#safc spotlight

[ts4-safc]

Check out Nelson's Sparrow of High Forest from High Forest participating in last month's Beach Blitz Conformation Show!

(📷 Credits: @okayforest/tiredforest on discord)

Want to participate? Join our discord!

[occultpuppy]

Some photos I used for my handler spotlight with @ts4-safc with a special guest appearance by Princess!

[ts4-safc]

Sacred’s Dressed to Kill and rider Kelis Lind make a killer team!

(📷 Credits: @elfily/elfilies on discord)

[ts4-safc]

Did you know we allow members to host their own auctions! We have one up right now for this gorgeous sim, Jodi Lockett, made by @catsitysims. Come join us if you'd like to enter a bid or two!

[ts4-safc]

And to finish off our sledding showcase is Team Snow Patrol from Evergreen Estates! This team showed their dedication while mushing in our first-ever Mt. Komorebi Dog Derby Sled Race! 🛷🗻

(📷 Credits: @catsitysims/catsity_ on discord)

[ts4-safc]

Check out Onyx’s Calypso Night in this month’s festive conformation show! Sadie here is a 3 year old Rough Collie of Onyx Moon Kennels. We are excited to see where her career goes!

(📷 Credits: @catsitysims/catsity_ on discord)

[ts4-safc]

Look at this gorgeous Lusitano Stallion, PEC The Last Samurai. He belongs to Poseidon Equestrian Center and we cannot wait to see how his career develops!

(📷 Credits: .kitika on discord)

[ts4-safc]

Team Qanik from Moonstone Malamutes with Handler Mackenzie Campbell! This close-knit team really hit it off at their checkpoint during the first-ever Mt. Komorebi Dog Derby Sled Race! 🛷🗻

(📷 Credits: empvrea on discord)

[ts4-safc]

Team Nilak from Moonstone Malamutes with Handler Jeremiah Collins! This 5 Dog Malamute team did an excellent job at the starting line of our first-ever Mt. Komorebi Dog Derby Sled Race. 🛷🗻

(📷 Credits: empvrea on discord)

[ts4-safc]

Rider Devin Pruett with their horse 3M's North Star from Triple M Ranch participating in this month's Barrel Racing Event!

(📷 Credits: @mythicalmontie/mythicalmontie on discord) Want to participate? Join our discord!

[ts4-safc]

Did you know we have a toss and fetch league? This picture depicts Kaiser’s World Wonder on team Mania handled by Kelis Lind.

(📷 Credits: @elfily/elfilies on discord)

[ts4-safc]

Take a look at rider Lyn Sloan and her horse KrS I Got Dumped... of Kanto Stables competing in this month's show jumping event!

(📷 Credits: @zodiacsim/taylorr37 on discord)

Want to join in or even just poke around? Join our discord!

[ts4-safc]

We are loving the current photo contest entries so far. Come put yours in the mix!

(📷 Credits: @catsitysims/catsity_ on discord)

[ts4-safc]

HANDLER SPOTLIGHT - ASTRID HOBB

Welcome to the SAFC's very first interview in our new series of handler spotlights! Our very first sport goes to Astrid Hobb of Bourbon Smoke Kennels & Stables. We flew her out to our headquarters and are excited to share her with the rest of you!

Check below for her interview answers!

(👩 Credits: @occultpuppy/occultpuppy on discord)

Tell us a little bit about your program!

Well, as you may know, the Hobb family has been steeped in the agricultural history of Henford-on-Bagley for many generations-- know the best way to secure a herd of Highlands second to a strong electric fence? A great set of dogs. They are man's best friend for a reason and with the knowledge we have today, they are the ultimate working companion. At Bourbon Smoke Kennels, we are evolving the guarding instinct of our dogs; whether it be a herd of rough cattle or your family, with a BSK dog security is never a concern. First priority for my dogs is to make them excited for work--Even my pomeranian Princess has kept my farmhouse free of any menace or pest! Second, they are as healthy as the beef bulls we keep in the fields and third, they fit breed standard with great personalities which means they can go to shows and win competitions--fingers crossed. I'm the first in my family to take our furry friends in this direction but I am excited for our future victories and grateful to expand the Bourbon Smoke brand. We are also dabbling in importing as a future service and recently funded the construction of an Equestrian Center to help bring our community of horse-lovers in Henford-on-Bagley and from away closer together. We hope to host some showing events and plan to do some boarding/farrier work as well. Mr. Westbrook, my right handman, has been leading that effort but the bottom line is: Nothing is off-limits to a Hobb.

What breeds do you focus on?

Currently, I'm starting with what I know: Highland cattle and Kangal Shepherds, with potential to expand once we've been established. My great, grandfather brought home some Kangal puppies home from Simstanbul and we've been sold ever since. We've actually become great friends with the breeders there so once a year, we visit and reconnect with our distant 'family'. We only get new our new Kangals EXCLUSIVELY through them.

What is your favorite aspect of the SAFC?

SAFC has been INTEGRAL to the blossoming expansion of Bourbon Smoke Breeding. We are fiercely loyal to our supporters and their sponsorship has key to our quick expansion. With their inclusion, we've managed to network with a lot of experienced players in different groups here and it has given me a lot of great ideas and insight on how best to fill our niche here. I fully expect the SAFC to benefit from me just as much from me as I benefit from them.

If you could, what would you tell those wanting to get into the dog showing and/or horse eventing community?

The best advice I could give would to be realistic with your expectations and understand that hard work and money always get the most attention. If you're committed, take the leap, do the research, commit to the training and know it's expensive. Obviously, the better the animal, the better your chances but that won't always get you the blue ribbon. Not everyone ranks and sometimes, you straight up lose. Take it on the chin, raise your head back up and move forward--there is nothing more powerful than a competitor that won't stop fighting.