*Horses
with asterisk in front of their name were purchased as Prospect Horses
directly from the track.
All photos on this Web site are copyright protected and may not be used
without written permission of the photographer.
Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. October 2006
Just to let you know, at every event I've been to, some random person recognizes Smokey from your website. We always have a great conversation, and it makes Smokey feel like a celebrity. He is getting a big head. You are becoming very well known in the eventing world because of the high quality horses you continue to sell.
Amy and Smoke Ums
Smokey clears the fence with no problems.
Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire at a combined training event - October 2006
Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. September 2006
Dressage with OTTBs!
Photo copyright Mark Walter Lehner. Go to HoofClix.com to see more photos of Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. www.HoofClix.com Thank you Mark for the use of these beautiful photos!!!
Smokey and Amy enjoy foxhunting and eventing. December 2005
Got Um Smoke Um aka "Smokey" and Amy are at college together.
Congratulations Amy on your high school graduation! We are very proud of all
your accomplishments - especially in school and with "Smokey".
Amy and Smokey are off to Tennessee Tech University this fall.
Got Um Smoke Um and mom Amy
Got Um Smoke Um (Smokey) and Amy get ready to compete in February.
Amy and Smokey at Pine Top Horse Trials.
Got Um Smoke Um and Amy get into the holiday spirit. - Christmas 2004
Got Um Smoke Um and mom Amy are ready for their first fox hunt.
Got Um Smoke Um, an off-the-track Thoroughbred at his first fox hunt. Amy
has owned Smokey for just one year. She purchased him from Bits & Bytes
Farm the first month he was off-the-track. We are very proud of the training
she has done with Smokey.
Bits & Bytes Farm's Web site has been honored with
a Golden Web Award for having an outstanding Web site. Click here to
learn more about our Web design services.
Got Um Smoke Um and his mom, Amy Macintire stopped by Bits & Bytes Farm for a visit and some training on their way home for Christmas. Amy took the opportunity to see how well Smokey's training is progressing by trying him over a few fences - four foot fences! WOW!
November 26, 2006 - Pine Top Combined Tests
Place your mouse over the image and watch "Smokey" and Amy take the jump. Click on the photo to see them continue on.
Hello Elizabeth and Barry!
I wanted to thank you guys again for such a wonderful time! I really enjoyed being part of B&B, if only for a day or two. Smokey was quite surprised when we got to Pine Top and the stalls were 12x10, he thinks we should have just stayed at B&B the whole weekend in your 12x18!
Vera Vogt gave Amy and "Smokey" a tune up for their combined training event at Pine Top. Amy and Smokey overnighted at Bits & Bytes Farm Thanksgiving week.
Elizabeth, that dressage lesson (with Vera Vogt) was so incredible. It has given me so much to think about, and this weekend we were 4th out of 12 after dressage! See, all we need is a little professional help, and we'd be unstoppable! I am going to start trailering into Franklin for dressage lessons, I think it would be worth it.
Barry, I had a handful of pretzels for breakfast this morning on the way to calculus. I really missed your fine cooking and the morning casserole. My dad and I were so full Wednesday we did not eat again until 8 PM that night!
Vera Vogt shares her expertise
with
willing student Amy McIntire
during a layover at Bits & Bytes Farm.
Smokey did great at Pine Top. Like I said, we were 4th after dressage with a 40 (in our new B&B saddle pad). We didn't get our three extensions the test calls for, but once we start getting them that'll drop into the low 30s. Stadium was okay, he pulled two rails which is quite unusual for him. It was an easy course, but many horses had problems. There was a lot of going into light and dark, and it threw the horses off I guess.
We went double clear in X country over the most difficult training course I have ever seen. It was enormous, with two triple combinations, skinnies, banks, jump into water, bank up out of water one stride to a coop, triple oxers, and more. I was not extremely confident going into it, but really talked to Smokey, and he listened. When I forget to talk to him is when he starts getting distracted and when we have our problems. He is not an extremely brave horse, but if ridden a certain way, he'll jump anything. I find when I give him confidence from the voice and seat (even if I don't feel it) he responds. Thoroughbreds are so sensitive, but that's what makes them so great!
OTTB - Got Um Smoke Um does the water jump at Pine Top. November 26, 2006
We finished fourth overall, a successful weekend I think. And I saw Amanda and Grayboo, they looked great! You can tell how much they already love each other. Grayboo and Smokey were so friendly and nuzzled each other without any hissy fits. I think Amanda's dad, Mr. Cunefare, got some good pictures of them together too. Also, I saw Grayboo do his dressage from a distance (I was at the X country course) and they looked totally in sync.
Amy
Click here photos of Amy and Smokey at Pine Top.
They are number 49.
Elizabeth's Training Notes: It is difficult to judge how you are doing without the help of a coach. Amy expressed that she was feeling frustrated because she could not find any help with her dressage. Vera Vogt, a trainer who help us at Bits & Bytes Farm, was gracious enough to come to the farm and surprise Amy with a dressage lesson. We welcome former horses/owners to stop in for a visit and training. We offer clinics from time to time. The buyers of our horses get first priority to attend. Unlike many others who sell horses, we want to stay in touch and make sure that it is a "perfect match". Congratulations Amy and Smokey! We are very proud of your accomplishments.
Click here to link to the results of Pine Top. Three former Bits & Bytes Farm horses were competing!
October 9, 2006 - Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trial in Franklin, TN
Hello Elizabeth,
Smokey did really well this weekend in his first training event. I am so proud of him, he was extremely brave and well behaved. We had a good dressage test for our first time out (at 7:30 in the morning!). We got marked down most on our free trot, the judge didn't think he stretched enough, but the real mistakes were mine. I messed up twice! I knew the test like the back if my hand, but just had a brain freeze. The first one was departing from walk at an incorrect letter, and then I had a course error. After these mistakes, we had a 42.5
He did wonderful in stadium. He was quick and had no trouble making the 325 mpm time. He had great turns and handled all the combinations fine. However, we pulled the very last rail! It was so unlucky, we didn't even hit it, but it was sitting on a flat jump cup and tottered over. The person right after us had the exact same thing happen. Unlucky.
Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire went double clear in X-country over a challenging course in Tennessee.
We went double clear in X country over a challenging course.
There was a coffin type combination early on, a chevron type fence that racked up refusals, a jump/drop into water with three parts, and a simple up/down bank coming off a half-coop. There was also a picture frame jump, and two jumps with drops on the landing side. Smokey took it all in stride, he was great. We ended up 5th, and I'm so proud of the boy! He "Smoked Um!"
Just to let you know, at every event I've been to, some random person recognizes Smokey from your web site. We always have a great conversation, and it makes Smokey feel like a celebrity. He is getting a big head. You are becoming very well known in the eventing world because of the high quality horses you continue to sell.
Thought that would interest you!
Amy and Smoke Ums
September 23, 2006
Hey Elizabeth,
Smokey just got back from a H/J Show. I don't really go for HJ, but I thought it'd be a good prep for the event, and I was meeting an eventer friend there from Nashville. Beth rode him hunter in the morning, and I rode him jumper that afternoon. He did okay in hunter, but he really has had too much dressage to do great in it. He's too much in frame. Instead of being long and low he's up under himself and powering down the arena in extended trot. Lets just say the judge wasn't feeling it! But he jumped every fence and had no rails down or refusals, and was the best looking horse there. Really. all the others looked half asleep, but I guess that's hunter for you.
Here are some pictures. None of them are super, but they give an idea of how well Smokey is doing. He jumped that 3'6" course like it was nothing. Maybe he has Prelim in him somewhere...but I'm not gonna push it!
I took him once in each 2.6 3.0 and 3.6 jumper. He won the 2.6 with the best time by 5 seconds out of about ten horses. He's so nimble that we cut off every corner in the jump off, despite the horrible footing (it rained all day). We took fourth in 3.0 with one rail down in jump off. We were one of only three people to go clear in 3.6 jumper, and took third after the jump off. It was an enormous course with several impossible turns, and square oxers, but Smokey soared over the fences. He was the smallest 3.6 jumper by about 2 hands, and everyone thought he was so "cute"!
Ikon says hi too. Beth had planned on taking him to the show, but something came up. Its good that Smokey's in such good shape, because Beth was able to ride him in the morning. He looked pretty tired by the end of the day.
Well, stay safe,
Amy and Smokey
Photo copyright Mark Walter Lehner. Go to HoofClix.com to see more photos of Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. www.HoofClix.com Thank you Mark for the use of these beautiful photos!!! August 13, 2006 at The Ark USEA Horse Trials.
August 13, 2006 - Got Um Smoke Um and Amy compete at The Ark USEA Horse Trial.
Check out the web page link for some neat pics.......I was the groom.
Photo copyright Mark Walter Lehner. Go to HoofClix.com to see more photos of Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. www.HoofClix.com Thank you Mark for the use of these beautiful photos!!! August 13, 2006 at The Ark USEA Horse Trials.
Photo copyright Mark Walter Lehner. Go to HoofClix.com to see more photos of Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. www.HoofClix.com Thank you Mark for the use of these beautiful photos!!! August 13, 2006 at The Ark USEA Horse Trials.
Photo copyright Mark Walter Lehner. Go to HoofClix.com to see more photos of Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. www.HoofClix.com Thank you Mark for the use of these beautiful photos!!! August 13, 2006 at The Ark USEA Horse Trials.
July 9, 2006
Hello Elizabeth,
I just wanted to drop a quick note and tell you we survived our first training level event. We did very well in dressage for our first time, with a 41.5. We've been working on extension really hard and it paid off.
We had a little trouble on X country, and I accidently skipped a jump. I guess the heat just got to me, because I simply forgot about it! What happened was, a friend of mine went right before me and had a horrific fall down the large Training level bank. Her horse landed on her partways and she was down for about 20 minutes. I was very nervous already, and this just shook me really badly. Also, I noticed only one training x country course went clear. It was a tough course I thought. Smokey was tired of standing around and got a bit moody. Then, all I could think about was that bank #6, so I missed fence #5 right before it, but Smokey proved all in all that he is ready for training however, which was the main point of the schooling show. I'm doing Novice the rest of the summer and then moving on up if all goes well.
Stay safe and good luck with your thousnads of horse sales. You're turning out horses like a factory! Oh, I also wanted to tell you I saw three different people at this show that knew me from Bits & Bytes! Small world! It was great to talk with them all.
I attached some pictures just for you to look at. They are not very good, but its always fun to see pictures to go with an email!
Amy
June 14, 2006 - Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Place Third at Pine Top!
Photo copyright Mark Walter Lehner. Go to HoofClix.com to see more photos of Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. www.HoofClix.com Thank you Mark for the use of these beautiful photos!!! June 10, 2006 at Pine Top Horse Trials in Thompson, Georgia.
Hey Liz,
I just wanted you to know that Smokey is doing very well. He's evented twice this summer at Novice, and has done great in dressage and gone clear in x-country both times. His stadium is wonderful, with perfect pace and striding and no rails down. He is very strong in stadium. We finished our last Event on a 38 dressage score with no other faults, coming in a close third. The event before we came in sixth, having a few time penalties in stadium. Because of uneven ground, I took it very slowly, but clear otherwise.
Photo copyright Mark Walter Lehner. Go to HoofClix.com to see more photos of Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. www.HoofClix.com
He is such a sweet boy, and so well behaved at shows. I think racing taught him how to relax in unfamiliar places, because he lays down in his stall for a nap after only a couple hours at a new barn. I've attached a few pics. We are schooling training level and moving up this July at a x-country schooling show to see how he does. I'm going to give him at least one more Novice event under his girth though, before moving up at usea events.
Well, good luck and stay safe,
Amy and Smokey
Photo copyright Mark Walter Lehner. Go to HoofClix.com to see more photos of Got Um Smoke Um and Amy Macintire. www.HoofClix.com Thank you Mark for the use of these beautiful photos!!!
March 2006
Hey Liz,
Here are a few new photos. Sorry about the large size, but I don't
have any photo editor on my computer! He is doing well, jumping 3 feet easily.
We can't go to shows though since we don't have a trailer. I know he would clean
up if we could.
Dad will have to build us some taller jump standards, these aren't enough! (I
don't think Mom will let him, she likes the fact that we can only go to 3'6).
Got Um Smoke Um and Amy
December 28, 2005
Hey Liz, just wanted to say hi. Smokey is having fun Foxhunting and trail riding at home. The weather here is so nice and warm!! Hope you had a great holiday,
Amy Smokey and Amy enjoy foxhunting and eventing. December 2005
December 19, 2005
Hey Liz,
Just wanted to let you know, we are back at Foxboro safe and sound. It is a long trip, and the horses already miss their paradise in Tennessee, but I for one am happy to be back at Foxboro for a month.
Amy
December 14, 2005
Hey Liz,
I've been really busy with exams lately! The vet came out and gave some vaccines to Smokey and Ike yesterday. He and my dad went to Vet school together and know each other! Small world.
Riding is a family affair for the Macintire family. Smokey and Amy, unmounted Beth and Ikon with Dad Jeff. I think they need to buy another horse for Beth if dad is going to steal him when Beth is home from college!
We are going back to Georgia for Christmas break, and taking the boyz with us. They will enjoy being back at Foxboro for a while, although I bet they'll miss their current barn. They LOVE it here. All it is is grassy pastures and easy living. They have more room and space then any horse needs, but they love it.
I can't wait to take him to the event this January at Pine Top. He'll do wonderfully. He is actually probaly ready to go training, but I don't want to push it. He did not do well in his last dressage or x- country, so we'll stick with novice for now. Plus, his dressage is not at Training level yet, the judge would sluaghter us!
That's all for now. If you get a break, bring some boyz down to Augusta for some good old fashioned Foxhunting! The Christmas Hunt is always a blast!
Amy
September 2005
Hey Liz,
Smokey is doing great. He misses trail riding at Foxboro,
but he has food and friends, what more could a boy ask for? I attached
some recent pics of us at the new barn. I've started jumping him
bareback sometimes when we get bored. I jumped him bareback in
his halter yesterday, he responds so well to the legs I never even
use my reins. What a good boy!
Amy jumps "Smokey" bareback. - September 2005
Amy jumps "Smokey" bareback. - September
2005
The barn didn't have many jumps, so my dad actually made them some!
Isn't that so sweet. He copied the standards from Foxboro', and
our neighbor, Hardong, helped him build them in his workshop.
They came out great, didn't they?
Amy
Hey Liz,
Smokey got his teeth done yesterday and his feet today, so he is
living large. He is so sweet and the farrier was impressed, Smokey
was so quiet. He kept reaching back though and nuzzling the farrier's
butt, so I had to tighten his lead up.
We jumped today and I couldn't believe Smokey. I had them set at
3'3', which we've been doing for two months now, and he just hopped
over them like nothing. I mean, he was slowing down and looking at
them, almost dawdling and then just skipping over without raising
even a sweat. He even trotted out of the vertical he was so relaxed,
just kind of jogged away from it like he was bored.
He's so great.
I've entered him in an Event in Nashville on the 8- 9 October.
I know he'll do well, he just hasn't jumped cross country since we
left Foxboro since they don't have any here, so I hope he'll do
okay on that. I'm trying to get Beth to write to you with updates,
on Ikon but we'll see.
Hope everything is going smoothly at your place, bye.
Amy
August 2005
Hey Liz,
Well, smokey seems to have settles in well here at Tennessee.
We just got back from a horse show yesterday, and Smokey did so
well. It was a hunter show and Smokey entered two divisions. He got
first and second in the first and was division champion! In the other
he got seconds and was runner-up champion. He was so great and didn't
hot even one rail or refuse one fence. What an awesome boy!
Amy
July 2005
Hello liz,
Everyone is doing really well. Smokey did great at his
event on July 15, with a 39 in dressage, a safe X-country courses,
and only four penalties in show jumping! I'm very proud of him, he
behaved like an angel. Here are some photos, but our camera delays
5 second so most of them are of us landing from jumps instead of
over them! lol, the first is us after our dressage test, the next
few are x-country, and of course stadium. Hope everything is going
well at B&B,
Amy
Got Um Smoke Um and Amy - July 2005
Hello Liz,
Both the boys are doing very well. Smokey and Ikon are both entered
in a show this weekend and hopefully will do great. Smokey is also
entered in a Horse Trials for next Friday/Saturday. He really enjoyed
the last one so I hope he does even better in this one. They are
so happy here and love going on long trail rides together. My sister
Beth and I love taking them out and galloping over Hunt country.
I'm trying to convince her to jump coops with me so we can get around
easier, but she doesn't jump that high...yet! Say hi to everyone
for me!
Amy
June 2005
Hey Liz, hope everything is going well with you. You are probably
so busy selling horses you don't have time to do anything else! Well,
Smokey and Ikon are both doing great. Ikon has been in training with
my sister who loves him a lot.
I set up a pretty complicated gymnastics course today for Smokey and he did wonderfully.
It had lots of bounces, one strides, and two strides in it with verticals, oxers,
and cross rails mixed throughout.
He's turned into an awesome trail horse too. Since there is something
like 70,000 acres of trails around here it took us a while to find
the perfect one. Its an old puritan road that is completely flat
and smooth. We love to get on it and just gallop as long as he
wants. The road goes on forever (to Savannah!) and is perfect for
unwinding from so much dressage and jumping. Smokey loves to gallop!
Smokey will be coming with me to Tennessee Tech University this fall. There
is a little barn there where he can live and there is a small equestrian team.
We'll really miss Foxboro, I'm convinced its the best barn in the entire country,
but hopefully we'll adjust to a new place. Hope everything is going smoothly,
if you ever have time you should come down and visit us. I bet Smokey would
love to jump for you!
May 2005
Hey Elizabeth,
Its so great to hear from you. I know you've been really busy but
hopefully things have calmed down some. Smokey and Ikon are both
doing great. Smokey has become a wonderful jumper and is the sweetest
horse on the whole farm. He is an awesome trail horse too, and has
had fun foxhunting, puppy-walking, and showing.
This coming fall I'm going to college up at Tennessee Tech and
Smokey is coming with me. There is a small equestrian team there
and and little barn that has room for Smokey. I hope he likes it
but I know it'll be hard for both of us since we've been spoiled
by Foxboro (literally the best stable I've ever seen or heard of).
The pictures I attached are of Smokey and I showing, my graduation,
and me at Disney World doing the Indiana Jones show. Smokey enjoyed
a break while we went down to Orlando for a graduation trip!
I hope you'll come down for a visit. We have a guest room
waiting and room for you two.
Amy
January 16, 2005
Hey Liz! Smokey is doing great, I think he's ready
for the event! His dressage is really improving and his jumping is great
as usual! Hope everything is going well,
Amy
January 1, 2005
Hey
liz, the success stories is great, thanks! Here are some more
pics.
Got Um Smoke Um (Smokey) and Amy get
ready to compete in February.
Smokey
was fine after the Hunt, not lame at all. I gave him Thursday off
and he got new shoes, we did dressage on Friday, and jumped today.
We went down to the large jump ring and jumped every fence perfectly,
so I raised three of them up over 36 inches. Then we jumped those.
Smokey did great. He was rocking back on his haunches, tucking those
front legs, and really getting into it. What a good boy!
I'm
definitely entering him in the Pine Top Even on Feb. 5. I can't
decide between Beginner Novice or Beginner.
Until
then I'll keep hunting him and getting him ready. Bye!
Amy
December 2004
12-29-04 Hey
liz!!
Today
was Junior day at Belle Meade Hunt and we got to wear scarlet
coats and join the staff! It was so much fun. Smokey and I rode
with Master Charles, who was a whip today. It was awesome. We
did a lot of galloping, I mean A LOT! We galloped across fields
and up and down trails, over coops, and had a two or three mile
gallop by the road. Smokey was a pro.
He
crossed all the rivers and bridges and didn't mind the hounds
at all. When we were with the hounds we were right there in the
middle of them, but Smokey didn't care. He jumped the coops with
hounds all around him. The best part is Master Charles and I
saw the coyote (we never picked up a fox, so just went after
the coyote). We were cantering up a trail and the coyote ran
by us and we yelled "tallyho".
It couldn't get through the fence on the other side of the trail,
so it started running down the path. Smokey and I were told to follow
it while he went back to get the hounds. We were right on its tail
until it turned into the woods. The hounds picked it up again but
never actually caught it (which is good).
We
trailered him home from the hunt barn, then I made sure Smokey
was totally cool and happy before I put him up. He had thrown
a front shoe, but didn't act lame or anything. I'm going to go
out tomorrow and make sure he gets a new shoe and isn't lame,
he's never galloped that hard and long before and may be sore.
So I'll cuddle with him and make sure he's ok tomorrow. Ok,
bye!
Amy
and Smokey
Smokey attended the Belle Meade Hounds Christmas fox hunt with Amy.
Is that approved head gear?
November 8, 2004
Smokey attends the Belle Meade Fox Hunt Opening hunt.
Hey
Liz! Well, opening meet was a blast! Smokey and I rode with the
hill toppers for the first hour or so, and the field for the
rest of the time. He did beautifully. He jumped all of the coops
and we did a LOT of galloping. He thought he was back at the
track! But he never ran away or got out of control. He had a
great time. He was very excited but stayed calm and listened
the whole time. He took all of those huge coops like a pro.
The
Tally ho wagons didn't even phase him. All of the wagon riders
would cheer whenever they saw a horse jump the coops, and Smokey
didn't even seem to hear them. A lot of drunk people came up
during the breaks and patted him but he was a perfect gentleman.
I'm so proud of him. He's only been hunting a few months and
is already the calmest horse out there. What a great guy!
Summer 2004
January 2004
Would you like a Web site for your business? That's how we make our
living!
Click here for
more information.
