THE MONTH OF MARCH - Think Spring!

The Leprechaun Month! Let's add a touch of spring with Irish green!

(Susan & Ahd) I was so excited about FINALLY riding again after being laid up virtually all of February due to the flu and twice-weekly snow and ice storms.  Since it rained all night, I figured we had lost enough snow in the woods for me to get out on the deep snow trails.  WRONG!  Oh well, it was good for a major giggling fit for my daughter Nicole and I, as she was my volunteer picture-taker for this ATTEMPTED ride.  AhD was non-plussed about the whole thing and was AWESOME to jump the snowbank to get us onto the....trail?  We ended up riding the snowmobile trails instead, and then we walked up and down the road to get AhD used to the big "swoosh" sound vehicles make this time of year as they pass us.(View Susan's video on the winter riding tips of NOT what to do! lol)

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(Harold from Curls N' Horns)What a wonderful 30 degree day in Minnesota today.  I finally brushed out Curly Boy and took him for a ride.   The snow is getting really crusty so I had to stay on low maintence roads so he wouldn't have to work to hard and we had a really nice ride. I have to say I have 20 horses but Curly Boy is my pride and joy. I have to say he is a true Curly but doesn't have a docile bone in his body. He is the most arrogent horse I have ever met in my life!!! I could never sell him, he has been with me for years and I just couldn't part with him..I just don't believe I ever will.  Harold

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(Betsy & Zoe @ Top O' the Hill Farm) -This year, my daughter and I have been using our Sundays as strictly PLEASURE.. planning for long rides with enjoyment as our main goal. No lessons, no training-- just a good long scenic ride. As all of you know-- we have been formulating these rides during the week.. putting together our road trips- driving them in the car to make sure they are the length we are seeking. Sometimes we'll come up with a plan and discover-- it's only 4 or 5 miles... while that might do for a weekday ride-- that's just not enough Sunday pleasure for us!! This past Sunday, we rode a route we had not done in years-- and part of it we have never ridden on horseback, although we have driven it a few times when we took Teena and cart to the local store and back for fun. This Sunday was not the beautiful sunny day it had been forecast to be-- overcast and the sky spitting some hail and rain every now and again... Lilly and Keri were the mounts for this trip..(.to read more about Betsy & Zoe's adventure, visit their blog here)

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(Betsy & Zoe @ Top O' the Hill Farm) March did not come in like a lion this year-- but it is leaving us with brutal winds and cold. They do say "as the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen". Yesterday, we did manage a wonderful sunny ride--- seems lately I have been memorializing our rides with overcast days. I took lots of photo's this time because there was all sun and clear blue skies. Outfitted in many layers-- we headed out as usual .... Crossed over again onto the sidewalk and head into what is called Chester Depot. It's called the depot-- because guess what ?? That's where the train station is-- I made Zoe pose by the station... even though she didn't want to--- we Vermonters are sensitive about looking like tourists. We turned back for home, just missing the train by seconds. When we got to the end of Trebo Road, we turned onto Route 103 which is the main highway headed toward the ski areas. We had lots of traffic slow down to take our photo's. Another super ride... and so much fun to ride with sunshine-- the cold did not matter. We got some great trotting in and a couple of canters for a mile or more here and there. Of course, during the ride we spent some time discussing our next journey...can't wait ! (excerpts from Betsy's blog...much more to read...click here!)

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(Carol & Phantom) I have been waiting for 50 some years to learn to ride a horse.  First I had to find a horse that wouldn't make me sneeze, wheeze and swell up!!  Well, in 1995 my husband, Tom, and I found such a horse at the Lexington Horse Park in Kentucky.  At that time, we vowed to bring American Bashkir Curlies into our life.  We retired from education in 2002, finished our house in 2003,  strung miles of electric fence in the 2004 and in 2005 we purchased three curlies and brought them to our acreage in northern Michigan.  The horses were all under four years of age and we had never had horses before so our learning curve began.
We have been blessed with devoted and skilled horse trainers.  Our first trainer, Jakki Baltzer, introduced us to natural horsemanship.  She coached us as we worked with our horses.  The whole experience laid a fantastic foundation for our growth and understanding of horse behavior.  Her expertise was invaluable as we learned to "read body language", give respect, gain respect, trust, believe and make progress.  I will be forever thankful for Jakki's wisdom and patience.  She is a remarkable women. 
Our current trainer, Austin Mesner, is wise beyond his years.  I believe Austin has a gift with regard to horses.  He connects with every horse that he trains.  Visiting Austin for the first time in the Spring of 2007, as we walked around with him and he introduced us to the horses he was working with, he told us about every horse's attitude, position in the herd, quirks, things he was trying to teach or, in some cases, unteach.  He reminded me of a gifted and talented teacher who "knew" every student sitting in his classroom, their strengths, weaknesses, their potential and what he needed to do to help them reach that potential.  When I observed Austin riding and training that day, on a horse we later purchased, I couldn't believe the fluid movement, the ease with which he was able to ride the horse(Phantom).  The next time I was able to observe Austin and Phantom riding together, he was riding her without a bridle, moving her smoothly from gait to gait, stopping, turning, backing up.  At that time, I knew I wanted Austin to work with our curlies and fortunately he was able to do so during the summer of 2007.   Later that summer, we were able to purchase Phantom and add a fourth curly to our herd.
So like I said, I have been waiting 50 some years to learn how to ride a horse.  Phantom and I are taking lessons with Austin.  I am like a sponge.  Right now we are working on softness with regard to the bit.  Phantom's early training encouraged her to be hard on the bit and we are unteaching that and teaching her to respond to a soft feel.  Boy, does that take patience!  She, actually we, are making great progress!  In addition, I am learning how to move her with my seat and leg cues.  The other day I was able to ride her without touching the reins.  Oh my gosh!!  I got in the car after my lesson and began driving home reliving every moment of the lesson and tears were rolling down my face!!  To learn how to ride...a dream I have had since I was old enough to know about horses....all coming true...some 50 plus years later.  How blessed I am!!