Crooks Family, A bakers Dozen :)

Well we've had a busy spring so far. We spent a month in Feb/March at a show just outside Palm Springs, California called HITS Thermal. Then we spent the first 2 weeks of April in San Juan Capistrano, CA at a show called The Oaks. The shows had their ups and downs. Our seasoned Grand Prix mare Cassandra had some physical issues and was basically sidelined which was dissapointing, but that's part of this sport. Thankfully she's in good shape now and feels great, so fingers crossed that she will be her usual competative self in Canada next week. Our young Grand Prix mare Shakira has made great strides this year, and has come into herself in a very good way. Both Mike and I worked very hard with her this winter developing both her trust and her respect, as well as her education, and it's paying off as we had hoped it would. We both have a lot invested in this mares career (as does our owner and good friend David), and are looking forward to the rest of the competition season with her. Our youngest mare Uryadi, who is just 6 and begining her career, is showing great promise. She is very talented, brave, and careful; all the ingredients that it takes to make up a good Grand Prix horse.
The kids have all had a great spring. Kai had his first ever birthday celebration while we were at the Oaks and he LOVED it :) He was sooooo excited for presents and cake. We had lots of fun down in CA. We became members of Legoland, as well as the Living Desert Zoo. We also got to spend a couple of days at Sea World as well as at the beach. We had a great Easter egg hunt on the Grand Prix field at the Oaks for the second year in a row, which ended up being really fun. Hunter made a couple of good friends at Thermal who became his football buddies, and that carried through to the Oaks. Sophie and Kai made their leadline debuts and had a blast doing so. Holly can't wait till next year to get to do the leadlines too! Catherine and Ciara had their ponies down in CA with us, and also competed in a couple of local shows, and both have had a lot of fun, both have learned a lot, and both have had and a fair amount of success! Mike and I have had a great spring and we are all looking forward to the summer. We will spend 10 weeks on the road and have some down time in bewteen, so the summer is looking good!