August 14, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses
donate, equine, farm, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horse farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, riding, SaveNash, surgery, trail rides
Save Nash Fund Raising page
What a busy summer the farm is having! Sorry I haven’t updated you on Nash in a while but I wanted to let you know that the fund raising campaign is still on going. I would like to extend a special thanks to my lesson kids. They have jumped on board and are helping raise funds this summer. They have done lemonade stands and put cans in local pet supply stores and Vet office.
In the spring we delivered compost (aged horse manure) to local farms and residents. I asked that all they pay was for gas. If the truck did not need gas at that time the extra cash went to Nash.
So today I am going to deposit $188 in cash to the Nash bank account.
Please continue to spread the word and help anyway you can.
Thank you!
Nash is doing great. He is enjoying his summer doing trail rides and lesson. All very light activity nothing more than a running walk. His hernia seems to have become a little larger. There is an additional half moon bulge to the left but he is not bothered by it. Fortunately we are not at the point of extreme concern yet. 
August 5, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses
blog, equine, groundwork, horse
How to tell if you’re turning into a Horse.
Interesting perspective and comparison of horses and humans by a fellow blogger.
“Being prey animals, they have a keen awareness of their environment. Humans are blind, hairless mice in comparison. But if we spend enough time trying to understand and communicate with horses, slowly our senses improve. Balance and body awareness changes first, we have to learn that in order to ride. Slowly, our use of the limited senses we have improves. “
August 2, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Horseback riding
equine, horse, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lessons, nature, trail ride, trail rides
I Want a Do-Over.
The link above is a post by a fellow equine blogger. I enjoyed reading it and it got me thinking of riding in my youth.
After a couple years of lessons I got my own horse (Lilly of the fields). She was a beautiful chestnut mare. I had friends in the area and we would go trail riding. During the summer it would be all day trail rides to the park or convenience store. We didn’t wear helmets and we had 100% trust in our horses. We never fell off even when we race around the avocado groves. We were young and free but not careless or risk takers.
July 31, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Animals, Farm Horses
boarder, equine, farm, farm horse, field, Golden Spike Farm, grass, horse, horse farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lessons, pasture, rescue, riding, SaveNash
Usually she rides Casey but during this lesson we decided to try something new: Cuervo. He is one of my rescues and best described as an ornery old man. He is great, loves trails but not a big fan of the ring. In fact he isn’t really a big fan of being told to turn. BUT he looks good! 
We finally got the roof of the barn painted.
Nice pic of Chex’s beautiful colors
The Donkeys… I haven’t posted about them in a while. They spent some time up in the front pasture with the goats because Izzy kicked them out of their stall. This week with the weather so nice I brought them back to hang out with the horses. They seem much happier here, even though they don’ have their stall any more.
The walk to the front pasture. The 8 barn horses (my 4 plus 4 boarders) are hand walked up the front pasture for grazing. This time when I was following 2 Chestnut butts (Izzy and Sunbun) they decided the would spook at the new tarp. But Rachael had it under control!
I got a new tractor last week. Yup after having my first Ford for less than 2 years it decides to die on me the Mechanic said that the repairs would cost more than it is worth. So sorry credit card but farm comes first. I didn’t take any pics of it because it looks the same only bigger than my last sexy beast. but you can see it in the background here.
40.441768
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July 19, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses
equine, horse, horseback, horseback riding, horses
Sharing another blog from a fellow horse lover
You Don’t Need A Unicorn
Horses are every-day miracles. They let us do the craziest things.
July 16, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Horseback riding
Dream, equine, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horseback riding, lessons
Top Ten Reasons To Ride A Horse.
Great post by a follow blogger.
Why do I ride?
- It is in my soul. I remember my uncle calling me a natural. I have been around horses (on and off) since I was born.
- It is much better than walking or biking. I enjoy the trail rides especially when I see others out for exercise. We say funny things like “Race ya” or if they are tired “Need a lift”. They say things like “Trade ya” and we always reply “No Way”.
- Connection with a beast almost 10 times my size. My guys are great. They are calm and have no vises. They are all getting up there in years but they know they have it good at the farm.
- Mounted lessons – are much better than standing and walking around the ring giving out riding instruction. My student’s father came up to me after her lesson and said I was Aces. He explained she has been at 3 barns and this is the first on that the instructor gave the lesson from on top of a horse. It makes sense to me to do it for demonstration purposes. Plus the added bonus is we get to go on a mini trail ride after the lesson.
Why do you ride, want to ride, or enjoy watching people ride?
July 16, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses, Horseback riding
equine, farm, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horse farm, horse training, horseback, horseback riding, horses, nature, riding, SaveNash, trail ride, trail rides
This week during our regularly scheduled Saturday morning trail ride Rachael decided to take Chex on his first trail ride since joining the farm.
He was joined by Apple, Cuervo and Nash.
Chex’s mom joined us on Nash. Her first time on him.
The weather was good to us. It wasn’t too hot and we stuck the the cut part of our neighboring fields. The horse flys and bugs were out and bothering the horses despite being doused in fly spray
July 8, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Activities, Farm Animals, Farm Horses, Horseback riding
equine, farm, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horse farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, hugs and kisses, lessons, trail ride, trail rides
Summer is in full swing here at the farm. It is keeping me busy so this update is going to be full and all over the the place.
It is not all about work though, a couple of weeks ago the extended farm family went to a country concert. It was a great break from the farm work and a good time was had by all!
Lessons are continuing I am now scheduling them for early morning or late evening to beat the heat. This is my youngest rider, she is coming along by leaps and bounds. Last week we were trotting with out a saddle!
We are also taking on new riders and beginners. I got Nash out for this lesson, he was great and is such a sweet horse for first timers. The other day, I was telling folks about how much of a lover he is and then I recieved a big lick up the middle of my face!
July 4th was a fun filled day OFF too. We went for another trail ride around green lane. I got Casey to jump a log for me. I think he liked that.
Lastly some shots of when the ferrier was here. Nash didn’t think it was fair to bring apples to the barn and not share.
The donkeys were brought up to have their hooves trimmed too. Frodo said hello to Izzy. It was funny after they were done and brought back to their pasture with the goats Cuervo kept whinnying and calling for them to come back. It is amazing the bonds they share.
July 8, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses, Horseback riding
equine, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horse farm, horse training, horseback, horseback riding, horses
Warlock who is now affectionately called Baby cause he is only 2 is going through training to be ridden. (Why do we use the term break and broke? I guess it goes back to when trainer did break the horses down to submission. This is not the type of training that goes on at the farm so I will stay away from those terms.)
Rachael has been working with Warlock and his dad Chex since they came to the farm at the beginning of March. She has done wonders with them. They now mind their manners are are coming along great with the riding aspect. Rachael spent last summer as an apprentice to a Josh Lyon certified trainer and now she is doing it on her own.
In these pictures Baby has the saddle and Rachael on his back fro the first time ever. He did so good! Was not upset, worried or nervous. His head was low and his ear were up. I even caught him licking and chewing a few times which is a sign for horses thinking and processing.
June 17, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses
equine, farm horse, field, Golden Spike Farm, green lane park, horse, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lake, love, nature, trail ride, trail rides
On Sunday we decided not to take care of the long list of things to do and instead go for a trail ride. Green Lane Park is about a 20 min drive from the farm. It has many trails for 2 legs, 4 legs and wheels. We opted to go around the lake, which was a 15 mile adventure that took us a little less than 5 hours. Before we left we brushed them and applied fly spray. My 2 seasoned geldings loaded the trailer like champs. I rarely take them off the property so it is great to see that they remember and are ok with being trailered.
Getting tacked up at the trailer.
Are ya coming? Casey is a much slower walker than Apple so we were often trotting to catch up.
I was told that there are not enough pics of me in the blog (because i am always the one taking them). So here ya go.
Put your ears forward Casey – Pretend like you like it.
Through the open areas
Across the bridge, past the fishermen, to the other side of the lake.
Through the forest. This part was only for advanced riders. As we had to go down and up many steep embankments with a stream at the bottom. A fun adrenalin rush as you are putting all your trust in to the horse. They did great!
Around the lake. It was such a pretty day, not too hot with a cool breeze.
Smile for the Camera. I love that Apple and Casey’s ears are pricked forward for this pic. They were checking out the other horses approaching us.
Stopped at the bridge by the gas station for a break. We needed to re-hydrate. The nice man at the shop behind Casey, offered the horses some water.
Almost there. The last hour of the ride my bum started to hurt so I decided to ride side saddle. Look ma no hands. Casey was such a good boy that for the most part I didn’t have to do much, no steering and no stirrups. The only thing I had to watch for was when he walked to close to the tree and tried to constantly take out my left leg.
It was a great day out! So much better than working.
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