My Darling Baby and Plans for 2010!

So, I am writing this entry in late October 2009, the weekend before Halloween and La Touissant. I've had a great week of riding and driving my Violet and working with Renny and Hailee. In this photo, you see my little guy with his girlfriend, Ziva, taken in early September. The year 2009 has been unusual to say the least. I earned Full. I went on sabbatical. I stayed in Kentucky and went to a driving school. Violet went into training for 7 months and learned to pull a cart. And Renny became just the most glorious funny pony. In the winter, he was climbing sheer cliffs to become free of the pasture. In the summer, he escaped from my hands and ran joyful fearful circles around me when he was with his girlfriend, B. And he has been the king of his own little herd of babies, the beautiful Hamlet, Skippy Jon Jones and Ziva. He's just so intelligent. And this Fall, a new reining trainer arrived at Showgate and I put Hailee into training to learn how to get in touch with her cowgirl nature. So, the end of year always puts me in a pensive mood -- I am already plotting out my adventures for winter 2009 and 2010. I want Violet to improve under saddle and pulling cart. I want Hailee to enjoy her training and maybe find a job as a broodmare or cowpony. And I want Renny to enjoy the beginning of his training and the start of his life as a delightful pony for children!

Renny and His Young Filly Friend

Here's a September 2009 photo of Renny giving Ziva a little buss.

A Handsome Popular Sport Pony

Okay, on September 8th, 2008, I was out at Showgate for a lovely drive and then to take photos of my happy beautiful family. I love this picture. You can see Renny with his peeps and then in the background across the creek, you can see Violet and Hailee, with V watching the proceedings. I really am so blessed. Look at that handsome athletic pony in the foreground and then my foundation mare and wonderful thoroughbred are in the back ground!

Ren the Sport Pony

Here's a September 8th photo of my little

Renny with his new pals, the weanlings of 2009! He seems to like this group of pals and he's been getting more exercise, so just last night, I noticed that he's become even more handsome. He's got lots of muscle and his neck is getting longer and filling in. He's really quite a handsome boy. The new trainer, Coy, lets the horses be in their stall without their halters, so last night I really had a chance to look at his handsome intelligent face and realize -- he's a flatout sweetheart smart charmer! My darling sport pony!

Green

Namaste.

More Green Heaven!

My beautiful girls, sharing a late afternoon treat. Namaste.

A Green Slice of Heaven

I am writing this entry on Wednesday, June 10th, of an unusually good week. Barbie had told me to harness up Violet and take her for a spin by myself this past weekend. So, on a beautiful Sunday, I went out to the stable and did just that. While her dad was mowing the pastures, I hitched up my sweet girl and off we took on this big loose trot all around the outdoor! Then on Monday, I had an excellent riding lesson with her using draw reins and even jumped an X. We felt very proud of ourselves. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, I hitched up my girl again and we went for cart rides. We have been very productive. Today, Violet did her first backing with the cart. She was very good. What's been exceptionally nice is seeing the herds out on the bright green Spring pastures. Violet and Hailee, just like in this photo, hang out close together. And I often see Hailee standing with her tail in V's face, just whisking that big black brush delicately over her girlfriend to keep her free of pests -- a real treat a thin-skinned thoroughbred truly enjoys! Namaste.

Ziva and Skippy Jon Jones

Okay, so I love this Spring photo of little Ziva, kissing her patient happy mama. Not only is she adorable, but you can see Skippy Jon Jones staring at her in the background, waiting for the morning when he gets turned out with her to play and romp! Namaste.

Ziva in the Sun

In this photo, you see little Ziva, relaxing with her powerful mother, Sam in the cold Spring morning sun. I don't think she realizes that she's a little splashing beautiful miracle. She just seems like a happy tiny girl with her mom. I am writing this entry on Good Friday, and I have to say that I am feeling unsettled. The economy has been hard on everyone, in the United States and globally. Over the past few days, news bulletins are reporting that a man who is half-owner of Unbridled Song has been charged with 22 counts of animal abuse in connection with his treatment of 177 horses on one of his New York farms. Humane societies, vets, and equine people are reporting that the horses are in starved conditions without medical care or farrier work. A thoroughbred yearling was removed from the farm with a vet reporting that he was 350 pounds, half of what he should be at that age. This news breaks my heart. I remember standing in the beautiful warm summer sun in mid-July last year with Derek and we were laughing because Renny was already 350 pounds and he hadn't even been weaned from his mom. And he's a small pony. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a beautiful thoroughbred colt, starved to the size of nursling Renny.

Anyway, my point is that I hope that we all work toward a more stable, secure future for all of us -- for the many millions of homeless children on this earth, for the children and adults denied education, for the mothers and fathers desperately looking for secure work to feed and nurture their families, and, yes, even for the companion animals, stock, and pets who depend on us to make good decisions. They depend on us and love us and so I hope for a more stable future for them as well. Ziva is named for brilliant, beautiful light, so she'll be my little poster foal this year for that future! Namaste!