Equine Extremist

Tommie is at the Denver Stock show

2012-01-16T16:20:00.001-05:00

Tommie will be at the Denver rodeo for the dancing horses with the symphony plays the music as well as performing at the rodeos. We'll also be at Breyerfest again this year. We always have a lot of fun there. People love to see Joker and Pokerjoe, previous Breyer models and hopefully they will make Ace, Blade, the Black and Odd Job Bob into Breyers too!

Ride fast... Take chances! Karen

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-10T19:07:00.002-05:00

It's already 10 days into the New Year and things are off to a great start in 2012. Tommie will be performing in Denver, PA Horse World Expo, Breyerfest, PRCA Rodeos, State Fairs, lots of clinics, Night of Amazing Horses Shows here in Florida and of course, the IAFE Convention and NFR/Mandalay Bay Marketplace in Las Vegas; plus lots more added in between. We had hoped to get back to a few places again since last year, but with the schedule sending Tommie from coast to coast, it is tough get him in two places at once! We are looking forward to working with new shows this year along with the shows that we return to year after year. It is your support that keeps Tommie and his Amazing horses coming back and setting records year after year. We still have a few dates open in 2012 and are also booking into 2013. This year should be a good year for feature films as well. Tommie has a few movies on the horizon, so that will keep him on the road quite a few days. Don't forget, if you are interest in getting Tommie to your event or hosting a clinic, please call us at your convenience. We can usually work around most budgets and events. We are not just a rodeo act or boring clinician. We strive to be the best entertainment and education you will find with many facets. From comedy to fast action to Liberty to fun and of course extreme horsemanship. Nobody steals the show like Tommie Turvey does. He will make your event a real success with his numerous acts and showmanship style. So, we are working making 2012 a great success and try to get to as many places as possible. See you in 2012 and keep in touch! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

2011-09-24T08:55:00.000-04:00

Wow. It has been since May that I posted last? Where has the time gone? I guess having a new born and another on the way has a way of stealing your time away. Just to update everyone, we are loving Florida, even the hottest week here is better than coldest hour in Illinois. I am so very happy.
Tommie has been busy working on movie projects, talking with sponsors, and planning our 2012 attack that barely a moment goes by without us on the phone, taking care of the horses, or at the computer. I have the 20/20 rule. 20 mins work, 20 mins with the baby, and repeat. The baby loves going to the barn with us. She is just enthralled with horses and dogs.

Here is a great shot of Tommie and Ace. This was taken by Steve Priest photography. He is good friend of Tommie's and takes incredible photos. Tommie and Chantal have been on the go putting together training programs, clinics, and productions. It's crazy with all the things going on, but it's just another day with Tommie. You really have to work extra hard if you want a life with horses. The time and expense is the most inhibiting, but we have a lot of great things going. Since we've been down here in Florida we've found that the hay is not the best. We give our horses all the hay they can eat, but they still were not getting the nutrition they needed, so we started to add feed to the their diet. The Ultium by Purina has really helped them get back on track. They look great and feel great. With Ultium you don't feed as much either, so you save on expense. Up north we hardly grained at all, in Florida we add it to all the horses diets and thanks to Purina, we know they are getting what they need. Want to see the difference for yourself? Do the Purina 60 Day Challange.
Don't forget, "the Greening of Whitney Brown" will be out 11/11/11 and on DVD in December. It will make a great gift! We are looking for more horse movies like this to be made. We really need to do a remake or similar of the "Black Stallion". Where the horse is the main character in the movie. Go to http://www.facebook.com/the%20greening for the trailer or our youtube page. www.youtube.com/user/equineextremist

I gotta run, the horses and baby is calling! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie performing at his "Night of Amazing Horses" in Brooksville

2011-05-21T17:32:00.000-04:00

After returning from a Tour that brought Tommie to Atlantic City, NJ for a PRCA Rodeo; a 2 day show at the University of Arkasas; 3 day show in Madison, Wisconsin at the Alliant Energy Center for the Midwest Horse Fair, and a one night show in Del Mar, California for the "Night of the Horse" show, Tommie performed in his own back yard with his horses and long-time friends and incredible performers, Matt McLaughlin with his Andalusian Stallions and Caroline Williams with her liberty horses. Tommie performed his 6 acts which included his horses Pokerjoe, Joker, Ace, Blade, Ceaser and Spartacus along with his dogs, Maverick and Cutaway. Matt McLaughlin wowed the crowd with his 3 stellar dressage, garrocha and cowboy dressage acts. Caroline featured her 2 black and white horses along with her mini for a circus liberty act, while I performed with Tommie with the chariots. It was a heck of a show. This is our first time at the Hernando County Fairgrounds and we were blown away by the support of the community. It was a full house with many of them waiting after to meet Tommie. We are planning to do another show in the fall, so keep checking our mainsite or sign up for our mailing list.

Tommie shows why he is the best of the best when it comes to Roman Riding. His speed and agility is second to none and his horses are an incredible looking pair.

Tommie opens the show with a hello and a greeting from atop his movie horse and mustang, Blade. It is quite the accomplishment for a horse to be in 5 movies and TV shows in the past 3 years.
Thanks to Steve Priest for the amazing photos.

Atlantic City NJ PRCA Rodeo

2011-05-11T19:33:00.001-04:00

The first PRCA rodeo to hit the BoardWalk in Atlantic City! Barnes Rodeo pulled out all the stops and got the best of the best for this event with legendary NFR and Rodeo announcer Bob Tallman and some of the best stock in the business. Tommie performed with his 4 horses at each show. His new act, "the Cowboy", is a huge hit and features Blade and Tommie's Heelers, Maverick and Cutaway. Here is a shot of Tommie right before the first performance. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Equifest of Kansas Expo

2011-02-20T02:02:00.000-05:00

This was our first time at Equifest in Wichita, KS. It was an amazing show. Lots of nice people and horse community. Jared and Debbie Beam did a great job with the show. Hope to be back next year. We're on the road heading back to Florida. Ride Fast... Take Chances! Karen

the Walking Dead on AMC

2011-01-08T23:12:00.001-05:00

For any Walking Dead fans, here is Tommie Turvey with his horse Blade and dog, Maverick. Blade was the unfortunate horse who Rick rode into Atlanta in the movie. Most people ask Tommie why Blade had to get eaten by Zombies instead of just running away. Most people look at us in shock and say "Blade got eaten? That's horrible." Well, he is alive and well and travelling the US with Tommie and Chantal right now. You may have seen him in the Rose Parade. He was Roman Riding Joker and Ace, Mike Loades from the history channel was riding Pokerjoe, Stuntman Blade Pocquett was riding Blade, and Sammi Hanratty from "the Greening of Whitney Brown" was riding Odd Job Bob (Of Course!). We also had Cinderella's carriage pulling a few VIP's. It was really an incredible experience. With all the tv coverage and media there it was a huge event. There was more coverage for this parade than the entire 2 weeks of the World Equestrian Games. Well, 2011 and we are off to a flying start! Keep checking our website for the show schedule. Tommie will be EVERYWHERE in 2011. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie Turvey Roman Rides down Colorado Ave with his Paint horses, Joker and Ace followed by his horses, Blade and Pokerjoe with Special Guest horse, Gypsy Vanner "Odd Job Bob"

Time flies when you have a baby

2010-11-07T00:17:00.002-04:00

All I know is that I get an extra hour of sleep tonite.
My husband Jamie and I are soooo happy. Uncle Tommie is in Kentucky at the World Equestrian Games, so he will see her when he gets done up there. She ia a healthy baby girl and are loving every minute of it. This is a photo of her about 2 hours after she was born. Time to start another adventure in our lives.
Ride Fast... Take Chances! Karen

Tommie Turvey at WEG

2010-10-14T19:23:00.000-04:00

Well, it has been a LONG LONG LONG couple of weeks that seem like months. With everything that has been going on, including me giving birth to a beautiful baby girl, I have a bunch of photos and stuff to talk about. Tommie returned from the WEG in Lexington, KY after being there for the opening ceremonies and doing demos each day of the games. He got there at 9/21 and just returned 10/11. Much to say about it, there was good and bad and a lot of friends and new friends. Above is a photo of Tommie performing with Joker and Ace at the Clinicians Corral in Equine Village. He said the crowds were good and really liked the diversity we brought to the Games. Tommie doesn't do a sales pitch or boring training, he likes to inspire crowds and show them that they should have fun with their horses. If every time you are with your horse you are training, then it's not fun! We do minimal training and maximum fun. Ricky Suarez was there bareback riding on Sugar. She is coming along really nice. I have been working her alot and with an exceptional rider like Ricky really brings out the best in her. She also looks great in the spotlights! We have a lot more to fill you in on, so as soon as I get more photos and stories, I will post them here.
Ride Fast.... Take Chances! karen

Tommie is at WEG, I'm in the Hospital

2010-09-27T13:37:00.001-04:00

I'm in the hospital getting ready to have my baby. Jamie and I are waiting patiently. Tommie is doing great at WEG. I saw him during the NBC telecast on Sunday. Check out the Official Paint Horse Page on Facebook. Lots of nice photos of the opening ceremonies. Well, gotta go, baby should coming today. Ride Fast.. Take Chances! karen

Tommie at the Iowa Gold Star Futurity in Des Moines

2010-09-12T01:14:00.000-04:00

Tommie just got back from a long 10 days on the road. When he left here he headed 700 miles to the Kentucky Horse Park for a rehearsal and set up the last minute details for the World Equestrian Games. From there he drove another 700 miles to Des Moines, IA to perform at the Iowa Gold Star Futurity. This is an incredible Arabian Horse Show with beautiful arabian horses. Tommie said he would love to have an Arabian Black stallion just like the movie "the Black Stallion". Tommie and I used to watch that movie over and over. If it was on TV on Sunday afternoon and when we got a VHS player, it was the second most watched movie in our small collection. (Scarface was the most watched!) Tommie really wanted to be that kid. He would ride just like him without fear and always with a smile. The ironic thing is we ended up working with Corky Randall and at Arabian Nights dinner theater in Orlando. Corky did the horse work on the movie, so it was very cool to be working with him. Tommie has worked with a lot of trainers and always listens and takes away something he can use. He never follows anyone 100% or even 50% for that matter. Tommie takes one or two elements and makes them into his own methods. Tommie has really put together a no-nonsense and get it done type of training. Everything he does is well thought out and for a reason. That's why he is so successful at getting the results in horses.
Chantal sent me this photo of Tommie and Pokerjoe just before they performed. She said the last act they did was his new act with Blade and Maverick and everybody loved it. People love to see the comradery of horses of dogs, especially when it is quite a challange like putting together a wild mustang and a red heeler. One is born to run and the other is born to chase. So, it is amazing when Tommie got them to work together and run side by side or when Maverick jumps up in the saddle. That is a true testiment to training. Tommie looks beyond the possible and seeks out the "impossible" to turn in into "possible". That's the way Tommie has always been. When would be at a horse auction someone would say "we'll have to lead that horse in, no one can ride him" and Tommie would say "I'll do it". He would get on and ride that horse into the auction ring and look like he was having a ball. The audience thought the horse was really good and Tommie thought it was a lot funner to ride horses into the ring than to sit in the bleachers and watch people bid on horses. He didn't realize then how easy he made it look and how natural he was with horses. He has an incredible insight into a horse and is 99% right when it comes to figuring out a horse. He uses their natural ability and instincts to train their strengths and their want for communication to become their leader. It's not rocket science like most trainers will lead you to believe, but there is a bit of common sense and uncommon discipline.
After the Des Moines show, Tommie flew to Los Angeles to do a 1 day shoot for Lion TV which will air on the History channel. Michael Loades, whom the show will be about, contacted Tommie to be the horse expert. On Monday, Tommie flew back to Des Moines where he and Chantal drove 700 miles back to Kentucky Horse park for a rehearsal with Dan James and then drove 700 miles back here on Thursday. They were glad to be home. Everything is going good here as we continue to get ready for the World Equestrian Games and get our facility up and running. Not to mention the NFR/Cowboy Christmas and Rose Parade. We'll be touring with Odd Job Bob too with the movies coming out soon. Well, I have got to go... Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie is in Los Angeles with Discovery Channel

2010-09-06T18:56:00.001-04:00

Tommie just sent me a quick note. They are filming a TV show pilot. He is working with the incredibly knowledgable and talented, Michael Loades. He has a great way of explaining history in simple easy to remember terms. Tommie is the equine expert to help Michael through some of the explainations. It should be a great show. Don't forget to watch the Walking Dead on AMC Halloween. You'll see Tommie and Blade with the Zombies. Pretty cool stuff. You can see more stuff on Tommie's Blog at http://www.tommieturvey.com/ Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Great shot of Sammi and Odd Job Bob

2010-08-23T09:37:00.000-04:00

During the filming of "the Greening of Whitney of Brown" We got a great shot of Sammi and Bob relaxing during a break in the filming. Sammi really bonded with Bob, but most importantly Bob was very comfortable with Sammi. She has a natural feel with horses and makes them feel at ease. She has been really busy doing a lot of movies, but I hope she has time to ride and work with horses. She is a natural rider and a great student. We're going to be bringing Bob to the World Equestrian Games and possibly Vegas during the NFR and the Rose Parade in Pasadena. He is going to have a busy schedule once the movie is released. It is a really nice feel good movie that focuses on the relationship between the horse and the girl and how Bob makes her realize what is really important in her life.
Bob is here at Liberty Horse Ranch doing his daily training. Gypsy Vanners are such a beautiful horse. They are like Tommie's Paints, but a lot more fluffy and flowing. Bob gets a bath every day too. He loves the attention. Tommie is gearing up for a trip to Lexington for a rehearsal for the opening ceremonies at the World Equestrian Games, then over to Des Moines for the Iowa Futurity, a quick flight to Los Angeles to film an episode for Discovery and then back here to get ready for the World Games. We've got lots of exciting stuff coming up so stay tuned!
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Front Entrance

2010-07-19T09:08:00.002-04:00

Here we are coming out of our new facility. Karen

On the way to our new home

2010-07-19T09:01:00.002-04:00

During our latest trip to our new place. We stopped for a rest and water break. 2 pintos, 2 haflingers, and 2 rocky mountain horses. Ride fast... Take chances! Karen

New Facility

2010-07-19T08:56:00.002-04:00

We have been looking for a new training facility for us and the horses and we finaly found it! 70 acres of pastures, 2 barns with 30 stalls. Indoor amd outdoor arenas, 3 houses, and fully fenced and gated. It took over a year of searching to find the perfect place, but patience pays off. It is in Brooksville, Florida. I'll have more info as soon as we get settled in. We have been making the move over the past 2 months from Double G. It is 1250 miles away, so it's quite a project to move our entire operation.. We just brought 6 horses to the new place and have 9 more to bring down. It is a great location for clinics and training, plus really beautiful to shoot the tv shows. This photo is of the front entrance gate of the 20 stall barn. We're on our way back to Double G to finish packing the offices and bring more horses. I'll keep you posted. Ride fast... Take chances!

Tommie and Devante

2010-03-01T19:29:00.004-05:00

Here is Tommie with the beautiful 3 year old Andalusian stallion, Devante. Tommie is performing a liberty demo showing how horses learn your body language. Tommie is working Devante in the open arena with just his hands. This is one beautiful horse! Ride fast... Take chances! karen

PA horse world expo

2010-03-01T19:17:00.001-05:00

We got to the show on Wed. For the 4 day show. This show is awesome. We love the audience here. They are the best anywhere! Tommie is performing along with Matt McLaughlin, Erik Martonavitch, and Stacy Westfall. It will be a great show. This is a photo of Tommie working on his 4 up roman riding team. Looking good! Ride fast... Take chances! karen

At the Rascal Flatts Concert

2010-02-20T20:34:00.002-05:00

GeoTagged, [N41.50825, E90.51355]

We took a night off to see a great show. Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts. Got in and at our seats now. Darius starts at 8:00p. It's me , my husband, Tommie, Rich, Kimberly, Sarah, and Gary. Thanks to Tommie for hooking us with great tix. Ride fast... Take chances! Karen

Columbus Ohio Bulls and Broncs Rodeo

2010-02-20T20:29:00.002-05:00

Here is Tommie and Pokerjoe at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Toughest Cowboy and bulls and broncs rodeo. Tommy Joe Lucia puts on a great show. Great stock and ride 'til you cowboys. Karen

Weekend off!

2010-02-20T19:06:00.001-05:00

Well, we have this weekend off. We have been busy getting ready for PA expo. Tommie has been busy shoeing 14 horses with our farrier, Rich Brunner. There's a ropin' here at Double G this weekend too. We did all our fall orders for the western store in the past 3 days too. (So much for the weekend off) but tonight we are on our way to see Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker. We just saw Jake Owen and Randy Houser after the rodeos, but this show should be pretty good. We love Hootie. Hope he sings a few classics not just new stuff. I'll let ya know! Ride fast... Take chances! karen

Heading in to Nationwide Arena

2010-02-13T13:06:00.002-05:00

GeoTagged, [N39.93212, E82.72289]

We drove to Columbus, Ohio Friday and did an overnight at Stoney rise farm. We are getting ready to head to the Nationwide Arena. We have to warm up and ready the horses here before we get to the show. Lots of snow and ice here too. I'll send photos when we get to the show. Thanks to Jessica at Stoney Rise and Kenny for all the help. See you at the Rodeo! Ride fast... Take chances! karen

Josh and Janna's new house

2010-02-09T22:30:00.003-05:00

We went to visit Tommie's best friend, josh Lyons, (son of John Lyons)and his family at their new home and facility in Tennessee. All I can say is WOW! As you can see by the photo that it snowed in TN the day we got there. Jana just had a new baby named Ryder. He is so adorable. Austin and Johnny are gettin bigger and having fun. Tommie, Josh and the boys jumped and a 4 wheeler and pulled a tube around the outdoor arena while they tried to hang on. The was a lot of snow, so the had a great time. School was cancelled for the boys, but Josh still had his Certification classes. It was awesome hanging out with them. Now they are 529 miles away from us instead of 1200!
Ride fast... Take chances! karen

Tommie and Pokerjoe in Chicago

2010-02-08T00:09:00.002-05:00

Here is Tommie and Pokerjoe performing "the riding instructor". pretty cool.... sorry about the camera being a bit out of focus. Ride Fast .... Take Chances! karen

Sears Centre Chicago, IL

2010-02-08T00:06:00.002-05:00

We're getting ready for Tommie to perform. As you can see here it's a full house tonite. Looks like 12,000. Last night Jake Owens was in concert after the PCB Rodeo finals. This is a photo of Ace, Joker, and Pokerjoe in back behind the chutes right next to the bulls.

Ready for the show

2010-01-30T20:34:00.002-05:00

GeoTagged, [N44.94474, E93.10084]

Looks like a packed house tonight, about 15,000 people. Gonna be a good night...
The boys are ready, including Tommie with his Under Armour gear. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Preshow warm up

2010-01-30T20:32:00.003-05:00

GeoTagged, [N44.94546, E93.10210]

Tommie warms up Joker and Ace while Randy Houser does a sound check. Production meeting at 4pm, showtime 7:30p. All is good. The music is really loud! I can't even hear myself think at times. Plus we had to put up with the fire alarm going off, the below zero temps in the parking garage, and stalling the horse in an arena for 2 days. The crew here with Bulls and Broncs treats us well. Thanks to Tommy Joe, Bob, Randy, Amber and all the crew. We'll see them again when the tour hits Columbus, Ohio!
Ride fast... Take chances! karen

Tommie in St Paul, MN

2010-01-30T10:47:00.002-05:00

GeoTagged, [N44.94474, E93.10084]

We just did a show last night I'n St Paul at the Xcel Energy Center. What a great show! Tommie really loves the people of MN. We have another show tonite plus we get to see Randy Houser concert. See ya tonite. Ride fast... Take chances! karen

Bulls and Broncs Rodeo

2010-01-29T14:08:00.002-05:00

We are on our way to St Paul, MN for Tommie to perform with Pokerjoe, Joker and Ace. It was nice to in warm weather in Alabama last week. Now we're headed to single digit and below zero weather in MN. The weather is clear but cold. We have to add anti gel fluid to the fuel and keep everything from freezing. The horses travel good but you have blanket them and make sure they don't get too cold or hot.
We have a show tonite and Sat night at the Xcel energy center in St. Paul. Country star Randy Houser will be in concert Sat night as well. Should be a fun weekend!
I'll get photos and post them after the show. Ride Fast... Take Chances! Karen

Back in the cold north!

2010-01-25T19:02:00.002-05:00

GeoTagged, [N39.92597, E88.30228]

The longest part of our trip is getting into the southern part of Illinois. Not only is it 7 more hours of driving, but here comes the snow and cold. Brrrrrrrr. The horses are doing good. But we starting to see many cars in the ditch. We're up to 15 cars and trucks and 3 bad accidents. There isn't much snow, but lots of black ice. Oops one more in the ditch.... Only 3 more hours and we'll be home. Ride fast... Take chances! karen

Alabama horse fair

2010-01-25T11:04:00.001-05:00

We are on our way back home. We had a fun weekend in Alabama. Just wanted thank everyone who came out to see Tommie this weekend. Also, thanks to the Alabama Horse Council, Charlotte, Leah, kc, and all the helpers and inmates at the coliseum who made it all happen. We hope you all learned a little more to add to your training arsenal. Thank you for the incredible turn out to see Tommie perform with Pokerjoe , joker and ace. Thanks again Alabama! Ride fast... Take chances! karen

Heading for Alabama Show

2010-01-21T14:22:00.002-05:00

GeoTagged, [N37.99426, E88.92228]

We are on our way to Mongomery, Alabama for the horse fair this weekend. It's a 1700 mile round trip, but we'll be happy to be in warm weather. It's raining now as we cross into Kentucky, but should stop soon. We did this show about 6 years ago and it was freezing. We are really excited about coming back.I'll keep you posted on our trip. Ride fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie rehearsing

2010-01-13T10:36:00.001-05:00

Tommie gets Joker and Ace in the Denver Coliseum to warm up for the rodeo. This a nice arena with a top notch ground crew, sound, lighting and production staff. We had a great show and are looking forward to next year. It was awesome to see Stacey and Jerry Diaz. Tommie performed with Pokerjoe during the Mexican Rodeo. Thanks again Denver! Ride fast... Take chances! karen

2 Shows Today

2010-01-10T13:41:00.001-05:00

It's pretty nice today should get to 48 degrees. We've got 2 performances today with the rodeos. It has been great working with Boyd Polhamus and the crew here at the NWSS. I'll post new photos are today's perfs. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

National Western Stock Show in Denver

2010-01-08T21:30:00.006-05:00

We are at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. It has been very cold and snowy. We got here just ahead of a bad storm. When traveling 1000 miles you have to make sure you stay ahead of the weather in the winter. It should be better this weekend up around 40's. Today Tommie performed at the Boots and Business lunch sponsored by USBank. It was a long walk from the coliseum to the event center. The set us was really cool. The audience was at tables right in the middle of the arena. Tommie performed with Pokerjoe and then liberty with Joker and Ace. Here is Tommie and I right before the Liberty Act with Joker and Ace. Tommie did his entire liberty act, which is with his horses bridle-less and no tack or saddle. He only uses his body language and voice to direct them. Imagine letting a horse free in an arena with 1000 people in it! Ace and Joker were perfect and the crowd loved it.
Here is Tommie performing with Ace at Liberty.
Here is Tommie performing "the Riding Instructor" with Pokerjoe. Pokerjoe is upside down with Tommie on him. We'll be performing again on Saturday and Sunday during the rodeo and the Mexican Extravaganza. Thanks to Patricia, Boyd and all the crew who help make it happen.

Here is Ace back at the stalls after the show. It's a bit cool in the stalls and we're cooling him down and making sure he has a clean stall with plenty of Callaway Farm Bedding. Tommie makes sure they have all the hay and clean water they need. We also use tons of cleaning supplies to keep them clean. Thanks Absorbine! Oh, to be a RockStar. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie, Odd Job Bob, Brooke Shields, and Kris Kristopherson

2009-11-13T18:13:00.001-05:00

Tommie gets set for the shots of the farm house with Whitney's mom, played by the wonderful Brooke Shields. I wish I could have been there. I love the movies and Brooke is one of those people whom I grew up with and appeared in many of many favorite movies. Tommie said she was awesome and perfect for the part.

Here is Tommie, Bob, and the legendary Kris Kristopherson. Tommie had him work one of the Rocky Mountain horses we have. His name is Doctor Feelgood which we got from Van Bert Farms in Kentucky. Tommie picked Doc for the role since he is such a beautiful horse, but very easy and calm to use for the part. Tommie said Kris and Doc did great. That's all for now.
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie and Bob on the Set of "Greening of Whitney Brown"

2009-11-01T20:03:00.000-05:00

It was a beautiful day. Tommie and Bob wait patiently for the crew to get set up for a series of shots. Bob is such a cool horse. It's been a pretty hectic shooting schedule. Tommie has to coordinate the stunts for each shot, figure out how to get Bob to do his part safely, work with the cast so it looks like they've known Bob their entire lives, keep each horse (Yes, there is Bob and 2 other stand ins, along with Doc, a Rocky Mountain which Kris Kristopherson works with.) healthy, happy and trained for each particular shot. Tommie had a lot of work getting stunt players for shots. Lori Miller, who has been working for us for the past 3 years was a perfect double for Sammy the little girl. Lori did all the riding and stunt shots. It was her first movie, but she did a great job. They should be wrapping soon. We'll have to go down and work a few days soon. I'll post more when we get there. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

More photos from the Set of Greening of Whitney Brown

2009-10-01T12:31:00.002-04:00

Tommie has been doing a lot of cool shots with Bob, the Gypsy Vanner. After all the training Tommie now has to get Bob in different situations. Here are a few photos of some of the shots they needed to get. Tommie gets Bob into the shot with Brooke Shields and Kris Kristopherson. (Below) Tommie gets into the shot with Bob. They had a lot of really cute and fun shots. I think kids are gonna love this movie and want a horse like Bob of their own! Bob poked his head into many situations. He had the run of the house and made himself at home.

Stay tuned for more!!!

Training Sammi Hanratty to ride with Odd Job Bob.

2009-09-22T20:06:00.002-04:00

Tommie has been in Conyers, GA which is Southeast of Atlanta to begin working on a movie with Gypsy Vanner horse, "Odd Job Bob". Tommie has been training him for this movie since March and now has to get the star of the movie, 14 year old Sammi Hanratty, ready to ride and play with Bob. Sammi has never ridden a horse before, let-a-lone bareback and bridless! Here is a photo of Sammi on Bob. This is on her first day of riding! Tommie said she did an awesome job of listening and taking direction. Sometimes it is better to train someone who knows nothing, than to try and train someone with experience. You can tell she is just a delight to work with. She is a directors dream and lights up when she talks. She is perfect for this movie. I had to bring supplies down to Tommie, so I got to meet Sammi and see them ride. We made the 1100 mile trip to get hay and other training stuff to Tommie. Atlanta is flooding really bad, so hay is pretty scarce. Tommie starts scouting locations and prepping scenes in a few days as well. He is the Stunt Coordinator and Horse trainer on the movie, plus he will be doing stunts as well. Lori Miller our assistant trainer will be doubling Sammi for the serious horse riding and stunts. This will be her first movie too, but she has been working with Bob for 4 months and really knows him well. Here is Sammi with Odd Job Bob. She was incredible with Bob. Tommie did a great job getting both of them to understand what they need to do.
Here is another cute photo of Sammi and Odd Job Bob. Check out www.sammihanratty.com and see what she has been up to. more to come! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Minnesota State Fair

2009-09-09T14:43:00.006-04:00

Tommie just returned from 12 days at the Minnesota State Fair. Tommie performed with Pokerjoe, Joker and Ace 2 to 3 times per day in the Warner Coliseum to packed houses. The fair does over 1,000,000 people over the 12 days. It is incredible. They have everything you could ever want to see at a fair. It takes 3 days just to walk to the entire fair, which is held at the same place they hold the MN Horse Expo. Tommie said the crowds were awesome, especially during the rodeos. The response he got from the crowd was outstanding. We are hoping to back in the area pretty soon for more performing and clinics. The weather was perfect too. No rain and little or no pesky flies or heat. All in all a great show to be at. He wanted to thank everyone who stopped by or seen his acts. Hope to see you all down the road. I'll get photos on here as soon as I can. I'm trying to figure out my Iphone as well.
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Chincoteague Pony Swim 2009

2009-08-11T16:54:00.006-04:00

OK. I finally have time to write about the Chincoteague Pony Swim. First off, I would like to say a big thank you to Billy Beebe and his wife, Bonnie for having us at their ranch for the week. They are incredible people who are trying to keep the legend of Misty and Stormy alive, so future generations can truly see what inspired Margarite Henry to write her wonderful books. Tommie presented Nightmist's Legend to the crowds each day at Beebe ranch. He is a direct descendent of Misty. There is a lot more to the story, but that's for another day. In a nutshell, the ponies run wild on the island of Assateague. They got there back in the days of explorers from the wrecked ships or the first settlers. They roam around the national park just like any other wild animal. During Pony Penning week, the local Fire Dept crew, dubbed the Saltwater cowboys or as we called them "mud-riding cowboys" (They rode more in the mud than in the saltwater.) would pen two herds of ponies in a corral on the beach. Then, at low tide, they drive them to the lowest point to cross through the water and onto Chincoteague Island, then about a mile to the fairgrounds. As the tide drops, it leaves a big swath of mud and muck. Boat Capt. Jimmy took us to the Assateague Island side for a great view of the round up and the ponies getting in the water. You have to be up and in place by 8am and the swim started at 9:30am. Once the ponies reach the fairgrounds they are rested until the auction the next day.

At the auction, Tommie brought out Nightmist's Legend and had him do a few tricks and finish with standing on the pedestal. The place was packed with people as they got ready to bid on the foals. Most of the foals went for $1,000 to $2,000 with the proceeds going to the fire dept. It was a pretty cool event to see. Time to work our horses... Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Great Article about Lizzy Traband

2009-08-08T23:36:00.003-04:00

Tommie has been working with Lizzy Traband for 4 years now and she is an incredible student. She is a favorite at our shows here in Sterling and everywhere we perform. During Breyerfest, she did a media call with Tommie and got this wonderful article about her in USA TODAY
They even made her pony, Toby into a limited edition Breyer model. She is a really cool kid and a solid horse trainer and rider. She has this wonderful sense about horses and she loves every minute she's with them. She is very inspiring and I don't think I've ever seen her without a smile on her face. Keep on the lookout for Lizzy on Youtube and at future shows.
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

NIGHT OF AMAZING HORSES!

2009-07-04T12:59:00.000-04:00

Happy Independence Day everyone! It's raining and gloomy here, but we have a full house for the weekend. The show on Friday went very well with lots of people attending and watching our show. We try to do this every year to help raise money for HALO. We also did a 50/50 raffle to help benefit a local girl who was just diagnosed with cancer. Our raffle raised $125 for her to help with the expenses. There also are having a benefit in Rock Falls on July 12th for her to raise money as well. We understand the need to help out the community and do what we can. Times are tough all over, but if we all do what we can and weather the storm, it will get better. Shows are down here at the facility mainly because of people and associations cutting back on travel and training for their horses. We understand and are doing what we can, but we need to stick together. Thanks to Norinne at Primp Your Pet for providing a bunch of cool giveaways from Wahl Clipper. The people loved the hats, clippers, and frisbees. They are proud of WAHL and what it means to this community. Tommie also gave away a Pokerjoe Breyer model to a lucky child. The show featured a good friend of Tommie and I, Brad "Wild" Hair. He travelled 400 miles and brought his clown car to perform. Lizzy Traband travelled 700 miles to be here and performed 3 acts in the show. She is 11 years old and is such an inspiration to everyone. I also need to thank Kathie Oberman for letting us use her quarterhorses Eli and Jr. for the show. They are such wonderful horses and got a chance to be in the shows finale. It took quite a bit to put together this show with all of the acts and such, but it was well worth it. Tommie brought in 2 of his fellow stunt guys to put on a quick demo with a human fireburn and then a fireburn on a horse. We also brought out "Odd Job Bob" a Gypsy Vanner horse from El Brio Vanners and talked about his childrens book and upcoming movie. Thanks to everyone who helped out (Seth, Jesse, Kayla and her friends, Mom, Kay and Liz.) plus all of you who attended the show. Thank you!!!!!!
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

July 3 Night of Amazing Horses!

2009-07-03T09:30:00.002-04:00

Tonight we put on a show here at our facility in Sterling, IL. We've been rehearsing and putting together a great show for tonight. We try to have a show around the 4th every year here. Lizzy and her family have been here practicing and hanging out. They came from PA (700 miles away...) just to perform tonight. Tommie also has two of the stuntmen he has worked with on movies here to put on a "fireburn" for the show. They will also be hosting a stunt clinic where they will teach the basics of stunts like fights, falls, burns, and the general industry. Brad Hair and his wife are here too. They do PRCA Rodeos around the country and will be performing in the show tonight. We also put together a square dance drill with 8 riders. It will be a great show and a fun start to the 4th of July weekend. There is sooooooooo much to do today. Gotta run. Calls are coming in.
Have a wonderful 4th! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Blaineville Classic FEI Event

2009-06-30T11:03:00.000-04:00

Tommie made a special appearance in Blainville, Quebec on June 27, 2009 during their FEI dressage event. He just finished up at Cook Forest and had to trek 640 miles outside of Montreal for this event. It was a bit wet, but the crowd was incredible. There were over a thousand people at the event and everything went really well. Tommie got covered in mud during his performances, but after a quick washing he was ready to go for the next act.Here is Tommie riding Blade and with Maverick (his red heeler dog) at the opening of the show. You can see it's a bit wet.

This is a shot of the arena while Tommie was performing with Pokerjoe. All of the announcing was done in French for the locals. The announcer, Nicho is great to work with. We have worked with him at shows in Las Vegas, Jacksonville, and Ocala. The crowd really enjoyed Tommie and are looking to have him back again next year for this event and the hunter/jumper show the following week. We would like to thank http://www.equivents.com/ for having us and giving us great accomodations. Thanks Cara!

On the 1200 mile trip home, Tommie, Jamie, and the interns took a moment to check out the 1000 islands observatory. You can see the US and Canada. Here is shot of the parking lot from the tower (400' high!) Tommie's rig is in the middle.

Here is a cool shot of Tommie's rig from 400' up! They drove to PA for an overnight stop at Carousel Farms and then continued home the next day. Tommie also picked up 2 Gypsy Vanner horses from El Brio Vanner Horses in PA. They will be doubling the main horse on an upcoming movie Tommie is working on. They are such beautiful horses. They are a lot of work with the training and care, but well worth it. I would love to have a matched pair to perfrom with.
Well, time to get back to work. I'll keep you posted on what's going on here.
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie at Skydive Chicago

2009-06-23T15:19:00.000-04:00

Just got a photo of Tommie when he's NOT riding or training horses. To train for stunts and to get his mind off horses, Tommie will grab his rig, jump in his truck and head to Skydive Chicago to get in a days worth of jumps. When Tommie returned from the movie set in New Orleans, he headed to the jump zone with 2 of the interns and our nephew, Gary. He says it a great way to get yourself in control. You make the decision to jump out, you make the decision to open your chute and you make the decisions to land safely. You can't take any jump lightly and you must be prepared for the bad things to happen. He says it's even safer than training horses. He said he loves to jump with the interns for their first time. It really gives them a "rush" of life and the adrenalin levels get maxxed! It gives them a wake up call on life.
Here is Tommie under canopy in a blue sky at Skydive Chicago.
Ride Fast... Take Chances!
karen

Lots happening here at Turvey Horsemanship

2009-06-19T14:48:00.003-04:00

Well, we've got a lot going on. Tommie got back from New Orleans just in time for us to plan a show for our facility here at Double G on July 3. We'll have our good friends and PRCA clown and barrelman, Brad "Wild" Hair and Hollywood stuntmen Michael Ortiz and Blake Pocquette here to perform in the show as well as Tommie, the interns, and me. For the interns, we got a great bunch this summer. Here is a photo of Tommie, Lori, Me and the intern crew.

We also have a barrel clinic this weekend with Marlene (Edelman) McRea. She's won everything from the WNFR to Olympic Gold. It's awesome to see someone of her caliber here teaching people from 9 to 70 yrs of age and all levels of competition. Here is a photo of her and her students talking about bits and how they pertain to barrels. She is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. I bet that anyone in her clinic will drastically improve their times at the next barrel show.

We also have the Family Big Top Circus set up on our property. They will be doing shows Fri,Sat, Sun at 5:00pm and 7:30pm. They have many talented kids and performers in the show. They also have pony rides, petting zoo, and quite a few cool animals for the kids to see like a camel, mini horses, llama, donkey, and percheron horses. Bring the kids it will be a great time! I can't wait to see the show. I think we'll be able to catch it Sunday night once we get Tommie on the road to Cook Forest trail ride in PA and the barrel clinic finished up. The weather is great too. It's just getting warmed up and time to start up the AC units.... Here's a photo of the Big Top. "When I say Big Top... you say... CIRCUS... BIG TOP... CIRCUS."

I guess only circus folk would understand that one. It's a Soul Circus thing. Did I mention Cavalia is coming to Chicago? If you haven't seen it and you love horses, you'll love it.

Well, gotta run. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

More movie set photos

2009-06-13T13:42:00.006-04:00

Here's a photo of the bad guys... They are all costumed up in the 90 degree heat! It's Michael Ortiz (left), Tommie on his horse Blade & then my dad -Tommie Sr, Jason Rodriguiz, Kristien Kery, and Scout Hendrickson. They look very "cartoon-esque".

Here is Tommie and our nephew, Gary. Gary got to spend time on the set with his uncle and grandfather. As you can see, it was pretty hot in New Orleans... especially wearing the costumes they had to wear! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie to be featured at Chincoteague pony swim!

2009-06-08T13:45:00.008-04:00

Tommie will be working with the horses & ponies and getting involved in the festivities. It is going to be an amazing event. Come and join Tommie and the ponies for an incredible time. Experience first-hand the respect and understanding Tommie has with horses. I'll keep you posted on the events, times, and schedule once they get set. This is open to the public and you'll get to see the magic unfold!

INFO:
Chincoteague Wild Pony Swim - Annual event that brings thousands of spectators who travel from all over the world to see the Virginia herd of approx. 150 Assateague Ponies swim across the Assateague Channel. Usually held on the last Wednesday in July.
Date & Time: July 29, 2009 (On slack tide between 7AM-1PM) Wild Pony Auction - One of the highlighting events during Pony Penning. Ponies (yearlings or younger), owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co., are sold on this day. Approx. 80 foals are sold each year. Usually held on the last Thursday in July.
Date & Time: July 30, 2009 (8AM-NOON)

Tommie just finished up with "Jonah Hex" movie..

2009-06-08T12:03:00.005-04:00

Got word today that Tommie is heading back home tomorrow with Blade. They did a really extreme shot of a tent being burned down on Friday night early Saturday. It was a 10pm to 6am call time. He said it was pretty intense. Blade is doing great. Tommie said it's quite an accomplishment for this mustang to be a "movie star", when 4 years ago he was running wild in Nevada. That's pretty cool. He said Blade hit his mark everytime and fit the role of an "old west wild horse" very well. (It wasn't too much of a stretch for him!) The movie will hit in 2010. Be on the lookout for it. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Here is a photo with Mike Ortiz, Lex Geddings, and Tommie Turvey on the set of Jonah Hex.

Tommie on the set of "Jonah Hex" movie

2009-06-03T17:30:00.006-04:00

Just got off the phone with Tommie. He sent me this photo of him in full wardrobe on the train he had to jump on from horseback. He then had to undo the coupler to release the train cars. This week he'll be doubling "Billy". Not sure what he'll be doing, but I'll let you know when it happens. It was pretty cool. I can't wait to see it on the big screen. Stallone is also filming a movie there as well and he was talking with Stallone's double at the hotel. After Katrina hit it looks like they gave the movie industry a lot of incentives to film in New Orleans.

We got the script for the Odd Job Bob movie, so we're working with the horse to do the "acting" in the movie. Bob hooks up with a Paris Hilton type in the country and helps her along her clueless journey back to civilization. It's sounds like a fun script. I know the kids will like watching Bob. He's been doing awesome. We've been working with him on the follow, walk, kissing, come to, and off camera cueing. We actually have this weekend off, but the interns are starting to arrive. Looks like it is going to be a busy summer with the horses.

Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie working on movie "Jonah Hex"

2009-06-02T00:41:00.006-04:00

Just got off the phone with my brother, Tommie. He is in New Orleans doing stunts for a new movie for 2010 called "Jonah Hex". It's a comic book character from 1970's starring Josh Brolin and Megan Fox. Tommie was hired to perfrom a transfer from a horse to a moving train. He filmed it on Saturday and it went off without a hitch. Tommie has been training with Blade, his mustang, so when he was called to do this stunt he brought Blade along. To make it new and interesting Tommie did the transfers while standing on Blade. Tommie did it with wardrobe consisting of a heavy trenchcoat, pants, boots, and hood. He has been doing other stunts as well, but this one was a one a kind. He said all the stunt guys in the business are in New Orleans including Terry Leonard. I'm tring to get a few photos of Tommie and the crew. Everone's been extremely busy with this film. I would love to be there too, but I've been busy here with a clinic, show and running Double G. Here are a couple of pictures of the production. This is the beautiful Megan Fox in her costume during the filming of "Jonah Hex". Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Lots of learning and fun at the Sensory Clinic!

2009-05-29T23:45:00.000-04:00

Here is Lori with a horse we have in training, High Power. He is doing very well. He was pretty buddy sour and pushy, but Lori has worked with him over the past 45 days to get him responding and respectful. Lori worked with him to get through most of the obstacles on the first day and then got him quietly and safely through all of them on the second day. He really wants to please the rider and loves the attention.

This is Lizzy Traband and her pony, Toby. She was at our facility for the Night of Amazing Horses Show and then participated in the Sensory Clinic. She is an incredible rider and has a great relationship with Toby. Toby is not an easy pony either. He has a bit of stubborness to him. Most ponies will let kids do whatever to them. Toby has his own agenda sometimes and Lizzy will see it and doesn't let him get away with it! She has quite the training ability.

I recently hosted a Sensory clinic here at Double G with students and their horses. This is where you expose your horse to many different distractions and obstacles. It is a great way for you to understand and work your horse in a controlled environment and see what and how you and your horse will react. Most riders will have a tough time at first, but with a little coaching, confindence, and coaxing will make it through the obstacle. I see many people who say their horse won't do it, end up riding through it with a little confidence and try. Believe me, a horse can ride over a teeter board, go through a wall of barrels, or push a rolling object, it just takes a leader to let them know they are going to get through it safely and have fun doing it. There is nothing better than your horse not understanding how to cross a scary water crossing or tarp and then with correct encouragement gets over it and goes through it with no problems. You give them a rub and a happy "good boy" and they know they did good! They are always looking to the leader for praise and guidance. The sensory clinic really gets people and their horses on the right path and the confidence that they can do it!

Here is a few of the students and their horses as they work the courses. I got quite a few calls to do another clinic, so I added a new Sensory Clinic for the weekend of June 27 & 28. If you would like to come and participate and learn with your horse, contact me at karen@equineextremist.net or checkout the website at www.equineextremist.net or www.doublegarena.com.

Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

IJRA Rodeo here at Double G

2009-05-28T01:11:00.000-04:00

We host many shows here at the facility. We have a big indoor arena which seats 1800 people and an outdoor arena plus 208 stalls for horses. We just hosted the IL Jr Rodeo Association. We have been doing this the past 9 years, so we love having them here at our place. It is K-8th grade kids, so this is where the kids get started in rodeo. It's awesome and the're a great bunch of kids. This is something that needs to be supported and continued. I know that kids who are brought up with this type of responsibility and challanges grow up to have good character, hard work ethics, respect for animals and good sportsmanship.

See you next year kids! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

New Home for Apollo!

2009-05-12T20:02:00.005-04:00

When we went to perform in Murfreesboro at the AQHA Quarterfest we brought along Apollo, one of my first chariot horses, who was being picked up by his new owners. I raced him and Dakota in the chariot race on Friday to give him one last run in the spotlights. He did great! The new owner was there and saw the show. They are from Texas and will give him a wonderful home. It was truly sad to see him go, but knowing he is in a good place with caring people and a job makes us feel better. We are very selective on who we allow our horses to go to and we had many wonderful opportunities for him. Apollo is such a great horse and to see him doing so well after a couple of weeks is awesome. They said they love to ride him bareback and he has been driving the cart really well. I'm looking forward to hearing about all the awards and ribbons he will win at the shows. He is a beautiful Morgan horse who is very calm and forgiving. Kids love him! Thank you to all who responded regarding Apollo. I just wanted to share a few photos which they sent me. Thank you for giving Apollo a good home!

Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen :)

I love this photo, Apollo looks so happy! You can tell he loves to drive!

Update on Dolly

2009-05-09T14:24:00.000-04:00

Hey everybody. We just finished a show we put on last night at our facility here in Sterling, IL. It was a great night and a fantastic turnout. As I was getting ready to post an update on the show, I was sent an old photo of Tommie, me and Dolly performing at Arabian Nights in Orlando, FL. They asked about Dolly, who now lives with us and is in retirement. This is Dolly in her heyday! She now loves being in the pasture, but her latest duties include being a good buddy horse for students, plus being a good friend and mentor to the little filly we have here on the farm. At her age of 26, she is doing very well. She worked every show at Arabian nights and Tommie and I worked with her just like you see in the photos. So, to let you all know she is doing well and still being active with other horses. She's should be in the hall of fame for performing horses!
Well, I've got to get back to my Sensory clinic. I'll have photos to post in a day or so....
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Can Am, London Ontario

2009-04-25T20:51:00.004-04:00

It was a lot of fun for Tommie getting back up to London, Ontario. Paul and the crew have been working real hard and it has paid off for their Can-Am show. Tommie performed in 3 shows along with his favorite student Lizzy Traband, Gudmar Pederson's Icelandic horses, and Clay Maiers. Here is a great photo of one of the demos Tommie did with Lizzy and a volunteer.

Tommie really gets the most out of people when it comes to their horses. They come in to demos and clinics a little timid and shy or not understanding what it takes to create a bond with their horses. Most think it is magic or the horse has to be smart, well.... It takes being a leader and to think like the horse thinks. Be one step ahead and know what he is going to do. I work with more people who want the horse to like them so they don't get forceful or demand respect. It only takes time before their horse is doing whatever he/she wants and they are wondering why. Being forceful isn't mean or terrible. Do you think it hurts a horses feelings when another horse puts his ears back or kicks out? No. They are communicating and saying "hey, you listen to me", and when the leader evolves they listen to them. That's their behavior and that is what they understand. Don't think your horse will hate you if you raise your voice or a whip. They will respect you more. Like any tool, it can become abusive when it is done without provocation or without cause. I don't use spurs, but I will if it becomes necessary. I don't use my whip until it becomes necessary. We train with these tools so we can ultimately NOT use them. Our goal is to be able to ride a horse without tack, saddle, bridle, bit, whip, spurs, boots, or neck rein. Sounds impossible? It may be more difficult for some horses, but our goal is alway that. Each training step we take is towards that end. Even with my chariot horses. We work them with the goal of getting away from tack. They may drive chariots with lots of tack, but as we roundpen or ride each time with the goal to build the relationship with them and give them the freedom. It's amazing what more control you have over a horse without tack than with.

I'm putting on another Sensory course here at Double G, May 9 and 10. This clinic is designed to give the horse and rider a place to gain confidence and work on their skills together under supervision and in a safe environment. At the beginning, most attendees and their horses are skidish and resistant to some of the obstacles, but with the right mindset and leadership their horses do whatever they ask. We ride the trails through water, hills and even a train. It's very empowering for the horse and rider. Hope to see you here.

Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Having fun with the boys!

2009-04-21T23:32:00.003-04:00

Tommie had his best friend, Josh Lyons stop by this weekend on his way to Canada. They took the boy interns out in the woods for a little "paint ball" fun. Josh and Tommie teamed up to fight against the interns. (Photo is Ben, Tommie Turvey, Dennis, and Josh Lyons) It was a little wet and not much cover yet, but it was fun. They work well together and I'm glad I wasn't on the opposing team. We had the barrel series finals this weekend. It was awesome. Cal Vandermyde won the 1D title. This was the first year I did barrel shows and it was quite the learning experience. We got it straight about the 3rd weekend. I now can see how the divisions work. It gives everyone a chance to win and run, instead of just the best times. If we went on best times, then you would only get 10 people. This way the take the best time, add .5 secs and you have the next division and so on. It's good to see that it takes consistancy and you'll win. Knock a barrel, you get a no time. We had a lot of great prizes from our sponsors. Thanks to Ariat, Wahl, Montana Silversmith, Double G and M & F Accessories. We are already scheduling next years shows. Thanks to all the help and support you gave us over this hard winter! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

The report is in on Callaway Premium Horse Bedding

2009-04-18T08:26:00.005-04:00

Here is Blade, Maverick and Tommie.

Tommie makes sure his horses are well taken care of. Since October, Tommie has been testing out a new horse bedding from Callaway Farms in Rayle, GA. With their 3 sizes, Tommie and the crew have come up with the results... They love them! (The horses and I do too!) We tested them in trailers and stalls. We tested them on dirt, matts, and concrete. They do the job, are incredible fluffy and keep the horses happy and healthy. The biggest piece of mind for Tommie is knowing that Callaway does all the manufacturing of the product, from tree to bagged flake. They don't just buy the shavings or wood chips. They know exactly what is going into the bag. The Triple Crown is the favorite with 3 sizes of flakes in one bag. It's perfect for the stalls we keep them in at our facility. We used to mix 2 sizes flakes to keep it fluffy and managable, but that was a tedius process tring to get the right mix. Now we just add a bag of Triple Crown. The Sure pick is great for the trailer and for stalls. It's a medium flake with excellent absortion. The large flake, Derby Select is great for temporary stops, stalls, and when we need the trailer really fluffy. The great part too is they put 8.5 cf in a bag, so 2 bags fill a stall very nicely. They also put a convenient handle on it so you can carry 2 at a time. We have tried them all and have found that Callaway shines above them all. Tommie is also working together with them to create new ideas and keep the focus on what's best for the horse, not just for the wallet. As far as price is concerned, you might be thinking that it must be expensive. It's the same as most other brands at about $6 to $7 a bag. So, if you're thinking about horse bedding, then look at Callaway Farms in Rayle GA. They do it right. Well, gotta run the barrel show today. It should be awesome weather! Ride Fast... Take Chances!

PA Horse World Expo 2009

2009-03-21T14:14:00.003-04:00

Here is Tommie with his favorite student, Lizzy Traband. She worked her horse in the demos with Tommie. This was them having fun for the TV cameras and practicing for an upcoming demo.

Here is Tommie during an interview with a local TV station in Harrisburg PA to promote the PA Horse World Expo. He's there with Blade the Mustang and his red heeler, Maverick. They both performed in the demos. If anyone has any photos please email me, I'd love to have a copy.

Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

New Horse Hauler Rig for 2009

2009-03-17T21:00:00.006-04:00

Tommie and I have been pretty busy since 2009 started, but as the saying goes "You need to keep building!". Well, last year Tommie added a Freightliner Sport Chassis hauler to haul his trailer, but the 300hp Cat engine couldn't cut it. So, Tommie has been searching for a nice replacement and he found this really nice International with a 430hp Detriot Diesel engine. Lots more power and room! It has a full sleeper with bunks, tv and entertainment center, GPS, CB, DVD, CD, and room for 4 people very comfortably. The sport chassis was a bit smaller, but it had a lot of vibration driving down the road, this new truck is very smooth. it has full air ride cab and rear axle which means a nice ride for the people and the horses in the trailer. He had to customize to suit his needs with the ball hitch and single axle, but it is ready to go and get us down the road with a lot less hassle. The dual 240 gallon fuel tanks are a big plus too. We won't have to fuel up which means less wear on the horses. The hardest part is pulling off to a truck stop and weaving in and out to find a spot. Now, we can pull in a rest area, check them, water, hay, and keep on going. Everything we do is for the horses....

Keep on the lookout for Tommie driving your way. With the amount of travel he does, you'll probably see him on the road with his horses! Ride Fast.... Take Chances! karen

North Dakota Winter Show

2009-03-05T23:30:00.003-05:00

Here's Tommie and riding Joker bareback and bridleless during the show on Thursday Night.

Yes, I know I skipped the PA Horse World Expo on my blog. Don't worry, I'll get to it. We got to PA on Wednesday, set up our 5 horses, set up our booth, did 2 demos a day, rehearsal, shows on Friday and Saturday, signed autographs after the shows, packed it all up on Sunday, left Monday at 8am back to our facility in Illinois, got home at 10pm, unloaded the horses, slept, woke up at 7am, unpacked everything, repacked everything PLUS the chariots and gear, did office work, worked the western store, slept, woke up at 6am and left for North Dakota at 7am. We arrived here at 8pm during the truck pulls, sho we had to wait until they were done at 11pm, hit the hotel, slept, got to the barn at 8am, set our schedule for the show the 7:00pm show and took time to get caught up on phone calls. Sooo, now you know why I haven't written anything about the PA Show yet. That is basically our daily routine in a nutshell. We did the show here which was Tommie's 4 acts plus the chariots. It ran about 1 hr and was a lot of fun. The arena is narrow to race chariots, so it is really tight turns and side by side racing. I had Apollo and Dakota and Tommie raced Caesar and Spartacus. Now we are back in the hotel at 10pm. I leave for home at 7am Friday. Tommie is staying to perform at the Rodeo on Sat and Sunday. Once I get back I'll have time to answer the emails and comments. This is our first time at the North Dakota Winter Show. They have 8 ft snowbanks and its 10 degrees out, but the people here are fantastic. We love working with shows where the people are a joy to work with. The barn manager, Ben and his crew are awesome. They put panels up and made our area exactly what we needed. Thanks guys. Also, thanks to Nancy Allen for having us. Hope to see you all again next year. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Here are a few shots of Tommie and I racing the chariots. It was a narrow arena, so the turns are pretty tight. We've raced together hundreds of times, so it was a lot of fun and a great audience. They were very surprised at the ending. Thanks NDWS!

Here I went deep to the corner. I knew Tommie wasn't cutting it enough so I could pass him as he slowed to turn. Dirt was flying as we got wheel to wheel quite a few times. It is quite exhilirating driving these 800 pound chariots with 2,000 pounds of horses pulling them. Like we say, "Ride Fast... Take Chances!" karen

Another Day on the Farm

2009-02-12T11:12:00.002-05:00

Tommie drives the skidloader and unloads all 30 pallets of Callaway Horse Bedding.

I thought I'd throw in a few photos of what happens when we are not performing. There are so many things you need to do for horses which don't include riding. Tommie is unloading a truckload of 30 pallets into our barn. We give our horses the best we can. We found a very nice product with horse bedding. We now carry and use Callaway Farms Horse Bedding. We like the fact that the bags are 8.5 cf expanded and 2 bags really fill a stall. Tommie like the Triple Crown style which is a mixture of large, medium and small shavings. He used to mix bags to get a good base with the small and then put a layer of medium or large on the top to keep it comfortable and fluffy. With Callaway Triple Crown it comes all in one bag! They made it easy. The best thing is that Tommie even went to their facility in Rayle, GA to see how they make their bedding. Some people say its just wood chips, but Tommie knows better. You have to be careful what goes into it. We've found shavings made from pallets, old wood, and all types of wood that don't absorb well or the horses have a reaction to it. Many shavings companies buy the chips and then sift and pack them. Callaway starts with a pine tree to the finished product. They know exactly what they are getting from start to finish. They have an incredible commitment to providing the best possible product and have even taken in Tommie's feedback on what products and benefits they need to focus on. They even put a handle on the bag to make it easy to carry. The bags sell for $6, so its in the same ballpark as all the rest. When looking at products, Tommie takes his horses into consideration first, how the product is made or produced, does it make life easier and is it cost effective and non-wasteful. Callaway hits a home run on all of these. Now if they would only unload it for us! They pack 30 pallets in to cut down on shipping cost too. We love companies that do things right and really care about their products. Most shipping is done right away too. No waiting or backorders. Tommie said they have a football field size warehouse filled with pallets ready to ship. Well, gotta go run the chariots. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

PCB Bullriding Finals III

2009-02-09T19:28:00.004-05:00

Tommie was close to home this past weekend, with a show at the Sears Centre near Chicago. He was featured at the PCB Bullriding Finals and performed with Pokerjoe to a crowd of 10,000 people over the 2 nights. Tommie did a meet and greet and sign autographs. Special thanks to Callaway Farms Premium Horse Bedding for their support and for making it possible to meet the fans. Thanks Chris and Andy! We'll see you in Georgia.

This rodeo event is really cool since it just has bucking bulls and fast barrel racers. They had a lot of mean bulls and there were alot of hard hits and falls. The bullfighters really earn their money protecting the cowboys. They even showed a video of a bullfighter getting his arm and ribs broke a few months ago. He jumped in to save a cowboy from a bull and took a big hit that tossed him like a ragdoll. If you think bullriders have guts, think about the bullfighter. We got to meet the master bullfighter, Rob Smets too. He did the commentary right from the middle of the ring. Radical Ryan Rodrigez was the clown and barrelman. He's pretty cool. We've worked with him in San Angelo, Texas. He's got a little dog he does his act with. Tommie had the crowd in stitches with his "Riding Instructor" performances. Tommie was really impressed with Haley, who is a 5 year old barrel racer who ran a 16 sec pattern in the show. Top runs were 14's, so this little lady kept up that's for sure! She saw Tommie and said she wants to learn how to lay down her horse and she wants him to teach her, so Tommie presented her with her very own Pokerjoe Breyer model. She was very gracious and even asked for Tommie to sign it for her. You'll see this little girl around the barrel racing circuit for years to come.

This is Tommie's horse trailer parked at the back door of the show. This is to make sure the horses and Tommie have a nice place to rest near the stage entrance for the show.

Tommie always has his dogs with him as well. This is a great shot of Maverick, his Red Queensland Heeler. He is an audience favorite at expos, fairs, and horse events. He's featured in Tommie's video on "How to teach your dog to fetch a beer". http://www.fetchmeabeer.com/

I held a 4 D barrel race here at our facility on Sat and Sun. The weather was nice and we had a good turn out. Paid out a lot of nice checks with 80% payback and added money. This series runs until April, then we'll have schedule more shows over the summer, plus the series for next year as well. That was our weekend, hope yours was fun too!

Ride Fast.... Take Chances! karen

Gypsy Vanner in Training with Tommie

2009-01-30T00:17:00.000-05:00

Here is Bob, a Gypsy Vanner just started training with Tommie. This is Anna, one of our interns getting him ready for his daily training session. Bob is being trained for a movie and general tricks. We have quite a few horses coming in for training this year. We'll keep you posted on their progress. You can also check out videos on Youtube as well. Bob is a beautiful horse, he will be a sensational Liberty horse.
Gotta get some sleep. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Liberty with Joker and Ace!

2009-01-06T15:50:00.000-05:00

Here's Tommie working liberty with his horses Joker and Ace. He is riding bareback on and bridleless on Joker while directing Ace with out any type of restraint. It's quite an amazing thing to see. Most people thinks it takes a lot of training, but it really only takes patience and training in small steps and all starts in the stall. Liberty training is the art of working in harmony with your horse without any tack. Lash whips and dressage whips are used as extensions of you hand to direct them to you and around you. Once they learn your body language you can ultimately use only your hands and they will understand what you are asking. It's basically how they learn to communicate with you and know what you are saying. They want to please you and have fun doing it, but you do have to be the leader.
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everybody. Here's a photo I just took this morning of the Western Store. We have a white Christmas here AND very cold. It's just me and my husband, along with the 22 horses and 3 dogs. Time to go give the horses their Christmas carrots and clean their stalls. The wind has been blowing pretty hard, giving us lots of snow drifts, so I'll have to plow out the driveway and parking lot as well. I could barely get into the barn last night with all the drifting snow. Well, thanks again for all your support in 2008 as we get ready to make 2009 even bigger and better! We've got lots of plans to share with all of you. Keep in touch, and again.... Merry Christmas!
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Just before Christmas and all is sooooo cold.

2008-12-21T22:08:00.003-05:00

All I can say is that I'm glad to be home, but..... it is -30 below today with the windchill and -10 below without. It is tough just to stay warm! 3 mins outside and you are frozen solid. We've got all the horses inside and stalled in our heated indoor facility (45 degrees). They are really happy. Our barn manager, Lori has been getting them out in the arena and riding them with our current intern, Jen. We've been busy shipping product, setting schedules, and just getting caught up. We got our Christmas tree yesterday and put it up today. It took a day to thaw it out. We had to cancel the Barrel Show here at our facility because of the freezing rain and ice we got on Friday, Saturday was 2 inches of snow and today was sub zero weather with wind and snowdrifts. It hasn't been a fun week... My mom and my sister Kimberly went back home to Florida on Friday. I drove them to the airport and it took 90 mins instead of the usual 45 mins. The roads were glare ice. I had to go and tow Tommie's wife's Ford back to the house after it froze up. I love my Dodge. 110,000 miles and no major problems. Tomorrow will be only -20 below but it will get up to 34 by Wednesday. Time to trim the tree and get ready for a busy week before Christmas..

Pokerjoe & the new Breyer Model

2008-12-21T21:58:00.001-05:00

Here is Pokerjoe just before Tommie and him perform the "Riding Instructor" at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.

AZ Horse Festival

2008-12-16T14:27:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone. Well, I finally have a few moments to blog our recent show, because just did the Arizona Horse Festival at Westworld in Scottsdale. Three days of demos and two night time shows called "Equi-Dance". Tommie performed 5 acts in the show. I was set to do the Chariot Race, but one of my horses, Maugua had a stone bruise on his foot and I didn't want to risk him getting injured during the race. So, we came us with a new act, the Chariot versus Roman Riding act. Tommie comes out and races against Jon Wearley our chariot driver. This is at the end of the show, so the crowd is very loud and cheering for either Tommie or Jon (also know in the act as "maximus wreckamus". After the show Tommie signed photos and programs for the audience. He was there for over and hour after the show end. We also were selling the first lot of Pokerjoe Breyer models we got. We sold all 36! Tommie signed every single one. I also got the news that Cavalia is coming back to Scottsdale after touring Europe for the past 2 years. On Saturday night, Normand, the producer of Cavalia was there to give away tickets and gifts from the show. My husband and I haven't seen him since we left Cavalia after Santa Monica in 2005. He said the European tour went well and that Fred and Magali are coming back to do Scottsdale starting Feb 2009 and Montreal in April. I'm hoping to be able to see it, to see how it changed from when we conceptualized it in 2003.
Thanks to Lise Streit and her family for producing the AZ show. We are looking forward to next year and building it up to be a huge show. It has a great location and incredible facility, so make plans to come next year. http://www.festivalofhorses.com/
We left for Az last week on Tuesday at 5am from Sterling, IL. We hit really bad ice storms in IA and Kansas. We arrived in Scottsdale Thursday at 1pm, got the horses set, set up our booth and did the rehearsal. For our way home, we had to go south through Texas, since I-40 was iced over and Amarillo was below freezing! We are currently at the Pecos TX Rodeo grounds with 8 of our horses and heading for Dallas today. We'll stay overnight there where it will be in the 50's and then head for the last 900 miles home when the weather clears on Wednesday. There is ice and snow all day today through Illinois and Missouri, so we're taking it slow to make sure we don't get stuck in a storm or bad roads. We counted 52 trucks and cars off the road when we drove to AZ because of the icy roads. We were doing 25 mph most of the way to keep it safe. It was 1,800 miles to AZ and it will be 2000 to return, so we'll be home Thursday just in time to put on the Winter Barrel Series at Double G this weekend. Gotta get ready for the travel to Dallas. Thanks for those for came out to see us and the new fans of Tommie. We'll have a new website and videos coming soon. Ride Fast... Take Chances!

Agribition in Regina

2008-12-04T18:33:00.004-05:00

Here is Tommie and Pokerjoe at the Brandt Center in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. This is a 6 day event which features livestock events, vendors, CCA Finals Rodeo and lots of food! Tommie performed each day at noon to 1:00pm in the Brandt Center with his horses and dogs. We're putting together some video footage to add to youtube as we speak. It was an incredible show. Even with the cold weather, people came out to see the show. Tommie said he worked with the big horses on Mon. Tues and then with the rodeo guys from Wed through Saturday. He said the hitches were awesome with all the harness, chrome, and beautifully detailed wagons. Bill from XPress and Gerald from Flatland Belgians had incredible hitches. The Canadian Cowboy Association also held it's Finals Rodeo with 5 perfs from Wed to Saturday. Tommie was the specialty act and performed each perf as well. They had sell outs of the 8,000+ Brandt Center on 3 of the 5 perfs. Canadians really love their Rodeo. My husband said it was one of the best run shows he's ever been a part of. That says alot coming from him. It is quite an honor for Tommie and Pokerjoe to have performed at the NFR and the CCA Finals.

Here is a great shot of Tommie and Pokerjoe. Tommie just got the first Breyer model of Pokerjoe right before he left for Regina. Here he is talking about his Breyer model to the audience at Regina. It is quite a proud moment for Tommie and his horses. When he got the model of Joker in 2006 he was quite humbled. That was an accomplishment for Tommie and what he has achieved with his horses, but to have his first and most deserving horse set as a Breyer model, well.... that is all Pokerjoe. He has done everything and everything with Tommie. Everytime Tommie performs somewhere, Pokerjoe is in tow. This horse has seen it all. This Breyer Model is a tribute to Pokerjoe and what he has given to Tommie and all of us. This wasn't from just being in a movie or running 2 minute race, this was an honor from being there for Tommie since 1996. He has done everything that Tommie has asked him to do over the past 12 years and it has brought him in front of millions of people and hundreds of thousands of adoring fans. Pokerjoe has truly earned the honor of a Breyer Model Horse. I hope you guys enjoy it as well and know what it truly means to us.
Pokerjoe Breyer Model # 1539

Ride Fast.... Take Chances! karen

Great to Be Back in Florida!

2008-11-17T20:40:00.004-05:00

We just finished a big run here in Florida. Tommie started out performing at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center for the Paso Horse Federation Nationals. He performed Friday and Saturday Nights. He said it was an incredible time. The horses are the ones who do the steps on the walkway to hear their gate. It was one of the first shows he saw where the judges really take their time and effort to find the winner. Some classes took an hour or more. There were 6 judges who would put the horses through their paces to come up with the best of the best. Our good friend Richie Wingfield was there too. He works with gaited horses as we had him as a featured speaker at the Central Florida Horse Expo in Ocala this past weekend. After the Jacksonville show, which Tommie wanted to thank the Paso Horse Federation for having him there and treating him well with incredible hospitality. The Jacksonville Equestrian is growing as well. Tommie has been there 4 times in the past 5 years and it has grown into a huge top notch facility with everything you need to put on an expo or show. We are scheduled to do a show May 30th there so mark your calendars! We'll be back to put on another fun an exciting horse show.
The expo at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala was produced by mother and a partner. After the 2007 show there was a disaster, they decided it was too nice a place to not have an expo, so they put their plan into action and produced their first show there. We helped them out where we could and got them on the right track. We wanted to make sure we featured respected clinicians and awesome entertainment, so I think we did that very well. With the likes of Lynn Palm, Tommie, Matt Mclaughlin, and Richie Wingfield we had a top-notch line-up. We also added Caroline Williams who is an amazing entertainer. She is from a 7th generation circus family who has been working with horses her entire life. Add Matt Mclaughlin, who toured and was the head trainer of the Royal Lippazzaner Stallions, and is the most incredible dressage and high school rider, and Lynn Palm and you got an incredible show. John Wearley and I suited up and performed an all out chariot race. The horses were ready to run! They really let loose and gave us a great run. We like to add a bit of culture too, so our friends from the great cherokee nation, the Laughingwolf family come and do their traditional hoop and fancy dances. We even brought in our favorite rider, Lizzy Traband to perform and do clinics as well. This girl is amazing. She not only inspires you with here act, she also did a demo each day and sounded like a true professional. (She is only 10 years old) I was truly impressed. She talked about show jumping and such and was very knowledgeable. If you ever get a chance to see her, go check it out she is also You-Tube as well. http://www.lizzytraband.com/
We had lots of great vendors and exhibitions too. There were some lots of great stuff to see. The new Gulf Stream Coaches, Featherlite Coaches & Trailers and Merhow trailers were there to see and touch. It is really cool to be able to see the newest trailers, tack, fashions, and equipment at these events. Our next step is to go from a 6h LQ and a Sport Chassic truck to a Full Blown Freightliner with horse hauler and a motor coach with support trailer. This will get us down the road in comfort and peace of mind. I still drive a 2000 Dodge dually diesel that just doesn't quit, but my 6h trailer keeps getting heavier and heavier, and it's the transmission and the brakes I worry about most. On Saturday night we had a country singer who was recommended by the local radio station to come and sing before the show. We thought since it was "Shane Wooted", that it was a guy who sang to a track or a small band. Well they showed up with a full blown band! That was good, but they took an hour and 20 mins to set up, so they started at 6:30 instead of 6:00, so they played until 7:20 which set us back 20 mins from the start of our show. I also thought it was a country band, but 4 of their 8 songs were Lynyrd Skynyrd, so I guess they were a LS cover band too. I don't think they sang any country, pretty much Southern Rock. Oh, they did sing "save a horse..", so I guess that counts. Friday Night was really cool, because during the show, Tommie was performing his Liberty act and he stopped to add his second horse Ace, and as he did the space shuttle was launched and you could see the rockets light up the sky. It was cool. The timing couldn't have been better. A very memorable moment.
Our announcer was Wayne Williams. He has worked with us over the past 6 years and really knows how to work a show. It is always nice to work with people who know the business.
Well, it's late and we've been non-top since last tuesday when we got here. We hit the road back to home at 5am, so I better get some sleep. Thanks again to all of you who came and supported our Ocala show. We;re already making plans for 2009! Ride Fast... Take Chances!
karen

Dallas 11-03-08

2008-11-03T21:32:00.000-05:00

Congratulations!

2008-10-21T15:13:00.008-04:00

We just returned from a week in Las Vegas and you are probably wondering why we went. Well, of course we went for business. We're looking for opportunities to be there for the NFR and to make a deal with a hotel/casino to produce a show. We've had lots of requests to do a TV show and a live horse show like we have with "Night of Amazing Horses". We just need to find the right venue to be able to produce both. Well, that was the main reason, BUT while we were there, Tommie and his girlfriend, Karen Jones, got married!!!! My husband and I got married in Vegas in 2006 when we were in town for the NFR. It was awesome. They got married at a quaint little place, the "church of the old west" and they looked fabulous. Check out the photos below. Tommie's best man was Josh Lyons and I was the matron of honor. We had an incredible time. So, for most of you this is probably quite a surprise. Karen Jones, now "Karen Turvey", well I go by Karen Turvey-Marshall, so there could be a bit of confusion. Tommie has spent most of his life telling people that "Karen" is his sister, will now have to explain that Karen is his wife and Karen is also his sister. We stayed at the Venetian and basically went to every casino on the strip. Vegas is growing by leaps and bounds. City Center is looking like a monster. It is going to be a world on its own. Just when you think Vegas is at capacity, they build a hotel bigger than anything else. We had a great dinner at the House of Lords at the Sahara, and at Delmonico at the Venetian. Delmonico is Emeril's steakhouse. My husband's parents also came out to Vegas to see us and have a fun week as well. Ann and Roland are so much fun. It was great to spend Roland's birthday with him. He turned 75 and shows no signs of slowing down! Ann usually does slots, but when we were explaining roulette to her, a guy at the table had here place his chips and try her luck. She hit a 35-1 and then a 17-1. It was a bit hectic, but I think she got the idea of it. Well, we are now back and putting together more stuff for 2009. Tommie and Karen are really happy and things are looking great. We're looking forward to our final shows of 2008, The Central Florida Horse Expo, Paso Federation Horse Show in Jacksonville, the Regina Agribition Show and the AZ Horse Festival. They are also re-running his 2 episodes on RFD-tv on November 11 and 18. Gotta ride... Take Care. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karenTommie and Karen got married!Tommie and Karen Turvey!Here is the Chapel just as they get ready to tie the knot!Here is Jamie and I at the Palazzo fountain.Here we are arriving at the church with Jamie's mom and dad.Josh hooked Tommie and Karen up with this cool stretch Hummer. We cruised the town in style!

This is the view from our room on the 28th floor of the Venetian. (They also have a DARK OUT curtain which makes the room pitch black! I love it!!)Here is a great shot of Trump Tower. I can't wait til the casino pops up. What a beautiful blue sky! We love Vegas.

More fun with Horses!

2008-09-25T10:16:00.004-04:00

Well, we have been working a lot on production the last few weeks. Our mom is producing a Horse Expo in Ocala, called Central Florida Horse Expo. http://www.centralfloridahorseexpo.com/ We are putting together a wide variety of clinicians and entertainment for the show, November 14, 15, and 16, 2008. We will be there performing and Tommie and our dad will be putting on some fun and educational demos. It will be at the HITS Show Time Farm facility in Ocala. The same location as the now defunct and bankrupt "HorseSmart" show which Tina Calhoun put on last year. We really love the people in Ocala and it is a great horse community, perfect for a horse expo and show like this. Check out the website for the line up and more information. We are also planning and producing more instructional books and DVD's as well. We could spend an entire year of just putting Tommie's training in a book for people to learn from. We have been researching what is available and most of it makes the trainer look good, but isn't that practical for a person who wants to have a good horses. There are a lot of myths out there and we hope to bring many of them to light while helping people to truly understand their horses so they can create a great relationship and enjoy their time together. I know people who spend 5 hrs a week with their horse and it is spent training or caring for their horse. They never get to "enjoy" the time. We're hoping to change all that.

We are booking 2009 as we speak. There are so many shows, expos, rodeos, and events that we could be a part of, but only so many dates. I know we travel more than anyone in the business when it comes to where we perform. This fall we go from Florida to Saskatchewan, Canada to Florida and then to Scottsdale, AZ. That is around 10,000 miles in 6 weeks. We have a lot of experience in traveling with horses. It takes a lot of preparation and discipline to get your horses down the road safely. We put our horses safety and well being first, that's why we make sure we do certain things and keep our focus on the horses the entire time. Our stops are calculated, we always monitor temperature, weather conditions, and prepare for emergencies. There isn't one thing that Tommie does that isn't done for a reason. We'll have people ask us why we keep the halters on the horse for a long trip if they are going to be on the trailer for a long time. Our answer is that if there is an emergency and you need to get the horses off quickly, you need to have the horses prepared. If you have a horse who thrashes his head around alot, there is a great product called Equiface Saver. http://www.equifacesaver.com/ This product will help protect his head which is the most vulnerable when traveling. We are putting together a book and DVD to cover the important things you need to think about when traveling. It goes above and beyong the "make sure your tires are good and you have oil in your truck" books. We'll also share many of our on the road stories as well.

Tommie was recently in Kentucky with the Rocky Mountain horse he had trained and snapped a great photo of him and his new puppy, Cutaway.

Gotta Ride. Ride Fast.... Take Chances! karen

Wild Horse and Burro Expo

2008-08-31T22:01:00.004-04:00

I just got the chance to settle in after a full month of shows, event, driving, and preparing. First off, I want to thank Cindy and Bart Lawrence of the Wild Horse and Burro Expo in Reno. They are the producers of the show at the Reno Livestock Arena. They put on an incredible show to highlight the wonderful wild horse. There was lots to do and see. Tommie was a featured speaker along with Charles Wilhelm. There were busloads of kids and lots of interested adults. Of course, Tommie introduced everybody to Blade, his roan mustang from the BLM and all the rest of the crew including Maverick, Tommie's 3 year old red heeler. The kids loved it! Even with the 101 degree temps, it didn't keep people away. Tommie was just featured on Clinton Anderson's RFD-TV show, so we had a lot of people come to see the show because they saw Tommie on the show. For the night time show, we featured our own show "Night of Amazing Horses" with 14 amazing acts. It was a lot of fun. John Wearley and I dueled it out during the chariot race and I won again. Our trip to Reno is quite the haul. We have been documenting our trips to show how prepared you need to be and what to do to keep safe. Most books we have read on the subject only tell you what you need to do like check the tires, make sure the fuel is full, and the horses have plenty of ventilation. They never talk about the temperature, hills, bumps, how to feed, what to look for when stopped, how the horses are behaving and what to do if an emergency arises. They say to check the tire pressure, but what do you do if you get a flat? We have come up with many answers to these questions which most people need to know. The other important information is driving in different parts of the country. Driving over the Rockies is a lot different than over the plains of Nebraska. Knowing the weather forecast and how and where to stop for an overnight rest is important too. So, we're looking to put together an educational series on traveling down the road with horses. You may not ever travel the 100,000 miles a year with your horses, but you may learn a few things that may make a difference on your next trip. Our way may not be the only way, but it is the way we found is the best way for us and our horses. On the way to Reno, we spent the night on top of the hayrack on our trailer while our horses rested for the night under the beautiful Western Nebraska sky. We watched a meteor shower and falling stars and the temperature was about 50 degrees! ( In August!)

Tommie is headed to Kentucky to drop off a Rocky Mountain Horse he has been training. You can win the horse by entering a charity raffle. "Platinum Dreams" is a beautiful horse. Check her out at http://www.vanbertfarms.com/ Then, Tommie is headed to Midland Texas for a show featuring him and his best friend, Josh Lyons. If you are in Texas, you've got to so see them. They are awesome together. You'll never see a better pair of trainers who work together and are so entertaining. We are putting together the 2009 schedule as well, so get ready for a full year of us touring the US and Canada. Well, it is supposed to be a holiday tomorrow, but I'll try to up load some photos of the past month to this blog.

Gotta run. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Here is Tommie with Blade at the Reno Wild Horse and Burro Expo in Reno, Nevada. They did 3 one our demos and showed what amazing things can be done with these horses. Blade and Tommie has an incredible relationship of trust and communication. The mustang is making quite a comeback today and has been a staple of Tommie's training since he was a young boy.
Here is Tommie with the Rocky Mountain Horse Platinum Dreams at our Equestrian Center in Sterling, IL.

Here is a great shot of Tommie and Rocky Mountain Horse, Platinum Dreams. Thanks to Van Bert Farms for such wonderful horses and great photos. Larry and Vera are wonderful people and Tommie is a big supporter of Rockies and Van Bert Farms. If you are looking for a solid horse, look no further than Van Bert Farms. Great poeple and Great horses!

Awesome Cover of Tommie Turvey

2008-07-20T17:34:00.003-04:00

When we did PA Horse World Expo in Feb. there was an awesome cover of Tommie and Joker doing the hippodrome (not Roman Riding as they say in the "explanation" of the photo.) What makes it really nice is that all of Joker's feet are off the ground! At that second, Tommie is putting all his trust into Joker, and as you can see Joker is pouring it on. He is such a fast horse. Tommie buzzes the audience as he flies around the arena. People really get to feel how fast Tommie and Joker are going when he comes inches from them.

Well, gotta get back to the horses. We're going to do the obstacles and a short ride today. Cees and Sparks are headed back to their previous owners, so I thought I have a few more times with them. I'll update you when I can. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Back home and working on new projects

2008-07-18T17:43:00.005-04:00

Here is the legend himself, Bob Barnes with Tommie. This man has seen it all in rodeo and after seeing Tommie perform in Lincoln Nebraska, had to have Tommie for a series of his rodeos. Tommie was honored to work with Bob and his crew. They sure know how to run a rodeo. This next photo is the working guys of the show. Here is Tommie with the announcer, Kelly Kinney, clown & barrelman Brad "Wild" Hair, and stock man John Barnes. Tommie got a nice photo of his "boys" while the sun was setting. This was just a week ago and Cutaway has already grown a few more inches! (L to R - Maverick, Cutaway, and Bandit)
On his way back from Spooner, Tommie stopped for some good food and wings at Hooters in Janesville, WI. He did say the wings were the best he has ever had and the food was excellent as always! Thanks girls. Meow kittens.... Look who's smiling now! Here is Tommie with Ace an Joker as they smile with funnyman Brad "Wild" Hair. Looks like Brad has joined the ride fast... take chances club. If you've even seen his car act, you'll know why!
Tommie just did the PRCA Rodeo up in Spooner, WI with Barnes Rodeo. Tommie loves it because he gets to hang out with a bunch of great guys. Brad "Wild" Hair was there too and they always have lots of fun. Brad and his entourage will be stopping by our facility for a few days to layover and rest for the summer tour schedule. I've added a few photos below with Tommie and his friends. We've got a lot going on here, getting the finishing touches done on the Pokerjoe Breyer Model, more video and editing for the TV Show, and of course, the horses. We gotten most of our horses to a nice point in their training and are looking for good owners. Cees and Sparks are headed out next week. They are the awesome father/son team we got. Anyone can ride Cees, he is awesome. Tonto is our pinto mustang and then we also have two Morgans; Zeus and Apollo; I think they are 5 and are really nice horses for riding. We are training 5 Rocky Mountain horses too. They are incredible to work with. We'll have them available for sale soon. They are more than ready and way ahead of their age in trianing. Just fantastic horses! (Don't forget beautiful as well!) Anyone interested please let me know. karen@equineextremist.net Time for me to go and ride the chariots. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Thank You to Everybody!! "Night of Amazing Horses"

2008-07-08T10:32:00.000-04:00

There are so many people we need to thank for helping make "Night of Amazing Horses" such a success! We were filled to capacity and everything went really well. The Family fun day got a great response from the public with the Moon Bounce and Rock Wall/Slide, the Sinnissippi Gun Club doing the Wild West re-enactments, the wagon rides by Troy Capp, the paintball challange and the all the kids games, there was fun for everyone! The water for the dunk tank was really cold, but Katie got in it for a few dunkings! We worked really hard to make it fun and enjoyable, so we hope you got a chance to stop by and say hi.
We got a lot of behind the scenes stuff for our TV show and executed the show really well. Tommie performed in 5 acts and we also had Lizzy Traband with her Pony, Toby perform her bridleless routine, the Midwest Renegades did their exciting drill, Annette showed off her dressage and jumping skills with Trekaner stallion, Sonset Sieger, Wayne Williams and his wife, Pat did a tribute to Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, Cassie J. performed her flawless sharp shooting and vaulting routine, and our dad Tommie Sr. and Rich Brunner put on the characters of Pancho and Lefty. We love to perform and best of all it was right here in our own backyard. The show was about 1 hr:40 mins long, so people got a chance to hit the fireworks display in the area. Again, thanks to everyone who helped out and made it a successful day and to all the sponsors who helped make it possible. The community support and attendance was awesome. Now,to put put on my clinic Aug. 2-3 here at Double G. Sensory and Confidence training! More info to come or go to http://www.equineextremist.net/ for more info. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Couple More Things...

2008-06-10T20:46:00.003-04:00

Jamie found this on Bill Shatners site. http://horseshow.org/Photos.html
It's a photogallery of the past Hollywood Charity Horse Shows Bill has done.
There's photos of Tommie performing and Tommie and I with Bill and Scott Hamilton. It is so much fun to work with people like Bill and his wife, Elizabeth. We hope to be back there in Hollywood maybe in 2009?
OK, now I gotta run and cook up some vittles for the gang. Looks like lasagna tonight!
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Updates and more

2008-06-10T18:24:00.005-04:00

Well, I haven't much time lateley, but I have 2 minutes to update this and hope to fill you all in on our every busy and exciting lives with horses. I got lots of email from people regarding Tommie's new puppy. He does have a name now which was given to him by Tommie. Tommie went skydiving about 10 days ago and with over 200+ jumps under his belt had to cutaway from his chute and use his reserve for the first time. This is pretty scary, because you have to decide that A) your main chute is not opening properly b) You have to clear the chute so it can be cut away and freed from you C) you have to know that when you cut it away your spare chute had better work! Well, Tommie cut-away and pulled his reserve around 2,500 feet. It the moment they say "you have 3 seconds to make a life or death decision, carry it out, and keep your composure to the ground". Tommie did just that. So, after a few more jumps he came home as he was playing with his puppy, he said "and then I CUTAWAY..." and the pup turned and ran to him. So, he the puppy is now named "Cutaway". He answers to it now very well and he is growing like crazy. More pics of him to come. The weather has been pretty wet and yucky, so we haven't done much with the horses except for working them inside the arena. Today, Lori and I took the chariot horses out for a stroll in the sun. They loved it!

We are working on our own Night Show and Family Fun Day on July 5th here in Sterling. It started out as just us doing a show and has blossomed into a fun day with Wild West Shootouts, Motorcycle Rodeo, Chili Cookoff, and lots of fun for the kids! We are also raising money and awareness for a local therapudic riding and disabled children's groups in the area too. Halo is a great bunch of people who we are raising money for so they can go and do social functions and fieldtrips. They are our special guest during our show as well. They came and hung out with Tommie too. They are so appreciative of everything and deserve any opportuntity we can give them. WHOA is a local therapudic riding group who uses horses to help people with disabilities overcome them. I know what horses do for me and these kids have had incredible changes in their attitudes, posture, and thinking abilities. It is amazing to see what horses really can do for children. Here is a photo with Tommie and the people from HALO.

The show is Saturday night July 5th, so we hope to see everybody here! We'll have Lizzie Traband with Bridleless riding, Cassie doing mounted shooting and vaulting, and Annette on a beautiful horse that I can't wait to see. You'll also get to see Tommie's new 2 horse Liberty act. it is amazing. I am still floored by the number of people who are trying to do Liberty and they don't really understand what it is. Most haven't even trained their own horses. The only way you can get your horse to connect with you is to train it yourself. You can cue a horse, but you have to connect with it. That is what Liberty really is. If you've ever seen Tommie you will understand what real Liberty is all about. Our arena here in Sterling holds 1900 people, so we want to sell it out and put on a show like you've never seen before. You can see our new video preview of our show "Night of Amazing Horses" at http://video.yahoo.com/watch/2876808/8261525

We're also doing the show 1,800 miles from here in Reno, Nevada August 15 &16. So, if you are in the Sacramento, Reno area, please come by and see us perform during the Wild Horse and Burro Expo. Showtime is 7:00pm Reno Livestock Event Center. We did the Western States Expo last year and had a full house there, so we are hoping we will get some of them to come to Reno for a night of fun and entertainment. Tommie Turvey's "Night of Amazing Horse" performing live with his horses Pokerjoe, Joker, Ace, and Mustang Blade. You can get tickets a www.wildhorseandburroexpo.com.

Here is a great shot of Jon Wearley and I battling it out in the chariot race.

We'll be doing this and more in Sterling and Reno! I can't wait...
We are working on final details on the model of Pokerjoe for Breyer. We'll let you know when it is scheduled to come out as well. We'll also be performing at the July 2009 Breyerfest in Lexington KY at the Horsepark, so mark you calendars! I want to say thanks to Jazz and Molly. They gave us a hand in Ohio when we did the Farmpark there. It was much appreciated. We really enjoy doing the Farmpark. We do so many rodeos and expos that when we can do a scaled down, face to face horse to horse place like the Farmpark in Kirtland it is a dream. The people are so nice and the facility is top notch. Thanks again to the crew there, Bill, Sue, Beth, and Karen. What else... My 2 minutes are up. Gotta run before the sun sets.
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie and his new puppy!

2008-05-22T22:21:00.002-04:00

Tommie just returned from New York and he had a new friend with him. This is his new 8 week old Australian Blue Heeler. We have a few names for his, but nothing definite yet. He is sooooo cute. He's holding his own with other dogs as well. He's dog #5. You'll see more of him. He's destined for stardom and Hollywood...

Ride Fast... Take Chances!

Manitoba Winter Fair

2008-04-05T19:47:00.000-04:00

Tommie is up in Canada as we speak. I am in Sterling to keep this place running. He said they closed the road from Winnepeg to Brandon due to a storm, so he had to stop down with the horses for 10 hours until they plowed and opened the road. It is amazing what can happen on the road. Tommie is currently putting together a book on trailering which will not only cover the things you may need, it will the cover the decisions you may have to make. Tommie has been stranded on highways, out of gas, blown tires, no power, high heat, below zero weather, no lights on his truck and trailer, and so on. His wealth of knowledge on traveling and transporting horses is incredible. He really knows how to travel safely down the road. Most of the time it isn't what will happen, it is WHEN will it happen.
Here are some photos from the show, the Royale Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon, Manitoba. If you saw Tommie there, leave a comment and let us know what you thought.
As you can see, Tommie did lots of interviews each day of the fair. Canadian media really supports their events.

Tommie practices roman riding in the main arena in Brandon, Manitoba.

Here is a great shot which shows the relationship Tommie has with his horses. This is with Ace, an eight year old black and white Paint horse. Hope you enjoyed the show.
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

New Chariot Team

2008-03-29T19:30:00.002-04:00

I just picked up a new team of horses. Do you know how hard it is to find a matched team of horses? Matched in age, size, and color? Well, I found a pair that we will be training to drive my chariot. I really liked the white and brown, so I could match a new costume with white and leather. They need a lot of work to be cleaned up, clipped up, and training. I'll keep you posted on their progress. We are looking to debut them at our Raleigh NC show May 2nd and 3rd, 2008 at the Hunt Complex. Talk to you soon, Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie Turvey Horsemanship

2008-03-27T20:33:00.002-04:00

We have been extremely busy here at our facility. We are gearing up for clinics and shows throughout the summer and into the winter. Tommie is really excited about the clinics in PA at Carousel Farms and the PA Trail Ride. I have been trying to get all the particulars together. Tommie is busy working with Clinton Anderson and his apprentices this week. They brought their horses up here to Sterling (which is where Clinton called home before he built his new place in Belle Center) for some instruction from Tommie and vice-versa. It is amazing to see such great trainers wanting to learn more. How humbling. Clinton and his apprentices worked on the bow, laydown, and the sit-up, plus some liberty with Tommie showing the way, and then Tommie got pointers on spins and rollbacks from Clinton to use on his mustang, Blade. After the couple days of training, we had Clinton over for a nice steak dinner. He said he did miss "Rock River Provisions" butcher shop in Sterling. You can't find a fresher steak anywhere. Here is Tommie with Clinton and the girls as they go over the laydown with their horses at Double G in Sterling, Illinois.

Tommie (in black/gray coat) watches as Clinton and the girls go through the laydown with their horses.

In Memorial - Joan Knapp

2008-03-25T11:50:00.004-04:00

The world lost a wonderful woman, great-great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother. She lit up any room she was in and was as generous with her time to help out those who needed it. Anyone who was lucky enough to know Joan couldn't help but be touched by this woman. She was the most caring mother and grandmother many times over. She lived a full life of 95 years with the love of her children and their families. Most of it in the Jay, Maine area. I sit and think about what she has seen and been through; the world wars, the depression, the good times and the bad times, and how many lives she is responsible for, including mine. She was a beacon of honesty, strength, and generosity.I will never forget her for her kindness and wonderful ways and she will always be my "Memere". Today is a very sad day, but I know she is at peace at her place beside the Lord where she will still be watching over all of her family and making sure we are taken care of and protected. She will always be in our hearts and on our minds. We have lost an amazing woman, but heaven has gained a saint. We love you Memere and thank you for all you have done for your family and this world. It is a better place because of you. God Bless.
Your grandson, Jamie Marshall
Here is Joan and her children (70 years ago) in 1938 with Geraldine, Gerald, and my mom, Mary Ann.

My sis turns 21!

2008-03-24T18:56:00.000-04:00

My little sister, Kim turned 21 on March 22. We wanted to make it special for her, so we flew out to Las Vegas to party it up in style! It was her first time in Sin City, so we kept it fairly calm. We took her to see the Hoover Dam, and the old Vegas at Freemont Street and at the Tropicana with the Follies Bergere. Then, we went to see "X" at the Flamingo. (Thanks for the hookups Peter!) We hit the casinos and played roulette, blackjack, and wheel of fortune slots. We had a great run of slots at the Bellagio right before we went to the Circo for an incredible dinner. Our reservations were for 8:30pm and we were supposed to get "window" seats and when I asked the maitre d' he said we were "near" the window. The meal was absolutely fabulous. The texture and taste was amazing. BUT they did mess up my surprise for Kim. A week prior to the dinner, I ordered a special cake for Kim and was told she would be a "VIP" Guest at Circo. I would surprise her with a birthday cake and tickets to go see "O", the Cirque show. Well, the staff didn't have any clue on where the cake was and the show is starting at 10:30pm and it was 10:15pm and we still hadn't gotten the cake. So I was getting pretty upset when the manager, Damian brought out this beautiful glass centerpiece for the table, 6 special desserts for us to try, dessert wine, AND the cake I ordered for Kimberly. We really couldn't enjoy the desserts, but the manager did everything he could including walking us into "O" theatre right to our seats. After the show, we went back to Circo and got the cake and had a chance to enjoy it. It was nice to have a manager step up and make a mistake they made right. Thanks Bellagio. Thanks to Damian, we'll be back. I could discuss "O" here, but I'll save it for another time. It is probably one of the best shows I have ever seen, (Besides Cavalia!) Here are some photos from our trip.
Here is Kim and me at Freemont Street in front of the Casino. (Yes I was a blonde when I was young too.)Here is a great shot of the Bellagio as we drove up for a night of dining, gambling, and "O".

Kim not only gets her cake and tickets to "O", but every dessert the restaurant had! I love my sis!I couldn't pass up the chance to rent a new Chyrsler 300. I don't like domestic too well, but this car rocked. It has 491 miles on it when I got it and I put it to the test. It moves when you need it too and it is roomy and elegent. My husband Jamie doesn't get much face time since he is the one with the camera, directions, and has to keep us on the right track. I thought I would show him rubbing the "butt" at the Riviera for luck! Happy 21st Birthday Kimberly! karen

PA Horse World Expo 2008

2008-02-28T19:08:00.020-05:00

Here is Tommie Turvey performing with Pokerjoe in "the Riding Instructor" comedy act at the 2008 PA Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, PA. We just got back from the PA Horse World Expo and had an incredible show. First, we need to thank Bob and Denise for producing an incredible show. There is no doubt that this show is the best equine expo in the country. Where else can you see the best clincians and equine professionals, shop at the best vendor shops, and see an exciting show all under one roof! We've been to bigger shows, but this one is the best. We couldn't ask for better crowds. Everyone comes to celebrate and learn about the horse, and we hope to inspire them to do more, be more, and all in all to just have fun. Tommie had a lot of fun with his best friend and fellow trainer, Josh Lyons. They have the most entertaining demos and were always having fun. We got so many great comments from people who really enjoyed Tommie's demos. Our booth was swamped every day. Tommie signed so many autographs and Joker Breyer Horses, I think his hand was going to fall off. After the show on Saturday, Tommie got swamped in the arena by fans getting his autograph. I was getting the props put away and saw this sea of people crowding around him. He signed every program and picture until the last one was there. Here is a photo of Tommie and Josh Lyons signing autographs after the show. This year we had a friend of ours, John Laughingwolf to perform original indian dances with full costume while his sons did a traditional hoop dance. It was an awesome addition to the show. Matt McLaughlin performed flawlessly with dressage, while his horses Pecos and Corral looked great. Josh Lyons showed the crowd he can rein like the best of them. Flash hit his marks and spun and stopped on a dime. Texas trick rider, Austin Anderson, his girlfriend Pamela, and Leanne Pollick performed trick riding and mounted shooting in the style of the old west. Austin spun his six shooters like a true cowboy. They are always fun to work with. Lynn Palm and Diana Beuchert also performed with their beautiful horses as well. Our assistants, Lori and Giddy were part of the show too. They roped alongside Tommie as well as performed an act with fire bolos. We also celebrated 2 years of Lori being with our team.(Yea!) Tommie performed his fast action Roman Riding, Bridle-less riding & Liberty, comedy act with Pokerjoe, trick riding and roping, and on Friday performed a fireburn on horseback. It takes a lot of concentration and trust to perform and ride while you are on fire while riding a horse. He has performed the fireburn while roman riding, but this time he wanted to slow down the action and show how calm and trusting his mustang, Blade could be. This was the first time in front of an audience with Blade, so it took a lot of preparation, plus we got some great footage for our upcoming television show.
Well, we just want to say thanks to everyone who came to see us at the show. Your support really helps us keep doing what we're doing.Tommie did a morning tv show, several magazines, and this interview during the PA Horse World Expo.

Tommie gives a demo on his training during the expo. Here he shows the incredible relationship he has with his black and white Paint horses, Joker and Ace with Liberty and Trick Training.

Tommie showed how he has been working with two Rocky Mountain Horses. Our assistants, Lori and Giddy took them out in the arena and had them lay down very calmly. Tommie even rode by High Roller to see what he would do. They are the most willing horses I have ever worked with. These are 2 year olds with only 60 days on them. They will be up for sale soon, check our website if you interested in getting one of these wonderful horses.

During Tommie's demo in the Equine Arena (pictured above), one of Tommie's favorite students, Lizzie and her pony, Toby showed everyone how she now rides bridle-less and even jumped a fence while bridle-less and bareback!(Click here to watch her video) She is such an inspiration as she rides with only the horsehair neck rein Tommie designed. The arena was packed with standing room only as Tommie introduced his friends, horses, and even his red heeler, Maverick, who promptly fetched a soda from the cooler for a few audience members. Tim Farley, a friend of ours from our Arabian Nights days and the son of Walter Farley, who wrote "the Black Stallion" was there promoting the "Black Stallion Literacy Project". Tommie and I worked with them and toured doing shows in Texas and Arizona for kids who were inspired to read because of horses. Tommie also had a chance to talk with Dr. Anna Marie from the Weather Channel. She is also a friend from our days in Orlando as well. It was nice to see everyone and how things have evolved over the years.
All in all, we were incredibly busy, but we had time to go and visit our friends in Harrisburg after the show Saturday Night. It was nice to get away for a few hours and relax with great food and wonderful hospitality. Again, thanks to you all who have supported us through the years. Liz, Annette, Mark, Lizzie, and Hopefully we'll see you next year, discussions are in the works already for 2009. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Tommie Turvey Feb 2008 Clinic

2008-02-17T20:55:00.004-05:00

Tommie Turvey and his students successfully lay down the horses during the 5 day clinic. The participants came from PA, LA, WI, TN, IL, and MO.

We just finished up a 5 day clinic at our facility, Double G in Sterling, IL and then we had a 3 Barrels Productions, Barrel Race on Saturday, and today it rained and flooded everything. Now it is freezing and everything is a sheet of ice. Tuesday, we leave for Harrisburg, PA and the PA Horse World Expo. We also spent 4 hours today booking our Spring and Fall line of Ariat merchandise for the store. We have lots of shows this year and need to keep up with the new styles and fashions. For the PA show, we'll have a new DVD, belts, boots, cool hats, nice and warm hoodies, Joker Breyer Models, and lots more. Come see us if you are in the area.

The clinic Tommie put on was a lot of fun. Here are photos from it. Richard successfully lays down his horse using Tommie's techniques. The other students also brought their horses and worked on everything from liberty, groundwork, tricks, and riding. Each person worked on their goals as well as helping them discover new ways to work their horses. Tommie helped them gain insight on how he would work on a problem and broke it down step by step.

Cindy gets her horse up on the pedestal and communciates her actions and direction through body language and verbal cues.

Bonny's horse, Val lays down as her horse calmly relaxes under them. Her horse had been to several trainers without success, so she was very happy that Tommie was able to have her horse lie down after 2 days. Bonny said Tommie is truly a horseman who knows how to read horses and gets them to do things typical trainers can't do.

The girls have a little fun with Tommie! As you can see it's not all about learning, its about having fun, reaching goals, and learning the important things to improve your horsemanship skills.

We leave for the 900 mile trip to PA Tuesday, so I'll try to get some info and photos of the show while we are there. Talk to you soon. Ride Fast... Take Chances!

Nothing but COLD COLD COLD

2008-02-10T14:02:00.000-05:00

Oh my! It is -1 here and with the 40 mph winds it is unbearable!

Tommie and I are getting ready for the upcoming PA show and we also have a 5 day clinic here at the facility. It will be cold but our indoor facility is a nice 40 degrees. Perfect for training! We had the chariot horses, the Rocky Mountain Horses and our riding horses out to pasture and had to bring them in. It should get to -30 tonight. The horses love it outside, and we know people who will keep theirs outside, but we have a place to bring them in, so we don't make them tolerate it (which most horses will!). We bring them in and stall them inside until it gets back to 30 or higher. We've been digging out from the past 2 snow storms along with freezing rain and ice. Everything is frozen solid. I can't wait until we get a training facility in the South. We can train up here in the spring, summer and fall, but when winter comes, I want to be in Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, well, let's say anywhere it doesn't get weather like this. We are currently talking with sponsors and it looks like everything is on track for 2008 and 2009. It is so time consuming with the facility, store, merchandising, marketing, training, riding, booking, videos, website, and the horses. We are looking to add more staff and depts as we continue to grow. I just wanted to say thanks again to Claire and John at Guardian Horse Bedding. Due to the weather and backorder of bedding over the winter, we just ran out and aren't getting a load until next week. I called them up and without hesitation they got us set up with 2 pallets. I drove up the their farm in Rockford and not only did they hook us up with enough bedding to get us by unti the order arrives, they even helped load each bag on to the truck. That's just another reason we love Guardian Horse Bedding. Not only do they produce the best product, but the people are willing to go the extra mile to make it happen. Thanks for the "pin" too. Now I've got to get the facility plowed out from snow and drifts, plus get storage ready for the 14 pallets of bedding coming. We just finished post production on the dog training video. It's how to get your dog to fetch a drink from the fridge. That is the one trick that people can't believe. So, Tommie put together a video to show anyone how to do it step by step. It's really fun. Well, my to-do list is quickly getting longer so i better go while I can. Hope to see you all in Harrisburg, PA in two weeks. Keep in touch. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Here is Maverick getting a beer from the fridge. He is 2 years old and does it really well. It is usually hard to train a young dog to do complicated steps other than sit, shake, etc... He gets really excited, but he gets it. Check out our site at http://www.fetchmeabeer.com/

Maryland Horse Expo 2008

2008-01-18T23:29:00.000-05:00

Here is Tommie Turvey and Ace during a clinic at the Maryland Horse Expo 2008.

Tommie is at the Maryland Horse Expo outside of Baltimore. He is doing demos on training. They said it snowed about 5" on Thursday, but was really nice today. They sent me photos of Tommie's first demo. They'll have more on Saturday. If you are in the area, stop in and say hello. I'll post more photos when I get them. Tommie has 7am and 9am media spots on local Baltimore tv stations tomorrow, so you might see him then also. Wish I was there, but I had to stay back here to take care of the horse, farm, and western store. It is freezing here! About 15 below zero... Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Discovery Channel films show at Double G Arena

2008-01-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

The Discovery Channel film crew gets a shot of the racing chariot with the host and co-host.

This weekend was really warm. It went from 11 degrees below zero wind chill and 20" of snow to 50 degrees and lots of melting snow. It was a perfect weekend for the Discovery Network to bring its film crew and hosts of Weapon Masters to our facility for a 3 day shoot. It was awesome. They featured the archery from the battlegrounds where the soldiers would shoot from the backs of the chariots. We provided the facility, horses, drivers and chariots for the shoot. It is wonderful to be able to have a facility and the notoritety to be able to bring in national tv shows and events. Double G is the perfect place. We have plenty of resources and room to make any event a success. We have been expanding from offering horsemanship training, breed shows, speed shows, fun shows, and the like. We are always looking at new ways to bring in more exciting events. We are hoping to have the likes of Troy Crumrine (Barrels) and Larry Whitsell (Gaited) here this year for clinics as well our own with Tommie and I. If you have any ideas or want to add your event, please give me a call at Double G. 815-626-3770. Thanks again for all your support. Come check out our Western Store too. We have lots of new things that you just haveta have! I love the Cruel Girl Perfume, the Ariat Terrian Boots and the Pink Toes Shirts. Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Here is Tommie and I helping the host and camera crew get a great shot inside the chariot. Ceasar and Spartacus were the horses and they were fast!

Welcome 2008!

2008-01-01T00:25:00.000-05:00

Just had to post one more time. 2008 will be non-stop. We have a barrel show starting at 8am and then we have inventory in the Western Store for 2 days, a video shoot for the Discovery Channel on Fri/Sat/Sun, then we head to Denver for 5 days of the the WESA market to get new product and check out cool stuff for the store, then we head to Maryland for the Expo with Tommie. Upon returning, we have production scheduled for our video, so that should round out January. If you have any questions, please email me at karen@equineextremist.net. Happy New Year! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T20:30:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone. Just wanted to say Happy New Year. 2007 has been quite a year for us. Thanks for all your support and we are looking forward to seeing you all in 2008!
Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

YESTERDAY'S TOWNS: IN MEMORY OF MATT ZAMPERLA ZOPPE

2007-12-29T18:54:00.000-05:00

YESTERDAY'S TOWNS: IN MEMORY OF MATT ZAMPERLA ZOPPE

Christmas in Maine

2007-12-25T14:02:00.000-05:00

Here is Jamie and I. Merry Christmas!
This is what a white New England Christmas looks like.
Here I am refreshed and revived after a nice night at the Wentworth by the Sea.
Here is Jamie overlooking the 8" of snow that fell during our stay.

My husband and I got away for a few days and went to Maine for Christmas with his family and to have a few days away for our anniversary. We stayed at the Wentworth by the Sea and had a beautiful New England Christmas with tons of snow! We drove up to LL Bean in Freeport to get a few presents and have sushi with our niece, Joann. We met one of Jamie's best friends, Webber and his wife in Portland for drinks and hear stories of Jamie and Webber's exploits. Then we had a big Christmas with Jamie's family and all the nieces and nephews on Saturday. Lots of great food and conversation. We went skiing at Sunday River Ski resort. It was awesome. We skied all day, had a great lunch at the Shipyard Ale House and there was hardly anyone there. (With 130 trails it felt like we were alone!) We figured it would be really busy, so we got to the mountain at 7:30am. We were the first in line for tickets and gear. It was cool to go skiing with the family, Mike, Sue, Lynn, Michael, Sheila, Chris, Alex, Andy, Austin, Colleen, Danny and Katie. I just want to say thank you to Jamie's Mom and Dad for putting everything together and making it a wonderful Christmas for us. Love you and Merry Christmas.
We returned home on Christmas eve to spend Christmas with Tommie, the horses, our doggies, and the girls. (Lori and Giddy) Here is Tommie, trying to guess the present before he opens it.
Merry Christmas! karen

In Memory of Matt Zoppe

2007-12-24T21:38:00.000-05:00

I just returned from my Christmas vacation with my husbands family and was floored. On December 22, 2007 a talented performer, wonderful person and a good friend's life ended too soon. Matt Zamperla Zoppe was 5th generation circus and a true performer. We watched Matt and his brothers perform marvelously at the Circus, Cheval Theatre, Dixie Stampede and at Arabian Nights Dinner Theater. My brother and I featured the Zoppe family in a pilot we shot called "Extreme Horsemen". We brought together the most talented bareback riders under one roof. Matt and his family showed us why they are the best of the best. We experienced the magic of the Zoppe family as they practiced and performed. This is a sad day to know Matt is gone from this earth. He will be missed by everyone. Our hearts go out to Diana, his daughter Angelica, his family and friends. Below is a few pictures of Matt as we will always remember him. God Bless.

Here is Matt with his brother, Olissio.
Here is the Zoppe family performing at Arabian Nights. Here is Matt and Olissio along with Timi Loyal, Christine Drentwett, Joanne Mintel and other talented bareback riders during our "Extreme Horsemen" shoot.

Here is Matt alongside my brother, Tommie. We will miss you Matt.

Great photos of Tommie Turvey

2007-12-02T14:03:00.000-05:00

I found a bunch of photos of Tommie performing this year. I thought I would post some for you to see.

Here is my brother, Tommie jumping his roman riding team of Joker and Ace over fire at a show. He has such confidence in his horses. I'm there standing next to the jump. I'm there for safety to set the jump, light the jump, and extinguish the jump. Tommie, Joker and Ace look awesome as ever!

This is the first shot I've ever seen of Tommie during his comedy act, "the Riding Instructor", where it was taken from behind. Tommie parts the tail and enters from under Pokerjoe and in between his legs. A lot of people are amazed by Pokerjoe's quiet stance. It is just very basic horsemanship of de-sensitizing and trust, NOT of bombproofing where the horse is oblivious of what's going on. We want horses to be horses and coherent to the outside world. We want them to "spook", because when they do we want them to look to us for safety and guidance. The trust is developed when we are consistant with the training and teach them to come to us. They learn to look to us for safety instead of running off or knocking us down. We teach a lot of this in our clinics and demos.

Here's a great shot of the arena during the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento. The Saturday Night Showcase was the biggest and most attended show they had ever done. Wayne Williams announced and Jamie, my husband ran the technical aspects of our acts. Hope to find more photos for you. Until then, Ride Fast... Take Chances!
karen

Has it Been a Month?

2007-12-02T12:35:00.000-05:00

I just noticed it has been a month since my last post. Well, we have been to the AZ Horse Fest and the Ocala Equine Capital Horse Expo. It was a nice 5,200 mile round trip. The AZ Horse Fest wasa great show. Tommie said he was impressed by how well it was run. The facility, Empty Acres was a large facility with nice stalls, arenas, and layout. Tommie said they were nice "mare" stalls with soft dirt and lots of room for his horses, so they can relax. Most shows have their stalls on concrete, so we have to use 8 bags of Guardian Shavings just to make it soft, so it is nice to have a place where you know your horse is very comfortable. It addition to Tommie's 4 acts in the show, they had the Mini Horse Drill Team, David Davis and some reining demos for the night time show. For clincians they had Tommie Turvey, Craig Cameron, Jane Savoie, Kerry Huhn, and Karen Scholl. These are some of the best clinicians you'll find. They are not only knowledgable, they are all approachable. People come to these events to learn something new or gain more insight on how they can create a better relationship with their horse. It is nice to have an expo where you can talk one on one with the clincian and get feedback on your specific problem or question. Tommie loves questions from the audience. It is the reason people support and come to these events. The 80 degree weather was real nice too. The people seemed to come from all over as well. We had people from AZ, CA, NV, NM, TX,CO, MO, and OK, come by and say hi. We were very impressed and are looking forward to next year and putting on a few clinics at Empty Acres in Buckeye as well. There is nothing better than working with promoters and trainers who respect and appreciate each other.

Here is a photo of Tommie and Ace from the Ocala Equine Capitol Horse Expo taken by Steve Priest. Steve has been taking photos of Tommie for about 10 years now.
The Ocala show went very well. We set up our 40x40 tent and had our own "compound" at the Post Time Event Center. Josh and Jana Lyons were there as well. Tommie and Josh did their demos back to back, having lots of fun as well. They remind me of 2 little boys trying to out-do or make the other flub up. They are best friends and had a great time. People say it was the most entertaining demo they had ever seen at an expo. In addition to Tommie and Josh, Matt McLaughlin, Stacey Westfall, Pat and Linda Parelli, and Jimmy Driver were on hand to give really nice educational and entertaining demos. The Dinner in the Dirt was held Friday Night and was exciting as always. Tina puts the audience in the arena and we do the entire show around them. Tommie did his 4 acts, plus Lori skied behind Ceaser and Jon Wearley and I did the Chariot Race. We planned it all down to the wreck at the end. The entire show went off without a hitch. Tina bills it as "extreme" and "dangerous", but don't worry, we know exactly what we are doing. Many many years in the stunt business makes sure that you are prepared. We looked at every position and found the safest way to perform each act. We just make it look dangerous. We would never put our horses lives or other peoples lives in danger for a "show". We are entertainers, not daredevils. Thanks to Tina and Gordon who put on this event for their incredible hospitality. This is our 5th year working with Tina and we love every show we do with her. We are now back in Sterling for much needed rest from the road as we prepare for 2008. Sorry for the being so late in posting. I'll try to add to this more often, now that I'm home.We've got so much going on from the Rocky Mountain Horses, Mustangs, Chariot racing horses, and more! Clinics coming for 2008! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen

2008 Tour - Ready to Roll

2007-11-03T14:01:00.001-04:00

I wanted to thank our newest sponsors. Extend-a-Cool will be along with Tommie in 2008. We got the crew together and posed for this photo in front of Tommie's new rig for the 2008 Tour through out the US and Canada. Tommie also picked up 3 beautiful Rocky Mountain Horses from Van Bert Farms, KY to start working with. Tommie was looking for a friendly, good looking, and simply ridable horses to have for trail riding and pleasure. These Rocky Mountain Horses will be perfect for this endeavor. We'll track their progress as Tommie gets them ready for riding, liberty, and traveling. We've got lots of new and exciting things lined up for next year as well, so get ready to come by and say hi when we come to your area! Ride Fast... Take Chances! karen