(Laurie, Rachel & Dream) Dream has been logging a lot of hours with both Rachel and I riding her to get her ready for the first show of the season, which was 05/31/08.  It was an ugly rainy day.  They rode Introductory Level Tests A & B again, which are the same tests they rode last Fall.  The judge they rode for is know to be somewhat "conservative" because she wants people to know what they need to work on.  Well, at that level Rachel and Dream have nothing left to work on, because they got two blue ribbons!  Rachel was also the high point Junior Rider for the day!  I don't have any pictures, unfortunately, because it was a dark indoor arena, and a dark day outside!  I took a couple still pictures outside with my regular camera, so the film is off being developed (what a concept!)  I couldn't be more proud of them!  They make a lovely combination.  They've been working on Training Level since last Fall, and that is what they will ride for all the rest of their shows this season. We can't do much "real" work over the winter here in Maine since I don't have an indoor arena.   Dream is feeling SO much better now that she LIKES to canter.  Last Fall it was very hard for her.  Next show is in June!  That one will be harder for them!! They can bask in their blues for the moment, though!  Laurie

(Carol & Phantom) June is upon us already and I can't think of a better way to start the month than with a beautiful trail ride with the best up and coming trail horse in the world, Souix Warrior.  Sunday morning left us thirsting for a taste of the out of doors on horseback!  We called our neighbor, Corky, and within the hour we had Warrior, Ron and Knight loaded up and ready to go.  A short drive to the Goose Lake Road area(five minutes from our house) and we were off.   The only thing missing was our companion trail dog, Willie.  Corky decided to leave Willie home, much to Willie's chagrin.  Cork knew there would be heck to pay when he returned home!! We found a wide pipeline that headed North and we decided that was our route.  What I didn't realize at the time was the slow incline that took us higher and higher as we meandered along.  Climbing what seemed to be the tallest hill in the world we reached the top to be greeted by the most beautiful, tree filled, blue sky filled view to the North.  I swear I could see all the way to Denise's house!!  The view brought memories of skiing at Boyne Highlands in the winter, minus the snow.  Oh my gosh......my camera....where is my camera?????  Gads, I left it in the truck!!  Oh well, a reason to come back in the near future!! After soaking in the view and the morning, we headed back down to the trailer.  Perfect...a morning spent on the trail in the middle of God's country.  Driving home we sat quietly, each with our own thoughts, content to be blessed with our lives and the many opportunties we have been given by the good Lord.  We knew we would have to face Willie when we arrived at Cork's and sure enough, there he was....and as usual, tail wagging, waiting for his chance to head out on the trail.  Cork unloaded Knight and the three of them rode off into the woods behind Cork's house.  Next trip to Goose Lake, Willie is going!!!

(Susan & Ahd) I had a super ride on AhD tonight.  He was totally relaxed when I saddled him up and mounted, and I think that his attitude helped my confidence.  As usual, he was very forward and we zipped right along, with AhD on a loose rein.  Man, can that little hoss ever walk fast!  I was inspired by Carol and tried using my seat and legs more and my reins less.  I practiced by trying to put him where I wanted him in places where there was no set trail.  I really enjoyed my ride.  What a way to end the day!

(Tesla & Sage) I am starting to ride sage in Lessons now, with 4 to 5 other horses! He is very mellow, I even had to carry a whip. He is very proud of him self, but his brain all ways hurts by the end.

(Brie & Sage....but not Sage today ;-)).June 4th &5th I got to participate in a Parelli clinic in New York & Vicki Webberly very kindly let me borrow her wonderful mare Nooner. Nooner is built so much like Sage, and yet is so unique with her pinto coloring and beautiful mane. I really enjoyed getting to meet another Curly character, and learned so much in the clinic thanks to Nooner's help as my substitute Curly Parelli horse. :] She is another shining example of this amazingly curious, calm, and humorous breed - and she is SUCH a character!!! I swear she & Sage have some of the exact same facial expressions when it comes to having a difference of opinion with their human! I had such fun doing the groundwork exercises with her & got to ride her a little bit too. She did so well for a 4 year old mare in a new place, with slippery muddy footing, strange horses, borrowed tack & a new human to contend with. I was very proud of us both. :-) Attached are some pictures!!

(Betsy & Zoe @ Top O' the Hill Farm) I have not posted my ride on my blog yet-- but here are a few photo's from today. We had free time this morning to head out for a 2 hour ride together. Up the mountain, and out on a new trail-- where there is a neat mossy rocky brook which is pretty full in spring but now just a trickle. We meandered up and down it for awhile. Along the trail is what Zoe calls the Winnie-the-Pooh tree which is an old birch.. completely alive and growing up top.... then back home, through some deep mud and onto the road--- when we got home we went down my little brook on the property, where the forget-me-nots are beautifully thriving this year. Keri thought she could steal a little snack when I was trying to photograph the blue flag (wild iris). Look at full her mane is!!  it is a tad dry right now, I need to order more almond oil-- our horses LOVE their beauty treatments. I even had Zoe snap a photo of me on my Keri-mare... a rare occasion. Father's Day I treated myself to a short ride out on the trail-- but did not bring a camera. We are riding-- just not so great about sending in the news... it's a real sneak it in kind of thing lately.

(Laurie, Rachel & Dream) On Sunday June 15th, Rachel rode Dream in their second show of the season.  This time they made the move to riding Training Level Tests 2 and 4.  These test include cantering.  Last Fall when we all started canter, Dream was very uncoordinated and lacked the energy to canter much.  After being on the Vita Royal program since Feb. she is a totally different horse.  She has much more energy and stamina.  Cantering is now a fun thing!  In fact it is so much fun that Test 4 was giving us a problem because you canter two 20 meter circles during the test but then near the end you have to do a 20 meter circle at the rising trot in which you let out the rein and the horse is to stretch down and forward.  When schooling this, for the longest time Dream instantly wanted to do more canter!  She is a happy, happy horse now!  It was our second show in the pouring rain.  Dream is the only horse who is benefited by the rain, as it makes her hair curlier!  Test 4 was also the first test they have ridden in a full size dressage arena.  Dream LIKES the bigger arena!  She still has difficulty, at times taking the left lead at canter, so when she did it at the show Rachel immediately tried to stop her to fix it, but she didn't have Dream properly balanced, so dream fixed it and then changed right back to the wrong thing again.  What she ended up doing is a couple "one tempi's" and then a flying change.  It looked like she was skipping.  I guess she doesn't realize that she isn't supposed to be athletic enough to DO that at this level.  Did I say that she was very happy?  Even when she is being "bad" (as in not doing the correct thing) she is good!  Both of their scores were in the low 60's, which were better than I was expecting, frankly!  Rachel was the only person under the age of 20 riding in both tests, and in each test there were people riding who are professionals.  In Test 2 one of them placed first and earned a score of 68.  Rachel and Dream placed sixth with a score of 62.86, and there were 8 people in the class.  So, they proved, once again that they are a phenomenal team.  In fact, this judge wrote "Very cute pair.  Well matched."  That must be why I got goose bumps the first time I watched Rachel ride Dream!  Rachel likes to show, and I now longer enjoy it.  They will be continuing to perfect their performance of these tests and later in the summer, start schooling some of the moves for the First Level.  This was the second judge who wrote in the comments section, "Cute horse!"  Becky, our trainer, had two people come up to her to ask if "this was the Curly Horse they'd heard was showing?"  I talked to another man about how Curlies are hypoallergenic for most people.  I have not yet taken my "travelling road show" display that tells about Curlies because the weather has been so bad it would have gotten wrecked.  Plus people were showing and then leaving because they were soaked and cold.  Word of mouth is doing the spreading anyway!!  I'll attach a couple pictures taken outside during Test 4, in the pouring rain!  If you look closely you can see the rain drops in the pictures!

(Carol & Phantom) Oh my gosh could learning be more fun???  Last night at the Wednesday Clinic, Austin's focus was on teaching gait transitions using body movements.  First prerequisite..........loose rein only.  You can hang on to the rein but it has to be flopping in the breeze at all times.  OKAY!!!!   Away we go.  Phan and I have been practicing on a loose rein quite a bit.  She is a much better horse when I am not in her mouth all of the time.  She is learning to bridle up with set hands and a mid calf leg cue without speeding up.  She looks so pretty when she collects or bridles up. I am learning to keep my hands low, quiet and steady.  Amazing how well she responds when my hands are quiet.  So last night we began by trotting in a large circle, encouraging our horse to speed up their trot by shifting our upper body weight forward along with our arms and hands( looked like jockeys do when racing), exaggerating the move in the beginning and then moving to a smaller circle and at the same time sitting down in the saddle to encourage our horse to shift to a slow trot.  Then back out into the larger faster circle, then back to the smaller circle....all at a trot and NO REINS.  Phantom, being a go forward horse, immediately wanted to canter when I shifted my weight forward....no cantering allowed in this exercise.  After a few stops and backups, she realized the exercise was for trotting only and complied. (We cantered before the class was over and she was happy for that.)   More practice and Phantom was on her way to listening to my body!  Oh my gosh what a blast!!  To see that you can work together with your horse by simply shifting weight is amazing.   So this week we are going to practice, practice, practice.  Austin expects homework to be done so we can move on!! 

(Susan & Ahd)This evening Ian and I went on a fun ride on AhD, or Didder as we affectionately call him.  AhD stood stock still while I mounted and even while Ian climbed aboard, losing a sneaker in the process.  (helloooo...that is what happens when you don't tie your shoes!)  Sorry, that's the mother in me coming out.  AhD likes Ian and seemed quite happy to be carting us both around.  By Ian's choice, we went down through his Uncle Larry's land and walked into the brook.  Then we went on to Jason's Loop, the trail I take almost every time I ride.  It had downpoured and hailed this afternoon, so the trees rained on us pretty heavily.  We didn't mind at all!  Ian was talking away, and AhD was doing his usual power walk.  We trotted a little when the trail allowed.  When Ian thought he was ready, we did a fairly big trot and Ian came right off the back!  I heard a thump and looked back to see Ian standing in the middle of the trail with a big smile on his face.  "I lost my balance!" he said, and got right back on, with AhD again being a good sport and standing like a statue.   We rode on, and then when we were heading back home, I asked Ian if he wanted to try a canter.  He was game, so I turned AhD around and we cantered away from home.  Ian loved it!  He raved on and on about it!  Afterwards, Ian told me that when I had first asked him, he was actually very nervous because he thought the canter would be faster and bumpier than the trot.  "But it was like one big swoosh, and it seemed to never stop; it was smooth!  It was really cool !"  Ian, my thoughts exactly!  Hey, fellow RACers, remember YOUR first canter?  Didder got big hugs, a handful of grain and a nice rubdown from both of us when we returned.  I hope we have as much fun on our next ride!

( Zoe @ Top O' the Hill Farm) Hello All...I have have not written about my adventures in a long time so thought I would drop an update. Along with my adventure with my mother last week I have been busy riding on my own at home. For a couple of weeks I had OYY Pal's Job at my house and we were having a lot of fun. He is a 4 year old who is learning fast and will happily walk along any type of trail. The last couple of rides I had him on some rough stuff. I have since "traded" him in for a newer model as a friend of mine says. I know have OYY Yemaya, an 8 year old mare whome I think may be one of my favorite horses to ride on the property. She is great on the road, trail and ring and she likes to move. I have since had to extend my evening loops because what was taking the other two an hour only takes her 20 minutes and she hardly breaks a sweat. I have been alternating my time with trail and taking a few lessons on her. I am thinking to do some low level dressage shows with her for fun. Plus I love the idea of taken what I call a nakey, no mane or tail, in a show and showing everyone that those things do not effect athletic ability. Aside from my evening rides at home I have also been ridng the lesson horses in between their lessons. Tall tress Sassie has come off maternity leave after having  OYY Iko Iko and has since been worked and has returned to her life as a therapeutic riding mount. It did not take long to get her back into her job and she is happy doing it. All my other therapeutic mounts are just as happy, they seem to like the balance of teaching and trail rides. All in all busy but having fun as it seems everyone else is to. 

More from Zoe: I now that I just posted but I needed to again. LAst night when I was out for my ride I heard this funny sound and I looked down and with every step Yemaya's lower lip was flopping up to make this popping type sound. Now that is a nice relaxed horse. She just loves being worked. It is so enjoyable when nothing is a fight and the horse just does anything you ask. I also wanted to comment how great it is to read everyone's adventures. I will say it makes me feel good to see the posts about horses that originated from the farm such as Susan with Ah-D, Laurie with Dream and Leslie with Nokwisi and Dream Angel. I love knowing that they are in great homes and doing so well.

(Susan & Ahd) An overcast day, but an excellent day for a trail ride!  AhD and I rode "rough country" up the power line, then meandered on a few trails out back.  The view from the power line is looking back towards the house on the easier part of the trail.  On our way back home, we also visted this beautiful garden nestled against a pond.  I have no idea how the gentleman who planted this garden keeps the deer from destroying it!  Isn't it spectacular?  AhD was super on the ride, scrambling up and down the steep, rocky trails.  You need a good "downhill" trail horse to handle that terrain, and AhD does a wonderful job.  I never worry that he will act out on the steep trails; he is very agile and sure-footed and can turn on a dime.  We found a new nicely groomed trail through the woods a few miles from home, too!  I snapped a picture of AhD after stopping at a house to ask permission to ride on their land.  Curlies make great trail horses, and I like the fact that they are so versitile and hardy.  Plus, they look really cute in pink saddle blankets, right Harold?

(Michelle & Lakota)I made a pact with myself to ride Lakota at least 3 or more times per week in early June.   So far, I have met or exceeded that, so I'm quite pleased with myself, who always has an excuse why I can't ride (to wet, too hot, too muddy, too much to do, too tired.....) Lakota is very green at 12 years old, and was only started under saddle briefly around the age of 10/11.  I have been working on her confidence under saddle, and taking her out of the safety of her roundpen crutch.  She is doing quite well, and we have managed to walk out the gate of the roundpen numerous times, and have her relax and soften in some nice little circles and figure 8's out in the big, scary world.  The next step is to broaden our horizons, and begin walking around the yard, with its myraid of scaryness, which includes barking dogs, vehicles of all kinds, neighbors screeching children, tons of traffic including sirens (we're less than a mile from the firehouse/ambulance bay/police station), flapping laundry, gardening implements, and more. I have also re-started Jen under saddle, who is very, very tense and expecting to be whalloped on.   She is so eager to do things together, but then gets worried. So we are starting very slow, and so far all I've had her do is take about 5 or 6 strides. She was so tense, that I felt that was enough for that day.  Now the kids are home from school for the summer, so I'm not quite sure how much work I'll get done with her, but I hope to at least sneak in some quick morning sessions or sneak home from work a little early before I pick them up (sshhhh, don't tell!) A few photos now that I have a photographer available (my daughter, who is 11).

(Laurie Byran) Seems as though it is time for a message from a New Hampshire RAC participant. I have 2 wonderful curlies that came from Betsy's farm and are great trail horses. My goal in joining RAC is to provide incentive to ride these 2 girls more often - hopefully get each of them out 3 times a week which can be pretty hard with too much work and sometimes uncooperative weather. We have been doing pretty well and have had some terrific rides. My paint mare, Dell, is quite green and each trail ride is a new experience whether we go with friends or solo. Last weekend we navigated some over knee deep water and climbed out up a steep bank - it was her first deep water experience and she just splashed right in and out as though she had done it all her life. There was a moment when I thought she was enjoying it too much and was going to lie down but that did not happen. This morning we were out in the humid, murky woods when she suddenly stopped and told me there was something really scary ahead. I let her listen and we discussed it, then I heard a low rumbling growl from down the trail. I kept talking to her and hoped to see something exciting like a bear but could not see anything. We waited a few minutes and then went down the trail - I never figured out who made the noise but Dell gave a few snorts and bravely made it past. My chestnut mare, Pyewacket, simply loves to be out in the woods. She gains confidence with each ride and has a connection with me that is remarkable - we really enjoy being together whether in the barn or out in the woods, exploring the landscape together both solo or with other riders. Everyone remarks on the mellow curly dispositions, and their willingness to navigate new obstacles and terrain without getting worked up. I'm planning to take one of them to a 2 day trail ride where we'll cover about 25-30 miles and camp out for 2 nights this September. It is something I have wanted to do for several years - this is the year I'm determined to make time to get the horses in condition and take the time off to go. Here are photos of Pye and Dell on their return from various rides.