People Falling Off Horses Blog

Okay, I just stumbled across this blog on Tumblr, and although it's probably NOT the best thing to peruse if you're looking to regain your riding confidence, it is extremely entertaining!  So please, click for your amusement...  https://peoplefallingoffhorses.tumblr.com/

Sherrie riding Atticus in the dressage ring

Sherrie is Maya's riding instructor.  She has been teaching for 30+ years, but hasn't done a lot of riding herself lately, and has wanted to get back in the saddle... partially because she has an off the track (OTT) Thoroughbred that she will be working with once she gets his hoof issues sorted out.  I know where she's coming from... riding a young and potentially hot horse when you don't feel that you are in fit riding shape can be a challenge, not to mention intimidating! 

At any rate, she asked me if she could regularly school Atticus, and of course I jumped at the chance!  Here is some video of her riding him the other day, where she really got him to respond to her leg and to collect a bit:
             

Some fun horsey products....

Okay, in the interest of full disclosure, I have designed these things and am selling them in my Zazzle store.  But I do love them and think you will too!

race horse wrapping paper

I used to be rich...

Atticus at his first recognized horse trial!

This is from May 2017 (I've just gotten around to updating it!).  His dressage and showjumping events at the Loch Moy Horse Trials.

Enjoying the Beach...

A friend and I took two horses (Judge and Atticus) to a private beach on the Patuxent River yesterday with our trainer and a group of her friends and clients.  It made for some beautiful photos, and I am very eager to go back!

Leasing a horse

LEASING / SHARING A HORSE 

Advantages to leasing a horse:

• You'd love to own a horse, but don't want to make a full commitment.
• A risk-free way of deciding if you have the time and money to own a horse.
• No worries about the expense of vet bills, farrier bills, or increases in feed prices.
• No need to buy your own expensive tack and equipment.
• More time to bond and develop a personal relationship with one horse than taking lessons on multiple horses.
• More fun than a gym membership with the same fitness benefits!
• Getting outdoors to bond with your horse is cheaper (and often just as beneficial) as therapy!

ORCHARD CREEK FARM LEASING PROGRAM:

The potential lessee must first come out to try the horse to assure horse and rider skills are properly matched.

All necessary equipment is provided, including saddles, pads, bridles, etc. This assures the equipment is properly fitted to the horse.

The client must have an ASTM certified riding helmet, and appropriate footwear. The farm has extra helmets that the lessee can use until a proper helmet can be purchased, if necessary. We can also help you chose the right equipment if you need any assistance.

A share lease allows the rider access to the horse 3 days / week on predetermined days. What you do is up to you; ride, groom, feed treats, read a book, etc. 😊

If you would like to ride the horse on a day not included in your lease terms, just call or text the owner; frequently the horse is free, and we can be flexible on a case-by-case basis.

Jumping Lesson

Atticus had a training session with Aurélie yesterday.  Our first show of the season is coming up at the end of the month. 

At the same time, Yvonne and the kids came over and did some grooming and riding.  A productive day overall!

 

Aurélie riding Teddy

Atticus and Aurélie

My trainer, Aurélie Vilmer, has been working with Atticus on jumping and showing at the Black Eyed Susan show series at the Showplace Arena.  They are a fabulous pair and have been doing a great job!

Horses can help beat stress - Telegraph

Horses can help beat stress - Telegraph:

Click on the title above to read the article.  I have had many people say that visiting the horses or riding is the best source of therapy out there!

'via Blog this'

(ARTICLE BELOW)

I am frequently surprised at the things that we need scientific studies to prove, as it seems to me that anyone who spends any significant time with animals should see that there is much more to them than simple organisms responding to instinctive urges.  

This article reminds my of my friend's horse, Aztero, a Swedish Warmblood whom I am convinced is part human.  I remember when he wanted to go into another field, closed off by a gate... He trotted up to the gate, then looked at me, where I was standing at the other end of the pasture, whinnied and gestured to the gate with his head, ears pricked forward.  I answered him, "No Aztero, you can't go out there now."  At that, his ears flicked backwards and he tossed his head in an expression of annoyance. I'm quite sure he was thinking, "Stupid human, can't understand anything!"

And then there was a very "Twilight Zone" type interaction with the same horse.  He had been injured, and was shut into the round pen to limit his movement while his owner tried to figure out what was wrong.  She had no idea where the lameness or injury was located. One day as I was working in the pasture, I walked up to the round pen, watched him amble around a bit, and asked rhetorically, "Awww, where does it hurt, boy?"  He looked at me, lifted his right hind as foals do when scratching an ear, nosed at his stifle, looked back at me and set his foot down.  I told his owner later that I knew what was hurting him.  With rest and treatment, he was soon back to normal. Still, it was a rather creepy interaction.

I have numerous other stories about this horse and his above-average intelligence. He could've been a great Hollywood animal actor, but is enjoying his life as a dressage horse currently.

Study Confirms Horses 'Talk' to Human Handlers

• By Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA
 
• Jun 9, 2016
 
• Topics: 
  • Behavior
   
  • Communication With Your Horse
   
  • Equine Welfare & Legislation
   
  • Horsemanship Science

• Print
• Email
• Favorite
• Share
• Newsletters

Horses do, in fact, try to intentionally communicate with us to achieve certain goals.

“Hey! See that bucket of feed over there? Yeah, that one. Can you grab that for me, please? I’m kind of hungry.”

Wait a minute. Did your horse just speak to you? Actually, he might have—in his own way, of course. New research by European scientists has revealed that horses do, in fact, try to intentionally communicate with us to achieve certain goals.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Tags!

For some reason I love making tags and labels for things.  Of course, around the farm, there are a bazillion things in need of tagging and labeling.  Here are a few tags I made for tack and feed bags for the horses, with mini icons to assist the farm sitter who may not know names too well.  What do you think?

Little Wookie!

April, my Welsh Pony, had a foal on October 14th of last year.  I suspected that she had been (accidentally) bred by Atticus, my Friesian cross stallion, as she proceeded to grow larger over the winter and into Spring.  However, when Spring came with no foal, then Summer came and went with no foal, I began to suspect she was just obese, was about to start her on a strict diet.  Luckily, before I put that plan into action, I came out one morning to be greeted by this scene!

He is absolutely adorable, and looks just like a little Friesian.  Unfortunately (well, depending on one's perspective, I suppose), he will ultimately "gray out", meaning turn all white just like his mother.  She is homozygous for the graying gene, which is dominant.  However, I still have no idea how big he will get.  According to my vet, the size of the foal in utero is determined by the size of the mare, but that doesn't mean they won't shoot up in size once born.  I'm thinking he'll be large pony size at this point.  Oh yes, he was named Wookie by Jared, due to his extreme fuzziness.  Here are a few more pics:

 
 

Some recent farm photos....  
First we have Zoey and 
Precious snuggling on the bed:              Sasha showing off his long tail:

 And new colt Pimms with his mother Brandy.  His Daddy is Atticus, shown below:
                                         

Wolf Dogs in the Creek

Okay, they aren't really wolf dogs.... they are King Shepherds.  But you must admit, they do look rather wolfish, don't they?

Yard and Garden

Just came across this picture of the front walk, taken by Mom earlier in the summer... The little horse statue is one of my decoupage projects.  That seems to be my latest craft obsession. About this time of year I am really looking forward to the Spring and seeing green again.

Here's another front yard picture of my weather vane clock, given to me as a gift by a very good friend of mine.  It still makes me happy every time I look at it!

Article on Flexible Feeding Schedules from Equus

After feeding the horses when my schedule allows, I have been a proponent of this philosophy of horse care for quite a while.  I notice there is no stress, pacing, squabbling. As an added bonus, the horses are much quicker to come when called, thinking they may be getting chow!  Of course, they do have either pasture or hay available at all times.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Halloween Wolf Dog

Okay, so sadly I cannot get cool zombie dog contacts to make Zoey wear for Halloween... but I can get her ready for Halloween thanks to digital photo software!

Raising Ducks

I am on to my second round of trying to raise some ducks.  Ducks lay eggs that are wonderful for baking, and they make very amusing pets to have around the farm.  Here are the chicks that arrived around late July of this year:

The mother is the only duck I had left from the last batch.  My biggest problem is with predators... foxes, hawks, owls are all very abundant around here.  I generally let my poultry free range.  Not only do they get more natural food and exercise that way, but if a predator does come for them, they can run and hide, and they aren't, well.... sitting ducks!

Since I think much of the predation is happening at night, I bought this handy little device called Nite-Guard.  It's simply a solar powered, blinking red light.  It confuses predators into thinking there's another predator there, and they steer clear.  So far it seems to be working pretty well.  I'm hoping they all make it through the winter with no problem.

Here is a more recent photo.... the other nice thing about ducks is that they are full grown in only 2 months! (vs. having to wait over 6 months to get your first eggs from chickens).

Cuddling critters

Now that it's getting a bit brisk out, I'm sure I will have a lot more photos to post of Zoey (the dog) and Precious (the cat) cuddling together on the bed.  It sometimes seems like that makes up half the photos in my camera!