eve  2013 with Mum-Mum, Papa and Joe.

~ Zhanna

A Tour of Fort Worth Fire Department

I became interested in fire trucks because of my Uncle Peter who is a firefighter in San Antonio.  

If you want to be a firefighter you have to be an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).

As we were going to the fire station, we saw this HAZMAT (hazardous material) fire truck.  These HAZMAT trucks go to train or car wrecks or other hazardous events.  There are two HAZMAT fire trucks at the Fort Worth Fire Station. This is a big one and there are two of them! The HAZMAT trucks serve the entire Fort Worth area. 

This is the other HAZMAT fire truck.

There was a competition for fire trucks.  They get fire trucks from different cities in Texas and compete for the best paint job. This was a couple years ago with one for these fire trucks. I think the blue fire truck won.

This pink fire truck is in support of breast cancer awareness. 

 

 

The firemen are coming back from a call.  The sirens were very loud!! The T2 means that this is truck number two. 

The fireman was talking about fire safety and what you do in a fire.  He said to not be scared of the firemen in their big fire gear. They wash the fire trucks about every two weeks. 

All the kids got to spray the fire hose.  They loved it!! I got to do it too! A couple of the kids wanted to do it again! Behind me are the pumps for the water and the hoses. The red hose has an automatic way of winding up.  

They opened most of the firetruck doors so the kids can see inside of them.  The bottom compartment has a fan in it so that in a fire they can blow out smoke. 

This is inside the department upstairs. It’s where the firemen sleep.  The fire-women sleep in a different place. All the firefighters play pool and card games and sleep here. 

Here is a Fire pole. It wobbles!!! I've gone down the one at my Uncle Peter’s Fire Department.  It’s a long way down! 

  Here’s the kitchen. Sometimes they cook or go out to eat.

They have a volleyball net!! They play volleyball and then it turns into dodge ball.

This is the same fire pole but looking up!  

Kids are welcome to take photos by the trucks. 

  

Me by the fire truck!! I LOVE THIS ONE!! They should have Texas A&M logo! ☺ 

This is the same Hazmat truck. It’s more expensive than the other trucks.  

 ~Zhanna

New Fire Truck!

 We were going to watch Garrett perform at a coffee shop in Lake Worth.  As we were almost there, we saw a fire truck parked nearby. We were walking over to the truck to take a picture, when we saw the fireman coming back to the truck. One of the fireman said we could look inside and take more pictures. They were very nice!

Going in the truck.

Me in the truck.

The fire truck is new!

The fire gear 

Garrett singing