A Horsemanship Journey

Picture Post

2012-03-05T07:42:00.000-06:00

In Like a Lion

2012-03-04T15:36:00.000-06:00

March comes in like a lion.
We've had quite a bit of snow lately and yet it's still slippery mud underneath. Other than that, it's been a great past couple of weeks. The reason I haven't posted much is because I'm just busy with other things. Sorry for the lack of updates! But I have a final to finish, and horses to play with and ride.
But yeah, all has been great here. Eddie and I have been playing with long reins, riding a little bit and just letting him burn off energy.
Scout is back to his old self. We got him the Easyboot Rx's and they are helping a lot. Just a little extra protection while the ground is hard.
Diesel and I have been going for lots of walks lately and he is very happy for them. Especially when he gets to graze. He is such a cutie bug!

I'll post pictures later - that I can do. ;-) Gotta run! Chores to do!

Lack of News

2012-02-24T20:07:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts... I've been taking a break from facebook, blogger, and just taking some time off. It seems I want to post more when I don't force myself and say that I HAVE to post every day.

I've been super busy lately... Playing with Eddie every day, sometimes twice a day, riding, taking Diesel for trail walks, doing chores... It's been so nice to take a break from the computer and internet.
Anyway, I'm back, except for facebook, and I shall be updating ya'll more regularly.
So, here is what Eddie and Diesel and Scout and I have been doing.

With Eddie, we've been working on our side-passes at the walk and trot, and transferring that to riding. Trail riding too! We've been riding around the property more and more and today we rode around the pasture, which we haven't done for a while. He did so amazing! I love him so much and he just does better and better every day!
With Scout, my sister and I have been taking him for walks twice a day. His feet are looking amazing, the vet is coming out soon to take x-rays, and he is as happy and spunky as ever. I've been taking him for walks around the property and he will snatch a bite from pines trees and patches of grass. He is so silly! :-)
With Diesel, we've been going for trail walks and he has been so eager for them! We go across the road, and a couple of days ago we were out for over a half an hour walking down to the creek. We didn't get all the way there, but it was more than half way!

It's been such a crazy, busy, past couple of weeks, but here's to a more easy-going end of February!

Picture Post

2012-02-15T21:15:00.000-06:00

Our little Scouty is feeling so much better!

A LOT better!

"What? I didn't do it!"

'photoshoot' with Eddie! He is so handsome!

Look how pretty I am!

<3 luv him!

Scripture Sundays

2012-02-12T09:07:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my very first Scripture Sunday! I'm planning on doing this regularly and also Words of Wisdom Wednesdays, when I'll post quotes from horsemen and women. Because those are two things I am always reading, the Bible and horsemanship books!

Source: google.com via Daphne on Pinterest

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

Indeed! God loves us so much that He calls us His children.We should marvel that the creator of the stars & the skies knows our names, knows our thoughts, and knows our deepest feelings.

1 John 3:16-18
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Source: google.com via Trevecca on Pinterest

Let our hands be open and gladly give what we have to others that are in need. I woke up this morning wanting to give something of myself. Tithing perhaps, or my time, or grace, or just anything. God showed me right away what I had to give and even though it was something that I didn't want to give to a certain person, I did. I pray that God gives you all a joyful, giving heart. Because when you give, the Lord smiles down on you.

And I give because Jesus gave.

Cold Wind

2012-02-12T08:09:00.000-06:00

Seasons Change by Tim Cox

Yesterday's high was 17 and today's will be 28. Thank the Lord for warmer weather. Although, I had fun with the horses yesterday. I took Eddie for about an hour walk around our property and we even went for a trail ride. Yup, my first trail ride out of a paddock. At least it's my first successful trail ride. Last time Eddie dumped me in the manure heap. It was funny, but I don't have a yearnin to do it again. I just rode around by the garden and Eddie was a champ. Man, do I love that horse!
Then I took Diesel for a long walk around the property too. We avoided the windy spots and I let him graze by the raised beds in the garden. The grass was a little less lush there, so I let him graze there instead of Laminitis Lane and Founder Freeway (aka the orchard). I guess rotting apples and pears make for a pretty good fertilizer.
Anyway, today looks to be warmer, a little windy, but sunny. Hooray!

P.S. Scout is doing better and better! He was trotting around yesterday and my sister took him for a good 20 minute walk. Praise the Lord!

1 Corinthians 13:6-7
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Blustery Blizzard

2012-02-10T19:26:00.000-06:00

It was windy, cold, and snowing today. Crazy, crazy weather... It's going to go down to 3 this morning. BRR!!!
This morning I took Eddie for a walk all around the property. It was warmer, not windy at all and nice. So we only went for a short walk because I thought it would be nice this afternoon too. Oh well, the horses were happy to be in their stalls and eat hay all day! :-)

Here's to a warmer day tomorrow!

1 John 2:10
Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.

New Video!

2012-02-08T16:13:00.000-06:00

I love the lyrics to this song,

"Take each day and make it last. Because you turn around and your future if the past.

Here and now is all we have. The beginning and the end meets the middle.

What matters most is what's in the middle."

<3

Matthew 5:43-45
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Legacy of Legends

2012-02-07T17:57:00.000-06:00

Wish I was there. The annual Legacy of Legends event was this past week and horsemen such as Martin Black, Buck Brannaman, Wade Black, Reata Brannaman, and others showed their horsemanship, worked with horses, and worked with cows.
From their website:
"Clinics will be organized and presented featuring students that exemplify the spirit and ability to communicate a level of horsemanship introduced and taught by Tom and Ray."
http://alegacyoflegends.com/
Our good friends went and said that there was incredible horsemanship all week long. I can't explain how much I want to dive into that horsemanship and learn all I can about it.

Lately I've been so immersed in Equine Podiatry, my horsemanship has taken 2nd place on my horse priorities list. And that's not a bad thing. I really need to concentrate on getting my degree this year. But next, I really, really, really, really, REALLY, want to improve with my horsemanship. Ever since I stopped Parelli, Eddie and I have been making progress, a lot of progress. But I never want to stop learning from our amazing teachers - the horse. God has given me an incredibly blessed life and I want to honor Him with it. If that means dedicating my life to the betterment of the horse and reaching out to their owners to show them God's grace, I'll do it. Gladly.
The Legacy of Legends this past week has shown me how badly I want to continue my horsemanship. It's a lifelong commitment.

Colossains 3:23
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

No Matter the Weather

2012-02-06T20:49:00.000-06:00

It was a cloudy, cold, day. The wind was so cold and damp that it just cut right through my carhartt's zipper. But, no matter the weather, there are three amazing horses in our backyard that are just waiting to be played with, or taken for a walk, or groomed, or fed.

So, I headed out to play with Eddie and let me tell you, he was spunky. We cantered around the pasture for almost the whole time and we would fly over the cavaletties, then jump over the log and anything else we could find. It was fun and he was having a blast! He would jump and kick and rear and literally just burn off his steam.
Oh, he is such a good boy and he is always ready to play. Every time I came around the corner and saw him waiting in his paddock, he would let out a huge whinny. Obviously he was waiting for me! :-) So I groomed him up and paid lots of attention to him in between caring for Scout.
On that note... Scout is doing so much better. His laminitis is gone, his feet are cool, and he is one happy, spunky boy! Praise the Lord. God has been so faithful in these past couple of weeks. It warms all of our hearts to see Scout so happy and well.

Proverbs 21:21
He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

A New Lineup

2012-02-05T14:46:00.000-06:00

So, I was thinking... I think I might do special blog posts for Wednesday & Sundays... Like Words of Wisdom Wednesdays and Scripture Sundays. I don't know... We'll see! It would be fun and it would ensure that I blog more often. :-)

Anyway, today was a beautiful day!
I trimmed Jigs this morning and Crissie (his owner) met us down there to hold him and so that I could practice my final exam (all the questions and spectrum I had to go over.) Jigs did really well and his feel are looking great. He's such a teddy bear!
Then when mom and I got home, we all ate lunch together and then I went out to play with Eddie. We went for a really long walk all the way around the property and we even went in between the trees down in the south line. He was loving that! We went in the pasture after that and played around. He was SO hyper! So we cantered, jumped, did cavaletties, worked on our harmony and I worked on my lightness. It was super fun! He was bucking and kicking and flailing his front feet - oh he was having such a blast!
We finished up by riding in the round pen and we just did one lap. He was still kinda crazy and I didn't want to get dropped in the mud.
I took Diesel for a walk too this afternoon. We went for about a lap and a half around the entire property and oh boy - he just loves his walks!
Also! I have great news!!!!! Scout is SO much better!!!! He was trotting around when Al took him out for his walk and he just looks so much happier. *happy sigh* God is good. I don't think we've ever been so happy to see Scout so spunky. We love you our little pony-man! <3

Psalm 33:4-5
For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Dress Up

2012-02-04T16:56:00.000-06:00

"Come on, Eddie! Let's play dress up!"
Eddie was not very happy with that. lol! I put the english saddle on him and we played in the round pen, went for really long walks and I rode for a little bit.
He looked really pretty in the saddle and the pretty green saddle pad, but he wanted to roll. So I quick took everything off and he rolled. Looked like he was in heaven. :-) I guess he doesn't like the saddle! I don't like it either. It was heavy, awkward, I could barely fit the girth on him (oopsie - I guess he's gained a wee bit) and it's so darn hard!
Won't be doing that for a while now. I think if I ever got a saddle it would have to be the BFTS. (black forest treeless saddle.) Those are amazing!

Anyway... I took Eddie for a nice long walk, we played with our harmony and just had a jolly good time together.
Scout is doing better and better and his feet have been cool for three days now! Yahoo!! Praise God!

Psalm 18:2
...The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Picture Post

2012-02-03T21:10:00.000-06:00

Picture post because it's late and I'm too tired to post anything else! lol!

Back to Normal

2012-02-02T18:09:00.000-06:00

For the first time in over a week things felt like normal again. Scout was 99% better, Eddie was calm and confident and Diesel was exuberant and hyper. Oh, it was such a lovely day! It was foggy and cold - reminds me of fall.... Definitely not winter. Ah well, fall is my favorite season anyway!
So, I played with Eddie and we went for a 45 minute walk. We went all around the property, played fun little games and you know what? He was so much better when it came to our harmony. I would stop really quickly and he would walk ahead of me like, "Why'd we stop?!" Then I would run forward quickly and he would look surprised. After about ten of those all along the east side of our property, he caught on and we would run, stop, walk, stop, backup, run, walk... You name it! And he was so connected to me and eager to follow. Yippee!! :-) I love my Eddie!

Then I took Diesel for his usual power-walk all around the property. We jogged about two laps and he was having such a blast! He would wring his neck and 'strut-his-stuff.' Oh my goodness, it was so cute.

Such a fun, foggy day. Pictures to come soon! :-)

1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

The Release

2012-02-01T20:46:00.000-06:00

"It's the release that teaches."
Is a common quote amongst horsemen. It summarizes that vital moment in communication when you let the horse know what he did was right.
I've been working on that lately, because I have gotten vague in my direct communication with Eddie. I admit it, I've gotten a little bit rusty. Either that or I have nothing to compare or measure my capability with, unlike when I had Parelli to measure every nuance of my communication.
I'm listening to the horse now... And Eddie is a professor compared to a kindergarten teacher. He tells me EXACTLY when I'm doing something wrong or when he doesn't want to do something or when I am asking something wrong or with too much pressure. He is the horse. He is setting the standard high and I am climbing to that height.
Anyway...
It's the release that teaches.
Ride with 10% physical and 90% mental. - Buck Brannaman
I'm determined to get that right and release the exact moment he tries.
Lately, Eddie hasn't been wanting to follow me when we go from outdoor to track to paddock. But I don't blame him because the footing is terrible everywhere. Instead, he meets me at the gate. Eager, verses dragging his feet... I think I'm starting to get this. He knows where the good footing is. Or where the good grass is... lol! Anyway, when I do ask him to come up with me, I'm using small amounts of pressure and the moments he leans forward or I see a shift, I release. Even better.... Fix the cause.... Not the symptoms. That's what I'm taught to do in Equine Podiatry. Why not with horsemanship? So... My homework: Learn what causes Eddie's reluctance to move and create harmony between us so that he doesn't get left behind me.

Harmony - That should be my next blog post! ;-)

Award

2012-02-01T07:49:00.001-06:00

I've never gotten an award before! Thank you so much, Janine!

You can check out her blog here: http://enzo-janine.blogspot.com/
She posts about her Parelli journey with her two horses Enzo and Kaspin and she has an amazing relationship with them!

Liebster means “dearest” in German, and the award is intended to help up-and-coming blogs get the attention they deserve. Here are the rules:
~Copy and paste the award on your blog.
~Link back to the blogger who gave you the award
~Pick your five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers,and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.
~Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs

So, here are my 5 favorite blogs with less than 200 followers!

1) Becca & Savannah's Life Long Journey: http://becnsavyllj.blogspot.com/
        I've known Rebecca since the 1st grade and we always used to dream about the day we would both have horses. That day has finally come and she owns a wonderful mare, Savannah. They have a phenomenal relationship and I feel blessed to be able to be a part of their journey. You two inspire me, make me laugh, and are always there! <3 Thanks for being such a great friend!

2) Spend the Thyme Farm: http://spendthethymefarm.blogspot.com/
        My mom's blog! She posts about everything farmy... From the horses, to the chickens, to our gardens, there's always something to write about. She writes in a warm, welcoming, down-to-earth style that perfectly reflects our desire for simple living.

3) "Beloved Star" http://desiringgodsdesires.blogspot.com/
   Nela is a wonderful teen who is after God's own heart. I love to read her posts, look at her pictures, and stare dreamy-eyed at her recipes.

4) For the Love of Life: http://katieoostman.blogspot.com/
        I've been following Katie's blog for a while now and her pictures never cease to amaze me and her faith in God inspires me.

5) A Journey of Many Seasons: http://journeyofmanyseasons.blogspot.com/
        Grace is never-ceasing in her journey to become a better horsewoman. She and her ponies, Gingo and Marsan have done so much together and they truly have a wonderful relationship.

A Beautiful Day!

2012-01-30T15:59:00.000-06:00

The sun was shining, it was above 40 degrees.... It was a beautiful day!
I played with Eddie for an hour. We rode, went for walks out around the property and played out in the pasture. When I rode, we worked on lightness and feel. For about 20 minutes we played with it and by the time we were done, I could back him up with just a shift of my weight and turn him too without touching the reins. I own a pretty amazing horse.

I took Diesel out next and we went for several laps around the property, through the trees, a lap on the track, around the buildings, through the south line... We had a blast and we were so pooped when we were done. He went to take a nap and I went to go and get their hay around the the night. *sigh* have I ever said that I love the smell of hay & horses? There isn't anything better.

Scout is doing much better too. His feet are cool and he isn't shifting his weight anymore. Also, he went for a little walk today and was perfectly comfortable. Slow. But comfortable. So this evening we're going to take his pads off and let his feet air out. Also, I thought I should share this with you all... If you need any information about horse nutrition, laminitis, or really anything relating to the horse's diet, this is an excellent, excellent, excellent, resource. http://drkellon.com Take her courses, you won't be disappointed.

Sole Mates Pads

2012-01-30T06:45:00.000-06:00

Scout is one happy camper! We put the Sole Mate pads (offered on KC La Pierre's website) on Scout's feet yesterday and he is so comfortable and happy for the added protection and stability during his laminitis. The heat in his feet is also going down and he isn't shifting his weight any more. Which is huge!

So, we are saying a prayer that these will stay on and give him the comfort he needs. The sparkle is back in his eyes and he just seems so much more happy.

whew

2012-01-28T17:43:00.000-06:00

You know that moment when you haven't blogged for a week or so and then you have a long list of all the things that you did...
Well... I'm havin that moment.
This past week has been pretty crazy. Long story. Here's the short version: Scout got acute laminitis and we literally caught it on the first day. We gave him bute for 3 days and took one day off. He was looking better, but then went a little downhill and we called our vet. He told us to give him bute for 1 week and that's what we are doing now. So, he's tender-footed, he doesn't have heat in his feet anymore and that's huge, he isn't shifting his weight as much and now he just gets introverted when we give him the bute. Poor thing! But, he is doing better and hopefully this bute will be accumulative and he'll just keep getting better and better.
I know you are probably thinking, 'what caused it?' Well, we got into a bale that had a tiny, itsy, bitsy, amount of alfalfa. Not much... Just a sprig here and there or an occasional stem. I guess it was just enough to set him off.

I haven't really played with Eddie much. 1) because we've been keeping an eye on Scout. And 2) it's icy out. So we've just been running around the pasture together, riding in his paddock and not doing too much. Oh yes, and going for walks, which we are officially cursed this week when it comes to walks. lol! Once it was a rogue garbage can that could have had a cougar in it. Then once it was stray cow that had gotten out at the dairy farm north of us. So, we're not really going for walks until things calm down and Eddie calms down too.

On another note, I got my first Eclectic Horseman magazine in the mail today! I've already half of it and it is really good. Like a Ray Hunt magazine! :-) Can't wait to read more!

More Snow

2012-01-22T08:23:00.000-06:00

We got more snow two days ago which added up to about 5-6 inches of powdery snow. Not a whole lot, but enough to be pretty and fun to play in.
Yesterday I rode in the outdoor for quite a while, we took all three of the horses for walks, and we went for a whole lap around the property. Let me tell you, in 5+ inches of snow, that is very tiring! But it was so fun. The sun was shining and it was warm. It has been in the teens for the past week and it dips down to the single digits at night. So 20 degrees feels like a heatwave!
Today, I'm going to get all my playing and riding in this morning with Eddie before the rain comes. Yup. You heard right... Rain. Yuck. That means everything is going to thaw and get all muddy. Ah well, it is still only January, we could get a lot of snow between now and the end of February. I took this picture yesterday when I was going out for a walk. Tundra much? It's so pretty though!

Hope that you all are staying warm and enjoying this wonderful Sunday!

Video of Me Sledding off the Roof!

2012-01-19T14:15:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the Artic

2012-01-18T16:07:00.000-06:00

Today was cold, cold, cold! It was a high of 20 degrees and felt like 6 degrees. And let me tell you, it sure did feel like 6 degrees. Besides keeping warm inside and getting a TON of things done, I took Eddie and Diesel for a nice walk. Eddie and I just went in the backyard out of the wind and I let him graze for a nice long time. He was pretty spooky though, so we couldn't go everywhere, but we did have fun walking around the backyard. :-)
Then Diesel and I went for a whole lap around the property and walked a half mile. It was SO cold! lol! I was freezing by the time we were done and he was so eager to go and so hyper. It was funny... I put him away and he ran to the gate as though he didn't want me to leave. He's such a good boy!

Anyway, I sent in my homework for the KC La Pierre online course, made an appointment for the new horse I'm taking on and going to trim, and responded to all my emails!
Oh yeah! And I also made a huge ramp off of the shed today. My sister and I sledded down it today and it was so much fun. I'll post a video as soon as I upload it to youtube. :-)
Have a great week!

Hoof Pictures!

2012-01-17T13:49:00.001-06:00

Oh! Of course, how could I forget my hoof pictures!
I trimmed Eddie the other day and took tons of pictures. And that reminds me... Time to trim Diesel! :-)
Here are just a few!

Snow Day

2012-01-17T13:47:00.000-06:00

It's a blizzard out there! It's been snowing all morning and of course, the horses are inside eating out of their nibble nets. Oh how I wish it would stop and we could go out and play with them! I've gotten spoiled with all this warm, fair weather. On the bright side, the snow is piling up and snow is always fun. At least for me... lol!

I took these pictures yesterday while skiing around the property. Typical northern Illinois winter. Brown and white and grey. Although I wouldn't have it any other way.
The snow is piling up and the horses are warm and dry and happy. Now it's time to wait out the last of the storm and finish up my equine podiatry online course. (Click here for more info)

A 'Free' Day

2012-01-16T18:16:00.000-06:00

Eddie didn't want to do anything structured today. It was one of those days where we could just go for a walk and he could graze the whole time. So, that's basically what we did! We went for a walk around the whole property, rode in the outdoor for a little bit and then went for another walk. :-) He has gotten so confident with going through the south line, we went back there today and he was walking through all he grass, he ate some grape vines and dead grass, oh yeah, he was having a blast! It was so fun to watch him too and walk with him. He is such a good boy!
When we were riding, he just had a look about him and felt weird to me. Almost like he was ok with me riding, but he really wanted to do something else. So I hopped off, let him get a few bites from his nibblenet and then we went back out over to the pine grove where the grass is uber long. And he was happy and content! It's so interesting how I can tell he's off just by feel. I think we've really developed our feel, sometimes I think I can even read his mind. :-) And it's such a cool feeling. <3

Dressage in the Snow

2012-01-16T07:51:00.000-06:00

Wish I had pictures, because Eddie was so beautiful when we rode yesterday. We did our extended trot through the snow, started to do our sidepasses at the trot and lots of them at the walk.
He was so eager and willing! Then we did a collected trot because he was really putting a lot of energy in his trot and I could hardly sit it. So we slowed it down and his trot was much smoother and slower.
I'll have to get pictures of our sidepasses today - maybe a video and I could upload it or something... Anyway, I'd better do it before the rain comes today and melts away all the snow. Say, Eddie, how do you feel about a morning ride? :-)

Skijoring!!

2012-01-14T14:19:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again! Fresh snow, slippery snow, an eager pony, and two eager sisters.
We skijored this morning and went back and forth in the pasture. Scout was such a trooper and pulled us without a fuss. He did spook a little bit towards the end, but the cinch was pinching him, so I don't blame him. Poor Scouty!
Then this afternoon I played with Eddie and took him for a walk in all the fresh snow. Then we went into the outdoor and worked on our dressage. Eddie was LOVING it! He was offering sidepasses left and right (literally - LOL!) and we trotted through all the big drifts. His trot was HUGE and it was so fun to ride bareback. I can finally sit it now without feelin' like a sack of potatoes! hehe!

It's such a lovely day... I took Diesel for two laps around our property which equates to about a mile. It was so fun and we ran the whole way - he just had so much energy. And plus is kept him from grazing on the really lush stuff.

Well, I'm headed back out to enjoy the snow. I tell ya, I could so live in some place where there is snow 6 months out of the year. Hmm.... Where would that be?
haha, anyway... I'll enjoy the snow while I can and I hope that you all are having a great weekend!

Black Forest Treeless Saddles

2012-01-13T16:05:00.000-06:00

For a long time now, I've been thinking about buying a treeless saddle. But either they were too expensive, discontinued, or it just wasn't the right time to buy a saddle. However, I think I might just have to save up for this one. It's a Shasta Echo and 1) it looks SO comfortable. 2) it looks sharp. 3) it would fit Eddie really nicely and 4) it would allow us to ride for longer periods of time with more comfort and more security.
I know, I know... Some people don't like treeless saddles, but I gotta believe that this is more comfortable for horses because it doesn't have a tree.

Granted, it would be nice to have one of these saddles...

But it's a little out of my price range. And plus it weighs a lot more than the treeless ones. 10 pounds versus 30? That's quite a bit when you take into consideration that Force = Mass X Acceleration. That's a lot of mass!

Plus, I can also leave the stirrups off of the Shasta Echo.
Anyway... I'll have to think about it and do my research. Altho they say that I can always ship is back within the first week if I'm unhappy with it. So we shall see!! :-)

A Fresh Blanket of Snow

2012-01-12T17:21:00.000-06:00

It finally snowed today! We have about 3 inches or so and it's going to snow all night and all day tomorrow. Of course, that makes for bored ponies and a bored me. I'm so used to being out with them from noon to night and playing and doing chores, it feels weird to be just sitting around. But it's been nice to have a break. I have to admit, my legs thank me because they are still sore from doing too many trims. Ah well, it's a good kind of sore. You know how that goes...
But it is so nice to have snow - we've been waiting for it for two months and it's finally here! Hopefully it will be around for a while, the horses love it and I do too!

~Lea & Eddie~

Wisdom from Ray

2012-01-11T07:33:00.000-06:00

"In the boldest print of all, remember the word THINK. Be aware and alert, visualize what you want. realize you are working with a mind. A lot of people think it's just a horse, but there's a mind operating that horse. This mind gets him doing things because he wants to do them. Or you teach him to do things he doesn't like to do but feels he has to do them anyway."

You can't judge a book by its cover. And that certainly goes for Think Harmony with Horses by Ray Hunt. It's this itty bitty brown book that looks like it could be more of Beatrix Potter's illustrated stories than wise wisdom from one of the greatest horseman who ever lived.
In this little brown book, I've found a lot of truths that have changed my horsemanship and shaped it. As Eddie and I progress into more advanced things, these truths are more pronounced and I have to make sure that I continue to live by them.

I used to measure my aptitude in horsemanship by my ability to do things more advanced people could do.
Or I measured it by how many things I could check off a list.
And then I measured it by how happy Eddie was. That wasn't too bad of a way to go, but it was left to my own interpretation. As you can imagine, some days I got it right and some days I got it wrong and misjudged his mood.
Now I've switch my mind around, I did a 180 and after reading a phrase in Ray's book this morning, and after thinking about it long before that...
I don't 'measure' it anymore. We are where we are and that's good enough for both of us. My goal with Eddie and with all horses is for us to someday be in perfect harmony.
Then there's Ray's quote: "It's like a light at the end of the tunnel. It gets brighter and clearer all the time."

We'll always be working towards it and once you get a taste of it (which we have) you'll be chasing it for the rest of your life. You'd rather do that than eat.

~Lea & Eddie~

Sidepasses, Ray & Buck

2012-01-06T09:35:00.000-06:00

Sorry for disappearance. I've been typing like crazy for the past three days. I wrote up three pages for my Applied Equine Podiatry online course, and then I went on a writing rampage in my 7th book and wrote about 30+ pages. So, my fingers are a little tired and I keep making spelling mistakes by hitting the keys out of order. lol!
But that doesn't mean that I haven't been doing anything with Eddie! Quite the contrary.
For the past three or so days I've played with all the horses and usually several times a day. Eddie and I go for a long trail walk in the morning, maybe it includes a little ride. Then in the afternoon I play with Diesel and take him for two laps around the property at a working walk and trot. He is really getting into it and yesterday we even did it all with long reins. He is such a champ.
Yesterday, I rode Eddie for the greater portion of our play time. 45+ minutes and we were working. I think he liked it and I liked it too. We did hard things that I usually avoid or think that they are too big for us. Not anymore. We were doing sidepasses and when I asked him for the trot, we even did two to three steps sidepassing. He never ceases to amaze me!

This video (in the first 10 seconds) shows you what we were doing. Granted, it did not look that fancy and Eddie was not that collected. But we did it nonetheless and today we'll work at it some more.
I've also been reading Ray Hunt's book over again - Think Harmony with Horses. I tell ya, I could read it over and over.

So, that leads me to my next blog post that I will post tomorrow. I gotta think about it first and make a list. Goals for 2012.
I'll let you know as soon as I make the list. :-)

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T20:46:00.000-06:00

Another year filled with precious memories.
Happy New Year, everyone!
It's a time to look back, reflect, plan, and evaluate. Where have we been and where are we going? The future is bright and as God reveals more of His glorious plan, we continue onward to carry out His message.
This year has been such a blessing and I have learned so much. Now as 2012 begins it's time to make new goals, carry on with our previous goals, and shoot for the moon
So thank you everyone for reading my blog - I hope that you have learned something and have shared in my joys, excitements, low times and high times.

Happy New Year and Happy 2012!!!

Must! Blog!

2011-12-28T21:00:00.000-06:00

I MUST BLOG! It's been too long and only 14 little blog posts for the whole month of December?!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Blogger Crisis!

I played with Eddie today (naturally!) and we did a whole obstacle/agility course. Videos coming soon!
Then we rode in the outdoor and he was really spunky, so we didn't do too much. Just weaved in and out of barrels and played with the pedestal. I'm going to get the red light out tomorrow again and do some more calming points on him. That really seemed to help him and it's all natural. :-)
Also, we're going out to do some red light on a friend's horse and I'm going to take a look at her feet. I'm really excited just about all things equine podiatry. I made logos this morning, planned out business cards and I got my next module in my online course. Trimming, trimming, trimming. Here I come!

What A Wonderful Christmas

2011-12-26T20:43:00.000-06:00

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas! Over the Christmas weekend, we went to church, watched Andy Stanley's inspirational message Let there be Light and spent quality family time together. We played new games we got for Christmas, took the horses for walks, rode, I trotted Eddie around in the outdoor even though it was windy! Yay! We watched movies - Buck, Johnny English, Stark Trek, Percy Jackson and Did you Heart About the Morgans? Great movies! :-) Especially the first one. I could honestly watch that documentary over and over again. <3
So, it was a very merry Christmas and we are all so blessed. God loved us so much that He gave his only Son to deliver us from our sins and give us a hope and a future.
What an awesome God we serve!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T14:06:00.002-06:00

Well I'll be....

2011-12-22T13:14:00.000-06:00

It worked!
The red light pen worked and Eddie was so much more calm. He went out to pasture like it was no big deal and grazed.
I guess with this sort of stuff (the meridians, ting points, red light therapy) you have to see it to believe it. When Eddie first came here in '07, he would rub the inside of his back leg on his water bucket whenever he got scared. Looking at the meridian charts, he rubbed in the exact place where there are several meridians. One calms fears.

This is where we got our pen and if you don't believe me, buy one and use it on your horse. It really works, no joke!

Photonic Red Light

2011-12-22T09:39:00.000-06:00

Well, I have time for a quick blog post before I head out to bring the horses in. Eddie has been pretty spunky, anxious, nervous, and crazy lately. I don't really know why, but today we're going to try something.
My mom bought a photonic red light pen and we can use it on horses, cats, and us. So, I looked up nervousness in one of the books it came with and there's a whole procedure for it. Well, I'm going to try it when the horses come in. I hope it will work, I see no reason why it shouldn't. Because my sister used the pen yesterday for a headache and it went away. Sweet. I've heard nothing but great things about the red light pen and a lot of people just use it for everything. KC La Pierre is getting into it and I know the Parellis use it for everything.
I'll let you know how it goes!

Luke 2:8-11

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold,an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Christmastime

2011-12-20T15:36:00.000-06:00

It's Christmas week!!
We've been busy baking cookies, eating cookies, playing with the horses and wading through mud. Mud? Christmas? Yup... I just put those two in the same sentence. The snow melted and left behind a brown mess. Anyway, it's been fun playing with the horses lately because they have been so hyper.
Just today I played with Eddie and he was jumping around, arching his neck, cantering over cavaletties and just being crazy. Scout was also crazy as we sprinted all around the pasture. He was cantering, bucking and he even reared up a little bit. Wowza! They are so silly!
AND Diesel was also crazy! He did a little happy dance and then I took him for a walk around the pasture. We jogged almost the whole way and he showed no signs of wanting to stop. He actually cantered a little bit and let out a buck. Yahoo!!!

So here's to a white Christmas. Let's hope we get one!

~Lea & Eddie~

Isaiah 46:9

Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,

Pictures From Today

2011-12-17T18:52:00.000-06:00

Today was so amazing. Eddie was amazing. The snow was amazing. It was just amazing!
Here are some pics!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

2011-12-17T09:59:00.000-06:00

Yesterday it was green and wet. And now it's white and wet!
IT SNOWED!

It's the first snow (I've seen) of the winter. It snowed once when mom and I were in Florida and it melted by noon. I think this stuff will melt today too, but at least we have snow. :-)
Riding today, playing, and enjoying the powdery precipitation. :-) Honestly, I could have snow for half of the year. I love it so much and you can have so much fun with it. Maybe I should move to Alaska - LOL!

~Lea & Eddie~

Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Mud

2011-12-15T20:50:00.000-06:00

M
U
D
Those are the three letters that do not go well together. Especially when a certain someone really wants to ride and play with her horse.
It's been rainy, windy, cloudy, chilly and wet outside and the that's the horses' least favorite weather.

So we've only been able to do small things like go for walks, go out for a graze together, or just trim and groom them up.
Oh yes! That's something I can blog about! Trimmmmmmmmmmmmmming!
I did Eddie's feet two days ago and Scout's three days ago. They are all looking great! Their feet are getting soft, but hey, a horse's hoof is the product of his environment. Can you say WET?! It's been so wet out, so that's why their feet are all soft. And my sister and mom have been helping me practice for my exam. :-) What would I do without my family? <3
But yeah... My exam's in August and I have plenty of time to practice for it.

Hoping for a sunny tomorrow,
~Lea & Eddie~

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

2011-12-11T16:55:00.000-06:00

The frost is so thick in the morning that it leaves a little bit of snow behind. The horses are fuzzy & warm and the frozen mud is as hard as ice. I wish it would hurry up and snow already. However, there's a breeze from the south and it's sure to bring rain and 50 degree temps too.
Ah well, I've been going out every afternoon and taking Eddie for walks and riding in the pasture and the outdoor. I just hopped on today in the outdoor without reins or anything and did a few laps. It was windy and chilly, but not cold enough to not ride. Plus there was sun. Sun makes a big difference!

After church this afternoon, I took him out again since all he was doing was chasing the ponies around the paddocks. We ran around out in the pasture and chased each other around. Such joy. He just loves chasing me like a cutting horse after a cow.

It's cold, it's dry, it's windy.
I think winter is officially here.

~Lea & Eddie~

Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Testing, testing...

2011-12-10T16:47:00.000-06:00

Hey, it's working!!! :-)
Thanks, Lauren! You just saved my blog!!

Stay Tuned...

2011-12-10T16:23:00.000-06:00

Ok, I had a tip from a friend to use a third party site to upload my photos, so maybe I won't be switching after all! lol!
YIPPEE! That would be great. I was just checking out wordpress and you can't make it as pretty as you can with blogger (at least I don't know how to yet) and it would take some time to get used to everything.

So stay tuned... I might not be leaving after all!!

~Lea

The End of a Chapter

2011-12-10T08:16:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry for the short notice, but blogger had a surprise for me yesterday. I guess I can't upload any more pictures because I have maxed out my album limit.
:-(
:'-(
Now they want to charge me for extra room on my album. And what fun is a blog without pictures?!

Farewell and adieu to this wonderful blog that has chronicled every step of this amazing four-year journey.
In September of 2007, when I started it, we had gotten Eddie 5 months before and were doing Parelli. We were having a blast and we were all learning so much.
Then in July 2008, Scout came home and changed our lives. Eddie grew more confident with a buddy and I took him on as my horse. (Previously my sister and I had been sharing playing and riding him.)
In April 2009, Diesel came home and everything that he had gone through in the past was forgotten as he started a new life with us.
It was then, in July 2010 that we disembarked on another leg of our journey. I gave up the high-level dreams I had conjured with Parelli and let go of our hollow goals. I realized that we could have an even deeper relationship that Parelli would not give us. We went past the 'advanced 7 games' and started working on what we hadn't accomplished - our riding.

It has been such an amazing journey and now that we're sailing into a different path, I think it fitting to start another blog and website.
I hope that you all follow me over to my new blog (which will be set up in the next couple of days) and continue to read about the lessons that I learn from our friend, the horse.

For the last time on blogger,
~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

Ecclesiastes 3:1,6
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;

A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;

We're Back!

2011-12-09T21:10:00.000-06:00

Yesterday afternoon we came home from our amazing trip to Florida!
I wish I could tell you all everything that happened, but it was a very busy, very amazing 6 days.
Tomorrow I'll have to go through each day and list the things that we did in between my course.

Let me just say that it was AMAZING trip and I learned so much more from KC. The science is seeping into my mind and it's becoming a permanent fixture there.
I just love hooves and can't wait to get my degree and take on more clients. Of course, everything is in God's time. :-) He orchestrated everything this past week and everything went so smoothly.

Until tomorrow, friends!
~Lea

John 15:5,8

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Canter, canter, canter!

2011-12-01T15:45:00.000-06:00

Happy December 1st!

Well, it's the last day that I was able to play with Eddie. In the morning we're loading up the car, I'm going to run and give Eddie an apple and then we're off.
Wow.

Anyway, Eddie was SO exuberant and happy today. We cantered around the pasture for about a half an hour and he didn't even want to stop! "Let's go! Come on!" That was his attitude. And I was happy to oblige! We ran together, jumped over logs and just had fun.
*Happy sigh* He is such a good boy.
And then we went for a walk in the slippery and muddy track and then we grazed out by the corn crib and then we went for a walk in front of the house and then I groomed him and then we rode in the outdoor and then... you get the picture. :-) I did everything today because I'm going to miss him so much.
I love you so much Eddie and behave for my sister who gets to look after you for 6 days! ;-)
hehe!
Hope that you all have a wonderful day!

~Lea & Eddie~

2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

P.S.

2011-11-30T16:32:00.000-06:00

I wish Eddie and I could do this while we're in Florida!

But at least I'll be around horses and trimming them. :-)

Sorry, just had to share this video with you. I love it so much because it reminds me of Eddie and I. Just having fun!

Two More Days!

2011-11-30T16:30:00.000-06:00

Two more days until my mom and I head south! Wow, I can't believe how fast it came. I'm really going to miss my sister, my dad, Eddie, Scout, Diesel, our kitties and the farm. But it's only for one week out of the year and then mom and I are back to chilly northern Illinois. It will be time for Christmas & Christmas songs and Christmas cookies and *squeal!* CHRISTMAS! I love Christmas. Can ya tell?
Anyway, I've been playing with Eddie every day and today we played a lot. It was sunny, calm and not too chilly. It was really nice to play with him for such a nice long time. I also took Diesel for a walk and rode Scout two laps in the track. Whew! Full day! It was fun and I hope that tomorrow is nice so we can play again before we leave early Friday morning.
I'll definitely blog when we're in Florida. I'm sure there'll be lots to blog about!

~Lea & Eddie~

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When it Rains it Pours

2011-11-26T19:32:00.000-06:00

:-p
BLECH!
I hate rain.

Ok. Rant. Done.

I didn't really get to play with Eddie today. :-( That makes me sad. But we did go for a walk together. We went around the outside of the corncrib and grazed out in the rain. I just couldn't help it and he sure didn't mind being out in the rain and out of his stall. Standing there with my horse and my outback hat in the rain seemed kinda cool to me. I've had a growing dream that I will have to blog about later. I want to do it someday and I pray that I'll be able to.
Anyway, we went for a walk around the corncrib and then went out to the pasture for a romp around there. We did a lap and trotted just a little bit. But it was way too slippery to do anything else.
Here's to a sunny day! I'm hoping that it's sunny out tomorrow.

~Lea & Eddie~

Thankfulness (Part 2)

2011-11-25T19:58:00.000-06:00

I first posted about the big things that I'm thankful for.
Now for the frivolous & fun things I'm thankful for!
Things like...

Waking up in the morning to look out the window and see a fresh snow. Just dazzling!

Books. Curling up with a good book and just reading all day!

The only thing better than reading books it writing them!

Sitting down and watching a good movie. :-)

The sound of a cello and piano duet. Also any kind of music!! I love music - country, pop, rock, classical, soundtrack, you name it!

ICE CREAM! Ice cream is my one weakness. I could eat a whole container and still have room for more.

The sound of a river, the shining of the sun and the hush of a breeze through the trees. Rivers will always remind me of when I was baptized by my mom and dad. It's so peaceful and how can you not feel close to God when you are outdoors.

Above all else, I love the feel of a content horse and the peace of the outdoors. When everything is right in our own little world - the horse is happy - the human is happy and they are both soft to each other. I've experienced it with Eddie and I will always be searching for it time and time again. Lightness and softness is equal doses and true feel that can be felt in the heart of the horse and rider.

Oh the joys that life brings us!
So, what are you thankful for?

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Thankfulness (part 1)

2011-11-25T08:01:00.000-06:00

I am thankful for...

My crazy, silly, goofy, lovable, awesomely amazing family. I don't know what I would do without them! You're the butter to my bread and the beat to my heart! <3

Our crazy, silly, goofy horses! :-) They bring such joy to our lives and we are so thankful to give three awesome horses forever homes. The horses are part of our family and are my lifelong partners. <3 I love them dearly!

The farm God has blessed us with. We came here 7 years ago and the farm has changed our lives. We have a forever home here and I thank God for it every day. Sure it's a lot of work, but it's work that we love doing and can't imagine our lives without it!

Part 2 coming soon!
Time to go let the horses out to pasture. :-)

~Lea

Even Though It Rained

2011-11-22T14:55:00.000-06:00

...We still got to play!
In fact I played with all the horses today.

First, Diesel and I went for a walk all around the property. Let me just say that he LOVES it. We did a whole lap, went through the pines, through the south line and he was very happy to be out eating the yummy long grass.
Then Eddie and I played in his paddock because he was too scared to go out and play. Poor Eddie... He's been nervous the past two days. I don't know if it's just because of the colder weather, or what. But even Scout has been spooky and scared lately. Anyway, we chased each other, did some fast backups, rollbacks, spanish walk, and cutting game. He sure does love that cutting game!
Lastly, Scout and I went for a walk on the track and he was pretty spooky. Those darn kitties that come up out of nowhere... So, I let him loose and he ran back home. Well... actually he ran out to the pasture and I let him graze on the long grass. Bad me. I shouldn't do that. He's somewhat IR and even if he gets a little bit of too rich grass, it gives him a - how do I put this - loose stool.
*clears throat*
It was a pretty nice morning if you don't count the cold wind and cloudy sky. The horses were happy to play. Very happy. And so was I!

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

The Amazing Days

2011-11-21T09:06:00.001-06:00

As I was playing with Eddie yesterday and riding around lazily in the outdoor, I started to reminisce about a few of the amazing days I've shared with the horses.
These were the ones I thought of:

#1
The day that I first cantered Eddie.

He started to trot and took a few strides at the canter. It was so smooth, so perfect. That was in August 2008.

#2
The day that Scout came.

I remember like it was yesterday the look on Eddie's face. "A PONY?! YOU GOT A PONY FOR ME?!" He was so happy. I think this picture totally sums up that day. Pure happiness. Scout had been alone for over ten years and Eddie had been alone for 15 months. They are perfect brothers and love each other so much!

#3
The day Diesel came home.

I also remember this day so vividly. HARPS humane society came out to help us get Diesel. He was alone in a field for one year with no food or water. What some people do to animals... Anyway, I was able to put the rope around his neck and then we hung on. We got him in the trailer and he started a new life with us.

#4

The first day that Eddie and I actually jumped.

We cantered after it and my best buddy took the most amazing picture! It is still one of my favorites! Totally sums up our carefree, fun loving style! Crocs and rolled up jeans, oh yeah!!

#5
The day we got flooded!

We had SO much rain and the south west corner of our property had about a foot of standing water. So we took the horses down there and Eddie rolled in it, pawed in it and we even rode through it. It was so fun!

#6
The Blizzard & skiiing.

Scout would pull us on the skis and my sister and I would take turn leading him. It was so much fun and Scout was pretty excited about it too.
The blizzard was really fun too. We got upwards of 4ft drifts and the horses had so much fun playing in them. Diesel probably could have gone under a few of the big ones!

#7
Jumping & Cantering in August 2011.

That was one of those days that every fit so perfectly together. Like a puzzle piece, but even better.

"That absolute pure honesty of the horse, man that's just the greatest thing there is... - Buck Brannaman"

That's the quote that somewhat sums up that day. We were both so willing and he was so open and soft. It's said that once you get a taste of that, pure harmony, you'll spend all your life trying to get there again. :-)
That was our day.

~Lea & Eddie~

Psalm 107:1

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Random Christmas-y Pictures!

2011-11-20T14:39:00.000-06:00

I know this isn't very horsey... But I just wanted to share these pics with you!

See, I LOVE Christmas. I can still remember looking out a window when I was five, watching the snow fall amongst the trees and going to church on Christmas Eve to 'Light the Night' with Christmas lights.

I bet I could really go overboard with Christmas lights too... Like those crazy people who have their whole lawns lit up! Icicle lights, little light-up snowmen, trains that actually go on tracks... You name it! lol!

I even thought that it would be cool to put some Christmas lights on Eddie. You know, battery powered ones. Or some blinking reindeer antlers! Hmm... might have to work on that!

Ah yes, nothing like reading a good book when it's cold out! An 800 page one to be in fact that I finished in 4 days. Oh... yeah.... ;-)

My evil little, bengal cat. MOCHA! She looks so sweet and innocent in this picture. Hmm... Think again.

Our Christmas tree that is 21 years old! Booyah! I bet we have the oldest fake Christmas tree for miles. But we love it! This is before ornaments, so sorry if it looks a little bare.

Well, that's all I wanted to show you! Now on to what Eddie & Diesel & Scout and I did today!

~Lea

Psalm 95: 1-2
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Much Needed Update

2011-11-19T20:37:00.000-06:00

*sits down to the computer with a plop*
Boy, oh boy! Sorry it's been a while since I've updated my blog. It's been pretty windy and cold out here! I haven't done too much with the horses because it's been cold, which I am kind of bummed about. But I am out there for about three or four hours, playing around with them, bringing them in and letting them out. I just got done trimming them all, and their feet look amazing.

Winter is definitely coming though! I'm excited for snow. hehe, I want snow!! Although, snow and planes don't mix... So maybe no snow until after we get back from FL. ;-)

Anyways, I took Eddie for a walk today. And yesterday I took Diesel for a trail walk around the property. They sure do love their walks!
Hopefully I'll be able to ride soon. All I've gotten to do is sit on Eddie and maybe go for a lap or two in the arena. It's just so windy and cold, I don't think either of us want to be out in it! Boy, it would be nice to have an indoor in weather like this!

~Lea & Eddie~

Psalm 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
         The LORD will give grace and glory;
         No good thing will He withhold
         From those who walk uprightly.

New Video!

2011-11-16T17:34:00.001-06:00

Picture of our Property!

2011-11-15T07:56:00.000-06:00

This pic is just from last month. It shows our track, the extended paddocks, outdoor, pumpkin field, and everythin' else! Too cool, huh?!

An Inspiration

2011-11-15T07:54:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I had a thought and decided to act on it.
Eddie and Scout and I have been doing pretty much the same thing for a long time. Run around the pasture online, jump over a few things, canter a little bit and that's all. Or run around at liberty in the outdoor and do cavaletties. Or when we ride we walk around, trot a little bit and play with a few little things.
Well, yesterday I decided not to do the normal anymore.

Instead, I took Eddie for a trail walk all the way around the property. He was so... ALIVE! And excited! We went around the pumpkin field, through the pine trees, around the silo, in front of the house, through the orchard, down to the south line, through the south line, up the east line and back to the outdoor. It took about 45 minutes to go around the whole property and just a few little corrections so that he stayed connected to me, but we had a blast! Then we went into the outdoor and rode - playing with collection and shifting his weight to his hindquarters. I don't think we've had such a stimulating play time for a while. Of course, when we were done he was pretty tired after playing for over an hour. But he took a nap and that gave me a chance to play with Scouty!

We went for a walk too, albeit not a long one. But then we went into the pasture and 'raced' each other. He was so happy to run, buck and just play. Oh boy, do we all have fun together! I hopped on him then and we rode into the outdoor. He so loves to run around and race. hehe, pure joy!

So yes, from now I'm going to try not to do what the horses expect me to do - take them out to the pasture and do... well not much. I moved the cavaletties out to the east line, so that should be fun to play with today! It is a beautiful day and looks to be a fun one too!

(This is my new favorite song right now! I've had it stuck in my head for the past two days!)

~Lea & Eddie~

2 Corinthians 12:9

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Trimming & Riding

2011-11-12T19:55:00.001-06:00

Today was such a beautiful day. It's been cold & windy lately, so I was very happy to be outside all afternoon. First, I played with Eddie in the pasture and we cantered, trotted, jumped and worked on the right lead some more. He did better with it and when he did a few strides, I brought him in and gave him some apples. :-) Yummy apples!

Then we went into the outdoor and rode for a nice long time! We trotted around, herded Diesel in and out of the paddocks and went over the cavaletties a lot. It was muddy, so we couldn't do too much. But we did have a lot of fun and it was nice to ride again. It's been a while since we really rode.

Opening and closing the gate. He was SO light! You can see the soft feel I had on the reins. He just knew exactly what to do and was so willing. I love Eddie boy!!

After I rode Eddie, I trimmed Scout up. His feet were pretty long because I had my wisdom teeth out and couldn't trim for a while. But it was good to get back in the groove of trimming. :-) Here is the after picture!

Yippee!! Pretty feet! Also, I'm working on a name for my trimming career. The one I like best is Heartland Equine Podiatry. It's just... right. I don't know, I just like it. Or there's Natural Horse Hoof Care. Natural Equine Podiatry. The list goes on. Do you all like Heartland Equine Podiatry?

Scouty's footsies!

Trimmin' away! Doing what I love to do!

~Lea & Eddie~

Colossians 1:9
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Time to Give Back

2011-11-10T19:34:00.000-06:00

Well, I usually just post horsey things on this blog, but I couldn't resist sharing this!

Operation Christmas Child

You pack a shoe box, drop it off at a Drop off Location and then the shoe box gets sent to a child in need. Whether its Africa, Lithuania, South America... It's a great program that we're taking part of this year. We're sending two and I know some churches are doing thousands!

If you've been blessed this year, send a shoe box. Send two shoe boxes. God calls us to share the love of Christ to the poor and help those in need. Because God loves a cheerful giver!

~Lea

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Snow!

2011-11-10T19:28:00.000-06:00

That's right! We had our first snow yesterday and today! It's beautiful, white and just so exciting! I love snow!
Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

Naturally, the horses were in and out a lot. We did take them for a nice walk today though. They were bucking, running and quite entertaining when we let them out!
Winter is on its way! My favorite season next to fall! <3

~Lea & Eddie~

Job 37:5-6
God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.

Fall Pictures

2011-11-08T20:51:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures from yesterday!
It rained all day today, so I couldn't ride or play or anything. But I did play with the horses and ride yesterday. So here are the pics!!

Cluck! Cluck!

"I am the vine and you are the branches." John 15:5

Chinese Laterns

Flowers are still blooming

And moss is still growing

Cats are peaking out and...

Following me up the tree!

Scout!

Eddie's fuzzy nose!

My sleepy Eddie! <3

Laminitis

2011-11-07T11:37:00.002-06:00

Over the 9th and 10th, of May Diesel wasn't quite looking the same to us. He was slower, didn't trot, looked sore, and his sparkle was gone from his eye that is normally there. So we watched it for the first few days - staying on our schedule of 4 hours on the pasture - thinking it was just a pulled muscle or something. However, on the 11th, he wasn't better. In fact he was worse. So we called our vet and he came out to take a look at our little guy late in the day. Meanwhile, mom and I are researching.

We both took a Insulin Resistance/Cushing's Disease course by Dr. Eleanor Kellon and in the course, there are several chapters dedicated to laminitis and treating laminitis. So after I read the symptoms which include:

Less activity
Reluctance to more off from a stand still
Reluctance to trot
Reluctance to make sharp turns
Stumbling/scuffing
Preference for soft ground
Stiffness when moving
Muscular tension in the upper arm, neck, shoulder, back, hindquarters (any or all)

Hoof changes which are suspicious but not diagnostic include:

Hoof rings
Widened white line

So, out of those 10, Diesel had 7. Now these symptoms are for low-grade laminitis, NOT acute laminitis. For acute laminitis it's a lot easier to tell, they just can't and won't move! Poor horses, and it's all because of grass. But, let's not get sidetracked - I could go on about this all day!

The vet came out and sure enough, it was laminitis. Drastic changes were made to Diesel's already diet-ed diet. No sweet feed. No grass. Hose his feet & banamine (for the first two days). And Exercise. Our vet chose banamine instead of Phenylbutazone (bute) because bute is an anti-inflammatory drug for hard tissues while banamine targets soft tissues including... the inflamed lamella of the hoof which is laminitis.

Diesel was on that for two days, we hosed his feet and he is back to his old self and it is only two days after the vet came. Of course, he is unhappy to be in a dry lot all by himself (only for 4 hours though) but we're going to turn our track into dirt so the ponies (who are on their diets) can actually go out and get exercise.

So, that's our plan! More exercise once his feet are a-ok and no more grass.

Keep an eye on your horses and minis, this spring has been a sugarpacked-grass growing-super wet one. When all else fails, there is always the dry lot and that can work wonders for an overweight horse!

~Lea

2011-11-07T11:36:00.002-06:00

Here is a short video showing Eddie's stride.

After you're done watching this, please read on!
There are 5 steps to a horse's stride. Or... five steps to one step.
The first stage is:

Initial Contact - Initiates pastern movement, heel hits the ground first.
Impact - Defined by pastern descent
Stance - Defined by load or force. Greatest amount of load that is on the dermis (dense inner layer of connective tissue) of the hoof.
Breakover - Begins with pastern ascent.
Flight - Utilizing the energy.

The energy utilization and dissipation is much like a bow and arrow. The energy is stored and released, stored and released, over and over. That carries into hemodynamics (the blood flow in the hoof) but that's a big topic to get into right now.
There is, however more to the stride. Here is how the structures of the hoof should come into contact with the ground during different gaits.
Slow Walk - Wherever. Toe first, heel first, it doesn't make a difference.
Working Walk - Heel hits first. Toe if the hoof is out of balance.
Trot - Heel comes into contact with the ground first.
Extended Trot - Definitely heel, horse should move freely.
Canter & Gallop - Undoubtedly, the heel should come into contact with the ground first. What is interesting, is that the lateral heel (outside of the hoof) will hit before the medial (inner) heel.

I bet, the next time you watch your horse walk, it will be much different!

~Lea

The Hind Feet

2011-11-07T11:35:00.001-06:00

My last post was about the front hoof.
So, let's take a closer look at the hind hoof.
The hind foot of the horse is more oval, right? Right! If you follow the bones of the hind leg all the way up, you will find the hip joint. That's right, it's a joint.

Therefore, unlike the front hoof, it does not have the same degree of articulation. So, the hoof is oval and the
Main purpose for the hind foot:
Is to be a catapult. Just like how a pole vaulter uses the pole for leverage, the horse uses his hind legs for propelling himself.

You can see it clearly in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aOq3YCs4oM

Come back soon so learn about high-sugar grasses! Especially because it's spring!

The Front Feet

2011-11-07T11:34:00.000-06:00

Hey there! I'm transferring a few posts from an old blog to this one... They are all about feet, so if you want to know about feet, read these!

I have thinking about the purpose of the front feet. Seems simple right? Carry 60% of the horses weight. However, if we take a closer look, there is a lot more going on.

The front hooves of a horse are round, right? Like a dinner plate. Anyone can see that. There is a cause for their shape, here are the reasons:

Wider surface area
Circulation
Dissipation

The scapula of the horse (seen below) is NOT a joint into the thoracic vertebrae. Instead, it is attached by ligaments which are connective tissues from bone to bone. Which brings us back to the circular shape. If it were connected by joints, the scapula could not rotate or swivel. So, because the scapula is attached by ligaments, it CAN swivel. It can move. Joints are made to go up and down, or right to left. Not 180 degrees Hence, the front feet are round. The scapula can move and the feet are free to swivel, make turns and moves that the hind feet physically cannot do. I'll post about the hind feet in my next post.

Bound for the South

2011-11-06T21:08:00.000-06:00

In less than a month my mom and I leave for Florida.
Honestly, I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. Excited. Anxious. I don't really know - kind of a mixture of both.
See, I don't really like to leave the farm. Going to town is a chore and I usually only go up there once a week or every two weeks. That's totally fine with me, because I like hanging out with the horses and being home. So, it's always a jumble when I leave. Someone else has to stay home and keep an eye on the horses. Thankfully, I have an amazing sister and dad that are willing to take care of the farm while mom and I are away.

Yep, Florida here we come. I'm going to be taking a KC La Pierre course down at his place. Once I take this one, it's two more and I'm certified. I can't wait, I'm really looking forward to being certified! A midwest country girl headed to central FL.
Oh boy!

~Lea & Eddie~

Matthew 8:27
So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

A Lovely Ride

2011-11-04T16:29:00.000-05:00

It was sunny, still and beautiful out today. One of the last nice days before the cold weather comes.
So, naturally I spent the majority of the day out with the horses! Eddie and I rode first thing in the outdoor. It was really muddy from Wednesday's rain, but we were still able to do some things. We worked on lightness and he is doing amazing with it. I've taken on even more of a soft feel and our backing up has gotten a lot better.
All I have to do is pick up the reins and sit deep and he stops. YIPPEE! Usually it only takes that much to back him too. He is such a good boy, I love him so much!
Then my sister and I took the horses for a walk in the track and then Eddie and I played in the pasture for a little bit.
We cantered around, he jumped over the cones and then we played with our cantering. He didn't want to pick to the right lead, and he has had some trouble with that lately. So, we'll have to work on that tomorrow too. But he picked up the left lead fine. It was just weird, because he also got stressed when I was asking him to canter to the right. Hmmm... Poor Ed... I'll have to see how I can help him with that...

~Lea & Eddie~

Ephesians 2:14
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.

Riding!

2011-11-02T16:51:00.000-05:00

YES! I rode today and yesterday! Yippeeeeeee!!!!!!
Eddie and I started by going for a lap around the track. Then we went into the outdoor and did some more liberty. Cantered a few laps, and lots of cavaletties. :-) Just for fun!
Then I hopped on and we just had a jolly good time. We trotted to the gate, worked on our soft feel and just dinked around. We walked over the cavaletties and did a soft back up too. After watching Buck's documentary three times (and finally decided to send it back to the library) I realized how important a soft feel is. Before when I would ask Eddie to back up, he would just stand there. Now I have meaning and feeling to what I'm asking him to do and I think he knows it. He just wanted me to figure it out. :-)
We did some sidepasses and called it a day there. I didn't want to push it and he was being such a good boy! I love my Eddie, he is just the best!!

~Lea & Eddie~

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Tug-o-War

2011-11-01T10:08:00.001-05:00

GAH! Haven't posted for a long time!! :-(
Well, not too much has been going on, so that's probably why.
Eddie and I have been going for walks, playing in the arena and just getting back into the swing of things. I'm pretty much recovered from my wisdom teeth, I just can't ride yet. Because if I fall, that would not be good. So! We're making the most of playing on the ground. Lots of cavaletties, walks, blind driving, and just having fun. Eddie has taken up the fun game of tug-o-war with me. It's so funny! He'll grab my lead rope (I just use that for 'encouragement' now) and hold it in his teeth. Then I'll pull back and we'll just stand there. lol! Then he lets go and I stumble back!
Oh too funny, I love my pony! <3

Here's a pic of Ed in action! He's such a good boy!

~Lea & Eddie~

Ephesians 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Lotsa Cows

2011-10-27T16:42:00.001-05:00

I have had an epic realization lately and I haven't really blogged about it at all. Yet.
You see, Eddie likes to be the herd leader. He liked to literally herd the ponies. He just did it today when we brought them in off of pasture. He runs behind Scout or Diesel and chases them/moves them to where he wants them to go. Also, he did it yesterday. I was inside, but mom said that he herded Scout into his own paddock and kept him there.
He knows this stuff. He gets it and does it naturally.
So, why not encourage it? I've been teaching him some cutting moves on the ground. Just basic things like rollbacks, fast back and forth movements and such. But hey, he can do it so much better without me teaching him! He just does it!
I'm really hoping that in a few years Eddie and I can go to a Buck Brannaman clinic. My mom and I really like his stuff and we're keeping each other grounded. We're not going to put Buck on a pedestal like what we did with Parelli. There are other great horsemen out there and I would just as soon go to a Mark Rashid clinic too. Only Buck has cows. Lotsa cows!

In order to go to one of his clinics though I need:
1. Money (lol!)
2. A Trailer
3. Eddie to be able to go alone and be ok with that
4. Prepare for it by going to a Martin Black clinic or going to the forest preserve a bunch of times.

And I know this isn't going to happen overnight. Heck, it's probably not going to happen for a few years. But God knows and I'm just trusting that some day Ed and I will be able to go to one. It's my new dream. :-)

A friend said on my facebook:
Once the horse knows to hook on to the cow, all you do is hang on and don't take you eyes off the cow!
Very cool.
I suggest that you all go to amazon and buy Buck's documentary. I've watched it twice and could watch it over and over again!

hehe, I also have to get myself a ropin' rope!

~Lea & Eddie~

Pictures!

2011-10-27T16:29:00.000-05:00

Well, I can't ride & can't play so I might as well take some pictures of the horses! (hehe! 84 total!)

Open Wide

2011-10-25T15:18:00.000-05:00

Most teens my age have to have one big thing done after they get their braces off.
Any guesses?
They're big.
They're annoying.
And they have to come out.
You guessed it!
Wisdom teeth!

Today was my lucky day and I got they pulled this morning. I actually feel pretty good! Lots of jello, frozen pea ice packs and watching Buck Brannaman's documentary on the tv.

So hopefully I'll be able to get back to normal soon. I haven't seen the horses since this morning, but that's ok. It's one day. And besides, they ran around enough yesterday to tire them out today!

As I was watching Buck, I got the 'rancher' itch. Me, Eddie and a herd of cows. Some day, some day....

~Lea

Wind + Cold Weather + Combines = Hyper Horses!

2011-10-16T20:35:00.000-05:00

What a crazy last couple of days!
See, now I have a reason to be behind on blogging... We're mudding & sanding our ceilings.
We've lived here for 7 years and we're finally gettin' er done. So I've been helping mom with the mudding and painting and such. It's really exciting to almost be done with the inside of the house. Just trim and carpet and we're done! Yahoo!!
Now, on to horsey things!
It's been windy and chilly and the combines have been out like crazy. Mix it all together and you get hyper ponies. :-)

Oh yeah! lol!
But Eddie and Scout and I have been doing small things. Ed & I have been working on cutting game, (I run around back and forth and he cuts me like a cow. It's really fun! I have to get a video of it... :) and then we've also been going for walks. He's been spooky with all the stuff going on outside, so it's like our trail riding prep. hehe!
Then Scout and I have been going for walks too. Today we trotted around the ENTIRE pasture. It was really fun to jog with him. And if we go around the pasture 5 times, then it's a mile! Yehaw! So, we'll have to work up to walking a mile together. It's good for Scouty and me too! lol!

~Lea & Eddie & Scout~

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

I Always Do This...

2011-10-13T20:49:00.000-05:00

... I always skip blogging for a long time, and then it hits me. Like an avalanche. After a total dry spell, I'm flooded with new things to blog about.
So here it goes... My attempt to catch up! :-)

A Camera? YES! Mom surprised us and bought the camera from amazon on sale. It's an amazing camera and we've already taken somewhere around 300 pictures with it. I love it and the horses look so pretty with the clear resolution.

Ok, next thing to tell you!
I got my senior pictures done!

My sister took them and we just walked around the property, stopping to take pics with the pretty, fall trees. I have yet to take some with Eddie because he has been pretty spooky lately. So we'll get the rest of them done when it's sunny out again! :-)

One more thing!

I've learned something lately.
Contentedness.
Well, I've actually been thinking about something lately. Horse people all around the world have their own 'discipline.' You know, cutting, reining, pleasure, trail riding, dressage, show jumping, eventing, you name it. And I don't do any of that with Eddie. *long pause* But it's not like it's a bad thing, in fact I'm quite content with it. But there's always been something in me that says, "Shouldn't I be doing one of those?" And I can't quite answer that. I would say yes, because I believe horses like to have a job. And I would say no, because there's a middle road and we're pretty much ridin' on it. We're not competitive. We don't go places to compete. I think we're more like horsemanship gurus. lol! Like the above Ray Hunt quote. We do horsemanship. And perhaps down the road that will come in handy. I can't see that right now. Cause that's up to God. But I'm just trusting God, He knows our future. <3 Like my Bible Verse a Day that just so happens to be the below verse!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF33ga1vlHQ

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~
Horsemanship Gurus :-)

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Blind Driving & Riding

2011-10-10T19:37:00.000-05:00

Thank the Lord, it has been SUCH beautiful weather!
I am so thankful for it, I've been able to play with Eddie and Scout and even Diesel every day. Today, I played with Diesel's mouth since we have to flush it every so often. See, he's a 'packer' and packs food up in his mouth. So we have a tube and just squirt water into his mouth. He didn't like it at first, but once we let him see what it was, he was totally fine with it! He is such a smart cookie. All our horses are so much smarter than we give them credit for.
Scout and I went on an amazing walk today. We went around the ENTIRE property and he was just having a blast. Scout was kinda hyper, so we did some circles. Just so that he could get some of his energy out. But I think he was just excited. What's more fun than going for a walk? After we did another lap around the whole property, we went into the outdoor and I rode to the gate, opened it and then we went in his stall. ;-) hehe! It's interesting to ride in a stall. I thought to myself, "Hey, an indoor arena!" lol!
Eddie and I played in the outdoor in the morning and rode too. We did some more blind driving. He is REALLY getting the hang of it! All I have to do is hold up my hand and he will turn like a pro. I am so proud of him. =-) After we did that for a little bit, I hopped on and we rode for a while. We trotted, did a few laps, played with some side passes (which looked really pretty, btw!) and just had fun. I was going to play with him again tonight, but he and his herd were all running around quite a bit. So he got his exercise, for sure! They were really huffing and puffing.
It was such a lovely day and it was very fun to play with all the horses.
Getting off topic a little bit but... We're redoing our bathroom and painting it for the first time since we moved here. It is so pretty and so nice to have it almost finished. Yes, in between playing with the horses we were painting all day. It was fun!

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

Proverbs 19:20-21

Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
      That you may be wise in your latter days.
       There are many plans in a man’s heart,
      Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

Learning A Bunch!

2011-10-10T19:23:00.000-05:00

Well, the reason I haven't posted much this month is because every time I sit down to the computer, my time is taken up with answering homework questions for the online course I am taking. What kind of online course? HOOVES! =-)
http://www.appliedequinepodiatry.org/iaep/on_line.html
I'm taking KC La Pierre's Online course and it is amazing! The questions are really hard, but they are really good. Gets me thinking and makes me remember my answers and reasoning. Right now I'm doing 2, 500 word essays. It's going really well!

Anyway, on to what Eddie and Scout and I have been doing!

~Lea

Lovely Weather!

2011-10-08T18:19:00.000-05:00

A little warm, but sunny, windy and beautiful!
Naturally, I played with all the horses today! First it was Eddie, then I played with Scout and took him for a walk and then I took Diesel for a walk. They all loved it!
So, it was exercise time with Eddie out in the pasture! We cantered around together, jumped a few things, did some cavaletties and then we went for a long walk in the track. The leaves were blowing everywhere and it was so pretty! We just took our time and he nibbled on some leaves.

Then Eddie and I went back into the pasture and did some sidepasses at the trot. I thought, oh, why not?! So we worked on it for a while and he really got it! It took some time and patience because he kept wanting to trot forward. But he sidepassed at the trot twice and I was very proud of him! I have to let him come forward a little bit, or else it would be too hard for him. He's such a good boy!

Next it was Scouty's turn!! We did some cavaletties out in the pasture and trotted around together. Well... We actually raced! lol! It was fun! Then we went out to the 'wild' aka outside of the fences and we went around the whole property. He LOVES going for walks. I wish we could take them up to Deer Run or Oak Ridge. They are both really nice trails only 5 minutes away from us. But alas... No trailer. Once I start trimming and save up enough for one, I'll buy the trailer and mom will buy the truck! :-) Anywhos...
We went for a nice walk and then I took Diesel out for a graze up by the house. He found the nicest patch of clover and wouldn't move from it! lol! Such a silly boy!
Overall, it was such a lovely fall day. This whole week looks to be beautiful too!

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

Isaiah 43:11-12
I, even I, am the LORD,
      And besides Me there is no savior.
       I have declared and saved,
      I have proclaimed,
      And there was no foreign god among you;
      Therefore you are My witnesses,”
      Says the LORD, “that I am God.

Vet Visit

2011-10-06T19:43:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, the horses got their teeth floated!

Scout was up first and then Eddie and Diesel was last. They did very well. They all did fine with the sedation and came out of it fine. Our vet said that their teeth look good too.
Eddie's teeth were awesome, a little sharp, but he hasn't been done for over a year. Scout had a 'ramp' in his teeth and our vet was able to make most of his teeth level (he will do the rest next fall). And Diesel has some issues. Not too bad, just things we need to be aware of. He's a 'packer' which means that he packs all his food up in between his cheek and teeth.

So, we may have to flush his mouth every now and then or help him get the packed food out. But he hasn't packed at all since Tuesday, so that is a good thing! :-)
They were all so dopey and sleepy afterwards. Eddie took the longest to come out of it. I think it was just because his bite felt so off to him. But by the end of the day he was totally fine.

Here are our sleepy boys. <3
I'm so glad that their teeth are all taken care of for the year.

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

Isaiah 26:4

Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, is everlasting strength

Picture Post!

2011-10-06T16:21:00.000-05:00

Eddie grazing out in the pasture!

Yummy grass! <3

The ponies out on the track.

Look how beautiful that sky is! Clear, cool and crisp.
It's FALL!

Eddie itching his noise on the grass! :-)

A Video!

2011-10-06T16:14:00.002-05:00

I Can Fly!

2011-10-02T20:40:00.000-05:00

...Right into the manure heap!

???
Say what?!
???

I decided to go for a trail ride with Eddie today. Our first every trail ride if you can believe it. Well, we've gone on the track and stuff but not out of the pens.
So, all was swell and I was riding up the north line of the outdoor. To the north and east of our outdoor, the manure heap sits. Ruminates. Whatever. The gate was open in the north east corner of the outdoor. Eddie saw that the gate was open and was like, "SCORE! GRASS!" So he was pulling in that direction. I stopped him and tried to turn him.
"Nuh-uh!"
Eddie plowed through the gate, turned sharply, I had to bring my leg up and over the post and I think that spooked him. That and going somewhere we have never been on horseback before.
He trotted.
He bucked.
He bucked again.
And I went flying off.
INTO THE MUCK HEAP!
I rolled, got yucky shavings all over me and jumped up.
There goes Eddie!
Cantering through the pumpkin field!
Around the silo! And he stopped and hid behind it.
:-/ Okay.... I ran after him and caught him. No big deal. The funny thing was he was SO sleepy beforehand. I thought it was a perfect day for a trail ride. Oh well, I'm not hurt, he's not hurt and we'll try again some other time. I was kind of funny. Although I do feel sorry for him, I think he got pretty shaken up/nervous.
What a day, what a day! Don't you just love those horse?!

~Lea & Eddie~

Proverbs 29:25

The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

2011-10-01T18:46:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love fall?!

Eddie does!
And so do I!

It was a lovely day to ride. So we did! Eddie and I rode in the outdoor for a nice long time. We played with some silly/random things and just had fun. :-) Then I let he and Scout together in the outdoor at liberty so they could play. Well, so Eddie could play. Scout just ran away. Poor Scout.
We went for a walk around the property, took the ponies for a few laps and then Al and I went on a nice bike ride down to the cottonwood tree. The fall colors are really starting to come in. It's SO pretty outside! There wasn't a cloud in the sky today.

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

Pictures From Sunday!

2011-09-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures from last Sunday when Rebecca and I got together to play with Jigs and Savannah!

Ridin' in the Fog

2011-09-29T21:18:00.000-05:00

Windy and rainy day. But hey, we got to play!

This morning it was the only nice part of the day. After noon, the rain came, the wind picked up and it was not very nice outside... There are 60 mph winds out there!
Anyway, we did get to play this morning and we had a wonderful time! Eddie and I did some more invisible long reins (which my sister called Blind Driving.) I like that better than Invisastyle... LOL!

She took some pictures which I posted down dare.

l           l           l
l           l           l
V         V         V

We worked on those few things and some more changing eyes. Then I hopped on and we rode for a little bit!
Mainly we just did some trotting around and stuff. Although I did ask him to flex at the poll a little bit. I saw my friend, Rebecca doing it and it inspired me to try it with Eddie.
He did really good and collected himself more than he usually does! Yay! :-)

This afternoon Al and I did take the horses for a walk around the track. they were SO hyper and I let Diesel go and he just RAN around. It was so funny!

They are such good boys! And now it's freezing out and windy so they are all snug in their barn. <3

Hope that you all are having better weather than we are here.

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Diesel~

John 3:20-21

For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Invisastyle!

2011-09-28T21:12:00.001-05:00

Invisible long reins.
Changing eyes.
Going for walks.
That about sums up my day with the horses!
And the first two are from Buck Brannaman's DVD on groundwork. Let me tell you, I see a difference already! Especially with the changing eyes.
Eddie had a little bit of a hard time with it at first. He didn't really get where to go or what to do. But with quick releases and lots of reassuring, he got it. If you want to know what changing eyes is, go to this website and get the DVD! Or you can just buy it from Buck. He can explain it a lot better than I can.
http://www.giddyupflix.com/detail.php?id=282
http://brannaman.com/

Then we did some long reins. INVISASTYLE!

lol!
I would walk behind Eddie (and I did it with Scout too) and direct him with subtle cues. It was really awesome and I think both of the horses liked it! It was a lot easier too because I didn't have to worry about muddy lines.
:-)
I definitely recommend trying it! It's a lot easier than it sounds and the horses love it!

I played with Scout afterwards and we ran around out in the pasture. Trot. Graze. Trot. Graze. Trot. Graze. Trot. Graze. Canter. That was Scout's mind as we played. The grass was long, lush and green and he wanted to eat it all. But we trotted over some cavaletties and then went into the outdoor to do our invisastyle reins. I think he was a little confused and was thinking "Why are you following me?!" But he did good and whoahed when I dropped my energy.

They are such good boys! It was such a nice day, it didn't rain at all!

~Lea & Eddie~

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

An Amaaazing Day!

2011-09-25T21:08:00.000-05:00

With my friend!!! Check out her blog here: http://becnsavyllj.blogspot.com/
That's a picture of her jumping with her horse. Way to go, guys!!!

But yes, it was an amazing day!

First I played with Eddie this morning. We went for a walk around the property, played in the outdoor and he jumped a few times. Well, more like he flew over them! It was so funny! Then I hopped on and we rode around for a little bit. He was really hyper, so when we first started trotting, he was SO elevated and extended! It was like riding a dressage horse. :-)
We went for a walk around the track after that and it was raining a little bit. Oh yes, it was raining while we rode too, but we didn't mind.

So, in the afternoon I headed down to the barn and met Rebecca there. We brought down Savannah and Jigs and played in the indoor for over an hour! We would run back and forth in the arena and Jigs would just GALLOP after us. It was so fun! Savannah just stood and watched Jigs like, "What a weirdo!" Rebecca rode Savannah for a while and I laid on Jigs. He was really good and stood really well. What a good boy!
After that we went out to the outdoor and I let Jigs graze while I took lots of pictures. It was so nice out and the clouds totally cleared up. Such a beautiful day! Plus I think Jigs was happy not to be trimmed. Usually it takes me a while to trim him, so I don't have time to play. But today we had TONS of time!
I put Jigs away when he had his fill of grass and then we went into the woods. It was so pretty back there and I took lots of pictures and videos. I love to take pictures! :-)

Oh, such a fun day and such good times with my best friend! <3

~Lea & Eddie & Jigs & Rebecca & Savannah~

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

I Have An Amazing Horse

2011-09-23T19:30:00.000-05:00

I truly do.
We have come so far in 4 years and he continues to blow my mind every day.
The past couple of days have been really relaxing and yet we've done a lot. We bring in the ponies every morning, play with some different things with our riding and then they get their nibble nets. Then in the afternoon, we play out in the pasture and ride a little bit more.
Can it be? We ride twice a day when he is spunky and feelin' good?!
I love you so much Eddie! <3
What an amazing horse God has blessed me with.
Yesterday, we trotted a whole lap in the outdoor and didn't stop once! Yippeee!!! <3
I am just so happy and I think he is too. He has become what Mark Rashid calls a truly soft horse. On the outside and the inside. Of course he has his moments, but don't we all?

"Whole Heart, Whole Horse. Now that really is something." -Walter Pruit (excerpt from Whole Heart, Whole Horse by Mark Rashid)

~Lea & Amazing Eddie~

Romans 5:3-4

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Seven Hundred

2011-09-21T12:55:00.000-05:00

Can it be?
700 blog posts?
I started this blog on September 6th. 2008.
On this day, exactly 3 years ago, Eddie and I were taking a Sunday afternoon off after I gave him a bath.
We sure have come a long way.

Today, Eddie and I rounded up the ponies in the outdoor. He is LOVING that job! He gets to run after them, nibble on em a little bit and once we got them back into the paddocks, we closed the gate (from his back) and rode around in the outdoor for a little bit.

We trotted here and there, worked on some more of our rollbacks and we're still figuring out that back up problem.
I have no clue why it's still a problem... I know it's something I am doing, but I just can't see it. However, I am going to ask some of my friends and see what they say. Maybe they can see something that I'm oblivious to.

Anywhos...
It's a BEAUTIFUL fall day and I'm headed back out to play with Eddie with some groundwork and take the ponies for a walk on the track. Should be fun. :-) When don't I have fun with the horses?!

Hope that you all are enjoying this beautiful day!

~Lea & Eddie~

2 Corinthians 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Let's Go for a Trail Ride!

2011-09-19T19:56:00.000-05:00

Well, sorta...

It was a blustery, chilly, and cloudy day. I walked out to the barn and was greeted by Eddie's big white blaze. I haltered him and led him out through the outdoor to the area behind it. He danced around a little bit and was quite excited to eat all the long grass.
So we just trotted around, I let him graze and then I tried to hop on.
he-he...
Well he wasn't too keen on me riding, so we went for a trail walk instead. He stood great, he just didn't want me to ride. :-) Which is understandable since it was spooky out.
After we went for a walk down the east line, we went back into the outdoor and played around in there for a little bit. I hopped on and we walked a lap in there. He was such a good boy! Very hyper, but still a good boy! <3
Hopefully it won't be so slippery out tomorrow and we can do some more things together. :-) It rained all day yesterday so it was very poor footing out there today. But like I said, hopefully tomorrow will be better.

~Lea & Eddie~

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

What to do?

2011-09-18T07:13:00.000-05:00

Well, as I have been blogging about lately, I was thinking of what Eddie and I should do next.
What do we aim for?
Where are we going?
Because how can we make significant progress when we don't have a goal?

I don't know, maybe I'm being too direct-line.

However, with that being said I was still trying to come up with a... for lack of a better word... a dream.
When I left Parelli, my dream with PNH had dissolved because I knew that was not the way I wanted to go. Now I'm shooting for a new dream.
And I have no idea what it is.
I'm going to pray about, think about it and spend some time with Eddie to see if I get any ideas. Although this is what I have come up with in the last couple of days...

}{ Here it goes }{

wish me luck!

My horsemanship dream is somewhere between the lines of...

~ Being able to walk/trot/canter Eddie in the outdoor easily. We are so close! Can do walk & trot and canter is going to be a piece of cake!
~Going on trail rides with Eddie.
~Being able to do some sort of cutting or ranch work. Now I have no idea how to do that or why I want to do that. Maybe it's just a phase, but when I saw Eddie 'cutting' Scout in the outdoor I know he has it in him.

So, that's it for now. Maybe I'll add more when I think of more. :-)

~Lea & Eddie~

Philippians 2:3-4
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Busy Last Couple of Days

2011-09-17T10:17:00.000-05:00

It sure has been busy lately!
Yesterday I trimmed Jigs in the morning and then in the afternoon it drizzled on and off. I played with Eddie in between rain showers and we had fun! It was so still and quiet out, so we played with long reins out in the pasture and in the track. It was really cool, because he was SO light and soft. :-) He is such a good boy! <3
The day before it was a beautiful day and I played with Eddie and Diesel and I rode Eddie for just a little bit in the outdoor.

Today looks to be gorgeous and I'm going to play with Eddie the next time he comes off of pasture. We'll probably ride too since it is just beautiful out!! <3
Plus, I'm starting to right down a list of things Eddie and I need to work on with our riding. I'll post it as soon as I finish it! :-)

Hope that you all have a wonderful day!!
~Lea & Eddie~

Ephesians 5:1
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

It's FALL!

2011-09-15T11:11:00.001-05:00

Yippee, yahoo, blogger just lost my post...
Here it goes again!

Well, I don't even remember what I said...
Oh yeah!
I LOVE FALL!!!!!!!
It is totally my favorite season!
Eddie and I have just been doing small things and taking a break. Figuring out where we are going and looking back to where we have been. :-) It's fun and I'm getting excited about what we're going to start next.
So yes, my Edward has been frisky and we've just been having lots of fun! Diesel and Scout are frisky too and they have been having a blast running around together.

When I thought of writing this post, this picture came to mind:

I LOVE FALL!!!
Naturally, I'm headed out to enjoy the beautiful weather! <3
Talk to ya'll soon!

~Lea & Eddie~

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Takin A Break

2011-09-13T15:29:00.000-05:00

Seems like all we have been doing lately is ride... Trotting in the outdoor, trotting over the cavaletties, trotting around the corners. Been doing that for about 4-5 days.
I like variety. Eddie likes variety.
It was time to change things up.

Today was just played with the pasture and did 3 laps in the track. It was nice to take a break from riding so we could both soak up all the things that we have learned. Now I do admit that I sat on him while my mom gave him grain, but we didn't work on anything.

This breather will be fun. I'll play with him again tomorrow and then we'll probably go back to riding / playing. We cantered out in the field (which he doesn't really like right now - he gets a little nervous) but I just let him stand until he relaxed and then we did some more lunging-type things out there. Just running around, jumping over things and burning off some of his energy. :-)

So, now I just have to think of what we can work on next in our riding. Taking a step back and doing a little evaluation can sometimes make me see the holes in our relationship and horsemanship.
Hmmm.... Still evaluating... I'll get back to ya on that.

But yeah, it's so nice outside and great to be out with the horses all day. <3

~Lea & Eddie~

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

Yet Another Video!

2011-09-13T15:16:00.001-05:00

2011-09-11T07:38:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.

I remember, this time ten years ago, I was 7 years old and we were sent home from school early. My sister and I were sitting in the family room, and I was wondering why we were sent home early. My dad came home from work because he worked in Chicago. His office was right next to the Sears Tower and they thought that the Sears Tower would be the next target. I remember being scared that if there had been a terrorist attack in Chicago my dad, therefore our family, would have been affected.
Thank God for the men and women who lay down their lives for our country.

Video from my Sister!

2011-09-10T20:48:00.000-05:00

My sister made me a video today!!
I love her so much and she is my best friend!
Thanks for the video, Al!
Here is her blog if you want to check it out!
http://tattingfarmchick.blogspot.com/

Wonderful Ride!

2011-09-10T16:51:00.000-05:00

It was a wonderful day out today! Sunny and just a little hot, but that's ok. :-)
While the horses were out grazing, I hopped on my bike and did a lap in the track. It was fun and even more so because I was listening to The Sound of Sunshine. It's a song that was in Soul Surfer and is just a happy-go-lucky song.
Anywhos...
When it was time for the horses to come in, I brought Eddie into the outdoor, he got a big drink and we rode for about 45 minutes.
We did a lot of things, so I'll only talk about a few of them. We trotted around a few barrels and almost did a whole lap! I'm so proud of him! Then we worked on backing up. Well, we actually didn't... lol! I would ask him to back up and even if he shifted his weight back, I would let go and we would go and do something else. See, he has a bit of a hard time backing up because he gets stuck and I don't know what to do... So I just released on the slightest try and went and did something else. That seemed to help a lot and by the time we were done, he was taking 2-3 steps back without getting stuck. :-) So there's an improvement! Yay!
Eddie and I then jumped over the cavaletties and just had a ton of fun! He really reads my focus now, especially when we're trotting. We kinda have to be in tune.
So yes, it was a fun day and we had a great time riding!
Time to go and feed the horses! :-)

~Lea & Eddie~

Ephesians 3:12
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Blast from the Past!

2011-09-09T15:58:00.002-05:00

Eddie and I, 2 years ago.
Thought that it would be cool to share it with you all. We have come a long way!!

A Horsemanship Journey

Picture Post

In Like a Lion

Lack of News

Picture Post

Scripture Sundays

Cold Wind

Blustery Blizzard

New Video!

Legacy of Legends

No Matter the Weather

A New Lineup

Dress Up

Picture Post

Back to Normal

The Release

Award

A Beautiful Day!

Sole Mates Pads

*whew*

More Snow

Video of Me Sledding off the Roof!

Welcome to the Artic

Hoof Pictures!

Snow Day

A 'Free' Day

Dressage in the Snow

Skijoring!!

Black Forest Treeless Saddles

A Fresh Blanket of Snow

Wisdom from Ray

Sidepasses, Ray & Buck

Happy New Year!

Must! Blog!

What A Wonderful Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Well I'll be....

Photonic Red Light

Christmastime

Pictures From Today

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Mud

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Testing, testing...

Stay Tuned...

The End of a Chapter

We're Back!

Canter, canter, canter!

P.S.

Two More Days!

When it Rains it Pours

Thankfulness (Part 2)

Thankfulness (part 1)

Even Though It Rained

The Amazing Days

"That absolute pure honesty of the horse, man that's just the greatest thing there is... - Buck Brannaman"

Random Christmas-y Pictures!

Much Needed Update

New Video!

Picture of our Property!

An Inspiration

Trimming & Riding

Time to Give Back

Snow!

Fall Pictures

Laminitis

The Hind Feet

The Front Feet

Bound for the South

A Lovely Ride

Riding!

Tug-o-War

Lotsa Cows

Pictures!

Open Wide

Wind + Cold Weather + Combines = Hyper Horses!

I Always Do This...

Blind Driving & Riding

Learning A Bunch!

Lovely Weather!

whew