Two Hats Ranch Horse Lessons, Boarding and Training

05/07/2026

05/07/2026

This weekend, two young riders who’ve crossed my path are heading to OHSET State in Redmond, and I want to send them off with a little encouragement.

Reese Hopkes, running her buckskin gelding THR ISLE BE STREAKIN (“Zoom”), qualified in Barrels, Figure 8, Two‑Man Birangle, and is an alternate in Poles. I’ve known Reese since she was tiny — I even have the video to prove it — and watching her grow into such a respectful, capable young horsewoman has been one of the bright spots of this job. The Hopkes family has supported Two Hats Ranch from the beginning, and they’ll always have a special place here.

Sophia Olsen qualified in Figure 8, Keyhole, Individual Flags, and as an alternate in Poles and Barrels. She’s a strong competitor with a lot of heart, and I’m glad to see her headed to State.

Good luck to both girls — may the runs be clean, the horses honest, and the memories worth keeping.

05/02/2026

The CEO of Two Hats Ranch and I are witnessing the completion of the Kentucky Derby roster.....while seated in the stands at the event!

At the same time, Cheri Baker is showcasing her abilities by winning the first round of the Best Of Barrels Only in Tenino, Wa on THR TEQUILA LIL TIME, also known as "Wickham".
Congratulations Cheri and Wickham!

04/26/2026

If you hear cheering from Oregon, it’s just us watching THR GOOD N PLENTY (Bingley) and Shelley Holman tear up California again.

Shelley — a respected, seasoned horsewoman with serious credentials — piloted Bingley to a 4th‑place finish in the 1D this weekend. That’s not luck. That’s a rider who knows exactly how to bring out the best in a horse, and a horse who shows up ready to work.

And because the THR family apparently decided to make 2026 their year, Bingley’s maternal half brother, THR BLACK LABEL BUZZ (Ryman), is back home getting hauled, seasoned, and tuned up for his own debut this winter. Same dam, same grit, same “watch me” attitude. Contact us if interested.

The program is speaking for itself these days.

04/21/2026

I thought she’d show up in brown Ariats like a normal, responsible, seven‑year‑old citizen of the barn.
But Evelyn said absolutely not.
She came in hot wearing pink glitter boots like she was late for a rodeo sponsored by unicorns.

Honestly?
Respect.
In a world full of brown boots, be the sparkly pink ones.

04/16/2026

Big shoutout to Cheri Baker, who stepped way outside her comfort zone at the VGBRA race and showed up like she meant it. She ran in the futurity and a whole lineup of sidepots with one of our homegrown babies, THR Tequila Lil Time—“Wickham”—and the two of them stacked up over $2,000 just on Sunday.

Wickham’s as Northwest as they come. He’s out of a buckskin mare Candice Osborne bred—DASH OF ROYAL GOLD × a LATCHETT/TINY WATCH mare, CSE Watch It Diva—a mare Two Hats Ranch purchased and raised several good ones out of. During the year our own stallion THR Buggin Da Bully was leased out, we bred her to French Streakin Jess, and Wickham is the result of that little bit of timing and luck.

Cheri also ran a granddaughter of THR Buggin Da Bully on the dam’s side—a mare who’d come off an injury just a few weeks before the race. She was healed up, but anyone who’s been around horses knows those things can still leave a shadow. Even so, she brought home enough money to help cover some expenses, and that’s a win in its own right.

The whole weekend was a stretch for Cheri—new ground, big classes, high pressure—but she hit it head‑on. The payoff wasn’t just the money; it was the confidence that comes from doing the hard thing anyway.

I’ll be honest: I kinda want to be like Cheri when I grow up… even if she’s younger than me.

04/14/2026

Huge congratulations to Two Hats Ranch’s own REESE HOPKES and her buckskin rocket, THR ISLE BE STREAKIN (“Zoom”) — by THR BUGGIN DA BULLY — for absolutely showing up and showing out at the NW District OHSET meet in McMinnville this weekend.

This team is officially STATE‑BOUND in:
• 1st in Barrels
• 3rd in Figure 8
• 6th in Polebending

Not bad for a little buckskin who grew up in our pastures and a rider who has poured her heart, grit, and hours into becoming the partner he deserves.

We are so proud of this pair — their work ethic, their attitude, and the way they represent Two Hats Ranch every time they step in the arena. Watching them grow together has been a privilege, and watching them earn their way to State is the cherry on top.

Teen equestrians prepare for state competition at NW District Meet in McMinnville >> https://www.kptv.com/2026/04/13/teen-equestrians-prepare-state-competition-nw-district-meet-mcminnville/

04/08/2026

Circling back to last week’s post, I wanted to give a little spotlight to our cute, gritty, determined group that showed up at Legacy S Arena — because four of our horses with Two Hats Ranch ties laid down 1D runs, all in the 14.90s.

THR Tequila Lil Time – 14.982
ridden by Cheri Baker

THR Smoken Byby Kiss – 14.947
ridden by Hannah Chalker

Miss Paisley Fame – 14.925
ridden by Cheri Baker

Streakin Wild – 14.971
ridden by Zoe Behrens-Martens

All four in the 14.9s — that’s something worth celebrating.

I also want to give a shout‑out to three riders who showed up with heart and grit:
Reese Hopkes on THR Isle Be Streakin

Melody Walker on THR Salt On Da Rim

Paisley Williamson on THR Hard Tabe Humble

Reese and Melody laid down clean runs, and Paisley fought through a tough one — but every one of them showed up, tried hard, and represented our little crew with pride. Not every run goes the way we hope, but the effort, the attitude, and the willingness to keep learning matter just as much.

None of us won money, but that wasn’t the win we were chasing. We had great weather, good ground, and the chance to reconnect with friends we haven’t seen in a while. That alone made it a good day.

We’re a small group, but we’re mighty — and every one of us walked away knowing exactly what we need to work on. So, we’re heading home to do just that.

We didn’t win checks, but nobody cried, nobody fell off, and all the horses loaded — I’m calling that a victory.

04/05/2026

First 1D time with STREAKIN WILD — “Phoenix.”
Two years of work, a lot of humbling moments, and one very spicy gelding later… we’re finally seeing it come together.
Bottom of the ground and he handled it like a pro.
Not perfect — still plenty to polish on both of us — but this was a big step for us.
Bred by Terry Cowen (Powell Butte, OR), and I’ve put over two years of training and every mile on him. Proud of this horse and the road ahead.

04/03/2026

I’m excited to be back at Legacy S Arena this Saturday, and even more excited to see generations of Two Hats Ranch horses showing up with the riders who believe in them.

What really fills me with pride is the number of THR‑born horses stepping into that arena:

• Cheri Baker on THR Tequila Lil Time
• Melody Walker on THR Salt On Da Rim
• Reese Hopkes on THR Isle Be Streakin
• Paisley Williamson on THR Hard Tabe Humble
• Hannah Chalker on THR Smoken Byby Kiss
• Aumi Jochim on THR MyPantiesRSmoken

Every one of these horses was born right here at Two Hats Ranch — raised, named, and started with intention.

THR Smoken Byby Kiss and THR MyPantiesRSmoken are maternal half siblings, and I’ll also have a 3‑year‑old gelding doing time‑onlys — THR Black Label Buzz, a full brother to THR Hard Tabe Humble — and he’s shaping up just as nice as his older sister.

And one more piece of the story: Miss Paisley Fame, ridden by Cheri Baker, is a granddaughter of our stallion THR Buggin Da Bully and out of THR Smoken Byby Kiss, who will be running at this race as well. Multiple generations of our program, all in one arena, all on the same day.

And yes… I named every single one of them. Maybe that makes me a little crazy, but every name carries a memory, a moment, or a piece of the story we’re building here. Seeing these horses out there — carrying our prefix, our history, and our hopes — is something I’m deeply grateful for.

Here’s to a great day, fast runs, and a whole lot of THR legacy in Scappoose.