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The Prophet Returns

Thursday, 4. March 2010 9:36

Mar 5, 2010

Well I skipped last Thursday’s Thankful Thursday.  The day just got away from me.  By the time I got around to thinking on gratitude I was drained and brain dead.  I just  thought for a few moments on all the things I had to be grateful for and hit the sack feeling bountiful.

Today, I’m feeling pretty drained again but do not have any jobs to do. A day off!  Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!!  Ha!  Like I don’t get enough days off…   I just seem to need this day to recoup. Thursday has become my Sunday. The day I reflect, and express, and rest, and heal.

Those of you who follow me on twitter and facebook already know that Celt’s Prophecy will be coming home.

Celt’s Prohecy (Pro) at 1 year in Arizona

Not sure when this will take place, but its definite.   Lots of details to work out but I am anxious. I must say after having to leave him behind and struggling through his mothers disease and death, after trying to leave it all behind, I am so thankful that Pro is coming home. I guess I made my own destiny when I started some 11 years ago to produce this colt. I thought I was working on the future of the Spanish Mustang breed. Seems though I was working on my future with one special horse. Instead of improving the breed, Pro has served to improve who I am and who I will become.

Short synopsis:

I bred quality Spanish Mustangs, individuals that many people admired. I saw a decline in a certain type and quality with in the breed and set out to do something about it. In the process and due to decisions I lost all but one of  my founding stock. A mare named Celt’s Kindlewood.

(Celt’s Kindlewood 3 months before being put down due to DSLD/ESPA complications)

She actually belonged to my daughter Heather and I  watch sentinel over the mare. Having done all the right things, allowing her to mature to 5 years before riding her, training her slowly over her entire lifetime, became one with her, giving her the best care. finding the right stallion to breed her to and acquiring him having negotiated for two years on related stock and waiting for his arrival for an additional year.  All very carefully executed. Having done all the right things its comes down to a colt who was to carry the torch.  Celt’s Prophecy – not the end result but the beginning of the future. A colt who will be gelded and become a backyard buddy. Why you ask?  Because after all that, Kindlewood came down with DSLD/ESPA, a degenerative systemic disease believed to be inherited.   DSLD/ESPA (video of the diesese) sometimes never raises its ugly head, or not until a horse is aged. However, sometimes it takes young horses by surprise. It took Kindlewood at age eight.  All my plans went out the window because I cannot allow my horses to pass this horrible painful disease into the breed.  I’m convinced that the breed already has its share of the disease floating through its DNA as does most all modern breeds and there is no way to test for it at this time to be sure.  It’s just safer to geld Pro, hope that he stays sound, and hope that others who discover the disease in their bloodlines will do the same with their breeding stock.

Kindlewood died Halloween of 2008 as an eight your old  mother of  the future.  Irony,  “Future”,  my greyhound died two weeks later.

Kathy Freymiller of Kickapoo Center Farm graciously took Pro from me to help me out.  I just was not able to bring him to Colorado with me. I had exhausted my resources trying to save his mother and was now in debt over my head. I thought Pro was gone for certain and my horse days were gone with him.  Then…

I get an email from Kathy, and my life has taken another turn. Just like that! Snap your fingers Pro comes home and things are different than they ever would have been.

Reborn…I seem to be reborn every few months lately.  Horses are back… but this time in a very different way. More like it was when I was a child with Chiefy, my gelding companion while I was growing up.  Pro and I will explore life’s gifts together. I get a second chance to  grow up. Only this time I have the wisdom to not “quite” grow up…

My old best friend Asad, during my grown up days, and his grandson Prophecy my new childhood cohort.  I promise we will be into all kinds of mischief. I promise not to grow up.

My senses are completely overwhelmed with gratitude.  I have been so humbled, I am so humble. Thank you from the very depths of my soul!

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Category:Featured, Horsey Stuff, Spanish Mustangs, Thankful Thursday | Comments (1) | Author: admin

2010 Skijoring in Silverton, Colorado

Saturday, 6. February 2010 14:14

I promised hot cowboys, fast horses, and top notch ski talent in this post well here you go…

I want to take him home.

Warming up for the races while the morning snow falls.

More warm ups…  right in front of the Stellar Bakery and Pizzeria

On looker Mike G. one of our towns acclaimed musicians. He’ll be playing at the Velvet Lounge (in the Villa Dallavalle) tonight. You should drop in and put in a request for some Buddy Holly.

Happy mom’s pulling happier children in toboggans.

The races are on!  The horses seemed to love the run too!

And I mean they ran!  This was one very VERY fast horse!

Setting up for the last jump!

Pam (on right) and her good friend Diane watch as a team rushes by! Pam is my friend who runs the  Villa Dallavalle Bed and Breakfast and Velvet Lounge.  For you Twitter folks you can find Pam and the Villa Dallavalle B&B at ( @VillaDallvalle ).

Our handsome cowboy and his steed streaking up Blair Street while skier literally  flies through the air right in front of the VillaDallavalle Bed and Breakfast.

And another competitor puts in his bid on the last jump.

One of  Heathers best friends, Audry came to town to watch the event.

And Audry’s husband Kyle, one of our volunteer Fire Fighters!

End of the day, another handsome cowboy cooling down his horses right along Green Street!

And in case you didn’t get enough of that handsome cowboy dude in the beginning of the  post…

Sigh…..

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Category:Horsey Stuff, Silverton Colorado | Comments (11) | Author: admin

FRESCO – Someone I Once Knew.

Wednesday, 3. February 2010 14:02

This is how I will always remember him… tough, reliant, stubborn, overly friendly, curious  and TRUE!

Not sure how to go about this post. It is about a horse I use to know.  Do I write it as a Thankful Thursday? Tomorrow is Thursday and timing is right. The horse, the people, the time in my life I am very thankful for – oh I can see right now this is going to be an emotional experience. Part of me wants to write this post in the light of gratitude and maybe I should.  The purpose though  is to help this horse find a new home.

Be warned – this is an advertisement.

It started back in 1995 when I conducted a series of fun shows and judged them for clients who were trying to learn certain elements of horsemanship. One of the participants, a guest, owned this 4 year old Paso Fino gelding who had a very certain spoiled and dominant attitude. Stubborn, belligerent, pushy, alpha all describe Fresco. Maybe 14.0 hands, bay uncomely, poorly conformed, and friendly to a fault, Fresco was all his owner could manage. My first real hands-on experience with Fresco was while helping to load him in the trailer after one of these fun shows.  It was quite the battle of wills. Using a method of freedom forward allowing movement forward and the relief point was in the trailer, Fresco figured out putting his head and front  inside the trailer would get him relief, and to avoid going further into the trailer he would aim his back toe at my feet – stomping with the toe of his hoof.  Each time got him a few circles then forward movement back until into the trailer he went – half way.  At one point he stomped his back inside toe at my foot while traveling in one of these circles.  Aiming well  he nearly severed my toe from my foot. No matter how much blood poured from my shoe I stayed with the loading until Fresco finely gave in and took a ride home in the trailer.

That was Fresco’s and my first real introduction, one that would catapult us into a powerful partnership for years to come.

Fresco’s owners at that time realized that he was over their heads (their first horse) and asked if I would come out to their place and train them together with their unruly very green Paso Fino gelding. During the next three years Fresco and I worked together or against one another until we found a common respect and regard for one another. In fact Fresco became my horse of choice for my clinics, and seminars, and especially for any rough back country trail rides that required a truly gifted horse. His owners were so proud of him that they made him available to me anytime I needed a truly good horse for demos and rides.

Fresco approximately 10 years of age waiting patiently while I explain a positioning for a certain execution.

Fresco and I became so connected that he would follow  me into the outhouse at he stable where he was boarded. Yep  door wide open me sitting there hoping no passersby would come along with half a horse standing  in the outhouse with me.  Was one of the favorite stories circulating around the barn and the horse wherever he went.  Before he began following me into the outhouse there was a wildfire that threatened the stable and all the horses were being evacuated. Fresco of course would not load.  Every measure of force was used. I was on the other side of town – a good 2 hours away and it was something like 2 am.  Finally the owner resorted to leading him down the road two miles and keeping him in a Priests back yard.  Another story that followed Fresco around most of his life, one that spurred me on to change all approaches to loading him into a trailer to one of him following me without fear or question. He liked the approach and trusted my judgment to the point of not only loading in trailers, but following me into some very difficult and questionable circumstances.. not mention outhouses.

Fresco age 5, with my daughter up albeit she was not considering her equitation, but I can tell you this that only a cue later they were running roll-backs and sliding stops while auditors watched. Heather use to ride Fresco for me  often at clinics and demos)

Out on the trails Fresco earned my admiration by announcing the  presence of mountain lions pointing them out so perfectly I could actually find them hiding in trees or ridges  near us. I always new when something was a rye when riding Fresco and I always listened to him – he never lied, never tried to use this talent to turn and run home or shy from things.  He was a mountain goat and loved nothing better than flying up a steep cactus ridden rocky, shale or slide rock inclines to stop at the top long enough to blow out his nostrils a loud snort with his tail flying over his back.  To this day at age 19, you point Fresco up a mountainside and you’re going riding – a thrill of a life time!

After a few years Fresco came to live with me for a few months while he was being sold. His new owners continued with me as their trainer which took Fresco back over already familiar territory in our partnership process. He went from student learning the process to partner helping to teach the process. He loved it! He was always one step ahead of me, knowing what was coming next and how he had to perform for it to work. One thing about this horse that stood out and was  rare, was  rather than having an attention span of maybe 15 minutes to 20 minutes, Fresco possessed an amazing 1 hour long highly concentrated attention span. At clinics he would stand or perform for a  defined hour with total attention on me. which meant I could leave him in the middle of an arena on his own, while working with auditors. and would perform examples on his own while at long distances from me.

Fresco was about 8 years old here and this was the year we discovered he had cushings It was mid summer Arizona and he had not shed out

Fresco’s new owners remained with me for another three years and also allowed Fresco to  be my partner in crime for demos, seminars, back country trail rides etc.

One such ride was the Ultimate Trail Horse back country training ride that I held for certain students. If memory serves me right we had five horses on this ride. Fresco was ridden by his owner. I was on another students horse, an Arab named Patriot, and Fresco’s owners spouse was on a fairly green Paso Fino named Joselito.

Joselito many years later with a visiting family member riding him on a family vacation. Joselito is another great family and trail Paso Fino gelding.

Other horses along for the ride were an American Mustang mare named Bonnie, and truth be known I cant remember  the rest of them. A cool ride and story:

Along the ride, I remember green Joselito losing his wits on a cliff-side trail backing towards the ledge.  Riding Patriot who was also a very good partner, we interceded between ledge and Joselito’s rump basically pushing him back toward the wall side of the trail.  Another good equine partner story would be one of Patriot. An hour or so later had us at a  bottleneck in the trail with  3-4 foot high boulders on both sides for a short winding uphill stretch. Unless a horse had very good footing he should never be ridden through there, but then we were on a terrain training ride and so I got off of Patriot gave him to someone to hold, playing musical horses. I rode Fresco up through the boulder to show how it should be done then returned and had each rider dismount and lead their horse through. At one point Fresco was led through by his owner and losing footing she let go of Fresco’s reins. You gotta love this horse!! He jumped up onto a ledge to avoid losing his own footing (saving her from being injured) and stood there waiting for me to get up there to help her out, at which point I sent him back down through the boulders unattended, where he stood on his own while all the other horse and rider teams traversed the rocky difficult terrain. This is another story that stayed with Fresco most of his life.

I’ll never forget Fresco, in all the horses I’ve known in my life-time I’ve never met one who came close to this plain little gelding.

As quoted by his owner, Bob Kramer: “Susan, I will deliver Fresco to your corral.” “…the toughest horse in Arizona but he does not like mounted shooters or garbage trucks.

Referencing Bob’s quote, Fresco didn’t like water either, but got over it.  Not sure where the problem came from with garbage trucks – we use to chase them down the streets. Maybe he needs to be reminded that they run from fiery pushy stubborn, overly friendly alpha Paso Fino geldings.

Fresco was diagnosed with cushings disease years ago, he can be a homely little guy at certain times of the year, but he is a vital, solid partner who ignores his life issues and takes care of his rider as long as that rider has a handle on how to ride.  Fresco goes riding, not plugging. A very smooth traveling Paso Fino with a good trail corto, a thrilling largo, a solid ground covering walk, and smooth enjoyable canter.  He side passes, goes through gates, water, pivots/spins, slide stops and more on command. It’s certain he is rusty, but I guarantee with the right partner he’ll give it his all to perform.

Fresco and his buddy Joselito are  For Sale.

This blog post is just for Fresco although I am  grateful for having known him and his owners, this post will remain his own tribute. Thankful Thursday will come tomorrow.

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Mojo Horse

Thursday, 21. January 2010 20:58

One of my blog readers commented on the Trotting Horse Races Under Saddle post. MyShiloRanch described how when riding  a certain toy horse that you’d post up and down to make its legs move in and out then shared a link to an example.

I couldn’t resist.

From: Country Living Antiques

The Mojo brand of horse was produced in England from the 1950s through the ’70s. Mojo became popular in the United States because Americans wanted to replace wooden rocking horses with examples made of lithographed tin. These toys were inexpensively produced, which made them an affordable riding toy for the masses. Collectors prefer wooden examples.

Valued at: $200

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A Master – An Opportunity To Learn

Monday, 18. January 2010 12:00

I probably should be out walking, or doing something rather more productive than posting a blog today.  But something just happened that could very possibly change my life forever.

On a whim I decided to visit a website of a Master of Horsemanship who entertains only a small group of people. Those who share a similar philosophy.  He doesn’t make himself available to the general public. You have to earn his trust just as you have to earn the trust of horse.

When I wrote my email of application to join his online forum based school, I figured  that I would be flat turned down.  I share his philosophy, but have trained in traditional styles most of my life.  However, I have been going through a life long change of application and personal relationship with horses.

The experience involved with the process of living with Spanish Mustangs (particularly the ones I lived with), and working with wild BLM mustangs (American Mustangs) changed me forever and basically ruined me for traditional horsemanship of, I think, every kind out there.  I don’t care if I ever ride a horse again.  Of course I would like to ride I love riding, but when it comes to my relationship with my horse, I really don’t care. I don’t want a horse for riding – that’s the point. If I ever get another horse he/she will be a companion, friend, co student.

I WANT TO SEE  WHERE OUR RELATIONSHIP CAN GO AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, NOT WHAT MY HORSE CAN DO FOR ME OR FOR HIS BREED – I WANT TO GROW WITH MY HORSE AND WITHIN MYSELF.

I truly have been changed where horses are concerned. Horses like Asad

and Kindlewood

changed me for life.  They were friends and we sometimes went riding together. I was never alone or needed human companionship when either of them and I were together.  They new things about me no one will ever know or understand. I believe it was same in return.  Looking into their eyes there was equality between us.  I became over protective.  That became my personal down fall. I thought I could protect them. I believed it – too much ego involved there.  We all fell.

With all that aside, I know my days with horses are not over.  I’m not sure I’ll own a horse again. (OWN) Yeah okay – I’m not sure I will share that intimate life long experience with one certain horse ever again. Then again maybe I will.  That part of my life is up in the air.  I can tell you this…

…if i travel down this road with this Master I will not be involved with exploiting horses for any reason or for anyone ever again.

I am honored to be accepted into the online forum school of  Nevzorov Haute Ecole – the school of  learning from the Horse Kingdom.

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Category:Horsey Stuff, Spanish Mustangs, Walking The Red Road | Comments (6) | Author: admin

Mustangs… STOP THE SLAUGHTER

Tuesday, 12. January 2010 10:55

Something from me…  where the wild horse issues are concerned the answer is not slaughter.  Not mass slaughter for certain. Ethical behavior is the answer.  Not every horse will live out his life as in every other species including mankind, someone will parish.  Mass murder of a species is not the answer to government issues, wild life issues, grazing and rancher issues, pipeline for a greener America issues.  Creating a sustainable environment that addresses those issues and the habitats of wild horses is the answer.  When we elected our President  and Representatives and Senators to lead America toward a greener world, we did not elect him or them to murder our horses to do it.

The “Government” does not own those horses.  We “THE PEOPLE” of America do not own those horses, “MOTHER EARTH” owns them.  They are her children.  Stop killing the children!

AHO

“WILD HORSES” – by: Mike “Hawk” Huston (excerpt from Bulls and Beavers)

Captain Smith slows his tired gelding to a stop. Every man and horse in his regiment is either tired or nearly broken. For the life of him, he cannot figure how the savages and their wild horses can consistently outrun and outmaneuver his highly trained and conditioned men and military stock. For ten years, he has chased, tracked, and pursued the savages, and never once has he caught a lone warrior… even on open ground. Maybe instead of shooting the Indian ponies at every opportunity the army should consider commissioning the wild stock and using them for troop movement. Never! He and his regiment would be the laughing stock of the western army…

A modern victim of wild horse slaughter as seen Straight From The Horses Heart:

Mike Hawk Huston continues…

Today, the wild mustang is still wild and free upon the western plains and mountains; but who can say for how much longer. Their habitat is under attack by those wishing to use the land to graze cattle, sheep, as well as those hoping to open the wild horse habitat for oil exploration. Often times the majestic wild mustang is viewed as vermin by those wishing to profit from their home range. I do not begrudge the rancher for needing graze for their cattle, nor the oilfields for drilling American oil. The media would like everyone to believe that the horses are in need of a drastic decrease because of overpopulation. The truth is, their home range is being taken away so quickly and loss of food sources on crucial winter range to overgrazing is causing the wild mustang to have to fight for survival within their own designated habitat…

(The entire story can be found at Bulls and Beavers)

Livelihoods at stake…

Toas Art School – Wild Horse Photography

Now for some more FANTASTIC (these are must see) images of wild horses by another Photographer check out the link Naturescapes – Wild Mustangs of the Rockies

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Category:Horsey Stuff, Walking The Red Road | Comments (1) | Author: admin

Trotting Horse Races Under Saddle

Monday, 4. January 2010 17:30

Something fun from Global Horse Culture… check this out!


Prix du Cornulier 2006
by lucskyturf

Is that cool or what!!  I was sure, as I watched the posting jockey throughout the race, that he was severely hindering his horse. But watch what happens!  WOW – I’d be standing in my stirrups too!

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