What a great way to end a long Saturday of lessons.
Sunset Trail Ride
November 17, 2013
Horseback riding equine, Fall, farm, field, Golden Spike Farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lessons, nature, sunset, trail ride, trail rides Leave a comment
Lessons outside of the box
November 8, 2013
Horseback riding equine, Fall, farm, farm horse, horse farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lessons, nature, pasture, riding, trail ride, trail rides Leave a comment
I still can’t believe and am very grateful for how strong the lesson program is going even though the temperatures are dropping my students are still hanging in there and I am starting new ones almost every week. With it getting dark at 5 pm I am even contemplating having lights installed around the riding arena. BUT lets find out how much it costs first.
I have started doing Gymkhana exercises with some of my lesson girls. They love it! I get on Apple and do it with them. Then I discovered how much Apple loves to do it too. It is a lot of fun and teaches them balance, quick reactions and confidence.
Sometimes at the end of lessons we go on “trail rides”. It is just a walk around the front pasture but the kids love it. They can relax. Not have to go in constant circles and enjoy a bit of nature from the back of a horse. The parents and dogs enjoy the walk as well.
Another week. Another post
October 30, 2013
Farm Horses, Horseback riding equine, Fall, Golden Spike Farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lessons, nature, trail ride, trail rides Leave a comment
Fall Riding
This is the only season we can see those 2 words in a statement with out thinking: Oh No!
It sure is beautiful though. The fresh crisp air, the beautiful colors all around you. Even the horses like it and have a spring in their step.
Yes another shot of me while riding. Trying to capture my trial mate and myself.
I can’t believe I am still gaining new lessons. This is our first mother daughter team!
Falling for Fall
October 7, 2013
Farm Horses, Horseback riding Autumn, equine, Fall, farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, nature, trail ride, trail rides Leave a comment
Autumn is truly beautiful here. I am trying to enjoy it with out thinking of the impending doom of winter.
It was a great weekend for road rides. Since it is hunting season we are back to using the roads for our rides but my horses are “bomb proof”. Nothing seems to bother or spook them, well except for the falling leaves.
It was surprisingly warm on Saturday but Sunday evening was cool. Well, cold when we got caught in the passing rain shower.
Is the summer really over?
September 9, 2013
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 1 Comment
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!
Sweet summer time trail rides
August 25, 2013
Horseback riding equine, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horseback, horseback riding, nature, trail ride, trail rides Leave a comment
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.
Save Nash update
August 14, 2013
Farm Horses donate, equine, farm, farm horse, Golden Spike Farm, horse, horse farm, horseback, horseback riding, horses, riding, SaveNash, surgery, trail rides Leave a comment
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. 
Riding as a Youth
August 2, 2013
Horseback riding equine, horse, horseback, horseback riding, horses, lessons, nature, trail ride, trail rides Leave a comment
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.
Chex’s first trail ride
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
Sweet Summer Time
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.
Golden Spike Farm's Plog 
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