A Morning On The Farm

Barb wire makes for a lovely visual in the foreground 

I just love the raw rusty nature of it 

The field in the background darted with the horses

while Chloe plays with her ball

The club house looks lonely without any activity 

But still from afar looks lovely against the blue sky

Onward to cleaning up and preparing for Spring

Leaves, branches and horse manure... are forever plentiful!

Looking forward to a warmer day!

Productive Day at Still Waters Farm

A day of getting acquainted with a new student...

... Baby has the honor of teaching Kaleigh the art of relationship

... and that smile says it all! I just dont think she can swing a saddle that high just yet!

I now see where she gets that smile from... her mima :)

who has fell in love with Charlz!

Now Maddie... she is just tickled to be wearing those cool spurs for the first time!

She wouldnt let me post that vid of her first time jumping... well cuz she squeeled like a pig

... turned red faced then laughed and laughed!

Still cantered back to the barn though... so guess she wasnt too scared!

May have ourselves a jumper in the future! 

Shhhhhhhhhhhh dont tell her I said that!

Looking forward to our next sessions as I am sure they all are!

Though raining today... better weather is on the way gals!

To Be So Fortunate.... REALLY!

It all started with you my dearest Tessie

Though I had horses prior to age 12...

Tessie was really my first best friend. 

She taught me things....like not to be afraid...

.... to love... 

... and to Let Go... 

Then Misty... Poco Misty Blue Rose

my first Registerd Quarter Horse

What a beauty! 

The lesson I learned with her... is not to believe the Registration Papers...

She was not a Blue Roan :))) 

Still beautiful... and still an amazing horse...

She taught me to trust... and that I could train horses myself!

My darling Spicie... Hot & Spicie... and she was!

She was an amazing athlete, mother and partner. 

We learned that we could do it all if I wanted...

Hunter Pace, Team Pen and ....

have babies!

Thank you Spicie for my lovely and amazing BABY!

Waps In Yo Wallet is NOT only a Halter Champion with 3 National Points on her... 

But a patient teacher for youngsters!

... and a great mover in dressage and jumper in cross country!

Her darling cousin Charlie "Waps Chocolate Moose"

Shipped up from PA at 9mo and he was already  almost 15h

Now also a lovely dressage and jumper that I am trying to bring along myself.

Though trying at times.... what has he taught me? 

TO BE PATIENT, FAIR and UNDERSTANDING ...

and regardless that maybe one day we may not always be eventing together.

Angel By Day

My dream 17h OTTB (off the track thoroughbred)

...was a delight to retrain for eventing.

A gentle giant and amazing athlete...I fell in love the first time I laid eyes on him!

I was fortunate to have owned him for 3 yrs

He still is enjoying jumping and training in MA with Phillip

These beautiful creatures that blessed my pastures and some still do...

I Am The Fortunate One To Have Owned Them!

May the ones I dont own today continue to be a blessing to others!

After An Unsuccessful Clinic....

I signed up for a clinic thinking...  well it would be good to get Charlz out...

Then after auditing in the morning before I brought him in... I thought... 

Well I should just give it a chance?

What do you see?

I apparently have unrealistic expectations.... 

thinking I wouldnt be botherred with his antics... 

Then ... he reared up luckily BEFORE I handed him off to her...

and she basically hand fed him...

looking back on it I now wonder what he gained from it?

I will say this.... in the mornings usually I am avoiding his flailing hind hooves after I turn him loose in the pasture... but just recently incorporated giving him a handful of grain to keep him occupied before turning him loose has been an asset ... I will maintain that until otherwise.

... But honestly $150 for two days of watching a trainer handfeed my horse trying to get him to associate treats with clicker is .... well in all honesty ... is ridiculous... 

A lesson well learned... 

ASK MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE SENDING A CHECK!
What used to be called "clicker training" is now called "on target training"
I just dont think it works for EVERY horse... especially unpredictable ones...

over n out

MY LAST HOPEFUL....

I have to say this was the hardest decision I have had to make.

But after years of trying to make a go of it I have to accept that I am 42 and I cant do what I used to do. Nor can I finish a horse and myself to be ready for Novice let alone Prelim in my hopes and dreams on my own farm raised mount with the altheticism and ability that apparently is far beyond my reach.

If I find the right person I can live vicariously through that rider and still live my dream of getting him through the ranks and watching him mature and be the great eventer I know he is.

When he sells I can hopefully start the grueling hunt for a new mount that is experienced and ready to go.

I really hate looking for a new mount the laundry list of must haves is long... and the reality of finding the right one that is all the seller says they are is far and few.... BUT if God has him sold that means that the one door closes and another one opens.... IN JESUS NAME ~ AMEN!

A Rainy Day ~ A Day For Inspiration....

I figured if I have to be inside all morning it would be a good to use

my time wisely and be creative.

Inspirational posters / posts on FB seem to be the thing today

so I figured to utilize my stock photo images of amazing horses

that I have been blessed to own and couple them with words that 

speak volumes to me.....

I have many more to come....

but these are my first.

To see more go to my FB page

Birch Ridge Studio Productions

or my website:

www.birchridgestudioproductions.vpweb.com

Rain Rain... Better Than Snow I Guess

It started out nice and mild in comparison to the last few days, when we got an inch of snow and it stuck due to freezing temps! So cant complain ~ but I did want to ride and didnt get out there soon enough.

Watched from the inside my horses at the round bale feeder and thought... I guess I will bring them in so they dont get soaked and ended up feeding them indoors. 

Tomorrow will be a better day :)

But On A Wednesday.....

THIS IS OLLIE

17.3 hand Thoroughbred cross

No not a trick horse but easy going :)

6 years old, knows his leads and loves to jump!

A major huge big powerful humungous jump!

Like wow... :) It was fun trying him out

I foresee a few more rides on him in my future :)

Maybe the owner will let me cross country him at CHP???? 

Wouldnt that be fun!

He makes my rear look small... I cant help but like him!!

 

THE TRUTH OF IT!

... that one day all you have strived for is still... STILL not taking hold like you had hoped. When I write this I am still in mourning of my lifes dream, and what was lost... but wait... LOOK at all I have gained. I struggle with this not as often as I used to and that is good.... but it has come to a head again. This time because I have to face that fact that Charlie and I have been through a lot, if you have followed my blog from the beginning... you can understand where I am coming from. 

My horses are my life. I have no life without them. I aspire to do what is right by them, be a better rider and channel their minds to become what they are meant to be. I too have dreams that I would like to come to fruition. I want to event, be eventing & call myself an eventer. I am so close and know that it is now in reach. What is holding me back now is my uneducated horses. I have done all I can without investing in training. I feel that I am getting older and I cannot have this fear of getting physically hurt by Charlie any longer. I have been dealing with his antics for years and it is time he moves on. I know that God will provide someone that sees the potential in him and knows how to get the best out of him without getting hurt. I am working diligently on marketing him this week, and getting him into the hands of someone before Spring.

I have my trailer for sale too and hope that with freeing up that money I can develope Baby into a my novice hopeful. I am not a dressage person but do understand its importance in 3 day eventing. Dressage does develope the horse physically as well as the relationship between horse and rider. Seeing the upper level moves who wouldnt want to aspire to be in unison with their horse? Baby has lovely movement and its her time to develope that natural ability.

Also at this point I am focusing on finding a suitable mount that is more finished than either of mine currently are. Finding a horse that knows their lead changes, and transitions quietly and will always jump is important to me... and therefore I can work with the rest. Baby has good days and bad days, her airs above ground, her excitability and edgy attitude stir my soul. The occassional refusal that cannot be simply overturned by a rejump is unacceptable. That apparently is appytude. All these years I have had appy problems and thought it was me.... well I can say it may be because Im really not an appyperson? I thought I was though!

I dont know, I may not part with her, but to the right person... and only the right person.... I could. She was my first born, that I waited my whole life for.... now 7, is it fair to just keep her on the back burner as a secondary horse?

NO... 

they should all enjoy their lives to the fullest potential and she does have just that... 

Full of POTENTIAL!

Two great horses that I have cherrished all these years. 

Bred to raise them my way, trained them personally and gave them the building blocks to be great horses... 

I am so proud.

The best thing I can do is find the right people to continue their education in the eventing world.

Sadly :(

Lumber River Ride

Baby & I FINALLY got to enjoy an overnight ride with friends,

so happy we did, we enjoyed our time off the farm and met some new people and got to take alot of pictures... but let me tell you... IT WAS COLD AT NIGHT!

I decided not to do that again until the weather was warmer.... !

Heading off in the morning after a great breakfast into the wild blue yonder!

 Some friends showed up just for the evening party life... and it was! 

Life band for two nights.... now that sounds like fun... again ... in warmer weather!

Lunch was provided for a nominal charge somewhere out on the trail.

A large fire even to warm your bum! 

Me and Rachel decided to light a cigar after we tied up :)

Road trip into town for some beahs n snacks :) 

Itsa gals n dogs weekend what can you say?

Lyndsey and her mule were quite handsom against the big sky!

Meeting some new friends ... we do all have something in common!

Baby's paw paw pawing got her the afternoons stalled.

Not everyone can have such a well behaved red horse!

Myla and Kenny - leading our wagon train 

Somebody wants to sneak a stoggie :)

A good day... all the creature comforts... 

Cabella Chair ~ check!

Drinks ~ check!

Puppys and a blanket ~ check!

Wifi for your laptop ........ PRICELESS!