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!

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August 25, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Horseback riding
equine, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horseback, horseback riding, nature, trail ride, trail rides
We recently discovered dirt bike trails and paths in the farm’s neighboring woods and fields. Before we could only do road rides and not all the horses are road safe. Now we all can enjoy the great outdoors on the back of a horse.
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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 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
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.
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
June 5, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses
equine, farm, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horse farm, horses, love, nature, prom, rebel ridge farm
What does a cowgirl do before prom?
Take prom pictures with her horse in her cowgirl boots.

GSF’s Prom Princess did not have time to come to the farm before prom for pictures with Dalton. So we brought her horse to her! Thanks to the farm family and her boyfriend they clean him up while I was finishing up my work (real job). Then we loaded him up in my trailer and drove him to her parent’s house (which is also a goat farm).
She was absolutely thrilled to have Dalton part of her big dayand surprised to see me as I said I would not be able to get out of work early. The pictures turned out great! Dalton was even in her friends pictures who stopped by for group photos. Where else would you have the opportunity to have prom pics with a horse!

April 26, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses
blossoms, farm, graze, horse, nature, plants, save nash, spring
Word is spreading and the grass roots campaign raise funds for Nash’s Hernia surgery just passed it’s first week. I realized I failed to show you how bad the hernia is and what the surgery will fix. This week we decided to shave the spot so we could get a clear view of how bad it is.

Then after taking these photos Nash and I had some quality time while he munched on some grass in between the spring blossoms.
April 9, 2013
Golden Spike Farm
Farm Horses, Horseback riding
animals, horse, horseback riding, horses, hugs, hugs and kisses, lessons, love, nature
With the warmer weather and longer days I am excited to see last year’s students returning for lessons. She did a great job getting back in the saddle and remembered everything. It’s like riding a bike I said. After the lesson she and her mom went to say hi to the horses. Nashy my lover boy really enjoyed the hugs and kisses.
Leading Heather
Ok lets go Heather
Oh Hi Nash
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