It is interesting how the lay out of the whole farm is evolving. What was initially intended as the ACA (Animal Concentration Area) now has a grassy pasture in the middle of it and a paddock paradise like track around it. What was originally intended as shelter for the back pasture has been now included in the ACA. When we extended the riding ring to it’s original intended size the horses lost that part of their ACA which provided shade in the late afternoon and evening. We decided to extend the ACA on the opposite side to incorporate the shed (at the back of George and Heather’s stalls) and the 2 shade trees. The result is some very happy horses.
Operation more shade successfully completed
September 4, 2014
Farm Activities, Farm Horses ACA, animal concentration area, horse, pasture, shade Leave a comment
Hanging out with the boys
August 25, 2014
Farm Horses elvis, farm cat, fly mask, horse Leave a comment
The quiet of the evenings is a great time just to hang out with the herd. They tend to be a little more in your face because they know it is dinner time.
So maybe they need a little work on personal space…
HOW TO BOND DEEPLY WITH YOUR HORSE by Carol Whitaker
August 8, 2014
Farm Activities bond, horse Leave a comment
I enjoyed reading this so thought I would share.
http://royalgrovestables.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-bond-deeply-with-your-horse.html
Horse in Boots
July 25, 2014
Farm Horses equine, farm, farm horse, fly boots, horse, horse farm, horses Leave a comment
So you all have seen the funny cat videos of them trying to walk in shoe or socks. Here is a good one if you haven’t.
That got me thinking how did they decide to make a cartoon Puss in Boots if the cats can’t walk. Well some how Puss figured out how to walk, run, dance and sword fight.
But I digress… I got Cuervo a pair of fly boots. They are basically mesh leg wraps that go from the hoof to below the knee. I was noticing he had a lot of bug bites and blood spots left from the bites because he didn’t stop his feet to get the bugs off. Did mention he is old and lazy? Well this video is the second time putting the boots on. The first time was even more dramatic but he still walked funny this time. Enjoy!
Mad Dash
June 11, 2014
Farm Horses gallop, grass, grazing, horse, pasture Leave a comment
While slowly getting acclimated to eating lush grass the horses in the beginning are only allowed out on the pastures for a few hours per day. This prevents them from getting laminitis and foundering. So as you can imagine they are very excited to get out to the grass.
First they line up and patiently wait for the gate to be opened.
Sunbun line leader
Then the mad dash to the back pasture
One at a time no pushing
Run like the wind Chex
Come on Nash and Casey.
Then after a little bit of running around and tearing up the pasture…
… they calm down and start grazing
Childhood horses
May 22, 2014
Farm Horses horse, miami, pony, throwback thursday Leave a comment
Another Throwback Thursday post
This is me with Gringo on the left and Koky on the right. Koky was a Shetland pony. It is probably these two horses that started my horse love, passion and dream to run my own horse farm.
They were my parents horses and they lived in front of the house. We were living in a trailer at the time while my dad was building our house.
My mom’s favorite childhood story about me to tell visitors is when, on my own and without her knowing, I walked out of the trailer to visit with the horses. I may my way across the yard and crawled under the electric fence, being very careful not to touch it. I then sat between the two of them and had a conversation. My mom saw me from the window then quietly and slowly walked up to the fence. She wanted to run but knew she might startle the horses. Then she had to coax me to come out of the pasture back to safety.
Pictures from Lessons
May 9, 2014
Farm Horses, Horseback riding horse, hugs, riding lessons, smile, trot Leave a comment
How to give a horse a hug while riding. Lean forward and put both hands around the neck. Oh wait the shift in your weight forward makes the horse think it is time to move forward. Ok this time pull back on the reins with one hand and hug with the other. NOW smile for the camera. Perfect! Great Job. {Have a look at Heather’s forelock. She is a Unicorn!}
Cuervo is looking good. Keep on trotting old man!
Escape Artists
May 9, 2014
Farm Horses barn doors, escape, horse, horse farm, nightmare 1 Comment
A horse farm owner’s worst nightMARE.
So I am not sure who is the culprit. It is a toss up between Apple and Chex but someone figured out how to open the back doors. These are the back doors to my guys’ stalls (Cuervo, Apple, Nash & Casey). The doors are closed and locked when the horses or out in the ACA during the day. The horses can hang out in the shed row to get out of the sun and I guess someone has taken to playing with the locks.
These are the front doors to their stalls. they can be either open or closed during the day while the horses are out. BUT if they are open and then the back door is opened then we have horse out in the barn area which is fine…
EXCEPT for this part which backs to the woods is not fenced. The donkeys have wandered into the woods and I think that on the day of the great escape they led Cuervo and Izzy into the woods. I noticed the other day when I had them out that Cuervo and Izzy got very upset when the donkeys went off with out them. Funny how attached to each other they get.
So now we have clips on all the back doors so the nimble mouths can’t open the locks anymore.
Pasture perfect
May 6, 2014
Farm Animals, Farm Horses equine, field, grass, green, horse, pasture 5 Comments
At long last the conditions are right for their first evening out in the pasture. They are loving every minute of that fresh grass.
Love is…
May 6, 2014
Farm Horses farm horse, horse, hospital, SaveNash, surgery 1 Comment
One of my lesson students took this picture of Nash before her lesson on him.
Golden Spike Farm's Plog 
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