Early Morning foggy workout

Since we have been schooling the 3 horses that are doing the show on the 4th of October, I decided to set up a kind of quasi-dressage arena in my big ring.

Here is Zoe and WR Winter Dancer - an early morning work out in the fog.

Dancer is a wonderful lesson horse for our therapeutic program, but she loves having the opportunity to get out and work like "big girl".

As I was headed down the driveway the other day, I was treated to something very special. I have 2 ponds on this side of the property plus the brook which runs through, and the blue heron likes to visit me.

He (she?) flew up out of the smaller pond and landed on the fence- sat there for quite awhile. When I walked a little closer to snap a photo, he flew down into the brook.

The Great Blue Heron makes for a

surprisingly good obstacle at times

when he flies up out of the brook or pond while we are riding by.

Zoe's Day Dream is coming along superbly.. she is better and better all the time and loves being in training. I am more than pleased with her progress... quick and pleasant. if we don't sell her before next year, she'll be at the shows for sure.

OYY Salvadore, my favorite little sporty pony stud, has graduated to going down the road and working in the big ring. He looks forward to his forays out and about- always cheerful and willing. He loves an adventure.

Enjoy your day ~

Frost on the Pumpkin

The last few mornings have been definitely nippy. 2 mornings ago my car was covered in a quarter inch of frozen dew. Yesterday morning, I had to dig out my chore gloves- cold hands- and 2 sweatshirts. It warms up considerably as the sun rises- and we are experiencing a lovely autumn so far. Perfect weather.

The early morning fog is heavy -- creeping in , as Carl Sanburg wrote-- on little cat feet. It rolls down the hillside and slaps you in the face like a damp rag.

I don't think I'll be swimming in my pond anymore this year.

This week, Jennie and Sarah have continued to ride their show mounts- OYY Elektra and OYY Pal's Job- getting ready for October 4th. Zoe schools WR Winter Dancer three times a week as well. OYY Hummingbird is continuing with her ground driving and very close to being hitched to the cart. She is so smart... for some reason I thought she was 3 years old as she is so mature. She is only 2 .. but old enough to pull the cart. I love this little pony girl.

We took some time to do some photo's of some of the younger horses- All 2 year olds, who will be be started in ground driving this winter.

OYY Little "Z" is a gorgeous sporty bay filly out of Ahmet and Mead's Chocolate Chip.

OYY Olympia is a filly we are planning on keeping, out of Zoe's Day Dream and Homefire Curlies's WCC Benjamin. Her dam, "Reverie" is now under saddle and doing outstandingly well.

One of our favorites, OYY Queen Jane Approximately, is growing into a beautiful filly. She is prettier than her full brother, OYY The Mighty Quinn, I think.

Here is a recent photo of Quinn with his owner Denise. He is a handsome boy ! He is the sire of Jennie's mount, OYY Elektra and son of Chip... lots of potential in that family.

Enjoy your day ~

Good news - Bad news -and in between

This past few days we have had a recurring visit from Hurricane Ike- first rain, now wind. Hurricanes rarely hit with any enthusiasm here in Vermont, so there are no real concerns and it gave us time to tidy up the tack room and clean house a bit. This morning's moon is beautiful with clouds low on the horizon. It's not cold, but windy enough that I have to close the windows. As long as there are no trees downed on the fence, I am OK with it.

It's been chilly enough to fire up my outdoor wood boiler. I had to shut it down in July because it got too darn hot- there was not enough call for heat to keep the fire going. I am not so crazy for the extra chore, but love not burning any expensive heating oil. The first fire of the season is fun though- love the smell of wood burning.. however come February-- that's another story !

During the week, Zoe's Day Dream was backed-- bareback. As I mentioned before-- she is so calm and accepting, it will not be long and she will be down the road and on the trail. She'll be needing her very own bridle soon !

OYY Hummingbird continues with her ground training. She is wearing her little harness and loving her training sessions. Here she is as a little tyke with Mom. She's growing up and is quite proud of herself.

I finally posted the video of Mead's Chocolate Chip at his first show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4aYdLg3y50

Also got some footage of Elektra being schooled by her rider, Jennie - 15 years old- and in love with her mount ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPCg1Ng2cjg

The big news for the weekend is-- OYY Yemaya left for her new home. Her owner is in love and Yemaya loaded beautifully.... and is already settled in there. When you sell a horse you have spent time with-- it's a toss up... thrilled that the horse has a new wonderful home and a rider-- and a little miffed that the horse does not seem to miss you at all ! Yemaya is 8 years old-- so she and Laurie have the best years ahead of them now.

We have been stocking up on hay-- living on a farm, you must be an ant and not the grasshopper. Already 2 loads from Canada- which comes in big square bales, 4 feet by 8 and so handy because I can unload and stack them in the building with the tractor. Each bale weighs about 850 and there are usually 55 bales or so on a trailer load.

All my new seedings are coming up perfectly... fenced off until next year. I am hoping to spread some more lime and fertilizer this fall.. depending on weather and time. I did get some rocks picked when I disced over some of the newly planted areas-- The larger rocks I dug out, will go on a future retaining wall-- these will go to fill in a low area by the brook.

The disappointing news of the week is-- my little "hen" Peep started to crow !! So now it seems I have 2 roosters. I will have to watch the classifieds for a few Banty hens for my boys.

Enjoy your day ~

New Bridles, New Roof, New Pony and lots of braiding

The local tack shop closed for business so my daughter and I went over to see what kind of deals we could get. I have mentioned before that once a horse is going well under saddle, he/she is awarded their own special bridle. We have a few horses ready for that distinction- OYY Cosette, OYY Elektra, and Winter Dancer all received fancy new bridles at a great discount !

My daughter has been schooling WR Winter Dancer, a bay 15.1 hand mare who is a wonderful lesson horse, for the upcoming dressage show in October. I actually purchased this bridle because I loved it.. not knowing who would end up with it. It looks gorgeous on Dancer, really showing her off nicely. Now, I think we need to get Dancer a new saddle pad too !

OYY Elektra wore her new bridle the other day- first getting all beautified by her rider, Jennie - who is getting Elektra ready for the same show. Jen put brown elastics in today- but for the show we will use white ones to match her brand new white dressage pad.

These two make a stunning pair !

OYY Cosette was under saddle in late winter- then laid off until last week. She resumed her training and did not forget a thing. She loves to be ridden and is a nice sporty beautiful 13.3 hand pony mount. Jen braided Cosette and Sarah (who will be showing OYY Pal's Job in the October show) rides Cosette. Her bridle has just little "bling" to show her off. Cosette looks beautiful- I got a short video of this first ride with her and Sarah, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeQgTH3R8Gs

OYY Aztec, this year's curly filly out of Ptesan-Wi and Cherokee Storm left for her new home. And OYY Hummingbird, out of a lovely fun grade POA Sugar and Mead's Chocolate Chip came back to the farm to be ours again. She is 3 years old and 12 hands. She will be in training - driving or riding, whichever comes first for her. She is a full sister to OYY Arcus, my favorite little pony gelding.

OYY Salvadore is under saddle now and loving it-- He is on the list for his own new bridle now ! What a delightful pony stud, always looks forward to his new jobs. Very smart and certainly very handsome.

On top of all our working with horses and riding-- there was lots of commotion in the barnyard with the new roof going on ~ The other side is completed-- and we had to work around scaffolding and ladders, metal being cut, banging, old metal being tossed to the ground-- quite a BIG obstacle, but the horses were all great.

A busy week !

Enjoy ~