Thursday, March 31, 2011
The little things in life
Sometimes it's not the biggy events that make my day, or leave me feeling accomplished and satisfied with my work. Successes can be measured in so many different ways. For example, I was looking at yesterday's accomplishments before I fell asleep and was thrilled of my find on Craigslist in the FREE section! Funny I thought, that here our long anticipated indoor arena arrived on two semi's and I'm all excited about a futon to put in my office. Not to undermine all the work that has been done by so many people to just get the arena here, but it still isn't tangible goods yet to me. On the other hand, this gently used futon and frame with a sun bleached cover is in the office, ready to sit on. There is security in knowing that in a horse health emergency, if I needed to sleep at The Center I could, and quite comfortably now, I will add. I have a little heater, all my paperwork in one place, awards, certificates and ribbons hanging on the wall. My little sanctuary. Once the arena goes up, which they tell me will start in a weeks time, there will also be security in knowing that income to The Center will be flowing again. Regardless of weather, lessons will be held, the horses will have plenty of shelter, event's can be planned, horses can come for training. Those are big things that can make a big difference and that's good.
Monday, March 28, 2011
It does seem like everything happens at once. I received a phone call tonight that the arena is going to be here Tuesday, and delivered Wednesday morning at 8:30. I had to give the truckers directions and tell them they CANNOT park two semi's on the side of Clay Hill Road overnight! The Northgate Plaza parking lot was my suggestion. These guys have no idea where they are headed...not only mud season and ruts and frost heaves the size of Volkswagons, (I didn't mention that part to them) but Mapquest directions that sometimes make no sense in Vermont. So the excavator showed up today to drain the water from the trench the foundation sits in. It never got backfilled because of the big daddy of a storm we got a few weeks ago. Now have to play catch up. So as the anticipation, ooops, I mean anxiety builds with the arrival of the arena, reality hits me square in the forehead and I get cold feet. Thank goodness I have an amazing board of directors who keep me focused and organized. And do a little hand holding when I need it! "The Caboose" has undergone an interior face lift. It really isn't a train caboose, we just call this 8'x26' construction trailer that because it's painted red and is on wheels. Johnson State College students volunteered 6 hours of time on Friday and we painted and spruced it up. Today I moved in a desk, an unwanted recliner, and tomorrow pick up a free futon I saw on Craigslist. Now there will be a place at The Center for me to rest my weary head on days when I'm feeling overwhelmed! Our summer schedule has been approved by the board so the announcement is coming out in our Latest Scoop newsletter in a day or two. Lots of good updates and news, too!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Summer 2011
Is this the winter that will never end? It's just not right. Snow squalls today, it's only in the 20's. Frozen water buckets? ugh. Why, why, why?
Looking ahead to warmer days, our summer schedule is real close to being announced. Thought I'd give my blog followers a sneek peek! Dates subject to change.Descriptions to follow in a few days.
May 21 - I'll be teaching a clinic for green/young/untrained horses and their people.
June 18-10 Problem horse clinic
June 27- July 1, July 11-15, July 25-29, August 8-12 Kids natural horsemanship day program
July 15-17 and August 19-21 "Woman's horsey weekend getaway!"
And in between all of those dates I'll be taking in horses for training, traveling to students out of town, attending public venues with the horses, giving tours, and enjoying all that we have to offer at The Center.
Please join us!
Looking ahead to warmer days, our summer schedule is real close to being announced. Thought I'd give my blog followers a sneek peek! Dates subject to change.Descriptions to follow in a few days.
May 21 - I'll be teaching a clinic for green/young/untrained horses and their people.
June 18-10 Problem horse clinic
June 27- July 1, July 11-15, July 25-29, August 8-12 Kids natural horsemanship day program
July 15-17 and August 19-21 "Woman's horsey weekend getaway!"
And in between all of those dates I'll be taking in horses for training, traveling to students out of town, attending public venues with the horses, giving tours, and enjoying all that we have to offer at The Center.
Please join us!
Friday, March 25, 2011
If you read the comment by Farmrust on the blog Pony dreams, Sharon is right. Simple words written 7 years ago by Eliza, our youngest daughter, changed our lives. But without Jen, Sharon's then 16 year old daughter, none of this would have happened either.
Many of you reading this probably know the story. And for those who don't, here's a real short version...It was Jen who won Adelantado in the Horse of the America's Registry raffle drawing. She gifted him to Eliza after learning about a little girl in Vermont who donated her birthday money to the HOA registry. Jen was determined that Eliza would win the colt somehow. She even sold raffle tickets to her friends at school in Eliza's name. Back in Vermont, we knew nothing about this. We didn't know much about Colonial Spanish horses at that time, nor did we know \ the Jackson family from Missouri. Or how our lives were about to change.
So now, fast forward 7 years and not only is Adelantado with us, but a whole diverse group which total 15 Colonial Spanish horses. The Center has been established, we've travelled thousands of miles promoting the breed, and on and on and on. visit our website to see the on and on and on!!!
We had the opportunity to meet the Jackson family at their home in 2008, on our way out to New Mexico. It was a reunion of sorts, as we had continued to correspond with Jen and her family after Adelantado arrived in Vermont.
The story still gives me goosebumps when I share it. And yes, sometimes my eyes still well up with tears. There is a whole other element to the story on the night Sharon called us, but I'll save that for another time.
Eliza is 14 now, her pony will be nine years old April 22. Jen is probably 23. And I feel like the last 7 years has been a whirlwind. On those days when I'm overwhelmed with the horses and all that is infront of us, I look at Adelantado and jokingly tell him this is all his fault! He smiles back at me and continues to eat his hay!
Many of you reading this probably know the story. And for those who don't, here's a real short version...It was Jen who won Adelantado in the Horse of the America's Registry raffle drawing. She gifted him to Eliza after learning about a little girl in Vermont who donated her birthday money to the HOA registry. Jen was determined that Eliza would win the colt somehow. She even sold raffle tickets to her friends at school in Eliza's name. Back in Vermont, we knew nothing about this. We didn't know much about Colonial Spanish horses at that time, nor did we know \ the Jackson family from Missouri. Or how our lives were about to change.
So now, fast forward 7 years and not only is Adelantado with us, but a whole diverse group which total 15 Colonial Spanish horses. The Center has been established, we've travelled thousands of miles promoting the breed, and on and on and on. visit our website to see the on and on and on!!!
We had the opportunity to meet the Jackson family at their home in 2008, on our way out to New Mexico. It was a reunion of sorts, as we had continued to correspond with Jen and her family after Adelantado arrived in Vermont.
The story still gives me goosebumps when I share it. And yes, sometimes my eyes still well up with tears. There is a whole other element to the story on the night Sharon called us, but I'll save that for another time.
Eliza is 14 now, her pony will be nine years old April 22. Jen is probably 23. And I feel like the last 7 years has been a whirlwind. On those days when I'm overwhelmed with the horses and all that is infront of us, I look at Adelantado and jokingly tell him this is all his fault! He smiles back at me and continues to eat his hay!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Pony dreams
When the Native American's saw their first horse they called him Sunka Wakan--Spirit Dog. Many people that own Spanish Mustangs, or Colonial Spanish horses say they are dog- like in character. They are loyal, trustworthy, and often choose their partner to bond with.
It was a quiet and sunny afternoon at The Center. The horses had finished their breakfast and were milling about, picking up scraps of hay off the snow covered ground. I walked into their pasture to give everyone a little scratch. Then I had the idea to do a little experiment.
I wondered how long it would take for me to stand amongst the horses until they laid down and napped in the warm sun. I had a few hours before I had to leave so I had time to wait. There have been a number of experiences over the years owning these horses where I've been honored to stand guard for the herd while they stretch out and sleep. At first, it seemed like a coincendence, but the longer I studied horse behavior I realized that these weren't coincidences at all.
There are 7 horses that share a pasture. 3 of them were standing with locked knees and eyes shut. Their heads hung low to the ground. I knew they were out cold already. The other four were wandering around. I stood near Morado, facing the direction the others were standing, and cocked my foot and hung my head. I waited. I waited. I waited about 5 minutes then saw a herd of seven deer wander out of the woods a few hundred feet from the pasture. Minko was the only one that noticed them-or cared. He watched them without concern as they hopped the fence and walked through the pasture, and up and over the fence to get out. The last little deer tried to walk through the fence, got caught, then backed up and jumped over it-then caught up to his friends.
When that spectacle was over I lowered my head again. Morado folded his front legs and went down. Lower lip resting in the snow, he fell asleep immediately. He started twitching and made little nickering noises as he slept. He wagged his tail, his hooves wiggled, and his ears moved back and forth. He was dreaming of green pastures I guess.
A few minutes later Adelantado walked over and stood next to me. Then he folded at the knees and laid down . I had to step out of his way or he would have laid on my foot. Once he was settled into snooze mode, Ringo, who had been practically swaying in the breeze while asleep on all four, came next to Adelantado and laid down. My experiment was working and it didn't take as long as I thought. Next down was Minko, much to my suprise since he's at the bottom of the food chain. He laid next to Adelantado. (Not a good idea.)
I walked over and scratched Adelantado as he slept. He was flat out by now- and I got to check the bottom of his hooves while he slept. I slowly walked toward the gate to leave and Morado got up. He woke up Adelantado who noticed Minko right next to him and that made him angry so he leapt up and bit Minko. Talk about waking up on the wrong side of the corral! Ringo got up, and Oscar took his place. Good ol' Oscar, does his own thing in his own time.
I was pleased to see that after such a long winter of what felt like no bonding time with the horses, they still trusted me enough to watch over them. It is a privelege to be owned by them.
It was a quiet and sunny afternoon at The Center. The horses had finished their breakfast and were milling about, picking up scraps of hay off the snow covered ground. I walked into their pasture to give everyone a little scratch. Then I had the idea to do a little experiment.
I wondered how long it would take for me to stand amongst the horses until they laid down and napped in the warm sun. I had a few hours before I had to leave so I had time to wait. There have been a number of experiences over the years owning these horses where I've been honored to stand guard for the herd while they stretch out and sleep. At first, it seemed like a coincendence, but the longer I studied horse behavior I realized that these weren't coincidences at all.
There are 7 horses that share a pasture. 3 of them were standing with locked knees and eyes shut. Their heads hung low to the ground. I knew they were out cold already. The other four were wandering around. I stood near Morado, facing the direction the others were standing, and cocked my foot and hung my head. I waited. I waited. I waited about 5 minutes then saw a herd of seven deer wander out of the woods a few hundred feet from the pasture. Minko was the only one that noticed them-or cared. He watched them without concern as they hopped the fence and walked through the pasture, and up and over the fence to get out. The last little deer tried to walk through the fence, got caught, then backed up and jumped over it-then caught up to his friends.
When that spectacle was over I lowered my head again. Morado folded his front legs and went down. Lower lip resting in the snow, he fell asleep immediately. He started twitching and made little nickering noises as he slept. He wagged his tail, his hooves wiggled, and his ears moved back and forth. He was dreaming of green pastures I guess.
A few minutes later Adelantado walked over and stood next to me. Then he folded at the knees and laid down . I had to step out of his way or he would have laid on my foot. Once he was settled into snooze mode, Ringo, who had been practically swaying in the breeze while asleep on all four, came next to Adelantado and laid down. My experiment was working and it didn't take as long as I thought. Next down was Minko, much to my suprise since he's at the bottom of the food chain. He laid next to Adelantado. (Not a good idea.)
I walked over and scratched Adelantado as he slept. He was flat out by now- and I got to check the bottom of his hooves while he slept. I slowly walked toward the gate to leave and Morado got up. He woke up Adelantado who noticed Minko right next to him and that made him angry so he leapt up and bit Minko. Talk about waking up on the wrong side of the corral! Ringo got up, and Oscar took his place. Good ol' Oscar, does his own thing in his own time.
I was pleased to see that after such a long winter of what felt like no bonding time with the horses, they still trusted me enough to watch over them. It is a privelege to be owned by them.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Dancing with Horses
Friday, Dancing with Horses workshop takes place. It's been many months in planning and interesting how it all works out in the end. Like so many other things, it takes some turns and a few speed bumps along the way, but here we are and Friday is just basically tomorrow.
JoAnna Mendl Shaw and I have been on the phone talking about how we plan to co-teach portions of the workshop. She has just returned from Parelli -land in Florida, teaching a course with their instructors and students. I'm anxious to share my horses with her and our workshop participants.
Because, as most of you have heard, our arena still isn't up yet, so we will be taking 4 horses to an indoor arena in Waterbury Center for the weekend. It will be the first time Morado, Thunder, Adelantado and Maya have had any kind of real handling since bad weather hit back in November. They are all seasoned horses, and after they get a chance to get their sillies out in the arena for a few minutes, I'm sure they'll settle right into it and enjoy the human interaction. They will be stalled more than they are used to and I'm curious as to whether they will enjoy the lazy life, or be climbing the walls after a day? It's good for them to learn to be adaptable.
It's going to be a busy and long weekend, and grateful to have friends helping out with the logistics. As long as I can get my trailer dug out from the winters worth of snow...I should make it! That's tomorrows project!
Hope to have enough energy after each workshop day to post about our experiences! Learn more about JoAnna at www.dancingwithhorses.org
JoAnna Mendl Shaw and I have been on the phone talking about how we plan to co-teach portions of the workshop. She has just returned from Parelli -land in Florida, teaching a course with their instructors and students. I'm anxious to share my horses with her and our workshop participants.
Because, as most of you have heard, our arena still isn't up yet, so we will be taking 4 horses to an indoor arena in Waterbury Center for the weekend. It will be the first time Morado, Thunder, Adelantado and Maya have had any kind of real handling since bad weather hit back in November. They are all seasoned horses, and after they get a chance to get their sillies out in the arena for a few minutes, I'm sure they'll settle right into it and enjoy the human interaction. They will be stalled more than they are used to and I'm curious as to whether they will enjoy the lazy life, or be climbing the walls after a day? It's good for them to learn to be adaptable.
It's going to be a busy and long weekend, and grateful to have friends helping out with the logistics. As long as I can get my trailer dug out from the winters worth of snow...I should make it! That's tomorrows project!
Hope to have enough energy after each workshop day to post about our experiences! Learn more about JoAnna at www.dancingwithhorses.org
Friday, March 11, 2011
Bucks for Bales!
Dear Friends,
Join us each Friday for "Bucks for Bales" as we offer great gifts, items and services to you at Big Savings! 100% of the proceeds from each item goes directly to purchase hay for the horses at The Center for America's First Horse. www.centerforamericasfirsthorse.org
Let's start "Bucks for Bales" with
Smugglers Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont has kindly donated TWO full day 2010-2011 lift tickets to benefit The Center for America's First Horse, Inc.!!! Retail value is $128 but we are making these tickets available to YOU for $100 or best offer!!
Don't ski, ride, or live in the area? Make a $100 donation and The Center will donate the tickets to two under privileged children in our community. People helping people!
We accept credit cards, Paypal, check or CASH!
E-Mail us at
info@centerforamericasfirsthorse.org
Epic Conditions
This week's storms brought about 3 feet of fresh snow to our area! Help The Center by going skiing or riding at Smuggler's Notch, Vermont. 3 mountains on 188 acres, covered in packed powder are just a few miles from The Center for America's First Horse, Inc. Save Money & Help The Center!
Our price: $100 or best offer
Resort Price: $128
S & H: Free
Valid 3/15/2011 to end of 2010-2011 season.
No cash value.
Join us each Friday for "Bucks for Bales" as we offer great gifts, items and services to you at Big Savings! 100% of the proceeds from each item goes directly to purchase hay for the horses at The Center for America's First Horse. www.centerforamericasfirsthorse.org
Let's start "Bucks for Bales" with
lift tickets to Smugglers Notch Resort!
Smugglers Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont has kindly donated TWO full day 2010-2011 lift tickets to benefit The Center for America's First Horse, Inc.!!! Retail value is $128 but we are making these tickets available to YOU for $100 or best offer!!
Don't ski, ride, or live in the area? Make a $100 donation and The Center will donate the tickets to two under privileged children in our community. People helping people!
We accept credit cards, Paypal, check or CASH!
E-Mail us at
info@centerforamericasfirsthorse.org
Epic Conditions
This week's storms brought about 3 feet of fresh snow to our area! Help The Center by going skiing or riding at Smuggler's Notch, Vermont. 3 mountains on 188 acres, covered in packed powder are just a few miles from The Center for America's First Horse, Inc. Save Money & Help The Center!
Our price: $100 or best offer
Resort Price: $128
S & H: Free
Valid 3/15/2011 to end of 2010-2011 season.
No cash value.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Lift tickets to Smuggs!
A pair of lift tickets to Smugglers Notch for $100 or best offer! All proceeds to benefit The Center. With some great skiing ahead this is a chance to save yourself some money! Contact me at 802-730-5400. Will accept credit cards, Paypal and Cash! Please post on your social media networking sites! Thanks for helping spread the word!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Egads! snow again.
It's that time of year when most of us around the region are getting pretty tired of the same old dog chow. Forecast for tonight says about 12 inches of wet snow. Not good timing for me. My apologies to my skier friends who thrive on an abundance of snow but...I'VE JUST ABOUT HAD IT!
The foundation for the arena was finished on Saturday. It now sits there collecting water and snow. Driveway is a skating rink. Well, it's a skating rink with enough snow to cover it that you can't SEE the skating rink. That makes for interesting driving and walking to say the least. I did end up nearly stuck in my own driveway this morning due to the invisible cloak the ice was wearing. (I just finished watching a Harry Potter movie! I'm not a Potter head, but it takes my mind off of things like arenas, foundations, ice, wet and cold horses, needing to get hay Monday morning in this mess, etc.)
I am turning off the outside light on my porch so I can't see the snow falling. Out of sight-out of mind. I guess I am in denial that in the morning, I'm trudging this happy road to destiny again. :)
To Jo, The Centers marketing and PR guru, have a wonderful trip to Hawaii tomorrow-that is if your flight isn't cancelled. Hello and a hug to Jamie for me! We'll miss you Jo and see you when you get back!
The foundation for the arena was finished on Saturday. It now sits there collecting water and snow. Driveway is a skating rink. Well, it's a skating rink with enough snow to cover it that you can't SEE the skating rink. That makes for interesting driving and walking to say the least. I did end up nearly stuck in my own driveway this morning due to the invisible cloak the ice was wearing. (I just finished watching a Harry Potter movie! I'm not a Potter head, but it takes my mind off of things like arenas, foundations, ice, wet and cold horses, needing to get hay Monday morning in this mess, etc.)
I am turning off the outside light on my porch so I can't see the snow falling. Out of sight-out of mind. I guess I am in denial that in the morning, I'm trudging this happy road to destiny again. :)
To Jo, The Centers marketing and PR guru, have a wonderful trip to Hawaii tomorrow-that is if your flight isn't cancelled. Hello and a hug to Jamie for me! We'll miss you Jo and see you when you get back!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
It was a rare day. Not a cloud in the sky, no wind, but dang...it was cold! I don't think we got above the single digits. I asked Eliza for permission to take her nice digital Nikon with me to the barn. When I was her age (14)I don't remember having a professional quality camera! Smart kid saved her money for two years to buy this camera. Most of the pictures on our website were taken by Eliza since she was the age of 10.
Anyhow, I was able to capture some nice portraits of Ringo and Thunder, a few hilarious shots of Oscar and Adelantado. I'll have them posted on facebook as soon as daughter #1 gets home from Europe on Sunday, if not before. So who went to Europe when they were 16?! Jeez, kids these days!!!
Back to the horses...not only did I capture some Nikon moments but a little bit of much needed bonding time with "the boys". That's what I call them as a group-6 geldings that have pretty much been pasture mates for a number of years. The boys get along great, hierarchy is not an issue, they all know their place and don't jockey for position. A pretty mellow and easy going group. It's more like a pack of dogs than a herd of horses. Till they startle at something in the woods and take off running. Their instincts kick in and their power is amazing. Today that didn't happen-they were lazy dogs.
As I was looking through the lens for some interesting shots I invited the boys to come out into the sunshine with me, where the snow was cleaner and background more interesting. They obliged and walked slowly to where I stood. All six of them, standing there wondering where dinner was and why I needed pictures NOW. But they humored me and obediently followed me as their leader. I knelt down on both knees into the snow, hoping to catch a different angle of them. I was looking at the screen, figuring out the camera when I noticed Adelantado laying down for a roll right in front of me. Still fumbling with the camera I missed those shots. As soon as he got up, Morado walked in front of me and laid down and rolled too. Moments later, Thunder did the same. And right after that, Ringo, who had been standing behind me (probably making a peace sign over my head or something!) laid down and rolled too. It was like Simon says.
So often in the rush of the day with so many things to do, I don't take the time to do something as simple as sit in the snow with my boys. Yes, my exposed fingers were numb from the cold, the horses in the upper pasture could be heard whinnying to me for their dinner, but it was a nice break to just spend a little time enjoying the spirit of the horses.
Anyhow, I was able to capture some nice portraits of Ringo and Thunder, a few hilarious shots of Oscar and Adelantado. I'll have them posted on facebook as soon as daughter #1 gets home from Europe on Sunday, if not before. So who went to Europe when they were 16?! Jeez, kids these days!!!
Back to the horses...not only did I capture some Nikon moments but a little bit of much needed bonding time with "the boys". That's what I call them as a group-6 geldings that have pretty much been pasture mates for a number of years. The boys get along great, hierarchy is not an issue, they all know their place and don't jockey for position. A pretty mellow and easy going group. It's more like a pack of dogs than a herd of horses. Till they startle at something in the woods and take off running. Their instincts kick in and their power is amazing. Today that didn't happen-they were lazy dogs.
As I was looking through the lens for some interesting shots I invited the boys to come out into the sunshine with me, where the snow was cleaner and background more interesting. They obliged and walked slowly to where I stood. All six of them, standing there wondering where dinner was and why I needed pictures NOW. But they humored me and obediently followed me as their leader. I knelt down on both knees into the snow, hoping to catch a different angle of them. I was looking at the screen, figuring out the camera when I noticed Adelantado laying down for a roll right in front of me. Still fumbling with the camera I missed those shots. As soon as he got up, Morado walked in front of me and laid down and rolled too. Moments later, Thunder did the same. And right after that, Ringo, who had been standing behind me (probably making a peace sign over my head or something!) laid down and rolled too. It was like Simon says.
So often in the rush of the day with so many things to do, I don't take the time to do something as simple as sit in the snow with my boys. Yes, my exposed fingers were numb from the cold, the horses in the upper pasture could be heard whinnying to me for their dinner, but it was a nice break to just spend a little time enjoying the spirit of the horses.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Back to our regularly scheduled program
That means...excavation work has resumed on the indoor arena! We're still on schedule for delivery of the building on March 9th!! YAY. Hard to believe and I'm cautiously optimistic all will go as planned. There is always that possibility though! I'm dreaming of being inside the light and airy arena as it's pouring rain outside, knowing I can play with the ponies. Not have to reschedule clinics and lessons? Wow, what will that be like? I can only imagine how much more productive The Center will be. I guess I am getting a little excited :)
Now...more than ever, I'm committed and put a lot on the line for this. As have our supporters and those who believe in the horses. It's a pretty cool thing, really!
Now...more than ever, I'm committed and put a lot on the line for this. As have our supporters and those who believe in the horses. It's a pretty cool thing, really!
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