Sprinkle Pink Turn & Burn Barrel Race is for a cause that means a great deal to me. I’m always happy to get dressed up in pink and promote breast cancer awareness. I spent my warm up under a glorious sunset Friday evening remembering the blessing of my Mother in Law, who was lost to the disease way too soon nearly 20 years ago now and feeling grateful for healing and more time with the brave survivors I love. Rookie played well considering we have not entered a big barrel race in a couple years, landing us in the upper 3D in the Open and gaining 2 tenths and 2nd in the 2D for Seniors on Saturday. Thank you Jessica Cruz for the cheering, the video and the friendship. #snikaranch #trippinonfame #barrelhorses #omoksee #toughenoughtowearpink
Anniversary gifts from our horses. 😎 Over 40 Men Champion for Jerrod. Over 46 Women Reserve Champion for Tami. #snikaranch Our SR crew represented well this season! Also 4th in Men for Drew Akins 12-15 Champion for Harper (Breanna Bahm) on Gypsy 🦄 And top ten placings in individual events for Grace Biesterfeldt and Bess Baker (Betsi Wood Baker). It was the best run state show we’ve been to yet, with the best ground due to the hard work and organization of the Anaconda Saddle Club & MSCA board members. Thanks so much for a fun weekend!
I love poles!! And so does Rookie! In the 4 years we have done the MT State Omoksee this is the 3rd time we’ve managed to place Champion in Pole Bending for old ladies. (2022 we tipped a pole). It’s a fun weekend, and this run matters the most to me - sharing for the memory, because I know all too well the downs sure will come as often as the ups do! Rookie has some arthritis and has been real sore since this show last year, we’ve made some recent changes - so this is such a big win that she’s running great and, most importantly, seems to not be painful for the first time in a year! #snikaranch #polebending #omoksee #westernriding
@drew_akins #snikaranch #barrelracing #cowboys #omoksee #westernriding @carlidavisportraits #wingbarrelproductions
Can we just appreciate those muscles for a moment? He’s just waiting for the scratches under that forelock. 🩵 📸 Carli Davis Portraits #omoksee #aqhastallions #smokeycreamdunstallion #westernriding #whitehorses #snikaranch
Two month old Sasi (“Saucy”) looking cute and starting to shed a darker shade of gold and curly little mane is turning white. Such a treat for me to meet her in person yesterday! #snikaranch #palominohorse #westernriding #omoksee
Carli Davis Portraits captured some of the essence of our 4 year old AQHA Smokey Cream Dun Appendix stallion. 100% color producing, he can not throw a red colored horse. He has two beautiful dunalino foals who were born with his friendly demeanor and trainable attitude. This summer he has attended some local Omoksee’s and his pasture neighbor at the barn is a 3 time National Omoksee Champion by Front Agent - who’s whispering all his secrets to him across the fence. Follow him to see his offspring and career progress! #snikaranch #nsca #omoksee #westernriding #rodeo #horse #whitehorse #stallion
3 time National Champions Senior Men for Jerrod & Sniper! So thankful Steve Funden sold us this incredible horse 10 years ago. What a gift he is. 💙 #snikaranch #frontagent #Chipbaby
Drew Akins and Tazer at NSCA National O-Mok-See setting a record for Men and fastest Spur Race of all age groups with a 9.806! #snikaranch #fasthorses #omoksee #barrelracinghorse #westerngaming #desirio #cowboys
2 precious ragdoll babies looking for new couches end of June. #fancycats #catsofinstagram #snikaranch @magazine_of_animals
Justice went to town again last weekend and ended the day Reserve High Point! He behaved like a gentleman, listened great and tried hard. No expectation on our part for him to be competitive at 4 years old, but he said, “put me in coach”! #slickjustice #smokeycreamdunstallion #aqhabarrelhorse #aqhastallion #omoksee #snikaranch
Meet Tazer, in 2022 he broke the National Record for Speed. Isn’t he the most handsome horse? If you are ever in Victor, Montana, you can check out the @snikaranch owned by @tami.akins and meet him! He was so much fun to paint! #watercolor #watercolorart #watercolorhorse #horseart #snikaranch #montana #ranchliving #horsechampion
Riot & Ashley Hampa - ride #14. I could not possibly be more pleased. 🤗 I’m super impressed with Riot’s heart and brains. I highly recommend Ashley to start a colt or tune one up. #snikaranch
Didn’t get what you REALLY wanted for Valentine’s Day?? This guy will make it up to you. 😽 He loves to snuggle and purr. ❣️ PM for info. Currently in Montana. Can deliver to Snohomish WA area when ready to go in a couple weeks. #snikaranch #ragdollkitten #FancyCats
I won’t post everyday (I promise) but it was pretty cool to see Ashley loping Riot around on ride #2 like it was ride #10. Ashley even had control in a rope halter getting her to follow her nose with the softest pressure and decently understanding a “whoa”. Riot’s stall faces into the arena, she can go out in the field but if there’s a rider in the arena she always chooses to watch. I’ve long believed horses learn a lot from watching and she’s proving my theory again. I’ve felt she’s been ready and impatiently waiting for it to be her turn for awhile now and she’s proving it. Imprinting, handling from birth and doing groundwork makes this “big deal” transition to riding not such an ordeal for a young horse. Having a brave, gentle and confident colt starter is also a crucial component. I missed getting her bucks on video - they happened - but didn’t phase Ashley in the least, she just said, “well, get it out then. I know it feels awkward”, and then off they went. ❤️😇 #snikaranch #budthestudbaby
A big Thank You to Zach & Mackenna for turning my vision into reality for a Christmas gift for Drew. ❤️Buckles Drew has won on Tazer held by the shoes he was wearing when he broke the Arena Race record at Nationals in July. #snikaranch #desirio #highdesire #fasthorses
I will meet you every morning And I’ll greet you every evening I’ll seek you in the barn or in the field To your gentle direction I will yield Cast aside all your doubts and fears My mane is there to catch your tears Together we will blaze a trail I promise you we will not fail When our race has been run All I know is that it was fun In the arena or on the track Running with you upon my back #nationalhorseday #snikaranch #desirio #barrelracing
The sun and the moon were competing for their grand entrance today. #snikaranch #montanasky #montanawinters #sunrise #sunset
For anyone who thinks the horsemanship of our boys was something they didn’t work on/for I present this throwback photo to when they were 6 & 4. These two mares, Lucy and Beauty cost $2000 or less each & were merely rideable, certainly not “fancy broke”. No papers on Beauty and nothing famous on Lucy’s. They were just nice horses. Pretty and kind. We put a lot of time on them and they were patient with us while we all were learning. There is no substitute for time and patience. In horsemanship. In parenting/childhood. I am reminding myself how time and patience never lose their importance in so many aspects of life. I once read an article that said “always breed up” and over the years we have worked toward that effort. Always making the best we could out of the talent inside the horses we had. Never making a purchase, a breeding, or trade unless it moved us “up” in value with popular, proven lines. About 6 years ago I watched him run at the NFR and dreamed of owning a Slick By Design foal. Just a dream that seemed so out of reach. Now we’ve got a coming 3 year old in the barn with his name and several other very cool, popular names on her papers. What we could not afford we accomplished through time, patience and the right opportunity presenting itself. Riot isn’t started yet because I didn’t think she was ready, I thought she needed a little more time to grow. Once we get her going I will be patient, show her how I’d like her to do things and let her do things fast when she has proven she is ready. This photo is nineteen years old now. That’s crazy! If I knew then what I know now…I’d still be totally okay with taking my time and being patient. It pays off. What a rewarding journey it’s been! #snikaranch
🌻 Sunflower lovers 🌻 Looking for a way to switch up your good quality saddle pad without having to get a new one? This cover fits over your saddle pad like a fitted sheet and washes up great. I have 3 of this saddle pad cover available $30 + shipping. #snikaranch
Since Rookie has been appreciating a much needed rest I’ve been thoroughly enjoying riding (Slick Justice ) “Justice” about 5 days a week this past month. We’ve been just working on building his balance and confidence in moving forward on full circles. Thankfully getting his leads has never been an issue. And this horse just impresses me with the amount of “try” he gives every single day. He will let me know with maybe a swishy tail when what I’m asking for is difficult for him, like it would be for most 3 year old colts, but he never has one time told me “no”. Each ride I would be satisfied with 1% improvement but he always gives me much more. Tonight, during my lesson I decided to see what he thought of the actual barrel pattern. I’m very excited to say I think he likes it! 🤗 #snikaranch
Justice and I love it when past lesson clients show up to ride. 🤠 Cailyn Espinosa and her sister, CarliAnn have a nice cow bred mare in foal and are anxiously anticipating meeting what “Flirt” and Justice have made in the spring. #snikaranch #aqha #smokeycreamdun #smokeycreamdunstallion #aqhastallion #stallionsofcolor #dunstallions
“Salvatore” - Ragdoll purrfection #catsofinstagram #snikaranch #fancycats
Tonight we had the ONCE IN A LIFETIME opportunity to run head to head AGAINST EACH OTHER for Championship Poles at the Hat Trick O-Mok-See. Championship poles takes the top 16 qualifying pole bending times across all ages for the day and gives the riders the chance to come back and run off for the $ pot. Jerrod and I qualified in the top two positions and put it out there for the “nothing to lose, just go for it” final run off. Results: Jerrod 22.190 Tami 22.152 This was sponsored by Marsha Hill & All Benders. It was such a fun run and a great memory for us to share! We ride together and push each other all the time at home, it was special to ride together at an event. Our horses are very close and love to compete with each other too. I could feel Rookie’s extra excitement to run with Sniper! ❤️ Bringing home $300 between the two of us was pretty nice too! #snikaranch
We are up to something a little different today! We were excited to sponsor this event all the way over in Montana. We have two daughters that love to ride and compete. We love any opportunity to support and sponsor community events. #snikaranch #horselife #bitterrootvalley #communitysupport #bigelowgulpspokane
Modeling her swag like the boss 2 year old mare she is. 🌼 #riotbydesign #snikaranch #lazyhleather #heavenlyfirewaterbaby
Justice made his first appearance at a show today and even performed an unplanned bridle-less expo for his run home on one event, when his bridle lost a Chicago screw! So glad he “whoa’s” on a seat and verbal cue! He was a very good boy for his first outing and I think he liked it a whole lot! Loving his willingness to please and go with the flow. We are very excited about his future! #snikaranch #kgnmcjustonfire #frontagent
My memories showed these were the horses we were riding 14 years ago. Treasure the moments! Kids and horses grow up so fast! Sarge is so dark here and he is pure white now. Gypsy is the only one still with us. #snikaranch
Lesson student, Harper got to take a spin on Justice today. It’s pretty nice to trust him with a handy kid at 3 years old. Just enough green left to offer a little challenge and test their skills, but trustworthy enough to keep them safe. #snikaranch
Today was not a test run. This is our own mare, Pistol, and we used Justice’s collection to inseminate her! June 3rd will be the big day to see if she settled. 🤗 A big thanks to all the staff at Tammany Vet for working with us. #Slickjustice #Stallion #AQHAStallion #PerlinoStallion #WesternGaming #Stud #AQHA #AQHAProud #APHAStallion #Montana #HorseRacing #Horses #SnikaRanch
How do you thank a horse for eighteen years of service? Our SBR Gypsy Slick (by Slick Tation) turns 20 years old today! 🥳 She has carried my boys, myself, my lesson students and friends to the winners circle for 9 saddles and at least as many buckles. Achieved the Quick and Clean award for the WA PNW O-mok-see in 2017 and won the MT Speed Horse show last year. She has been the first horse ever ridden by so many children and the subject of many middle school Language Arts papers (I wish I had those!) she is a legend among the staff at Centennial Middle School. She birthed my heart horse and then carried my broken heart forward when I was devastated by his untimely loss. We are so blessed by our little “grade” mare with the biggest heart and the winningest record in the barn. She has influenced our breeding decisions for the past 15 years and her lineage is now incorporated in Slick Justice’s AQHA papers. If there were a Unicorn registry she would be #1. #slickjustice #snikaranch #hearthorse #barrelhorse #polebending #westerngaming
Justice is doing great under saddle and in the breeding shed. We are excited for this guy’s future! #slickjustice #snikaranch #smokeycreamdunstallion #aqha #apha
Justice is liking the barrel turns already. 🤗 He carries himself through the turn keeping his forward momentum easily. #snikaranch #kgnmcjustonfire #apha #aqhaproud #aqha #smokycream #barrelracing #barrelhorse #barrelstallion #perlinostallion
No filter, no touch up, all natural Justice looking fabulous even in his winter coat. 💎 Breeding contracts available. Justice is a 100% color producer, which means he can not genetically produce a sorrel or bay foal, only the fancy colors. He is straight and correct conformationally and a very smooth ride, with a born broke, sweet disposition. #kgnmcjustonfire #slicktation #fireonbug #judgecash #kgjusticeweexpected #frontagent #snikaranch #aqha #aqhaproud #barrelstallions #apha #smokeycreamdunstallion 📸 #carlidavisportraits
Justice collected and cooled well and has earned a break from the breeding shed. We will enjoy spending more quality time under saddle. Justice loves his arena time and seeks out praise for learning new things. 💎 Breeding contracts available. #snikaranch #kgnmcjustonfire #montanastallions #apha #aqhaproud #aqha #aqhastallion #smokeycreamdunstallion #barrelstallion #aphastallion #perlinostallion 📸 #carlidavisportraits
Collection training includes standing tied and learning patience. #Slickjustice #Stallion #AQHAStallion #PerlinoStallion #WesternGaming #kgnmcjustonfire #horsesofcolor #Stud #AQHA #AQHAProud #APHAStallion #Montana #barrelstallionsofinstagram #HorseRacing #Horses #SnikaRanch
Collection training #Slickjustice #Stallion #AQHAStallion #PerlinoStallion #WesternGaming #Stud #AQHA #AQHAProud #APHAStallion #Montana #HorseRacing #Horses #SnikaRanch
Welcome to the official Slick Justice Instagram. This will be a place to find genetic information, images, videos, & pedigree. #SlickJustice #Stallion #WesternGaming #Montana #Stud #Breeding #Horse #AQHA #AQHAProud #Ranch #SnikaRanch
Simply Spectacular. 😮 #snikaranch
Sunrise in the Bitterroot Valley #snikaranch
Rookie Fame - a 3rd generation result of our breeding decisions. Performing well at 7 years old. Time and patience proving itself. #snikaranch #trippinonfame #rookiefame
If you are riding a horse you love you have already won. #snikaranch #rookiefame 📸 Niki’s Nook Photography
Nationals 2021. #snikaranch
When you are One year old and the whole world is just waiting for your hoof prints …🐎 #riotbydesign #snikaranch #aqhaproud 📸 @carlianndavis
#slickjustice _ #redpistolannie #rookiefame #snikaranch
Gucci #snikaranch #catsofinstagram #beautifuleyeschallenge
😻 Khloe Katdashian 😻 #catsofinstagram #snikaranch
It’s always so gratifying when the horses appreciate my efforts to make them more comfortable. ☺️ #riotbydesign #snikaranch
All it takes is a couple minutes of patience..... @slickbydesignbrazil #slickbydesign #jldashtaheaven #heavenlyfirewater #snikaranch #kkperformancehorses #horsetrainer #horsetraining #coltstarting #trainingstartsatdayone
Great joy can still be found in the simple little things. 💞 #riotbydesign #snikaranch #foalsofinstagram2020
River & Riot #snikaranch #riotbydesign #foalsofinstagram2020
5 day old “Riot” likes to run! 🤗 #riotbydesign #snikaranch #heavenlyfirewater
No bridle, no problem. #snikaranch #rookiefame #trippinonfame #lookmanohands #bridlelessriding
Second verse, same as the first, colors a little different, but life could be worse 🤷♀️❤️ #snikaranch #gypsyslick #trucomet #frontagent
Took a little break to wear some shorts in the sun (& blind some birds) then spent some more time in “therapy”. Totally missing my lesson families but so very thankful for my 4 legged family. ❤️ #rookiefame #trippinonfame #snikaranch
Spent some quality time with Kerry and two of my therapists this morning. ❤️🌞 #snikaranch #slickagenttiki #frontagent #redpistolannie #dallasalley #circlemacres
Happy First Birthday to our little big guy, Justice! #slickjustice #snikaranch #kgnmcjustonfire #perlinostallion
No filter - all quarantine pretty ❤️ #trippinonfame #Rookiefame #snikaranch #roanhorse
Blue skies & blue eyes #snikaranch #slickjustice #perlinostallion #aqha
Happy Spring!! #snikaranch
All productive activities suspended until Fenty is finished with this important task #fancycats #snikaranch #catsofinstagram
“If I fits, I sits”, Fenty #snikaranch #catsofinstagram #fancycats
Such a good friend! His coat sparkles and he feels every bit as soft as he looks! ❣️ #slickjustice #snikaranch #perlinostallion
The best way to spend a snowy morning. 😻 #snikaranch #catsofinstagram #fenti
Full Heart, Full Bellies & Justice was Thankful for the lovin’ ❤️ #slickjustice #snikaranch #perlinostallion
Sometimes all it takes to be happy is to get dirty! #sbrgypsyslick #snikaranch
😻Gucci😻 #catsofinstagram #snikaranch
#slickjustice being ponied for the first time by a horse other than his Mom. Tazer tells him, “don’t try to get ahead of me - you aren’t faster”. Justice is half a year old & seems half grown already. 💪 @kg_n_mc_just_on_fire #snikaranch
My 2nd gig with Hairstorm last night at Snika Ranch #hairstorm #hairmetal #80smetal #80srock #rocknroll #80srock #superstrat #hairbands #rockmusic #hardrock #evh5150iii #evh #converseweapon #randymachomansavage #snikaranch #tributeband #gig
Today’s forecast in colt land=frustrating. 🤣But he is a smart little man. Keeping tantrums to a minimum while Mom is working. #slickjustice #kgnmcjustonfire #slickagenttiki #snikaranch