Blogging again...

I have realized that I have spent too much time and energy sharing things on Facebook and not enough time here. On Facebook my photos and experiences go into dusty photo folders. Here I have this beautiful uncluttered palette. What have I been thinking?

 My Delight

I have so much to share. My horse life is very busy right now. I am riding 4 horses (well 3 and 1/2 but that is another story) for Blue Note Arabians, as well as our three. My goal is to get at least one ride on each one every week. A huge undertaking to say the least. We are riding in a new spooky arena, and I am getting lots of chances to work on my AOF. I am grateful for this time of riding lots of horses. I am growing so fast!

I am branching out into a little dressage training, hoping to ride in a few 'Test of Choice" shows next Spring. On which horse, I don't know. I have lots of choices and lots of time!

This summer I rode Delight in a 2 day endurance ride called the Pink Flamingo.  The first day was 30 miles and the second was 25. Then I rode one of Lyn's horses, Tacki in a 25 miler this fall. I have really been bitten by the endurance bug... so much to share here about that!

Delight at the Pink Flamingo Ride 8/10

I am more inspired than ever before on this journey with horses. With the support of my friends and family I have been blossoming as a rider and horsewoman. I have even lost a little weight along the way.

Yeah. Life's good with horses in it.

.

Speedy has a new home

A chapter has been closed today. Speedy is going to a new home. He will be adored by some very lucky grandkids. His new owner plans to clean him up and present him to them this weekend with a big red bow. He already has a new purple halter. I really hope she sends me some pictures of the event!

I am confident that he is going to be a very happy boy in his new home!


Happy trails Speedy! You have come a long way and I pray that you will have a long, happy, kid filled life.

I have such mixed emotions. I will think very hard about ever buying another horse because selling them is so hard. Especially with Speedy and Spinner.

It has been quite a journey from rescue to solid citizens and kids horses. I don't regret a single bit of it. In fact, I feel like I have learned and grown as a person and as a horsewoman.

Will I do it again? Maybe someday. Gotta let this tender place heal for a while.

.

Girls and Horses

My good friend Courtney posted this video and I thought I would share it here. If you are a girl and you love horses... well... this one's for you.

Squishing Speedy and Carousel Rides

Midway carousel at Cedar Point, Sandusky Ohio

I have been riding Speedy... I know he thinks I am squishing him. It's rather fun training a horse that you actually outweigh. Nah... just kidding... I don't out weigh him... well... not by toooo much!

When I am riding him I feel like I am riding a carousel horse, except without the up and down, oh and without the wonderful calliope music. Usually at the indoor arena there is Country music in the air.

I think this carousel is in Europe

Speedy is so little and narrow, but so full of life and sparkle. I know it wouldn't do to take him on and extended ride, but for our short training rides he carries me with ease. He is a strong lil' guy!

As a kid, I loved the carousel at Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio because it had REAL horse tails. It was located at right at the entrance of the park and you could hear it's happy calliope music before you even made it through the entrance gates. I always rode it the first thing and the last thing of the day.

Can you see the real horse tail?

It was always my favorite carousel because it had REAL horse tails. I always raced to find the pony with the longest tail. When the music started and my magical horse began jumping up and down I would throw my head back and close my eyes.

I would give a lot of money for a picture of me on this carousel as a little girl

(These pictures and a link to information about the Midway Carousel at Cedar Point can be found HERE )

I even found a short vid that someone posted on YouTube of this ride:

No, I don't know any of these people!

When I was an even littler kid, I remember going to the Huron County fair and literally hyperventilating at the thought of riding the real ponies around and around in the little circle. I tried to memorize the feel of sway as I rode, and the sound of the squeaky leather saddle. I remember smelling the smell of the horse barns, and feeling the horses noses. I always tried to remember some of the horses names so that I could pick a "favorite" for when I had a horse of my own someday.

Here I am today on my carousel pony. Only a cell phone photo to share with you. It was a great ride. His neck reining is coming right along and I got a couple of really good stops on him today. He is flexing well side to side, but not at all vertically through his jaw and throatlatch. I am sure Cody never has asked him for that kind of give, I don't think he even knows how to ask. So we'll work on it. One thing at a time.

I am so thankful to have horses in my life and to have had the opportunity to rehab Speedy and Spinner. I feel like I am richer for the experience. I really hope that Speedy's dream kid shows up soon. I would love to see him shine in the show ring and on the trail again this summer.

I'm BAaaaaaAAaK!

On the day after the kids 4h fair back in July I had to leave on an emergency trip to Ohio to care for my mom... I ended up spending the whole summer there with a few quick trips back home. I didn't have much time for blogging or for spending much time with my beloved horses. My dear husband was a real hero, taking care of the business, the kids, and all of the (other) animals on the farm.

When I was in Ohio I found my new favorite tack store. It's called the Painted Cowgirl. I was able to get a really great deal on a used trail saddle. I rode Delight in it yesterday and it fits me wonderfully and seems to fit her as well. I'll be getting an expert opinion on it before I take her out on a long ride, but for now I am in love! Here is a picture from the store (taken with my cell phone):


It is so comfortable and secure feeling! If it turns out not to fit Delight well enough, I will definitely be looking for a similar saddle to replace it! When I was a kid English was my favorite way to ride and I feel like I am being pulled back to my roots. It remains to be seen if this old lady body still has the muscle and balance to ride in an English style saddle. I sure hope so!

I really missed Delight and the other horses this summer. The first thing I did (after hugs and kisses all around for my family, of course) was to go out back and greet the horses and then bury my face in Delight's mane. I am so very blessed to have horses in my life.

Here are couple of pictures from a trail ride last summer...



I hope there is time to squeeze a few more trail rides in before bad weather sets in this Fall....

How to Catch A "Wild" Horse

This is "Perfecta". She isn't really wild, but she has a a Series of Unfortunate Events in which she became basically unhandled. She learned how to outfox her owners and subsequently got the reputation of being wild, spooky and dangerous.

Perfecta is a Polish Arabian. When you meet her, you know right away why she was named "Perfect". I can imagine that her breeder took a look at her conformation and her sweet personality and said... "She's just Perfect!!"

After Perfecta was sold by her breeder, somewhere down the line she wound up in the hands of people who had 15 or so horses and starved them all. Then she was given to her next owner, "If you buy Elizabeth, I will throw in Perfecta for free." When they tried to load Perfecta into a 2 horse straight load she resisted and was hurt badly. Later, another person was able to get her loaded in a 3 horse.

Her new owner was a novice, but she did a great job of putting Perfecta out on pasture and feeding her in the winter so that today she is a plump little mare.

But, Perfecta learned that she could avoid being caught. People tried to force her to do things and soon she had a reputation of being "wild".


The truth about this little mare is that she is one of the most willing to please horses I have ever met!

Lyn was called to help catch her for her owner. She spent some time with her and was able to catch and halter her within 10 minutes on the first day.

The owner gave Perfecta to a friend who hired a "Cowboy Trainer" to help her catch and load her new horse. That night her owner called Lyn in near hysterics. The "Cowboy" (yes, I am using that term v e r y loosely) had locked his arms around the horse's neck and thrown her to the ground, injuring himself in the process. Now he was chasing her around and Perfecta was frantic.


Lyn had the presence of mind to tell the gal to tell the "Cowboy" to "Stop, we will be over tomorrow to help load the horse". It was a long night for Lyn. She didn't know what she would find the next day.

By the next morning the friend who was to be the new owner backed out of the deal, and Lyn had decided that she wanted to give Perfecta the chance she deserves.

So I went over with Lyn that afternoon, along with another friend and my daughter to see about picking up Perfecta and bringing her home.


It took Lyn over a half an hour to catch and halter Perfecta. But she didn't chase her or really even get her really excited. She just worked her magic, quietly an effectively. Perfecta tried so hard, never taking her ears and eyes off of Lyn. This horse wanted to be caught and to be connected with a human. I have never seen a horse try so hard to overcome it's fear.

Eventually, Lyn had her haltered. She did a little bit of groundwork with her, and then led her right out the gate and right into the trailer without a single hesitation.


She's not a wild horse at all. She has training. She has just been misunderstood.

Welcome to your new life Perfecta!

A Loss for Words

I have been sitting here for 15 minutes or so because I am at a loss for words.

Incredible, I know.

I enjoy my horses so much. I feel so grateful to have them in my life again. There were so many years that went by when I was busy with other things. Needful things. Wonderful things. Things that I wouldn't change or give up for the world; education... marriage... my children.

But my horses are something that I find feeds my soul. This evening working Star in the round pen and brushing her and hand grazing her in the yard helped to wash the worries of the world off of my shoulders. Riding my Delight into the yard bareback and in a halter to graze for a while renewed my strength.

I am so lucky, so blessed, so happy.

Thanks God for giving me horses.