The past days on the farm have been somewhat hectic.. mowing lease pastures, moving horses to fresh ground, and continuing training have kept us all very busy.

OYY Wassee- a 3 year old gelding- is back under saddle after 2 months playing with his buddies. Seems the lay off did him good, as he went better than ever. One of the fun things about working with young horses here at Top O' The Hill Farm is; many of the horses we that are in training now are 3rd and 4th generation. Wassee is out of Lejonhud Daffodil, who was sold at 18 months old. Her new owners trained her to cart and under saddle. She came back here when those owners wanted to trade for a gelding. We rode and drove Daffodil until she was sold again, right after Wassee was weaned, to a family for a pony club horse. Daffodil is excelling in her new home. We got to use Daffodil quite a bit before she left- what a great little trail horse-- fun to ride with wonderful comfortable gaits. Daffodil is out of our Honeybee Gal and Colonel's Pasqualie Kid. Honeybee is an elderly broodmare now- we've never ridden her- but we did ride "Pasco"-- and not only did he sire many super riding horses, he himself was a forward comfortable mount. Honeybee's Dam is Buffalo Gal, from Fredell breeding. Honeybee's sire is Mel's Bathtub Gin, another old line Curly. My daughter used him quite a bit for 3 day camping trips- he was a champ at rough trail. My daughter was 12 or 13 at the time-- and "Tubby's" gaits were so smooth- other riders couldn't help but remark how comfy it looked to sit to his trot-- steady and ground covering. She also rode Pasco's dam- Little Pet, from the Bratcher/Fredell line -- and she was also a super smooth riding horse.

Wassee's sire is The Mighty Quinn-- who was born here and until his sale, was one of our favorite prospects under saddle. So much fun to ride and train-- with his willing attitude and talent for almost anything. Quinn had 3 offspring. We've had the opportunity now to train and ride 2 of them so far (the 3rd is still only 2 years old). Wassee has inherited lots of Quinn's attributes and will mature to be a sporty horse like his Dad. Quinn is out of our Lilly, who was also born and trained here. All of her foals have made wonderful riding mounts with vast talent and extremely comfortable gaits. We've done a lot with Lilly when she didn't have a foal by her side.. competing in many shows- western pleasure, all breed shows, dressage, etc. She's just a plain outstanding horse- for riding and breeding.

Here's a photo of Lilly with her trophy's.

Quinn's sire is Peacock's Banner- who was also a wonderful kind stud. My kids rode him often on the trail -- we also have had the chance to train and ride several of his offspring.

So all in all-- Wassee can't help but be a winner with his genetic make up. It's gratifying to be able to train and ride so many of the horses in a "family" and see how disposition and gaits are passed on through the generations. This is part of what makes breeding horses so addictive- working with the bloodlines and tracking the improvements made in the offspring. We are fortunate for the opportunity to train and ride/drive many of the growing foals before they leave the farm.

Enjoy the day ~

early mornings

Early morning is my favorite time on the farm. As the sun starts to rise over the treeline, images appear that you don't get to see during the day. Here's the new indoor arena-- just built-- the horses that are shadowed are in the pasture across from the barn.

Yesterday, 2 hens, a tom and their new family came out for the first time this year.

I counted 28 babies. We also have moose in the area this year. You can always tell when moose have come through- as they take the fence with them.. dragging it into the woods or across the pasture for the length of the fence. We did see one day- 2 older moose and a calf grazing in the swamp.

A very short post today-- there's lots to do.. new photo's of horses in training and finish mowing a large field down the road. Somedays it seems I ride my tractor more than my horses. It's lucky I love my tractor as much as I love my horses !

Enjoy the day ~

A typical Friday spent "putzing"... little things here and there. Visit the horses that are out on pasture-- raking the arena-- some enjoyable gardening. Tomorrow, plans for a nice long trail ride. I broke one of my personal rules and took a trip to the tack store a few days ago. I needed those elastics for my safety stirrups- and if any of you out there are anything like I am-- I came home with more than a few dollars worth of safety stirrup elastics. Well- there were some deals too good to pass up. I bought a beautiful new bridle for my special mare- Keri-Orla. She needed a new bridle and certainly deserves it. Some nice padded saddle pads for under my dressage saddle... just a few other items.

During this week, quite a few of the horses in training got out on the trail-- nice break from ring work. OYY Nimue, a gorgeous bay curly pony mare sired by a spectacular paint sporthorse, gets out on the trail at least once a week and is worked very lightly in the ring once a week. Last year she spent the whole summer driving.. a what an amazing cart pony she is. Never a spook and very fluid in the ring- serpentines, circles like a champ. She has taken to her saddle work like she knew exactly what her job was. To get to most of our trails, we ride on dirt road about a mile-- then we have our choice of many different trails with varied terrain. Plenty of mud and brush, a few steep downhills and a couple of brook crossings. Naturally I think she's a very special horse.

OYY TigerHawk is also pleasing me with his willingness and quiet attitude with his work. He is doing very well in his ring work and loves the trail. He's going to be just as nice as his half brother- OYY Raphael. He's also a pony sized gelding. At 3 he's 13.2 hh. A handsome capable boy.

My daughter and her husband and family just bought a new home with 10 acres. She has wanted to bring a horse home with her for years and now her dream has come true. Her house is only a few minutes by car-- about 10 minutes by trail, a quick trot over the mountain. She brought Teasel Obi to her house- and they have had tremendous fun exploring in the evenings. Teasel is getting far more exercise than he would have here at the farm-- with so many to work with. Also he is exposed to so much... riding at night, on the highway, through logged off land which is rough. He is such a super Curly I can't even express how much we love him. We bought Teasel and his dam Camille from Erica Frei. Camille was purchased with the therapeutic program in mind. She has exceeded our expectations with her wonderful sweet nature-- a kinder mare you could not find anywhere. I love riding her because she is so careful with her rider-- forward and incredibly safe. Teasel is the same.. just more forward than his Mom. I have to say-- it's a controversial subject among Curly breeders-- but both these horse are nearly naked and apparently Erica had trouble marketing either of them. Lucky for us because we were able to purchase them-- they are well conformed and have such superb attitudes.. who cares about a lack of mane and tail? I don't ride the mane or tail.. I ride the horse. And these 2 are the best !! After one more week, my daughter Zoe will exchange Teasel for another horse from the farm so he or she can have the extra riding miles.

While some of the horses are out to pasture, a few of my smaller fields are empty. I have spread manure, disk harrowed and planted them all. Pulled a few of our big Vermont rocks out while I was at it. I planted an equine pasture mix (no fescue) and mixed it with oats. The oats come up big and fast- so it's instant gratification-- a few nice rains, add some sun- and one day you wake up- the fields are green and lush. Makes the work worth it when you get to see results so soon. The other fields are mostly fenced and cross fenced for rotation. Open one gate- close another.. gives me a chance to clip weeds, spread more manure (there's never a dearth of that) and fertilize. Saves on hay and keeps the horses very happy.

For those of you who would like to read a bit more about the farm.. you can visit the "about us" link on my web site :

http://www.vermontel.net/~top/aboutus.htm

Enjoy the day !!

Yesterday was business as usual, exercising horses and doing ground work with 2 year olds. My future extreme curly pony stud, OYY Finnegan, is being worked in harness. He's making quick progress and I am sure he'll be driving in no time. I enjoy the curly pony breeding and in addition to size, conformation and temperament-- the offspring HAVE to trainable and ride and drive. Driving is in the genes-- I find some horses hate driving, some driving horses really don't like being under saddle. When we have horses that do both happily and well-- I am happy too.

We have a 2 year old lovely smooth coated mare- OYY Cosette -- who is being ground driven. She is sired by Lynn Downer's WCC Benjamin. He was here at the farm on lease and gave me some beautiful well mannered intelligent foals. She is out of Anniva M and has inherited the "Morganny" look from Ruby Red King. She's a large pony- at 13.2 hands. Doing well ground driving- we can't wait to ride her though.

We have several very large pastures which we lease.. just have to keep up the fences. So horses are rotated back and forth from the farm to pasture and back again depending on training schedules, farrier appointments, etc. From the time they are born-- foals load and unload traveling with their Moms to pasture and home again. I have never had a horse who refused to load.

This morning, OYY Tadpole's Moonin "U", a 4 year old ride/drive gelding, 14 hands, left for his new home where he will be used mainly in combined driving. He's a super driving horse and outstanding on the trail under saddle. It's wonderful when the horses find their ultimate home and job in life. That is what makes the breeding business worth it.

Our little POA mare, Pal, went out to pasture yesterday with her new buckskin filly, Ceda. She joined 2 other mares with their foals born earlier this spring. Ceda will have fun investigating and playing. She'll be in training a few years-- and also my hopes are to breed her to the pony stud OYY Finnegan. Pal is a great driving pony and also goes well under saddle. She has given some lessons as well in the therapeutic riding program. Ceda should be just as smart as her Mom.. and even though it's a few years off--- her foal with Finn will an even better curly pony! Photo is Ceda right before she loaded onto the trailer for her short trip to pasture.

Haying thankfully is done for now-- we had a semi-drought for a few weeks.. then torrential rains and flooding for a week. Today is gorgeous and it's time to tackle my list of the day. One task will be - walk the fencelines as the hard rains and high winds no doubt dropped limbs and maybe trees... love the horses but some jobs are not so enjoyable.

Enjoy the day ~

Welcome to my first attempt at "blogging". Here, you will find news from Top O' The Hill Farm.. births, training, etc-- as we keep very busy on the farm.

Dream On Curls Therapeutic Riding Center is located on the premises. My daughter Zoe Lirakis is the instructor. We use the Curlies exclusively as lesson horses for the equine assisted activities -- addressing emotional, social, cognitive and physical challenges of special needs children and adults-- ages 4 through 99 !! We put up an indoor arena this spring which is great- no more cancelled lessons due to weather.

Top O' The Hill Farm has been breeding curlies since 1985. Lisa Wheelock- trainer- comes to the farm 3-4 days a week and helps to work with the horses-- all ages from birth on up, teaching manners, respect, saddle training and driving. Right now, 2 of Top O' The Hill Farm "babies" are back for their saddle training. Ka-Ha-Si, a 4 year old gelding, born here and sold several years ago, is back for his training. He has progressed quickly as Curlies are apt to do. He has been out on the trail a few times and also is schooled lightly in the ring several times a week. What a great horse and so gratifying to be able to work with and see the farm's "children" growing and maturing. Ka-Ha-Si's dam was also born here and still resides on the farm- occaisionally having a foal, being ridden on the trail-- her dam lived here also until old age-- a great ride/drive mare who gave lessons as well. Ka-Ha-Si's sire and maternal grand-dam were born here as well.. both trained and ridden here at the farm. It's nice to see the generations develop-- and having the opportunity to ride offspring.. children and grand-children !!

Brigitte - a beautiful mare, also born here- is back for her saddle training and making fast progress. She is almost ready for her first trail ride. She has been ridden in the indoor a few times-- but needs exposure to road and trail. She'll be here one more month. Her new owner also had her bred to Cherokee Storm- the cremello stallion here at the farm. She is being offered for sale and you can visit the web site to see info on this gorgeous mare. http://www.vermontel.net/~top

There are some super trails and roads for us to introduce horses in training to water, bridges, traffic, mud and brush "obstacles". We have a large outdoor arena for schooling-- an indoor -- and a smaller outdoor for starting horses. So there is always lots going on here !!