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Kathy
Marshall
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| Kathy
started riding with us in 2005. She is a lot of fun to
have on the team and we hope she will stick with us for a long
time!!! She rides a horse called RickBob! Her
daughter also rides with us! |
| Collette
Maxwell |
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| Growing
up on a farm with 6 older, rough and tumble brothers naturally
made me an adventurous cowgirl. They put e on a horse
before I could walk!! They also gave me the hardest to
catch and most cankerous ponies to ride. They also allowed
me to breeze race horses. In spite of my brothers, I grew
up with a love for horses.
As
a grown up (some would dispute that term!) I became a
wife, mother and eventually executive vice president of a
savings & loan. Ted and my family consists of our son,
Heath and his wife Lenette and their two children, Catherine and
Benjamin, and daughter Heidi, her husband Darius and their two
daughters Karis and Elise. Heidi rode with us for a couple
of years. To my grandchildren I am known as "Gee
Gee".
I
joined the Bitterroot Mountettes in 1978, to ride and use my
horse, compete and also to relax after stressful work days.
In the 25 plus years I have held several offices, including
president, treasurer, board member, safety and skills and been
on lots of committees. This year I am the President of our
club and President of the Montana State Drill Team Association.
I
have ridden numerous, always young horses all these years and
have never missed a year riding or a performance. Some of
my favorite Mountettes horses are Twistie, Scottie, Too Much,
Drifter, Willie, Shivers, Spirit, and the last couple of years
has been Rey. The Mountettes have always been a release
and a pleasure.
Several
years ago, I "retired" from the banking business to
pursue my life long dream of raising & training horses.
My retirement is now running C-Max Stables, a minimum of 12 hour
days, 7 days a week. C- Max stables has exceeded Ted and my
expectations tenfold. Ted who also retired a couple of
years ago now has full time duties keeping up with all that goes
on year round.
Being
this busy, I thought of taking a break and not riding with the
Mountettes for a while, Even thought I'm now riding all
day, I found I missed the companionship, fun and challenge of
riding on a team. I hope to be able to be a part of the
Bitterroot Mountettes for many more years.
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Elarian
Nichols |
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| Hi.
I am Elarian, and I am starting my another year as a BRM member.
Time just flies when one is riding. Horses have been a
large part of my life since I was quite young. I was born
into an Eastern Montana ranching family and learned to ride when
I was very little. Rodeos were important during Junior
High and High School. the came college, marriage and those
darned children! Horses were relegated to farther down the
time chain. My kids (Julia and Jess)rode with the Russell
riders (a Missoula, MT based youth drill team) and participated
in 4H for several years. After showing AQHA for several
years with my daughter and after she went to MSU, I became
interested in riding with the Mountettes. That seemed like
a fun thing to do and the ladies are quite a fun (funny) bunch
of gals. In the past years I drove from Missoula to
Hamilton for practice once-twice-three a week but it was worth
it!! We recently moved to the Stevensville area, so I
won't have to drive so far for practice. I have been
riding the "Gray Appy" the past few years, but she is hopefully
going to raise a baby, so this year I am looking forward to
riding a 5 year old dun mare, Abby. My husband Rick drives
for Baxter Trucking and I stay home to take care of the horses,
dogs and cats. there are so many I don't even bother
counting. Julia and Jess are both at home--don't children
ever leave home anymore?? Julia is still into the horse
scene and Jess is employed at Triple W Equipment (John Deere
dealer) in Missoula.......... |
|
Pam Spillane |
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| I Joined the
Mountettes in 1999. That year we
traveled to Reno to compete.
What a great first year. We traveled to Calgary in 2000
and rode in the Saddle Dome for our competition. Never
having been to Canada before, it was quite a trip! I took
several years off and came back to ride in 2006 and again we
went to Reno to compete. In
2006 I rode "Dee" a sorrel overo gelding. My son
started Dee under saddle and he has taken to drill very well.
The years before that I rode "Dundee" who is pictured with me.
We had Dundee for 20 years. He took good care of me in the
drill, parades and the various rodeos we rode in.
2007 looks to be another great year with
the Mountettes, and I look forward to meeting new people in our
travels. |
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Judy
Vernier |
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Mountettes
get me on my horse. I
don’t take as much time to ride because of my busy
schedule, but I have to go to practice.
I
am riding a sorrel overo gelding named Joe who turns 12 this
year. I think he has really come to like drill team also.
We have now carried a flag for 3 years he is not a very brave
horse, so it takes a lot of urging on my part, and understanding
by my teammates, but we have had a couple of pretty successful
years.
My daughter, Valisa, is also a Mountette. It gives us time
to do something together that we both like to do - ride!
Also, since it is about a 45 minute drive to practice for us, it
gives us time to discuss drill, and a lot of other things
too.
The
things I have gained are: friendships within the team,
accomplishment when we do well, time spent with my daughter
Valisa who is also a Mountette, improving my horsemanship skills
and tons of fun!!
I'm looking forward to this years competitions, and hope to meet
a lot more horse and drill team lovers. Happy trails!
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Linda
Olbert |
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| I
am Linda Olbert. I have been a member of the Bitterroot
Mountettes for the past 28 years. So far, I am the longest
riding member with the team, and damn, most likely the oldest!
I have been riding
horses since the age of two, and after 50+ years, I think I
might be getting the hang of it! What fun to learn
something new every day. I love giving riding lessons to
adults and children and have done so for about 35 years.
My husband Glenn and
I have trained Guide Dogs For The Blind for 17 years. I
did the obedience training and socializing, and he scooped the
poop- Good deal, huh? We trained 14 dogs in the 17 year
period. We got some of the dogs back with medical problems
(Our guide dog flunkies). We retired from Guide Dogs last
year due to the need of more extensive travel to the project.
One of our "flunkies" is a black lab named "Westie".
I found a lump on her at 10 weeks old and at 12 weeks she was
diagnosed with skin cancer. Our vet removed the mass and
said that the only prognosis thy could give us was
"hope". She and I were recently certified as a
therapy team with "The Delta Society". We made
our first visit to the Hamilton hospital and did very well with
the patients. Everyone loves Westie and she gives her love
in return. Westie will be 7 years old on July 30th.
I am the head of the
Stallion Auction that we put on every year in March. It
has become our big money maker, and people from all over the
Northwest come to Montana to buy services from the many
beautiful studs we present. I am proud to be able to head
up such a successful endeavor!
This year I am
riding a 7 year old black and white Paint named
"Sparks".
My daughter Robin
Gile and I are one of the two mother-daughter pairs on our team.
Besides feeling like we are all family, some of us really are!
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