WOW ~ time DOES fly when your having fun!

Well here we are.... a typical day in NC ... blue skies and a big spotted nose!

Baby ~ has been the most amazing filly I have enjoyed watching grow up and be amazing!

She has been there done a LOT....  

barrel raced, trail ridden, shown in hand in ApHA circuit in her early years....

 she even had 5 national points in halter! 

Her love is jumping... a natural in dressage...

I will miss her endearing personality!

Her beautiful inquisitive looks... & her nonchallant attitude!

 

She has been enjoyed by everyone! Students foremost, family, friends... anyone can ride her.

She has returned to the cold north of MASS to be a blessing to a young eventer hopeful!

 and will be the apple of Lyndsay's eye this year! 

Baby... my first and only Baby.... I love you and you are Blessed to be a Blessing!

ENJOY every day, you are a beautiful soul!

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!!