July 16, 2013
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 2 Comments
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
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 Leave a comment
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
Farm Horses, Horseback riding equine, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horse farm, horse training, horseback, horseback riding, horses Leave a comment
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
Farm Horses equine, farm horse, field, Golden Spike Farm, green lane park, horse, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lake, love, nature, trail ride, trail rides 4 Comments
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.
June 10, 2013
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 Leave a comment
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.
June 10, 2013
Horseback riding equine, farm, Golden Spike Farm, horse farm, horseback riding, lessons, love, pony rides Leave a comment
My littlest student loves her lessons. She has more confidence than the kids twice her age. This week we decided to give her brother a pony ride (which we had done only once before) for the cool down, as you can see he loved it.
He was so cute when he was riding he was talking away and holding on. Then he let go for a split second to talk with his hands and ended up losing his balance. Luckily he recovered quickly and didn’t let go again.
This was from last October (2012)
This was from May (2013)
May 30, 2013
Horseback riding forest, horse, horseback riding, trail ride Leave a comment
The Memorial Day trail ride took us through a forest. It is actually a local wildlife preserve, probably made just for people but don’t tell anyone. We went down the mail path and Apple noticed a trail marked by colored bands around the trees. He decided to go off roading and take us on a real trail. I really think Apple Jacks was a trail horse in his previous life (before he was rescued and came to his forever farm). He loves it and I just give him his head. He is a great trail leader and will go over/through anything I ask him too.
May 20, 2013
Horseback riding balance, horseback riding, reins Leave a comment
Find the Space Between the Give and Take in Horse Riding.
Great Blog about the balance of holding the reins.
May 20, 2013
Farm Horses, Horseback riding compost, farm horse, horse, horse farm, horseback riding, horses, pony rides Leave a comment
So this weekend was a wash – literally, it rained almost the whole time. I should not be complaining because I heard we need the rain but it did mess up some plans:
But it did clear up enough to bring Heather over to the neighbor’s for pony rides at the kid’s party.
As you can see the good ol’ Heather was an Angel. She walked around the yard while the kids got their pony ride. For many of them it was their first time on a horse. They were so cute and in awe of the experience.
Part 2 of the weekend as all about Compost! As you can see my manure pile is growing so I posted an ad on Craigslist for free fertilizer. We delivered one truck load, for the price of gas and another gardner stopped by to pick up her own truck load.
May 8, 2013
Horseback riding horseback riding, horses Leave a comment
Why Rising Trot Is Not Rising At All.
I have a couple of horseback riding lesson students who could benefit from this.
Golden Spike Farm's Plog 
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