September 18, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses
equine, farm, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horseback riding, lesson, lessons, love, rescue, riding, SaveNash
My Handsome Man!
He is such a great horse and a big huge lover. He came to me scared and probably abused. When I cleaned his stall he would quickly move to the far wall with a scared look. That made me think he was hit with the manure fork. Now he comes up to me (well everyone) looking to give a hand a lick or receive a hug. He likes to steal your hat and lick your face in the process.
Recently I have started using him in lessons more. He is great with the beginners and stays right by me when I am walking them around. He is kinda lazy and hard to get going but he always aims to please.
September 9, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Activities, Farm Animals, Horseback riding
animals, equine, farm, farm dog, farm horse, horse farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lessons, nature, riding, trail ride, trail rides
The weather is saying yes. The days are cooler the nights are cold. The Calendar is saying yes. It is September! Where did the summer go? It has been non stop and I am truly grateful for that. I am still getting inquiries from new students wanting lessons. Below you will see Nash doing a great job with one of the newbies. He is so patient and gentle, he makes the best first timer experience.
But it is not all about work. Labor day weekend we made it to green lane again. This time we had a tag team group. 2 horses (Apple and Casey), 6 friends , and 4 dogs. When we weren’t riding we were hanging out at the picnic table on the edge of the trail overlooking the lake. It made for a very relaxing day out!
So the dog days of summer are over but you have to admit they have the life here at the farm!
40.336767
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August 19, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Activities
birthday, Dream, equine, farm, Golden Spike Farm, horse farm, SaveNash
I received this in an email on Saturday, from Tumblr which was the original location of my website. I created the webpages which basically corresponds with launching my business 5 years ago. I really can’t believe it has been that long. The Farm started out in Chalfont, PA then moved to Quakertown 3 years ago in October.
Thanks to all my friends and family who has supported and helped me make my dream come true!
August 16, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Horseback riding
equine, farm, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lessons, riding
Someone asked me this week why don’t I advertise on craigslist. My answer is because I don’t want to. I have had a busy enough summer as it is, I don’t need to do 3 lessons every evening on top of that. You see I work a full time job that pays for all the rest of the bills. I am fortunate to be in a place where the farm pays for itself; between boarding fees, lessons and trial rides.
Don’t get me wrong I do advertise. I have a beautiful sign on the side of the road created by a award winning sign maker and friend of the farm. I have a website and I am on Google places (or is it Local? can’t keep up); I have set up the farm to be on the short list of farms if someone happened to be Googling horses in the area.
The lessons are challenging, fun, invigorating and fulfilling all at once for me. I love teaching beginners, watching their confidence grow and their fears subside. Then things start clicking: I can control this magnificent beast; I am in charge; I can post the the rhythm of the trot.
I am including pictures of my recent lessons everyone from my youngest at the age of 3 to some newbies to a couple of returns from last summer.
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. 
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.
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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.
June 24, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Activities
farm, hay
Making hay while the sun shines.
This weekend we had the opportunity to help out our local hay farmer. He is Golden Spike Farm’s hay guy and we found out that he owns and runs his production with his 3 sisters. I learned the value of my hay, what it takes to produce it and enjoyed the good honest work (even though my muscles are screaming this morning).
The first step is to cut the grass. He uses a Discbine. Didn’t get to see this piece of machinery in action as the hay was cut and laying on the fields by the time we got there.
Next he uses the tedder. “A tedder (also called hay tedder) is a machine used in haymaking. It is used after cutting and before windrowing, and uses moving forks to aerate or “fluff up” the hay and thus speed-up the process of hay-making. The use of a tedder allows the hay to dry (“cure”) better, which results in improved aroma and color.” (Thanks Wiki)
The machine called the hay rake then rakes the hay into windrows (a row of cut or mowed hay).
The next step is the baler. It is driving over the windrows and puts together the bales of hay.
The baler shoots out the bales of hay into the hay cart were we were waiting to catch and stack them. This is the fun part, watching the farm boys catch 50lb bails of hay coming straight at them. It is also considered down time compared to what is next.
The last step is unloading the wagon, putting the hay on the elevator and then stacking them for storage. I have to say this is the exhausting part. I was out on the wagon moving the bales to the elevator, which then went into the barn and dropped the hay for the stackers. It is a lot hotter in the barn and hard work moving those bales.
This weekend the farm family helped with 2600 Bales of hay @ approx 50lbs/bale = 130,000 lbs or 65 tons. AND we still had time to enjoy the beautiful scenery while posing for pics.
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June 10, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Animals, Farm Horses, Horseback riding
equine, farm, farm dog, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horse farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, hugs, hugs and kisses, love, nature, therapy
Have you hugged a horse today?
Farm therapy is the best kind of therapy.
Petting animals can reduce your stress levels. Check out this article on 27 ways pets can improve your life. This past weekend a farm family friend and I went to the barn at night for some horse therapy. We were hugging and loving on Nash & Casey. Nash was giving me kisses and my friend was giving Nash a massage. We loved the quiet time with my boys.
Mucking stalls allows me to think. If I ever need to clear my head I muck stalls. It is a rhythmical task that allows for the thought process to open up. I make my best decisions when cleaning stalls
Riding horse forces me not to think. If I need to “get out of my own head” for a while I get on a horse. There is so much going on while riding that I am not allowed to let the pesky issue seep in.
Hugs
Lover boy
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