Saturday, June 8, 2013

up date on Foxie.

Do to the fact my dogs ate my phone, I do not have the pictures I wanted to go along with this post.

I was told many things about Foxie when she first came to me, one of them was that she was too spooky and high strung to make  a trail horse. Here again, I keep trying to believe people are not that blind when it comes to an animal that they have owned for years so by impulse, I wanted to believe that there was foundation to the things she was telling me about the horse she had since Foxie was  9 months old.

Again I was proven wrong about assuming the best of people when it comes to their animals. I can say with out a doubt that Foxie is far more of a study mount for trails then my tried and true trail horse I have now. On a whim I took Foxie out for a ride at dusk, spooked up a deer and rode through the trees and under brush (all after a couple days off by the way) without so much of a side step through it all.

the next morning I took her out again for an hour ride through anything I could find to go through to the same results! Turning for home I even asked for the canter to see what she would do. Not only did she pick up the right lead but she never tried to pick up speed or grab the bit.

I keep looking for something wrong with her but as hard as I've been looking the only conclusion I can come up with is;
 A) I just got a really nice free horse
 B) People are very stupid when it comes to their horses!


Monday, April 29, 2013

the one that I couldn't save

I found this guy too late, he was owned by a kill buyer and on Sunday was sent off. With only a couple of hours I posted his pic on rescue sits but I ran out of time.

If you rescue horses you'll understand the obsession with the ones you can't save. To date I've saved, retrained and re-homed five horses. but it's this guy that will haunt me. He was only 4 or 5 years old and trained to ride and drive.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Dream horse

Everyone has a dream horse, mine is a Akal Teke. I've loved those horses since I was a little girl.
I always wanted to take off across open fields and through the woods just me and my Akal Teke. It's this type of day dream that has lead me to endurance riding. And to my surprise Foxie is turning out to be fit for the discipline! 

I look at pictures and adds of Akal Teke horses for sale and day dream about what I could do with a horse like that but this day dreaming about say... winning the Tevis Cup has reminded me of the most important part of any horse, their heart.

Foxie has a lot of heart, and willing to do the job. She's coming along and is a joy to ride so far I couldn't be happier with her!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Riding the wet noodle

     For a twelve year old, Foxie is far behind even where most three year old's are. With her, I've been taking the slow road because with older horses that have never been asked to do anything it's hard to get past that sometimes Lunging has become an important part of our daily routine. It helps reestablish that I am the boss mare and it also gives me a heads up on where she's at for the day.

     For the most part she is doing well under saddle. guiding can be an issue still, Sometimes it feels like I'm trying to push a wet noodle in a strait line,  but again she has the experience of a two year old. The rail gets to be helpful in building her confidence in what she is doing. Because of that, circles and changing directions off rail has also gotten easier. She is truly a wonderful horse that is trying her hardest to please.
I'm looking forward to posting more updates and pictures on Foxie, as she progresses.
 

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Horses tell on them selves

     Horses are honest creatures. They will tell you when their about to act up and if your paying attention they will even tell you where. Foxie for instance is a good one for bowing her neck right where she is thinking about trying to quit on me. Over the last month or so she quit but if I miss a couple of days in a row, she doesn't seem to feel that she needs to go back to work.
     When I'm giving a lesson to a new student I almost always start off with lunging the horse,because first and for most it's a great way to see what the horse's mood is before you start and second the bast way to show someone the body language and movement of a horse is on the ground where they can see it for them selves.
     For reasons I don't understand the importance of ground work has gotten lost. For every discipline I've even have been involved  in grown work like long line, and lunging are always the foundation to a good start to building a good working communication with your horse. not to mention it's a great way to learn your horses tells.
     As for lessons I've found it makes it easier and quicker for the student to learn how to read a horse.


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

puppies

Alright I admit it, there is no reason for me to write this post outside I think these puppies are the cutest things ever! Enjoy.


Sunday, February 17, 2013

Foxie

Back to Foxie. As in my earlier post about this mare she needs some work, however I do see a lot potential in her for improvement. The best direction for her seems to be dressage. she likes the routines and dose well with arena work.
She is an older horse (13 years old now) and retraining dose take longer when you start with a horse that is older and has had nothing done with her.

First step is working on her frame and build up her top-line as well as getting her use to indiscipline. she has a good mind on her but it's still slow work.
As I continue to work with her I'll be adding more up dates about her.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

a 'free' horse


Every once you  get that offer to take a free horse. Now if you own a horse you know nothing about horses are free. however, every once in a while one comes a long that could do something for you. As it so happens this one is a cremello Quarter horse stud.

A few things to consider before taking on a free horse let a lone a stud.

A) Can I afford another horse? this means unforeseeable things like that late night vet call. where to keep the horse is another, after all I'm talking about a stallion here. just turning him out with the herd is a bad idea.

B) how long will it take to get this horse going? In this case I'm looking at about a year because he has never had anything done with him and he's five now.

C) what will the long term cost be? true he is a nicely put together horse even with a stud that you can keep booked through breeding season. you have to look at showing expenses (to get their name out there.) Promoting, and advertising expenses. Remember this is a business after all. If you have horses you know that it is complete myth that you can make money off them. your doing great if you just brake even at the end of the year.

So back to my main point there is no such that as a free horse.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

full board and training

I started giving lessons and training saddlebreds at the age fourteen. After graduating I took a job under Gorge Knight unable to reconcile how saddlebreds are trained with the my love for horses I quit looking for a more natural breed. Finding Frisians I took a job at Walnut Way farms in Kentucky working under Morris Curr. For six years working as assistant trainer learning to drive multiples and ride and train classical dressage.

I believe that any training method that requires gimmicks or tricks is inherently flawed.
I believe the best way to train a horse is listen to the horse. If that horse does not naturally take to jumping you can not train it into them.

Training people I find it much the same way. Go to their level. do not assume that they can feel a beat in a trot. It is my job to break the process down to the point they can start to feel it instead of just assuming that sooner or later they will get it. That approach to me is both frustrating and dangerous. I also believe in teaching the whole horse. there is far more to them then just hopping up and riding. If you are going to ride a horse you should know how to deal with them on the ground as well as what to look for before throwing your self up on a back of a flight animal that out weighs the average person by eight hundred pounds. 

With this in mind I am opening up two stalls for full board and training. This offer is a first come first serve bases.
 For full board and training it is $350. per month. this includes; daily turn out, feed and hay 2x daily plus hay at night, worked 5 times per week (depending on the horse!) and a program designed around the horses and owners needs.
up dates are given to your horses progress, and you will be given the truth! I've worked at too many barns were the trainer tells the owner what they think they want to hear.
if interested please call (254) 679- 1135 
Lady's and gentlemen this is Smoky. He belonged to an old man that could no long make it out to take care of him.
And this is the proud flesh that was growing on Smoky's neck that had gone untreated for about a year.
This is were it stands today. My plan with him is to try him on Barrels. I will keep putting up post to see how he is doing.