Around the Farm

And… We Are Back!

And… We Are Back!

The only recurring theme of this blog seems to be enormous hiatuses. It’s been since October 2016 since the last blog post, however anyone reading wouldn’t be able to tell because… The entire blog platform has been upgraded! Please don’t mind the debris lodged around the blog and broken links or ones that may lead to random recipes, it will be a little messy for the next bit as I transfer everything that wasn’t lost in the merge. Some of the pages were able to be saved, but anything from 2013 and before were lost. I’m trying to determine whether I want to attempt to backdate some of the posts here or not.

10 months have passed since the last update, which means lots of time has come and gone. Here is a snapshot without going into a dramatic novelization.

Over the winter, I was able to ride this adorable Rocky/Hackney pony named Rudy, the pasture mate to Rain’s first baby, Jazz. Rudy stands a whopping 13.1 hands of feisty attitude in an adorable red chocolate package. He is not the easiest ride, but he is so much fun that he was a blast to play with. I’d pop on him in the weekends. He’s back again this year and I’m loving it.

This past February I started riding with a Grand Prix dressage instructor. I am so fortunate that there are so many amazing instructors in this area! I started with Rain, then rode her Morgan horse, Dune  I have done quite a bit of many different disciplines, but dressage is challenging and while it complements what I’ve learned, at the same time it is completely different. It’s been something that engages my brain past anything I’ve done before.

Unfortunately, while prepping for Breyerfest, Rain tore her suspensory and she is now only able to do light work and a pasture puff. So, when Atlas found a home in Maine, I invested in a gorgeous 4 year old Oldenburg gelding, Foreigner. He’s amazing! I love him to death. He’s got a ton of talent and a great sense of humor. I can’t wait to keep progressing with him.

Vegas is now officially under saddle. He’s been in a round pen, small arena, and an indoor. He’s doing fantastically!  Waiting until he is five was about a year longer than I wanted to wait, but it was very good for him physically and mentally so it’s quite alright. He’s now working on obstacles and we are improving his gait.

Keno is back in harness and we are working on liberty work and trick training as well. He’s such a funny little guy, and we have so much fun together.

I hope to get the blog updated and back up and running completely, but for now I’m going to get what I can going. I am tired of looking at a blank page. I’m also going to be posting the articles I’ve contributed to the Rocky Mountain Horse magazine on here – I have permission to post them as well. I’m excited about that!


Recent Posts

Cantering the Gaited Horse

Cantering the Gaited Horse

There seems to be some sort of mysticism surrounding cantering a gaited horse. In some places it is considered highly taboo with the thought that it will result in the horse never being able to gait properly. In my experience, that just is not true. After […]

Help, My Horse Won’t Gait!

Help, My Horse Won’t Gait!

The most common question I get asked is what to do with a horse that won’t gait. The term easy gaited horses can be a misnomer, as some horses do not make it easy at all, while others will never offer a step of anything […]

Equine Marketing 101

Equine Marketing 101

There is a saying a picture is worth a thousand words, and no statement rings truer in the equine market. A photograph can mean the difference between grabbing a buyer’s attention and having them pass over the horse. With online equine marketing sites and social […]

Trail Obstacle for Pennies on the Dollar

Trail Obstacle for Pennies on the Dollar

Imagine a horse and rider combination navigating a beautiful covered bridge, hooves echoing over the babbling of a soft moving creek below. The horse calmly crosses over on a loose rein, stepping down with poise and polish. The pair seems to have emerged from the […]

Competing on a Budget

Competing on a Budget

The lights flicker on over the ring, tents are raised, and that familiar rhythm of hooves rings out throughout the show grounds and one thing becomes clear; it’s show time! Veteran competitors are dusting off equipment, bringing seasoned show horses in and prepping the new […]

And… We Are Back!

And… We Are Back!

The only recurring theme of this blog seems to be enormous hiatuses. It’s been since October 2016 since the last blog post, however anyone reading wouldn’t be able to tell because… The entire blog platform has been upgraded! Please don’t mind the debris lodged around […]

Versatility in the Mountain Horse

Versatility in the Mountain Horse

Mountain horses are cropping up outside of the gaited show ring and the trail. They can be spotted in a multitude of areas – the cross-country course, driving a surrey, and even in the FEI showjumping rings. The temperament of the Rocky allows them to […]

Horse Shows and Dog Etiquette

Horse Shows and Dog Etiquette

Horse people tend to be dog people in a typical package deal. Few things are more adorable than a well-behaved dog sitting on a golf cart or the stands, appearing to observe the rounds with their owner. Conversely, not much is more frustrating than an […]

Discover the World by Horseback

Discover the World by Horseback

Nature yields immense beauty, serving as muse to the world. There is a multitude of ways to immerse oneself within the threads of that tapestry, through the varied colors, terrains and foliage, but little compares to observing those views between the ears of a horse. […]

Winter Riding Tips (For Those Who Despise It)

Winter Riding Tips (For Those Who Despise It)

Ah, winter. Fuzzy horses dot the horizon of a snowy landscape that merits display in an art gallery. People snuggle in fuzzy crocheted blankets around blazing fires clutching mugs of hot cocoa, waiting until spring blossoms with the inevitable rebirth of flowers and color. Sounds […]