Really, Now a link to the MAGIC video

For everyone who has been waiting to watch Magic under saddle, I narrated one copy of the video but that copy is STILL uploading, so I managed to get this one, without narration, uploaded on to you tube. Turn your volume off unless you want to hear a bunch of useless chatter between Nichole & I. :O)

Follow this link and, though it it smaller that the blog video, you can still see the amazing stuff Magic is beginning to do.

Leave me a few comments or hit the quick response under the blog entry. It will be fun for me to read! You can also subscribe to the blog. Many times there are interesting and useful links off to the right that are blog related, that maybe one could use.

I am going to see if I can find other horse related blogs, too.

All for now & enjoy this first video, AT LAST, REALLY! :O)

Slogging It

A nest far above 10 Mile Creek flood waters, Ferndale, WA

Over looking our creek shelf next to the field. High waters!

And. a creek runs through it...... an old barn that sits on the side of Northwest Rd. on the way into Bellingham, WA, now sits in the middle of creek water.

Overlooking Paradise Road by McKay's Farm and on the way to Axton Rd. in Ferndale, WA

From a 4 rail fence above water, to a barely 2 rail fence under water.........







For the last couple of days we have had alot of rain. For all of you who live here, or even near here, you know it has been the "duck your head and run for cover" kind of weather. With snow melt off as well as rain... well, you get, flooding!

I have included pictures of Ten Mile Creek, now looking more like a river, that is next to our horse fields.

Speaking of horses, I kept Piper and Allie in the stall yesterday as the rain was coming down in buckets. Today they are out slogging through the mud.

Piper got her feet done yesterday by Gary Flonas of Fit and Flat Ferrier Service. What a nicely behaved little mare.

I hope I can haul her out on Saturday and get video of her under saddle to post.

Enjoy our flood pics.

In Love... With Piper (A Good Read For Those Who are, Sometimes, Afraid)

OK, so anyone who knows me knows that I have some fear of horses. But, I LOVE Piper already! Tonight, and this really is sweet, I took Piper out of her stall without her halter and lead rope. Really! I was standing in the aisle way of our barn and I opened Piper's stall door and just called her name. Piper came to me better than my little dog does. When I said (in my ignorance) "stop", Piper stopped! Then I said "stand" and Piper stood. I took out Piper's grooming tools and groomed her. When Ted opened Allie's stall door and Piper looked like (and started to) move towards Allie's stall, I said "no" and she stopped. Then, I continued to groom her. Piper was so good about this and I was not afraid of standing next to her even though she wore no halter. When Ted again opened Allie's stall door then started messing around in the aisle way, I took Piper by her neck with my arms and turned her towards her stall. I told her "stall" and she walked in!!!!

I followed Piper, finished brushing her mane, then just stood in her stall, hugging her neck, both giving and receiving love. Ahhhh............. to be loved by a horse, a sweet horse..........

Snow Days

Just for fun, I wanted to post some snow days pics with Allie & Piper. We are scheduled to haul Allie & Piper into BB Stables on Saturday to have Kris look at Piper and for Erin's lesson on Allie. I will keep you posted........

Magic in Idaho

So, Mag our coming on to 4 yrs. mare, is doing just fine n Idaho under the training of Nichole. I cannot get out to see her as the weather here, between here and there, and there is pretty snowy. In addition, a lady ran a stop sign and took out our 4 wheel drive truck over the weekend. BUMMER!

So far I have been told that Mag has a nice soft mouth, a good stop, and backs nicely. She is, however, still being stubborn at times and displaying this by kicking out with her rear legs.

Can't wait to see her!

Horses and Training

As the owner of a young 3 year old mare, I have seen many interesting training sessions and techniques while trying to find a trainer.

Our mare has sure been through the mill: from trainers who expect a 3 year old mare with just a little training to be well behaved and well started and, because she is strong willed, these trainers do not want to work with our mare, to people in our community who make assumptions as to who she is without even seeing her, to those who take money and do not watch closely over the animal, or who do watch but things happen and....... disaster results. There are many good trainers out there I am sure, and even some of the good trainers do make mistakes. It all boils down to decisions the trainers make, how they respond to any mistakes they may make, how they like or do not like your animal, how your animal responds to their specific technique of training, I believe, and based on my experience to date.

As a horse owner, I have seen some pretty heavy handed trainers. And while I understand horses are large animals and the amount of force it takes to really physically hurt a horse is tremendous, I also understand (and have seen) horses being hurt by many a small human. Face shy horses are often hit in the face be it with an opened hand, closed fist, or some other item, this can create a whole host of problems for a horse owner down the line.... Try haltering or bridling a face shy horse, it can be quite challenging!
Or, in our case, a horse who is sensitive to having her ears touched (she has very hairy ears!!) because of a very bad experience she once had.
I want good communication, involvement with the training, and respect from the trainer to me, my family, and respect given to, as well as demand from, my horse.

I have Mag in with Nichole who is just over the WA border in Idaho for some light ground work and to build back towards being ridden after her long lay off due to her injury. I feel good about this and will update on this blog.