In the Hot Seat

Some "springtime" on my windowsill. A shy little orchid, reluctant to fully show her beautiful face and a very large showy Amaryllis. Amaryllis are fun- they grow fast and lots of proud color. We've had repeated snowfall every few days and fortunately lots of sun in between. Temperatures are fluctuating-- some days it's so cold when it hits the teens or into the twenties-- it's a heat wave !

I have spent a great deal of time in the tractor seat- moving snow and using the snow blower, which goes on the back of the tractor and is PTO driven- works pretty awesome. For Christmas, my #1 son presented me with a Lava seat, which you pop in the microwave for 5 minutes and keeps your hiney warm while "astride" the tractor. It's pretty nice ! Makes me wonder if there is such a hiney heater for saddles. I like being in the "hot" seat now !

Most of the time when referencing my children- I use their birth order number-- a la Charlie Chan style.. if anyone of you out there are old enough to remember the old Charlie Chan movies. My mother turned me on to those and I always loved them. So now-- I have number 1 son, number 2 son and so on. My daughter is Number 1 daughter, but Number 4 child.

We spent the week sneaking in our riding together-- Number 1 daughter and I. We rode out again with Keri and OYY Fiona. They make a nice pair, but Keri misses Teasel when he stays back home. Seems as though Fiona is a traffic attractor- much like OYY Elektra always is when out on the road... we had quite a few varied passing vehicles. The girls trotted out side by side nicely, but from time to time-- they played a silly 'cut the other one off if possible' game.

OYY Nimue is continuing her cart training in the indoor, as my trainer wants to do some driving shows with her- the first is in April. Here's a video of Nimue back in the cart after quite a time off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wER9vBQBr1E

Lisa will continue to work with Nimue to set her head and slow down a bit on the turns, get some more flexibility between the shafts. Lisa also needs to practice holding a whip and driving at the same time, as the whip is the "cue". Lisa has printed out all the patterns and rules of various test levels so she and Nimue will make a good showing.

OYY Niobe got out a couple of times. She went down the road for her first trip off the farm. She was a little apprehensive-- doing the trot/stop and look thing but the more she goes out the more she is going to love it. After "ponying" her with the ATV, I know she is capable of moving out- as she can trot alongside the 4-wheeler at 12 miles an hour with ease. She is going to make such a nice large curly pony for someone, either for a broodmare or a comfy very safe riding mount. Her dam, Biscuit, (also a large pony curly mare) is out of Anniva M who is out of a Damele mare Niva D and Benny Damele's now deceased Ruby Red King- a very nice registered Morgan. I bred Biscuit to a beautiful black Morgan pony sized stud (14.1 hh) who is quiet under saddle and driving, KFS Quaczar. A nice Morgan makes a good cross with a Curly and now Niobe has it twice in her background.

Here he is being schooled in the ring as a 4 year old. It is a nice match- especially for disposition and trainability.

Niobe has 2 video's- each taken within two days of one another- one in the indoor- the other of her first trip out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsWP1WwPyvI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHtdiLv2LSs

OYY Tupelo Honey is a gorgeous large pony curly mare, 14 hands, born in 2004 who has always, it seems, remained on the back burner. We always talked of keeping her- because she is out of some great valuable bloodlines- Fredell, Frostfire's Tadpole, Damele. She's sweet and fancy- a nice size, walks out nicely and has a beautiful trot- could go either western or english. Lots of potential there in one package. She also has many siblings being ridden and competing successfully. Two weeks ago, my daughter and I decided to put her on the market. We can't keep everything and another breeder will love having those bloodlines or another rider will love having her as a mount. Tupelo can be used to breed down-- to make some excellent ponies, or at her size- breed up for a smaller sporty horse. She's registered with both the ABC and the ICHO.

OYY Dante had his first ride down the road by himself yesterday. What a brave handsome young man ! He's coming along nicely and I know he's going to make a super trail horse as he loves a challenge. The more distractions, the more focused he becomes. He really enjoyed the "obstacle" course.

OYY Finnegan, my little medium sized pony stud, had his chance for a nice workout. He also went out for a quick trot down the road to the mile marker and back. A fresh video of him is on my list for things to do. My daughter is excited to show him this spring/summer in some dressage. He's smart, quiet, and loves his work. Soon, his first offspring will be on the ground, so that is something to look forward to.

My other absolute favorite little guy- OYY Salvadore- also came up for some more schooling as Zoe will be taking him to shows this year as well. I love all my horses- but this guy is very much my personal curly darling. In addition to being handsome and gorgeous ~ throw anything at him and he's up for it ~ Salvadore has such an infectious adorable energy about him.

Here's his video from yesterday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzrhTsvBEqQ

So- despite it being the dead of winter, we are busy in the saddle. Now if I can get a brief reprieve from the backside of the camera... I'll get my backside into the saddle.

Enjoy your day ~

I woke up to find a ring around the moon-- what's up with this ?

Circle around the moon, rain or snow soon. More snow ?!

When my daughter arrived at the farm she confirmed- snow is predicted.

Yesterday, Zoe took OYY Ivan out for a quick trot in the snow. When the snow is as deep as it is now, the horses seem to enjoy the exercise, but work-out it truly is.. for horses and rider. Trots and canters are BIG and lots of muscles used to stay centered in the saddle. Makes for some fun photo's ! I was able to capture a short video with my camera of Ivan's efforts in the snow-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvZ6SU4sv48

What a handsome athletic fellow !

We had just enough time left for a ride together down the road. I grabbed Keri (of course !) and Zoe saddled up OYY Fiona for her first trot down the road since she was in the cart 2 years ago. Due to the recent snowfalls, the backroads are narrow now- leaving little room for horses and trucks- but we met a few and Fiona was calm and forward- no worries from her. She really enjoyed her time out. Snow fell from the trees along the road, like snow fairy dust- the sun was out- winter riding can be so magical. I did feel cold toward the end of the ride- I must remember to investigate those toe warmers.

Today, it remained rather damp, chilly and a little gloomy with a heavy impending snow cloud sky, but I wanted to get some new photo's of Lilly for the web site and sales page. We've wanted to keep Lilly's filly, OYY Hecate, and have decided to list Lilly for sale. Time for someone else to have a chance to enjoy her- she's an awesome mare. A been there, done that kinda girl up for nearly anything and everything. She is a patient lesson horse, especially for our taller riders and our riders who like to ride western and neck rein. She has competed a lot during her lifetime and always done well in many arenas. Plus, she has proven herself to be a super broodmare- with offspring doing very well competitively. Lilly finally has her own video up ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtY2INp34RM

OYY Elektra has been getting too much time off- so she also had a turn in the snow. Can't have those girls getting too fat and lazy. Elektra is a grand-daughter of Lilly, her sire- The Mighty Quinn- is a son of Lilly and Mead's Chocolate Chip.

Elektra is, at times, a little girl in a big and still growing 15.2 hand body, full of impishness- but lots of fun and very sweet. She has a lot of her father in her. She loves having her photo taken.

OYY Niobe and OYY Nimue- maternal sisters- came up for more training today as well. Niobe has a future now as a little western pony and Nimue is back in the cart to prepare for some dressage driving shows starting in April. I'll save that news for tomorrow- when it's supposed to be near zero and below-- perhaps I'll be on the computer rather than outdoors. Stay tuned ~

Enjoy your evening ~ the snow has started falling here.

Milk from hay !

Farmers wonder how to get the highest efficient feed to milk ratio.. This is the fastest and best way I know-- hay at one end, and milk is ready at the faucet at the other almost immediately !

This is the little fellow that was born on Veteran's Day, 2008. He's growing fast and does not mind the snow and cold at all as long as he gets his milk rations steadily.

Enjoy your day ~

Mother Daughter Ride ! :)

We had the true Mom/daughter ride on Monday.. Me (Mom) on my lovely Keri (also Mom) and Zoe (daughter) on OYY My Keri Luna (daughter of Keri). *Luna is also a lovely mare by the way.. I would not want her to think she isn't ! :) - and we had a great ride. I snapped a quick photo of the 2 mares before we saddled up. Thinking about the mother daughter team concept-- I realize we have many mental souvenirs of mother/daughter rides over the years.

We headed out the road and ducked into the trail - as you can see this is the first time this trail has been traveled since snowfall, other than deer. Well, we left a trail of hoofprints and plan on traveling this way more often to keep the trail open. Riding in snow is fun- and when we get to trot down the trail- the horses do what I call their BIG snow trot with that large movement combined with a kind of side to side twist that is exhilarating and always makes me laugh- as it half bounces you out of your seat.

Past the little beaver pond, where we see someone has been snowshoeing.

Before we get back out onto the road to head home, the woods open up into a large field. Time to trot home and tend to chores.
The horses did very well, as they had a few frozen brooks to cross and lots of snow. Fun ride for mom and daughter both ! Since I am the camera person- poor Keri only gets to show her ears in all the pics.

I rode Keri's mom- Sunshine Tiarra- forever and have many super riding memories. She was sold at the age of 21 to a family in MA, after having many great foals here at Top O' The Hill Farm and serving us incredibly well as a riding horse for me and all my children. This photo is an old one- me on Tiarra, my youngest son (now 16 with zero interest in horses) and off to the left Zoe is on her gelding at that time, Ollie. Silas used to love to ride out with his mom and sister- he'd be good for about 4 miles before he was tired- even ventured onto the rough trails. He's 4 years old here. When Keri was younger, my daughter and I entered quite a few competitions together- me on Tiarra, Zoe on Keri. That was back when I actually allowed other riders on Keri :)

Yesterday, Zoe rode our mare we call Zoe's Day Dream. She's out of our eldest mare, Dream Curl- every foal of hers has "dream" in their name except one filly I called Phoebe. Zoe always liked this mare, even though as a weanling, she swung her head and clocked Zoe a good one- giving her a black eye and a huge forehead goose-egg. We call this mare "Reverie" for a barn name. She's had 3 foals and then we decided to saddle train her. She learned quickly and is a very impressive steady rhythmic mount. Reverie is for sale- we have a daughter we are keeping - OYY Olympia. Zoe is looking forward to riding her this summer. If we still have Reverie by then- I guess we could do another mother daughter ride with those two. :)

Another wonderful daughter horse- OYY Fiona. She does not get her picture taken very often- she's been a keeper since her mom, Teena, was bred to Chip.. Teena is no longer with us- and she is one horse we all still miss the most. We have several daughters and grand-children of Teena's still on the farm and have trained and sold many also. Fiona is an aunt and also a paternal sister to another horse I ride sometimes, OYY Sweet Bee.

Fiona is the one most like her Mom and my plans are that she will be Keri's replacement for me when the time comes Keri can no longer trot the miles. That will be a sad day, since I love Keri in a scarey almost unnatural way-- but Fiona also has a special place in my heart and I look forward to heading out with her .. when I can bring myself to mount any other horse other than my Keri ! I do ride other horses, but when I am astride another mount-- I miss Keri. Silly I guess. It was my intention to have Luna actually as Keri's replacement- and Luna is a fine and beautiful girl.. for some reason I love Fiona more.. no explaining the heart.. it grabs its target perhaps capriciously and leads you without reason sometimes.

OYY Niobe got her first ride in the snow on Tuesday- her second time in the saddle, first time out of the indoor. She went magnificently- I am very proud of this little girl. She has that very smooth trot, we decided- we'll train her as a little western mount.

The Doctor Of Dream's - barn name, Sigmund- has been coming up for his saddle work in preparation for a few shows starting this spring. He is a maternal brother of Reverie. He's still a stallion and my plans are to use him with a few mares perhaps this spring. He's a real love and I look forward to seeing him in some shows through out the spring and summer. I got a short video of him in the indoor, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nKtWY8HZEk , then he went out for a snow trot.

Today ~ we are being treated to yet another winter storm.. schools are closed, no lessons, no riding-- I'll move snow and putter I guess.

Enjoy your day ~

First ride of 2009 ~

Both Zoe and I were looking forward to our first ride of the New Year- although incredibly COLD and windy, we bundled up and saddled up .. no way were we chickening out after planning and waiting for January 1st. Our mounts of the day were our favorite team, Keri and Teasel.

Here's a photo of Keri sporting her protection charm fashioned by Michelle Ives who makes lovely jewelry, Chestnut Hill Designs. I won the charm for being the BEST 2008 RAC Promoter !! :) Love the charm and I love dressing up my horse :)

Both Keri and Teasel were in a great mood, ready to TROT ~ we went pretty far in a short time and did not even have to urge them to go. Unfortunately, I went to snap a few photo's of the snowy icy roadways and the batteries were dead... also I left my cozy riding mittens on top of my grooming tote. So chilly fingers and no pictures. There was just enough battery power to get this photo of a frosty muzzle on our return.

Fun ride.. next time we go out on a day as chilly as this one, we are thinking to try the toe warmers I've seen in the store.

OYY Niobe started her training just before the holidays and is now under saddle. She is a coming 4 year old out of our little Curly pony Biscuit and a Beautiful black registered ride/drive Morgan stud. Niobe is a quiet, sweet mare- around 13.1 hands with a smooth trot to die for. Can't wait to get her out and about. She is going to make a super little mount for anyone with her dependable steady nature.

Enjoy the day ~