A Cowgirl Collection ...

With more than 35 years of experience, Crazy Acres Farm has achieved everlasting recognition in the world of Barrel Racing and Pole Bending being awarded numerous accolades, titles, National and World Championships. "It's all about having fun, going fast and keeping the barrels up!" explains Ms. Doreen Higham, owner of Crazy Acres Farm in Poughquag, New York.

What once started as a little girl's dream has turned into a winning reality. Doreen began following her passion for horses on the back of a stout, muscular, 5 y.o., grade gelding appropriately named "Blackie" when she was just 5 years old. Neither of them knew much about horse showing and "Blackie" was just as green as his little rider but, they learned together. Doreen and "Blackie" tried all of the riding styles to discover they loved Barrel Racing. With time and experience, as a team, they got 'better and better' at the sport and started competing and winning consistently at the local gymkhanas.

As "Blackie" grew too old to compete, Doreen began training "Bulldozer", who was there to help her through the heart breaking task of saying good-bye to "Blackie" in 1995. "Blackie" was 36 years old when Doreen faced the toughest decision of her life and had to lay "Blackie" to rest due to colic.

She discovered that she could count on "Bulldozer" to help her through this difficult heartache in life. She and "Bulldozer" could compete and win just as she had done with "Blackie" years before. "Bulldozer" started running barrels like 'Blackie' did, and I was so happy with him. We just kept running and winning! He's won six Championship saddles, all kinds of money, trophy buckles, blankets, halters... just all kinds of prizes."

After their successful run at the NYNBHA Finals in 2008, "Bulldozer" brought her to qualify for a place in the Colonial National Show in Lexington, VA and the NBHA World Show in Augusta, GA. "He's the most consistent horse I've ever known. He always runs about the same and rarely knocks a barrel."

Qualifying three of her horses for the NBHA World and AQHA Congress, this cowgirl has winning to a science. Due to surgery, "Bulldozer" was not able to compete so, Doreen's youngster (at the time), "Dinky One Shot" (Tonka) had one chance to show his capabilities and winning ways at Nationals where he ran in the 1st and 2nd Open Go. He was subsequently sold and is still successfully competing with his new owner/rider.

TRS Moon Dasher, known as "Dasher" to his friends, ran in the '08 National Opens with times of 15.5 and 15.4. He first came to Crazy Acres Farm as a training horse but showed so much potential, Doreen made an offer and purchased the big sorrel gelding. Last year, 2009, "Dasher" really started coming into his own. The 2-day Delaware AQHA show earned "Dasher" his AQHA Performance ROM with 2- 1st place wins in Barrels and 2- 1st place wins in Poles. At the '09 NYNBHA Finals he ran a 15.4 and came home with a paycheck and qualified for the NBHA Nationals in Lexington, VA and the 2010 NBHA World Finals in Perry, GA. He successfully competed with Doreen's daughter, Christine "Chrissy" Ross at AQHA Congress for the first time with a 5th place honors in Youth Am. Poles and 8th in Youth Am. Barrels out of 200 entries. "Dasher" is destined to attract a broad spectrum of attention as his career continues.

Ms. Higham's intelligent and intuitive selection of individual horses encourages success and the desired capabilities of Champion performance horses. Ms. Higham likes alot of 'run' in her horse's pedigree and a cool, calm, level-headed temperament.

This cowgirl knows what it takes to have a sound, functional mount to do the job... and do it well. She trains her own horses, as well as horses for other people. She starts them as 3 year olds and doesn't start running them until they are about 5. "I'll let them lope through the patterns but, won't push them until they are old enough to understand what I want from them, which is a good run without knocking a barrel."

Only the best horses are retained by Crazy Acres Farm. The farm's expertise, excellence and reputation is well known locally offering a good selection of quality horses and ponies for sale and gaining justifiable fame. The best advice Doreen and Chrissy could share with a person just starting out is to make sure they have a good connection with their horse. "If you have a special bond with your horse he will run his heart out for you." Crazy Acres Farm is well known for matching horses and riders for recreational riding and showing.

You need some special skills to barrel race. Balance is an important one, you really need to keep your balance when running or you could throw your horse off or fall off. You also need hand skills. "And your horse needs to hear you talk to him through the whole run. When we're done, whether we did good or not, I always praise my horse." says Doreen.

When asked, "When can you start barrel racing?" Doreen simply smiles and says, "Once you have the basics down, you can start anytime you want, whether your 5 or 45, as long as you enjoy it."

Doreen has passed her love for barrel racing to her daughter, Christine "Chrissy" Ross, who has been one of the top NYNBHA Youth contestants and qualified for the '08 NBHA World Show in Augusta, GA. The reins to the Pee Wee and Novice riding program have also been passed on to Chrissy. With a super group of kids, Chrissy is enjoying teaching them all about horses. This young cowgirl has a bright future ahead of her and is surely one to watch!