Down to the last week before our Pasta dinner and Auction. Donations for auction items still coming in. Another sponsor, Mac's Market in Stowe helping out, too! Thank you to the amazing community we live in for all of the donations of items, food and more!
It's a busy week for us getting prepared for this first ever event. We're thoroughly organized thanks to the Derby Dinner committee and volunteers. Hope to see you there!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
When I think about it, I'm really amazed how many people I have met through the Colonial Spanish horses. Not just met, but lasting relationships that have been formed from our common interest.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting a new volunteer. She helped with morning feeding, watering and loading hay. With temps in the low teens it was much more enjoyable for me to share chore time with a like-minded, horse loving person. I feel so fortunate to have met her and to introduce her to the horses. Tomorrow, she'll return and we'll spend some time playing with the horses. Biggest problem I see is that this woman has a full time job so she won't be able to come during the week!
I am also fortunate to have received a call today from a Johnson State College student who wants to get back into horses. She has natural horsemanship experience which is a real bonus for me so I don't have to re-train her. It can be a humbling experience to go from "normal" to "natural". Meaning... conventional methods and habits of handling horses, and making the switch to natural horsemanship philosophy and techniques. Not everyone sees humility as a good thing.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting a new volunteer. She helped with morning feeding, watering and loading hay. With temps in the low teens it was much more enjoyable for me to share chore time with a like-minded, horse loving person. I feel so fortunate to have met her and to introduce her to the horses. Tomorrow, she'll return and we'll spend some time playing with the horses. Biggest problem I see is that this woman has a full time job so she won't be able to come during the week!
I am also fortunate to have received a call today from a Johnson State College student who wants to get back into horses. She has natural horsemanship experience which is a real bonus for me so I don't have to re-train her. It can be a humbling experience to go from "normal" to "natural". Meaning... conventional methods and habits of handling horses, and making the switch to natural horsemanship philosophy and techniques. Not everyone sees humility as a good thing.
Each day I spend with horses, I am humbled by their intelligence and power. And there has been more than a few experiences where I've eaten a bit of humble pie! Like when Morado tossed me off while I was riding him bareback in front of a class of 5th graders! Nothing like keeping me right sized!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A reprive
50 degrees today! What a great day to just brush ponies and hang out with them a bit between catching up on fencing repairs, hauling hay and cleaning up around the barnyard. I could see that many of them laid down and took a nap in the sunshine.
A little over a week away until our Pasta Dinner and Auction. I've got a short radio spot on Monday on WLVB 93.9 to give away two tickets to the event. Hope all you locals will consider coming...and bring a friend or neighbor. You know, it's been a long winter and there's not a better time to get out and see some people!
A little over a week away until our Pasta Dinner and Auction. I've got a short radio spot on Monday on WLVB 93.9 to give away two tickets to the event. Hope all you locals will consider coming...and bring a friend or neighbor. You know, it's been a long winter and there's not a better time to get out and see some people!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Spring?
Nope, not yet. But the 40 degree day was a nice change. Let's continue to hope for more warm weather so we get some serious snow melt to help with the excavation work for the arena.
The horses were running and playing today, enjoying the warmth. I'm noticing that Little Creek is beginning to shed his long guard hairs. He's the first one to begin the process. Thunder, with his exceptionally long and thick coat will be next in line. I'm amazed each winter at how each horse has a different coat. Some are short and thick, others long and soft. The dun horses tend to really change shades, while the grey horses get very light colored. Shy has probably had the most extreme color change. She's showing heavy barring on her neck and withers which I didn't see in the summer. Few of them have the distinct leg barring this time of year but I do look forward to seeing Destiny shed out as she's got some real distinctive dun marking. Her blonde highlights in her mane are to die for!!
Think spring for us please!
The horses were running and playing today, enjoying the warmth. I'm noticing that Little Creek is beginning to shed his long guard hairs. He's the first one to begin the process. Thunder, with his exceptionally long and thick coat will be next in line. I'm amazed each winter at how each horse has a different coat. Some are short and thick, others long and soft. The dun horses tend to really change shades, while the grey horses get very light colored. Shy has probably had the most extreme color change. She's showing heavy barring on her neck and withers which I didn't see in the summer. Few of them have the distinct leg barring this time of year but I do look forward to seeing Destiny shed out as she's got some real distinctive dun marking. Her blonde highlights in her mane are to die for!!
Think spring for us please!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Hittin' the Wall
Last night we had snow squalls and wind that left an almost 4 foot snow drift blocking the driveway to get to the horses. YIKES. Really, it was like a wall of hard and heavy snow. Ended up having the neighboring farmers tractor with a blower attachement over and he fixed me up all good so I could drive in. Walking in wasn't too bad but getting hay tomorrow would have been pretty problematic.
Another wall in my day was learning that our foundation for the new arena/barn will get started next week. A 4' frost wall is being built-that's been some of the hang up getting the building here- and of course the financial piece due to the extraordinary cost of the foundation. With help of our donors and friends, we're going ahead and starting excavation. Yet another leap of faith. So far so good! We still have a ways to go but we're going!
Also hit a wall physically the last few days. My body has probably been giving me some signs recently, but I've shrugged it off. To get my attention I was given a migraine headache on Friday and stomach aches and pains on Saturday and Sunday. A good nights sleep and I should be fine.
Mirror or mirror on the wall,
I will rest after all.
Another wall in my day was learning that our foundation for the new arena/barn will get started next week. A 4' frost wall is being built-that's been some of the hang up getting the building here- and of course the financial piece due to the extraordinary cost of the foundation. With help of our donors and friends, we're going ahead and starting excavation. Yet another leap of faith. So far so good! We still have a ways to go but we're going!
Also hit a wall physically the last few days. My body has probably been giving me some signs recently, but I've shrugged it off. To get my attention I was given a migraine headache on Friday and stomach aches and pains on Saturday and Sunday. A good nights sleep and I should be fine.
Mirror or mirror on the wall,
I will rest after all.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Pasta Dinner and Auction
We've had some great auction items donated and food will be wonderful with homemade sauce, organic beef and sausage. Artisan breads, delicious desserts! Don't miss this carbo-loading experience for all you Stowe Derby athletes out there!
Dancing with Horses Workshop coming up March 18-20 . Check out our website for more information on both of these exciting events!
www.centerforamericasfirsthorse.org
Dancing with Horses Workshop coming up March 18-20 . Check out our website for more information on both of these exciting events!
www.centerforamericasfirsthorse.org
Monday, February 7, 2011
Secretariat
Just finished watching the movie Secretariat.
Wow, did that hit home.
Odd timing too, because today in the mail I received a video cd of us and our horses from the Northeast Equine Expo 2010 held at Belmont Race track. (Thank you Jim and Deirdre O'Malley of Long Island!) There is video footage of Tori riding Oscar on the same track that Secretariat won the last leg of the Triple Crown on!
And as we were watching the bonus features at the end of Secretariat we saw the interview with Jim Gaffney, Secretariats excercise jockey. This is significant because Mr. Gaffney was at the Northeast Equine Expo 2010 in the booth next to us signing autographs and speaking with people about his experiences with Secretariat. (The filming of movie had only recently been finished.)
Mr. Gaffney was on oxygen and in a wheelchair. He told his assistant he was interested in meeting Tori and her Oscar, the other equine star of the Belmont event. At the end of the weekend as we were packing up to leave there was an envelope sitting at our table near Oscars stall with Tori's name on the front. It was an autographed picture of he and Big Red taken back in 1973!
Tori was thrilled to have recieved this, only wishing she had the time to introduce herself before he left. When we got home on Monday, she immediately found his email address and sent him a thank you for the photo. On Tuesday, posted on the Northeast Equine Expo facebook page, we read that Mr. Gaffney had passed away in his home, surrounded by his family. We were saddened. It is possible that the last autograph he ever signed was to Tori and her painted pony.
We were happy to see Mr. Gaffney in his interview in the movie, he was animated and lively, and excited to be talking about the horse that he loved so much. It's a great movie that my whole family could relate to.
Wow, did that hit home.
Odd timing too, because today in the mail I received a video cd of us and our horses from the Northeast Equine Expo 2010 held at Belmont Race track. (Thank you Jim and Deirdre O'Malley of Long Island!) There is video footage of Tori riding Oscar on the same track that Secretariat won the last leg of the Triple Crown on!
And as we were watching the bonus features at the end of Secretariat we saw the interview with Jim Gaffney, Secretariats excercise jockey. This is significant because Mr. Gaffney was at the Northeast Equine Expo 2010 in the booth next to us signing autographs and speaking with people about his experiences with Secretariat. (The filming of movie had only recently been finished.)
Mr. Gaffney was on oxygen and in a wheelchair. He told his assistant he was interested in meeting Tori and her Oscar, the other equine star of the Belmont event. At the end of the weekend as we were packing up to leave there was an envelope sitting at our table near Oscars stall with Tori's name on the front. It was an autographed picture of he and Big Red taken back in 1973!
Tori was thrilled to have recieved this, only wishing she had the time to introduce herself before he left. When we got home on Monday, she immediately found his email address and sent him a thank you for the photo. On Tuesday, posted on the Northeast Equine Expo facebook page, we read that Mr. Gaffney had passed away in his home, surrounded by his family. We were saddened. It is possible that the last autograph he ever signed was to Tori and her painted pony.
We were happy to see Mr. Gaffney in his interview in the movie, he was animated and lively, and excited to be talking about the horse that he loved so much. It's a great movie that my whole family could relate to.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Radio show
Tonight, Feb. 7, at 7 pm EST is a 20 minute radio show about The Center for America's First Horse. Tune in to 104.7 fm. www.pointfm.com for those out of the listening area!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Derby Dinner and Auction
Have I mentioned...
What great food and auction items we have for our Pasta dinner and Auction to benefit The Center? The community has been so supportive in donating goods and services for the auction, and local grocers and eateries have donated much of our pasta dinner fixin's. We'll have it all ready for you on February 26th at the Stowe Community Church. We recommend pre purchasing your tickets NOW! http://centerforamericasfirsthorse.org/upcoming-events.html
And back at the ranch...
The horses have been wintering well, enjoying the sun shine and the mild temps after the big snow. They are at their fuzziest time of year and I won't be sad to see them start to shed off their coats in a few months. I was looking at pictures today of them from the summer--their coats slick and glistening. Really makes me want to jump in the time machine and fast forward to May!
What great food and auction items we have for our Pasta dinner and Auction to benefit The Center? The community has been so supportive in donating goods and services for the auction, and local grocers and eateries have donated much of our pasta dinner fixin's. We'll have it all ready for you on February 26th at the Stowe Community Church. We recommend pre purchasing your tickets NOW! http://centerforamericasfirsthorse.org/upcoming-events.html
And back at the ranch...
The horses have been wintering well, enjoying the sun shine and the mild temps after the big snow. They are at their fuzziest time of year and I won't be sad to see them start to shed off their coats in a few months. I was looking at pictures today of them from the summer--their coats slick and glistening. Really makes me want to jump in the time machine and fast forward to May!
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