tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158869502024-02-07T14:47:06.615-05:00Green Mountain CurliesHello and welcome to the diary for our ranch, nestled in a valley near the headwaters of the Winooski River in Central Vermont. Here we will share some of what life is all about in this beautiful section of the country.Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-58574253039692752852013-09-02T17:05:00.000-04:002013-09-02T17:05:56.951-04:00Leo is home!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r2-M6nXlfKL3szPpiY8SpGYjFK-I4tZ7sZ0ySCtOMaenxrpUCRvdEYFRVNjZy6z1j4RsMh7DBk7LA-apNdcZLExbsWqQO8wihr2vaDkzRwocVuMj7uIjcfm_XL1EGag1-W_q/s1600/leo_130730-12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r2-M6nXlfKL3szPpiY8SpGYjFK-I4tZ7sZ0ySCtOMaenxrpUCRvdEYFRVNjZy6z1j4RsMh7DBk7LA-apNdcZLExbsWqQO8wihr2vaDkzRwocVuMj7uIjcfm_XL1EGag1-W_q/s320/leo_130730-12.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken by Ranch Namaspamoos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Leo left home for about six weeks of training back in mid-July. On Saturday the 31st of August Chuck and Guinevive went north to collect him from <a href="http://curlyquebec.com/" target="_blank">Ranch Namaspamoos</a> where he had been. Isabelle is an able trainer and had a collection of student workers to help her as well. Guinevive will be riding him while he is here but I remind my readers that he *is* for sale! Below please find her report on her first ride with him at home.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today I rode Leo for the first time since he's been back
home. As such, it was more of a “test ride” than anything. First I had to fit
the tack to him (as my saddle has a gullet changing system) and ended up with
my Wintec 2000 All-Purpose and a Beta Bitless bridle from <a href="http://www.nurturalhorse.com/" target="_blank">Nurtural</a>. He was
easy-going, even a bit excited about it when I brought it out, which only
motivated me to ride him more.<span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I led him
out and mounted up, immediately he was ready to go. I walked him partway down
the hill before I asked for a halt and then asked for a walk on. He listened
readily. We were almost all the way down the hill when some birds flew through
the branches of a bundle of trees to the left of the path. Mind you, he's
walked by this a million times in his life, but as he's just come back home he
had forgotten about that particular scare. He did spook, but only shivered his
muscles and stepped calmly to the side one step. I told him he was a good boy
and thanked him for not taking off and then continued to ride.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He did
notice the other horses down at the far end of the field just a moment later
and obviously had the thought to gallop to them, but he held back and listened
when I asked him to enter a paddock to our right (the one I usually ride horses
in when it's vacant). During the ride he was very easily distracted, but I
would attribute that to the circumstances: newly arrived home, new rider, new
tack and all of that next to his age and relative inexperience. I think his
focus is won as long as you keep him busy. I was successful in this by asking
for circles and changes of direction. I won't lie, it was a chore to get him to
get going in the precise right direction rather than the correct general
direction, but overall he has a good grasp of the concept. This was all done at
the walk, and I only asked him to trot on the last leg of the hill on our way
back to his paddock.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When he did
trot he actually gave me a foxtrot, dropping his hips and lifting his
shoulders. I was pleasantly surprised, having never ridden a foxtrot before. It
certainly was smooth!</span></span></span></div>
Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-4764330066529223492013-07-15T11:51:00.000-04:002013-07-15T11:51:29.619-04:00Glory of Philea West, 4/22/88 - 7/15/13<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRb88xtAgcjzQLIa_ee_a57rXs6Np-NQsHAWxKV2XNGmRjTPnX1zcFtiJJBzJbRBEiHYjUhOwwSFXbqdQOR917GBVcz1poxEYFDDsImVW4i0EqukJpAWjluPOfUJ0YcUROIFQV/s1600/glory071513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRb88xtAgcjzQLIa_ee_a57rXs6Np-NQsHAWxKV2XNGmRjTPnX1zcFtiJJBzJbRBEiHYjUhOwwSFXbqdQOR917GBVcz1poxEYFDDsImVW4i0EqukJpAWjluPOfUJ0YcUROIFQV/s400/glory071513.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glory, grazing in the morning fog. The last 2 years she's had the run of the farm and loved it.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It is with deep sadness that I write this blog entry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory of Philea West, a foundation mare of
the American Bashkir Curly Registry, and one of the mares carrying the Fredell
bloodline, passed away this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glory came to us back in 2003.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We purchased her as a riding horse only to
learn that she had a rather bad lumbar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Due to the pain there, and after consultation with the equine
chiropractor and our trainer, we chose to “retire” her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She birthed two gorgeous boys, both by our
stallion Beau, for us – GMC Yukon Jack and GMC Coyote Bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She raised them well and went on to be nanny
to subsequent foals born at our farm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glo's "stall", under the porch by the cellar door.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the spring of 2011 we discovered she had developed
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushing%27s_syndrome" target="_blank">Cushings</a>, a syndrome caused by a tumor on the Pituitary Gland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she responded well initially, over
the ensuing years she slowly declined until this year when we began battling
various infections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would get one
cleared only to have another pop up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After much soul-searching we chose to let her soul be
released from her failing body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arriving
at this decision was not easy and we will miss her more than we could ever begin
to express.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Always we will remember her nickers and ‘kisses’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How she would search your pockets for treats;
her love of apples, carrots, and mints – especially those soft ones by Bob’s
Mints; they were her favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the
end she was kind, loving, and sweet, but not without her own opinions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please celebrate her life, and our love for her, by spending
a bit of extra time with your equine friends today.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Licking the hand that fed her cookies :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-90775506753720016922013-04-24T05:41:00.000-04:002013-04-24T05:41:10.958-04:00Annnndddd.....we're off!!<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">No
pics, but had the first ride of the season last night on *Walker.
Chuck rode Silken in his Barefoot, while I pushed my envelope and
strapped on my Parelli bareback pad that has been collecting dust. Off
we went for a ride through the lower field. *Walker really moved out
more freely, I felt, than in my Wintec. It was interesting! We also
saw a Tom and his wife....oh wait this is a public page, lol....and a
mallard & his mate swimming. I'm a little sore in my rump, but not
like I'd thought I'd be. Yippee!</span></span></span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> We have several goals this year. The primary one is just to ride more, plus add in riding other horses. We would also like to actually ride off farm at least once and are thinking of heading up to the forest for that. </span></span></span></span></span></h5>
Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-36516408094561255432012-10-18T14:57:00.000-04:002012-10-18T14:57:28.911-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e3mJoI7ShbKWDlaa_4gZ0MlZuISyNdyOAm28F6DtfFA-Sl6CEuvXApfMhTDP8f8RVMwNIyUZ5w-_yNNPSkXIy3KdyahVXyAHWYUIcxmteaSvs9VBTKzi3gvj8Ve8aSgfjsqu/s1600/jackrightside1finalproj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e3mJoI7ShbKWDlaa_4gZ0MlZuISyNdyOAm28F6DtfFA-Sl6CEuvXApfMhTDP8f8RVMwNIyUZ5w-_yNNPSkXIy3KdyahVXyAHWYUIcxmteaSvs9VBTKzi3gvj8Ve8aSgfjsqu/s320/jackrightside1finalproj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It is with great joy that I announce the sale of *Jack to Camille in Montreal. *Jack (*GMC Yukon Jack) will be moving to Canada in a few weeks and live at <a href="http://curlyquebec.com/" target="_blank">Domaine de Ranch Namaspamoos</a>. There he will receive training. Camille eventually will do trail riding with him and may choose to do a competitive trail ride at some time in the future.<br />
<br />
Congratulations Camille and *Jack!Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-56693794629274698522012-08-01T10:02:00.000-04:002012-08-01T10:02:11.723-04:00Video of Chuck & Caroline with *WalkerJust wanted to post a short video that Caroline's mom, Erica, took (and I edited) of Chuck riding double with Cari on *Walker. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx9DIk07Ufo&feature=g-upl%20" target="_blank">Gpa & Cari</a>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-51422771045237777832012-07-24T10:01:00.000-04:002012-07-24T10:01:55.321-04:00Sharing the Joy<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through the years that we’ve had our Curlies we’ve been able
to share our joy concerning them with many people and in many different
ways. We’ve done demos at local stores,
gone to shows, had a booth at Everything Equine, attended clinics, and opened
our home for people who are allergic to “regular” horses and wanted to test
Curlies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of those tests have not worked, yet some have been
rousing successes. The folks may not
have gone on to purchasing a horse from us but we know that the success in the
allergy test they found on our farm opened doors for them that they thought had
been closed forever. That is profound
joy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have recently, though, experienced an even deeper one;
the joy of sharing our love of Curlies with our granddaughter, Caroline. In truth, the bond began long before she was
even cognizant of horses. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her mother, Erica, loved horses as a child; still does. However, the year she was 9 she wanted to
join a horse oriented 4H. We were happy
to have her do so. Her first meeting had
no interaction with horses. Her second
meeting did and that is when we discovered she was horribly allergic to
them. It broke her heart. But then came the fateful Rose Bowl Parade of
1/1/2000. Although the first time she
tested a Curly she had a huge reaction, the second time she did not. Over the years she found that some seasons
were better for her around the Curlies (low pollen) and she also learned that
although she still responded somewhat to them, it was <b><i>far</i></b> less
than the effects for her around “regular” horses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since her allergies denied her the experience of horses when
she was young, she has been determined to allow that experience for her
daughter. Every visit here includes time
with the horses, from the very first visit after Caroline was born and carried
in a front-pack to this latest visit.
Now, though, Cari is almost three years old, and a bit more able and
independent. They arrived on a Wednesday
evening and one of the first sentences out of Cari’s mouth was, “Go see Glory?”
and off she ran to the paddock to see her.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXq_FNw8YqWpPGh_tgAq5C0QGg0JyzXxRj_NLOIaDtXlGOUJvEAMplOL1Y_l5zs_7lER70OyScotUKjZoVQ5p5SS7qwx8mL717skYxevHhM6JSMOTLkZpqiM3DjUTsbyDlNH0n/s1600/CariGlory101009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXq_FNw8YqWpPGh_tgAq5C0QGg0JyzXxRj_NLOIaDtXlGOUJvEAMplOL1Y_l5zs_7lER70OyScotUKjZoVQ5p5SS7qwx8mL717skYxevHhM6JSMOTLkZpqiM3DjUTsbyDlNH0n/s320/CariGlory101009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline's first introduction to *Glory</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Caroline actually has a pretty good relationship with
*Glory, especially after her February visit.
Her folks had driven through the night and needed sleep, but Cari was
wide awake. So Chuck took her down to
the barn with him while he fed the two inside horses and packed the bags for
the others. She helped by carrying
handfuls of hay, and in typical toddler fashion wandered and investigated some
of the sundry items in the barn. Chuck
got busy stuffing the bags when he heard Cari say, “Look, buckeyes!” and looked
up to see that she had crawled through the bars into *Glory’s stall and was
picking up the balls of frozen manure.
Kids – gotta love them. *Glory
was happy to have the company and took great care around her before Chuck could
come grab Caroline.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVwNjPgctnxy_MgwHisrKAV13Y4vrBD61ZiQNiWxfuhRfHmyuyzOBOSb_vk6gHS3lvpxUzBqcKJ5jkrto1mx_TB5F10PS7G2ly_m8uLCluLfCnRaMLVbsElI_nmzHaReq-bSk/s1600/chuckcarionwalker071412-2CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVwNjPgctnxy_MgwHisrKAV13Y4vrBD61ZiQNiWxfuhRfHmyuyzOBOSb_vk6gHS3lvpxUzBqcKJ5jkrto1mx_TB5F10PS7G2ly_m8uLCluLfCnRaMLVbsElI_nmzHaReq-bSk/s320/chuckcarionwalker071412-2CW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck & Cari on *Walker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj0WI-jBdqg-h8r-VYkGuPiE62VHpH5QUmTYH6mp7a1hO1Fr6J7NPhQuSrtJ0lKpO_DLto21L1Q0K388PZ8kmEQXhLxXrb9WqNiL-HZqC9oodsseIx4v8ow9uqO2pEnBQOmUQ/s1600/cariairplanewalker071412CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj0WI-jBdqg-h8r-VYkGuPiE62VHpH5QUmTYH6mp7a1hO1Fr6J7NPhQuSrtJ0lKpO_DLto21L1Q0K388PZ8kmEQXhLxXrb9WqNiL-HZqC9oodsseIx4v8ow9uqO2pEnBQOmUQ/s1600/cariairplanewalker071412CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj0WI-jBdqg-h8r-VYkGuPiE62VHpH5QUmTYH6mp7a1hO1Fr6J7NPhQuSrtJ0lKpO_DLto21L1Q0K388PZ8kmEQXhLxXrb9WqNiL-HZqC9oodsseIx4v8ow9uqO2pEnBQOmUQ/s320/cariairplanewalker071412CW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cari does "airplane" to help learn balance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This most recent visit will remain in our memories as
well. It marked the first time Chuck has
shared a saddle with someone and the first time that Cari actually rode (pony
ride) alone without someone right next to her.
We chose *Walker
because she is most concerned with being careful of the human on her and is
Chuck’s mare. *Walker moved very carefully down the hill to
the round pen and then made sure that Cari stayed on her back as she was being
led. We even had Cari do “airplane” so that
she could begin to learn to keep her balance as *Walker moved without hanging on to anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was a totally joyful experience for us. We look forward to sharing more with her as
she grows and also, sharing this joy with our two young grandsons as they grow.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdH4CUx8ghe7zrhRyCoJ8nee1QFZy8xkdsCa5Nzv9beLEQ46VqT6v99WCWtgMM7PXEUFx1xojX5E9pWNsXHifB0c2qh3poCF-pNieLkF5JIGK8Cc68z-3S350185qvg67NQvI/s1600/happycari071412CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May your Curlies bring you joy as well!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdH4CUx8ghe7zrhRyCoJ8nee1QFZy8xkdsCa5Nzv9beLEQ46VqT6v99WCWtgMM7PXEUFx1xojX5E9pWNsXHifB0c2qh3poCF-pNieLkF5JIGK8Cc68z-3S350185qvg67NQvI/s1600/happycari071412CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdH4CUx8ghe7zrhRyCoJ8nee1QFZy8xkdsCa5Nzv9beLEQ46VqT6v99WCWtgMM7PXEUFx1xojX5E9pWNsXHifB0c2qh3poCF-pNieLkF5JIGK8Cc68z-3S350185qvg67NQvI/s320/happycari071412CW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a happy girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-91603648572035618682012-07-01T16:07:00.000-04:002012-07-01T16:07:21.334-04:00Three week catch-up<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please excuse the three week lapse in blogs, but things were
so busy or hot or rainy that I either had a lot to write or nothing at
all!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I would begin with a
synopsis of the past weeks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6/9-6/15 Chuck took a week of vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this week besides getting to mow
pastures (our brush hog had a split in the top and we finally located someone
to weld it) I worked with *Beau and re-introduced the driving reins through a
surcingle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was quite good, although I
once did get the rein up under his tail and he let me know in no uncertain
terms that he didn’t like it there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was quite cute. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guine worked with *Andi and *Love on the ground a couple of
times using some of Parelli’s “7 Games”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chuck and Guine went riding again, this time Chuck was on
*Walker and Guine on Silken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the 14<sup>th</sup>
our vet came out to do the teeth for those that needed some nice relaxing drug
in their bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did *Beau, Dude,
and *Sun; then came up to do *Love as *Love needed a wolf tooth (number 105)
removed as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she left, we took
advantage of *Love’s relaxed state and did her feet; not that she is difficult
to trim, but you know the old saying “Make hay while the sun shines!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we trimmed *Love’s feet, Guine took
advantage and worked with *Andi too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, Guine rejoined us and bellied-up on
*Love three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first time
anyone had been on *Love’s back and it was a total non-event even though the
medicine had worn off by then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTcKootIA2AOEDpzY5cFLVUWCIABiF5BlaTwfMzLLP49qU7bDtVoeo55cfX_B96NOYtkVrQ64kYbUGv_c0hvIXBnShxuFZ9HpEVpvka9CH3S6DS44Zx6TBzcGNfvIKGrYy66s/s1600/silkenwalkerpassing061412-2CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTcKootIA2AOEDpzY5cFLVUWCIABiF5BlaTwfMzLLP49qU7bDtVoeo55cfX_B96NOYtkVrQ64kYbUGv_c0hvIXBnShxuFZ9HpEVpvka9CH3S6DS44Zx6TBzcGNfvIKGrYy66s/s320/silkenwalkerpassing061412-2CW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guine on Silken; Chuck on *Walker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later that afternoon, saw Chuck back on *Walker, and Guine
on Silken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time it was to work
Silken at the canter and get *Walker
used to “hop scotching” with a horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hop scotching is where a horse passes and walks ahead; then the horse
behind goes ahead, passing the other horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It allows the horses to get used to the idea that they don’t always have
to be in front or behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guine also
decided it would be good to try Silken over a low cross-rail and all would have
been fine IF the stirrup leather hadn’t broken!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Guine headed Silken for the rails at a nice trot and then two things
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first was that due to
Silken’s relative inexperience at jumping, she took off sooner than she should
have and produced a huge jump; the second was that on landing the left stirrup
went right through the stirrup leather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This completely unseated Guine, which unbalanced Silken, and Guine chose
to make an emergency dismount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
neatest thing about that was that the moment Guine launched herself out of the
saddle Silken came to a dead stop!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOCudfjOnZgVe8tcinc1HYC41RzWVYCRaQCwONkHe9eiGfXDVw_qL8DtNkt8Ignbs1AKmV1xVsVqGXXbkktmuhy0Wfr7UFxoH5DqyRd6mAb7LHpmNL7C0viER2PA6oOzPUQt6/s1600/silkchuckwalkerguin061512CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOCudfjOnZgVe8tcinc1HYC41RzWVYCRaQCwONkHe9eiGfXDVw_qL8DtNkt8Ignbs1AKmV1xVsVqGXXbkktmuhy0Wfr7UFxoH5DqyRd6mAb7LHpmNL7C0viER2PA6oOzPUQt6/s200/silkchuckwalkerguin061512CW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck on Silken; Guine leading *Walker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day Chuck rode Silken while Guine helped me get up
on *Walker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a huge step for me as I have been
suffering with strong anxiety about getting on a horse for a couple of
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t quite explain why I have
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to ride fairly well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I’ve come off, but who hasn’t?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really need to get past it, and so Guine
helping me was a first step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bellied
up, got off; bellied up, got off; stopped to work through some nausea and
cramping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then bellied up and put my leg
over and sat up; got off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, I
bellied up a last time, threw my leg over, put my feet in the stirrups and had
Guine lead her, stop her, lead her, stop her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only half-way across the round pen, but it was a start for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chuck is determined to help me through this,
but that was enough for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Guine
led *Walker
around so Chuck could ride Silken a bit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The week-end of the 16<sup>th</sup>/17<sup>th</sup> kept us
busy with human activities between the wedding of a family friend and Father’s
Day celebrations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next week became a scorcher up here in Vermont with temperatures into the
90’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This really inhibited our working
with the horses as none of us are used to that type of heat and humidity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did squeak in an early morning session with
*Jack and *Leo and after regular types of round pen exercises put the surcingle
and driving lines on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*Leo was clueless
and it was obvious that I will need a second person to get him started with the
idea, but certainly worth my effort to see what he could figure out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*Jack seemed to recall the lessons from a
long time ago and did what I asked of him with walk-on and whoa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Left and right were more difficult but that
has more to do with the rope halter than a lack of understanding, I think.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoibKNFRwhslFeBgr7ZyfJcFNCPze7iW5Kk5zoHCxUwT3iSjwc1Jc9frUb7ygrVqOwrJvR1cpS1A5Ao91J0eC8yqKw_V8cAqAH-pioCyQWEHf0wJCi9pJJUMeb8UZ2L1NerwT1/s1600/babeguin061812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoibKNFRwhslFeBgr7ZyfJcFNCPze7iW5Kk5zoHCxUwT3iSjwc1Jc9frUb7ygrVqOwrJvR1cpS1A5Ao91J0eC8yqKw_V8cAqAH-pioCyQWEHf0wJCi9pJJUMeb8UZ2L1NerwT1/s320/babeguin061812.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guine on *Babe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That evening Chuck took *Walker out for a ride and we took *Babe
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guine had always had a good
relationship with *Babe so thought she could ride her, but it turned out that
she was much too herd-bound to her two fillies to really pay attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guine opted to get off and round pen her
some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chuck and I will continue to work
on separating her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PrANVGIcthrXk_Q6YwVKE_brxGYRZ-C89QKmtbZBhbRaXt06FWmOzQs0hi7Ox0rUL__wd4ZryqKjlyzFrPjBovleyxrAsxRcd3S1iBJnunjjKRCfurd9-iLyqVoPOw6EBi9A/s1600/leoguin062312-2CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PrANVGIcthrXk_Q6YwVKE_brxGYRZ-C89QKmtbZBhbRaXt06FWmOzQs0hi7Ox0rUL__wd4ZryqKjlyzFrPjBovleyxrAsxRcd3S1iBJnunjjKRCfurd9-iLyqVoPOw6EBi9A/s320/leoguin062312-2CW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guine on *Leo, his second time with a rider!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday the 23<sup>rd</sup> was migration day again for the
boys and it was our first break in the oppressing heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After migrating we trimmed the hooves of
*Andi, *Beau, and *Red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Guine
brought *Leo out for a bit of play in the round pen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had a lot of fun and was impressed by how
mature he has become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then hopped on
bareback just to give him a bit more experience and like the first time, it was
a total non-event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He followed me around
for a bit, and then I stepped out of the round-pen and turned my attention away
from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He figured out what she wanted
right quick and they soon were walking around the pen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfWrwhnotIrHtjVocaOmi8Mac2p6X_hEyci9lmdEKwoN2rivKaI3azanE7x2NFTt8wf_Dlcws6Vi9ap1x7eBdszVlHim0Nos4Kf9hysSxlkkIEldWy_1QB3EBKF3_4UMu59hM/s1600/redleftrear062312-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfWrwhnotIrHtjVocaOmi8Mac2p6X_hEyci9lmdEKwoN2rivKaI3azanE7x2NFTt8wf_Dlcws6Vi9ap1x7eBdszVlHim0Nos4Kf9hysSxlkkIEldWy_1QB3EBKF3_4UMu59hM/s200/redleftrear062312-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trimming *Red's hind hoof.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 24<sup>th</sup> was the last good day before rain set in
on us; however, we had made plans to hike <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel%27s_Hump" target="_blank">Camel’s Hump</a>, the second highest peak
(4083 feet) in Vermont.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0CiQHPUws7uWaAhHwFqu7pQQkFWfn1QE42N7HvL0SLmgygqob6cmCtt_L_poGI9CspZdVPfAiRWL8GaH4ebs4Tvvrsk8A7c9gT4iMVT8RYepTXtYV-Q49ET0qiDEEzkad2QL/s1600/guinsilkencanter062912-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0CiQHPUws7uWaAhHwFqu7pQQkFWfn1QE42N7HvL0SLmgygqob6cmCtt_L_poGI9CspZdVPfAiRWL8GaH4ebs4Tvvrsk8A7c9gT4iMVT8RYepTXtYV-Q49ET0qiDEEzkad2QL/s320/guinsilkencanter062912-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guine cantering Silken</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9R9Y1AIM0DeW4wURBqSLbk-MDTwgi6iHvCMDdPXs43hv8n9n0mZZGe7HwTRM4ESpB6ewFSF_OJ9dSgSxDRoYBJNqy3mxccDaYMDG6JFmm2PhkBd9n_VU6LTCCwS5mnKZHAXMx/s1600/chucksheriwalker062912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9R9Y1AIM0DeW4wURBqSLbk-MDTwgi6iHvCMDdPXs43hv8n9n0mZZGe7HwTRM4ESpB6ewFSF_OJ9dSgSxDRoYBJNqy3mxccDaYMDG6JFmm2PhkBd9n_VU6LTCCwS5mnKZHAXMx/s200/chucksheriwalker062912.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheri on *Walker with Chuck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally we had a break on the 29<sup>th</sup> and this was
Guine’s last day in Vermont, so she and Chuck
saddled *Walker
and Silken for a last ride together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
my older daughter, Sheri, was here for a visit we popped her up on *Walker for a bit of fun,
as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, here it is, a whole month since Guinevive came to
stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t get everything
accomplished that we set out to, but we did get many things done that were very
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guinevive’s stay breathed
fresh air into us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had spent the last
three years really just taking care of the horses and not enjoying them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She helped us both regain the right footing
and we will continue onward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She allowed
Chuck to remember the joy of riding again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has always felt that she was his hero because Guine rides so well and
he started in his late 30’s and knows that he’ll never be as good as she
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He admires her ability so much.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4IbivH6bVYw0V7CKHNgPuImP-nD5CcrMA98uz1wnuYuxAtsZA6HWKxWsaKEbx5_paOmqgiaLBCiLmYp1DQtRZEHMlQ09UH_1HszNcjLE8LKfT_VRPJ76kmPSXZP1pkWK0YOQ/s1600/adriawalker4-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4IbivH6bVYw0V7CKHNgPuImP-nD5CcrMA98uz1wnuYuxAtsZA6HWKxWsaKEbx5_paOmqgiaLBCiLmYp1DQtRZEHMlQ09UH_1HszNcjLE8LKfT_VRPJ76kmPSXZP1pkWK0YOQ/s320/adriawalker4-2.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adria on *Walker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gained bravery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Guine demonstrated
it for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the horses are “rusty”
but Guine came along and said, “I can get on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can do this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, she
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also took the time to talk me
through my fear and I promised her I would keep going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, I rode *Walker all the way around the inside
perimeter of one of the acre paddocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s about 840 feet which may not seem much, but to me was huge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last thing we gained from her visit was a chance to see
how mature she’s become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are very
proud to say that Guinevive is our daughter because she’s kind, caring,
intelligent, a good horsewoman, and a damn good writer too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We love you, Guine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-49539871554318424292012-06-08T20:42:00.000-04:002012-06-08T20:42:00.255-04:00A week of rain and horses<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Sunday after doing some work around the farm with the
help of a friend, Guinevive convinced Chuck that it was time for a ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the boys are in the furthest paddocks, we
loaded up the truck with saddles and other riding essentials and drove on out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVVAJIgW5A-Cw7M4F1rfUfHFH_Jwg8oXcCBQ92A-d10BsgllFPnCV40pCPjoXTtf_evY9Apo34CvgPIcG35KxKXXWAzggrCte3tB7PIEqISrSyqkBGEFF7iQtC0pRJLV1PmiM/s1600/chucksun060312-3CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVVAJIgW5A-Cw7M4F1rfUfHFH_Jwg8oXcCBQ92A-d10BsgllFPnCV40pCPjoXTtf_evY9Apo34CvgPIcG35KxKXXWAzggrCte3tB7PIEqISrSyqkBGEFF7iQtC0pRJLV1PmiM/s200/chucksun060312-3CW.jpg" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck on *Sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guine pulled *Red out and started to saddle him up, only to
discovered that the girth she thought would fit did not, so she decided to ride
him bareback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chuck pulled out *Sun and
put the Barefoot, a treeless saddle, on him but left him in a rope halter for
the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was the first of the
season they had already decided to keep it short. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LYDGJIGQziBlDFjANjST_gMp2yDWxrod9SX9vyXzy6zVV_CJIEgFN1atT1OdbuBIlAS-NwvSzfakoUWlZkvZbCRlCbObbPMXz_Rt35vs-gaYZPayVEPCqS1ovo473wySWFCB/s1600/chucksunguinred060312-2ClCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LYDGJIGQziBlDFjANjST_gMp2yDWxrod9SX9vyXzy6zVV_CJIEgFN1atT1OdbuBIlAS-NwvSzfakoUWlZkvZbCRlCbObbPMXz_Rt35vs-gaYZPayVEPCqS1ovo473wySWFCB/s320/chucksunguinred060312-2ClCW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guine on *Red; Chuck on *Sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chuck climbed up onto the tailgate of the truck and I
brought *Sun up to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chuck got on and
we made sure everything was adjusted correctly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then he began walking *Sun and I went over and gave Guine a leg up onto
*Red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Off they went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They kept at the walk, except for a couple of
trots that *Sun offered that were easily brought back to the walk by
Chuck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They meandered down 2/3rds the
length of the field and then decided to climb off and walk the horses back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday brought out Linda Corey, our Equine Dentist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Linda has cared for our horses since 2002 and
does so without sedation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those horses
that need sedation I get our vet to do later (that appointment is set for next
week).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am all about having a horse
have a pleasant experience and have no problem calling it off if I think it
might be otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started with
*Red, and while I held the halter and kept my left hand on his nose to keep his
head lower, Linda floated away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
those of my readers who are unfamiliar with dental care for horses, the dentist
uses very large files to file down sharp edges and hooks that develop from
chewing their grass and hay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Horses have
their complete tooth in their jaw and as they chew and wear it down, the tooth
erupts further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rarely do they get
cavities due to their diet although occasionally they may develop a problem due
to an accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, we got three
boys and three girls done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more
information and a great video visit <a href="http://www.traditionalequinedentistry.com/" target="_blank">Traditional Equine Dentistry</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday, I did manage to take both Silken and *Walker for exercise walks
up and down our hill before I had to get ready to substitute teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of them are beginning to develop better
muscle tone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sKRqcjQETp7pCJM3urLx-y-aOo4GGH7j5kLpngdfHuLjSK17NPQ3P_SxQOMgpvIuU2s9u5g0yi-A57PHudVF6hjW-bfFpWDWCkoyFBZcoNyTi5y-GBnkD2OYxbXiAiRgtYXN/s1600/silkentrottoward060712CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sKRqcjQETp7pCJM3urLx-y-aOo4GGH7j5kLpngdfHuLjSK17NPQ3P_SxQOMgpvIuU2s9u5g0yi-A57PHudVF6hjW-bfFpWDWCkoyFBZcoNyTi5y-GBnkD2OYxbXiAiRgtYXN/s200/silkentrottoward060712CW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silken trots at liberty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPSldniPVdJcwwmNApzi1r8LVBLUOmOd8z-Dbo6zgCHbS1i12xUYeUXZakwz6hOieWIeXCwmISVZCO9icbZtEh1wbP1r785ZqwiKuCbZLGhDmlWRJTC7YuFCp6CNSzneh86rJ/s1600/silkenstandwithguin060712CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPSldniPVdJcwwmNApzi1r8LVBLUOmOd8z-Dbo6zgCHbS1i12xUYeUXZakwz6hOieWIeXCwmISVZCO9icbZtEh1wbP1r785ZqwiKuCbZLGhDmlWRJTC7YuFCp6CNSzneh86rJ/s200/silkenstandwithguin060712CW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guine & Silken</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thursday Guine and I took Silken down for Guine to test the
waters on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been three
years, at least, since Silken was ridden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve worked her this year, but Guine had not and wanted to make sure she
would listen to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took her
through walk/trot/canter up and down transitions, some disengagements and
worked on side passes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we set up
cross rails and she jumped them a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While Guine was working with her, I was busy taking photos and video.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSC5fnsFGvtSp0L_Jhj2d-RVlXmdoxoedSCL_fr8TrX_IFWNOf0Zeh04GnbY1dzu90ZxrZIPlcx-8pVhR8Ob7EsVAPt6Cs6qSOI3lURDNuBz4P5KdgdzX-f4voaJ5MDu7FHFD/s1600/silktrotguin060812-3CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSC5fnsFGvtSp0L_Jhj2d-RVlXmdoxoedSCL_fr8TrX_IFWNOf0Zeh04GnbY1dzu90ZxrZIPlcx-8pVhR8Ob7EsVAPt6Cs6qSOI3lURDNuBz4P5KdgdzX-f4voaJ5MDu7FHFD/s320/silktrotguin060812-3CW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guine and Silken trot on!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZsj_coCzlYHVHG2tTo8lqzFuTnwq26InrI8-mounPdqaNqeZAK8cyypzjTSUVVnRHgvzQqdjvvn9iImb3EawyQOIYJikgVS2WNtWqnFu1prJvyQSvKiV21JLb55o2zHtRei4/s1600/silkputtingonsaddle060812CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZsj_coCzlYHVHG2tTo8lqzFuTnwq26InrI8-mounPdqaNqeZAK8cyypzjTSUVVnRHgvzQqdjvvn9iImb3EawyQOIYJikgVS2WNtWqnFu1prJvyQSvKiV21JLb55o2zHtRei4/s200/silkputtingonsaddle060812CW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddling Silken</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I brought *Red to the round pen and showed Guine how I
work with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it was time for
Silken again, but this time Guine rode her, first in the round pen and then
outside the round pen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside she took
her on a brief canter as well and then rode her up to her paddock.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You might wonder why I included rain in the title?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is because it rained, at some point,
every day hampering our ability to work with more horses than we got to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well, there’s always next week!</div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-9892175931435640132012-06-03T19:31:00.002-04:002012-06-03T19:31:45.145-04:00Saddle Fitting 201<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that Guinevive is here it has decided to rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday, it didn’t just rain, it
POURED.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So she took that time to clean
up our all-purpose, hunter/jumper, and Wintec saddles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, as we had a break in rain this
morning, we loaded up the truck (after I washed all the manure out of the bed
from having made a delivery in the rain yesterday) and visited all the horses
to check which saddles fit them better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5m7XRsAP3JQMILgTyaMywItL14_yySs6YhVcbLmBlPoY6g5YFfIR6SgiY6dGygJNroNR-l_6MGvUkGadwRLUrWylLSoualAT_2k0WhJR2wFul7GIPSGK_fYgx2s2AtSu5cO-/s1600/silkentwofingers060312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5m7XRsAP3JQMILgTyaMywItL14_yySs6YhVcbLmBlPoY6g5YFfIR6SgiY6dGygJNroNR-l_6MGvUkGadwRLUrWylLSoualAT_2k0WhJR2wFul7GIPSGK_fYgx2s2AtSu5cO-/s320/silkentwofingers060312.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 fingers between point and shoulder blade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fitting a saddle to a horse it is imperative to make sure
you have placed it in the correct position first so that the saddle never
impinges on the movement of the horse’s shoulder blades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want the forward points of the saddle to
be an inch or two behind the shoulder blade; we use two finger widths as an
easy and portable measuring device.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Additionally, you want the saddle short enough so that it doesn’t go
beyond the last rib as there is no way to support the rider’s weight if it
does.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flatten fist for measuring the pommel arch</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next check is the distance between the pommel (or horn) arch
and the horse’s withers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are not
on the horse, an easy measurement is a flatten fist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a rider who can get on the horse,
then you want a distance of about two fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The flatten fist also allows you to ensure that the width of the arch
isn’t too narrow so that it doesn’t pinch the horse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once these are assured then you will want to saddle up and
ride the horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you ride hard enough
to produce sweat and then take the saddle off you should be able to see the
mark/shape from the saddle on the horse’s back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It should be a complete print without any missing spots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a more complete description of all you
should check please visit <a href="http://thetackguide.com/saddle-fitting" target="_blank">this </a> great
site!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I mentioned above, we went around to all the horses,
except *Walker who uses a treeless saddle and *Glory who is completely retired,
to find out which saddles would be the best choice for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once one horse had had a saddle on its back,
all the others were eager to try one on for size and came up to whomever had the
saddle in their hands to “present” themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even young *Andi, who is too young for riding in our opinion, just <i>had</i>
to try them on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That little lady is one
horse who just loves to try new things and do whatever the human next to her
suggests.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEL_40cyr28uUfXTVRO1mW3LjyK5AIa-t05jujY8MynN0s6Yb8KE6Fam2qnj3AqNBGu3qGtBM1Ewc-BxgV7cO3K0OvxkB-KuFTJJ_5WmF6VhrBtXi1EiS4e5IBM2TOEF_sIlC/s1600/silkenrightside060312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEL_40cyr28uUfXTVRO1mW3LjyK5AIa-t05jujY8MynN0s6Yb8KE6Fam2qnj3AqNBGu3qGtBM1Ewc-BxgV7cO3K0OvxkB-KuFTJJ_5WmF6VhrBtXi1EiS4e5IBM2TOEF_sIlC/s400/silkenrightside060312.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Z Silken, our saddle model.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We certainly enjoyed our time with them and hope you also
had a great day with your horse!</div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-25396464515316283172012-05-26T07:34:00.000-04:002012-05-26T07:34:29.563-04:00Excitement<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been working with the horses this past week, asking
for increasing time moving forward, using tires as a jumping spot, spiraling
them in and out on the lunge, and introducing ground poles and crossrails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With *Walker, I increased the number of times
we walked up and down the hill and also asked her to back up the hill for a
dozen paces or so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, this blog is going to be just a short one as I want
to share our excitement that our youngest daughter, Guine will be coming to
visit us in less than a week and staying for the whole month of June!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guine is our “horsie girl” and she is coming
to help me with the horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only
will my readers be able to look forward to great blogs about what we’re doing,
but I will be getting new photos AND video of the horses for sale.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have a wonderful Memorial Week-end everyone!</div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-61468962093367301882012-05-19T14:21:00.000-04:002012-05-19T14:21:40.291-04:00Here comes the *Sun (and Dude, *Beau....)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was going to title this “Rain, rain go away” but it seems
we’ve gotten a stretch of nice weather – yeah!
Last week I had begun to do some spring tune up of the boys, but rain
moved in as well as getting called to substitute teach so I only got to work
with *Jack and *Leo. Finally toward the
end of this week the weather cleared and I’ve worked with *Sun, Dude, Silken,
*Beau, *Red, and even took *Walker
out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love that first time of working with each horse as it
allows you to see where their head is at, as well as, what they have
“percolated” on over their winter time off.
So how did each horse do? Read on
for a brief glimpse.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Jack was not super focused on me. He is usually quite attentive so I’m not sure
if this was a “one of” or an attitude change, but he certainly makes me
laugh! In fact, when a horse expresses
an opinion that differs from mine, that is my usual reaction; I laugh! This day I found that whenever I raised my
energy to ask for more, he’d shake his head at me. Silly guy with a high opinion of
himself! Still, he did everything I
asked; he just needed to let me know what he thought about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Leo, oh that golden boy!
He is so fabulous and I seriously have no clue why someone hasn’t
snatched him up to take him home. *Leo
is all about pleasing and bonding. He is
exceptionally smart, too. We worked on
transitioning up and down and it took very little energy from me. He really watched my body language
closely. He licked and chewed almost the
whole time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dude – is, well Dude!
He is a “tester”, he asks “Do you <b><i>really</i></b> mean that?” Once you have assured him that “Yes, I really
do mean that” he is more than happy to comply!
He has grown so much since we brought him to foster with us as a 17
month old that was about a 2.5 on the Henneke Scale. He is a gorgeous mahogany bay with the
softest of noses that is happy to rest on you.
I fitted him with one of our Myler bits, a 5” roller bar D
snaffle, and it fit quite well.
Guinevive will be happy as she wants to get him out and about when she
is up next month.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Suncatcher, was well, <b>wow</b>,
did he mature more over the winter!
From the moment he stepped into the round pen with me he was a focus on,
energy receptive, “how far, how fast, yes ma’am” kind of a horse. His ear was on me the whole time. We did walk/trot/canter in both directions
and he never missed a beat. I was so
impressed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silken had a few thresholds as we walked down from up top
where she resides. I watched her
carefully and when I saw the tiniest bit of tension and “What’s that?” creep
into her face, I’d stopped and let her look.
I allowed her to tell me when it was time to move on. It didn’t take any time at all to walk down
to the round pen. She is as sensitive to
energy as ever and transitioning down in speed has always been her bug-a-boo
when she first starts back up at work.
Her transitioning from canter to trot is fine, it’s getting to the walk
that can be slightly problematic.
However, we did get there and I fully expect that the next time will be
far easier for her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Beau was ever the gentleman as I fully expect him to
be. We worked without a wand or whip,
only my hands and energy. We did
walk/trot/canter in both directions a few times and I even set up a row of
tires and asked him for a small trot/jump over.
He really does like to tell me that “Curly boys don’t jump” as it just
isn’t his forté, but I like him to do it as a strengthening exercise. I also had him stand next to the mounting
block and bellied up on him while he just stood there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Red was so happy to go with me and, like *Beau, such a
gentleman in behavior. *Red has always
required a bit more energy from me, so after using my hands for a bit and
having him decide that he didn’t really want to go left for me, I grabbed the
lunge whip and he decided it would behoove him to move on out. He’s a funny boy and I love him dearly. I have, and will continue to do so I’m sure,
learned so much from him. He is so smart
and curious.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Walker
took a walk with me, as well. Due to
problems she’s had over the past couple of years, she lost some muscle tone, so
I’m starting her with just walking/trotting in hand. We took a trip down the hill to the round
pen, checked it out, and walked back up the hill, trotting on two different flat
areas as well. As time goes on we will
be walking up and down that hill more than just once. I expect it will get me in shape too!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the spring tune-up work
we’ve begun. You can look forward to
more write-ups about what each horse is doing, especially once Guinevive
arrives. We are so excited that she will
be here with us in June!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t forget that most of our horses are for sale and we are
very motivated to sell. Check them out,
come visit if you’d like, and make us an offer!</div>
Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-10457358303007344952012-05-15T09:09:00.001-04:002012-05-15T09:11:44.668-04:00Winning Team!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Nuv953NUB9LxA__aX5KpaF8yw_yK0SLIbe6ID7w3xctQE4ba8qwZoqxFSPjTwsFDyaNJEjWh2bJTvBvvGdjlQZQQLXFIfvPy19-rqk0CCJZviE9wWnMBB7iISJSi7w7f1GsU/s1600/TS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Nuv953NUB9LxA__aX5KpaF8yw_yK0SLIbe6ID7w3xctQE4ba8qwZoqxFSPjTwsFDyaNJEjWh2bJTvBvvGdjlQZQQLXFIfvPy19-rqk0CCJZviE9wWnMBB7iISJSi7w7f1GsU/s320/TS1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We are pleased to share that *GMC Jimmy Dee (*Sage) and his rider Tesla recently have begun the 2012 show season by winning their class in second level, test three with a score of 70.1%!! What a team!!<br />
<br />
We have three of his half-siblings for sale. Check out our webpage: www.greenmountaincurlies.comAdriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-68802202348794753472012-05-02T21:07:00.001-04:002012-05-02T21:07:56.247-04:00Migration Day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past Saturday was what we call “migration day” at the
farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the horses are in summer
pastures, migration day happens every couple of weeks for the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this was <i>THE</i> migration day, the
one where the horses are moved from the winter paddocks out to pasture for the
season.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me explain how we have our farm set-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Vermont winters usually have a lot of snow,
over four to five months, the horses need to be close to the hay and the house
so they can be watered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We built several
wooden fenced paddocks in between the house and the arena where the hay is
stored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each paddock holds two to three
horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We typically put the horses in
these paddocks at the end of October or the first weekend of November, as the
other reason is that with the time change it gets quite dark early on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then typically around the end of April they go back to the
summer pastures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys have pastures
in the lower field, and they get rotated to allow the grass to recover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls have one very large pasture,
perhaps about 10 acres, to roam throughout.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is the past years since we’ve been here, the horses have
been quite excited to get out to the summer pastures, and are usually a bit
wired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not this year, all was quiet and
very uneventful, which is really the way we prefer it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ftBF7jBhFjxAXULszELp2dhWXN3PIWYz5tlAi92BFLrTErslmqg25VbF_EEccuIUIPknOp9cixiSygksnGrNiri4siohCzpu_PRlPo7W2NCWuirkygUZJaw-sa1oNsC_gE7c/s1600/beaubirdcatcher042812YBCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ftBF7jBhFjxAXULszELp2dhWXN3PIWYz5tlAi92BFLrTErslmqg25VbF_EEccuIUIPknOp9cixiSygksnGrNiri4siohCzpu_PRlPo7W2NCWuirkygUZJaw-sa1oNsC_gE7c/s200/beaubirdcatcher042812YBCW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Beau</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYLmD5Tv7Ax4Wr8kmrdR8RHHDE5s7z8v6ZOdTnsJFbqc70ZVLSBnOuCOu1G8loUvw5RBVbBpuhjfbwrJuIm9JCs47i9-Wlvo17q6xb8hAcHtwwj5fI7Lcu3t-W7Vl1rl6bAbf/s1600/redflies042812RBCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYLmD5Tv7Ax4Wr8kmrdR8RHHDE5s7z8v6ZOdTnsJFbqc70ZVLSBnOuCOu1G8loUvw5RBVbBpuhjfbwrJuIm9JCs47i9-Wlvo17q6xb8hAcHtwwj5fI7Lcu3t-W7Vl1rl6bAbf/s200/redflies042812RBCW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Red</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First out were *Beau and *Red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More due to where they pasture first than
anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took *Red and he just
doodled along next to me, every once in a while asking for grass, which I was
happy to allow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to their pasture,
unhaltered them, and they both took off!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>*Beau decided that <i>now</i> he missed his girls and took some time to
pace up and down the fence and call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stallions, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQHpOUqfmBhl1C09ax0ksvbPbOyoLmeZP5sk1iXmKwb-sRX5pxUm4AE9ThJZYH6bgiUVytW4oO_WjE4wHsx1iHMmbuChIYAU-4XCDJfu6QiedVelgcobEuGz8sNGfBIYu5mQF/s1600/suncatcher042812YBCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQHpOUqfmBhl1C09ax0ksvbPbOyoLmeZP5sk1iXmKwb-sRX5pxUm4AE9ThJZYH6bgiUVytW4oO_WjE4wHsx1iHMmbuChIYAU-4XCDJfu6QiedVelgcobEuGz8sNGfBIYu5mQF/s200/suncatcher042812YBCW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_oZlEFT9kBRsMBuk4GAQ5rz1LRaK2BF70_fpT0Wc87o9mDOkUoXcCChA19ebimvXi4JICjJSV3k8NkvooyqLsNXCRQxYuYSbaIjPm7ovK7IwuS4RD_Tb5Y58cOGkDhfJFsY4/s1600/dude042812RBCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_oZlEFT9kBRsMBuk4GAQ5rz1LRaK2BF70_fpT0Wc87o9mDOkUoXcCChA19ebimvXi4JICjJSV3k8NkvooyqLsNXCRQxYuYSbaIjPm7ovK7IwuS4RD_Tb5Y58cOGkDhfJFsY4/s200/dude042812RBCW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dude</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next down were *Sun and Dude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dude, just like *Red, doodled along next to
me checking things out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*Sun was the
only one to act up the whole time, and he decided to let Chuck know “I’m
excited!” by rearing up a couple of times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Silly boy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last down were *Jack and *Leo. You’ll notice I have no
pictures of them and that is because they refused to run around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even tried chasing them, but to no
avail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grass was all that mattered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86Ojzv1njRhaTSqj-KfBLp_PjWO1qfZ2YrMwEqLKoz1aks-y_8PfZhA8x2BgA_oSZl1f0tnFBAevsTNKmKmI_CdTGFv_22jz6xnF0QVZ4Hy77DDrD05Q_ph12EUVH64eZBtCf/s1600/love042812SatCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86Ojzv1njRhaTSqj-KfBLp_PjWO1qfZ2YrMwEqLKoz1aks-y_8PfZhA8x2BgA_oSZl1f0tnFBAevsTNKmKmI_CdTGFv_22jz6xnF0QVZ4Hy77DDrD05Q_ph12EUVH64eZBtCf/s200/love042812SatCW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Love</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally it was time to move the girls and *Love was moved
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are only two of us and
youngsters require that you are “present” and attentive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*Love wandered down the hill with Chuck and
all was fine until the nearby Vixen decided she needed to scoot off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What was THAT?” you could hear *Love
exclaim!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she saw her, then she returned
to her ho-hum wandering.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYzqlk1ohYeU1NQxxyYJtvEK3Hfcbfa2W4IlT9XVKtzWFCpJG0I8Mtm2TZpku8uTQYnc9XVvnpvTZW0MZpwvqRfM-lDodG0wkvEpNSre7XV7ugjU8i0R1zizhdv0YBcDx1Xv5/s1600/babe042812SatCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYzqlk1ohYeU1NQxxyYJtvEK3Hfcbfa2W4IlT9XVKtzWFCpJG0I8Mtm2TZpku8uTQYnc9XVvnpvTZW0MZpwvqRfM-lDodG0wkvEpNSre7XV7ugjU8i0R1zizhdv0YBcDx1Xv5/s200/babe042812SatCW.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Babe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lastly we took *Babe and *Andi out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*Babe is always fabulous to go anywhere with
and *Andi is still a baby in her outlook on life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is new, everything is different,
and it all requires consideration.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1I_NTEvl8pqiOxOIy0tJb5D8MPtBXQDAt4if0p5qT1vf3q_c7Z-R_qA2VhCFV0VvgX6alOHxBM4BVQMez9_Ujcz4teinJZXhDYY9-7su0mG6ER9wYSjU2XW7QwJ46IR2gF1v/s1600/andicanters042812-2YBCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1I_NTEvl8pqiOxOIy0tJb5D8MPtBXQDAt4if0p5qT1vf3q_c7Z-R_qA2VhCFV0VvgX6alOHxBM4BVQMez9_Ujcz4teinJZXhDYY9-7su0mG6ER9wYSjU2XW7QwJ46IR2gF1v/s320/andicanters042812-2YBCW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Andi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now the routine of care changes and we look forward to
spending more time with each horse as the weather warms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Spring!</div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-21250724291280365202012-04-24T09:22:00.003-04:002012-04-24T09:53:26.037-04:00To Everything There is a Season<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And a time for every purpose, under heaven (The Byrds, from
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg73MRomwSA" target="_blank">Turn, Turn, Turn</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever there are major changes happening for someone and
they write about it, they usually begin by saying something like “This is the
hardest story/blog/etc. I’ve ever had to write.” I won’t be trite and begin that way. Instead, I will talk about what has been, and
where we hope to go, and the changes that need to happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In January of 2000 we discovered Curlies, thanks to our
daughter, Erica’s, eagle eye while watching the Rose Bowl Parade. You see, there are three of us in the family
that are allergic to mammals, and hearing about a hypoallergenic horse meant
that it just might be possible to make our youngest, and most horse-crazy,
daughter’s dream of owning a horse come true.
Little did we know the path we would start down after viewing that
Parade.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWExg8fraTBm6XNsqgG47Mb7E5bgsLmTOcj_BtsV1q9Q7Lu3wHmGqXeLHxXGmfm8Np6XaK84emA3f6suJDxh1Ei9wLjMmzIQt8zDVOOS7YlIZ8ZBwASS6fa9b50AtXkQWlkyV/s1600/youngbeau1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWExg8fraTBm6XNsqgG47Mb7E5bgsLmTOcj_BtsV1q9Q7Lu3wHmGqXeLHxXGmfm8Np6XaK84emA3f6suJDxh1Ei9wLjMmzIQt8zDVOOS7YlIZ8ZBwASS6fa9b50AtXkQWlkyV/s320/youngbeau1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young *Beau; just a few days old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We visited one group of Curlies, and Erica reacted
strongly. Then a few months later, we
visited another group, and she had no reaction at all. In September of that year we visited with the
Tilson’s of Tall Trees Curlies and by November had purchased our first horse,
*Tall Trees Misty’s Beau. We set a goal
of finding a mare who would balance what we felt his attributes would become,
and in March of the following year purchased *Katrina’s Fire Walker from
Melissa Kowal in Connecticut. The spring of 2001 found us building a barn
and fences, and *Walker
arrived, on her birthday. *Beau was
brought down by Chuck and his brother in August.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ouuC1GUxwKVL1sFJ5WHLabMY_PJpDI-KrHkq6Hu0QH3KSe9CNPtBqgK346Mgp3Yer6BGP3fyt1E0CStFhELqoHRAIA3p9jiBMnvbENJZCCk6RtEgijCQTbScEEFuqhIKgk1H/s1600/Walker122807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ouuC1GUxwKVL1sFJ5WHLabMY_PJpDI-KrHkq6Hu0QH3KSe9CNPtBqgK346Mgp3Yer6BGP3fyt1E0CStFhELqoHRAIA3p9jiBMnvbENJZCCk6RtEgijCQTbScEEFuqhIKgk1H/s320/Walker122807.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Walker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our original goal was to have 10 foals by *Beau, and we have
achieved six of them, from three different mares. We have had a seventh foal, as well, from *Walker and a Missouri
Foxtrotter stallion (we were hoping for a filly and got *Leo). Now, it is time to end breeding.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, the family grew-up and moved away, and in all
honesty, I probably started too late in my life down this path. But that is okay. I have learned so much and made so many
fabulous friends by having Curlies. We
have introduced others to the breed as well and made several people quite happy
when they learned they, too, might have a horse although they had allergies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As to where we hope to go, well there are several avenues
opening up for us, right now. One of
them is my brand new editing business, <a href="http://www.editingquill.com/" target="_blank">Red Quill</a>. But mostly, we need to be able to visit our
family. We have four daughters and, now,
four grandchildren that we’d like to spend more time with. They all live out of state and it is hard to
find someone to care for as many horses as we presently have. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we have decided to offer our horses for sale and will
listen to reasonable offers for them.
There are only three horses that will NOT be sold under any
circumstances: *Glory of Philea West, *Katrina’s Fire Walker, and *Red Running
Star. The others are available if you
are interested. If *Beau has no one
interested in him, then come autumn we will geld him and keep him. However, he still has so much to give to the
Curly World, if the right person came along, we would part with him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will keep making blog entries as often as possible, so
keep coming back for updates.</div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-60554428517240719672012-04-09T07:45:00.000-04:002012-04-09T07:45:56.822-04:00A different kind of coltI ask my readers to please pardon the silence from this blog these last days. I have been away and without my computer because I have been attending to a different kind of colt. <br />
<br />
This colt will never be measured in hands, nor his will his 'way of going' or 'reach' be discussed. There will be no worry as to his color genetics either. This colt will, eventually, walk on two feet rather than four, but if I'm lucky, he will learn to enjoy the four-footed beings that I call my friends. And if his Gpa has anything to say, he'll learn to ride better than either of us can.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9TwUVpS_UHhwDAnEgYd3UyWTuJ5Xq8fvjmnzkoRYGq_fMCHJ7hHU7gorrhOag825ginZVYhVEBMF7k0oluKEVMgg_gSzqoDartusHmJZbCEQ6qb14afAKoHn56Tcq3SCvq2c/s1600/gmaandsam040412CW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9TwUVpS_UHhwDAnEgYd3UyWTuJ5Xq8fvjmnzkoRYGq_fMCHJ7hHU7gorrhOag825ginZVYhVEBMF7k0oluKEVMgg_gSzqoDartusHmJZbCEQ6qb14afAKoHn56Tcq3SCvq2c/s320/gmaandsam040412CW.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
<br />
Please join me in welcoming Samson Paul Fucello to the world. Born April 1st (no foolin'!).Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-62643066372237349222012-03-18T12:28:00.000-04:002012-03-18T12:28:46.911-04:00*Leo's bucket<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love to hear folks who are new to the American Curly breed
rave about how quickly they learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
especially thrills me are the ones who are quite experienced with other breeds,
and can easily make comparisons to Curlies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because of allergies, I am limited in my experience with other breeds’
learning abilities, so I depend on hearing from people such as Lynn Marks in
her recent thread on the Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/202807299798132/" target="_blank">Curly World</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lynn
recently acquired a Curly, Harley, on March 8<sup>th</sup>, and she has shared
with us his fantastic progress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m the first to admit that I lack horse-training
experience; however, I have tried to make up my lack of years by reading,
seminars, clinics, talking with experienced people, and one-on-one
training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, my favorite style is
Clicker Training, because it makes <i>me</i> break-down the steps of what I
want to accomplish into manageable bites and makes <i>me</i> acutely aware of
the exact moment in time that a step is done correctly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This helps the horse to know what I’m
wanting, if she/he has done it correctly, AND it puts them in control of the
thought-process and decision to get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is also something that can be done when you have only a few moments
or limited space.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwryJaUgLs-Rgw17-XeE00TVBRLWMdQcislnkV5S3QsLcJgYvSfrIsCqRcrvFC3ggEV5c0CF9dCF-yq_6TZmmlS6VGq1AMXNqKQVHETISxr-jre1IClSkiLA8RqXh9Y5DyfQVP/s1600/leoeats031712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwryJaUgLs-Rgw17-XeE00TVBRLWMdQcislnkV5S3QsLcJgYvSfrIsCqRcrvFC3ggEV5c0CF9dCF-yq_6TZmmlS6VGq1AMXNqKQVHETISxr-jre1IClSkiLA8RqXh9Y5DyfQVP/s320/leoeats031712.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Leo eating</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm37z4M6InC7KCbkjPfamw2s_lxpbbJFEhnjEqDWaNW0-Eg7EEEGfQYQVvtk3uZqWq2o7AaWP_w4cJTWBphrunRVlmWYAEG41WRpLGFacvmBeXtmk5g73_b_2JXTqDDKuK6YQ2/s1600/leolifts031712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm37z4M6InC7KCbkjPfamw2s_lxpbbJFEhnjEqDWaNW0-Eg7EEEGfQYQVvtk3uZqWq2o7AaWP_w4cJTWBphrunRVlmWYAEG41WRpLGFacvmBeXtmk5g73_b_2JXTqDDKuK6YQ2/s320/leolifts031712.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Leo picks the bucket up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.greenmountaincurlies.com/Leospage.htm" target="_blank">*GMC Envoy’s Pride</a> (*Leo) our almost 5 year old gold
champagne gelding has been inside in a stall keeping our old girl, *Glory,
company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*Leo has always been a mouthy
one, and when you are near him (in a stall or in the field) his favorite place
to be is so close he might as well be in your pocket, oh and with his nose
planted on you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves to lick you
(disconcerting at times), or simply take hold of a jacket or sleeve edge with
his lips and hold on as if you are going to escape too quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of his other favorite things has been to
pick-up his feed bucket when he is done and hold onto it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason, it was only recently that I
realized this would be an easy action to shape with clicker training.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy5qTw5uSAuk_ww-RzqTOPzGbMq9KbP6H7Rdap1i4bkOzrsW_TslXbjdQREoJK1YtaQ4Bq9E_CPN_r3oE8APqgMk7pQqHxVTszX2Tkql6vEOVPqHoibpWA5IlkeQtZrGkkaL8/s1600/leobrings031712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy5qTw5uSAuk_ww-RzqTOPzGbMq9KbP6H7Rdap1i4bkOzrsW_TslXbjdQREoJK1YtaQ4Bq9E_CPN_r3oE8APqgMk7pQqHxVTszX2Tkql6vEOVPqHoibpWA5IlkeQtZrGkkaL8/s320/leobrings031712.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Leo brings the bucket to me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79F8Czlhhlk4NZ9HxL-NQzdp9CnzIprPSp2aul_Be71vr9SfEQKboyHGTZHpkvvEXz3GRdukoBqq_c9Q3TjyTZMKsO0Ng7aXb24RjEeRASTNTtDZdEpZ69yPqqkwXQV2fJrRQ/s1600/leogives031712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79F8Czlhhlk4NZ9HxL-NQzdp9CnzIprPSp2aul_Be71vr9SfEQKboyHGTZHpkvvEXz3GRdukoBqq_c9Q3TjyTZMKsO0Ng7aXb24RjEeRASTNTtDZdEpZ69yPqqkwXQV2fJrRQ/s320/leogives031712.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Leo hands me his bucket.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, for the past few feedings after he’s done eating and I’m
still in the stall cleaning, I have directed him back to his bucket when he is
done with a “Get your bucket.” and pointing toward it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s easily headed back to it, and
eventually, will bite the rim and lift it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At that point what I have been doing was to come over quickly, hold onto
the bucket, and ask him to “Let go.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once he did, I would click and treat, telling him “Good job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good boy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was then time to mold the behavior further, and so I would stay
further away from him, and ask him to “Bring me the bucket.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first it was only a few steps for him, but
the most significant one has been a space of about 24 feet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point, when he does this I “jackpot”
the click and treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jackpotting” is a
time when you give LOTS and LOTS of treats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I typically use alfalfa pellets, but I sometimes mix in bits of sweet
treats as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not sure exactly where I’m heading in this with
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can envision that it will be
useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, out on a trail
ride you drop something and he should be able to pick it up and give it to
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it may just be a “fun trick”
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do know that *Leo is incredibly
smart and he is very good looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is just waiting for “his person” to come along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the meanwhile, we will continue to have fun with one another, and I
will use his desire to “show off” (By the way, his half brother <a href="http://www.greenmountaincurlies.com/Sage.htm" target="_blank">Sage</a> apparently
has this same quality, according to his owner) in order to introduce more
“tricks” that will be molded into real abilities in his training routine.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Please excuse the quality of the photos used in the blog to
show his ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is quite hard to
photo and do the C/T at the same time!</div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-62167817609211543072012-03-09T12:07:00.000-05:002012-03-09T12:07:28.034-05:00Re-visiting Stringhalt<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Revisiting Stringhalt</div>
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As anyone who is around horses a lot knows, they are walking
potential disasters; American Curly Horses are no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In over a decade of owning Curlies we have
experienced disasters, both small and large. One of the most extensive problems,
although having occurred over four (4) years ago, still attracts
attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought in today’s blog on
my Curly horses I would talk about it again, and bring you up to date. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEI3YrCVKtcY5AUeemIFIs52j8tSzTlCrlIIoH44dCr31cNN39z3gJXxVcnQjRj_IlwBPvTEnn2_xJIIDJhma9eWeDy2qhybIa34-CchyROm2K2lHb0wafwDta7SZH46xJSW30/s1600/redtrots7409CWsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEI3YrCVKtcY5AUeemIFIs52j8tSzTlCrlIIoH44dCr31cNN39z3gJXxVcnQjRj_IlwBPvTEnn2_xJIIDJhma9eWeDy2qhybIa34-CchyROm2K2lHb0wafwDta7SZH46xJSW30/s320/redtrots7409CWsmall.jpg" width="320" /></a>My long time readers will know that way back in October of
2007, my daughter’s Curly gelding, *Red Running Star, developed a case of
stringhalt, seemingly over a matter of hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He and *Beau had been in their pasture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At noon when lunch hay had been delivered, all was fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It rained a bit in the afternoon, and when
Chuck went down to give them some hay a bit after 5 o’clock *Red could barely
walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were devastated and brought
both boys up to the arena, and stalls, immediately. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Over the course of the next week or so we consulted with, or
were visited by, our regular veterinarian, <a href="http://alisoncornwalldvm.com/">Alison Cornwall</a>; an
herbalist <a href="http://horsetailherbs.org/">Kelley Robie</a>; another vet who specializes in lameness, <a href="http://www.bevet.com/">Randy Franz</a>; and a biochemist,
<a href="http://www.vita-royal.com/">Linsey McLean</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Linsey’s recommendation we began to
video tape *Red to better see the progression of his recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His first video is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVaQqQp7OhQ">here</a> on YouTube<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVaQqQp7OhQ" target="_dgnew"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></a></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a total of six (6) videos,
but the first has had over 32,600 views!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, that first video has been referenced by websites with questions
and/or answers about stringhalt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was
a site written by a long-time vet to help veterinarian students study for their
tests (unfortunately I didn’t bookmark it and have now lost the site) and just
recently I found <a href="http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/831570/">this</a> reference.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We never did find out exactly why *Red developed stringhalt,
but we think that it was a combination of injury and possible malnutrition due
to malabsorption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned that
stringhalt can be triggered by a lack of, or inability to absorb,
magnesium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, besides just giving him
time, our primary treatment was a change in diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still follow this diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I touched on feeding in this recent <a href="http://greenmountaincurlies.blogspot.com/2012/02/all-horse-owners-have-different-ways-of.html">blog</a>.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Over the course of time, *Red has had some small
relapses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that by increasing
the magnesium he would stop “high stepping” rather quickly, and so for him, he
gets the vitamin/mineral supplement I use with everyone in the morning’s feed
and then in the evening’s feed I give him a bit of extra magnesium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m happy to report that in the past two (2)
years he has not had even one incident of that high stepping gait.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have had many, many people contact me and ask what we did
for *Red; how we cured him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always
caution them that what we did may not work, but that it is worth a try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am happy to be a resource of information
and a source of hope that their horse may be cured as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why I chose to re-visit the topic, as
well as to say “thank you” to the vet student who recently stopped by that
first video and sent me a message telling me how good the video was and that
she was happy to hear he was better.</div>
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<br /></div>
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If you are interested in reading the original blog entry it
is <a href="http://greenmountaincurlies.blogspot.com/2007/10/red-running-stars-bout-with-stringhalt.html%20">here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-84591264126504727862012-03-02T12:46:00.000-05:002012-03-02T12:46:01.780-05:00Liberty Work<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I have been told that American Curly Horses are very
intelligent as breeds go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not to
discount the intelligence of other breeds, and truly I have little experience
with them due to my allergies; however, I can say that most of the ones in my
herd seem to catch-on quite quickly to the offered training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There could be many reasons why those of us
with Curly Horses find them so, and I’m not really here to discuss that
particular topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I do wish to
reflect on is the at-liberty training I enjoy with my Curlies.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have had many iterations of my style of training since
I’ve owned Curlies, but my favorite way to work with them is some combination of
Clicker, Tellington-Jones, Rashid, and a bit of Parelli thrown in for good
measure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also a firm believer in
introducing a concept, working on it a few times and then letting it “sleep”
for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With almost a 100 percent
return, the horse not only remembers what was offered, but may have made
improvements on it by themselves.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We start with liberty training within hours of the foal
hitting the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first lesson
that we teach is to back-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had
people tell me that a horse should learn to go forward for you first, but I
have found that all horses know how to go forward, and often quite
quickly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I happened to be standing in
front of them, or even to the side (with one of their feet on mine), I want
them to back up quickly and without question.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I like to use Parelli’s first three games as a foundation
for the foals, because that is what their mother does and I can easily build
upon it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, this will lead to
me working on lifting their feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
ultimate goal being that they will stand and give their foot gently and allow
me to hold it for a bit of time. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
With little *Andi (*GMC Andrea’s Ankti), I have been doing
this and she’s getting very good at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The surprise for me though, was the day that I positioned myself next to
her front leg, and she offered it to me without a single touch, or even a move
toward the touch, from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s only
happened twice, and I don’t expect it, but this is a prime example of the horse
taking the training another step.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
May your Curlies offer you continued pleasant surprises!</div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-35162838641480076292012-02-25T16:05:00.000-05:002012-03-02T12:42:42.039-05:00Home Coming<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had another blog all written; however, having been away from our American Curly Horses for 18 days brought another subject to mind. Often when a human is away from their horse or horses there will be a “testing” of sorts when they return. Curly Horses are, after all, horses so one may expect them to behave appropriately. I expected, at the very least, our youngest Curlies to test my leadership abilities by trying to make me back-up or seeing if they can bite me and get away with it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I flew in Tuesday evening and after arriving home joined in doing chores with my husband. As I brought the food buckets into each paddock, I was amazed to find that not one Curly horse behaved as if I had been gone more than an hour or two. Not one chose to test me as they often test the leadership of a fellow horse, a new human, or even one who they know but haven’t seen for a few days. When the testing didn’t happen I thought it might be related to the fact that I had food in my hands, so then watched for it the following morning when I did not. Yet over the ensuing days not one horse has tested me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not even in the least do I believe it is because they are Curly Horses, neither do I feel that it was a fluke. I do think that it is a testament to the relationship I have built with each horse from my oldest *Glory, at 24 years of age, to my youngest *Andrea of only 17 months. I try to always show them that I am steady, trustworthy, and consistent. That allows them to feel safe and to know their place in the hierarchy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Here’s hoping that each of you have the chance to develop such a deep and lasting relationship with your Curly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Please excuse the delay in posting. I arrived home from Indiana, where I had been for the birth of a grandson, only to find that my computer’s hard drive had developed problems. Thankfully, Chuck was able to replace it and save all my data.)</span></div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-20988325888260208622012-02-15T16:06:00.000-05:002012-03-02T12:46:52.427-05:00FeedingAll horse owners have different ways of feeding, and American Curly Horse owners are no different. There have been many myths about Curly Horses and one of them was that they never need hard feed. That simply is not true. American Curly Horses, depending on where they live, and from where their hay comes, usually need some vitamin and/or mineral supplement. In Vermont, we are deficit in magnesium, as are many places in North America, so it is important to choose a feed that will supplement them well. Because I prefer to have greater control over what my horses eat, especially regarding non-nutritive items in feeds, I mix my own. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Qdx7yaMytQwFcraLjGyIMhzISojv-r8iwro-WXfJ3wQjTEGyvqhWom5MBCIWdcxO-oCxGTjWvuYPlRmeSkyxeAkBYVTsDirl6XGWQ2PVCgmH_tdKS1Fds69QT7Dw-vIoLFq7/s1600/buckets013012FCW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Qdx7yaMytQwFcraLjGyIMhzISojv-r8iwro-WXfJ3wQjTEGyvqhWom5MBCIWdcxO-oCxGTjWvuYPlRmeSkyxeAkBYVTsDirl6XGWQ2PVCgmH_tdKS1Fds69QT7Dw-vIoLFq7/s320/buckets013012FCW.jpg" width="213" yda="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have chosen to feed my horses a higher protein and fat mix, and adjust the carbohydrate need for each horse. But, I primarily used the hard feed as a carrier for the supplements I have chosen to use. For the past four (4) years I have used a vitamin/mineral mix from <a href="http://www.equivision.com/products.htm">EquiVision</a> that has kept my horses doing very well. I chose it because it came closest to the amount of magnesium, selenium, and vitamin E that my vet had suggested would be best. It also does not have fillers. However, I have found that three (3) of the horses have needed a bit higher magnesium, for various reasons, and so supplement them with a pure magnesium powder.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ultimately whether you have a Curly horse, or some other breed, it is best to consult with your vet, and research, research, research before choosing how to feed your horse.Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-36823932296727359182012-02-07T15:29:00.000-05:002012-03-02T12:47:09.654-05:00The American Curly HorseThe American Curly is still quite a mystery horse. We know some things about their past, for instance, that the Sioux and Crow nations prized them as we see drawings about them on their calendar counts. We know that the Curly Horse was seen from time to time in round-ups of the Mustang, and a drawing of a Curly Horse was featured in Ripley’s Believe-It-or-Not. From whence they came is as much a mystery today as then. <br />
<br />
<br />
For some time it was believed that they were related to the Bashkir horses from Russia, and from that the name “American Bashkir Curly Horse” was derived, but it has since been discovered that none of the Bashkir horses have curly hair. Unfortunately, the appendage of “Bashkir” still sticks though it is incorrect.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In hopes of unraveling some of the mystery, there is an on-going DNA research project sponsored through the International Curly Horse Organization to discover the breeds that have gone into forming the Curly Horse of today. You can read more about it on this ICHO page: http://ichopage.weebly.com/research.html<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are interested in other aspects of the history of the American Curly I recommend this page as well: http://ichocurlyhorses.weebly.com/history.html<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you for your interest!Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-20091554142399999162011-01-09T19:57:00.000-05:002011-01-09T19:57:54.777-05:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><u>Genesis</u></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today Chuck began recording rides for RAC. Here is what he had to say:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9FD5Bi5pMxjdHU7h9pRn80TU4Sx1iWMIi1EGDXB9Aed7yOD8AEcyek07IMAlkckwh-k62VGxRDdz1NsxBWW9AJyLBgYUbDPzGHpkEsycEUA1NDN7SMdT-ckvRKwf6h3HOmLA/s1600/chuckwalkerRACprofilepic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9FD5Bi5pMxjdHU7h9pRn80TU4Sx1iWMIi1EGDXB9Aed7yOD8AEcyek07IMAlkckwh-k62VGxRDdz1NsxBWW9AJyLBgYUbDPzGHpkEsycEUA1NDN7SMdT-ckvRKwf6h3HOmLA/s320/chuckwalkerRACprofilepic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> It is the first time in over a year since I have ridden the young lady that I rode today. Unfortunately, last spring *Katrina’s Fire Walker (*Walker) suffered some physical difficulties and is just now on the mend. Now that she is feeling better we have decided to get a little exercise. She won’t be the only horse that I’ll be riding, but I will be concentrating on getting her more fit, both physically and mentally.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk7BtGwYog8zi_5s4_UqHa7pTq9EaESe55Vn6xI8KCbneruCRfIqKITUAVctEZUahztKTJf3kS9J6oUoYYvP54Aq8z7Ijd_UD9v8nnDf3pDkfu8WgeqBiM0dj4N56YWL-PyH_/s1600/walkerchuckride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk7BtGwYog8zi_5s4_UqHa7pTq9EaESe55Vn6xI8KCbneruCRfIqKITUAVctEZUahztKTJf3kS9J6oUoYYvP54Aq8z7Ijd_UD9v8nnDf3pDkfu8WgeqBiM0dj4N56YWL-PyH_/s320/walkerchuckride.jpg" width="182" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4TXV8rn-hoEK73lfSKlK2fjJL14LcgyGGX29gyrniMj-OThkrK5ieLV7_2WtX5U1IUoNXKsiXlobnfvi3F2WFSJkvzkbwwSnEInRb5WcVzO_ajNaA4V4rC5ywYeQMcq4521e/s1600/walkerchuckpreride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4TXV8rn-hoEK73lfSKlK2fjJL14LcgyGGX29gyrniMj-OThkrK5ieLV7_2WtX5U1IUoNXKsiXlobnfvi3F2WFSJkvzkbwwSnEInRb5WcVzO_ajNaA4V4rC5ywYeQMcq4521e/s200/walkerchuckpreride.jpg" width="181" /></a>We had a short ride, about 20 minutes. She was a bit uncomfortable leaving the rest of the herd, and is still a little off, in that her responses were not as confident as they were previous to her illness. Here are a couple of photos from today. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Target training</u></div><br />
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This afternoon, after Chuck’s ride on *Walker, I spent a few minutes introducing *Love to target work. I had a pool noodle, and *Love was none too sure that it wasn’t going to eat her. However, as we have done a small amount of Clicker Training before, I was confident I could get her over the problem.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8exXV85TdgMHU239ZbSaQWeQXUEc45432sRAYs3Mxfh5knT6A32qZAGsrGr7qWny7oYNbJEWLiFeGB8zCxkiiLc66qN5J8hT0a-r5KNHEx0WXt8s5s_q5knmW_-tMBy9gP2rI/s1600/lovenoodleneck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8exXV85TdgMHU239ZbSaQWeQXUEc45432sRAYs3Mxfh5knT6A32qZAGsrGr7qWny7oYNbJEWLiFeGB8zCxkiiLc66qN5J8hT0a-r5KNHEx0WXt8s5s_q5knmW_-tMBy9gP2rI/s200/lovenoodleneck.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWz7FIUhjmSyVyyNKBS2InwgSfBHLRlqw8dXy-0hbKBiZuZlK9OuaNQzxQDA-0F4x8DojFcQtiHHkhgtIH1ORyQs57q-5Z_oWSsLBKrFaYJHUngnGmy_nieInt78W7V6A02cc/s1600/lovelowtouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWz7FIUhjmSyVyyNKBS2InwgSfBHLRlqw8dXy-0hbKBiZuZlK9OuaNQzxQDA-0F4x8DojFcQtiHHkhgtIH1ORyQs57q-5Z_oWSsLBKrFaYJHUngnGmy_nieInt78W7V6A02cc/s200/lovelowtouch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>First step, of course, is to get her to touch the target (noodle) with her nose, and typically you arrange that to happen accidentally. Once accomplished, I introduced the word “touch” and asked her to “touch the noodle” and caused it to touch her nose again. She is a quick study, that one, and within a few tries had the idea that she needed to touch the noodle with her nose in order to get a treat. Once that was done, I began touching different parts of her body and C/Ting. As she is a confident young filly, it wasn’t long before I was able to lay the noodle over her back.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65wCrM_aQEL-TpaUY75JXwE65ARUArNRIzL4u7UgWguoSCX_q60-mKB6CW8NDLPOD7nmRPi_ROUKh1XZAUh3BodkxYpOCbYMVfidOYpRGkZhmzoUhmOre-QAIeXoc1LoZc0Uw/s1600/lovenoodleback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65wCrM_aQEL-TpaUY75JXwE65ARUArNRIzL4u7UgWguoSCX_q60-mKB6CW8NDLPOD7nmRPi_ROUKh1XZAUh3BodkxYpOCbYMVfidOYpRGkZhmzoUhmOre-QAIeXoc1LoZc0Uw/s200/lovenoodleback.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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I like to introduce all sorts of things to the young ones as a ‘sacking out’ procedure and today was fun for us both.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-36489584033607772752010-12-17T22:04:00.002-05:002010-12-17T22:04:57.844-05:00<u>Steady As She Goes</u><br />
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Although I haven’t been writing blog entries, I have been working with the horses; primarily the boys. I have also added working with our newest horse, *GMC Andrea’s Ankti (Andi) by lifting her feet and doing some filing. I’ve handled her feet since birth, but not really asked her to hold them up too long, so this is a new task. She’s getting pretty good at it, considering that I am new to filing. <br />
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I did take *Walker out for a walk a day or two ago. We investigate the arena, walked through snow, found some turkeys. I also played a bit of Circling Game with her, but we are still being easy with her as she was ill this past spring and summer. And no official diagnosis either, but she seems to have come round with the fall. We’re very glad for that, as she is quite the light of our eyes.<br />
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And lately, with *Jack I have added trotting in hand. He’s getting very good at reading my body language, so I’m thrilled with his sensitivity.<br />
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The other night, though, I did add something fun, inadvertently. During the week I do evening chores by myself…chopping ice, watering, haying, and then feeding their grain to them. It takes an hour and a half to two hours, depending on how slow I want to be. The last group that I usually feed are *Glory, Silken, and *Love. After setting their buckets down, I decided to sit down. Apparently, I had never done that around *Love! Suddenly, I was even with her head as she ate, and this caused her to snort and pause in her eating. Both Silken and *Glory took this in stride, so she decided it was okay to go on eating. Silken is always done first, and when she finished she looked at me. I asked her forward, she took a step, and I gave her a treat. She then moved to help *Love with her bucket, as she always tries, and I made a “eeehhhhh” sound, as always as well, and she backed off. I still had not moved! Then I asked her forward again, and she took a step and I gave her a second treat. *Glory then asked for one, but she was concerned with stepping into Silk’s space. I pointed at Silken and said, “Back” and she took a step backward. (By this point I was pretty impressed with myself, I must say.) *Glory then stepped closer to get her treats. Finally *Love was done and looked at me. I said, “Come on *Love, it’s okay.” And she gingerly took a step toward me. She snuffled my foot, my leg, and finally thought it might be okay to take the treat. Once she had her two treats, I asked her back then got up. I call this “Training From Laziness”. It might not really count for RAC points, but it was fun nevertheless!Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-31133770200625965882010-11-30T13:06:00.000-05:002010-11-30T13:06:05.846-05:00<u>Pushing Thresholds & the Monster Rock</u><br />
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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was full of family and fun, but without any real horse-time. Family left yesterday so it was “back to work” today!<br />
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Both *Red and *Beau were fabulous today, allowing me to push their thresholds. Last week was *Red’s first time working with me and the wand. Today he showed just how much he remembered. I use, not only physical cues, but verbal cues as well. I ask for movement with the horse’s name, as in *Red, Walk on” and I ask for a downward shift in motion, or stop, by drawing out the word “and” then adding on the gait I’m looking for, such as “and trot”. *Red showed that he recalled that very well! The first time I said “aaaannnnnnd whoa” he stopped on a dime! By the end of our time together he was stopping with the wand swinging in toward his chest and the beginning of the word “and”! I was thrilled.<br />
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*Beau was also on top of his game today, even remembering that just because you need to walk past those sexy mares you don’t need to talk, you DO need to pay attention because you might be asked to do something!! This may seem like no big deal but it is something he forgets when he is first near the ladies in the fall.<br />
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Last up was *Jack, and today I added in backing up while I was standing to his side. He is used to backing up when I face him; he knows the word “back”, he understands pressure to the nose or shoulder. Today, we started backing up and trying to stay straight. What I’ve found is that when they first are asked to do this, because they are used to facing you, they tend to back out away from you, so that they stop and are facing you. With the help of C/T we got it right many times. The most fun, however, was when he spied the ROCK. “Oh my, what is that big white thing in the field? I’ve never seen it before!” he said (it was a snow covered rock). So off we went to examine it. He’s so brave, that one! Marched right up with me and when I asked him to ‘touch’ he reached his nose right down to find out what it was. I love it when we just have to go touch that “boogie monster”!<br />
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All in all, we each had a good time!Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15886950.post-27456474701002203252010-11-24T12:24:00.000-05:002010-11-24T12:24:49.238-05:00<u>Adrenaline Rush</u><br />
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Today was all about establishing good leadership with* Suncatcher and Dude. First, let me explain that it is one of those days where you think to yourself: “Self, should I really work with a horse in wind like this?” But then you say, “Sure, it’s a perfect time to establish good leadership.” The only thing you’ve forgotten is how hard it can be when there are THOUSANDS OF HORSE EATING MONSTERS and the horses have forgotten that you really are as good as you’ve been telling them you are.<br />
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That brings me to taking *Sun for his walk and today I saw a different side to *Sun than I’ve seen before. *Sun lives with 3 others: Dude, *Jack, and *Leo. All geldings, all somewhat goofballs in their own way; oh, and all of them hold up their hoof and yell “Take me, take me” when you walk in with a lead rope. So, actually walking out with the correct one is a feat in itself!! Having made sure that I had *Sun on the other end, we proceeded down the drive toward the lower pastures, walking and whoaing the whole way. That is, of course, until we had to pass the area where we have tractor equipment stored covered by a huge piece of tarp (tarp blows very nicely in a strong wind if you didn’t know...). *Sun was NOT so sure I was as smart as I keep telling him I am. However, we managed to go past it without it eating him, so perhaps I am okay. We then walked all the way down to the lower field without incident. Yes, he was very aware of his surroundings, but he kept his focus on me. We went to the round pen and walked one way around it. As we nearly completed the circle something ‘blew up his skirt’ as they say, and he charged ahead, got to the end of the rope, turned, snorted and looked at me. “What was that?” I asked; “Did you see me get upset? Did I tell you there was danger? Nooooo, you’re fine.” And I proceeded to walk on straightening him out as I went. We did another circle and walked out of the pen and turned left to go once around the outside of it, and he exploded! However, he did so while always being mindful of how close he was to me. He pulled out, moved his rear away from me, leapt into the air and cow-kicked. I asked him, “What was that?” (It is a favorite question of mine). He immediately came back in and inserted his head in my arms. I told him, again, he was fine, and we started to walk again. About six steps later, he again exploded by pulling himself out from me, leaping, kicking, then rearing, and kicking, then rearing again (he’s pretty impressive actually...have you ever noticed that while something like this is happening part of you is noticing the oddest things?) This time, I looked at him, swelled myself up to about 18 hands (which is good considering I’m only a bit over 15H) and said “NO!” I pulled him back in (actually pulling isn’t right, reeling is more like it) and asked him to walk and whoa over and over. He has recently been learning clicker, so now it was time to highly employ it. As we began to walk back up to the winter pastures, when he walked calmly and attentively next to me, I C/Ted. We did this all the way back up, and I am happy to report that he stayed “with” me the whole time. I deposited him back in with his cohorts, and took a breather.<br />
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Next up was Dude. Now Dude is typically a very calm fellow, but he is also an introverted horse. You need to pay attention to him as his eyes and his nostrils say it all. Dude, too, was very aware of his surroundings. That wind is a tricky fellow and it makes all sorts of things move around. Dude is, though, definitely one who likes to check out the “boogie men”. He’ll be startled, do that really cute splay-legged move, stare at it, then say “Let’s go look at it!” He also is VERY clicker-savvy. So, going past the moving tarp over the equipment was a definite eye-bugging process, and unfortunately, I couldn’t let him check it out, as much as he wanted to, because we haven’t been able to use a metal detector on the arena base yet. I’d hate for a horse to get anything in their hoof. Other than the covered equipment, Dude seemed very keen to go for a walk, and I thought we’d make a trip around the field, but we’d no sooner gotten all the way down, than he too, exploded. For Dude it was no aerial theatrics but moving forward. So I fed out the line and let him trot around me. I could tell he was not happy (those nostrils you see), so I made the executive decision to not push it today. He did ‘stay’ with me, he was aware of where he was, where I was, but he was past his comfort zone. Once he had settled, I moved to walk back up out of the field and he felt he was most comfortable with his head towards me, and his butt away, side-passing up the hill. We did about 10 feet that way and he decided it was too hard. So, he turned head first next to me, but then thought I wasn’t going fast enough. I tend to go slower when that happens and it didn't take long for him to realize that he needed to not pull and walk beside me. Of course, I used C/T to tell him when he was “correct” and “correct” he stayed, until we got to the equipment. Then it was a discussion, “I want to see!” “Sorry, Dude, too dangerous” (and repeat for the number of steps it took us to pass by). Once past, he thought about exploding again, but decided against it, and he was very ready to go back into his paddock.<br />
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So, I’m left with thoughts: Was it because of the wind? (Could be) Was it their lack of trust in me? (Could be) Perhaps they are herd-bound? (Could be) I’m thinking it was all of the above and all that means is that I have to keep working at it little by little.<br />
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I can say though, that wind is whipping pretty powerfully.Adriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142329215862001659noreply@blogger.com0