We Work and Play or Look Dick Look ~ See Jane Splash !

I am dating myself gain :) Anyone remember the readers from kindergarten and first grade starring the infamous Dick and Jane ? In mid-November, one of my favorite large pony mares OYY Beltane's Lady Jane finally had her chance to get out on the trail for the first time.



This could have been hard work, but she's such an imp -- it became playtime for her ! Here is Jane just mounted and headed out... she is sired by our Mead's Chocolate Chip and out of ChesterBelle Honey - with some old time Curly bloodlines.  I have retained Jane for a future lesson pony.. I think she's going to be a perfect therapeutic lesson mount.

Out on the back dirt roads, Jane is feeling sassy and confident -- in the lead -- Keri is along as nursemaid and to show Jane how it's done properly :)  In the pasture, Jane has had issues with crossing water - we are headed onto a trail which has many water crossings.. we'll see how it goes.





Jane has completed the obstacle course a few times.. but here -- she balks a bit.. leave the road ? walk between the two trees ? It looks a bit rough in there.

Keri waits patiently while Zoe urges Jane on.

She gets this close a few times and backs off.. but this time -- she goes ! One of Jane's positive attributes -- she never reacts with any dangerous or iffy behavior when she refuses.. and once she does it -- she's good to go. 

The swamps and little ponds have just a skim of ice today -- it's still mid November and although cold .. not as cold as usual at this time of year.

In the woods, on the trail --  this is easy !

Just ahead is Jane's first big downhill.  Keri went first .. Jane did great.

Uh-oh water ahead ! You can see Jane leaves the trail momentarily to re-group.  Keri is thinking an Eeyore thought -- harrumph.

To quote another ...
Keri assumes the Simba attitude ~

Danger? Hah! I walk on the wild side... I laugh in the face of danger... except instead of laughing, Keri pretends to drink instead.

Come on Jane - you can do it !   Admittedly this is a large puddle... but this is what brave trail horses do.







Silly Jane... !! 

We exit the trail out into the open field -- Jane says -- Finally... !!  



This little trail is perfect for beginner horses as it offers just about everything they need to learn and is not too long of a loop.  Road, walking between trees and around obstacles, downhill, uphill, narrow spots, mud, brush and water !



Jane had a successful initiation and graduation.

OYY Hollis brown left for his new home.. he'll be living in New York state with another Top O' The Hill Farm "baby"  OYY Abraham - who is being ridden and driven. Abraham is out of our Sudie Bee - and he is around 10 now. Hollis just turned 3 in the spring. He is a full brother to OYY Little "Z" who departed for Georgia in the beginning of the summer this year.  He is maternal brother to Elektra. Nice family ! 

Here is a short little video of Hollis we made right before he left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqCQ-qyhbK4

Speaking of OYY Little "Z" -- here are some photo's of her at her new home.  Her new owner was riding her days after her arrival -- even though she was just about ready to deliver her third daughter !


This is one of those homes that you dream of for your offspring... the perfect sale into a very loving family.  Z was 4 when she made this trip south.  By the way -- she did the same trail that Jane completed.. but she did hesitated at nothing -- just trotted along good as gold.

Here she is being nosey with the two older girls.

Zoe and I have discovered, being nosey runs in the family as Elektra also likes to poke stuff with her nose and Mom Ahmet uses her nose as an investigatory tool often -- twice she got quills in the muzzle for her troubles ! 





 Since it's nearly the end of the year -- I am going to throw in some left over photo's and news to use it up before twenty eleven arrives --   here is my farm fox playing around.  Foxes are a bit homely in the summer... but I guess they are built for quick and sly.

These rocks are good hunting ground for mice and such.

I received an e-mail kind of out of the blue from an owner - this family purchased a lovely colt sired by Colonel's Pasqualie Kid, out of our old gal Dream Curl ---   I named the colt Wildest Dreams... in keeping with the tradition of using the word Dream in all of the "dream babies".   I called him Wilder.. which fit him nicely as when he was born he reminded me of Gene Wilder anyway.

It's been ages since I have had contact with the family -- the young daughter has grown up quite a bit - and look how gorgeous this colt is now !!

 While I am on the subject of my "babies" -- here is news from the Ray family in New Hampshire. They own two of my horses -- one of them is currently a member of the equestrian team at Colby-Sawyer College.   Daffodil is sired by Colonel's Pasqualie Kid also and out of the old mare, Honeybee Gal ~ so she is related to silly Jane... Jane's dam is a full sister to Daffodil.  This photo is taken at IHSA at Colby-Sawyer.  Daffodil is a large pony mare.. she also drives. I rode Dilly quite a few times and had a blast.

Sometimes I forget how many "kids" I have
out there !  It's so great when they are out there making names for themselves (and me too :) )  Everyone is impressed with this mare -- she has done well in pony club for years with her young owner - who is growing up fast now.



Lately the weather has been quite raw, windy and bitterly COLD...  we've managed to get a few short rides in. Now the much talked about hunting season is over -- and we can get back on the trails. Today, in fact, we are planning a trot out... more news on that in a later post !

Enjoy ~